Waiting on Wednesday – Spotlight on DEFY THE STARS by Claudia Gray

New WoW“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.

My “Waiting On” Wednesday selection for this week is Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray.  I’m a big sci-fi fan anyway, but I have to admit the fabulous cover is what initially drew me to this book, but once I read the starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly where they mention religion, terrorism, love, free will, and high stakes action (just to name a few things!) I knew this one had to go on my TBR.

Defy the Stars

by Claudia Gray

Publication Date:  April 4, 2017

From Amazon:

Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that’s now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth’s robotic “mech” armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel’s programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis–even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel’s devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

Advance Praise for Defy the Stars:

*”Nuanced philosophical discussions of religion, terrorism, and morality advise and direct the high-stakes action, informing the beautiful, realistic ending. Intelligent and thoughtful, a highly relevant far-off speculative adventure.”―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

*”Poignant and profound…a tale that examines the ethics of war and tackles questions of consciousness, love, and free will. Gray’s characters are nuanced, her worldbuilding is intelligent, and the book’s conclusion thrills and satisfies while defying expectations.”―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Replete with rebels, bots, and battles, this top-notch space adventure features a well-developed plot and an unexpected, satisfying ending. This is a complex and well-told tale about loyalty, love, and the meaning of life. A must-buy for sci-fi readers.”―School Library Journal

“The story plays with themes of destiny, honor, and faith, while ultimately asking readers to consider what makes one human. Recommend to fans of The Lunar Chronicles and The Illuminae Files, or to romance readers wanting a sci-fi entry point.”―School Library Connection

“This first-rate STEM-packed adventure explores what it means to be human and whether people are truly their brothers’ keepers.”―Booklist

“With a love story that sweeps across the galaxy and a heart-racing high-action plot, Defy the Stars brilliantly explores what it means to be human. This book shines like the stars.”―Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series

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I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your WoW selection for this week. 🙂

16 replies
    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      This will be my first book from Claudia Gray as well. I’ve had several comments from others who have really enjoyed her writings so hopefully that’s a good sign. 🙂

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      I’ve not read anything from her before, but I’ve had several people comment on my post saying they’ve really enjoyed her other works so yay!

  1. Lauren
    Lauren says:

    I’m looking forward to Defy the Stars too! Have you ever read Fateful by Claudia Gray? It’s another of her books and it’s great.

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      I haven’t read anything by Claudia Gray yet but I keep hearing wonderful things about her writing, so I’ll definitely add Fateful to my TBR. Thanks for the rec!

  2. Greg
    Greg says:

    Hmm, I’m definitely adding this one after reading that. I’ve read two books by her so far (they were Star Wars books which I normally wouldn’t read, I don’t usually like tie-in fiction like that) but they were quite good. since this is an original story by her I’m really curious to try it!

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      Oh cool, I’m not familiar with her other works so I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them. I may have to check out her Star Wars books. I don’t normally read tie-ins either but I could definitely make an exception for Star Wars.

  3. Eve
    Eve says:

    I’m ready for this one as well. I have read several books from this author and enjoyed them so I’m ready to give this one a try! My WoW

  4. Alyssa Susanna (The Eater of Books!)
    Alyssa Susanna (The Eater of Books!) says:

    I love science fiction, so theoretically this book sounds perfect for me! Gray’s books are so hit-or-miss for me though, so I’m actually going to pass for the time being. I might binge-read the series once it is fully published, years from now. 😀 I hope you enjoy this book when you get the chance to read it!

    Have a fabulous week. =)

    Check out my WoW post!

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      Oh really? This will be the first book of hers I’ve read so definitely curious now to see if it works for me or not. Fingers crossed! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  5. Sandra
    Sandra says:

    I’ve never heard of this book before, but this is the second time I’ve seen it today. It does sound really good! I hope you enjoy reading it, Suzanne.
    My WoW

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