Defy the Stars
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Defy the Stars
Buy for $21.83
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Nate Begle
-
By:
-
Claudia Gray
About this listen
From the New York Times best-selling author of Star Wars: Lost Stars and Bloodline comes a thrilling sci-fi adventure that Kass Morgan, best-selling author of The 100 series, calls "startlingly original and achingly romantic...nothing short of masterful".
She's a soldier - Noemi Vidal is willing to risk anything to protect her planet, Genesis, including her own life. To their enemies on Earth, she's a rebel.
He's a machine - abandoned in space for years, utterly alone, Abel's advanced programming has begun to evolve. He wants only to protect his creator, and to be free. To the people of Genesis, he's an abomination.
Noemi and Abel are enemies in an interstellar war, forced by chance to work together as they embark on a daring journey through the stars. Their efforts would end the fighting for good, but they're not without sacrifice. The stakes are even higher than either of them first realized, and the more time they spend together, the more they're forced to question everything they'd been taught was true.
An epic and romantic adventure, perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles and Illuminae.
©2017 Claudia Gray (P)2017 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
A Thousand Pieces of You
- Firebird, Book 1
- By: Claudia Gray
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 661
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 613
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 615
Marguerite Caine grew up surrounded by cutting-edge scientific theories, thanks to her brilliant physicist parents. Yet nothing is more astounding than her mother's latest invention - a device called the Firebird, which allows people to leap into alternate dimensions.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not Sci-Fi. Mostly Rory Gilmore introspection.
- By Peter Hudson on 01-25-17
By: Claudia Gray
-
Hunt the Stars
- A Novel (Starlight’s Shadow, Book 1)
- By: Jessie Mihalik
- Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 370
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 334
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 333
Octavia Zarola would do anything to keep her tiny, close-knit bounty hunting crew together—even if it means accepting a job from Torran Fletcher, a ruthless former general and her sworn enemy. When Torran offers her enough credits to not only keep her crew afloat but also hire someone to fix her ship, Tavi knows that she can’t refuse—no matter how much she’d like to.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
So close to being wonderful
- By Tess R on 02-14-22
By: Jessie Mihalik
-
Aurora Rising
- The Aurora Cycle, Book 1
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Candice Moll, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,252
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,997
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,986
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent story, but a little overly emotive
- By Zach on 05-15-19
By: Amie Kaufman, and others
-
Memento
- An Illuminae Files Novella
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: India Dupré, James Fouhey, Lincoln Hoppe, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 324
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 299
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 299
AIDAN is the AI you'll love to hate. The advanced AI system was supposed to protect a fleet of survivors who'd escaped the deadly attack on Kerenza IV. AIDAN was supposed to be infallible. But in the chaotic weeks and months that followed, it became clear that something was terribly, terribly wrong with AIDAN....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wow
- By Iniysa on 02-04-21
By: Amie Kaufman, and others
-
Skyward
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 42,572
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 38,923
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 38,844
From Brandon Sanderson, the number one New York Times best-selling author of the Reckoners series, Words of Radiance, and the internationally best-selling Mistborn series, comes the first book in an epic new series about a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot in a dangerous world at war for humanity's future.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Has Sanderson been reading Craig Alanson???
- By Customer on 11-18-18
-
Bone Crier's Moon
- By: Kathryn Purdie
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Alex Wyndham, Billie Fulford-Brown
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 258
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 226
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 225
Bone Criers are the last descendants of an ancient famille charged with using the magic they draw from animal bones to shepherd the dead into the afterlife - lest they drain the light from the living. Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become their matriarch, but first she must complete her rite of passage: to kill the boy she’s destined to love. Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier, and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Now, his vengeance must wait, as Ailesse’s ritual has begun and their fates are entwined - in life and in death.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Creepy Man whisper...ewww!
- By Susie O. on 03-14-20
By: Kathryn Purdie
-
A Thousand Pieces of You
- Firebird, Book 1
- By: Claudia Gray
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 661
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 613
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 615
Marguerite Caine grew up surrounded by cutting-edge scientific theories, thanks to her brilliant physicist parents. Yet nothing is more astounding than her mother's latest invention - a device called the Firebird, which allows people to leap into alternate dimensions.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not Sci-Fi. Mostly Rory Gilmore introspection.
