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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
This was just fantastic. What a detailed, fascinating, conflict-filled galaxy Claudia Gray has created for her characters to play in. Right from the start we’re sucked in to the action as Noemi practices as a kamikaze warrior to try to bring down a key transport ring that allowed residents of Earth (the baddies in this one) to get to her home planet of Genesis. When her friend is injured, she’s forced to seek help on an abandoned vessel, where she meets AI Abel.
What I LOVE LOVE LOVE about Claudia Gray’s writing is that she asks so many gray area questions along the way. Sure, Earth people have screwed up their planet and will doubtlessly screw up any other they’re given, but is it any better to heartlessly deny refugees shelter when you’ve got a big beautiful place to live and they’ll just die? Great questions considering our current political climate. And also the relationship between Abel and Noemi grows slowly throughout the book. It gradually raises the question of what is real and what isn’t right alongside the larger questions of what is just and not, what it means to be selfless and not, what it means to have a soul and not. Just awesome writing.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
What I LOVE LOVE LOVE about Claudia Gray’s writing is that she asks so many gray area questions along the way. Sure, Earth people have screwed up their planet and will doubtlessly screw up any other they’re given, but is it any better to heartlessly deny refugees shelter when you’ve got a big beautiful place to live and they’ll just die? Great questions considering our current political climate. And also the relationship between Abel and Noemi grows slowly throughout the book. It gradually raises the question of what is real and what isn’t right alongside the larger questions of what is just and not, what it means to be selfless and not, what it means to have a soul and not. Just awesome writing.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
For years Genesis has fought to protect their planet and their freedom from dangerous colonization and exploitation by the enemy, Earth. Genesis vows to avoid that same mistakes Earth has made and eschews all advanced technology. But in doing so they may have signed their own death sentence. How can they hope to win a war when the enemy keeps inventing more powerful weapons?
Noemi Vidal is a soldier of Genesis--part of a generation that is slowly being annihilated in a war they cannot win. Noemi is prepared to die for her planet, her people. But even as she makes peace with her death and that of her entire unit, she knows it won't be enough to stop the fighting or win the war.
Abel is a machine--the most advanced cybernetic ever created. He is an abomination to the people of Genesis. He was abandoned in space years ago. Isolated and alone, his programming has started to evolve and adapt while he waits for a chance to escape and complete his primary directive: find his creator Burton Mansfield and protect him.
Noemi and Abel are on opposite sides in an interstellar war. Never meant to meet. Thrown together in a desperate journey across the stars they may be the only ones who can end the war without more bloodshed. But first they have figure out how to stay alive in Defy the Stars (2017) by Claudia Gray.
Defy the Stars is the first book in Gray's Constellation series. The story continues in Defy the Worlds.
Defy the Stars alternates chapters between Noemi and Abel's close third person viewpoints. Gray nicely subverts some expected tropes about humans and robots with her main characters. Noemi is calculating and ruthless, hardened from her years growing up (and fighting) on the losing side of a large-scale war. By contrast Abel is empathetic and thoughtful in a way that shocks Noemi and makes her wonder how much she really knows about the Mansfield Cybernetics line.
High speed chases and intense action are balanced by thoughtful moments of introspection for both characters. Noemi contemplates the inevitability of her life (and death) as a soldier while Abel wonders if an artificial intelligence like himself can be meant for a great purpose and, if so, what that purpose might be. Both characters are pushed beyond their limits and their comfort zones as they are forced to work together and to grudgingly trust each other during their journey from Genesis to Earth and into the heart of the war.
Questions of what it really means to be a machine or a human with a soul drive this story as much as the action. This plot driven story perfectly balances Noemi and Abel's evolving relationship without bogging the story down in romantic overtures. World building is carefully integrated into the story and works to enhance the plot without detracting from its finely tuned pacing. Defy the Stars is an astute, thrilling, and fascinating novel--in other words everything science fiction readers could want. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Bound by Blood and Sand by Becky Allen, Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza, Beta by Rachel Cohn, The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid, Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis, Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate, Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh, Partials by Dan Wells
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Noemi Vidal is a soldier of Genesis--part of a generation that is slowly being annihilated in a war they cannot win. Noemi is prepared to die for her planet, her people. But even as she makes peace with her death and that of her entire unit, she knows it won't be enough to stop the fighting or win the war.
