The book synopsis drew me in, talking about a trench in the Atlantic, a marine biologist and exploration, so I was tempted enough to ask for the Netgalley. I was also apprehensive, because this sounded like literary fiction — not a genre I enjoy. And I really struggled with the glacially slow pace in the beginning and all those introspective musings that felt so superfluous to me. But the plot kept me interested enough and I am glad that I read it.

Leigh, our main character, grows up in Rotterdam, in an unhappy home with a physically violent father. Not something that I like to read about but it was vague and not graphic. Her mother does not help her and Leigh finds excuses for her. Her sister luckily remains safe from her father. Leigh finds escape through swimming in the sea and becomes a marine biologist. She joins a exploration team to a newly discovered Atlantic trench. Their ROV discovers that the trench is of unprecedented depth. For reasons never explained Leigh and her colleagues go on scuba dives in the surface waters above the trench and subsequently succumb to an illness, potentially caused by microorganisms living in the trench. There is a strange addiction.

Part two takes us and Leigh to a mysterious research station two years after the events of the marine exploration. And Part three — well, that would be giving too much away. Think of Peter Schätzing‘s The Swarm morphing into Carl Sagan‘s Contact. I quite like the SF story and even Leigh‘s family backstory has its merits, I just didn’t like how that part was told.

The writing style was not my thing. As mentioned, there is a lot of reminiscing that didn‘t move the story forward and didn‘t really add much depth. At the end it made me question how much of a reliable narrator Leigh actually was. Maybe that was intentional. I guess this is exactly the kind of prose that gets you long-listed for the Booker Prize.

Despite the slow pace and those mental ramblings, on the strength of the plot, I give this 4 of 5 green things…

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

In Ascension is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. It was on the Booker Prize list for 2023. At heart it is speculative fiction, on a scientist’s journey to eventually become one of the first humans to journey outside of our solar system, but also about the family and world she left behind, and ultimately life itself, in all its ugliness and beauty.

If you liked Arrival, you'll enjoy this literary sci-fi, which is as much about human relationships as it is about space exploration. I do feel like this book lagged a bit in the middle, but the beautiful, somewhat ambiguous ending made the journey more than worth it.

As John Steinbeck once wrote, referring to the unity shared by all life, "it is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool again." Martin MacInnes’s novel “In Ascension” is the first piece of writing since then to fully embody this sense of universal awe.

Maybe it's just the right book at wrong time, I've decided to DNF this book at 20%. I really did find the writing style beautiful, but for some reasons felt like the plot is a little stale and I kept having to force myself back into the story. Thank you so much for the publisher for sending the arc my way. Really appreciate it. Hopefully, I will find my way back to the story sometime soon.

I enjoyed certain aspects of this novel - gorgeous writing, interesting premise, and eco science angle, but the story did not come together for me. Leigh’s character seemed to get lost in the pages and it was hard for me to connect to her. I can absolutely see this why was listed for the Booker, it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read and review this book.

"In Ascension" has some of the most lucid and dreamlike writing I've read this year. While the characterisation left room for improvement, the writing style brought my enjoyment up. I felt like I never really got to know Leigh even though we followed her through the novel for so long. A lot of the other characters also felt flat and lifeless amognst the dreamy sci-fi setting. This created an emotionless effect in an otherwise fantastical piece of speculative fiction.

2.5 but Rounding up to 3. I was excited to read this book because it seemed right up my alley. It was described as Interstellar (a top 10 movie for me) and for fans of Andy Weir. But perhaps I've been enjoying more "approachable" sci-fi where the prose isn't too heavy handed or intellectual? The pacing and length I think were the final contributors to my negative experience. However I do think it's a good book just not for me? Which is why I felt like 3 stars was more appropriate. I may try to re-read when I'm in a better headspace.


Thank you to the author, publishers, and Netgalley for the arc! In Ascension is out 2/27/24.

I was really looking forward to this book. I love science fiction and have this deep respect and fear of the ocean. Books like this always keep me on edge. And I was. I also love books with a scientific background, especially if that leads me to doing some of my own research. I've gone through so many rabbit holes. I didn't want or need to look up anything scientific. The science went on and on and on. To the point that it became hard to read through it. I wanted to get back to the action. There needs to be a balance in books like this.

BRILLIANT SCI-FI CONCEPT! ABSOLUTELY CONCEIVABLE.

IN ASCENSION is the cyclical journey of a young microbiologist named Leigh. Leigh grew up in a traumatic home environment, often leading her to escape as a child to the waters of the Nieuwe Maas. In one of her swims, she is awakened internally by a deep connection to the archaic organisms within the water. This experience propels her toward a career in biology, landing her a prestigious spot on the Endeavour which will investigate an unfathomable deep vent in the ocean floor in the mid-Atlantic. This experience and research sets her life on a trajectory that will explore the origins of life on a global and cosmic level. Believing the mid-Atlantic vent to be connected with a pattern present on a celestial body called Datura, Leigh will leave behind her mom and sister to search for answers to life's greatest questions and confront her own past.

