This was a fast read and if you're looking for an exciting story in space this would be a good novel to try. The ending leaves me wanting (but then I found out it's a duology so that makes sense). Look forward to the next book as well and may have to read this authors other books.

This is one of the best robot/humanity stories I've read in a while (not quite as good as I, Robot or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep but overall excellent for a YA book).

I was sucked into the story from page one and absolutely fell in love with all of the characters. It is action-oriented but the author does a fantastic job of creating the small moments between characters that let the reader get to know them. The contrast between Abel's humanity and Noemi's emotional distance was striking. While the ending of Abel's story wasn't entirely unexpected, I was surprised by how emotionally invested I was.

The world really came alive for me. Claudia Gray does a fantastic job of introducing the world and the political issues without info dumping. Each of the different planets is very distinct and I was never confused as to which one the characters were referring to it (definitely a huge plus in science fiction). I loved that she showed both sides of the conflict between Earth and Genesis.

I'm already eagerly awaiting the sequel and can't wait to see what happens next. I would recommend this one for fans of science fiction or those who like strong character-based stories and don't mind some sci-fi.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley.

sometimes I am reminded of how many books I read and how forgetful I am in a "fun" way. case in point. I saw this on netgalley. I thought, Claudia Gray, that name is familiar, I must have read some of her books, didn't she write the star wars one? I didn't hate it. COMPLETELY forgetting that she also wrote the firebird trilogy, a series of books which I progressively loathed more with each new book. I read so many books that I sometimes vaguely recognize author names but can't identify their corpus before I go ahead and start reading a new one. sigh. this is the whole point of goodreads - so that I can look them up first. total fail on my part.

all that said this can be filed more under the "not terrible" category of that star wars one I read. or even the first firebird book before my complete disgust of the "heroine" took over.

things which were fun: space gates, space ships, Virginia, and Abel.

things which were less fun: paint by numbers storytelling, primarily dull romance (I understand it's hard when one half of it is a robot and the other half is Abel. ba dum ching. that's funny see because of how Noemi is pretty wooden throughout and yet Abel is the actual robot. but actually, yes, Abel is totally robotic a lot of the time too due to his programming and you know honestly these were two people who were going to have a tough time emoting a convincing relationship to the reader no matter what. you tried, honey, but your initial mistake was creating (figuratively) lead hearted heroes).

it's a first book in a series so the semi boring set up exposition is maybe to be expected. the introduction of several characters and then their departure from the storyline might mean they're coming back and not just that they were meaningless filler. time will tell. but I probably won't because unless I forget who she is again - (quite likely) - i have no real intention of reading the sequel.

it wasn't terrible. it just wasn't for me. if you liked firebird you'll most likely love it.

my review of firebird 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
firebird 2: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
firebird 3 where my language gets dirty: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
that star wars one I read: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Another readable fantasy from Gray, this one with a scifi twist.

Noemi is a Genesis soldier, fighting for her planet's independence from Earth. A war has been raging for decades, and there seems to be no end in sight. Earth uses robotic 'mech' armies to slaughter the soldiers of Genesis and assert their technological superiority. After an attack, Noemi finds herself on a deserted Earthen ship, looking for medical supplies. What she finds instead is the most advanced mech ever made, Abel. And he is programmed to follow her every command - even those that would act against Earth.

I know a lot of people who didn't like Defy the Stars and decided not to finish it, but there were also a ton of people in the book community that were super excited for it. I thought the synopsis sounded interesting, so I went in with an open mind. Ultimately, though, I ended up putting this book down after about 100 pages. There aren't any glaring, big problems with Defy the Stars. The reason I decided not to finish it boils down to two main things: it's boring and predictable and I didn't care about the characters or what happened to them at all.

I think both of these issues stem from the writing style of this book. The story is told in the third person from the alternating perspectives of Noemi and Abel, and the pacing was so slow. Despite a very slow start to the book, I wanted to keep giving it a chance. Even though there were some interesting developments in the plot, the pacing still dragged and the writing felt clunky. I felt like I was being told a story, instead of being immersed in it. All of the plot developments were so predictable as well. I bet I could predict how this book ends, because there were no interesting twists and turns in the story.

The third person point of view made it very difficult to connect with the characters. I was intrigued by Abel and his growing sense of humanity, but I didn't get enough in the 100 pages I read to convince me to hear the rest of his story. Noemi was so focused on her one mission of saving her planet that she felt more robotic than Abel. I felt no sympathy for her when she experienced pain and I didn't care about her enough to find out if her mission was successful.

