Defy the Worlds

Constellation #2

by Claudia Gray

This is the thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars from the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Lost Stars and Bloodline.

An outcast from her home -- Shunned after a trip through the galaxy with Abel, the most advanced cybernetic man ever created, Noemi Vidal dreams of traveling through the stars one more time. And when a deadly plague arrives on Genesis, Noemi gets her chance. As the only soldier to have ever left the planet, it will be up to her to save its people...if only she wasn't flying straight into a trap.

A fugitive from his fate -- On the run to avoid his depraved creator's clutches, Abel believes he's said good-bye to Noemi for the last time. After all, the entire universe stands between them...or so he thinks. When word reaches him of Noemi's capture by the very person he's trying to escape, Abel knows he must go to her, no matter the cost.

But capturing Noemi was only part of Burton Mansfield's master plan. In a race against time, Abel and Noemi will come together once more to discover a secret that could save the known worlds, or destroy them all.

In this thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars, bestselling author Claudia Gray asks us all to consider where--and with whom--we truly belong.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Space, Fiction, Dystopia

469 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2018

About the author

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

TU to one of my GR friends for getting this book for my Bday. It's a beautiful hardback to go with the 1st book! I'm grateful to have sweet people in my life. I'm trying to read as many books as I can before chemo. Sorry, not talking to you guys much. It's trying just to read my books. And I'm not interested in reviewing unless it's a re read with a review already there or small ones. TU for your support.

The book!!

Omg!! I loved it!



That ending though!! ..... I'm almost debating on in the future, to wait until all books are out in a trilogy or series and read them all at once. Unless it's my favorite authors 😊

Happy Reading!

Mel 🖤🐾🐺

[Simona B]

Dear book, I am yours, and you have now leave to destroy me. You may proceed.

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes I feel like I've gone my whole life just waiting for someone to see me. And you do, Abel. You might be the only person who ever has."
"Now you know how I felt the day you told me I had a soul."

Maaaaaan am I ever conflicted. Maybe it was my huge love for book one, and my giant galaxy sized expectations, maybe it's that I was still holding out hope this would only be a duology, buuuut I'm kind of disappointed by DEFY THE WORLDS. I hate to say it but I think we had some middle (? who even knows) book syndrome here.

"Your life matters as much as any human's, Abel. Remember that."
"Not yours. Not to me. You're my priority."
"And you're mine."

It doesn't help, of course, that half the book our not-a-couple couple aren't even on the same planet. And yeah, that first half was my least favourite, too. But things just felt.. slow. This is compounded by a whole host of super douchey characters we're forced to deal with, so douchey they need multiple canoes to be contained -- a fleet of douchecanoes if you will. Honestly, why so many terrible characters? And only a few of them got killed off? What kind of justice is that.

Humans frequently (and inaccurately) speak of mechs as "cold blooded," unable to care. It seems to Abel that human deserve the term far more. Mechs don't have the ability to care; humans do, yet often choose not to care at all.

Anyway, I did like the last 35% of the book very much. And every interaction between our favourite Robot Boy and the Girl Who Doesn't Belong was great. Especially because it wasn't all perfect. This book raised a lot of moral dilemmas, challenged both their blindspots and prejudices, and I thought that was brave of Gray. No need for an additional love interest to spark realistic conflict. Though it's not even conflict, just differing of valid opinions that are a great illustration of what divides these two unlikely people and the challenges they face.. not just with each other but that will be forced upon them by the outside world.

"I don't know what comes after this, if anything even can. All I know is you're the only person I can't imagine living my whole life without."

Because of the strength of what I did like, despite what I didn't, I'm going to round this one up. Also because of my enduring love for book one, and my hopes for the final (?) book yet to come, I can't bear to rate any lower.

Love is not transactional; it is a thing freely given. The joy is in the giving.

This wasn't quite the cheeky, hilarious, surprising, thrill ride of book one, but it did expand the world, offer up interesting points of view for the characters to be challenged by, added a creepy element that I hope to god we don't need to experience again, and open up a whole host of interesting paths for the characters to end up taking. I'm really looking forward to what comes next.

