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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I was able to read this book through NetGalley!
Set somewhere in the future, other planets have been discovered and inhabited, and at least one is at war with Earth, attempting to keep Earth's polluted minds off their pristine environment. This other planet, Genesis, lives simply, employing thousands of fighters in their quest to save their planet. Noemi is one of those fighters.
I liked the initial premise of this book. There's an oh-crap-we-used-up-our-resources-what-do-we-do-now idea that is, whether we like it or not, extremely relevant to our lives today. There's also an artificial intelligence component. However, Gray takes these two interesting themes and kind of just runs around with them. Sure, we were able to delve into the brain of Abel (the mech) to see how he thought, how he malfunctioned, etc., but it seemed to be all she did with it. I also found it a little slow. It just took me awhile to get through it.
Set somewhere in the future, other planets have been discovered and inhabited, and at least one is at war with Earth, attempting to keep Earth's polluted minds off their pristine environment. This other planet, Genesis, lives simply, employing thousands of fighters in their quest to save their planet. Noemi is one of those fighters.
I liked the initial premise of this book. There's an oh-crap-we-used-up-our-resources-what-do-we-do-now idea that is, whether we like it or not, extremely relevant to our lives today. There's also an artificial intelligence component. However, Gray takes these two interesting themes and kind of just runs around with them. Sure, we were able to delve into the brain of Abel (the mech) to see how he thought, how he malfunctioned, etc., but it seemed to be all she did with it. I also found it a little slow. It just took me awhile to get through it.
Read this review and more on my blog, uncovered-books.
Defy The Stars was original described as ‘Interstellar meets Blade Runner’ when I first read the synopsis on Goodreads. Since both Interstellar and Blade Runner are some of my favourite movies, to say I went into Defy The Stars with very high hopes is an understatement. What I got felt like a watered-down version of Blade Runner with not much Interstellar.
Gray does create an well thought out system of planets, with each planet being very different from the other. All of these planets are connect by a series of wormholes called the loop. Each planet has its own personality that is brought-to-life by its atmosphere and what life it is capable of sustaining.
Whilst I did enjoy the space side of it, what little of it there was it was unable to counter very uninteresting characters and a very boring and predictable plot. Both Noemi and Abel seemed very flat. Neither of them seemed to grow in anyway (although Abel does have a very good excuse, he is a robot), which considering what they go through is quite sad. Also looking back on the plot, the decisions that are made seemed even more illogical than when I first read them. How the story evolves should lead to an intriguing race against time ended up becoming an anti-climatic stroll through the loop.
Do not go into Defy The Stars expecting a book version of either Interstellar or Blade Runner as you only only disappoint yourself.
Defy The Stars was original described as ‘Interstellar meets Blade Runner’ when I first read the synopsis on Goodreads. Since both Interstellar and Blade Runner are some of my favourite movies, to say I went into Defy The Stars with very high hopes is an understatement. What I got felt like a watered-down version of Blade Runner with not much Interstellar.
Gray does create an well thought out system of planets, with each planet being very different from the other. All of these planets are connect by a series of wormholes called the loop. Each planet has its own personality that is brought-to-life by its atmosphere and what life it is capable of sustaining.
Whilst I did enjoy the space side of it, what little of it there was it was unable to counter very uninteresting characters and a very boring and predictable plot. Both Noemi and Abel seemed very flat. Neither of them seemed to grow in anyway (although Abel does have a very good excuse, he is a robot), which considering what they go through is quite sad. Also looking back on the plot, the decisions that are made seemed even more illogical than when I first read them. How the story evolves should lead to an intriguing race against time ended up becoming an anti-climatic stroll through the loop.
Do not go into Defy The Stars expecting a book version of either Interstellar or Blade Runner as you only only disappoint yourself.
really liked this, loved how a less traditional approach to 'space-machine-human-romance' relationships was developed and how the book contained so much depth :) bittersweet but amazing!!
Amazing. The story comes full circle. It was a little predictable what Mansfield wanted Able back for but that didn't bother me. Can't wait to read the next one. Gray is really good at slow paced romance and character development.
Great setup book to this trilogy, and it has a lot of great world building and solid character development. Wished there was more romance but the plot enough is satisfying. I definitely want to read more to see where things go for the main characters.
I don't like the present tense narration and I don't really care about the MC's.
Defy the Stars had me from page 1. The plot plunges right into action, with interesting characters and world building. I’m not a huge fan of the robot (or whatever) who wants to become “real,” but the author does a good job with this particular plot device and I bought into it.
Earth is approaching collapse after years of environmental destruction. The people of Earth have created “gates” that allow them to visit other solar systems, and they have chosen four planets as replacements for Earth. However, the people still living on Earth have learned nothing about good stewardship. The settlers on the planet Genesis have taken the mistakes made on Earth to heart and are trying to keep their planet healthy. They are fighting to keep the people of Earth from ruining Genesis as well.
Noemi is a Genesis soldier. She has volunteered to go on a suicide mission with other volunteers. I would have preferred that Noemi be a little older – maybe 21 or 22 rather than 17 - but this book is aimed at young adults and so she is a teenager.
