Waiting on Wednesday (#237): The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine

Book Three of the Ravenspire series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: February 13, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads):

Javan Najafai, the crown prince of Akram, has spent the last ten years at school, far away from his kingdom. He’s been eagerly awaiting his return home to his ailing father, but his journey there goes dangerously wrong. A mysterious imposter has taken his place—and no one will believe Javan is the true prince. 

After barely escaping the imposter’s hitmen, Javan is thrown in the most dangerous prison in his kingdom—Maqbara. The only way to gain an audience with the king and reveal the truth is to fight his way out in the prison’s yearly tournament, which pits inmates against a coterie of the deadliest creatures in the world. 

The one person who can help him is Sajda, a strong and secretive girl who has been enslaved by Maqbara’s warden since she was a child. Working with Sajda might be the only way Javan can escape alive—but she’s hiding something. 

Together, Javan and Sajda will have to outwit the dangerous warden, outfight the hundreds of deadly creatures, and outlast the murderous prisoners intent on killing Javan before he can win—in order to fight for their freedom, and take down the imposter once and for all. 

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The Shadow Queen | The Wish Granter

So far I've enjoyed all of Redwine's published books! This series is great for many reasons, but especially so because the books are companion novels. :D

Review: The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

Book Two of the Ravenspire series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: February 14, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

An epic fantasy inspired by the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, about a bastard princess who must take on an evil fae to save her brother’s soul, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen.

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence that he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague, who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother...and her soul.

What I Liked:

C.J. Redwine has yet to disappoint me! I love her books and I am always looking forward to reading more from her. This latest novel was a delight, and it had a different feel compared to the rest of her books. It was a delightful story!

Ari and her twin brother Thad are illegitimate children of the king of Súndraille. When the queen finally gives birth to a son - the new legitimate heir - she sends bounty hunters to kill Thad and Ari. But Thad makes a wish with the Wish Granter, Alistair Teague: let him (Thad) become king of Súndraille. And so it happens, because being king has consequences. Teague is a ruthless fae that tricked Thad into being king so that he (Teague) could gain control of the kingdom, and begin to take over other kingdoms. But Ari won't sit around and let it happen - especially since she isn't under any contract of Teague. With the help of the new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, Ari begins to devise a plan to take down Teague. But Teague is hundreds of years old - and a fae - and he is much cleverer than any human. Sebastian and Ari must both make sacrifices in order to see the kingdom - and each other - safe.

I love how Redwine creates a world and makes it unique and wholly her own. This particular world spans across this entire Ravenpsire series. However, this book is set in the kingdom of Súndraille. In this kingdom, there is abundant crime, poverty, and drugs. The problems of this kingdom seem so modern and understandable - so like today's problems. I love how the author has the characters approaching the problems with actual solutions. How do we get rid of criminals? How do we get drugs off the streets?

Another thing that Redwine does so well is dig deep into her characters. Each one of her characters, whether primary or secondary, are so fleshed out. Ari, for example. She is the bastard daughter of the king, and she grew up like a servant. She isn't comfortable being a princess, the sister of the newly declared king. She prefers simple clothes and she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. She is good at bargaining, baking, and numbers, and she loves having plans and lists. Ari isn't a sword-wielding kickbutt female - rather, she is insanely clever and a very talented baker.

Sebastian is quite possibly the youngest weapons master to ever exist, at eighteen. He knows how to use any and every weapon in the king's arsenal. He grew up under the care of one of Teague's most deadly collectors, and his father was cruel and hard on Sebastian. He doesn't like being touched, he hates crowds, and he doesn't say much. A man of few words, but the words he says are carefully chosen and hold a wealth of meaning. Everything about Sebastian is disciplined and precise - because he fears turning into his brutal and cold father.

This book is written in third-person limited POV, and we get chapters from Ari's POV, Sebastian's POV, and surprisingly (or not surprisingly, if you've read Redwine's novels), Teague's POV. I like third-person, and I liked the triad of perspectives from which this story is told.

