Scan barcode
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Defy the Stars is sci-fi at its very best---it's exhilarating!
What Fed My Addiction:
Complex characters you'll love!
Noemi is the type of person you can't help but root for. She's a bit of an underdog---doomed from the start of the book to die, she's accepted her fate. After all, she doesn't feel like her life is worth much anyway. Her story is sad but compelling, and the first person to truly convince her of her intrinsic value is an android (with a soul, of course). Speaking of that android, Abel is fantastically complex. As the book progresses he realizes that he just might be "broken." After all, he has thoughts and feelings outside of his programming. Ironically, Abel is one of the funniest characters in the book---his sarcasm and his sometimes misguided understanding of human emotions make him a fascinating character. I loved every minute of him!
Action, pacing and worldbuilding.
This is the type of book that catches your attention from the very beginning and never lets up. I was enthralled, ready to follow Noemi and Abel to whatever exotic planets they led me to (there were a few, and they were all very distinct). The worldbuilding is incredibly complex and developed, but it never felt at all overbearing or confusing to me. I'm not a fan of over-complicated worldbuilding with tons of descriptions, but I want to have a good sense of the world and how and why it got that way---this book fits ALL of those criteria perfectly. Noemi and Abel encounter plenty of peril on their travels (and the heart of their mission itself is incredibly dangerous), so there's action throughout the book and the pacing felt perfect as well!
Religious undertones.
I was honestly a bit worried when I realized that this book had some religious undertones. As a Christian, those can be hit or miss for me (sometimes religion can be portrayed pretty poorly). But Gray manages to explore religious themes and the concept of religion without giving "right or wrong" answers and without making any one viewpoint look bad. She shows us good and bad sides to religion and she portrays a main character who isn't quite sure what she believes---she's searching for truth and for her own understanding of a religion that's been "given" to her. I think many people can relate to that concept. But, don't worry, if you don't like religious themes at all the book is very light on them---they're definitely there, but they don't overwhelm the plot in any way, shape or form, and they can pretty much be ignored if you prefer it that way.
What Left Me Hungry for More:
???
I can't think of a single thing. I'm sure there must have been something I didn't love, but if there was, it was completely overshadowed by the awesomeness.
With its amazingly complex characters, intense action, surprising twists and beautiful storytelling, Defy the Stars is a book you don't want to miss! I can't wait to read more Claudia Gray now---I've apparently been missing out!
This book gets 5/5 stars and I'm (somewhat hesitantly---only because it's the first in a series) dubbing it an All-Time Favorite.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Defy the Stars is sci-fi at its very best---it's exhilarating!
What Fed My Addiction:
Complex characters you'll love!
Noemi is the type of person you can't help but root for. She's a bit of an underdog---doomed from the start of the book to die, she's accepted her fate. After all, she doesn't feel like her life is worth much anyway. Her story is sad but compelling, and the first person to truly convince her of her intrinsic value is an android (with a soul, of course). Speaking of that android, Abel is fantastically complex. As the book progresses he realizes that he just might be "broken." After all, he has thoughts and feelings outside of his programming. Ironically, Abel is one of the funniest characters in the book---his sarcasm and his sometimes misguided understanding of human emotions make him a fascinating character. I loved every minute of him!
Action, pacing and worldbuilding.
This is the type of book that catches your attention from the very beginning and never lets up. I was enthralled, ready to follow Noemi and Abel to whatever exotic planets they led me to (there were a few, and they were all very distinct). The worldbuilding is incredibly complex and developed, but it never felt at all overbearing or confusing to me. I'm not a fan of over-complicated worldbuilding with tons of descriptions, but I want to have a good sense of the world and how and why it got that way---this book fits ALL of those criteria perfectly. Noemi and Abel encounter plenty of peril on their travels (and the heart of their mission itself is incredibly dangerous), so there's action throughout the book and the pacing felt perfect as well!
Religious undertones.
I was honestly a bit worried when I realized that this book had some religious undertones. As a Christian, those can be hit or miss for me (sometimes religion can be portrayed pretty poorly). But Gray manages to explore religious themes and the concept of religion without giving "right or wrong" answers and without making any one viewpoint look bad. She shows us good and bad sides to religion and she portrays a main character who isn't quite sure what she believes---she's searching for truth and for her own understanding of a religion that's been "given" to her. I think many people can relate to that concept. But, don't worry, if you don't like religious themes at all the book is very light on them---they're definitely there, but they don't overwhelm the plot in any way, shape or form, and they can pretty much be ignored if you prefer it that way.
What Left Me Hungry for More:
???
I can't think of a single thing. I'm sure there must have been something I didn't love, but if there was, it was completely overshadowed by the awesomeness.
With its amazingly complex characters, intense action, surprising twists and beautiful storytelling, Defy the Stars is a book you don't want to miss! I can't wait to read more Claudia Gray now---I've apparently been missing out!
This book gets 5/5 stars and I'm (somewhat hesitantly---only because it's the first in a series) dubbing it an All-Time Favorite.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
blueleaves's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
livinliterary's review against another edition
4.0
This book did not disappoint. Gray writing just pulls you in. You can tell she puts heart and soul into her writing and is deep into the story in her mind. And an awesome story it is.
snrkville's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
vickyposts's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved the world that this adventure took place in. I can't say much else about why without spoiling so I'll do that later. All the side characters that come in throughout the book are fully fleshed out, there is no cheap one off character, they all have motives and back stories.
For my full review with spoilers check out my blog at vickyposts.wordpress.com
For my full review with spoilers check out my blog at vickyposts.wordpress.com
bubblechase's review against another edition
4.0
Goodreads review: "MANAGED TO FINISH IT BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS!! is new years in an hour? mayhaps 👀 was this book a super nice read to end it with? absolutely 😌 i believe this was my first sci-fi read ever and even though it took me a while to get through, it didn’t feel long at all? :0 the characters and journey were so lovely, the ending made me big sad honestly only for how open it left everything? part of me just wanted it all wrapped in a nice envelope, but i suppose that’s part of the realism of it 🤔 i actually thought this was “this is how you lose the time war”, so, for the first maybe 30 pages, i was so convinced noemi was in love with her best friend (which, looking back, 100% believable) but, alas, the romance that did end up taking place was very beautiful and believable! especially under their circumstances 🤝 also, even though i’m sure the intention wasn’t this, but abel, our dearest mech friend, felt like such a relatable representation of misunderstanding social cues and idk, just, the inability to understand emotions and such aka headcannon for him is he’s autistic, even though i’m not sure if he can be bUT he’s also a mech with a soul and this is sci-fi sooo tomato tomato 😎 happy new year 🎉 here’s to all the other amazing (and not so amazing) future reads just like this one"
Abel gender envy :( I've met someone that reminds me of him now that I think about it, but I'm not sure if that'd be a compliment or not to them ksdfgnksd
Abel gender envy :( I've met someone that reminds me of him now that I think about it, but I'm not sure if that'd be a compliment or not to them ksdfgnksd
mllocy's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kikkireads123's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
missabby22_'s review against another edition
5.0
Slow start at first but very well- written. Initially, I thought a story about space wouldn't prove to be interesting however the plot developed well throughout the whole book.