3.75 "my butt is made of flesh and is designed to be pleasant both to see and to touch" stars

[Cindy Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's lots of action, political turmoil, and ethical discussions about "organic" mechs, but beyond the interesting plot developments, I am continuously impressed by the respectful and well-written relationship between the main characters (along with how awesome they are individually). It's refreshing to see characters that are badass individually when they are apart, and work even better when they are together. I loved the level of emotional maturity when communicating their moral differences, and not once did they betray or disrespect the other in spite of that.

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The only greater punishment than death is to be asked to die over and over again."

As with the first book, the writing is engaging and the plot steady, never was there a dull moment.

We are again pushed to question what it means to be alive. How do we measure the value of one life versus another? Again, makes us question the notion that some lives are more worth saving. And reminds us once again that home is not necessarily a place. It's a feeling. It's the people in our lives that make us feel safe.

Abel & Noemi
"When they met, they tried to kill each other. Now they want to die for each other."
These two are perfect together. They are better together. We ended book one with Abel realizing he had achieved what some might consider the ultimate sign of sentience, the ability to love. He realized he loved Noemi, only to have to say goodbye to her. Previously, we had seen that Noemi certainly cared for Abel, valued him, saw him as a being with a soul and life worth saving. In this book, we see Noemi's feelings toward Abel take a more romantic tone. Though she is not yet certain if it is love, she does confess that in the galaxy his existence, his life and more important to her than anyone else. These two always put each other first, and if that isn't the purest thing ever. I do not know what is.


The ending was a major cliffhanger and I need the next book ASAP!


*More detailed review to Come*
——
Still so sad about the cover change, if it had stayed the same I definitely would have bought myself a hardcopy.

They ruined the theme and added cover models. Two things I tend to hate.

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Defy the Stars, the original settlers on Genesis are trying to prevent their planet from falling into Earth greedy clucthes and their plans of using up all the planets natural resources. The story starts off when Noemie a Genesis soldier finds an abandoned space ship with an Earth mech still inside. Abel is the only mech of his kind. Created to be as close to human as possible. Despite being sworn enemies once Noemie commandeers the ship Abel has no choice but to follow her orders and help find a way to protect Genesis. Now in this sequel Earths determination to keep their misdeeds a secret for fear of revolt have them getting even more desperate to get their hands on Genesis.

As soon as I started reading I was reminded just how much I love the two main characters. They're both complexe with touching back stories that made me connect to them. Abel is just so adorable and I love seeing the way his mind processes facts and emotions. Noemi is a little rough around the edges, but shes caring, selfless and resourceful. Noemi and Abels chemistry jumped off the page and they both would do anything to save the other. It was nice to see them work together as equals and I loved how they would take turns leading when their skills called for it. They have strength and weaknesses that compliment each other.

Theres also some great side characters, like Virginia, the science genius who also happens to be an adrenaline junkie. I would have liked if the villain was a bit more specific than just Earth. We do have other antagonists in this story that take precedence, but we never get to know who is leading Earths forces against Genesis. I was also able to guess pretty easily the purpose of the star shaped technology Earth sent to Genesis. With the bulk of the story taking place inside a spaceship I didnt get to see as much of the worlds and side characters as I would have liked, but I liked the dark and eerie atmosphere.

I was so freaking excited to get my hands on this sequel. Expanding several solar systems with characters who come to life as your reading its no wonder this series is one of my favorites. The first book will always have a special place in my heart since it made me realize just how much I love space operas. The plot and the pace were captivating, but the first book still gripped me a bit more than this one. I loved how everyone came together to try to save Genesis. That ending freaking broke me and now I need the third book even more than I needed this sequel. If you enjoy space scifis Id definitely give this series a try.

*Received for review consideration. Thank you so much publisher/author*

[Abbie (boneseasonofglass) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

This book was such a wild ride. There was so much action and I'm a little shook after finishing it haha
Noemi and Abel are such amazing characters, and I love seeing Abel grow through the books.
The science and technology in these stories is so well thought out, although a little scary look for the future

I'd say I didn't like this book quite as much as the first one, I can't place why exactly, I just didn't feel quite as amazed this time around.
But the action sequences in this book were fantastic and so well written. I think this series would make amazing films.

