Defy by Sara B. Larson

Defy

Defy 1

Author: Sara B. Larson 
Pages: 336 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: January 7th 2014


A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and heart-racing romance.

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?

This was a fun debut for me to read. Not only had I been excited for it before it's release, but I also just loved the cover and the detail they were able to show of the dagger. Beautiful.

Since this was a high fantasy, I really enjoyed the fact that the main character was a girl, Alexa or Alex, who was a part of the prince's elite guard. Even though she was able to because she was pretending to be a boy, she still had the skill and fortitude to rise through the ranks and get to the position she had when the story started.

Yet she was still a girl, and I loved how Sara brought out and showed the struggles that Alexa had to deal throughout.

I also really loved the world that Sara created for this series. The land itself was rich and so different as they traveled, it felt like its own character. It felt like we only got a small taste of what else there was, and it left me wanting to know and explore more of this fascinating world.

And with book 2, Ignite, coming out soon I can't wait to delve back into this world!