Defy
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: Jan. 7, 2014
Pages: 336
Series: Defy, book one
Source: Finished copy from publisher, unsolicited
About the Book: 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?
My Thoughts: From the book description (particularly the first line!) I was expecting something along the lines of Graceling, Alanna, or Mulan. Unfortunately, these comparisons do Defy no favors. It’s not that it was bad. I just wouldn’t call it lush or say that the romance was heart-racing.
At the beginning of the book we learn that the main character and her twin are orphaned after an attack on their village. Alexa was forced to disguise herself as a boy. That way she joins the king’s army rather than being sent to the breeding houses. These breeding houses were the most problematic part of the story for me. Their existence is more than alluded to. They are brought up multiple times to show how the king has created horrible situations with his war… like young girls being imprisoned and repeatedly raped to produce as many future soldiers as possible. We are even given a glimpse of what the girls endure (nothing graphic.) For me, if you’re going to introduce something as horrific as these breeding houses (and include such details as a king’s guard doing up his pants as he leaves a room where a girl lays listlessly on a bed staring out a window) it needs to be dealt with more than it was in Defy. If they exist only to make a point that the king is corrupt, well, that could have been done by simply alluding to them. I don’t know… maybe I missed something?
If I could totally separate that from the rest of the book I think I would have enjoyed it more. There was action and political intrigue and magic! While the story lacked the sophistication of my favorite fantasy writers (like Cinda Williams Chima, Kristen Cashore, Tamora Pierce) it was a solid start. I’ve seen so many great reviews from people I trust. I really wish I would have loved it more. Perhaps it’s a case of too much expectation? Either way, I’m glad I read it and I’ll be interested to see what else the author has in store for us.
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