I found the concept of this book to be incredibly invigorating. McInnes had me believing this could actually happen. I wanted to know so much more about Leigh's adventure and discovery! There are overwhelming amounts of scientific descriptions of microbiology and protocol and not as much about the experience or adventures these characters are having. This made it a difficult read. I felt exasperated trying to get to the ending, which fell flat for me. Though it be a little tricky at first, the set up for this book is insanely brilliant. Leigh's backstory and the way McInnes connects her life to her work is poetic. I just wanted so much more of that and less about how algae grows, though it was an important piece of the narrative. I felt cheated at the end, as if I wasn't given the whole story. This was a 500 page read and could have easily been shortened to 300 pages. I treasured every single nature and cosmic scene. Those were beautifully written. I can absolutely see how he would be a Booker Prize winner. He is an excellent writer.

A very special thank you to NetGalley, Martin McInnes, and Grove Press, Black Cat for this eARC in exchange for my honest original review.

I'm a big fan of literary fiction that deals with, in the broadest sense, nature. Its power, humanity's place within it, the complexities and mysteries of it. And I also really enjoy literary fiction bordering on science fiction that takes us to the stars, that touches the infinity of space and what it means for us and our existence. So on paper, 'In Ascension' sounds like it's the perfect read for me. And it does many things right: I was absolutely absorbed during the first part of it, when the narrative surrounds the discovery of a mysterious trench in the Atlantic ocean. I didn't know where this was going and I felt the same frustration our protagonist, Leigh, felt when she couldn't keep exploring the mysteries of this deep crater. The book focuses quite a bit on Leigh's childhood experiences and her strained relationship with her family, too, and I felt for her. Honestly, I was almost enamoured with the book despite its slow pace and description-heavy writing until the very moment Leigh and her team leave the Atlantic trench.

What followed had all the potential for something great. It's a book that takes us from the deep seas to space - but damn, it's a long and slow journey. The book's slow slow pace turns almost meandering at some point, and the narrative is heavy on exposition, descriptions and scientific explanations. I don't mind science in my fiction, on the contrary, I love learning more about things, especially when the author is clearly passionate about the subject. I do think this book suffers from the fact that the scientific topics it lays out range from marine biology, life science to space travel and engineering, and it's just... too much when combined with the philosophical questions it poses constantly as well. There's also a political aspect to it about climate change, but while I hoped it would be more of a focus, it doesn't really matter that much in the end. This whole book, at some point, feels more like a concept. The storytelling should have been sharper to make me feel invested in what was going on. I was, quite frankly, bored most of the time. The final chapters do pick up speed and exciting things happen, and my interest spiked again. There are some very profound, meaninfgul insights in here and I really enjoyed that. But even they couldn't help me coming away from this book with a feeling of meh. I think what I really missed, in the end - and that's a me-thing for sure - is a sense of progression. Leigh as a protagonist doesn't progress much. Her story with her family doesn't progress much. Solving the mysteries presented doesn't progress much - at the end of the book, we are in a different place and time but also kind of not.

So in conclusion? A novel full of great concepts, meaningful subjects and important insights especially concerning our place in this world, but the execution of these concepts left me wanting. Still, there is a lot of love for this book by other readers so I recommend checking it out.

A challenging character driven read. It's also remarkably slow in spots (I put it aside more than once) but those with patience may be rewarded. I had high hopes for this but ultimately it wasn't for me. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is a classic Booker nominee- for fans of literary fiction.

This was a beautiful story. Drawn out at times? Yes. But it sucked me in and after finishing it, I have the feeling of coming out of a different world. There's something about reading about a world, a place, a time that's bigger than yourself. That's what In Ascension felt like.
There were parallels to Interstellar and The Martian which I loved. Psychology and science are weaved throughout the book, and I really enjoyed Leigh's whole journey.
I finished In Ascension in two days which felt like quite the feat since the book came in at just over 500 pages. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC!

I am a sci-fi reader, and based on a quick skim of other reviews most people who enjoyed the book are NOT. So this is probably more for fans of literary, somewhat meandering writing.

I’ve read the book all the way through, but if it wasn’t an ARC I probably would have spared myself the effort. I would have missed the gripping section between 60% and 85%, which would have been a shame. Last 15% is basically the epilogue, most of which is not essential to the story. Everything gets tied together in the very last couple pages.

As far as the sci-fi part goes, there are massive gaps there that are glossed over or never talked about again. And I don't mind ambiguity, but this seemed more like convenient magical hand-waving. Was the author trying to say that we can’t know it all, that if the character did not have the information or cared to ask, we don’t need to find out either? Because of this the way everything is tied together is implausible with too many leaps in logic and too many parts glossed over. I get the time displacement point and the circularity argument, but there is a bunch of stuff that happens offscreen to an extent where reader has to fill in a year worth of activity and imagine what happened then, without any of it being ever mentioned. Basically, (I think) I get the arguments the book is making, but I don’t trust the proofs the author is using to get us there.

