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A review by katykelly
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
5.0
The nature of humanity is nicely examined in this exciting sci-fi with an empathic leading couple
Abel is a mech, created as a superior artificial being, who has, after 30 years spent locked up in an abandoned spacecraft, has developed something more of a consciousness than other mechs.
Noemi is a young woman who has signed up for a suicide mission to protect Genesis, the colony planet of a dying Earth that is rebelling to protect their way of life and home. Caught up in a battle in which her friend is badly injured, she unwittingly frees Abel from his decades-old prison when she boards his ship looking for medical supplies.
Abel is arrogant, dedicated to his creator and programming, but must obey Noemi as his new commander, and he is forced to agree to her plan involving his own destruction if it will save her home planet. Noemi begins by seeing only the mech, the artificial life. But his quirks, his questioning nature, his own humanity start to become more apparent - can she really destroy the being she is coming to respect and rely on?
The story takes the pair through several galaxies, to various planets as they search for materials they need to fulfil Noemi's mission, coming into contact with refugees, rebels, terrorists, who all help to make points about human nature, love, loyalty.
I found myself completely caught up in the story, the two main characters. Noemi is sometimes a little TOO moral, but she is resourceful, brave and dedicated to her cause. Abel, often more the focus of the two, is a highly attractive character that we are allowed to feel respect for and even see his burgeoning sense of humour through the narration.
It's a story that even feels quite real - a mixture of Star Wars, Wall-E and I Robot. I loved the themes, and seeing inside both the leads, especially Abel. His growth was great to follow.
This is the first in a series and I would definitely pick up the second if I saw it, I want to know what happens next, though the ending feels satisfying, the story has not finished and I want to see how the decades-old battle between the planets continues.
Abel is a mech, created as a superior artificial being, who has, after 30 years spent locked up in an abandoned spacecraft, has developed something more of a consciousness than other mechs.
Noemi is a young woman who has signed up for a suicide mission to protect Genesis, the colony planet of a dying Earth that is rebelling to protect their way of life and home. Caught up in a battle in which her friend is badly injured, she unwittingly frees Abel from his decades-old prison when she boards his ship looking for medical supplies.
Abel is arrogant, dedicated to his creator and programming, but must obey Noemi as his new commander, and he is forced to agree to her plan involving his own destruction if it will save her home planet. Noemi begins by seeing only the mech, the artificial life. But his quirks, his questioning nature, his own humanity start to become more apparent - can she really destroy the being she is coming to respect and rely on?
The story takes the pair through several galaxies, to various planets as they search for materials they need to fulfil Noemi's mission, coming into contact with refugees, rebels, terrorists, who all help to make points about human nature, love, loyalty.
I found myself completely caught up in the story, the two main characters. Noemi is sometimes a little TOO moral, but she is resourceful, brave and dedicated to her cause. Abel, often more the focus of the two, is a highly attractive character that we are allowed to feel respect for and even see his burgeoning sense of humour through the narration.
It's a story that even feels quite real - a mixture of Star Wars, Wall-E and I Robot. I loved the themes, and seeing inside both the leads, especially Abel. His growth was great to follow.
This is the first in a series and I would definitely pick up the second if I saw it, I want to know what happens next, though the ending feels satisfying, the story has not finished and I want to see how the decades-old battle between the planets continues.