Defiance
By C.J. Redwine
August 28, 2012
Ages 13 and up
Balzer + Bray
Reviewed: ARC from publisher
Author’s Website
Order from Amazon
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.
JENNA’S REVIEW
DEFIANCE by C.J. Redwine is a thrilling dystopian-style fantasy, with a splash of romance woven throughout its pages. The circumstances are dark, the stakes are deadly, and readers are guaranteed to be thrown for a loop multiple times as the story progresses.
The two characters, Rachel and Logan, live within the walled city of Baalboden. Led by the Commander, their society is protected by the Cursed One, a creature that lives within the depths of the earth and rises periodically to feed upon those unlucky enough to be caught outside the city walls.
I found myself becoming quite attached to the two main characters, Rachel and Logan, and appreciated the fact that the story was told from their alternating points of views. Rachel is in every way as fierce, fiery and passionate as Logan is cool, calculated and determined. Essentially, they are as different as two people could possibly be, although their hearts seem to beat as one. I found myself cheering Rachel on in her quest, while at the same time I was frustrated with her stubbornness and somewhat fickle nature. Logan, I adored in every way. I loved his occasional “Best/Worst Case Scenarios” and other planner tendencies. His voice was both endearingly clumsy yet extremely charming. Both characters grew over the course of the story, not always in the most optimistic ways. These two characters are certainly not at all the same at the end of the story as they are at the beginning. Trust me on that one.
The story throws a number of curve balls at the reader. It is these abrupt changes of events that turn what could have been a somewhat sluggish book (since much time is spent focusing on short periods of time and lots of inner dialogue) into a thrilling story that keeps the reader on edge throughout. And the villain! Woah, what a villain. Sure, the Cursed One a positively terrifying creature, but the main villain far out shadows even that terrifying beast. The Commander. Here is a man whose soul purpose is to elicit terror and obedience into the very people he believes it is his given duty to “protect” (cough *control*). I literally cringed anytime he came onto the scene.
I did find a couple of elements within the book to be a bit contrived, perhaps even unnecessary. For one, although I saw it as the catalyst for their initial “romantic situation”, I didn’t really care about the fact that Logan had turned Rachel down when they are younger. I just thought it was an “easy” way to create tension between the two from the start. And second, the inclusion of two new characters toward the end of the book. These characters bring only one word to mind (cough *triangle* cough, or maybe even *square*). Though I have been told otherwise – that there can be other types of “interest” between two people – I still feel that one or both of the two new characters were placed there as tools to create unnecessary tension between Rachel and Logan (is there not enough tension already??) But I concede, it may be too soon to come to conclusions. For that reason I will reserve my final thoughts until I read book two.
While I find it hard to imagine that any future events in this series could possibly compare to those in this first installment (it couldn’t possibly get worse for Rachel and Logan, could it??) – it is with bated breath that I eagerly await book two. Mrs. Redwine has certainly hit a home run with her debut!
Plot: 9
Characters: 9
Setting: 10
Pacing: 8
Style: 10
Grade: 96
THE GIVEAWAY:
Enter to win an ARC of DEFIANCE!
Open to US/Canada residents aged 13 and older only.
Giveaway ends at midnight on Tuesday, August 28, 2012.
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Thanks for the giveaway and review! I love the spate of strong female/tomboy characters coming out lately, especially with all the dystopian themes. And a 10 on Style in your rating system definitely peaks my interest (as a good story with bad style can only do so much). I’m putting this one on my TBR pile!
Helllo :) Thanks for the chance to win this, it looks absolutely fantastic!
I am so excited for this one! Especially to read about this- “endearingly clumsy yet extremely charming”! EEP! And the villian sounds awesome. Great review and thanks for the giveaway! :)
HI!!! And thanks for the giveaway! And Logan turns her down. Well, that sucks, u are right. It is an easy way to create the tension in the room.
Thanks for this awesome giveaway!!!! I have been dying to get a hold of a copy!!!! :)
The book sounds great. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Can’t wait to read this book! Thanks for the review – and the giveaway! :)
Thanks for the giveaway! I’ve been dying to read this one!
-Madison
Thanks for the giveaway, see my blog for some good giveaways too. :)
Excellent review, book sounds absolutely fantastic, cant wait to read it. Thx for giveaway.
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m sooo looking forward to reading Defiance! Read many good reviews about it.. =)
Dystopian with a splash of romance! I’m in:) Thanks for the great review and giveaway! Would love to win!
I really, really want to read this Jenna!!!! Great review and thanks for the giveaway!!!!
I’ve wanted to read this since I started book blogging. I am SO looking forward to it, and in your review, I learned more than I already know. I’m a fan of villains :D
Thanks for the opportunity to win! I have been wanting to read this book for a while. It was even my WoW this week.
Hi, hi!!!
Thanks for this amazing giveaway!
hi : ) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!! I am so looking forward to this book!!