Minor issues:
Writing style is not for me. I’m sure plenty of other people would enjoy it, but for me it meant sometimes rereading the same nonsensical sentences multiple times trying to figure out where the verb was, and if there was a verb there at all. Spoiler: after couple rereads, I would generally figure out what my error in understanding was. But I don’t enjoy writing that makes me reread for comprehension.
Leigh did not have anything about her that made her experience definitively female (maybe her relationship with Uria, but that’s mostly offscreen as well). If you change all pronouns and references to Leigh as a man instead, nothing would have changed in the plot. You wouldn’t need to change anything else.

IN ASCENSION is a quiet portrait of a curious mind. Leigh, a trained scientist studying algae, applies her compulsive work ethic to answering questions about life and universe. Propelled by leaking wounds from her own frigid and frightening origin, Leigh understands well that stories of origins of scale will be no less frigid or frightening. She is undeterred.

She does not play great with others, a paltry pursuit in the face of matters of existential import. She has moments of emotional lucidity, but even as she contemplates her regrets, I was left without a sense of a compelling interiority to Leigh. I did enjoy the implication, though, that she found cosmic adventure far less threatening than dancing in mere human drama. MacInnes writes a palpable fear of complete psychic overwhelm should Leigh engage as earnestly with the tragedy of humanity as she does with plant matter.

While Leigh travels deeper into the ocean and higher into space than anyone before, I felt like IN ASCENSION never quite paddled from the shallows. MacInnes conveys enchanting science and compelling big questions, sometimes with moving language, but mostly in a way that left me feeling squarely grounded. Like Leigh, I wished to be transported outside of the comforts of an everyday atmosphere. I wanted more, but felt that there was, indeed, plenty of beauty in MacInnes’ pages to keep me engaged and curious through to the end. And as Leigh thinks and the scientific process requires, I concede I may have missed something:

“I questioned what else I had already missed so far, in my own life, simply through the limits of my character. If we were blind to anything representing a new category, then our individual histories might have amounted to a series of glancing encounters with unspeakable wonders - as a general summation, it felt about right. Life as a repeated failure to apprehend something. Coming close then veering away again, sensing this unnameable category, music heard distantly through a series of doors, a dull echoing bass, a sound hitting your body.”

Thank you to @netgalley and @groveatlantic for the digital copy!

It took me a long time to finish this one and I contemplated stopping several times. I found the story to be slow moving and disconnected. It is made up of different sections focusing on different times in the main character's life. I found many of the sections interesting in themself, but it didn't tie together into an engaging read for me. I am glad I did hold out until the end, but it was a struggle. Honestly, with a bit of editing, I think this would make a decent limited series television program.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC. I have mixed feelings about this book. There was a lot I liked about it, and a decent amount I did not. I was intrigued by the story the whole time and wanted to make it to the end to find out what happens. Making it to the end was a struggle at times, though. Not that the writing was poor. It's that there were times I just wanted to say "Get on with it. Get to the point." The authors crams in so much description, character history, etc., that, while well-written, was just too much. For example, at approximately 94% of the way through the book, we're given the entire history of a tiny island, that may or may not hold the answer to a mystery. It's an interesting history, but felt wholly unnecessary and added little to the story, other than delaying any sort of reveal. You might say that this is a good thing, as it builds the tension, but I didn't feel that way. I was just annoyed.

The author goes all-in on character development, developing characters that are very ancillary to the story. Yes, this is done in service of developing the main character, but again it felt unnecessary -- devoting a fairly decent sized chunk of the opening third of the book to a character that is not crucial to the plot.

All-in-all it is again, well-written, but can be a bit of a slog at times, and I completely understand how many other reviewers didn't finish it.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy for review!

I really liked this one. Contrary to many other reviews, I thought it was well paced and really enjoyed the slower contemplative elements. In some ways it read like a movie--I could picture the waves, smell the algae--I was totally engrossed in the plot and where we would go and what would we find there. I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what would happen next, but at the same time I also wanted to linger and reflect. With lovely writing, an engrossing plot, and thought-provoking themes I would highly recommend this to a wide audience.

If you enjoy contemplating our origins and the interconnectness of the universe, complex family relationships, training for space missions, near-future climate dystopia, quiet intimate moments and grand epic exploration with beautiful writing--check this one out!

(I'm always so indecisive when trying to pick a star rating. Let's call it a 4-point-something and round up to 5)

I wish I could leave the star rating for this blank as the three star rating I'm giving it doesn't reflect how I feel about it accurately enough. I'm going to come back and update this when I re-read in physical form. This is such a special book and I would highly recommend it, I personally just got lost a couple times because of it's length and because I was reading it via Kindle.