Review for Defy by Sara B. Larson

Young Adult Fantasy.

 

Summary from Goodreads:

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?

 

Gabrielle's Review:

            Before I say anything else I need to say that I LOVE how Alexa (the heroine) puts her Kingdom before her own heart when it comes down to it. She is definitely a good heroine for teenagers to follow. She is forced to disguise herself as a boy when her parents are killed because if she doesn't she will be forced into birthing babies in horrible baby making buildings.

            She is strong willed, smart, talented fighter, and loyal until the end. MOST of the supporting characters having striking personalities. A few of them seemed to blur together but the important characters all had distinct personalities. I LOVED Rylan (Team Rylan all the way!). He knew Alexa's deepest secret but didn't expose her. He didn't even tell her he knew until it was forced. Prince Damian seemed a little creepy to me (considering he knew Alexa's secret, too) but his overall character was a nice balance. He was mysterious and not the spoiled, bratty prince everyone thought he was which was REFRESHING.

            My only complaint is that the book was too easy of a read and it didn't seem as layered as most fantasy novels. Also, the "abduction" was really odd and the trek could have been handled differently.

            I can't wait until Ignite (Defy #2). I'll love to see how the love-triangle plays out and see how good of a ruler Prince Damian turns out to be. Ignite releases December 30th, 2014.