Thank you for the giveaway! I absolutely love the cover.
Hi! I’ve been looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I want to read this one, thanks for reviewing it and having a giveaway!!
Hi thanks for the giveaway!!
I just started reading this book, and so far I am enjoying it. I skimmed your review, but managed to catch the “square” part, ugh… I want Logan and Rachel together!
Great review!
Hi! Defiance sounds like an awesome read, I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the chance to win!
I really wnt to read this book. Also I love the cover.
thansk for a great giveaway
Thank you for another wonderful giveaway! I love your new background as well!
I’ve been following CJ for a few months now. I’m so bloody excited for this book. The cover is great the premise is great. I just can’t wait to read it!
Hi! LOL. Anyway, I REALLY want to read Defiance and I’d love to get that chance to win it :)
Had a chance to read an early version of this as well and LOVED it! So glad you did too.
Thanks for the giveaway! Can’t wait to read! :)
I’m sitting over here wringing my hands because Defiance was on my Wishlist (for Wishlist Wednesday) over a month ago and I want to win soooooo badly.
(And I hope you’re wrong about the love square/triangle – they make me cranky.)
I just recently found your blog and I have to say, I love your grading technique. Defiance sounds awesome and there are worse things than a maybe love square, like a definite love pentagon!
This book sounds sooo good! It kind of reminds me of Graceling or Eragon. Thanks for the giveaway! :D
Thanks for the giveaway! I am DYING to read this one!!
The cover is amazing! It grabbed me the second I saw it!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
<3 Tobi
I’ve read some teaser quotes on this book and boy does it sound great.
Hello. This has nothing to do with this post (or any) but just as I read this both of my upstairs smoke alarms went off at the same time without any reason. Think I have ghosts?
Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you so much for this amazing giveaway!
I’m so excited for this book. I love all the fierce female protagonists we’re seeing lately. I also love books that have a dual narrative. Thanks for the chance to win!
AWESOME! Thank you so much for the giveaway :)
Great giveaway! Thanks a bunch. (:
Thanks for this giveaway! I can not wait to read Defiance, because this is one of the books that I am most excited to read.
Thank you for the awesome giveaway! I have this book on my “to get” pile!
Thanks for partcipating in this giveaway!
This book looks like something my daughter would read. thanks so much for the giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi there! so excited about the giveaway! :)
The concept of this book sounds well thought out and amazing… Looking forward to reading it.
Just added to goodreads wishlist it sounds fab xxx
Wow! This sounds like a great book!!
Love your blog! But haven’t I already told you that? ;D
This book looks and sounds phenomenal. Ever since I first heard about it, I’ve been praying for a copy to fall into my hands. Hahahaha.
Thanks so much for the great giveaway! *crosses fingers*
I SO cannot wait to read this book. <3 They're all out of copies at Harper and I'm REALLY sad about that, so I hope I win.
thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Want this book so bad thank you so much for the giveaway! :D
I can’t wait to read this book!! I’ve heard soooo many great things about it :)
I am seeing this book everywhere. I would love to read it, but I could just look at the gorgeous cover all day! Thanks!
I have been eyeing this book for a while, and it was my WOW post a long time ago so excited to see its finally coming out ^^ Can’t wait to read it
Oh this book looks so good, thanks for the chance at this great giveaway for such an awesome prize!
Ummm, hi, jajaja. I want this book!! I NEED it. Can i read it now?? Pretty please?
thank you for this awesome giveaway! I hope my luck is high on this one. I’ve been waiting for this book for so long and to own a copy of its ARC would be fantastic!
Such a fabulous review!! Both the main characters sound fabulous, as does the romance. ;) I hope that the romance doesn’t turn into a triangle/square, although a square does sounds pretty interesting…. Anyways, I’ve been excited for this book ever since I heard about it a few months ago! Only a week left until I can finally read it. :D
Thanks for the giveaway! <3
Love your blog!
Hi! Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book sounds great and I would love to win it!
I can’t wait to read Defiance. If all of the wonderful reviews that I have seen popping up all over the place are any indication, Defiance will end up as a favorite for me. The cover is already a favorite of 2012. I am so excited to read this book, and thank you so much for the chance to win it!
Hi! :D
Thanks for the awesome giveaway, and lovely review. :)
would love to win based on your review! thank you!
안녕! (That’s “hi” in Korean XD)
I can’t wait to read Defiance, it sounds amazing.
Thanks for the giveaway! Awesome review!
Hi. Thanks for this giveaway. This book sounds amazing, one of the few I look the most forward to.
Every review I read for this book gets me more and more excited! Thanks for a chance to win a copy! :-)
I am dying to get my hands on this one!! Thanks for the giveaway!
hey, thx for the epic giveaway
Hi ;) Thank you so much for this awesome giveaway!!
This book has been on my TBR list for a while! I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, I’ll definitely be moving it up on the list!