I may eventually finish Defy the Stars, reading a chapter here and there until I finally learn the end of Noemi and Abel's saga. But that won't happen any time soon. I am so disappointed the I didn't enjoy this book because I have heard such amazing things about Claudia Gray and her writing. Defy the Stars fell completely flat for me though. If you want an awesome book with artificial intelligence that develops beyond its programming, skip this and read Illuminae. (Or watch Bicentennial Man...fantastic movie.)

Claudia Gray is one of my top three favorite authors. She was actually my first ever favorite Young Adult author. I found a copy of one of her books at a local thrift store during the huge vampire phase the world was going through and I fell in love with her work. This book was no exception.

Characters:
This book had a ton of characters. We have Noemi, she is a young Genesis soldier who is supposed to risk her life for the safety of her planet. Then we have Abel. He is an enemy mech-droid for the Earth army that is set on destroying the people of Genesis so that they may inhabit the planet because the people of earth killed their own. Those are our main characters. The story is told back and forth from their perspectives.

Then we have a ton of side characters that are mostly important to drive the plot home. I think the most prominent of these characters was probably Virginia. She helped the main characters reach their overall goal and was in more than one scene.

Plot:
The book is centralized around a few planets and a rather large war that is destroying the galaxy. Earth is the bad guy, or so it would appear. Genesis is a planet where everything is clean and they don't use a lot of machinery and if something isn't broken then they keep it and don't both with upgrading their technology. This has proved to be rather bad with Earth attacking them in an attempt to take over the planet and move the inhabitants there. Without newer and higher tech gear, Genesis is pretty much just buying time.

On the other side of the war is Earth. They have an army of mech droids they send to fight the people of Genesis. These mechs are very deadly against the dwindling forces of Genesis. Abel is, technically, a part of these mech droids. He was stranded 30 years ago near Genesis. His crew and maker abandoned the ship and Abel was left there to rot. But he didn't rot, as mechs have a very long lifespan, but being alone for 30 years has some pretty crappy effects on a person or, in this case, a mech-droid.

After Noemi and Abel's stories become entwined the plot shifts a little to a mission to stop the war. We go on this adventure with them to try and get supplies needed to destroy something that would, ultimately, help Genesis with the war and survival of their people.

So, the plot of the book is war.

World Building:
I really enjoyed the world the author made for us. I normally don't like Sci-Fi settings but considering she is a favorite author of mine, I had to, at least, give it a try. I was afraid it was going to be very Star-Trekky and I would hate it. But, Luckily, the only REAL Sci-Fi aspect of the book is the fact that it took place in space and a few other planets. Then you have the whole Mech-Army situation. The whole book had a kind of Avengers feel to it with the mechs. But I ended up really enjoying the entire book.

The world building was fine, yes, but I did have a few issues with picturing certain things. I couldn't really grasp the layout of the ship Abel was stranded in and that kind of sucked considering that was the main point where most of the story took place. But other than that, I really loved some of the images I had swarming in my head. I really would have loved to see more of the Earth from the book, though.

The ending just killed my soul entirely. You know how people sometimes talk about being at a funeral and instead of crying they want to laugh hysterically? That is how I felt when the book ended. ABEL!!! I know there will be more books but still. I needed them to be together. I NEEDED IT. And now I get to sit here for another year and be sad. BUT, this book will get reread a bunch of times, just like the authors Firebird trilogy. -swoon-

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.

I can't help but think that this one reminds me of Firefly with a twist esp. the end. I won't spoil it for you!! It blends artificial intelligence with war and the fight for survival. I really loved how it showed you that even if you think your world is right you really don't know the toll that, that decision is putting on the rest of the world. Although I feel for the world of Genisis and I understand why they are doing what they are. I can't help but think how they could also be helping the worlds at large.

This book was another that is an edge of your seat thrill ride and one that I couldn't put down. I really spent a lot of the book both wanting and not wanting the two MC's to fall in love. It just gets me that if they were to get together then what would come of it? Abel is a machine and Noemi is flesh and blood. What would that do if they did fall in love? Would Abel just out live her? Parts of this question were answered in this first book and I am happy to be shipping them full heartedly now.

This one doesnt end on a cliffhanger at all. Although I really can't wait for the next book to find out what happens with Abel and Noemi. When you get to the end of this one you will understand why.

This one showed you that life can be found in the least expected places and that love will always find a way.

If you love space and want a great adventure then I would try this one out. It gives the reader everything they could ask for. Death defying adventure, Romance, and more!