It's always interesting, how Redwine gives her villains a voice in the story (i.e. a POV). Her villains aren't just evil caricatures out to kill everyone and take over the world. Redwine gives the villain a backstory and a purpose. Teague isn't a soulless Wish Granter (ha! pun intended). There are reasons for him being the way he is. Don't get me wrong, he's still a villain. But we better understand his origins, his motives, and his intent, with the elaborate backstory.

I love fairy tale retellings! This is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, but not in the way you think. The girl spinning gold is not Ari, though you can probably guess that Teague is Rumpelstiltskin. This story is based on Rumpelstiltskin, though I'm not sure I'd necessarily call it a retelling, since most of this book does not follow the story of Rumpelstiltskin. But it's so cool how Redwine took the original story of Rumpelstiltskin and made it into something different, interesting, and fascinating.

This book seemed lighter and more fun than her other books, though there were high stakes and heartbreak in this book. A key part of this book is Ari's baking - she loves food, and she loves to bake. Also, the way this book is told is almost humorous, with the writing style being so candid and almost conversational. 

The story itself is indirectly split into two parts - the first half being about Thad and Ari's adjustment to being royals, and Ari getting to know Sebastian and starting to plan how to take down Teague; the second half being about them dealing directly with Teague, in which he forces Ari's hand and she signs a contract with him, and Sebastian comes up with a plan to save her. I like how the story was set up, because there was enough action and twists to keep me extremely invested.

I like the romance! It was slow and sweet, definitely there but there weren't a lot of scenes devoted solely to the romance. There wasn't a ton of physical interaction, but you could really feel how Sebastian and Ari fall for each other and develop feelings for each other. There is no doubt of their emotional connection.

I love how this book ends! It's a wonderful ending, and everything feels fairly wrapped up. Redwine ends the book a little differently from what you might expect, and I like the ending (though a part of me would have loved her to go a little further). Still, it was a great ending to a lovely book!

What I Did Not Like:

There wasn't anything specific that detracted from the story! I personally would have loved more Sebastian/Ari moments (you know what I mean), but their relationship wasn't a potent, chemistry-filled one. It was a sweet romance, and I can't complain (too much) about that. Again, nothing specific really took away from the story.

Would I Recommend It:

Personally I'd recommend any of Redwine's books, this one included. I love that her latest novels are standalone novels. As much as I liked her Defiance series, not having to wait for the book to know what happens next is really satisfying. I recommend this one if you like fantasy, fairy tale retellings, sweet romances, clever girls, and strong, silently brooding boys. (Here's looking at you, Sebastian.)

Rating:

4 stars. I can always trust Redwine to write an interesting and clever story! I love how her heroines are uniquely their own - smart, yet not without faults - and her heroes the same - intelligent and strong, yet not without weaknesses. I look forward to reading the next Ravenspire novel! I'm hoping that there will be cameos from this book and book one, in the next book.

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Review: The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

Book One of the Ravenspire series

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: February 16, 2016

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

What I Liked:

I adore retellings! Especially fairy tales ones. Redwine's Defiance trilogy is one of my favorite trilogies, and as soon as I saw that she was working on a "fairy tale project", I knew I would love it. This book was delightful to read! I breezed through it so quickly - the pages could not turn fast enough for me!

Lorelai and her younger brother Leo have been hiding from Queen Irina, who killed their father nine years ago, and took the Ravenspire throne. Lorelai is the rightful queen, and she, Leo, and the former captain of the guard have been plotting to take back the throne for Lorelai. Lorelai's magic will be very important in attempting to defeat Irina. In the kingdom of Eldr, Prince Kol is now King Kol, after his father and older brother were killed by ogres. Kol strikes a deal with Irina - banish the magical-wielding ogres, and Kol will bring Lorelai's heart to Irina. But when Kol catches Lorelai, he finds that he cannot do it, and he fights Irina's control over him. Together, the princess and the dragon king could destroy Irina - but Irina is not so easy to kill.