Warning though: this book does end on quite the cliffhanger, and I'm slightly broken haha

[Suzzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel is really entertaining but not as much so as the first book. Defy the Stars was one of my favorite books last year. I loved it so much that I bought the audiobook after reading the book. The dialogue was not as awesome as it was in the first book but the characters were still enjoyable. I was so excited to read it and am once again dreading the year wait for the next book. The ending set up for one hell of a next book though.

My quick and simple overall: very good but still liked the first book way more!

[Lara Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well.

HOW WILL I SURVIVE TILL THE NEXT BOOK NO I AM NOT OKAY THAT ENDING WAS EVIL!

Also, like, people should read this series because it's really quite good and written in third person present tense which there is never enough of and there's great characters and cool spacey stuff...

BUT THE ENDING!

In the novel, I think Virginia really understood what I went through:

"It's all right... But I just - I need a few seconds to just, I don't know, flail around and make pterodactyl noises. Let me do that okay?"

Noemi's not sure what that means until Virginia grabs her long hair and makes a screeching sound that does in fact sound like a large prehistoric thing in distress, at least as Noemi imagines it.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um. Excuse me. But. CLAUDIA GRAY HOW DARE YOU LEAVE US HANGING LIKE THIS?????!!!!!!!

P.S. In case you can't tell I freaking LOVED it!


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


*4.75/5 stars*

Overall, loved it! This sci-fi series is SO underhyped!

I love both of the main characters - Noemi and Abel. I love love LOVE the romance in this - both individuals respect each other's abilities to no end, both of them treat each other well, with respect despite their different outviews and also very maturely. And the way Abel is to Noemi overall is so SO amazing! I completely love them both when together AND apart! They're an interesting characters to follow either way!

I also loved all the interesting moral questions this book (first one as well) touched on. All the side characters were likeable as well. The world buidling is really intiguing to me as well. The plot was slightly less adventurous than in book one, but some parts of it, especiall the ones on the crashed ship, were quite creepy and fun to follow. And THAT ENDING!!

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The story picks up some months after the end of book one, and we find Noemi mistrusted by her former colleagues and feeling deeply alone, while Abel is now a Vagabond and captain of a ship, with Hester and Zayal as his crew. When Earth uses a bioweapon on Genesis, Noemi must make her way through the Gate to deal with the situation.
I really liked how Noemi's and Abel's travels through each gate in book one pays off in a big way. This book's action moves reasonably well, till about three quarters of the way through, when I found myself wishing the story would pick up. Book two ends with a cliffhanger, and I have to know how things wrap up for Noemi and Abel in book three.

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep breath.

“Six months after Noemi’s departure, Abel still has to consciously steer his thoughts to other topics daily. Maybe human love is different. Maybe it’s weak, as variable as the weather and so as emphemeral as a breeze. Abel’s love is not.”

DEFY THE WORLDS jumped literally into action with this sequel with the pacing, writing and characterisation that fulfilled my desire for more from this trilogy. Noemi and Abel were left on different sides of the gate but their stories were compelling and at times in parallel. Both these two were challenged by prejudice for different and yet similar reasons, not fitting in and yet rising above their peers for all the best reasons.

Mansfield and his chilling daughter I thought were a great evil component until I met ‘Chucky’, who absolutely gave me the heebie geebies in every way. There were some skilful plot devices and I find I’m here for the baddies created in Claudia Gray’s mind.

Abel was the character that stole my attention however, ever evolving, loyal beyond Direction One and with one intention. He was the mech and man of integrity for me.

“As he understands it, love is not transactional; it is a thing freely given. The joy is in the giving.”

Noemi was not as constant, her loyalty to Genesis superseded often but I do believe that Noemi was on a grander journey of self and I’ve enjoying observing her, whether she was all action or occasional contemplation.