Noemi and Abel, the “mech” (aka robot) that she finds on an abandoned Earth ship, are both strong but flawed. I liked them both and enjoyed the alternating points of view. Noemi and Abel embark on a mission Noemi hopes will end the war between Genesis and Earth. This takes them to each of the other planets and to Earth. The best part of the book by far for me was the descriptions of the four colonized planets, all very different and with very different inhabitants. Some of the people they meet get caught up in their plans and have their own moments to shine. (Oddly, one character is mentioned multiple times throughout the book but never actually appears. Perhaps he will appear in the sequel.)
Let’s face it, the plot is not particularly original, but I enjoyed the ride all the same. There is a fair amount about faith and God, which surprised me, but I didn’t find it heavy handed. I look forward to reading the sequel some day.
Defy the Stars will appeal to fans of the Starbound series by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I read an advance reader copy of Defy the Stars.
Earth is approaching collapse after years of environmental destruction. The people of Earth have created “gates” that allow them to visit other solar systems, and they have chosen four planets as replacements for Earth. However, the people still living on Earth have learned nothing about good stewardship. The settlers on the planet Genesis have taken the mistakes made on Earth to heart and are trying to keep their planet healthy. They are fighting to keep the people of Earth from ruining Genesis as well.
Noemi is a Genesis soldier. She has volunteered to go on a suicide mission with other volunteers. I would have preferred that Noemi be a little older – maybe 21 or 22 rather than 17 - but this book is aimed at young adults and so she is a teenager.
Noemi and Abel, the “mech” (aka robot) that she finds on an abandoned Earth ship, are both strong but flawed. I liked them both and enjoyed the alternating points of view. Noemi and Abel embark on a mission Noemi hopes will end the war between Genesis and Earth. This takes them to each of the other planets and to Earth. The best part of the book by far for me was the descriptions of the four colonized planets, all very different and with very different inhabitants. Some of the people they meet get caught up in their plans and have their own moments to shine. (Oddly, one character is mentioned multiple times throughout the book but never actually appears. Perhaps he will appear in the sequel.)
Let’s face it, the plot is not particularly original, but I enjoyed the ride all the same. There is a fair amount about faith and God, which surprised me, but I didn’t find it heavy handed. I look forward to reading the sequel some day.
Defy the Stars will appeal to fans of the Starbound series by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I read an advance reader copy of Defy the Stars.
Once this novel gets going the action really doesn't stop! Noemi is a seventeen year old soldier from Genesis, a planet at war with Earth. Humans have destroyed much of Earth and have spent decades trying to colonise other planets that can support human life. Genesis was their best hope, but the colonists quickly realised that the Earth authorities hadn't learned from their mistakes and declared independence. Since then the two sides have warred, but where Genesis only have human fighters, Earth use 'mechs', sophisticated AI.
Abel is the most sophisticated mech ever created, but has been stranded in space after his creator was forced to abandon ship near Genesis thirty years prior. Noemi discovers his ship during a battle and, as the only human in proximity, becomes his commander. Abel has to let Noemi order him into actions that go against everything he had been taught.
The story works because of the characters. Noemi and Abel are completely believable, including Abel's realisation that he is able to feel real emotions (such as love - but thankfully while that is explored a little, it doesn't become just another space love story). There is constant peril, high stakes, and great world building as Gray navigates us around the different planets and moons of the future colonies of Earth. I very much enjoyed this.
Abel is the most sophisticated mech ever created, but has been stranded in space after his creator was forced to abandon ship near Genesis thirty years prior. Noemi discovers his ship during a battle and, as the only human in proximity, becomes his commander. Abel has to let Noemi order him into actions that go against everything he had been taught.
The story works because of the characters. Noemi and Abel are completely believable, including Abel's realisation that he is able to feel real emotions (such as love - but thankfully while that is explored a little, it doesn't become just another space love story). There is constant peril, high stakes, and great world building as Gray navigates us around the different planets and moons of the future colonies of Earth. I very much enjoyed this.
Spectacular book. Great world building, characters, plot, etc., and...
Let’s just take a moment to appreciate Abel.
HE’S JUST SO WONDERFUL...no, no, I don’t mean that he’s my fictional crush or anything, but he is a FANTASTIC character.
Also, is it just me, or did anyone else imagine Burton Mansfield exactly like Professor Bruttenholm in “Hellboy”? I mean, he called Abel “my boy” and everything...
/Users/Madeline/Desktop/john-hurt-as-trevor-broom-bruttenholm-in.jpg
Nope?
Just me?
I thought so.
Anyway, a must read for all of you.
“Aaaaaaaaaah....wham-bam, THANK YOU, ma’am!”
(I dunno why I put that in there...that’s all that comes to mind when I think of what makes this book good, despite the lack of David Bowie references of any kind...)
Let’s just take a moment to appreciate Abel.
HE’S JUST SO WONDERFUL...no, no, I don’t mean that he’s my fictional crush or anything, but he is a FANTASTIC character.
Also, is it just me, or did anyone else imagine Burton Mansfield exactly like Professor Bruttenholm in “Hellboy”? I mean, he called Abel “my boy” and everything...
/Users/Madeline/Desktop/john-hurt-as-trevor-broom-bruttenholm-in.jpg
Nope?
Just me?
I thought so.
Anyway, a must read for all of you.
“Aaaaaaaaaah....wham-bam, THANK YOU, ma’am!”
(I dunno why I put that in there...that’s all that comes to mind when I think of what makes this book good, despite the lack of David Bowie references of any kind...)