This YA Sci-Fi story was fast-paced and entertaining. I was really drawn to the main characters, Noemi and Abel, and how their relationship evolved throughout the story. Generally, the chapters alternated between Noemi's and Abel's points of view. It was especially fun to read Abel's thoughts as he becomes "more human" as the story goes on. One of the best things about the story was Noemi and Abel's bantering and their ever-growing attraction. I thought the author did a great job with the world-building because each planet did have its own feel to it. The issues that Earth and Genesis faced seemed very plausible and I was invested in Noemi's attempt to save Genesis. I would have liked a map of where the planets and gates were located in relation to each other, but that's just me. I thought the amount of action was just right and liked that the stakes kept rising higher. The ending is not a cliffhanger, per se, but it does leave the story begging for a firm ending. One thing that did throw me off was the inclusion of God/religious conversations. I personally love reading Christian fiction so I have no problem with God-talk. However, it didn't seem like it fit right with this story and it didn't seem to flow with what was happening at the time. I felt whenever Noemi brought up God, it was out of the blue and often jarring. That's just my opinion, maybe other readers enjoyed it. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this first book in the series and look forward to the next book -4.5 stars.
* I received this book free of charge from NetGalley.

3.5 stars

I kind of loved this book. I did find the plot somewhat confusing so that is why this book only gets 3.5 stars from me. However, the writing was just excellent.

Generally I prefer realistic fiction to sci-fi books but the cover on this one is just amazing and drew me in. Main character, Naomi is this snarky badass and Abel is a know it all who somehow manages to be charmingly hilarious. I just loved both of them from the start.

This book was action packed and of course had a little romance mixed in too. I already can't wait to read the second book!

Noemi was born and raised on the planet Genesis, an Earth colony planet far across the galaxy. Genesis was supposed to be a new home that settlers from Earth could locate to now that their planet is practically inhabitable but the colonists have found their own paradise and they aren't willing to let citizens from Earth ruin everything they've worked so hard to create. If there is one thing humans are good at it's stripping a planet of all it's natural resources and destroying it from the ground up and Genesis are determined to stop that happening on their own planet. Genesis have been at war with Earth for years and they've suffered huge casualties, not helped by the fact that Earth have build mech warriors to do their fighting for them. The colonists stand no chance against an army of robots so their only option is to try and destroy the gateway that allows the enemy ships to reach them.

Noemi is on a practice run with the rest of her squadron when they are caught by a surprise influx of enemy ships. When her closest friend is badly injured Noemi is forced to take refuge on an abandoned Earth ship in search for medical supplies. It's not until she boards the ship that she discovers it wasn't quite empty after all. Abel is a mech who was accidentally left behind when his ship was damaged and he's spent 30 years trapped and waiting for rescue. The last thing he expected was for his rescuer to be one of the enemy but his programming insists he follow the orders of the highest ranking human on the ship and as Noemi is the only human on board that puts her squarely in charge. It doesn't take long for Noemi to realise that Abel might be the key to Genesis winning the war against Earth but the more time she spends with him the more she starts to realise that he isn't just an ordinary mech and perhaps there is a flaw in her plan after all.

I have to admit it took me a little while to get fully sucked into this story but by the time I got a few chapters in I was completely hooked. Noemi and Abel are both great characters in their own way, Noemi is fierce and willing to sacrifice anything to save her people while Abel is so much more than a simple robot. Abel is one of a kind, he was built to experience things the way humans do and he grows and learns just like any other person. As she gets to know him Noemi starts asking herself all sorts of questions about what it means to be human and whether a manmade artificial intelligence can actually have a soul. I loved watching these two grow as they got to know each other better, they started out as enemies but gradually learn to respect each other as they work side by side to achieve a common goal. There are hints of a romance which could have been weird but Abel was so human like in his mannerisms that it was easy to forget that he's actually a robot inside.

Defy the Stars is mostly an adventure story though, Noemi and Abel travel to several different planets as they work together trying to stop the war between Earth and Genesis and they meet lots of interesting characters along the way. The story was fast paced and there was always something new happening to keep me on my toes. I don't want to say much more but there are some great twists and this is the kind of story that will stick with you long after you've finished reading because it will really make you think about some of the issues raised. I absolutely love the main characters and its surprisingly easy to ship a romance between a human girl and a mech boy so I can't wait to see how their story continues in the next book!

This was such a joy to read. I loved the relationship between Noemi and Abel and all the many twists and turns the development of their relationship took over the course of the book. I really enjoyed seeing both of them grow as individuals and the eventual trust and regard that they came to have for one another. The story raised thought provoking questions of just how far should humans grown in their quest to create more and more artificial intelligence and what happens to those creations when you have made yourself God? I cannot wait for the next book to come out to see how things continue to progress for Noemi and Abel and the vastly different worlds they hail from.