I had no idea that this book had dragons in it! Kol and the people of Eldr are human dragons with two hearts, a human one and a dragon one. Kol is a fierce Draconi warrior who can hunt and catch prey easily - which is why Irina struck the deal with him. Who better to find Lorelai than a master dragon huntsman? Kol is honorable and noble and loyal, but unfortunately, making the deal with Irina gave her control over him. It's with Lorelai's help that he get control back, bit by bit. But Irina has his human heart, so they must destroy Irina not only to restore the Ravenspire, but to get Kol's human heart back.

So I really liked Kol. I also liked Lorelai. She is sweet and kind like Snow White, but she is also very tough and intelligent, analytical and calculating. She does not hesitate to help or heal anyone, and uses her magic in good ways. She isn't a helpful princess by any means! But she's also very kind. I love how she never gave up on Kol, despite Irina's control over him.

The story is very engaging, and I read the book in no time! It's about four hundred pages, but I literally could not stop turning pages. I will say that the first couple of chapters lagged a little, but not enough for me to be bored or starting skimming.

I do love that this book is written in third person POV, occasionally switching between Kol and Lorelai. Both of them are lovely characters to follow, with very different burdens and lives and motives. I liked both of their voices and didn't mind reading from one side or the other.

What's also interesting is that we get Irina's third person POV at times. I love how Redwine digs deep into the heart and soul of all of her characters, including the villain. I didn't hate the queen as much as one might have! Really well written by Redwine.

The romance isn't a make-or-break aspect of this book, and I like how gradual it sweeps through the story. Kol and Lorelai kind of do a 360-degree turn in their relationship - it starts well, gets poor, and then gets better again. I love their interactions, their tenacity, their determination to be good to and for each other. Cute romance and no love triangle!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I think the story here is closed - the next book in the series should be a companion novel, I imagine? Set in the same world, but with different characters? I wouldn't mind that! Which fairy tale will Redwine take us through next?

What I Did Not Like:

There is one aspect of this book that is bothering me a bit- it's something to do with Lorelai's brother, Leo. I didn't quite like his resolution, at the end of the book. It just wasn't clear, in my opinion. But I think this might be addressed in another novel? I hope I'm right!

Would I Recommend It:

I recommend this book! Fantasy fan, retellings fan, Snow White fan, this book is magical and epic and will appeal to anyone who loves a fairy tale. And hey, I'm pretty sure it's a standalone, so it's nice to know that (most) things are resolved. The ending was very resolved, in this story. Hopefully future books are companion novels!

Rating:

4 stars. I have faith in Redwine's storytelling! This book did not disappoint at all. The retelling aspect was well-written, the magic was larger than life, the characters were so likable, and the romance was sweet! Sign me up for the next book!

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Review: Deliverance by C.J. Redwine

Deliverance by C.J. Redwine

Book Three of the Defiance series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: August 26, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Everything hangs in the balance, and nothing is certain: Rachel has been kidnapped by enemy forces and is being taken to Rowansmark while Logan, imprisoned and awaiting trial, is unable to leave Lankenshire. Separated from each other and their Baalboden comrades, each must find a way to achieve what they desperately want: to rid their world once and for all of the Commander and the tech that controls the deadly Cursed One.

Fighting through her pain and embracing the warrior she’s become, Rachel will do whatever it takes to escape her enemies’ clutches and join Logan in his fight. But when she learns a secret that changes everything, she realizes that escaping Ian and his tracker friends is no longer an option if she wants to save the people she loves. Instead, she’ll have to destroy Rowansmark from the inside out—if she can survive the journey through the Wasteland.

Logan needs allies if he wants to thwart Rowansmark’s power grab and rescue Rachel. But securing allies will mean betraying his beliefs and enlisting the help of the man he hates more than anyone: Commander Jason Chase. Driven by his fierce love for Rachel and his determination to make their world safe, Logan may be just the weapon the city-states need to defeat the Cursed One.

But as Rowansmark bears down and uneasy alliances are tested, will Rachel and Logan’s love for each other be enough to surmount the unbelievable odds against them?

What I Liked:

Wow. Just... wow. This book was incredible. I was speechless, when I finished. There was no way I could write my review minutes, hours, almost days after reading it. You know that feeling when a book is so powerful, it resonates within you? Like watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and reaching the end, and you're swept away, caught up in the moment, the very powerful moment. That was how I felt, after finishing this book. I knew, I just knew, after reading the description of the first book, reading about the author, seeing its cover, reading it, reading book two, reading book three... that this would be one of my favorite fantasy series. A powerful, remarkable one, at that.

Rachel has been taken by Ian, who is dragging her to Rowansmark. There, James Rowan will punish her for not turning over the device. Logan has been imprisoned in Lankenshire. He pleads his case with the officials of Lankenshire, and forms uneasy alliances with Lankenshire, and the Commander. Logan and his group travel from city-state to city-state, building an army to defeat James Rowan and Rowansmark. But the journey isn't easy for Logan, or Rachel. Trackers, tanniyn, betrayals, secrets, and failures stand in the way of being reunited and and seeking justice.

For once, I wasn't scared to read this one. I have a problem with conclusion novels, just like I have a problem with sequels. Sequels often have cliffhanger endings (like this one, with Rachel being taken by Ian, and Logan being captured in Lankenshire), so that makes the third book really tense and frightening to read. What if everything DOESN'T work out?! What if they never make it back to each other?! What if everyone dies!? The struggle is real.

But Redwine has a way of weaving a tale without making readers go crazy. Or maybe I was actually going insane, but in a controlled chaos kind of way. I just KNEW that Logan and Rachel would find their way back to each other. Even if it took nearly the entire book. 

Even if both of them were basically in pieces by the end.

I promised myself I wouldn't peek at the ending of the book, and I didn't. I'm not in the habit of doing that (gosh, what an awful way to ruin a book! You have absolutely no context whatsoever!), but I was so tempted! But I didn't. The storytelling of this book is SO well-done. It's like there's another story within the series in this one book. Redwine is a natural storyteller, so it was easy not to peek at the ending. I wanted to keep reading and reading, not skip ahead.

And to be honest, a lot happens in this book. It's nearly five hundred pages, but it never FEELS that way. This book feels like a TV show or something, in my opinion - meaning, it's highly engrossing and keeps your attention. Also, the descriptions are extremely vivid. Or maybe my imagination is highly active. But I could totally SEE this book happening, in my mind. I love the Redwine didn't just drag us through the mud. Rachel is struggling to escape, trying to stay alive, dodging Ian's temper and vengeance. It's literally life or death for her - if she wasn't wanted alive in Rowansmark, Ian would have killed her. And Logan - all of the unstable alliances that he has to make are tested. His decisions about the tech are constantly questioned. And he often questions himself, if he's doing the right thing by leaving Rachel to rescue herself, essentially.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was Rachel's character development. I really liked her in book one, though I did think she was irrational and impulsive. In book two, she was extremely emotional, unstable, and bent on exacting her revenge on the Commander. I liked this raw side to her, but I wasn't a fan of what I thought was wallowing. In this book, Rachel is tested so much, in terms of survival. There is no room for feeling sorry for herself, or being in shock, or making excuses, or giving up. She has to save herself, and she has to help Logan destroy Rowansmark and the Commander. I LOVE that she wasn't all like, why isn't Logan coming for me, I'm more important than the whole world!? No, Rachel took matters into her own hands, and made decisions to protect herself. Her character development has been carefully spun throughout the three books. Redwine did this masterfully.

The same can be said about Logan. Logan is fiercely protective, always has been. But by the third book, he no longer has the one goal of protecting Jared's daughter. Protecting his people, his family, his girl, his life, holds much more significance. I love that Logan realizes that it's okay to be unsure, to be imperfect, to not always know. 

The cast of supporting characters is wonderful! I especially like how much page-time Willow gets. I'm not sure if I liked her or not in the other books, but I REALLY liked her in this book. Same with Quinn. Frankie, Smithson, Nola, Adam... I even felt for the Commander, and Ian. It's amazing how you'll feel, so conflicted, when you get to know the villains of a story. Because to the villains, they are the heroes of their own story.

The romance - like I said, Logan and Rachel aren't physically together until the last fifth of the book. However, that doesn't mean that the romance, the love, the depth of their relationship isn't present throughout the book. I love that Redwine didn't focus on the physical nature of Logan and Rachel's relationship - though I wish there could have been a little more. I did want more scenes with Logan and Rachel. However, I do see why Redwine made the choices that she did, with the romance.

This is an extremely powerful novel, in many aspects. I love how this book focuses so much on choices, plans, survival, pain, healing. Rachel learns that revenge isn't everything. Logan understands that not be able to save everyone, or plan for everything, or shoulder all the burdens, doesn't make him a horrible leader. The implications of this book are so powerful and noteworthy. I wish anyone and everyone could read this book (series), to understand what I mean about pain and healing and overcoming.

I didn't really mention the world-building or the fantasy aspect because chances are, I covered that in book one or book two's reviews. But I guess I kind of had an epiphany in this book - this story is post-apocalyptic, so it happens on Earth, in our contemporary world, after a disaster. So it is fantasy, but post-apocalyptic. Neat!

Basically... I think this book is awesome. The series in general. Fantasy is my favorite genre, so naturally, I'm very hard on fantasy series. This one is amazing! Go read. *shoos* 

What I Did Not Like:

Hmmm... I mentioned that I wanted more scenes between Logan and Rachel - and I'm not necessarily referring to the romance aspect. Their relationship is very solid, despite how much they've endured, and I wanted to just see them interact more. I don't think I'm explaining what I wanted very well... but maybe you understand what I'm saying.

Other than that, I'm doing the "feeling" thing with this one, not the "calculating", and it's a four-star read from me. No good reason, it just *feels* that way. Actually, 4.5 stars, but Goodreads and Amazon and Barnes & Noble don't do half stars.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes! If you've read the first two books, fear not, weary (hopefully not too weary) traveler! The third book does not disappoint. If you've only read the first book, it's totally worth your time and feels to read the second book and third book. Of the three, I think the second book is my "least favorite" - if such exists in this series. I LOVED the first book, really really enjoyed the third, and seriously liked the second book. That's my order of things.

And if you haven't started the series at all... you should fix that. Definitely binge-read the series, now that the series is (almost) over!

Rating:

4.5 stars. Technically, I'm leaving it at 4.5 stars and not rounding down to 4 stars. A satisfying and thrilling conclusion to a stunning series! I cannot wait to read Redwine's next books. If all of her books are so beautifully, brokenly written, laced with power and infused with pain and endurance, then I'm all about that!

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Swoon Thursday (#79): Deliverance by C.J. Redwine

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Deliverance by C.J. Redwine!

(From Logan's POV)

"We do. But not tonight. Tonight, I have other things to worry about." I lean down and kiss her again, keeping my hands gentle as I hold her, though there's nothing gentle about the way she holds on to me. "Tonight, I have you."

"You said I don't worry you." She traces my jaw with her lips.

"You don't." I'm breathing too fast. Or too slow. I can't tell, but my chest is tight and my pulse is racing, and I'm underwater again. If this is how it feel to drown, I can't wait to suck the water into my lungs and let it take me.

"You said I consume you." Her lips find the pulse on my neck and press while my heart hammers inside my chest.

"You do." My voice is rough.

"Prove it."

I smile as I hear the challenge in her voice, and then, as the moon drifts across the sky above us, I dedicate myself to the task of kissing Rachel until she runs out of air, and we drown together.

- ARC, pages 417-418

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Read my review HERE.

What an excellent end to a fabulous series! Definitely one of my favorite YA series of all time.

Waiting on Wednesday (#63): Deliverance by C.J. Redwine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Deliverance by C.J. Redwine

Book Three of the Defiance series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: August 26, 2014

Summary (from Goodreads):

Everything hangs in the balance, and nothing is certain: Rachel has been kidnapped by enemy forces and is being taken to Rowansmark while Logan, imprisoned and awaiting trial, is unable to leave Lankenshire. Separated from each other and their Baalboden comrades, each must find a way to achieve what they desperately want: to rid their world once and for all of the Commander and the tech that controls the deadly Cursed One.

Fighting through her pain and embracing the warrior she’s become, Rachel will do whatever it takes to escape her enemies’ clutches and join Logan in his fight. But when she learns a secret that changes everything, she realizes that escaping Ian and his tracker friends is no longer an option if she wants to save the people she loves. Instead, she’ll have to destroy Rowansmark from the inside out—if she can survive the journey through the Wasteland.

Logan needs allies if he wants to thwart Rowansmark’s power grab and rescue Rachel. But securing allies will mean betraying his beliefs and enlisting the help of the man he hates more than anyone: Commander Jason Chase. Driven by his fierce love for Rachel and his determination to make their world safe, Logan may be just the weapon the city-states need to defeat the Cursed One.

But as Rowansmark bears down and uneasy alliances are tested, will Rachel and Logan’s love for each other be enough to surmount the unbelievable odds against them?

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Because why not?! The end to ANOTHER trilogy. Scariness! But I'm super pumped.

Read my review of Defiance!

Read my review of Deception!

Review: Deception by C.J. Redwine

Deception by C.J. Redwine

Book Two of the Defiance series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Hardcover copy sent by a friend (thank you so much, Jess!)

Summary (from Goodreads):

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.


In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

What I Liked:

I came to the last page of the book without realizing that THAT was the last page of the book, and I turned the page looking for more of the story, and that was when I hit the acknowledgements. Don't you love/hate when that happens?! The story was so engrossing, you wanted more. And yes, I want more. That was one of the reasons why I waited so long to read Deception - because I knew that once I finished the sequel, I'd be ACHING to read the third book. It's hard, waiting for sequels and whatnot.

Baalboden is in ruins, and the survivors look to Logan for the answers. But the Commander is out there, hunting Logan, for the tech. Logan, Rachel, and the survivors must leave Baalboden and flee to Lankenshire, a city-state that should be safe to stay and recover. But there is a traitor in the midst of the survivors, and people are picked off. And the Commander is hunting. And Logan is spreading himself too thin. And Rachel is breaking apart. No one is safe. 

One of the things I really like about Redwine's books is how SMART they are. Everything seems analytic, intelligent, on purpose. Many parts of this book are used to show strategy, or clever thinking, or planning. Logan is the brains behind all of the planning and analyzing, and I really enjoyed following his point-of-view. But seriously, REALLY look at this book, the writing style, the set-up of the plot, and so on. Everything is so carefully laid out, so intelligently placed. I love that about this book (and series).

As I said before, I really enjoyed reading Logan's perspective. Logan is intelligent and brilliant, and he has a good heart. He's so mature, but he's still a young man. He's a natural leader, with subtle flaws and open courage. I love that he uses his brain to figure things out, and not just his heart. He has an excellent balance of good and not-so-good qualities.

I wasn't completely a fan of Rachel in Defiance, although I did (for the most part) like her. It's the same deal in this book, even though I felt frustrated with her at times. But I think I see things a little bit better, in terms of her mental and emotional state. She has been through so much, and has had to deal with so much, and she handles situations and consequences so much differently than others. She bottles it and it consumes her, and this makes me mad, but at the same time, I think I understand her a little better.

The romance has gone through so many trials, both in book one and in this book. I think that's something that Redwine handles well - breaking apart and building up and breaking apart and building up. Rachel and Logan are solid in their relationship, but they aren't completely solid as individuals (with all that's going on, that's hard), and it takes its toll on their relationship. Meaning, they love each other, but finding time to be with just each other is difficult, when about one hundred and fifty people depend and look up to Logan.

