DNF: Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B Larson


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?
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First line:
The crackle and hiss of the flames devouring our house couldn't block out the screaming and wailing of those who were still alive.
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Source:
Kindle
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Rating:
DNF
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There's something about revisiting books you loved as a teenager. This was one of my favorite books and I read it several times. So after read the disappointing Dark Breaks the Dawn duology, I wanted to revisit this novel. This got a DNF from me this year, but I think I might have finished it if I hadn't already known what happens. But like Larson's duology, the romance and relationships fell flat to me and developed way too quickly. And Alex is very accepting of all the things thrown at her and never gives Rylan the benefit of the doubt. And why would Alex's brother never tell her Rylan new about her secret?! I wish we could have seen more of Alex and Marcel's relationship too. Gone too soon my friend.

While this book fell very flat for me as an adult, it is a YA novel and I loved it in high school. So I give it a DNF now, but probably would have given it 5 stars back in the day.

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