- By Peter Hudson on 01-25-17
By: Claudia Gray
-
Hunt the Stars
- A Novel (Starlight’s Shadow, Book 1)
- By: Jessie Mihalik
- Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 370
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 334
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 333
Octavia Zarola would do anything to keep her tiny, close-knit bounty hunting crew together—even if it means accepting a job from Torran Fletcher, a ruthless former general and her sworn enemy. When Torran offers her enough credits to not only keep her crew afloat but also hire someone to fix her ship, Tavi knows that she can’t refuse—no matter how much she’d like to.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
So close to being wonderful
- By Tess R on 02-14-22
By: Jessie Mihalik
-
Aurora Rising
- The Aurora Cycle, Book 1
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Candice Moll, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,252
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,997
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,986
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent story, but a little overly emotive
- By Zach on 05-15-19
By: Amie Kaufman, and others
-
Memento
- An Illuminae Files Novella
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: India Dupré, James Fouhey, Lincoln Hoppe, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 324
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 299
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 299
AIDAN is the AI you'll love to hate. The advanced AI system was supposed to protect a fleet of survivors who'd escaped the deadly attack on Kerenza IV. AIDAN was supposed to be infallible. But in the chaotic weeks and months that followed, it became clear that something was terribly, terribly wrong with AIDAN....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wow
- By Iniysa on 02-04-21
By: Amie Kaufman, and others
-
Skyward
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 42,572
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 38,923
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 38,844
From Brandon Sanderson, the number one New York Times best-selling author of the Reckoners series, Words of Radiance, and the internationally best-selling Mistborn series, comes the first book in an epic new series about a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot in a dangerous world at war for humanity's future.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Has Sanderson been reading Craig Alanson???
- By Customer on 11-18-18
-
Bone Crier's Moon
- By: Kathryn Purdie
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Alex Wyndham, Billie Fulford-Brown
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 258
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 226
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 225
Bone Criers are the last descendants of an ancient famille charged with using the magic they draw from animal bones to shepherd the dead into the afterlife - lest they drain the light from the living. Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become their matriarch, but first she must complete her rite of passage: to kill the boy she’s destined to love. Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier, and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Now, his vengeance must wait, as Ailesse’s ritual has begun and their fates are entwined - in life and in death.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Creepy Man whisper...ewww!
- By Susie O. on 03-14-20
By: Kathryn Purdie
-
Fourth Wing (Part 1 of 2) (Dramatized Adaptation)
- The Empyrean, Book 1
- By: Rebecca Yarros
- Narrated by: full cast, Scott McCormick, Troy Allan, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,942
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,273
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,273
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
4 FIRST-YEAR ★’s
- By ➷➹➸❥HFB🔹🔹🔹 on 12-27-23
By: Rebecca Yarros
-
Carve the Mark
- By: Veronica Roth
- Narrated by: Austin Butler, Emily Rankin
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,724
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,458
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 2,460
On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a current gift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their current gifts, Akos and Cyra do not - their gifts make them vulnerable to others' control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives and reset the balance of power in this world?
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
I wanted to like it, but didn't.
- By Anj on 03-23-17
By: Veronica Roth
-
Only Bad Options
- Galactic Bonds, Book 1
- By: Jennifer Estep
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang, James Fouhey
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 687
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 594
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 594
Few people know the name Vesper Quill. To most folks, I’m just a lowly lab rat who designs brewmakers and other household appliances in the research-and-development lab at the powerful Kent Corp. But when I point out a design flaw and a safety hazard in the new line of Kent Corp spaceships, everyone knows who I am—and wants to eliminate me. I might be a seer with a photographic memory, but I don’t see the trouble headed my way until it’s too late. Suddenly, I’m surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting, but enough to continue the series?
