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Sentinels of the Galaxy #3
Defending the Galaxy
Year 2522. Oh. My. Stars.
Junior Officer Ara Lawrence here, reporting for duty. Again. It's situation critical for the security team and everyone in the base - including my parents - with a new attack from the looters imminent, a possible galaxy-wide crime conspiracy and an unstoppable alien threat. But this all pales in the face of my mind-blowing discovery about the Q-net. Of course, no one believes me. I'm not sure I believe me. It could just be a stress-induced delusion. That's what my parents seem to believe...
Their concern for me is hampering my ability to do my job. I know they love me, but with the Q-net in my corner, I'm the only one who can help the security team beat the shadowy aliens from the pits we discovered. We're holding them at bay, for now, but the entire Milky Way Galaxy is in danger of being overrun.
With battles on too many fronts, it's looking dire. But one thing I've learned is when people I love are in jeopardy, I'll never give up trying to save them. Not until my dying breath. Which could very well be today...
Junior Officer Ara Lawrence here, reporting for duty. Again. It's situation critical for the security team and everyone in the base - including my parents - with a new attack from the looters imminent, a possible galaxy-wide crime conspiracy and an unstoppable alien threat. But this all pales in the face of my mind-blowing discovery about the Q-net. Of course, no one believes me. I'm not sure I believe me. It could just be a stress-induced delusion. That's what my parents seem to believe...
Their concern for me is hampering my ability to do my job. I know they love me, but with the Q-net in my corner, I'm the only one who can help the security team beat the shadowy aliens from the pits we discovered. We're holding them at bay, for now, but the entire Milky Way Galaxy is in danger of being overrun.
With battles on too many fronts, it's looking dire. But one thing I've learned is when people I love are in jeopardy, I'll never give up trying to save them. Not until my dying breath. Which could very well be today...
544 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2020
120 people are currently reading
1507 people want to read
About the author
Maria V. Snyder
75 books17.4k followersWhen Maria V. Snyder was younger, she aspired to be a storm chaser in the American Midwest so she attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. Much to her chagrin, forecasting the weather wasn’t in her skill set so she spent a number of years as an environmental meteorologist, which is not exciting...at all. Bored at work and needing a creative outlet, she started writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Over twenty four novels and two short story collections later, Maria’s learned a thing or three about writing. She’s been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a dozen awards, and has earned her Masters of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she is now a faculty member.
Her favorite color is red. She loves dogs, but is allergic, instead she has a big black tom cat named…Kitty (apparently naming cats isn’t in her skill set either). Maria also has a husband and two children who are an inspiration for her writing when they aren't being a distraction. Note: She mentions her cat before her family.
When she's not writing she's either playing pickleball, traveling, or taking pictures. Being a writer, though is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn how to ride a horse, study marital arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it research? Maria will be the first one to tell you it's not working as a meteorologist.
Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at http://www.MariaVSnyder.com.
Her favorite color is red. She loves dogs, but is allergic, instead she has a big black tom cat named…Kitty (apparently naming cats isn’t in her skill set either). Maria also has a husband and two children who are an inspiration for her writing when they aren't being a distraction. Note: She mentions her cat before her family.
When she's not writing she's either playing pickleball, traveling, or taking pictures. Being a writer, though is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn how to ride a horse, study marital arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it research? Maria will be the first one to tell you it's not working as a meteorologist.
Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at http://www.MariaVSnyder.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
October 13, 2020
Twists, turns, and galactic-sized secrets revealed in this exciting conclusion to the Sentinels of the Galaxy series. The action moves faster than the speed of light so don't expect to sleep once you start reading.
As you can see, I'm very excited about the release of book 3! This series has been so much fun to write. I loved the characters and wish I could invite them all over for dinner. This book also refused to be finished as all the twists and turns threatened to end up being one gigantic, galaxy-sized knot! That's what I get for not plotting my novels in advance. Worth it! Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised and there's no fun in that. :)
This will be released November 16, 2020.
As you can see, I'm very excited about the release of book 3! This series has been so much fun to write. I loved the characters and wish I could invite them all over for dinner. This book also refused to be finished as all the twists and turns threatened to end up being one gigantic, galaxy-sized knot! That's what I get for not plotting my novels in advance. Worth it! Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised and there's no fun in that. :)
This will be released November 16, 2020.
March 10, 2021
Wow! A great ending to this fabulous trilogy which I thoroughly enjoyed. Defending the Galaxy sees Junior Officer Ara Lawrence involved in the hardest and biggest situation of her life as she fights to save her family, her team and the other planets within the Galaxy. The murdering looters are strong, but are they better than Ara, Q and all the security teams?
With Warrior Portals providing the way and Ara’s ability improving out of sight, her main issue is no one believing what she can do. Fighting the looters as well as the aliens is a full-time job, one they have to win. Officer Radcliffe, Naill, Beau, Morgan, Ara’s parents – they all have faith in Ara, but can she do what she’s determined to do?
Defending the Galaxy – book 3 and the final in the trilogy – by Maria V. Snyder has everything fans of science fiction/fantasy/young adult along with suspense and mystery – would love. The characters are well executed, the plots are many and varied. I felt comfortable riding along and through the Q-net with Ara 😊 Please read from #1 as it’s essential for the reader’s overall enjoyment. Highly recommended.
With thanks to HarperCollins AU for my copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
With Warrior Portals providing the way and Ara’s ability improving out of sight, her main issue is no one believing what she can do. Fighting the looters as well as the aliens is a full-time job, one they have to win. Officer Radcliffe, Naill, Beau, Morgan, Ara’s parents – they all have faith in Ara, but can she do what she’s determined to do?
Defending the Galaxy – book 3 and the final in the trilogy – by Maria V. Snyder has everything fans of science fiction/fantasy/young adult along with suspense and mystery – would love. The characters are well executed, the plots are many and varied. I felt comfortable riding along and through the Q-net with Ara 😊 Please read from #1 as it’s essential for the reader’s overall enjoyment. Highly recommended.
With thanks to HarperCollins AU for my copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
I got an early copy of this book (lucky me!), and it lived up to all my expectations for a fantastic ending to an amazing series. I will definitely be rereading these. They are new favorites!
UPDATING with two of my official quotes. I LOVED this whole series so much! I rarely collect physical books anymore, but these three are going on my shelf in a place of honor.
—A stunning trilogy, expertly crafted and masterfully executed with characters who won my heart from the beginning. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Remarkable in every way!
—Chock full of action, humor, danger, and emotion, this phenomenal series is unputdownable from start to finish!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
UPDATING with two of my official quotes. I LOVED this whole series so much! I rarely collect physical books anymore, but these three are going on my shelf in a place of honor.
—A stunning trilogy, expertly crafted and masterfully executed with characters who won my heart from the beginning. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Remarkable in every way!
