Carthoris, the son of John Carter, is determined to rescue Thuvia, who is kidnapped and taken to the ancient city of Lothar. This city is inhabited by a race that can create lifelike illusions through thought alone. Amidst her abduction, Thuvia is promised to another, and Carthoris's quest to save her inadvertently sparks a war between Martian nations. The novel intricately weaves themes of love, honor, and illusion, as Carthoris navigates through these complex social and political dilemmas to save Thuvia and prevent a war.

As the fourth novel in the series, Thuvia, Maid of Mars explores the romantic entanglements and heroic adventures of younger characters, set against a backdrop of Martian city-state politics. The novel introduces innovative science fiction elements like autopilot for Martian fliers and the Lotharians, a race skilled in telepathic projections that can conjure lethal illusions and sustain themselves through thought alone, adding depth to the series' exploration of the power of the mind and the consequences of intellectual extremes.

This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.