The grand plot takes you beyond what you know from DEFY THE STARS and so the story opened up even more; concentration is needed. I found some pacing issues in the latter half but I remained engaged. I cannot speak to where I am left other than I need the next part of this story, so very much.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

[Meli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I THOUGHT THIS IS A DUOLOGY. WHY IS THERE A CLIFFHANGER 💔

Protagonisten
Noemi kann nicht so kämpfen, wie sie gerne würde, da sie sich auf Genesis an Regeln halten muss und diejenigen, die die Regeln aufstellen, wissen gar nicht, was auf den anderen Planeten vor sich geht. Sie ist selbstlos und war ja schon im Vorgänger bereit, sich für ihren Planeten zu opfern. Als Genesis wieder in großer Gefahr ist, wird sie beauftragt, die Kapitulation zu verkünden, doch ihre Entführung verhindert das.
Sie ist ein taffes Mädchen und setzt sich für ihre Überzeugungen ein, und da mich sonst nichts an ihr stört, mochte ich sie schon sehr gerne, aber Abel mag ich noch viel lieber!

Abel kann sich nicht ganz von Mansfield losreißen, seine oberste Direktive so wie auch seine Erinnerungen an frühere Zeiten führen ihn immer wieder zu seinem Schöpfer.
Er hat noch Gefühle für Noemi und vermisst sie sehr, ist sich aber sicher, dass diese sie nur als einen Mech sieht, auch wenn sie sagt, dass er eine Seele habe. Er ist eben besonders, aber als einziger Mech mit eigenen Gefühlen und Gedanken fühlt er sich auch einsam. Keiner kann ihn verstehen, denn andere Mechs können nicht so weit denken, manche Menschen akzeptieren ihn nicht als ihresgleichen.
Ich mochte ihn wieder sehr gerne, weil ich seine eigene Art, seine Gefühle und Reaktionen zu ergründen, so schön beschrieben finde.

Handlung und Schreibstil
Die Themen aus dem Vorgänger sind noch immer aktuell.
Noch immer fürchtet Genesis einen Angriff der Erde, Noemi hat neue Erfahrungen gemacht, wird aber kaum angehört. Genesis ist noch immer nicht in der Lage zu kämpfen und Noemi scheint die Einzige zu sein, die nicht einfach so aufgeben will.

Mansfield stellt eine neue Art Mech vor, die die Welt wieder revolutionieren soll. Er jagt Abel immer noch, da dieser ja seine Hoffnung auf weiteres Leben ist und ihm immer weniger Zeit bleibt. Aktuell ist auch noch die Frage, ob ein Mech nur eine Maschine ist, also wie ein beliebiges Objekt. Da Abel ja eine Seele hat, wie Noemi es nennt, macht er sich oft Gedanken darüber. Von vielen wird er gar nicht als Mech erkannt, andere sehen in ihm trotzdem nur eine Maschine.

Remedy so wie auch viele andere bekannte Charaktere sind aufgetaucht und haben damit gezeigt, dass kein Schritt ihrer Reise im ersten Buch vergessen ist.

Ich dachte, dieses Buch sei schon das letzte Buch der Reihe und darum hat mich der Cliffhanger am Ende besonders hart getroffen. Es stehen wieder einige Veränderungen bevor und ich freue mich schon sehr auf die Fortsetzung. Ich hoffe, sie lässt nicht lange auf sich warten!

Fazit
In "Constellation - In ferne Welten" hat mir besonders der fühlende und denkende Mech Abel gefallen, der mich mit seinen Selbstzweifeln und der Reflexion seiner Gedanken wieder begeistern konnte. Auch die Welten, ihre Bewohner und deren Kriege konnten mich fesseln.

[solomiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG THAT ENDING JESUS CHRIST

[ʚ Aileen ɞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not accept the ending of this book. 😭

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly as good as the first one! Simon was creepy. Earth has behaved aggressively towards Genesis and also discovered in one big lie. All hell breaks lose with a frustrating cliff hanger to finish. All served with a big dollop of Abel’s developing understanding of what makes us human.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This is what greed does to humans, Abel thinks. It makes them ignore the love they have in favor of what they can never attain.”

...

Defy the Worlds definitely didn't suffer from second book slump. This was great!

This second installment in the Constellation series is set several months after Defy the Stars, and Genesis is in crisis. A plague has swept across Noemi's home world, and leaders of Genesis believe Earth is responsible. Desperate for a cure, Noemi sets out to find help and save her planet - even if it might be a trap. Abel, the most advanced mech in the galaxy, is on the run from his creator, Burton Mansfield. Both of our main characters must confront the horrible truths of this intergalactic war, even as the stakes seem insurmountable.

