Defy (Defy Trilogy, Book 1) (1) Hardcover – January 7, 2014

5 beautifully, captivating, starsI don't even know where to start with my feelings for DEFY? How to express the full depth of my love for this book. How to put all my amazing, torturous feelings into intelligible words. But I'll try!Have you ever had a book that when you're done reading it, all you wanted to do was turn it over and start reading it again? Well that's exactly what I wanted to do when I was finished reading DEFY!! It was so breathtakingly, and unforgettably, undeniably, engaging, and totally addicting! I don't come across many books that make me feel like that, but DEFY was definitely one of them!!!DEFY has exceeded any and ALL expectations I had for it. It touched my heart in sooo many places as it seared it's pain and sorrow, determination and courage, love and sacrifice, and the need to overcome their reservations. DEFY'S made it's way up onto my TOP favorite shelf of ALL books I've EVER read. I just really, really, LOVE LOVE, LOVEEEEEE, DEFY!!!THE PLOTAfter watching her parents murdered, burnt to a crisp in front of her and her fourteen year old twin brother, Alexa and her twin Marcel had no choice but to join the kings army when they came for them that fateful night their parents were murdered by the dark sorcerer. But as a girl, Alexa had two choices; be hoarded off into the breeding house, where all girls went to await their horrible fates. Or, she can cut off her hair, bind her breast, make her voice deep and firm, her stride long and quick, and become... a boy.The choice came easy for Alexa...Now, hard training and years later, Alexa, now known as Alex and her twin brother Marcel have both fought their way up the latter and into the Prince's guard. Alex has grown use to filling her days fighting to keep Prince Damian safe, all while harboring her deadly secret that could very well get both her and her twin killed if ever reveal. But with all the practice and training Alex has had over the years, she's fairly certain that her disguise is secure, or so she thought...Alex's world starts to slowly unravel when numerous attempts on Prince Damian's life are taken, not to mention the odd behavior he's been exhibiting. She's always known the Prince to be lazy, arrogant, and self absorbed. By now she's seeing a new side to her Prince, a side that she just may very well like. But now she's starting to wonder if it all could of been an act, but for what? And why now more then ever is sorcery making it's way into the castle when it's forbidden by the king, and the cost for using it is death?Alex will have to fight her way through the unthinkable as deadly secrets arise, murderous plots unfold, magic wielders revealed, love ones lost, and kingdoms fall. But Alex is realizing more then ever that she is needed more then she's ever thought. That the time has come to decide just where and who her loyalties lie with. But most of all, she just may be the key to their kingdoms redemption. But the question still remains; just what or who, will she have to sacrifice in order to save the people and the kingdom she loves?Phew... Did I mention just how much I LOVED this book? Oh yeah, about a million and one times already! ;) I shed so many tears for this book and these characters, and their struggles and hardships that they had to endure. An author really knows they did something right when they have their readers crying at every other chapter. Well, maybe not that much, but I cried a lot. Some were OMG, that did not just happen tears, some were sad tears, some were angry tears, but at the end, they were noting but happy tears. Well, bittersweet tears, but still happy nevertheless.Overall, DEFY was a beautifully written and absolutely addicting story, with exceptionally complex characters, forbidden romance, and a wonderfully dangerous setting that makes for an unforgettable adventure, that I know I will relive again and again for a very long time!!NOTE: I received a physical ARC from Scholastic Press for reviewing purposes! All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way!

Would you be able to hide the very nature of who you were? What if it meant an actual life vs. being used and abused until you died an untimely death? In Sara B. Larson's Defy, a young girl named Alexa must become Alex in order to stay alive in a world full of hate and corruption.When their parents were killed by sorcerers, Marcel took his twin sister outside, cut her hair, and transformed her life. Had she stayed a girl, she would have been captured and taken to the breeding houses to produce more soldiers for the king's never-ending war. Marcel doomed Alex to a life of terrified hiding in plain sight, but he saved Alexa in the process. Now they train together, they are inseparable, and they are part of Prince Damien's guard. While it is hard to care much about an apathetic prince like Damien, Marcel and Alex are serious about the duty to protect him, even if his father is a monster who has destroyed the lives of every person in his own kingdoms and the kingdoms around them.After an attempt on Damien's life, the king and his adviser, Iker, put a guard in Damien's room at night. When Alex is chosen for the detail, she is terrified he will notice things about her if he spends too much time in close proximity to her. Hiding the fact that she is a girl is paramount to survival in this world. Almost as much as hiding the fact that you are a sorcerer. When Damien asks Alex to deliver a message to a rebel camp not far from the palace, she realizes there are sorcerers all around them. While they assumed they were relatively safe inside the palace, a group sent to kidnap Damien changes that perception. Damien, Alex, and her only friend, Rylan, are taken by a group who means to end the war, even if it takes great sacrifice.I really liked this story, but there were also some things I just didn't like. For instance, Alex is a by-the-book super-soldier who could fight better than any man on the prince's detail. She rocks. But when she is kidnapped and Damien and Rylan know her secret, she becomes a quivering pile of goop that ignores any attempt to save her prince and instead focuses on how much she wants to kiss Damien. Oh wait, now she wants to kiss Rylan. No, Damien! No, Rylan! Back and forth, back and forth. I don't mind love triangles, but I do mind when they distract from a really good story and the already established nature of a character, which it did with this story. I was so surprised by how much of the story this love triangle consumed, and if you plucked it out, the story would have been spectacular. I loved the history between the kingdoms, the surprising nature of Damien, how Alex had survived for so many years hidden as a boy, the sorcery, everything! But it felt overshadowed by the pining over two men, which directly defied the nature of Alex. She managed to keep her composure after the death of someone near and dear to her, but she couldn't control her lust for these two guys? It surprised and disappointed me.That being said, I really liked this story. The love triangle was annoying, but I still really liked the world, the characters, the history, and the magic. There were twists and turns around every corner that were a little predictable, but fun nonetheless. I really look forward to the second book in the series, because there is so much left to be said and read. I think this "love triangle business" will fade away, because there is certainly one clear winner in that battle. But hopefully, like all good love triangles do, it will work itself out and leave you happiest with the solution. This was a fun fantasy for all types of readers. The language is average, but occasionally the material is pretty brutal, like what happens in the breeding houses. I would use this for older readers, but the language would make it appropriate for readers with struggling skills.

Couldn't put this book down! Great book for those who love a medieval times theme with the clashing of swords, sorcerers, battles between nations, good vs. evil, a good plot with unexpected twists and turns and the classic battle for the woman's heart - only there is a twist in that theme too - she's disguised as a guy serving as part of the royal guard and is vital to saving the nation! I loved it! Looking forward to reading the next one in the trilogy!

Awesome!