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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
What could have been a standard space adventure feels different thanks to the addition of some rather sophisticated questions about robots (can they have our sense of individuality? can they develop a sense of self? how much self-determination is there if they are essentially programmed?). Abel is in some ways a younger version of Data, and his relationships with Noemi and his creator are depicted realistically enough to elevate this from dystopian-adventure. The adventure and dystopian parts aren't bad either.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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:
No
I really enjoyed Gray’s Firebird series; I loved the way she handled an intricate multi-universe and dimensional travel but when I heard that she was tackling space… but not only space, but artificial intelligence, rebellion, war and because it’s Gray a complex romance?
I couldn’t be more aboard if I tried and I’d like to start my review off with saying that Claudia Gray does not disappoint! Defy the Stars starts with Noemi Vidal, a seventeen-year-old soldier fighting to save her planet. In a matter of weeks Noemi is expected to give her life in order to give her people the time they need to come up with a way to win a war against the humans and androids/mechs of Earth.
Abel is an advanced mech that nobody knows exists except for his creator and master, Professor Burton Mansfield. Abel has been trapped on a deserted ship in space for 30 years until Noemi stumbles aboard searching for help. Due to being rescued Abel allows for Noemi to become his temporary master believing it to be a step closer to getting back to Mansfield. Although Noemi uses her new position to her advantage and drags Abel across the universe in order to save her own life and her planet.
“I thought you were opposed to engaging in prostitution to fund our travels.”
“That’s not what I—is prostitution your answer for everything?”
^ Hard to explain but oh my god, I laughed so hard. You'll get it once you read it ;)
What I loved about this book was that Earth was the villain. Earth got greedy, created mechs and once they had destroyed their planet they took over another one. This is totally believable; I mean I can totally see this happening. The world building and plot was slow in the beginning but soon picks up. Gray has created a beautiful universe that she shows off to it’s full potential.
The relationship between Noemi and Abel was one I truly savored. Abel slowly becomes more human the more social interaction he’s involved with, I mean watching him finally use sarcasm was such a highlight for me. I didn’t think a relationship between an AI and a human could have so much snark but Gray managed to pull it off, some scenes were hilarious! Poor Noemi grew so much as a person, it took me a while to warm to her character but once I did I became so invested in her story.
“Your soul is bigger than your programming.”
Defy the Stars was the best mix of the Starbound series and Illuminae. Noemi and Abel battle across the galaxy in order to save the people they love. Loyalty and love are both tested and there’s more than one beautiful moment that had me questioning humanity, filled with terror for my favourite characters and bursting with pride and love them. In short this book will put you through the ringer but it’s more than worth it, I can't wait for book two!
Literary-ly Obsessed (Blog) | Twitter | Instagram
I couldn’t be more aboard if I tried and I’d like to start my review off with saying that Claudia Gray does not disappoint! Defy the Stars starts with Noemi Vidal, a seventeen-year-old soldier fighting to save her planet. In a matter of weeks Noemi is expected to give her life in order to give her people the time they need to come up with a way to win a war against the humans and androids/mechs of Earth.
Abel is an advanced mech that nobody knows exists except for his creator and master, Professor Burton Mansfield. Abel has been trapped on a deserted ship in space for 30 years until Noemi stumbles aboard searching for help. Due to being rescued Abel allows for Noemi to become his temporary master believing it to be a step closer to getting back to Mansfield. Although Noemi uses her new position to her advantage and drags Abel across the universe in order to save her own life and her planet.
“I thought you were opposed to engaging in prostitution to fund our travels.”
“That’s not what I—is prostitution your answer for everything?”
^ Hard to explain but oh my god, I laughed so hard. You'll get it once you read it ;)
What I loved about this book was that Earth was the villain. Earth got greedy, created mechs and once they had destroyed their planet they took over another one. This is totally believable; I mean I can totally see this happening. The world building and plot was slow in the beginning but soon picks up. Gray has created a beautiful universe that she shows off to it’s full potential.
