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 "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.
Though Noemi and Abel get romance so yay. Honestly, they're one of my favourite OTPs at the moment! They're so rational and they talk out their arguments like adults and it's great.
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 strong sci-fi space opera series.
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.
Though Noemi and Abel get romance so yay. Honestly, they're one of my favourite OTPs at the moment! They're so rational and they talk out their arguments like adults and it's great.
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 strong sci-fi space opera series.