Defiance Blog Tour- Review and Excerpt
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.
And now an excerpt....
Owls hoot mournfully in the tree tops. The whispery rustle of an evening breeze slides across leaves. And the occasional animal pads quietly across the moss-covered ground.
I'm reassured. If the animals feel safe, I'm safe too.
This book was fabulous! I was originally attracted to the book by the cover- it is so gorgeous. It is not the normal brooding girl on the cover- this girl is fierce! I really couldn't tell what was going on with this cover- is she riding a horse? Looking fierce leaning on a fence? Does it really matter? This cover absolutely fits the tone of the book and it is still one of my favorites.
Rachel and Logan. I adored how the narrative switched back and forth between both characters. I typically don't enjoy books with more than one narrator; I find it to be incredibly confusing for the reader. This is one instance where I feel that multiple narrators was done right. I loved the emotional drama between the two that they were in love with each other but for their own reasons couldn't express that love. I loved anticipating the moment where they were able to reveal their mutual feelings. The author did a great job building this up without making it feel too overblown.
There is one specific scene (which I will not reveal but it does come early in the book), that I read multiple times- it was absolute perfection. I loved reading the drama from both points of view. I know you will know exactly what I mean when you read it- this author has an absolute gift for story telling.
The villain in this story? Whew, he is a number of things I can't say because I know I have younger readers. He is a total jerk. As the story continues and we read more about his history with his village- there is no redemption for the readers. This man is absolute evil.
If you are a fan of fantasy, a good romance, an exciting adventure, and did I mention... DRAGONS?... then go pick up this book in 3 days! You are going to absolutely fall in love with this book the way that I did!
