Quick Reviews – Defy the Stars & Invictus

Posted December 14, 2022 by Carole in Reviews / 11 Comments

Sometimes, I just don’t have a whole lot to say after finishing a book and a quick review seems to be the best way to go. I recently read these two young adult science fiction novels and really enjoyed each of them.

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Quick Reviews – Defy the Stars & InvictusDefy the Stars by Claudia Gray
Narrator: Nate Begle, Kasey Lee Huizinga
Series: Defy the Stars #1
Published by HarperAudio on April 4, 2017
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction / Space Opera
Length: 11 hours 21 minutes
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Library, Publisher
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four-stars

This was really quite good! Noemi is from the planet Genesis and is on a mission when she ends up on an abandoned ship hoping to save her friend. There she finds Abel. Abel is a one-of-a-kind robot, known as a merc. He has been alone on that ship for the past 30 years and has evolved into something more during that time. They learn to work together and are able to form a bond. It doesn’t take long for Noemi to discover that Abel is more than a machine.

This story was incredibly exciting and I was really curious how things would work out. The characters were fantastic and I am still somewhat amazed by how much I loved a robot. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrators did a great job with the story which only added to my enjoyment.

I received a digital review copy of this book from the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Quick Reviews – Defy the Stars & InvictusInvictus by Ryan Graudin
Narrator: Maxwell Hamilton
Published by Hachette Audio on September 26, 2017
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction
Length: 13 hours 46 minutes
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Library, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Libro.fm
four-stars

I thought that this was really good! I liked the idea of a future where time travel exists. Far has always been different because he was born outside of time. He always wanted to travel through time like his mother did but his dreams are crushed when he fails his final exam. When he is offered a chance to lead his own ship through time, he jumps at the chance. Along with his crew, they travel through time stealing relics for collectors. Everything is in question when he runs into Eliot on one of his missions. They will end up risking it all to save everything they know. This was a really exciting story with fantastic characters. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did an amazing job with the story.

I received a digital review copy of this book from the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.

11 responses to “Quick Reviews – Defy the Stars & Invictus

  1. Short reviews get straight to the point and these two intrigued me! I’m glad you had a good time with both of them, and I really love it when a story works so well 🙂

  2. Just LOVE this so much here. I am always good with the straight to the point type of reviews. I love them all long or short haha It looks like these were such great solid wins for you there.

    Great review!

  3. verushka

    Invictus is very different from Ryan Graudin’s other work — which isn’t a bad thing! It’s an interesting direction for her!