Abel is a machine--the most advanced cybernetic ever created. He is an abomination to the people of Genesis. He was abandoned in space years ago. Isolated and alone, his programming has started to evolve and adapt while he waits for a chance to escape and complete his primary directive: find his creator Burton Mansfield and protect him.
Noemi and Abel are on opposite sides in an interstellar war. Never meant to meet. Thrown together in a desperate journey across the stars they may be the only ones who can end the war without more bloodshed. But first they have figure out how to stay alive in Defy the Stars (2017) by Claudia Gray.
Defy the Stars is the first book in Gray's Constellation series. The story continues in Defy the Worlds.
Defy the Stars alternates chapters between Noemi and Abel's close third person viewpoints. Gray nicely subverts some expected tropes about humans and robots with her main characters. Noemi is calculating and ruthless, hardened from her years growing up (and fighting) on the losing side of a large-scale war. By contrast Abel is empathetic and thoughtful in a way that shocks Noemi and makes her wonder how much she really knows about the Mansfield Cybernetics line.
High speed chases and intense action are balanced by thoughtful moments of introspection for both characters. Noemi contemplates the inevitability of her life (and death) as a soldier while Abel wonders if an artificial intelligence like himself can be meant for a great purpose and, if so, what that purpose might be. Both characters are pushed beyond their limits and their comfort zones as they are forced to work together and to grudgingly trust each other during their journey from Genesis to Earth and into the heart of the war.
Questions of what it really means to be a machine or a human with a soul drive this story as much as the action. This plot driven story perfectly balances Noemi and Abel's evolving relationship without bogging the story down in romantic overtures. World building is carefully integrated into the story and works to enhance the plot without detracting from its finely tuned pacing. Defy the Stars is an astute, thrilling, and fascinating novel--in other words everything science fiction readers could want. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Bound by Blood and Sand by Becky Allen, Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza, Beta by Rachel Cohn, The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid, Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis, Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate, Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh, Partials by Dan Wells
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
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Adore este libro mucho, la verdad. Cada vez que lo agarraba recuerdo perfectamente que nunca podía soltarlo hasta que fuese inevitable. Noemí y Abel son dos protas que adoro y que me importan. El mundo en el que se mueven me parece muy intrigante y del que me gustaría saber más.
No tengo peros en esta obra.
Solo un momento en el que algo me pareció... eh, demasiado conveniente. Puede que ustedes lo pasen de largo. Pero yo sinceramente no puede.
Adore este libro mucho, la verdad. Cada vez que lo agarraba recuerdo perfectamente que nunca podía soltarlo hasta que fuese inevitable. Noemí y Abel son dos protas que adoro y que me importan. El mundo en el que se mueven me parece muy intrigante y del que me gustaría saber más.
No tengo peros en esta obra.
Solo un momento en el que algo me pareció... eh, demasiado conveniente. Puede que ustedes lo pasen de largo. Pero yo sinceramente no puede.
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
*4.5
I really really liked this book. So much in fact that it was almost a 5 star. But unfortunately it wasn't the whole UMPH if you know what I mean?
Anyways, lets talk about what this book is about. Civil war is brewing in space. Earth, and a colony called Genesis are at war with each other, and every other planet is taking sides. Our main character Noemi has lived on Genesis her whole life, and is on a suicide mission to save her planet with many other star fighters. Our other main character is a cyborg? I don't know if you'd call him a robot or a cyborg but ehh does it really matter? Anyways, his name is Abel. He's been stuck on an enemy ship (Earth ship) for 30 years, and is now looking for someone to get him out. Noemi and her friend just so happen to come across the ship, but much to Abel's surprise in his programming, he has to obey the highest human in command on he ship. And that's Noemi. Abel is forced into telling Noemi about plans his old master told him, in order to destroy Earth, and they have to go on a high stakes, space galactic adventure!
