{Early Review} of Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Defiance by C.J. Redwine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Romance / Dystopian
RECEIVED: Received for review from Edelweiss
AUTHORS BLOG: C.J. Recwines Blog


BLURB:

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:
Ever since I read the synopsis and then saw the cover with a girl who looks like she’s ready to kick some butt, I knew this book was going to be great. Even though for me the beginning was a little slow in some bits and it took me a little longer to like the lead character, I sincerely enjoyed this book and loved how wonderfully original the plot was.

Defiance follows young Rachel Adams who lives in a city run by a commander who is a horrible and dangerous man. Her father works for him as a courier, but one day fails to come back. But little does Rachel know that her father went to get something secretly for the Commander that he still wants. But with Rachel left with her new Protector, her father very young and attractive apprentice, Rachel is put in a tough situation. The Commander will do anything for this package and Rachel has to be the one to get it, he’ll use the people she loves the most as leverage. So now Rachel only has one thing on her mind as she sets off to find this package…Revenge.

First off I have to say it took me a while to like Rachel, but I feel that was the intent of the author. She’s a young girl who just lost her father and is left under the protection of the boy who broke her heart. All in all she has some reasons to be upset, but she also makes some seriously dumb mistakes that cost her. But after a while she really grows up, she becomes this tough woman, who in the end is on a mission of revenge. I like how she also becomes extremely bold, there is a part in the book that she pretty much tells Logan what she wants and says it again in a more demanding tone. Its fantastic!

Logan, I pretty much loved this guy from the beginning. It’s hard to understand what it would be like at age nineteen to be the guardian of a sixteen-year-old girl but he does a pretty good job. His past is really heartbreaking and I loved how he came into Rachel and her father’s lives, he really became family to them. I also liked how he brought technology and inventions into the story and can t wait to see what else he creates in the future novels. And of course, the romance and chemistry between Logan and Rachel was perfect and were all at the right moments. It was love hate and then progressively matured as the story went on.

The villain, the Commander you really love to hate and hope, and I mean really hope he gets what he deserves. Prepare yourself because this guy is one cruel hearted and evil man.

Overall this was a suspenseful and nail-biting story, the characters really take the readers on one heck of a thrill ride. Also in the midst of everything there are creatures known as the Cursed Ones, they make some memorable moments in the story and highly important to what Rachel is sent to look for. There is a lot that happens but it’s all perfectly laid out and fantastically written. I highly recommend this novel for anyone and everyone.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel that highly focuses on a young girl who can kick some serious butt. Fans of author Sarah Maas of Throne of Glass and Leigh Bardugo of Shadow and Bone will want to get Defiance by C.J. Redwine.

View all my reviews