Chessmen of Mars, the fifth book in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom series, takes readers on yet another thrilling adventure on the red planet. In this installment, we follow the journey of Tara of Helium as she is captured and taken to the city of Manator, where she must navigate a complex political landscape and navigate dangerous challenges in order to survive.

Burroughs once again showcases his skill in creating a vivid and immersive world, filled with fascinating cultures and creatures. The action is fast-paced and the stakes are high, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout the story.

One of the highlights of Chessmen of Mars is the character development of Tara, who proves herself to be a strong and resourceful heroine. Her courage and intelligence make her a compelling protagonist, and readers will root for her as she faces numerous obstacles in her quest for freedom.

Overall, Chessmen of Mars is a captivating and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of science fiction and fantasy. Burroughs' imaginative storytelling and colorful world-building make this a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling adventure on the planet of Barsoom.

Book Description:
Tara of Helium, John Carter's second child, is nearly as beautiful as her mother, Deja Thoris, and as independent-minded as her father. These qualities cause her much grief during a long series of imprisonments by hostile aliens. She is aided by a rejected suitor whom she fails to recognize but gradually learns first to trust and then to love, despite what she imagines to be a hopeless chasm between their social classes. A highly evolved race of intelligent beings is discovered in this novel, one of whom forms with Tara a complicated relationship that opens his eyes to the value of certain aspects of life which he and his kind have shed. We also learn of an ancient Martian culture differing markedly from the technologically advanced civilizations of other city-states; one of its pastimes is a bloody variation of Martian chess, played with human beings as the game pieces. For variety of character and incident, this novel is unsurpassed by its four predecessors in the series.