Defy (Defy Trilogy, Book 1)

Sara B. Larson

Jan 2014 · Sold by Scholastic Inc.

About this ebook

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?

Ratings and reviews

It was very predictable and the main character was boring and often times frustrating and annoying. She came across juvenile and sensitive when I would expect someone with her background and position to be more confident and mature, despite her age. It lacked detail and the plot really suffered from that. The love triangle was the most predictable and with the main character's pretense of being a male and lacking any charismatic virtues, unbelievable.

Let me put it like this, the story summary promised me Mulan. I got Cinderella. And I mean that in a bad way. The main character is a wimp, too emotional, and obsessed with her boy crush noticing her. She is portrayed as being independent. She is not. It also doesn't help that the world lore is dull and many plot elements are forced and unrealistic. But, I will say this- if you love overly dramatic love triangles, this is the book for you.

Beautiful. This author knows how to write about heart ache and all the chalenges faced when it comes to writing a medieval war. She really took the time on detail and character developement. Something hard to find in books these days. I would really recommend to anyone into a love story during medieval times and any magic fans. I also would recommend this to someone wanting to try something new out.

About the author

Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed young adult fantasy Defy trilogy: Defy, Ignite, and Endure; and Dark Breaks the Dawn, the first book of a duology. She can't remember a time when she didn't write books -- although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband and their children. When she's not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting of her sugar addiction. You can visit her online at SaraBLarson.com.