- By G. Fitz on 02-01-23
By: Jennifer Estep
-
The Blighted Stars
- By: Megan E. O'Keefe
- Narrated by: Ciaran Saward
- Length: 17 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 253
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 225
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 225
Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they're found and Naira Sharp thinks she knows the reason why. The all-powerful Mercator family has been controlling the exploration of the universe for decades, and exploiting any materials they find along the way under the guise of helping humanity's expansion. But Naira knows the truth, and she plans to bring the whole family down from the inside.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Has a Dune feel to it
- By The Mitzlaffs on 07-19-23
By: Megan E. O'Keefe
-
This Savage Song
- By: V. E. Schwab
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,304
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,179
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,178
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city - a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent - but he's one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Not worth its good reviews
- By Ultranoah on 11-14-16
By: V. E. Schwab
-
Truth and Other Lies: A Loki Norse Fantasy (The Nine Worlds Rising Book 1)
- By: Lyra Wolf
- Narrated by: Casey Eade
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 311
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 277
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 277
Nothing is trickier than the truth. All Loki the trickster god of Asgard wants is a peaceful life where he's free to stir up a bit of harmless mischief. But when he's struck by a painful vision of blood, ash, and death he knows his fun has run out. Refusing to have his life obliterated by some stuffy prophecy, Loki feels he must save Asgard. Except the gods stand in his way. They don't trust the God of Lies, which means his only hope is to return to Odin, the man he wished to forget thanks to their complicated history.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A fun listen
- By Michelle L Wayte on 01-06-22
By: Lyra Wolf
-
Vespertine
- By: Margaret Rogerson
- Narrated by: Caitlin Davies
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 305
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 264
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 263
Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as ravenous, hungry spirits. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who whisper about her scarred hands and troubled past. When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being whose extraordinary power almost consumes her - but death has come, and only a vespertine has any chance of stopping it.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Another great adventure from Margaret Rogerson
- By Alex Sumner on 10-09-21
-
Artemis
- By: Andy Weir
- Narrated by: Rosario Dawson
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 95,527
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 87,404
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 87,202
Jazz Bashara is a criminal. Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent. Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A ferrari with no motor
- By will on 11-18-17
By: Andy Weir
-
Only a Monster
- Only a Monster, Book 1
- By: Vanessa Len
- Narrated by: Vera Chok
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 295
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 250
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 249
The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A nice YA fantasy
- By Diana Kaz on 02-27-22
By: Vanessa Len
-
Thorn
- Dauntless Path, Book 1
- By: Intisar Khanani
- Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 133
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 115
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 115
Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life, but when her mother betroths her to a powerful prince in a distant kingdom, she has little hope for a better future. Until Alyrra arrives at her new kingdom, where a mysterious sorceress robs her of both her identity and her role as princess - and Alyrra seizes on the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl. But as Alyrra uncovers dangerous secrets about her new world, including a threat to the prince himself, she knows she can’t remain silent forever.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Immensely Satisfying Retelling
- By Just Molly on 03-29-20
By: Intisar Khanani
-
From a Certain Point of View (Star Wars)
- By: Renée Ahdieh, Meg Cabot, Pierce Brown, and others
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Ashley Eckstein, Janina Gavankar, and others
- Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,113
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,676
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,655
Experience Star Wars: A New Hope from a whole new point of view. On May 25, 1977, the world was introduced to Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and a galaxy full of possibilities. In honor of the 40h anniversary, more than 40 contributors lend their vision to this retelling of Star Wars. Each of the 40 short stories reimagines a moment from the original film, but through the eyes of a supporting character.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Chapter listing. Audible sucks
- By The Way of the Wounded Cinema Warrior on 11-27-17
By: Renée Ahdieh, and others
-
The Book of Koli: Booktrack Edition
- By: M. R. Carey
- Narrated by: Theo Solomon
- Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 15
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 13
Beyond the walls of the small village of Mythen Rood lies an unrecognizable landscape. A place where overgrown forests are filled with choker trees and deadly seeds that will kill you where you stand. And if they don't get you, one of the dangerous shunned men will. Koli has lived in Mythen Rood his entire life. He believes the first rule of survival is that you don't venture too far beyond the walls. He's wrong.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Unusual and exceptional!
- By MagicMike_MML on 07-29-23
By: M. R. Carey
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Defy the Stars
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- S. Shelton
- 09-22-22
Defy the Stars
I really loved this book! If you like Brandon Sanderson Skyward Series or Marisa Meyers Cinder series, this is similar. Great characters and storyline.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Becca
- 10-08-22
Unique Sci-Fi Romance
I have been a long-time fan of Claudia Gray, and the premise of this series was just too good to pass up. It lived up to expectations, too. This was a fantastic, interesting romance that was truly unlike anything I've read before. The characters absolutely won me over, and I was immediately caught up both in the slow-burn romance and the overarching plot outside of the romance.
I will definitely be picking up the second in the series!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Little Jo
- 09-19-18
just loved it.
I absolutely loved this book. I am a huge SiFi gooroo. The story was quick moving, and very engaging. I would reccomend it to anyone.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. Bell
- 02-01-21
Quickly added to the top of Favorites List
Claudia Gray has definitely and easily become one of my top favorite authors. Her Firebird series has been one of my favorites so it baffles me it took me so long to discover her other works as well. The Firebird series had me thinking on and exploring the possibility of other dimensions while this book/series had me contemplating the possibilities and extent of artificial intelligence. She weaves in a bit of romance but does not allow it to warrant a glass of wine with any cheesiness and not letting the romance dictate the storyline. Having a female character who is human with strengths and weaknesses (not overpowering them) and not having every other character seemingly fall in love with them (looking at you Mass) is a welcome trait this book presents.