I'm continuously impressed by Abel and Noemi's relationship in this series. It's...so healthy. I won't say too much, for fear of spoilers, but Noemi and Abel had to part ways at the end of the first book. Their reunion in here was so sweet, and the intense emotions felt by both of them felt genuine and earned. Their connection is forged from mutual respect and friendship, and Abel in particular loves Noemi so selflessly. It made me tear up on multiple occasions.



“As he understands it, love is not transactional; it is a thing freely given. The joy is in the giving.”



The entire cast of characters are well-written and dynamic. Our two leads continue to shine - Abel is sweet and so lovable, and Noemi is so smart, efficient, and achingly relatable - and the side characters are wonderful as well! Virginia is spunky and an excellent form of comedy relief, Harriet and Zayan are wonderful friends for Abel, and even Riko, the Remedy fighter, is an interesting ally.

Gray doesn't hesitate to humanize the more extremist members of Remedy, an unorganized group of rebels fighting against the tyranny of Earth and its colony planets, which I liked. She even added a measure of depth to the villains, which I wasn't expecting.

This book explores a lot of meaningful, complex themes, surrounding humanity and artificial intelligence. A lot of moral and ethical questions are raised: is it right, to put human conscience in a mechanical body? What constitutes humanity? How can mechs be labelled as cold-blooded, when humans choose to be cruel?

The high action, emotional stakes, and surprising reveals kept this book going at a brisk pace. I was never bored, and continuously drawn into the story as it dived deeper and deeper into difficult, darker topics. There are some heartbreaking moments in this book that made me feel sympathy for the villains, and that's saying a lot.

Claudia Gray doesn't go easy on her characters, that's for sure. I had so much fun with Defy the Worlds, and I'll continue to harp about how underrated this series is. It definitely deserves more love!

...

“Sometimes I feel like I've gone my whole life just waiting for someone to see me. And you do, Abel. You might be the only person who ever has.”

[mina · Rating 4 out of 5]

↠4+

I think the reoccurring theme for me this year will be "I want to kick myself for not reading it sooner" . Reading books in series is a bit hard for me because I can’t read the books back to back, so I let it sit out for a while and then when I blink a year has passed, I don’t remember what happened in the previous book, and I do some mental kicking because I could’ve enjoyed it sooner.

I don't have much to say except that I love Abel and Noemy, and I adore the whole space fighting thing. Oh, but I do need to comment on Simon. Like, Gray couldn’t have made a creepier character. A psycho mech with a soul-ish, and he’s also a kid. If I had a list of nightmares this would definitely be on it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well… this certainly took a turn for the dark. Don’t get me wrong, the debut book in the series, Defy the Stars was also pretty dark. So, going into Defy the Worlds I wasn’t necessarily expecting rainbows and unicorns. I just wasn’t prepared for how dark Defy the Worlds got at points. It was beyond dark. It was pitch black.

I think the pitch black nature of the story is the main reason I didn’t like this one as much as Defy the Stars. I still love the adventurous spirit and the conspiracy theories and all of that. I still absolutely love Abel and Noemi as lead characters. Both of their journeys are incredibly nuanced and vivid. All of the aspects that I totally fell in love with the first time are all still present in Defy the Worlds. The main difference is the enormous black cloud hovering over the narrative this time. So much of the story was based around death and dying and at times it got really graphic. It was just painful to read at times and it made me enjoy it less as a reader.

Speaking of the narrative, I also was able to predict just about everything that happened in Defy the Worlds. Seriously. EVERYTHING. I know the big reveal was supposed to be a big shocker but I think anyone who’s watched a sci-fi movie before would be able to piece it all together fairly quickly. Considering one of the main characters is a hyper advanced android with a literal computer for a brain it was strange that the characters couldn’t figure it out when it appeared to be blaringly obvious. The only thing I wasn’t able to predict was the ending. It’s such a freaking cliffhanger! However, in the scheme of the overall arch of the story, it makes perfect sense and goes along perfectly with my overall prediction of how the story will end. But still… in the meantime, it’s a pretty shocking development.

