Defy the Worlds

by Claudia Gray Narrated by Nate Begle, Kasey Lee Huizinga

Overview

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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Defy the Worlds:"The action raises the stakes, for individuals and entire worlds, and the romance satisfies without overwhelming, right up to a huge cliffhanger ending. A fast, fun follow-up."—Kirkus Reviews

"The story involves nearly constant adventure and suspense along with a complicated slow-burn romance that is sure to delight teen readers. A thrilling science fiction adventure."—SLC

"The taut writing, engaging characters, unique universe, abundant plot twists, and a cliff-hanger finale in this sequel will keep readers on the edge of their seats and wanting more...A must-read."—SLJ

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

"Defy the Stars is a unique and masterful sci-fi space opera that will take readers across the galaxy on a fast-paced thrill ride...Brilliantly done, the book explores what it means to be human."—Romantic Times

"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

"Startlingly original and achingly romantic, Abel and Noemi's adventure will linger in my imagination—and my heart—for aeons. Defy the Stars is nothing short of masterful."—Kass Morgan, New York Times bestselling author of The 100 series

School Library Journal

02/01/2018
Gr 9 Up—In this sequel to Defy the Stars, Noemi Vidal is finally back in her starfighter after being disciplined for disappearing six months ago amid a space battle. During that battle, Noemi discovered a derelict starship with a uniquely human mech, Abel. She and Abel fled the fight to develop an audacious and dangerous plan to save her planet Genesis from Earth's persistent invasions. But it didn't work out. Now, on duty at the interstellar gate, hundreds of strange star-shaped probes burst out, overwhelming Noemi's small squadron. Days later, people all around her are sick, and Noemi realizes that the probes have infected the planet with a virulent disease. Sent to Earth with a message of surrender, Noemi is captured by the brilliant mech inventor, Burton Mansfield, the man who built Abel and who now wants to move his consciousness into Abel's body—killing Abel's mind in the process. Abel is aware of Burton's intent, but can he rescue Noemi and help her save the pandemic-ridden Genesis before Earth and Burton's plans kill them all? The taut writing, engaging characters, unique universe, abundant plot twists, and a cliff-hanger finale in this sequel will keep readers on the edge of their seats and wanting more. The story has added depth through its pondering of intriguing questions of humanity, identity, and freedom. VERDICT This is a must-read for fans of the first title, but it can also be a standalone for space opera buffs, as the backstory is cleverly woven into the narrative.—Gretchen Crowley, formerly at Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

Kirkus Reviews

2018-02-05
After Defy the Stars (2017), new threats reunite Noemi, a human, and Abel, a mech or anthropoid robot.Noemi (described as Latin American and Polynesian in the previous book) struggles with being back home on Genesis, facing ostracism—especially for not letting Abel sacrifice himself to destroy the gate that protects the planet. She gets into additional trouble for wanting to use common sense and her initiative instead of waiting for the order to destroy mysterious projectiles from Earth. By the time the order comes, it's impossible to stop all of them. Genesis is struck by a pandemic so bad that Noemi's sent to Earth to surrender. Before she can get there, she's grabbed by enemy forces and used as leverage to get Abel to surrender himself. Their objectives—saving themselves and Genesis—lead the duo to form strange alliances and discover new revelations, including devious schemes, predictable-yet-heartbreaking technological applications, and the full truth behind the Cobweb virus. The action raises the stakes, for individuals and entire worlds, and the romance satisfies without overwhelming, right up to a huge cliffhanger ending. There is ample ethnic diversity throughout the book, mostly incidental to the plot, although having one of the two named leaders of the extremist terrorist wing coded as Arab may raise eyebrows.A fast, fun follow-up. (Science fiction. 12-adult)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169532449
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	04/03/2018
Series:	Defy the Stars , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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