The relationship between Noemi and Abel was one I truly savored. Abel slowly becomes more human the more social interaction he’s involved with, I mean watching him finally use sarcasm was such a highlight for me. I didn’t think a relationship between an AI and a human could have so much snark but Gray managed to pull it off, some scenes were hilarious! Poor Noemi grew so much as a person, it took me a while to warm to her character but once I did I became so invested in her story.
“Your soul is bigger than your programming.”
Defy the Stars was the best mix of the Starbound series and Illuminae. Noemi and Abel battle across the galaxy in order to save the people they love. Loyalty and love are both tested and there’s more than one beautiful moment that had me questioning humanity, filled with terror for my favourite characters and bursting with pride and love them. In short this book will put you through the ringer but it’s more than worth it, I can't wait for book two!
Literary-ly Obsessed (Blog) | Twitter | Instagram
This was incredibly ridiculous but also really fun. Everything seemed to happen JUSTSO and the characters other than Abel were essentially undifferentiated, yet I really enjoyed reading it. Kind of Twilight in space? Like, you know it's bad, yet it's so entertaining. Would make total sense as a screenplay.
so so so good. super witty writing, and a story that while I was able to predict many of the twists, didn’t feel tired. I love all the characters so much and they all felt well developed. Any book that makes me laugh as much as this one did deserves 5 stars
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
*4.5 stars*
So I LOVED this book, much more than I thought I was going to! I've also read the Firebird Trilogy by Claudia Gray, and while I really appreciated the world and science in those books, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. In this book, though, I definitely did! Noemi and Abel were GREAT characters that I can't wait to continue reading about in the second book!
The world was really cool, and I can't wait to see what else is done with it. I also loved how Noemi and Abel interacted with people from each world but they didn't make like a *space crew.* While I love that too, this book was meant to be about THEM, and I found that was done successfully! My only real complaint is that sometimes I felt like the writing was a tad confusing. It's hard to explain, but overall there were just a few times I would read a sentence and not feel like I had all of the information. But obviously I still came out of the story knowing what went down haha. I was hoping for a slightly bigger showdown at the end of this book as well, but I have a feeling that might be being saved for later....
In the end, I think what truly gave this book stardom status in my eyes was the relationship between Noemi and Abel. I ADORE the "someone changing another and making them more human" idea, and that's exactly what this was. I thought it was done fantastically. I also loved the discussion about religion in this book. It wasn't overbearing and it was also respectful to all religions.
I actually had a couple quotes I wrote down from this book as well, which doesn't happen too often!
"The opposite of faith isn't doubt. The opposite of faith is certainty."
"Humans may mistreat those they love. Sometimes they abandon them entirely. They couldn't do that if they felt the way Abel feels in this moment. They couldn't even imagine it."
So I LOVED this book, much more than I thought I was going to! I've also read the Firebird Trilogy by Claudia Gray, and while I really appreciated the world and science in those books, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. In this book, though, I definitely did! Noemi and Abel were GREAT characters that I can't wait to continue reading about in the second book!
The world was really cool, and I can't wait to see what else is done with it. I also loved how Noemi and Abel interacted with people from each world but they didn't make like a *space crew.* While I love that too, this book was meant to be about THEM, and I found that was done successfully! My only real complaint is that sometimes I felt like the writing was a tad confusing. It's hard to explain, but overall there were just a few times I would read a sentence and not feel like I had all of the information. But obviously I still came out of the story knowing what went down haha. I was hoping for a slightly bigger showdown at the end of this book as well, but I have a feeling that might be being saved for later....
In the end, I think what truly gave this book stardom status in my eyes was the relationship between Noemi and Abel. I ADORE the "someone changing another and making them more human" idea, and that's exactly what this was. I thought it was done fantastically. I also loved the discussion about religion in this book. It wasn't overbearing and it was also respectful to all religions.
I actually had a couple quotes I wrote down from this book as well, which doesn't happen too often!
"The opposite of faith isn't doubt. The opposite of faith is certainty."
"Humans may mistreat those they love. Sometimes they abandon them entirely. They couldn't do that if they felt the way Abel feels in this moment. They couldn't even imagine it."
The plot was plain, but that's fine if you plan to have a lot of content within it. There wasn't.