I think I may have waited too long in between books. I read Defy the Stars about a year ago and sadly I had forgotten a lot of the events of the story. I remembered the themes and the most important details but forgot much of the little stuff. I think it would have been incredibly beneficial if I had read the books closer together. But for all intents and purposes I still loved Defy the Worlds because I love these characters even though the story got much darker than I was comfortable with. I can’t wait for the big finale!

Since I talked so much about this story being so dark I will leave this off with arguably the funniest quote in the book from Abel:

“My butt is made of flesh and is designed to be pleasant both to see and to touch"

[Sara (A Gingerly Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not crying, YOU ARE.
My allergies are bad.
I have a hair in my eye.
My contacts are irritating today.
I stubbed my toe.

Nope, I am not crying- you are crying.

Oh my stars... my heart, my poor heart. It will not ever be the same. I need book 3 NOW.

--------

Full ARC review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...

I thought I was ready for the sequel to Defy the Stars but alas, I was not. This surpassed all of my expectations and made me fall more in love with Noemi and Abel.

This story picks up six months after the end of the first book. Noemi is back on Genesis and Abel is free traveling through space. These two cannot stop thinking about one another no matter how hard they try. While they are trying to move on with their lives, fate has other things in store for them. They will be brought back together to, once again, fight to save the entire universe. They will face death-defying space battles, horrible villains, and sinister plans. What Gray gave us in this story went a step further than what she gave us in the first book. Buckle up, this was a wild ride that you won’t soon forget.

The characters were one of the biggest things that kept me turning the pages long past my bed time. Separately, Abel and Noemi were still very strong characters but together they were pure magic. Abel’s character continued to astound me because he grew so much. His development arc was brilliant to witness. Sure, he was a mech but that never defined who he was. He had a soul and that made him different. He was always doing things to better everyone else and never thinking about himself. He knew that being the captain of a vagabond ship could get his crew in trouble or hurt if it was discovered who and what he was, but he always went out of his way to protect them. He was always, always thinking of others before himself. Noemi was the same way. She wanted to fight to save her planet and was willing to throw herself into the fight first regardless of what the outcome might be. She even risked her position within the Genesis military just so she could get to the bottom of the new plague that was taking over her planet. Rules be damned.

While all of that was amazing to read, I really kept waiting for the moment Abel and Noemi would be together again. That’s the softer side of me talking. I will be the first to tell you that my heart flew when they were finally reunited. I gasped and let out a silent cheer for the both of them! I know this is a killer story (no pun intended) set in space and there is a lot on the line, but I kept wanting those two to just have a chance to be together. They needed each other and were better together. If there is one ship I hold close, it is this one.

I remember in my review of Defy the Stars that I mentioned there were what I felt were underlying themes of religion, acts of war, and the discussion of “can a mech have free will? A soul?” I can say that not as much time was given to the topic of religion or free will, but Gray did have one reoccurring theme that I really liked. There were two questions Noemi asked herself constantly because they were asked to her, “What are you fighting? And what are you fighting for?” If that doesn’t give you pause, I don’t know what will. I only point this out because I felt this kept Noemi somewhat grounded and gave her focus. There was also the brilliant theme of humanity vs machine and the difference. This was constantly debated by numerous characters within the story, all had their own opinion but it was still great to read.

The overall plot of this particular book was mind-blowing and bloody brilliant. I never doubted Gray for a moment. This had none of the second book syndrome or filler vibe. This was well developed, thoroughly vetted, and masterfully executed. I am not going to give anything away here but if you take anything away from my review – besides my undying love for Abel and Noemi – it is this: the ending will leave you screaming. I thought this would only be a duology but, blessed be, there will be a third book! I cannot be left with that cliffhanger. The betrayal and the uncertainty has to be resolved in the next book because it was just too delicious to be left alone. Please, add this to your TBR now if it isn’t already. You need this story in your life.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering my love of robots and the previous book in this trilogy, I am so disappointed that I struggled with this one. The first half moved slowly, mainly because our main characters are separated. It wasn't until Abel and Noemi were reunited that things finally started to pick up. For me, the magic of the first book just wasn't there. Nonetheless, the cliffhanger ending will definitely have me back!