—Chock full of action, humor, danger, and emotion, this phenomenal series is unputdownable from start to finish!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
January 26, 2021
Potential spoilers for Navigating the Stars and Chasing the Shadows below
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
After about 3 years, it's crazy to think this series is over. I read the first book way back in 2019 and re read it again last year and in a way, it kinda feels like I've seen each book grow over time. Having recently binge-read the series, I have seen the character development, particularly with Lyra, change over the course of the three books. In Navigating The Stars, I found Lyra to be annoying and arrogant however, I found that she became a more mature and refined character in Chasing the Shadows. I thought that this streak of maturity with the characters would continue on in Defending The Galaxy but it felt like everything the second book set up quickly fell apart in this one.
After the massive bombshell of a cliffhanger in Chasing the Shadows, Ara works closely with the Q-net to overcome the shadow blobs and looters in order to protect the rest of the Galaxy from the looming threat of extinction. I won't go into spoiler territory, but it felt like from just the beginning I could sense where Ara's characterisation would go and I was right. Although she became more confident in her abilities (as seen in Chasing the Shadows), she felt so much more self-centred and even more arrogant in this book. I couldn't keep count of the number of times I heard "I am one of the good guys" or "The Q-net chose me. I am the chosen one who is meant to save the Galaxy from doom." I got so triggered by her dialogue that I was very close to DNF-ing the book altogether since this seemed to continue on for around 300 pages and not even the action could've changed my mind about that.
That being said, I powered through my issues with Ara and the often slow pacing at the start to finish the book where I can happily say it did improve towards the end. All the action picked up around the 400 mark which I felt like was such a long time for me to be properly invested in the story. If some of the events towards the end were panned out more instead of what we got in the first 300 pages or so, I think I would've definitely rated this book higher than my final rating. I did like how the series finished, however, I found it to be a little too fast paced since a lot of the things I wanted to know more about were briefly mentioned without the kind of detail that I wanted as a reader.
That being said, all in all, I didn't mind the finale of The Sentinels of the Galaxy series however, I thought it could've been strengthened by cutting down some of the scenes in the first 300 pages and focusing solely on developing towards the massive action scenes of the last 200 pages. Also, the connection between Ara and the Q-net was a great idea however, if she used it thoughtfully and instead of using it for her own personal gain (in some cases) then I think I would've liked her more. The connection that she had with the members of security (which was an element that I loved in the previous book) felt like a ghost in this story. As in, we knew that the security team had her back but I wanted to see more of them and get a glimpse of the amazing book that resulted from it in Chasing the Shadows.
ACTUAL RATING: 2.9 STARS
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
After about 3 years, it's crazy to think this series is over. I read the first book way back in 2019 and re read it again last year and in a way, it kinda feels like I've seen each book grow over time. Having recently binge-read the series, I have seen the character development, particularly with Lyra, change over the course of the three books. In Navigating The Stars, I found Lyra to be annoying and arrogant however, I found that she became a more mature and refined character in Chasing the Shadows. I thought that this streak of maturity with the characters would continue on in Defending The Galaxy but it felt like everything the second book set up quickly fell apart in this one.
After the massive bombshell of a cliffhanger in Chasing the Shadows, Ara works closely with the Q-net to overcome the shadow blobs and looters in order to protect the rest of the Galaxy from the looming threat of extinction. I won't go into spoiler territory, but it felt like from just the beginning I could sense where Ara's characterisation would go and I was right. Although she became more confident in her abilities (as seen in Chasing the Shadows), she felt so much more self-centred and even more arrogant in this book. I couldn't keep count of the number of times I heard "I am one of the good guys" or "The Q-net chose me. I am the chosen one who is meant to save the Galaxy from doom." I got so triggered by her dialogue that I was very close to DNF-ing the book altogether since this seemed to continue on for around 300 pages and not even the action could've changed my mind about that.
That being said, I powered through my issues with Ara and the often slow pacing at the start to finish the book where I can happily say it did improve towards the end. All the action picked up around the 400 mark which I felt like was such a long time for me to be properly invested in the story. If some of the events towards the end were panned out more instead of what we got in the first 300 pages or so, I think I would've definitely rated this book higher than my final rating. I did like how the series finished, however, I found it to be a little too fast paced since a lot of the things I wanted to know more about were briefly mentioned without the kind of detail that I wanted as a reader.
That being said, all in all, I didn't mind the finale of The Sentinels of the Galaxy series however, I thought it could've been strengthened by cutting down some of the scenes in the first 300 pages and focusing solely on developing towards the massive action scenes of the last 200 pages. Also, the connection between Ara and the Q-net was a great idea however, if she used it thoughtfully and instead of using it for her own personal gain (in some cases) then I think I would've liked her more. The connection that she had with the members of security (which was an element that I loved in the previous book) felt like a ghost in this story. As in, we knew that the security team had her back but I wanted to see more of them and get a glimpse of the amazing book that resulted from it in Chasing the Shadows.
ACTUAL RATING: 2.9 STARS
December 2, 2020
TW: Medical procedures, bodily harm, death
“I’m an intangible worm!”
Defending the Galaxy is the finish to a series that all authors should aspire to. It’s complete, tidy and leaves just enough of a future to leave you reaching out for more whilst being held by a sturdy ledge.
Maria V Snyder is an auto-buy author for me and she again proves why with the final instalment to the Sentinels of the Galaxy series.
It’s always hard to write reviews for the last book in the series because so much of the content and the pull of the plot comes from the development from the previous books. I always try to write spoiler-free reviews, or as spoiler-free as I can, so I’m not going to delve into the plot of Defending the Galaxy, instead I’m just going to gush about how fulfilling reading this was.
2020 has been a really difficult year for me and my love for reading. It almost disappeared entirely and I struggled with not only finishing a book but even starting a book. I absolutely smashed through Defending the Galaxy on 3 train trips to and from work which is quite a feat for a 506 page book, considering I have only read 60 books this year (when I usually am up to at least double that by now).
The recap provided by Ara at the beginning of the book allowed you to just settle comfortably into her character with no effort whilst also reminding you just what happened previously, without it feeling forced. I appreciated how much you are able to suspend belief and imagine yourself alongside Ara as she is going through all of the events and lose yourself in this world.
Everything that I had wanted to get resolved, got resolved. I have absolutely zero complaints, which is a happy surprise and I fully recommend this book, this series and this author.
*I was provided an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, I was also lucky enough to receive a free published copy of the book from Harlequin Australia – thank you so much!
“I’m an intangible worm!”
Defending the Galaxy is the finish to a series that all authors should aspire to. It’s complete, tidy and leaves just enough of a future to leave you reaching out for more whilst being held by a sturdy ledge.
Maria V Snyder is an auto-buy author for me and she again proves why with the final instalment to the Sentinels of the Galaxy series.
It’s always hard to write reviews for the last book in the series because so much of the content and the pull of the plot comes from the development from the previous books. I always try to write spoiler-free reviews, or as spoiler-free as I can, so I’m not going to delve into the plot of Defending the Galaxy, instead I’m just going to gush about how fulfilling reading this was.