The performance of the two narrators was excellent as well. Nate Begle balanced a pace of tone that kept a mechanical feeling without being overbearing to help illustrate his character fantastically.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Diane Amos
- 01-21-23
Solid story, bad performance
A good romantic SiFy novel with romance, machine awareness and interplanetary adventure. However, it's tedious to listen to, esp. the male reader. Fortunately, the reading doesn't ruin the story.
With a good reader(s) my opinion of the story may have improved enough to give it 5 stars.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thunder Ridge
- 08-27-18
Great, complete story
I'm always looking for sci-fi with no violence, gore. This totally delivered. It's a great story with strong characters that ties together well enough to stand alone, even though it's first in a series. Loved it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Reynijhia K. Serrano
- 03-04-20
best ai/human romance ever!
I've been looking for a romance with an AI and a human, specifically where the AI is a male. The story stars a young girl, Noemi, and she is trying to sacrifice her life. When her friend Ester is critically wounded, she quickly hops to an abandoned ship for aid and meets Abel, an advanced mech.
The two actually hate each other for a while, until they begin to get along. The cuteness between them is so good, the main character is a POC, and the twists and turns make this story A+, I will definitely revisit it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- AJB
- 05-07-22
Not bad, but not great, might try it again
This was a hard one for me to follow and unfortunately I think it was due to at least one of the narrators. I just felt like I was listening to a biography when they were talking and it made me loose interest pretty quickly. I do remember enjoying some parts of the story, primarily when the second of the narrators were speaking, that I don't think the story overall is bad. I may give this one a try again, but not without a physical copy cause this audio version kinda killed it for me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Maeve
- 11-19-20
Great book but religion is a main theme
I liked the book, the handling of trauma, the world building, and the characterization. My only issue, and I acknowledge this is a me thing, is there was a lot of religious and morality talk. I'm fine with morality, I think philosophy is interesting. I disagree with a lot of the characters opinions on things but there's nothing wrong with that. I am mainly writing this review for people like me who have hard pasts with religion. Had I known going in that catholicism would be a main part of one of the characters convictions I would have skipped and read something else.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Memeke
- 08-11-20
Lovely Ride
"Defy the Stars" explores the relationship between Noemi Vidal (a human of the former Earth colony, Genesis) and the Earth android Abel. You may think that there’s a war going on between Earth and Genesis with rising tensions among Earth’s other colonized planets as resources dwindle and people are displaced, but really, it’s all about that romance.
"Defy the Stars" was awesome. I had a great time listening to it, especially whenever Nate Begle took over the narration as Abel. Kasey Lee Huizinga was…okay. Not my favorite narrator, but still good enough to enjoy the story.
There’s not too many YA novels that have a devout protagonist who uses her faith as a way to guide her. Noemi says that she’s unlikable, but she’s really just a ray of sunshine capsuled by a layer of cinnamon rolls and marshmallow fluff, and dusted with tasty pop rocks. I’m glad that she sticks close to her beliefs, but also has the capacity to grow. And then there’s Abel…yes. Please, protect the sweet boy. Can I please stick him in my pocket and keep him forever? He was a compelling character even before he went off on his journey with Noemi, and so seeing him grow even MORE was fantastic!
I like how in this novel, Earth is considered the enemy. There are so many novels where it’s Earth versus the entirety of space or aliens or anything, really. But this novel takes us off and away into the mindset of someone who lived her life on a completely different planet and only sees earth as an unwanted tether. It was cool to be placed into that perspective.
And now, because I really liked this novel, I want to talk about a few things that could have been done differently that would have bumped this baby up to a full five stars:
-This one is just personal. I rarely like novels that are in present tense and are in the 3rd person, especially if the narrator end up being unreliable (confirming to the character’s thoughts.) I’d much rather it be in 1st person to help with the urgency of the present tense and to avoid a passive narrator favoring one character from another. That just how it be for me.
-Needs aliens. I was just as disappointed as Noemi when she realized that the new things she’d see would just be more humans, haha.
-Slightly predictable plot, but nothing too predictable. It just would have been refreshing to switch a few elements up to catch the reader off guard.
All in all, I had a great time with this novel. I am surely going to read the next in the series. I gotta know what happens to sweet Abel!!! (And Noemi, she’s in there, too.)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!