What really did this book for me was the fast paced adventure, and Abel! The book itself was never boring. Never. I found myself enthralled in what was happening every second. I loved it! It was so entertaining and it gave me so many Star Wars vibes! The main reason I enjoy the genre of Sci-Fi (or my enjoyment at least started) was because of Star Wars. And I get this certain feeling when I watch Star Wars. And when I get that feeling Reading Sci-Fi, I just love it so much more. This also gave me MAJOR Ben Solo and Rey vibes. Probably because we're in space, and star crossed lovers thing? Either way I just loved it. I just love the feeling I got, and I'm ranting sorry
I really really liked this book. So much in fact that it was almost a 5 star. But unfortunately it wasn't the whole UMPH if you know what I mean?
Anyways, lets talk about what this book is about. Civil war is brewing in space. Earth, and a colony called Genesis are at war with each other, and every other planet is taking sides. Our main character Noemi has lived on Genesis her whole life, and is on a suicide mission to save her planet with many other star fighters. Our other main character is a cyborg? I don't know if you'd call him a robot or a cyborg but ehh does it really matter? Anyways, his name is Abel. He's been stuck on an enemy ship (Earth ship) for 30 years, and is now looking for someone to get him out. Noemi and her friend just so happen to come across the ship, but much to Abel's surprise in his programming, he has to obey the highest human in command on he ship. And that's Noemi. Abel is forced into telling Noemi about plans his old master told him, in order to destroy Earth, and they have to go on a high stakes, space galactic adventure!
What really did this book for me was the fast paced adventure, and Abel! The book itself was never boring. Never. I found myself enthralled in what was happening every second. I loved it! It was so entertaining and it gave me so many Star Wars vibes! The main reason I enjoy the genre of Sci-Fi (or my enjoyment at least started) was because of Star Wars. And I get this certain feeling when I watch Star Wars. And when I get that feeling Reading Sci-Fi, I just love it so much more. This also gave me MAJOR Ben Solo and Rey vibes. Probably because we're in space, and star crossed lovers thing? Either way I just loved it. I just love the feeling I got, and I'm ranting sorry
I knew nothing about this book going in. I didn't look at the cover, read the dust jacket or anything of the sort. I read this book purely on the strength of the two Star Wars novels I read by author Claudia Gray. I knew it was space opera and that was it. Gray's two Princess Leia books deeply enriched the character and provided several exciting action adventure moments. Her abilities storyteller that sold on reading this.
I am not the target audience, and I don't mean this in a reductive way but after reading this it seems like the audience is young teenage women. I think that is awesome. Because young ladies deserve space opera as much as the young boys. That said it is fun space based adventure with excellent characters and some cool world building so yeah- I liked it.
I wouldn't say I LOVED it but I had fun reading it and this book really didn't need to provide more than fun.
Defy the Stars is a a romantic space opera that centers on a character named Naomi she is a colonist from a former earth territory named Genesis. The people of this world have rejected earth and technology to live simply. The only tech they have left is their war machine, despite being out gunned they are struggling to fight back.
Naomi opens the novel a pilot on a recon mission. In a few weeks she will be part of a suicide mission to save her world, they plan to destroy the wormhole gate that connects their world to earth and the other six colonies in a loop. On this mission in a desperate attempt to survive she finds a ship that has been left floating in space for 30 years.
Once aboard she finds Abel. He looks like a young man, but he is the most advanced AI ever created. Made to look like the scientist who created him a famous scientist named Mansfield. He is programmed to always obey his commander. He has been alone basically locked in a room for 30 years. Naomi takes command of the ship and thus Abel.
Naomi realizes with this ship and this AI she can prevent the suicide attack her world was planning by winning the war on her own. Thus begins a adventure with Naomi and Able that takes them to all six worlds and of course Abel learns what it means to be human.
There is a moment when Naomi goes through the last of the 6 wormholes and she taps the console in a silly way. She says it is just something spacers do when they have gone through all six gates. That is great world building and I loved it.
I know the romance is apart of the the promo materials but I didn't read any of those so the first 100 pages I didn't see it coming. The characters are great and the romance as syrupy sweet as it is totally works.