I'm glad I got to read this book. I liked it! Naomi is fighting to save her planet, Genesis. Mechs from Earth have been unleashed to go and destroy worlds. Why do evil villains do that? Anyway, Abel isn't able to kill Naomi, his programing prohibits that. What happens next is a tour of the galaxy, planets, wars, romance, adventure, drama and plain fun to read Sci-Fi. I hope to read more books by this author.

My copy came from Net Galley. I wasn't required to leave a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Defy The Stars by Claudia Gray was truly an amazing read. Claudia Gray kept me turning the pages, so I could out what happened. Defy The Stars took me out and away from Earth, and took me to various gates beyond normal space travel .Noemi Vital is a fighter for her planet Genesis, and as a battle ensues, she and her foster sister Ester come across an abandoned research vessel. Within the research ship she meets Abel, a mech, unlike any she has ever come across.. Noemi tries to go back home, but that proves to be more difficult. Abel, programmed by one of the mech creators, he must abide what Noemi wants him to do. Then not only is Noemi wanted, Abel becomes wanted too. As time goes on, Noemi and Abel change, and wonder what truly is important.

I am a big Sci-fi fan so I was so excited to read Defy the Stars. I admit I am a little leary of AI though. I also think in my head I’m not going to like it, or I couldn’t ever think of the machine as something else. This story really sucked me in and I really enjoyed not only the AI but also the journey across the galaxy.

I started thinking of the planets as different things that humans seek; Genesis is Faith, Kismet is Pleasure, Cray is Knowledge, Stronghold is discipline and Earth is desire/greed. I think there are many ways you could label them but it’s interesting how they fall into these categories. I loved that each one had a broadcast welcome message. Like the promo you have on the tv when you stay at a hotel. I also really liked that they didn’t just explore each planet. They got to know different characters while they were there. It gave each place a different layer.

Defy the Stars is a long book. About 500 pages worth, but there was a second that I would cut out. I was riveted through the entire thing.

Noemi is such an interesting character and I think that stems with the fact that she has made peace with dying and that nobody would miss her. She doesn’t really see her life has holding any significant value except for protecting her best friend Esther. As she travels the galaxy I think she learns there is value in just being and life can be a set of dominos that put other things in motion. I liked how kick butt her character is from the beginning but she also has room to develop. She has very keen mind and good instincts.

Abel, it’s funny I wasn’t sure what I was going to expect from him. He’s a machine, a droid. Not a person of flesh and blood. Then again as you get to know him and be in his head you see him as so much more. I love how arrogant and superior he is in the beginning. He also shows a great deal of character development throughout the book.

Noemi and Abel together are a force to be reckoned with. It doesn’t matter if they at odds with one another or on the same team. They have a dynamite combination. I really enjoyed the how they play off one another through the story.

There are lots a of great side characters. Which is something I always really enjoy, especially in a Sci-fi. Again I think it’s such a great way to show the many layers of a world that you might not know much about.

I really enjoyed Defy the Stars. The book had me riveted and as a Sci-fi fan I was very pleased with the writing, the plot and the characters.

Noemi is a pilot dedicated to protecting and defending her planet Genesis. Earth has destroyed much of its resources and now wants to dominate the other worlds that it has colonized. Noemi and other pilots have agreed to a future suicide mission to prevent Earth from attacking. While on a mission, Noemi’s best friend is hurt and in trying to rescue her friend, Noemi comes face to face with an advanced mechanical soldier who’s been stranded on a spaceship for 40 years. This soldier, Abel, has amazing intellectual capabilities, tremendous strength and even an eerie humanlike manner. Despite being enemies, Abel is programmed to follow all orders of his commander and at the moment, Noemi is the one he must obey. The two work together to save Genesis and prevent the mass suicide plan, but time is running out and they may not get there in time. Gray’s characters are memorable. Abel is remarkable and his growth is fascinating. He impresses with his increasing awareness, his developing thought process and his increasing humanity. Noemi is loyal, dedicated to her people and a fast thinker who proves to be a great problem solver. Together, they develop a bond that slowly grows into an attraction. The premise is insightful, focusing on Earth and its destructive ways that cause the planet to look to dominate areas that are untainted. It’s almost a prophetic look at what we could do to our environment if we are not careful. This is a winning book that certainly will please readers.

