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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
2.5 stars
I nearly DNFed halfway through as I found the first half of the book to be rather boring. It was slow and didn't hold my attention as I didn't really care about the characters.
However in the second half the characters grew on me and with their own development I started to enjoy the book. I really liked the mech character Abel for his development and wit.
It wasn't incredible and I have read much better YA sci fi but in the end I did actually enjoy it. Unfortunately not enough to continue the series but enough to be glad I finished it.
I nearly DNFed halfway through as I found the first half of the book to be rather boring. It was slow and didn't hold my attention as I didn't really care about the characters.
However in the second half the characters grew on me and with their own development I started to enjoy the book. I really liked the mech character Abel for his development and wit.
It wasn't incredible and I have read much better YA sci fi but in the end I did actually enjoy it. Unfortunately not enough to continue the series but enough to be glad I finished it.
This is a time where earth has poisoned itself beyond repair and have begun to colonize other planets. And among those planets is Genesis. At this time Genesis has already separated from earths other colonized planets and fight earth to keep there freedom from not only other humans but Mechs who were built to fight and kill. Noemi is a soldier for Genesis and will do anything to protect her planet even if that means sacrificing her life. When things don’t go as planned, she finds herself on an abandoned enemy ship face to face with Mechs she’s been taught to destroy. This Mech is different ( in more ways that Noemi knows) he looks like no other Mech should and gives himself completely over to her command.
Abel is the only one of his kind and has been lost for 30 years until this human woman has found him. She is the highest ranking human around so he must follow her command even though she is an enemy of earth.
They set out together to complete a task that will save countless lives and Noemis in the process. As they travel the galaxy for what they need feelings change and trust grows.
Sooo, I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The book switches from Noemi to Abel’s POV every chapter. Its definitely more action packed then I would say romance but definitely slow burn. It’s there for sure so don’t get too disappointed. I am currently waiting for the 2nd and third book to arrive from Amazon which should be tomorrow so be looking for reviews of those as well. The book did end in their separation so I am really looking forward to them being reunited. I like to read books that are packed full of action but also have sex usually so if your looking for that you will be disappointed, but it’s ya so not a huge surprise but hopefully we will get more than a kiss in the next two books and even more action. Definitely worth the read!
Abel is the only one of his kind and has been lost for 30 years until this human woman has found him. She is the highest ranking human around so he must follow her command even though she is an enemy of earth.
They set out together to complete a task that will save countless lives and Noemis in the process. As they travel the galaxy for what they need feelings change and trust grows.
Sooo, I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The book switches from Noemi to Abel’s POV every chapter. Its definitely more action packed then I would say romance but definitely slow burn. It’s there for sure so don’t get too disappointed. I am currently waiting for the 2nd and third book to arrive from Amazon which should be tomorrow so be looking for reviews of those as well. The book did end in their separation so I am really looking forward to them being reunited. I like to read books that are packed full of action but also have sex usually so if your looking for that you will be disappointed, but it’s ya so not a huge surprise but hopefully we will get more than a kiss in the next two books and even more action. Definitely worth the read!
I wish we could add half stars. This would be a 3.5 for me. I really enjoyed it, but there were a few things in the author's writing style that were jarring to me. I really liked Abel and hopeful in the sequel that there is a reunion of the two major characters.
There's something about an AI gaining sentience, gaining awareness, gaining a soul that speaks to me. I just can't believe it took me so long to read this book. Yes, it has some typical YA elements, but I loved it.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
It’s been a few months since I read Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray, but I’ve thought about it often. A combination of sci-fi, dystopia, and even a little romance make it a top read for me this year. The book opens during a space battle and the action never slows. It hooked me from the first page and I didn’t want it to end. Plus it’s duel POV in limited 3rd person…..AMAZING!!!!
The premise of the book is pretty cool. Earth was apparently dying so they settled several planets by going through a worm hole to do so. Only one of those planets is identical (or as close as it can be) to Earth….Genesis. Genesis is everything Earth should have been. They believe in relying on nature as much as possible so as not to pollute and corrupt their world. And after so many years (I’m not really clear on how long they have been settled) they are fighting for their independence from Earth. This civil war has been raging for fifty years and GUYS!!!! It reminds me of a cross between Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars. Y’all it’s epic!
Noemi is young, but fierce. I love her and her dedication to her world. She believes in what she is fighting for and even volunteers to be a part of a suicide mission to disable the wormhole/blackhole thingy (sorry, I can’t remember what she actually calls it in the book). But the mission goes awry and she winds up finding Abel and taking a trip through the galaxies.