The science fiction is good each of the worlds is built and fully realized and the characters even the briefly seen ones are complex and forward the plot. The skills Gray brought Star Wars translate well to this original story. Defy The Stars are great for young readers.
I am not the target audience, and I don't mean this in a reductive way but after reading this it seems like the audience is young teenage women. I think that is awesome. Because young ladies deserve space opera as much as the young boys. That said it is fun space based adventure with excellent characters and some cool world building so yeah- I liked it.
I wouldn't say I LOVED it but I had fun reading it and this book really didn't need to provide more than fun.
Defy the Stars is a a romantic space opera that centers on a character named Naomi she is a colonist from a former earth territory named Genesis. The people of this world have rejected earth and technology to live simply. The only tech they have left is their war machine, despite being out gunned they are struggling to fight back.
Naomi opens the novel a pilot on a recon mission. In a few weeks she will be part of a suicide mission to save her world, they plan to destroy the wormhole gate that connects their world to earth and the other six colonies in a loop. On this mission in a desperate attempt to survive she finds a ship that has been left floating in space for 30 years.
Once aboard she finds Abel. He looks like a young man, but he is the most advanced AI ever created. Made to look like the scientist who created him a famous scientist named Mansfield. He is programmed to always obey his commander. He has been alone basically locked in a room for 30 years. Naomi takes command of the ship and thus Abel.
Naomi realizes with this ship and this AI she can prevent the suicide attack her world was planning by winning the war on her own. Thus begins a adventure with Naomi and Able that takes them to all six worlds and of course Abel learns what it means to be human.
There is a moment when Naomi goes through the last of the 6 wormholes and she taps the console in a silly way. She says it is just something spacers do when they have gone through all six gates. That is great world building and I loved it.
I know the romance is apart of the the promo materials but I didn't read any of those so the first 100 pages I didn't see it coming. The characters are great and the romance as syrupy sweet as it is totally works.
The science fiction is good each of the worlds is built and fully realized and the characters even the briefly seen ones are complex and forward the plot. The skills Gray brought Star Wars translate well to this original story. Defy The Stars are great for young readers.
adventurous
3.5 Stars
Although I found the first few chapters a little slow, Defy the Stars soon picks up the pace with it's multi-faceted characters and myriad of settings. The relationship between Noemi and Abel reminded me a lot of [b:Alex + Ada, Vol. 1|21823465|Alex + Ada, Vol. 1|Jonathan Luna|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1400878535s/21823465.jpg|42462394]. I really enjoyed the chapters told in Abel's POV. I thought the way his voice slowly evolves from logical to more emotional was great and really gave the story depth.
This is definitely not science-fiction heavy. True, it takes place in space and on spaceships and other planets, but I felt that at its heart it was about the characters and their relationships. While there is AI and advanced technology present, it is the gradual friendship formed between Noemi and Abel, Abel's relationship with his creator, and the will and drive of all characters wanting a better or different life that really makes this story.
Although I found the first few chapters a little slow, Defy the Stars soon picks up the pace with it's multi-faceted characters and myriad of settings. The relationship between Noemi and Abel reminded me a lot of [b:Alex + Ada, Vol. 1|21823465|Alex + Ada, Vol. 1|Jonathan Luna|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1400878535s/21823465.jpg|42462394]. I really enjoyed the chapters told in Abel's POV. I thought the way his voice slowly evolves from logical to more emotional was great and really gave the story depth.
This is definitely not science-fiction heavy. True, it takes place in space and on spaceships and other planets, but I felt that at its heart it was about the characters and their relationships. While there is AI and advanced technology present, it is the gradual friendship formed between Noemi and Abel, Abel's relationship with his creator, and the will and drive of all characters wanting a better or different life that really makes this story.
I really liked the characters in this book. There was something very endearing about Abel, and watching him learn and grow as the story progressed. I honestly have a hard time reading sci-fi storylines, but I really enjoyed this book. :) can't wait for the second one.
Claudia Gray never seems to disappoint.
Claudia Gray never seems to disappoint.