Title: Defy
Author: Sara B. Larson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: January 7th, 2014
Page count: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley and the publisher.
Buy from: Amazon . Barnes&Noble . The Book Depository
Book Summary:
A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.
Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king’s army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince’s guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can’t prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.
The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she’s sworn to protect?
*The Reader’s Review*
My rating: 5/5 stars!
To the book:
Defy … you wonderful, magical and beautiful book. Why are you so awesome? I swear my friends are tired of hearing about you, but they truly have no clue how good you are. They don’t know what it’s like to enter a whole new world within your pages and go into such an adventure with one of the greatest heroines of all time. I think I’m in love with you. Seriously, you are amazing!
…..
Actual review:
Epic. Epic. Epic! Defy is one of the best books I have read in such a long time and is one of the few that has managed to grab me from the very first page. I mean, it starts in such a way that you know for sure you won’t be able to put it down until you get to the back cover. And the swoons, the FEELS you get, are so fantastic that it makes you wish to not have read it so you could feel them for the first time again.
Alexa, or better known as Alex, is the best fighter among the prince’s guard. Actually, she’s the best fighter in all the kingdoms, period. Yet, she has to hide her true self and be known as a boy, twin to her brother Marcel, unless she wants to be discovered and sent to the breeding house were the rest of the “rescued” girls go to breed more fighters for the war between Antion and Blevon. It’s a disgusting fate she had to run from when a black sorcerer killed her parents and burned down her village, but all is not well since she is still under command from the worst ruler of Antion, the one who has brought only oppression to its citizens.
This doesn’t stop Alexa from being a loyal and caring person to those she serves. It’s something I loved about her, apart from her strength, fighting skills, composure and of course, her heart. It’s not a surprise that she would attract two handsome guys once they realized she was not in fact a boy. The question is, Prince Damian or Rylan? Rylan is sweet, but personally, I’m rooting for Damian because he is definitely an interesting character (forgetting his spoiled personality). My heart pounded every time he came into a scene and I hated every second he would disappear. I loved him and his secrets. I still do.
Leaving aside a little the romance in this book, I think it’s worth mentioning that I believe the characters in general were the best part and strong point of Defy. We got a wide range of characters, good and bad, all crucial to how the story unfolds. I liked uncovering their secrets and I enjoyed not only loving the main characters, but also to form unexpected bonds with some of the secondary ones. Lik Marcel for example, he was one of my favorites for so many reasons, including for his quick thinking and protectiveness for Alexa. Oh, how I miss that guy!
Really, Defy is amazing and I can’t imagine myself uttering a single bad thing about it. I think I need an entire galaxy to point out how much I loved it, how much I adored it and how much I need to have the sequel in my hands. I highly recommend this book, it’s definitely a must read and one that won’t disappoint.
*Note: Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of Defy. I assure all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.*
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