Well written, engaging characters. Yes, there is a bit of romance, but that is not the real focus of the story. If you enjoyed Star Trek's Data, then you will enjoy Abel's search for humanity.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series, and I hope some of the minor characters play a bigger role.
Recommended for SF lovers.

Noemi Vidal is a seventeen year old solider who is willing to die from her planet. Able is a construct - part flesh and part machine. The two are and should be enemies but a unexpected battle brings them together. I loved both characters. Able is so much more that what he was designed to be. Noemi changes as the two of them work to stop a war that has been going on for ages. This is almost a romance as Able comes to love Noemi but it stops short when they both go their own way after a very exciting adventure. This was one I could not put down. I loved the premise and how Gray used it to keep the story filled with great characters and exciting action. I recommend this for any SciFi fan. I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Defy the Stars is a masterfully spun sci-fi novel in a flashy and exciting universe. The Romeo and Juliet-like romance between the Genesis soldier, Noemi and the AI from earth, Abel is yet another impeccable pairing from Gray, who proved in LOST STARS that romance and science fiction were where writing excelled. Each planet that Noemi and Abel visit in their journey is fascinating and well defined and the characters they meet along the way are all vibrantly sketched.

Defy the Stars was an epic space adventure. The people of Earth have found other planets that they began inhabiting years ago. However, generations have passed and not everyone wants contact with Earth any longer. The main character Noemi is a soldier from Genesis, a beautiful planet that has been in a long war with Earth. On a practice mission, she meets a mech named Abel who happens to be one of the most sophisticated pieces of machinery ever built. Though she has been taught that technology is not always a good thing, she must work with Abel if she wants to save her planet.
I have to admit, the third person present tense of this book was not easy to get into at first. It felt too far removed from the characters and I had to force myself to keep reading. But once I got past that aspect, I really enjoyed the intergalactic adventure that Noemi and Abel find themselves on. I love all things related to outer space, I've just always had a fascination with the subject and I definitely wasn't disappointed there! Noemi and Abel travel though wormholes and to different planets. There is drama, some action, and a bit of romance. Definitely give this book a shot if you're interested in a space adventure!

Defy the Stars is the first installment in author Claudia Gray's Defy the Stars series. There are two key characters in this story. 17-year old Ensign Noemi Vidal from the planet of Genesis, and Abel, an artificial intelligence mech who has been stranded in space for 30 years on a ship called Daedalus. As we meet our first character, Noemi Vidal, she's getting read for what will be called the Masada Run. It will take place in 3 weeks. It is where Noemi expects that she will die while protecting her home world from Earth's aggression.

If you are familiar with history, then you know that Masada is an actual place where Romans and Jews met in battle. To quote, "Masada became a symbol for a heroic 'last stand' for the State of Israel and played a major role for Israel in forging national identity". Why is this important you ask? Because the People of Genesis are at war with Earth. Earth is relentless in their desire to bring Genesis to heel. The leaders of Genesis have deemed that an all out blitz will happen with every single ship blowing themselves up in order to keep Earth from getting to Genesis via wormhole.

But, before that happens, Noemi is thrown into an adventure that will see her ally herself with a mech called Abel. The same Abel who has been floating in Zero G for the past 30 years. While Noemi understands that to save her world, she must learn how to stand alone, Abel is a character that is brilliant, loyal to a fault, and makes you really pay attention to whether someone who is supposed to be a mech, can actually have human feelings, or a human soul. Noemi and Abel's journey will take them to all (5) planets in Gray's world (Kismet, Earth, Stronghold, Cray, & Genesis).

They will meet some people who are more than happy to help them, to those who want to kill Noemi, and force Abel to return to Earth, and his creator. They will meet the rebellion called Remedy who is trying to stop Earth from using up every planet's resources. They will become friends. They will become a hope for an entire planet. While we are deciding whether or not to like Noemi's personality traits, which I totally did, Abel is stealing the limelight. He's the first of his kind. He has the combination of all 25 mech models ever made, and he quickly develops curious and humorous human traits which really breaks through Noemi's tough exterior.

Science fiction is like cat nip to me. I will read almost read almost everything if given the opportunity, the time, or the availability via my local library. Defy the Stars brings up a whole lot of questions about science, religion, and what makes a human being human. Genesis is a curious planet. They have abandoned scientific technological advancement. They prefer to use outdated ships, while Earth, which is slowly bleeding itself to death, continues to throw mechs against Genesis in hopes of using the planets resources. Defy the Stars ends in a way that gives readers hope that the next installment will be just as interesting, action packed, and fun as this book was.