Abel is an oddity. He’s a mech, but not just any mech. He’s the original mech, the A version, the first. He was supposed to be rumor, but Noemi finds him alone, trapped on a disabled space ship where he has been for fifty years. Can you imagine being by yourself for fifty years, in the same room?! I’d die of boredom! It seems Abel has evolved. Abel is kind, he’s thoughtful, his brain has no filter which makes for several humorous miscommunications between him and Noemi. But most importantly for Noemi, he seems to have a soul. It’s hard to think of him as less than human, even if he is. The author has written his character so well…he even bleeds.
I love the relationship that builds between them. Abel is sweet and a little naive, while Noemi is bitter about the future she has set for herself. She wants to live, she wants to have a life, but she is doomed to die to save her world. It’s kind of heartbreaking her determination and willingness to sacrifice herself.
In addition to their relationship, the world-building is phenomenal. It’s everything I love about sci-fi in a young adult package. There are space battles, mechs that resemble cylons (yes cylons *squee*) and multiple worlds to explore. Each world is detailed and unique so you don’t get confused about where they are. Like Noemi, I want to be selfish and explore them all.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. While the pace in the beginning was kind of slow, it does a 180 about halfway through and I couldn’t read it fast enough. Beautifully written I can’t wait for the second book in the duology. If you enjoy scifi, I highly recommend it!
It’s been a few months since I read Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray, but I’ve thought about it often. A combination of sci-fi, dystopia, and even a little romance make it a top read for me this year. The book opens during a space battle and the action never slows. It hooked me from the first page and I didn’t want it to end. Plus it’s duel POV in limited 3rd person…..AMAZING!!!!
The premise of the book is pretty cool. Earth was apparently dying so they settled several planets by going through a worm hole to do so. Only one of those planets is identical (or as close as it can be) to Earth….Genesis. Genesis is everything Earth should have been. They believe in relying on nature as much as possible so as not to pollute and corrupt their world. And after so many years (I’m not really clear on how long they have been settled) they are fighting for their independence from Earth. This civil war has been raging for fifty years and GUYS!!!! It reminds me of a cross between Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars. Y’all it’s epic!
Noemi is young, but fierce. I love her and her dedication to her world. She believes in what she is fighting for and even volunteers to be a part of a suicide mission to disable the wormhole/blackhole thingy (sorry, I can’t remember what she actually calls it in the book). But the mission goes awry and she winds up finding Abel and taking a trip through the galaxies.
Abel is an oddity. He’s a mech, but not just any mech. He’s the original mech, the A version, the first. He was supposed to be rumor, but Noemi finds him alone, trapped on a disabled space ship where he has been for fifty years. Can you imagine being by yourself for fifty years, in the same room?! I’d die of boredom! It seems Abel has evolved. Abel is kind, he’s thoughtful, his brain has no filter which makes for several humorous miscommunications between him and Noemi. But most importantly for Noemi, he seems to have a soul. It’s hard to think of him as less than human, even if he is. The author has written his character so well…he even bleeds.
I love the relationship that builds between them. Abel is sweet and a little naive, while Noemi is bitter about the future she has set for herself. She wants to live, she wants to have a life, but she is doomed to die to save her world. It’s kind of heartbreaking her determination and willingness to sacrifice herself.
In addition to their relationship, the world-building is phenomenal. It’s everything I love about sci-fi in a young adult package. There are space battles, mechs that resemble cylons (yes cylons *squee*) and multiple worlds to explore. Each world is detailed and unique so you don’t get confused about where they are. Like Noemi, I want to be selfish and explore them all.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. While the pace in the beginning was kind of slow, it does a 180 about halfway through and I couldn’t read it fast enough. Beautifully written I can’t wait for the second book in the duology. If you enjoy scifi, I highly recommend it!
Noemi is a solider on a suicide mission to save her planet when she comes upon an abandoned enemy ship. But when she boards, she finds Abel, an advanced robot who appears human. He has been trapped for 30 years and only wants to return to his maker, but when Noemi boards the vessel, he is programmed to obey only her. She enlists him in her plot to overthrow the earth, and they start their journey through the the planets. But over time, she realizes that Abel is developing a soul, is becoming something more than a machine, a being with a soul, and she cannot send him to his death. Abel is discovering feeling within himself he never thought possible, and realizes he wants to be free of his creator.
An epic and romantic adventure, perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles and Illuminae.
An epic and romantic adventure, perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles and Illuminae.
Okay wOw this book is amazing, wish I could give it more stars. Very unique, gripping and fluid, finally a book I didn’t get bored of or find predictable. Characters with depth that I learnt to love (though the take on death/loss was shallow and unrealistic to me, but not too obviously/much of a complaint really. This did feel like a standalone so I’m both excited and nervous to see whether the next book holds up since I can’t see where it’s going
I would rate this more towards 3.5/5 stars. It was good, but not mind blowing.
I loved this so much! I love both Noemi and Abel! I just loved everything, okay!!! Of course I cried several times.
I enjoyed this book until the last like 100 pages. Everything started to conveniently come together and the “Abel saves the day” thing became kinda boring :/