The planets were not particularly interesting, just like Star Wars' planets. The main characters were not fleshed out good.
Noemi was a basic hero. She cares about all living things, and protecting it. She has no selfish motivation in her body, which ironically, makes her less human.
Abel was obsessed with approval from his creator, as well as protecting him and admiring him. He basically transfers that programming, and projects it onto Noemi.
And the author calls it love.
Noemi is sooo basic, she couldn't even have the will to love the robot back. Even when she realized he had a "soul", she basically treated him like she would any other human she knows. Someone she has to protect .
Boring. Where are your desire? Aspirations?
All she kept talking about was the masada run or esther, as if that instantly gives a person character. She had this "holier than thou" complex I swear.
She said:
“Well, it’s my life. I’m willing to give it up to save a whole world. I think anybody decent would do the same thing.”
Get off your fucking high horse. You don't have to be suicidal to be a good person, and just because you're willing to die doesn't mean your a good person.
Noemi was weirdly annoying.
I don't think her religious background was implemented well into the overarching moral of what it means to be human. Her issues as well were more about self doubt, but it was done terribly, and it does nothing to teach Abel how to he human.
I don't know why I finished this.
The planets were not particularly interesting, just like Star Wars' planets. The main characters were not fleshed out good.
Noemi was a basic hero. She cares about all living things, and protecting it. She has no selfish motivation in her body, which ironically, makes her less human.
Abel was obsessed with approval from his creator, as well as protecting him and admiring him. He basically transfers that programming, and projects it onto Noemi.
And the author calls it love.
Noemi is sooo basic, she couldn't even have the will to love the robot back. Even when she realized he had a "soul", she basically treated him like she would any other human she knows. Someone she has to protect .
Boring. Where are your desire? Aspirations?
All she kept talking about was the masada run or esther, as if that instantly gives a person character. She had this "holier than thou" complex I swear.
She said:
“Well, it’s my life. I’m willing to give it up to save a whole world. I think anybody decent would do the same thing.”
Get off your fucking high horse. You don't have to be suicidal to be a good person, and just because you're willing to die doesn't mean your a good person.
Noemi was weirdly annoying.
I don't think her religious background was implemented well into the overarching moral of what it means to be human. Her issues as well were more about self doubt, but it was done terribly, and it does nothing to teach Abel how to he human.
I don't know why I finished this.
Someone hold me, I'm dying here! Like I'm sobbing myself to death. Uuuuugh I don't think I have the right mind to review this book, I am emotionally unstable and probably mentally unstable too. So yeah, I'm not gonna review [b:Defy the Stars|31423196|Defy the Stars (Defy the Stars #1)|Claudia Gray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484967166s/31423196.jpg|47841519], instead, I'm gonna rave about it.
Usually, Sci-Fi and Romance doesn't work, at least not to me. But hell, [a:Claudia Gray|1192311|Claudia Gray|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234643683p2/1192311.jpg] has managed to do it twice (series-based) for me now. And I. Can't. Breathe. For real, I've been suffering from my sinusitis for two days now, and crying in the last few chapters of the book didn't help my condition. I even had to take my glasses off to wipe the fog off from my incessant tears. DTS has made me undone.
If you have ever watched Ex-Machina and feel manipulated, pick this up.
If you have ever watched Alien Covenant and got frustrated, read this.
If you have ever watched Ghost in the Shell and was emotionally distraught, you'll love this.
If you have ever watched Westworld and felt all those first three emotions, then freaking start the book now!
You must notice by now that the Movies and Series I've mentioned all goes back to one denominator: Robots, Machines, AI, whatever you call it, but they are composed of wires and metals, made with consciousness. Or something close to that. And here my friend, is where Ms. Gray will introduce you to a Universe filled with Mechs. Machines with 25 models designed with various tasks. Models named from letters B to Z. Here, you will be most acquainted with Charlie and Queen models, designed for war. There are George models too who are designed for work with more bureaucratic roles. There's the Tare model for medical assistance, Fox and Peter for pleasures, Yoke and Dog as house-helps. Among these models, there is one which is unique, one that is supposed-to-be a prototype and his name is Abel. Abel who I can't love enough. Like seriously, Ms. Gray outdone herself, she made him as Mech as possible but as unique as well. I just love how distinguishable Abel's POV is from Noemi, how the narration stops from being human and starts to be an AI.
