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Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
4.0

Finished, minutes before midnight on April 22, 2017.
Ahhhhhhhhhh *inaudible screeching*

I DEVOURED this book. It was everything.

I need to sleep now but then I promise, I'll have a more thought-out review.

[update: 4/25/17]

That's what the dead would tell the living, if they could-- to grab hold of joy whenever it comes.

Even days later, I'm still at a loss for words. But maybe that's because I haven't tried to write a real review in a while. My mind's a little rusty now. But my fingers seem to know how to type all my rambling thoughts so maybe we'll be okay.

Claudia Gray is one of those authors that I always have on my list. I really enjoyed A Thousand Pieces of You but never read the subsequent novels because there was always something else to read. (I know, I'm terrible but sometimes series aren't as compelling to finish when there are shiny new books to read.) Her Star Wars novels are also on my TBR.

"Or die trying," Virginia replies. "Quick, laugh like that's a joke and not our actual literal deaths on the line."

This book is witty. And heartwarming. And dealt with a lot of things. Like what'll happen when we kill the Earth (because at this rate, it's pretty inevitable). And what it means to be human. And what it means to have a soul. It address the human condition.

Noemi grieves the loss of her best friend (spoiler? kinda? sorry but it's exposition-- I don't even remember her name. Wait...I do! It's Esther. HAH. And I didn't even have to look it up. *feels smug*) She goes on a journey to find out who she really is and that's what we're all looking to find out right? You question your beliefs as you grow because maybe you learn something that broadens your horizon. Noemi learns more about herself, her adoptive parents, and the planet she calls home. There's a war going on, but there's always more than one side to a story. Noemi has to find out all she can in order to save her planet, Genesis.

Abel. Oh Abel. What can I say about you? Clearly, my favorite character. He's a mech. The only one of his kind and he's been abandoned for 30 years. He's had some time to think about things. And it turns out, he has lots of thoughts. And they're wonderful.

"They keep these elite scientists amused somehow. They guy talked about fun, remember? So we'll be people who help them have fun."
"I thought you were opposed to engaging in prostitution to fund our travels."
"That's not what I--is prostitution your answer for everything?"

I loved Abel's thought process. I loved everything about him. I really do.

I enjoyed the world-building. It was just enough for my mind to fill-in the rest. I love sci-fi so it was cool to see a book that was so intensely character based in a sci-fi setting. Abel and Noemi are on opposite sides of the spectrum so it's fun to see them pitted against each other as main characters.

In any case, this book was wonderful. And thoughtful. And you should read it.

(I'm also going to just ignore the fact that I just kinda ended the review because I couldn't think of a tidier way to wrap it up. Please forgive me. I'm still getting back into the swing of this.)