2020 has been a really difficult year for me and my love for reading. It almost disappeared entirely and I struggled with not only finishing a book but even starting a book. I absolutely smashed through Defending the Galaxy on 3 train trips to and from work which is quite a feat for a 506 page book, considering I have only read 60 books this year (when I usually am up to at least double that by now).
The recap provided by Ara at the beginning of the book allowed you to just settle comfortably into her character with no effort whilst also reminding you just what happened previously, without it feeling forced. I appreciated how much you are able to suspend belief and imagine yourself alongside Ara as she is going through all of the events and lose yourself in this world.
Everything that I had wanted to get resolved, got resolved. I have absolutely zero complaints, which is a happy surprise and I fully recommend this book, this series and this author.
*I was provided an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, I was also lucky enough to receive a free published copy of the book from Harlequin Australia – thank you so much!
March 29, 2023
Well, this was a disappointing repetitive mess.
First of all, there were too many references to Toad and Mouse. Like, we get it. You have "cute" nicknames for each other but do you HAVE TO say them all the time....The author made it a point to use these IN THEIR EVERY INTERACTION EVER.
Then there's the plot that was basically: Ara does something risky, her parents ground her, she does it again, ends up in the "hospital", surfs the Q-net a bit, wakes up, Toad calls her Mouse 249873940 times, something bad happens and we start all over again.
Now I have to talk about Ara. The thing I really liked in the past books was her ability to use the Q net in creative ways and have like a special bond with it. But honestly, the author took it too far. She basically became The Only One™ that could save the universe and could do basically anything. Every time the DES or whoever needed help, she was the only one who could do it. It was specifically emphasised multiple times that theQ net CHOSE HER and she has AMAZING OUT OF THIS WORLD worming capabilities and she's also SMART and BRAVE and SELFLESS ANDD
Girl, you are basically doing advanced Googling....don't kid yourself....
Also, can I just say that the "terrifying galaxy needs saving" situation wasn't that dramatic? Like, I think the author should've gone with the Holfs as the "big bad" instead of the looters. It all felt very underwhelming and I didn't feel like anything disastrous was happening...
The whole book, from the plot to the characters was completely forgettable and slightly annoying
First of all, there were too many references to Toad and Mouse. Like, we get it. You have "cute" nicknames for each other but do you HAVE TO say them all the time....The author made it a point to use these IN THEIR EVERY INTERACTION EVER.
Then there's the plot that was basically: Ara does something risky, her parents ground her, she does it again, ends up in the "hospital", surfs the Q-net a bit, wakes up, Toad calls her Mouse 249873940 times, something bad happens and we start all over again.
Now I have to talk about Ara. The thing I really liked in the past books was her ability to use the Q net in creative ways and have like a special bond with it. But honestly, the author took it too far. She basically became The Only One™ that could save the universe and could do basically anything. Every time the DES or whoever needed help, she was the only one who could do it. It was specifically emphasised multiple times that theQ net CHOSE HER and she has AMAZING OUT OF THIS WORLD worming capabilities and she's also SMART and BRAVE and SELFLESS ANDD
Girl, you are basically doing advanced Googling....don't kid yourself....
Also, can I just say that the "terrifying galaxy needs saving" situation wasn't that dramatic? Like, I think the author should've gone with the Holfs as the "big bad" instead of the looters. It all felt very underwhelming and I didn't feel like anything disastrous was happening...
The whole book, from the plot to the characters was completely forgettable and slightly annoying
December 12, 2020
Found this a very satisfying conclusion to a great series. Full review at my blog Trish Talks Texts.
December 4, 2020
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
If you've read and enjoyed Maria Snyder's books before, then I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy Defending the Galaxy. There's an excellent recap at the start of the book, so although you might want to re-read the first two books if you've left some time between this one, you absolutely do not have to.
It has all the Snyder hallmarks I've grown to recognise and love: a super fast pace, a need to be sneaky, witty banter, adorable romance, scary and sadistic villains, plot twists. It even has a heroine who has grown so much in her power she borders on being too powerful, which should also be recognisable as a Snyder trope.
There's just something so readable about this book. It's so fast paced that sometimes I had to read sequences twice to understand Ara's lightning-fast logic: she's so smart and makes connections and realisations faster than I did.
I could feel Ara's frustration as her parents - totally understandable - ban her from the Q-net and force her back into civilian life - for her own protection. It's one of Ara's struggles of this whole series: she's so close to that magical 18 where she will finally be deemed an independent adult, able to make her own rules, live on her own, go all the way with her boyfriend. I mean, she's so close. But her parents, who desperately want to protect her, keep bundling her back into childhood and the cage that comes with it. I totally feel for Ara.
I also liked how Niall responded to her as well. Their romance is very cute, but they still fight and have disagreements, but I love that it's over external conflicts and each other's safety. They're so into each other, but they always put their duty first. It's admirable, considering they have raging teenage hormones.
The villains had great motivation and it even made them seem more human and less, I dunno, evilly demonic. Doing bad things for profit, a massive sense of entitlement, and destroying where you live so you can get rich is a theme we can easily see in the real world. It made it much more relevant and believable, and frightening.
Pretty much the only thing I didn't really enjoy so much was Ara's superpower bordering on all-powerful. This happens in other Snyder books, too, where the heroine is like, "Hey, I can do this thing, what if I do it slightly differently, can I then do that? Yes? What about this?" To me, it feels a bit like discovering superpowers just by making a jump in logic. Like, "I heal people by absorbing their pain, well that means I can also push pain into them right?" I mean, to me, that's now how it should work. Just because you can drive a car doesn't mean you can fly a plane. But often, that's the logic in these Snyder novel: you think it, and it becomes. Basically the only limit to Ara's power was that she had to think her way through a problem.
I perhaps wasn't able to suspend my disbelief as much as I wanted to when Ara's flying around the galaxy saving everyone's butts. I remember feeling the same thing about Avery from the Healer series, and Yelena of the Study series. Ara is so powerful and capable of doing so much, and she is literally the only person in the galaxy who can do it. Why not? There's a logical explanation for how she can do that.
I appreciate that things need to get bigger and badder and better, especially in the final book of a trilogy, but she was just so powerful that it almost made it a one-sided battle. I had such a great time romping around with Ara, but I was never really concerned for her well-being, because she was just so special and important and able to find loopholes in just about everything. The bad guys wear bodysuits to protect them from being shot. Instead, just aim for the uncovered head... And Ara was always able to hit the head, so the bad guys may as well not be wearing any protective suits at all.
Despite my feelings about Ara's power I was pretty much loving this book and having a very good time with it, and expecting it to be all wrapped up very neatly... And then there were two lines at the very end that absolutely broke me. I can't even describe how perfect the final three words were for wrapping up the whole trilogy, but they were. It was so perfect and I had so many feelings and it was such a great series that I just sat and cried for a little bit that it was all over now.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
If you've read and enjoyed Maria Snyder's books before, then I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy Defending the Galaxy. There's an excellent recap at the start of the book, so although you might want to re-read the first two books if you've left some time between this one, you absolutely do not have to.
