Against the Red Sky delivers exactly what it promises: high-stakes tension, morally tangled choices, and two protagonists on opposite sides of a war neither of them fully understands. And it does so with a fast pace, cinematic imagery, and emotional beats that hit harder than I expected.
The alternating POVs between Enzo and Maddie work well once the story gains momentum, even if the early chapters take their time grounding us in each character’s past. For me, that delay actually worked to build the suspense—because when their paths do cross, the chemistry, conflict, and stakes are instantly electric.
What really impressed me was how this story balanced explosive action with introspection. Enzo, with his background in sabotage and grief, could easily have been a flat “weaponized boy,” but instead he's layered, self-aware, and constantly torn. Maddie, too, is much more than the privileged girl longing for Mars; her idealism is complicated by political legacy, maternal distance, and growing doubt. The mirrored relationships with their mothers was one of the quiet highlights of the book.
I also appreciated that the romance was subtle and believable. No insta-love, no plot derailment. Just two people learning to question everything—including each other—in the middle of a ticking time bomb. And I loved that the story wasn’t afraid to make bold moves with loyalty and betrayal.
That said, I do wish the worldbuilding had been just a bit more fleshed out. The politics and infrastructure of the Mars colony are hinted at but not fully explored, and I sometimes wanted to feel the weight of the wider conflict a bit more. Also, the reveal of "The Operator" was fun, but I had hoped for a bit more thematic depth behind their motives.
Still, this is exactly the kind of YA sci-fi I crave: thought-provoking, sharp, emotionally grounded, and addictively readable. Can’t wait for book two.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

One of the best YA sci-fi tales I have read in some time, Against the Red Sky unfolds from two perspectives, the first being of Maddie, the niece of a billionaire tycoon with a colony on Mars. She is desperate to get to Mars to join her mother there. The other hero of the story is Enzo, who has grown up in the Pacific islands as part of a group that is drawing attention to how those wanting to get to Mars are abandoning Earth and stealing its water resources. Because of their violent methods used to target their enemies, they are seen as terrorists. Maddie and Enzo's lives intertwine when he is sent to go undercover to destroy the shuttle that will take the next batch of young recruits to Mars, a roster that includes Maddie. Sparks fly between the two, and both have their loyalties tested as they see the shortcomings of the sides they are on - which is interesting because in both cases, that's also their family.

The book keeps up a lively pace throughout and is easy to read quickly. I appreciated the twin POVs, and it feels very current with the themes of water scarcity and the idea of a new life on Mars, which many oppose when the costs involved could be used to help alleviate suffering on Earth. The romance keeps things bubbling along nicely and the book ends in a place that sees primed to roll straight into book two, which I hope to see soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This book was such a pleasant surprise! A young adult sci-fi adventure that mixes action, tested loyalties, sacrifice, betrayal — and, of course, a touch of romance.

We follow Maddie, who dreams of leaving Earth to live on Mars, where her mother is, and Enzo, a young explosives expert… whose mission is to stop the very shuttle that would take Maddie there.

The dynamic between the two characters is captivating, and the twists and turns kept me hooked the whole time. I liked how the romance was present but never overshadowed the plot, and how the story plays with our expectations of who’s an ally and who’s an enemy.

A quick, fun read full of surprises. I’m definitely curious to see what comes next!

This is a fun, YA, dual POV sci-fi adventure which explores loyalty, sacrifice, betrayals and a bit of romance and centres around our two main characters Maddie and Enzo.

Maddie’s uncle founded a Mars colony and she dreams of going to join her mum who lives there. Enzo is a young explosives expert who plans to destroy the shuttle that will take her there.

I really enjoyed this! It was entertaining, I liked the twists and turns that kept me guessing. I liked our main characters and the elements of romance although it wasn’t central to the story. It took me a minute to work out who our villain was but I got there in the end!

My only minor complaint was there were a few flashbacks and things that left me a little confused and I had to reread a few chapters although that could definitely be a me thing!

I also really wanted to know more about the mums story which hopefully will be in the next instalment!

The dueling POVs caused the backstory of the lead characters to develop slower than I would have preferred, but beyond that I enjoyed the story. The mirroring of the mother characters was interesting, though I am left wondering if there is more to the story of Maddie's mother than we are shown. It took me a while to discover the identity of The Operator, but I got there in the end. I like how this story definitely sets up the next book in the series.

Against The Red Sky: Misson X
Thank you, Kristen Illarmo, Empty Field Publishing, and Netgalley for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars.
"YA thriller, survival means risking everything, including the people you thought you hated most."
This book was a mix of thriller, sci-fi, and some romance. It follows characters from vastly different backgrounds who end up together, with high stakes and secrets revealed. It keeps you guessing who is good and who is evil. The story is a page-turner with themes of conspiracy, infiltration, sacrifice, betrayal, and loyalty, among others. I enjoyed this book. It was an intense YA novel that explored very real issues, and ultimately, where loyalty lies when thrown into worlds unknown.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7681305671
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLTijX7s0Br/?igsh=M3hjc2lyM2YzbnY3
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMS9MxD77/

Did not see the plot twists coming which surprised me, was a fun read, im guessing this will be a series so will like to read the next one.