What added to my admiration of this book is how the characters chose mythological Greek names for their ship. It was subtle at first and then suddenly, even as petty as naming a ship made the book more lovable and gave the whole book more meaning. And let's not get to the part where the ship got its last name it deserves because I don't wanna cry any more. This has been a very thrilling and fun (humor is on point) adventure despite being slightly heartbreaking. Defy the Stars has emotionally ruined me, took me to the Universe, showed the endless possibilities of humanity and what it means to be living, gave me an adventure to planets that never was there, harbored emotions that aren't mine but also is. There's always the heavy weight in my heart that the complication of Friendship, Humanity, Faith and Science brings. Jeez, the Science! Claudia Gray always make it easier for her readers to understand Science, she did it pretty flawlessly to [b:A Thousand Pieces of You|17234658|A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1)|Claudia Gray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1400166295s/17234658.jpg|23752694] and she did it again. Gaaaahd I need book two!
Usually, Sci-Fi and Romance doesn't work, at least not to me. But hell, [a:Claudia Gray|1192311|Claudia Gray|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234643683p2/1192311.jpg] has managed to do it twice (series-based) for me now. And I. Can't. Breathe. For real, I've been suffering from my sinusitis for two days now, and crying in the last few chapters of the book didn't help my condition. I even had to take my glasses off to wipe the fog off from my incessant tears. DTS has made me undone.
If you have ever watched Ex-Machina and feel manipulated, pick this up.
If you have ever watched Alien Covenant and got frustrated, read this.
If you have ever watched Ghost in the Shell and was emotionally distraught, you'll love this.
If you have ever watched Westworld and felt all those first three emotions, then freaking start the book now!
You must notice by now that the Movies and Series I've mentioned all goes back to one denominator: Robots, Machines, AI, whatever you call it, but they are composed of wires and metals, made with consciousness. Or something close to that. And here my friend, is where Ms. Gray will introduce you to a Universe filled with Mechs. Machines with 25 models designed with various tasks. Models named from letters B to Z. Here, you will be most acquainted with Charlie and Queen models, designed for war. There are George models too who are designed for work with more bureaucratic roles. There's the Tare model for medical assistance, Fox and Peter for pleasures, Yoke and Dog as house-helps. Among these models, there is one which is unique, one that is supposed-to-be a prototype and his name is Abel. Abel who I can't love enough. Like seriously, Ms. Gray outdone herself, she made him as Mech as possible but as unique as well. I just love how distinguishable Abel's POV is from Noemi, how the narration stops from being human and starts to be an AI.
What added to my admiration of this book is how the characters chose mythological Greek names for their ship. It was subtle at first and then suddenly, even as petty as naming a ship made the book more lovable and gave the whole book more meaning. And let's not get to the part where the ship got its last name it deserves because I don't wanna cry any more. This has been a very thrilling and fun (humor is on point) adventure despite being slightly heartbreaking. Defy the Stars has emotionally ruined me, took me to the Universe, showed the endless possibilities of humanity and what it means to be living, gave me an adventure to planets that never was there, harbored emotions that aren't mine but also is. There's always the heavy weight in my heart that the complication of Friendship, Humanity, Faith and Science brings. Jeez, the Science! Claudia Gray always make it easier for her readers to understand Science, she did it pretty flawlessly to [b:A Thousand Pieces of You|17234658|A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1)|Claudia Gray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1400166295s/17234658.jpg|23752694] and she did it again. Gaaaahd I need book two!
An intriguing mix of sci-fi and dystopian fiction, defy the stars is set several centuries in the future in a world where the inhabitants of earth have spread out across the stars. Earth itself is ravaged by climate change and seeks to exploit the other planets it has colonised. The world building alone is intriguing. The story, told from the point of Noemi, who is a soldier on a rebelling colony world, and Abel, an extremely advanced cybernetic being, asks deep questions about what it means to be human and what it means to really have or fight for freedom.