It has all the Snyder hallmarks I've grown to recognise and love: a super fast pace, a need to be sneaky, witty banter, adorable romance, scary and sadistic villains, plot twists. It even has a heroine who has grown so much in her power she borders on being too powerful, which should also be recognisable as a Snyder trope.
There's just something so readable about this book. It's so fast paced that sometimes I had to read sequences twice to understand Ara's lightning-fast logic: she's so smart and makes connections and realisations faster than I did.
I could feel Ara's frustration as her parents - totally understandable - ban her from the Q-net and force her back into civilian life - for her own protection. It's one of Ara's struggles of this whole series: she's so close to that magical 18 where she will finally be deemed an independent adult, able to make her own rules, live on her own, go all the way with her boyfriend. I mean, she's so close. But her parents, who desperately want to protect her, keep bundling her back into childhood and the cage that comes with it. I totally feel for Ara.
I also liked how Niall responded to her as well. Their romance is very cute, but they still fight and have disagreements, but I love that it's over external conflicts and each other's safety. They're so into each other, but they always put their duty first. It's admirable, considering they have raging teenage hormones.
The villains had great motivation and it even made them seem more human and less, I dunno, evilly demonic. Doing bad things for profit, a massive sense of entitlement, and destroying where you live so you can get rich is a theme we can easily see in the real world. It made it much more relevant and believable, and frightening.
Pretty much the only thing I didn't really enjoy so much was Ara's superpower bordering on all-powerful. This happens in other Snyder books, too, where the heroine is like, "Hey, I can do this thing, what if I do it slightly differently, can I then do that? Yes? What about this?" To me, it feels a bit like discovering superpowers just by making a jump in logic. Like, "I heal people by absorbing their pain, well that means I can also push pain into them right?" I mean, to me, that's now how it should work. Just because you can drive a car doesn't mean you can fly a plane. But often, that's the logic in these Snyder novel: you think it, and it becomes. Basically the only limit to Ara's power was that she had to think her way through a problem.
I perhaps wasn't able to suspend my disbelief as much as I wanted to when Ara's flying around the galaxy saving everyone's butts. I remember feeling the same thing about Avery from the Healer series, and Yelena of the Study series. Ara is so powerful and capable of doing so much, and she is literally the only person in the galaxy who can do it. Why not? There's a logical explanation for how she can do that.
I appreciate that things need to get bigger and badder and better, especially in the final book of a trilogy, but she was just so powerful that it almost made it a one-sided battle. I had such a great time romping around with Ara, but I was never really concerned for her well-being, because she was just so special and important and able to find loopholes in just about everything. The bad guys wear bodysuits to protect them from being shot. Instead, just aim for the uncovered head... And Ara was always able to hit the head, so the bad guys may as well not be wearing any protective suits at all.
Despite my feelings about Ara's power I was pretty much loving this book and having a very good time with it, and expecting it to be all wrapped up very neatly... And then there were two lines at the very end that absolutely broke me. I can't even describe how perfect the final three words were for wrapping up the whole trilogy, but they were. It was so perfect and I had so many feelings and it was such a great series that I just sat and cried for a little bit that it was all over now.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 30, 2020
*Source* Kindle
*Genre* Young Adult / SyFy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Defending the Galaxy is the third and final installment in author Maria V. Snyder's Sentinels of the Galaxy series. This book picks up where Chasing the Shadows finished. We are once again taken back to Planet Yulin. Yulin is one of 22 planets known to have Terracotta Warriors which were left behind by an ancient race to protect the universe from a hostile alien force known as HoLF’s. Over the past two books, Junior Security Officer Ara Lawrence formerly Lyra Daniels, has been fighting against Jarren and his looting murdering collaborators which included several attempts on her lie, and an alien force which has been given an open door to enter galaxy thanks to Jarren’s destruction of the Warriors.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / SyFy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Defending the Galaxy is the third and final installment in author Maria V. Snyder's Sentinels of the Galaxy series. This book picks up where Chasing the Shadows finished. We are once again taken back to Planet Yulin. Yulin is one of 22 planets known to have Terracotta Warriors which were left behind by an ancient race to protect the universe from a hostile alien force known as HoLF’s. Over the past two books, Junior Security Officer Ara Lawrence formerly Lyra Daniels, has been fighting against Jarren and his looting murdering collaborators which included several attempts on her lie, and an alien force which has been given an open door to enter galaxy thanks to Jarren’s destruction of the Warriors.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
October 15, 2023
This is the conclusion to Mrs. Snyder’s archaeology in space trilogy. There were a lot of questions to answer, and I was surprised at how much was packed into the book. It’s chock-full of adventure and reveals about the Q-net and terra cotta warriors and so on.
It’s YA but avoids many of the YA clichés. Lyra/Ara is extremely accurately portrayed as a 17-year-old, often at odds with her parents while still caring about them.
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: Some making out and implied sex
Violence/Gore: Several combat scenes, torture; not graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
It’s YA but avoids many of the YA clichés. Lyra/Ara is extremely accurately portrayed as a 17-year-old, often at odds with her parents while still caring about them.
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: Some making out and implied sex
Violence/Gore: Several combat scenes, torture; not graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
September 18, 2020
This review is spoiler free.
Also, you should read both Navigating the Stars (Book 1) AND Chasing the Shadows (Book 2) first.
Oh. My. Stars!
I’ve adored both other books in this trilogy, with them shooting to the top of my all-time favorites list as soon as I read them. The novels have phenomenal world building, excellent characterization, and a great pace. This third, and final, novel was the perfect ending to the trilogy. It’s difficult to write a spoiler free review as so much happens that can’t be mentioned without revealing plot details, but I’ll do my best.
Ara is currently reeling from the Q-Net’s revelation that it is a being that is part of the Milky Way. On top of that, she’s also struggling to deal with the aftermath of being kidnapped (again!) by the murdering looter, Jarren. Ara also has to face the fact that both the looters and shadow blobs, or HoLFs, are coming after her and the people she loves.
This novel (and trilogy) is a phenomenal bildungsroman. Each novel shows Ara grow and mature, but Defending the Galaxy especially illustrates this. When Ara shares the Q-Net’s revelation with those she loves, they worry she is experiencing PTSD from her most recent kidnapping. Ara’s handling of her family and friends’ reactions to the new information she shares demonstrates exceptional character growth and is done in a very appropriate way. Maria V. Snyder also deserves major kudos for her portrayal of different characters’ responses and reactions to mental illness.
Ara’s relationship with Niall is continued, and they’re as sweet as ever. They, like any teenaged couple, fight, and Snyder does a phenomenal job of writing characters in a relationship who face and handle their issues through communication.
As of the end of book two, Chasing the Shadows, the murdering looter, Jarren, is now in the custody of the Yulin security team, so we get to read as their interrogations of him unfold. And while I won’t spoil it, there is one very satisfying moment!
I really can’t say much more without revealing where the plot goes. But what I can say is that Defending the Galaxy is FANTASTIC. I’m already looking forward to being able to reread it again, especially as part of a reread of all three books in a row.
This is an excellent novel; everyone who likes the series should check it out.