[majo · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCUSE ME WHAT WAS THAT ENDING



can this author PLEASE make Abel and Noemi have just one moment of happiness and love? asdfdgdfgd

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weaponised biological warfare has incapacitated the communities of Genesis, the small and unassuming planet sanctioned for colonisation by the wealthy, indulgent and elite residents of Earth. Noemi Vidal is a once revered soldier of Genesis, understanding that her refusal to destroy the Genesis portal by sacrificing the life of Abel is confronted with hostility and ostracisation. Through the intergalactic gateway, the stars begin to fall, unleashing biological genocide.

Abel Mansfield is a Vagabond upon the Persephone, the prototype of entrepreneur Burton Mansfield, creator of mechanised humanoid military technology, now liberated from isolation. Burton Mansfield continues to pursue his prototype creation, capturing Noemi to coerce Abel to surrender, his conscious and humanity eradicated to ensure the survival of his surrogate father, Directive One. Created as a prototype, Abel continuously evolves, revered for his humanity and perception.

Earth has revolutionised humanoid technology, Organically Mechanised Automation's developed to accommodate the human conscious achieving immortality for the wealthy and elite humans of Earth. Organic humanoid engineering poses deliberation for Abel, an unprecedented paradigm. As Abel discovered his identity, he increasingly experiences a sense of alienation. The new technology appeals to his sense of acceptance and understanding the desire for parentage.

The terrorist organisation Remedy are prevalent throughout the narration, formulating the assistance of medicinal intervention while simultaneously capturing the Osiris, an opulent vessel from Earth carrying the elite to a distant world, including and entrapped Noemi. The considerable characterisation of Noemi and Abel throughout the series is captivating, predominantly as individuals and potentially romantic companions. I enjoyed the secondary character inclusions, Virginia, Harriet, Zayan, Ephraim and the daughter of Burton Mansfield, the nefarious Gillian Shearer.

The narrative challenges the definition of humanity, technological advances and religious faith. Earth is a technologically advanced environment, entrepreneurs privately sponsoring the exploration of habitable planets, the Earth increasingly unable to sustain life. On Genesis, the population are environmentally sustainable and spiritual. Although they possess ancient technology, the civilisation is not dependant on technological advances, preferring sustainability and natural resources.

Defy The Worlds is spectacularly atmospheric and imaginative, eagerly awaiting the breathtaking final instalment.

[anna_chatterbox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ganz große Liebe 💗 Band 1 war ja schon toll, aber Band 2 hat mich einfach umgehauen. Es wurde einfach nie langweilig. Und das bei nem zweiten Band! 😂 Das hab ich ja eher selten

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

↠ 4 Stars

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I might as well start by saying this right off the bat: I did not enjoy this one as much as the first one. It seems to have a case of the dreaded (le gasp) middle book syndrome. But, this should not be misunderstood as me saying it was bad!

Abel and Noemi are just as enjoyable as ever - in fact, I really enjoyed Abel's exploration of his humanity and he remains one of my favourite characters. Some additional secondary characters were also introduced who I really enjoyed, and I also loved the return of some older characters - Virginia and her "pterodactyl screams" will be forever relatable.

What this book suffered from was the fact that it focused a large amount of narrative/plot time on something that, now that I look back at it, wasn't as significant and useful as it should've been. Yes, aforementioned event provided narrative complications, but really, I'm not sure about it. The beginning and ending of Defy the Worlds were good (the ending was really good, and that twist!!) but the middle was a bit of an oddity. It was relevant but didn't necessarily feel like it tied all the way into the main plot, and sometimes it even felt more like a side quest.

Another reason this book just isn't as good is because it lacks the thoughtfulness and philosophical discourse that made the first one so good. There is some still there, but now Abel has largely sorted out his "mech vs. human" dilemma so there's less deliberation over what makes something human, which was something I did feel made the first book special.

But like I said before, I really enjoyed the ending though! I did not see it coming and honestly, I'm really excited to see where it will take the story. It also opens up the platform for more philosophical debate so I'm ready for that.

TL;DR: Not as exciting as the first novel, but still a fun read with a shocking ending that will leave readers desperately awaiting the final instalment in this sci-fi space opera series. 

[Caitlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Not nearly as explosive as its predecessor, but compelling all the same.

Pre-reading: MY #NEED IS REAL.

[Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

Defy The Worlds is one of my most anticipating sequels of 2018. Even though the first book left me with mixed feelings, I was very much looking forward to get my hands on this book. Well, it didn’t disappoint me. It turns out to be a good sequel and I enjoyed it a bit more than the first book. It has a slow start which made me fear that it’s going to be a boring read, but the story took an interesting turn when Noemi gets kidnapped by Burton Mansfield and I was hooked till the end. I loved all the space adventure, the action, thrill, and the forbidden romance between Noemi and Abel. They are totally perfect for each other. I quite enjoyed how their relationship developed further in this book. I actually thought this was a duology but I’m glad there’s going to another book in this series.

The story picks up six months after the ending of the first book where Noemi stops Abel from sacrificing his life after realizing that he does possess a soul even though he’s a mech. Now Abel wanders around the galaxy as a vagabond with his crew hiding from his creator Burton Mansfield who wants to gain immortality by erasing him. Noemi is back in Genesis but not everyone is ready to accept her and once again she’s an outsider. Even after six months, Abel and Noemi can’t stop thinking about each other. When earth attacks Genesis by using a bio-weapon, a deadly plague spreads around their planet and Noemi is the only one who can save them from total annihilation. Against the council’s orders, she tries to find help from the outside but unfortunately she gets captured by Burton Mansfield who wants to use her as a bait to get Abel. When Abel hears of Noemi’s kidnapping, he decides to rescue her. Hence fate brings them together once again to save the universe. With time running out for her people, Noemi searches for help but during her mission, she finds out that earth has been hiding a secret that could change everything.

I loved Noemi! She is fierce, stubborn, fearless, loyal, and very protective. She’s very loyal to her people but not afraid to break the rules. She never hesitates to stand up for something that she believes is right. The best thing about her is that she never gives up hope and will fight till the end. Abel is a such a captivating character. He’s smart, selfless, and very protective of Noemi. He wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice his life for her. He’s a machine with a soul trying to learn human feelings. He fought against his directive one command which is protect his creator but now Noemi became his highest priority. The slow burn romance between Noemi and Abel was so good. Abel finally realizes that he loves Noemi but doesn’t confess his feelings afraid she might not return his feelings. It was kinda adorable and sweet. I don’t know how it’s gonna work out between them but I’m totally shipping them. The secondary characters were also good but I’m not going to reveal any names. And I’m also very curious about Han Zhi, the hottest celebrity in the galaxy. Everyone is enamored by his physical Beauty. He was mentioned in the first book and also in this sequel. I hope we at-least get to meet him in the finale. The villains Burton Mansfield and his scientist daughter Gillian Shearer are back to their evil plans to create more advanced Mechs but their new invention might become a huge threat to the world. To be honest, I don’t find them as terrifying villains but their inventions are definitely terror inducing.

The plot was engaging and Well written! The characters were well developed. Although the first 30 percent of the book was pretty slow, the remaining 70 perfect made up for it which was fast paced and action packed. I enjoyed the surprising twists but the last one was the best. I didn’t see that coming. I really liked the cute romance between Noemi and Abel. I’m glad it didn’t overshadowed the plot. The book was told in Abel and Noemi’s third person POV, as usual. The author’s writing was addicting and descriptive. I flew through the pages pretty easily without any struggle. The world building was amazing. I really enjoyed getting back into this world and exploring new places.

Overall, I loved it! Despite the slow start, It was totally an unputdownable read. The ending left me pretty much shocked and I can’t wait to know what happens next in the big finale.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hat mir,wie auch schon der erste Teil,wieder richtig gut gefallen.
Aber ich bin immer noch verwirrt aufgrund des Endes.
Ich dachte nämlich die ganze Zeit es wird nur zwei Teile geben

[Jane ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abel and Noemi have a healthier, cuter, more respectable relationship than most romance books. You have to love Gray for creating something so beautiful and charming while also writing a complex sci-fi story with interesting quests, twists, and political discussions ♥

[sol✯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope
i do not accept that ending
nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope