Defiance by CJ Redwine

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan–the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Review: I fell in love with this book the moment I saw the cover. One thing this series does very well is portray itself well before you even open the book. If they ever change these covers I will be so very angry because I think they are gorgeous and for once the “girl in dress” cover fits the story inside. The dark colors also help in setting the tone before you even start reading.

One criticism I’ve heard of this book very often is that the beginning is very slow. They’re not wrong, the first chunk of the book does move slowly but I do not necessarily see that as a bad thing in this case. The author takes her time in painting a picture of the world around the characters she has created. I always love a good bit of world building and I cannot fault the author for taking her time. Too often I have seen dystopians that move so fast they don’t even bother to tell you how their world came to be (I’m looking at you, Article 5!). This makes a nice change from that.

The later parts of the book had plenty of action to keep me entertained. The Commander is just downright evil and I can’t help but enjoy the presence of such a despicable character. The romance is a standard sort of romance, nothing really special but nothing to cry about either. I’m also very curious about the Cursed One and the what the heck is going on in this world! I’ll be getting my hands on the sequel very soon and I cannot wait!Have you read this series yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Keep on reading!
The Book Nut

Coming Soon…
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children review.