I would like to thank Harlequin Romance Young Adult for my ARC copy.
Also, you should read both Navigating the Stars (Book 1) AND Chasing the Shadows (Book 2) first.
Oh. My. Stars!
I’ve adored both other books in this trilogy, with them shooting to the top of my all-time favorites list as soon as I read them. The novels have phenomenal world building, excellent characterization, and a great pace. This third, and final, novel was the perfect ending to the trilogy. It’s difficult to write a spoiler free review as so much happens that can’t be mentioned without revealing plot details, but I’ll do my best.
Ara is currently reeling from the Q-Net’s revelation that it is a being that is part of the Milky Way. On top of that, she’s also struggling to deal with the aftermath of being kidnapped (again!) by the murdering looter, Jarren. Ara also has to face the fact that both the looters and shadow blobs, or HoLFs, are coming after her and the people she loves.
This novel (and trilogy) is a phenomenal bildungsroman. Each novel shows Ara grow and mature, but Defending the Galaxy especially illustrates this. When Ara shares the Q-Net’s revelation with those she loves, they worry she is experiencing PTSD from her most recent kidnapping. Ara’s handling of her family and friends’ reactions to the new information she shares demonstrates exceptional character growth and is done in a very appropriate way. Maria V. Snyder also deserves major kudos for her portrayal of different characters’ responses and reactions to mental illness.
Ara’s relationship with Niall is continued, and they’re as sweet as ever. They, like any teenaged couple, fight, and Snyder does a phenomenal job of writing characters in a relationship who face and handle their issues through communication.
As of the end of book two, Chasing the Shadows, the murdering looter, Jarren, is now in the custody of the Yulin security team, so we get to read as their interrogations of him unfold. And while I won’t spoil it, there is one very satisfying moment!
I really can’t say much more without revealing where the plot goes. But what I can say is that Defending the Galaxy is FANTASTIC. I’m already looking forward to being able to reread it again, especially as part of a reread of all three books in a row.
This is an excellent novel; everyone who likes the series should check it out.
I would like to thank Harlequin Romance Young Adult for my ARC copy.
January 12, 2021
A last book as fun as the two precedent one. I really like Ara she is a strong MC and It was a fun read.
April 29, 2023
#1) Navigating the Stars ★★★☆☆
#2) Chasing the Shadows ★★★★☆
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
May 30, 2024
WOW!
An excellent series to start my new reading year.
Totaly recommend these books.
An excellent series to start my new reading year.
Totaly recommend these books.
April 6, 2023
Perfektes Ende der Reihe!
"Defending the Galaxy" macht genau da weiter, wo Ara Lawrence im letzten Band aufgehört hat. Die Galaxie ist immer noch von zwei Seiten bedroht - sie ist immer noch nicht 18 und ihre Eltern und Nialls Vater haben ein Auge auf die Romanze - und ihre Fähigkeiten mit dem Q-Net wachsen und wachsen, was nach dem Twist am Ende von Band 2 nicht weiter erstaunlich ist. Auch das Finale hat wieder den ein oder anderen Twist und ich habe die Storyline einfach von vorne bis hinten geliebt. Die Schwierigkeiten, die sich ergaben, die Möglichkeiten, die Ara präsentiert wurden, die Entscheidungen, die sie getroffen hat. Ich hatte hier und da etwas Angst, dass zwischen ihr und Niall künstliches Drama produziert wird, aber dies hier ist vor allem ein Weltraumabenteuer mit einer 17-jährigen Protagonistin und ihrem ersten Freund und keine Romance-Novel. Wenn Ara und Niall streiten, klären sie es also auch schon auf derselben Seite und die Handlung konzentriert sich weiterhin auf HoLF und Looter, die von allen Seiten die good guys bedrohen.
Ich fand vor allem die Storyline um Q sehr interessant. Die Sentinels-Reihe bleibt im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen konzentriert auf die Menschheit im All, keine intelligenten Alienrassen. Dadurch bleibt das archäologische Rätsel auch im finalen Band erhalten und wird nicht anderen Plotlines zuliebe aufgegeben, was ich sehr mochte. Hier und da gäbe es bestimmt ein paar Kritikpunkte, aber da auch "Defending the Galaxy" wieder so geschrieben ist, als hätte Snyder mir vorher eine Checkliste gegeben, was für Elemente ich im Buch lesen will, kann ich nicht anders, als sehr begeisterte 5 Sterne zu vergeben und mich sehr über diese Highlight-Reihe zu freuen!
"Defending the Galaxy" macht genau da weiter, wo Ara Lawrence im letzten Band aufgehört hat. Die Galaxie ist immer noch von zwei Seiten bedroht - sie ist immer noch nicht 18 und ihre Eltern und Nialls Vater haben ein Auge auf die Romanze - und ihre Fähigkeiten mit dem Q-Net wachsen und wachsen, was nach dem Twist am Ende von Band 2 nicht weiter erstaunlich ist. Auch das Finale hat wieder den ein oder anderen Twist und ich habe die Storyline einfach von vorne bis hinten geliebt. Die Schwierigkeiten, die sich ergaben, die Möglichkeiten, die Ara präsentiert wurden, die Entscheidungen, die sie getroffen hat. Ich hatte hier und da etwas Angst, dass zwischen ihr und Niall künstliches Drama produziert wird, aber dies hier ist vor allem ein Weltraumabenteuer mit einer 17-jährigen Protagonistin und ihrem ersten Freund und keine Romance-Novel. Wenn Ara und Niall streiten, klären sie es also auch schon auf derselben Seite und die Handlung konzentriert sich weiterhin auf HoLF und Looter, die von allen Seiten die good guys bedrohen.
Ich fand vor allem die Storyline um Q sehr interessant. Die Sentinels-Reihe bleibt im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen konzentriert auf die Menschheit im All, keine intelligenten Alienrassen. Dadurch bleibt das archäologische Rätsel auch im finalen Band erhalten und wird nicht anderen Plotlines zuliebe aufgegeben, was ich sehr mochte. Hier und da gäbe es bestimmt ein paar Kritikpunkte, aber da auch "Defending the Galaxy" wieder so geschrieben ist, als hätte Snyder mir vorher eine Checkliste gegeben, was für Elemente ich im Buch lesen will, kann ich nicht anders, als sehr begeisterte 5 Sterne zu vergeben und mich sehr über diese Highlight-Reihe zu freuen!
March 30, 2021
Omg maria has killed me again....I have felt every emotion possible, cried with laughter, happiness and devastation and can't decide if I'm happy or devastated by events in the end bit of the book.... All I really know is I need more ❤❤❤
August 25, 2021
4.5/5.0
Pure YA action, suspense and fun with a bit of romance and angst thrown in. It keeps the reader anxiously turning pages for sure!
Pure YA action, suspense and fun with a bit of romance and angst thrown in. It keeps the reader anxiously turning pages for sure!
August 19, 2023
If you have not read this series yet, go and do it. Now. It's absolutely amazing and I loved every second of it!
March 22, 2024
What an end to the series. I loved this trilogy! I love how always use the word skedaddle because I use that word alllll the time. Loved this and can’t wait to read the authors other work.
Easy to follow and super fun! Great YA read
Easy to follow and super fun! Great YA read
January 4, 2021
I loved this trilogy for some reason.
It's really not my type of book, and there are lots of aspects of it that would normally bother me a lot - info dumps, aggressive lack of swearing, taking place in space - but I still love it.
It's really not my type of book, and there are lots of aspects of it that would normally bother me a lot - info dumps, aggressive lack of swearing, taking place in space - but I still love it.
July 1, 2025
"I wont be alone. I'll be surrounded by my team. All those people who did not visit me over the last nine days. All I have to do is shout, and they'll be in that room in seconds." "Nanoseconds," Radcliff corrects.
(* >ω<)
"How accurate is this transcript?"
"It's exact, I've a really good memory."
"Uh huh. Then how come you couldn't remember to put your boots away when you lived with me? I must have tripped over the damn things a dozen times."
"I missed you too."
"My mom's cooking is not as good as yours. No one's is."
"Uh huh. Do you think appealing to my ego will work?"
"Did it?" I'm hopeful...
Smart ass," he says, but it's more a term of endearment than a barb.
~~ Ara's relationships with everyone are so sweet. I love all their growth ＼(^-^)／
'Why is the Q-net talking to me?'
'It's talking to us. Welcome to the insanity. If they don't send you for a full mental health evaluation, Im gonna be very upset.'
'Ara, focus.'
(*＞∇＜)ﾉ
9/23 Review ~~
Absolutely adored this trilogy ♡
It was well-written, witty, lots of twists and turns, and has very lovable characters.
I've read quite a lot of YA sci-fi books, but this one was quite different in how it presented the story. It wasn't as dark as others I'd read, still high stakes, still a badass, sarcastic female lead, but different - not sure how to explain it honestly. It felt very realistic, though - Mouse was only a 17-year-old, after all.
Definitely recommend this series ♡
(* >ω<)
"How accurate is this transcript?"
"It's exact, I've a really good memory."
"Uh huh. Then how come you couldn't remember to put your boots away when you lived with me? I must have tripped over the damn things a dozen times."
"I missed you too."
"My mom's cooking is not as good as yours. No one's is."
"Uh huh. Do you think appealing to my ego will work?"
"Did it?" I'm hopeful...
Smart ass," he says, but it's more a term of endearment than a barb.
~~ Ara's relationships with everyone are so sweet. I love all their growth ＼(^-^)／
'Why is the Q-net talking to me?'
'It's talking to us. Welcome to the insanity. If they don't send you for a full mental health evaluation, Im gonna be very upset.'
'Ara, focus.'
(*＞∇＜)ﾉ
9/23 Review ~~
Absolutely adored this trilogy ♡
It was well-written, witty, lots of twists and turns, and has very lovable characters.
I've read quite a lot of YA sci-fi books, but this one was quite different in how it presented the story. It wasn't as dark as others I'd read, still high stakes, still a badass, sarcastic female lead, but different - not sure how to explain it honestly. It felt very realistic, though - Mouse was only a 17-year-old, after all.
Definitely recommend this series ♡
November 24, 2020
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for this arc n exchange for an honest review.
My stars are probably a bit skewed, but mostly, I think this was a satisfactory end to this trilogy.
Reading Maria V Snyder is like greeting an old friend. Cliche, I know. But the moment I opened Defending the Galaxy, I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed. Sure, it wasn't as good as some of my favourite Snyder novels, but it's still pretty good in it's own way.
Defending the Galaxy, along with the other books in the Sentinels trilogy, was face paced, space filled, and slightly confusing. I love the idea of the Sentinels. I love Q. Q is my favourite. Even more my favourite is how the Q-net evolved.
I will say that I hadn't had the chance to reread the first two books before reading DtG, so my memory was fuzzy on a few points and I did appreciate the complete infodump recap at the beginning.
So what did I like? The most? Q and what he tells/teaches Ara. I loved hearing about the story behind Q, behind the alienness, Fourth v Fifth v Sixth Nation. That was fun!
I also enjoyed the action pace. Lots happening and going and generally an easy read.
The characters were great, though I honestly was waiting for the betrayal. Unsurprisingly, there was one. It just wasn't the one I thought it would be.
The world. It's pretty interesting. Confusing, sometimes yes. But overall, it's a different take on space.
What I could have liked more. Maybe Ara? She was actually somewhat empathetic. But her narration wasn't always fun. I enjoyed her convos with Q, but like when she's handling her parents or the mental evaluation (this latter surprisingly came about without any shocking twists, which I was totally geared for), was semi-annoying. Because she's bratty for a second on the forms she has to fill, but then I feel like Snyder just inserted a huge product placement in the middle. In this case it was a product placement for taking mental health seriously. A very fair and reasonable point to make, but it was just so in your face. Oh, and this happens to with the parental inserts. I do like that parents are playing a key role, but I just wish they weren't so extreme, or portrayed as such. Or rather, it makes sense everything they did, but it was frustrating reading it. So, maybe I'm not as annoyed by it as I thought, just wondering if I would have liked it more if done another way? Haha.
Ah, also, Ara tends to come off a little special snowflake. In a way it's more that she becomes the centre of it, rather than it was some unique special prophecy about her. I do like that Ara chooses to be selfish at times, but it does sometimes feel that she's the only one who does everything. Granted, in saying that, she also reports to Radcliffe and doesn't do everything on her own. So I do like that sense of protocol about her. But, still, Ara is special, that's pretty clear.
The pacing is face, and I've felt that the writing in this series and the Eyes of Tamburah series more descriptive than storytelling. It feels plain. I don't think the writing felt plain in Poison Study! But ah well. I still enjoyed it.
Overall? Worth reading for an easy spacey ya read. I'm a sucker for pretty much any Maria V Snyder book. I don't know why. Favourite is still Poison Study, so. Oh, and I have been enjoying the Eyes of Tamburah books.
My stars are probably a bit skewed, but mostly, I think this was a satisfactory end to this trilogy.
Reading Maria V Snyder is like greeting an old friend. Cliche, I know. But the moment I opened Defending the Galaxy, I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed. Sure, it wasn't as good as some of my favourite Snyder novels, but it's still pretty good in it's own way.
Defending the Galaxy, along with the other books in the Sentinels trilogy, was face paced, space filled, and slightly confusing. I love the idea of the Sentinels. I love Q. Q is my favourite. Even more my favourite is how the Q-net evolved.
I will say that I hadn't had the chance to reread the first two books before reading DtG, so my memory was fuzzy on a few points and I did appreciate the complete infodump recap at the beginning.
So what did I like? The most? Q and what he tells/teaches Ara. I loved hearing about the story behind Q, behind the alienness, Fourth v Fifth v Sixth Nation. That was fun!
I also enjoyed the action pace. Lots happening and going and generally an easy read.
The characters were great, though I honestly was waiting for the betrayal. Unsurprisingly, there was one. It just wasn't the one I thought it would be.
The world. It's pretty interesting. Confusing, sometimes yes. But overall, it's a different take on space.
What I could have liked more. Maybe Ara? She was actually somewhat empathetic. But her narration wasn't always fun. I enjoyed her convos with Q, but like when she's handling her parents or the mental evaluation (this latter surprisingly came about without any shocking twists, which I was totally geared for), was semi-annoying. Because she's bratty for a second on the forms she has to fill, but then I feel like Snyder just inserted a huge product placement in the middle. In this case it was a product placement for taking mental health seriously. A very fair and reasonable point to make, but it was just so in your face. Oh, and this happens to with the parental inserts. I do like that parents are playing a key role, but I just wish they weren't so extreme, or portrayed as such. Or rather, it makes sense everything they did, but it was frustrating reading it. So, maybe I'm not as annoyed by it as I thought, just wondering if I would have liked it more if done another way? Haha.
Ah, also, Ara tends to come off a little special snowflake. In a way it's more that she becomes the centre of it, rather than it was some unique special prophecy about her. I do like that Ara chooses to be selfish at times, but it does sometimes feel that she's the only one who does everything. Granted, in saying that, she also reports to Radcliffe and doesn't do everything on her own. So I do like that sense of protocol about her. But, still, Ara is special, that's pretty clear.
The pacing is face, and I've felt that the writing in this series and the Eyes of Tamburah series more descriptive than storytelling. It feels plain. I don't think the writing felt plain in Poison Study! But ah well. I still enjoyed it.
Overall? Worth reading for an easy spacey ya read. I'm a sucker for pretty much any Maria V Snyder book. I don't know why. Favourite is still Poison Study, so. Oh, and I have been enjoying the Eyes of Tamburah books.
December 6, 2020
4.5 stars!
Defending the Galaxy was an epic conclusion to this witty, brilliant and wonderful sci-fi trilogy. What I like most about this series is that it's easy to read, fast paced, full of sweet yet completely real moments, and has the ability to make me laugh so hard. It's the perfect mix of what makes a young adult sci-fi series so addictive.
We pick up just after where the second book ends and Defending the Galaxy keeps up a seriously fast paced plot to keep you on the edge of your seat. You really start to wonder how our heroes are going to pull through when all odds seem against them. Ara and Niall work with the rest of the team to stop the looters threatening their very existence, and at times, things look bleak. The plot was well paced, had me begging for more with each page. The Q-net is deeply explored in this book and it was great to see lots of different elements come together from previous books to really tie up the story. We learn a lot more about the warriors, the HoLFs, time dilation and star roads, Lan and Jarren. Things really start to make sense and the stakes are high - making for a great read.
Ara as usual, made me laugh, but she also had some really great moments of insight. Despite the fact she is only 17, I really identified with her character and felt she was very realistic in some of her thoughts and feelings. She actually showed more maturity than I expected and that was refreshing. This is demonstrated in her relationship with Niall and I really enjoyed reading their sweet moments, it made it feel more genuine.
My favourite part though is the laughs. Maria Snyder has a way of writing characters and lines that just make me cackle. And despite this being a sci-fi book that is one of the things I love most - is her ability to be serious and bring out your sense of adventure but also make you have fun doing it! There were so many witty one liners in this book - just like the previous books, that made me smile so much.
The ending wasn't quite what I expected - but that was a good thing. There were a few twists and turns and I loved how the story played out.
Overall if you enjoyed sci-fi books with witty characters, sweet romance, a great adventurous plot and writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I would definitely recommend Defending the Galaxy and the previous books in the series!
Thank you to Harlequin Australia & NetGalley for providing my copy for review! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own and do not represent the author or publisher.
Defending the Galaxy was an epic conclusion to this witty, brilliant and wonderful sci-fi trilogy. What I like most about this series is that it's easy to read, fast paced, full of sweet yet completely real moments, and has the ability to make me laugh so hard. It's the perfect mix of what makes a young adult sci-fi series so addictive.
We pick up just after where the second book ends and Defending the Galaxy keeps up a seriously fast paced plot to keep you on the edge of your seat. You really start to wonder how our heroes are going to pull through when all odds seem against them. Ara and Niall work with the rest of the team to stop the looters threatening their very existence, and at times, things look bleak. The plot was well paced, had me begging for more with each page. The Q-net is deeply explored in this book and it was great to see lots of different elements come together from previous books to really tie up the story. We learn a lot more about the warriors, the HoLFs, time dilation and star roads, Lan and Jarren. Things really start to make sense and the stakes are high - making for a great read.
Ara as usual, made me laugh, but she also had some really great moments of insight. Despite the fact she is only 17, I really identified with her character and felt she was very realistic in some of her thoughts and feelings. She actually showed more maturity than I expected and that was refreshing. This is demonstrated in her relationship with Niall and I really enjoyed reading their sweet moments, it made it feel more genuine.
My favourite part though is the laughs. Maria Snyder has a way of writing characters and lines that just make me cackle. And despite this being a sci-fi book that is one of the things I love most - is her ability to be serious and bring out your sense of adventure but also make you have fun doing it! There were so many witty one liners in this book - just like the previous books, that made me smile so much.
The ending wasn't quite what I expected - but that was a good thing. There were a few twists and turns and I loved how the story played out.
Overall if you enjoyed sci-fi books with witty characters, sweet romance, a great adventurous plot and writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I would definitely recommend Defending the Galaxy and the previous books in the series!
Thank you to Harlequin Australia & NetGalley for providing my copy for review! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own and do not represent the author or publisher.
October 19, 2020
I've very much enjoyed this trilogy, and a lot of that is down to the protagonist.
Sure, she's literally a Chosen One. But she's not chosen because of some stupid prophecy or because of her "bloodline" (as if we still believed in the Divine Right of Kings). She's chosen because she's smart, skilled, and principled (for a certain value of "principled"), and she specifically has to solve problems for herself, not just refuse to learn anything and then get her powers handed to her at a moment of crisis. Although there was a moment when I thought the author had dropped a deus ex machina on us, it actually was an opportunity for her to rescue herself and everyone else through cleverness, persistence, and hard-won skills.
The villains are suitably villainous (disgruntled because entitled, setting out to improve their own lives at the cost of others'), there's a strong vibe of "I couldn't do this without my team," and there's a realistic amount of "we're not listening to you because you're a child" followed by "you've proven yourself to be responsible, maybe we should listen to you after all".
The premise is fresh and original, the execution is sound, and all in all it's a good ride.
Only one thing really bugged me. There's a system that's been set up by ancient aliens, like 2500-years-ago aliens, who have had contact with the Chinese civilization but (as far as we're told) not other civilizations of the time. Yet their surviving machinery does things that take precise multiples of 8 seconds or 8 minutes (and, in a previous book, I think it's laid out in precise multiples of a modern western unit of distance, though I may be remembering that wrong). That broke my suspension of disbelief a bit, unnecessarily.
Don't start here, by the way; this is very much the third in a trilogy, and there's very little "previously-on" to orient you if you haven't read the first two books. They form a unit, to be read in order.
I received a copy via Netgalley for review.
Sure, she's literally a Chosen One. But she's not chosen because of some stupid prophecy or because of her "bloodline" (as if we still believed in the Divine Right of Kings). She's chosen because she's smart, skilled, and principled (for a certain value of "principled"), and she specifically has to solve problems for herself, not just refuse to learn anything and then get her powers handed to her at a moment of crisis. Although there was a moment when I thought the author had dropped a deus ex machina on us, it actually was an opportunity for her to rescue herself and everyone else through cleverness, persistence, and hard-won skills.
The villains are suitably villainous (disgruntled because entitled, setting out to improve their own lives at the cost of others'), there's a strong vibe of "I couldn't do this without my team," and there's a realistic amount of "we're not listening to you because you're a child" followed by "you've proven yourself to be responsible, maybe we should listen to you after all".
The premise is fresh and original, the execution is sound, and all in all it's a good ride.
Only one thing really bugged me. There's a system that's been set up by ancient aliens, like 2500-years-ago aliens, who have had contact with the Chinese civilization but (as far as we're told) not other civilizations of the time. Yet their surviving machinery does things that take precise multiples of 8 seconds or 8 minutes (and, in a previous book, I think it's laid out in precise multiples of a modern western unit of distance, though I may be remembering that wrong). That broke my suspension of disbelief a bit, unnecessarily.
Don't start here, by the way; this is very much the third in a trilogy, and there's very little "previously-on" to orient you if you haven't read the first two books. They form a unit, to be read in order.
I received a copy via Netgalley for review.
December 27, 2020
Defending the Galaxy by Maria V Snyder in the third and final book in the YA Sentinels of the Galaxy trilogy. I have previously read and reviewed the first two books: Navigating the Stars and Chasing the Shadows. This is absolutely not a book/series to read out of order because each book builds heavily on discoveries made in the previous books. I strongly recommend starting with book one (Navigating the Stars) if you are new to the series.
Defending the Galaxy finally ties up the story of Ara, the Q-net, and the looters wreaking havoc across multiple planets in the galaxy. The second book ended with a big reveal and this one opens with Ara trying to come to terms with the new information. That really sets the stage for the rest of the book, since there are several major discoveries that shift Ara's world view. As the title suggests, the book culminates in Ara and friends (including plenty of responsible adults) defending the actual galaxy. Or, at least, a handful of planets spread throughout the Milky Way.
I enjoyed this book but it was a lot more focussed on action and railing against bad guys (and against parental restrictions) than the earlier books. Even though there were a lot of discoveries and reveals here, I felt that the mystery was less important than the battle that needed to be fought. Which certainly makes sense from a narrative point of view, but it also means that I personally enjoyed the first book in this series best, though I didn't dislike this concluding volume, to be clear.
I recommend this series to fans of YA science fiction, especially those who like the idea of space travel and galaxy-sized high stakes. If you haven't read the earlier books in the series, I recommend starting with Navigating the Stars to best lead you into the story, which escalates with each book.
4 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
Defending the Galaxy finally ties up the story of Ara, the Q-net, and the looters wreaking havoc across multiple planets in the galaxy. The second book ended with a big reveal and this one opens with Ara trying to come to terms with the new information. That really sets the stage for the rest of the book, since there are several major discoveries that shift Ara's world view. As the title suggests, the book culminates in Ara and friends (including plenty of responsible adults) defending the actual galaxy. Or, at least, a handful of planets spread throughout the Milky Way.
I enjoyed this book but it was a lot more focussed on action and railing against bad guys (and against parental restrictions) than the earlier books. Even though there were a lot of discoveries and reveals here, I felt that the mystery was less important than the battle that needed to be fought. Which certainly makes sense from a narrative point of view, but it also means that I personally enjoyed the first book in this series best, though I didn't dislike this concluding volume, to be clear.
I recommend this series to fans of YA science fiction, especially those who like the idea of space travel and galaxy-sized high stakes. If you haven't read the earlier books in the series, I recommend starting with Navigating the Stars to best lead you into the story, which escalates with each book.
4 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
June 25, 2021
This one is a solid 2.5 but GRwont implement half stars so 3 it is 🙃
So the first 2 novels in this series were freaking genius. They were punchy and had a clearly defined narrative that scratched the itch of a solid YA sci fi. Alas this one failed to live up to what I expected.
For the first portion of the novel, I felt like I just couldn't connect with Ara and her cohort. Not because I had forgotten who and where everyone was but because she had gone from strong, powerful teen to lovesick fool who was kind of whiny. Now I get teenagers have a sudden change of attitude (I have one currently) but for such a massive change to occur within what is essentially a few days, I just wanted to shake her.
Being the finale of the series, I was expecting twists and turns with revelations galore. Instead I got a lukewarm novel that felt like it was the middle novel with Second Book Syndrome.
As a whole this series was a fairly good one. Its definitely an appropriate introduction to the genre for younger YA readers. Unfortunately, DtG couldn't hold its own and round out the series with a bang
So the first 2 novels in this series were freaking genius. They were punchy and had a clearly defined narrative that scratched the itch of a solid YA sci fi. Alas this one failed to live up to what I expected.
For the first portion of the novel, I felt like I just couldn't connect with Ara and her cohort. Not because I had forgotten who and where everyone was but because she had gone from strong, powerful teen to lovesick fool who was kind of whiny. Now I get teenagers have a sudden change of attitude (I have one currently) but for such a massive change to occur within what is essentially a few days, I just wanted to shake her.
Being the finale of the series, I was expecting twists and turns with revelations galore. Instead I got a lukewarm novel that felt like it was the middle novel with Second Book Syndrome.
As a whole this series was a fairly good one. Its definitely an appropriate introduction to the genre for younger YA readers. Unfortunately, DtG couldn't hold its own and round out the series with a bang
December 29, 2020
#1 Navigating the Stars 3.5 stars
#2 Chasing the Shadows 3.5 stars
#3 Defending the Galaxy 3 stars
3 stars
A nice ending for a very enjoyable trilogy.
This book didn’t grip me as hard as the previous two because I already knew most of the information necessary to guess some plot twists, and predictability with a cast of characters and relationships I don’t really care for, result in a weak book for me.
Nonetheless, the agile rhythm and the creative skills of our MC make a very fun and fast read.
#2 Chasing the Shadows 3.5 stars
#3 Defending the Galaxy 3 stars
3 stars
A nice ending for a very enjoyable trilogy.
This book didn’t grip me as hard as the previous two because I already knew most of the information necessary to guess some plot twists, and predictability with a cast of characters and relationships I don’t really care for, result in a weak book for me.
Nonetheless, the agile rhythm and the creative skills of our MC make a very fun and fast read.
December 12, 2020
This book was utterly fantastic, I loved reading it, it was such a fantastic end to the series! Loved it so much!
January 15, 2021
3.5 stars. A satisfying ending.
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