The same can be said about the characters themselves - Redwine really picks apart her characters. It makes this novel seem terribly RAW, and real. I say terribly, but I mean it in a good but powerful way. The characters, specifically Logan and Rachel, are pushed to extremes and then some, in this book especially. It's interesting to see the deterioration of the mindset of Rachel and Logan - and how they bounce back. Both are very different characters, in that aspect.

For the most part, this book was a really good sequel. The plot was interesting, although parts of it were kind of boring or felt a little unnecessary. However, I really could not put the book down, because I just had to know who the traitor was, or how everything fit together with Jared and the nature of Logan's ostracism, and how everything connected. Redwine really does weave a tale of betrayal, hurt, survival, intelligence, pain, and love. I cannot wait to see how it ends! 

What I Did Not Like:

This book runs a little slow at times. It's almost 500 pages, so I'm always kind of bothered when the book is relatively long, and there are slow parts in the plot - enough slow parts for me to notice. I understand that some parts are more analytic than others, but some just seemed unnecessary. I don't know how to explain this without using specific examples, but I don't want to use specific examples because that would totally give away things, and I'm not about spoilers.

Also, it seemed like not a lot happened in this book. That goes hand-in-hand with the slow plot. Granted, things DID happen. But it seemed like the majority of the book was traveling to Lankenshire, and then in the last one hundred pages, they get there, and then the climax happens, and then we get our wonderful sequel cliffhanger. Most of things that happen are subtle, and I totally appreciate subtle, but it's really easy to sum up this book, because not much happens.

Would I Recommend It:

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who read and enjoyed (or even vaguely enjoyed) Defiance, because it is a very satisfactory sequel. I hate it when sequels are horrible (especially after a STUNNING debut or first novel), because then I'm not motivated to finish the series. However, that is not the case with this novel. I am so excited to read the third book!

Rating:

4 stars. This was a really great sequel! So much angst and heartbreak and flat-out CRAZINESS - but it was awesome and truly enjoyable, and I definitely cannot wait to see how things shape up in Deliverance.

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Swoon Thursday (#27): Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Defiance by C.J. Redwine!

He lets go, and I reach for him. Twining my fingers through his, I feel something soft warm the silence within me a little as he tangles his legs with mine until I can't tell where one of us ends and the other begins.

But it isn't enough. The ache within me pushes against my chest, tingles down my arms, and hurts the tips of my fingers. I need to disappear into what we are together.

I need him.

I pull him against me as we start floating back toward the surface, and he smiles.

We break the surface together, and the air feels alive in a way it didn't before. He smooths my hair out of my eyes, and I impatiently shoves his hands out of my way so I can reach him.

"Kiss me," I say, and I don't even have time to blush at the audacity of my words before he slides a hand into the hair at the nape of my neck and tugs me toward him.

Our noses bump, and his laugh sounds breathless. "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Hurry up and kiss me."

He tightens his arms around me and touches his lips to mine. His kiss is rough, tastes like lake water... and is the best thing I've ever felt. I press against him, consuming him like I'll never get enough, and when we break apart, my pulse pounds against my ear, and his chest rises and falls like he's been running.

- Hardcover copy, Pages 355-356

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Read my review of Defiance HERE.

Mmmm, yummy Logan. If you aren't acquainted with Logan yet, you should get on that! Defiance is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far! :)

Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Book One of the Defiance trilogy

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Source: Won from a giveaway

Summary (from Goodreads):

While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.

When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.

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.

What I Liked:

AHHHHH, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LIKED THIS BOOK! I've had it on my shelf since September last year, when I won a hardcover copy from a lovely blogger. I am seriously kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book. The big reason was that this was my most anticipated debut of 2012, and I was scared of being disappointed. I hate being disappointed by books I really want to love.

Well, that wasn't the case with this book. This book met my expectations and beyond. There was a very interesting plot, a tough but flawed heroine, a sweet and progressive romance, the dual perspective aspect, and overall, a great introduction to a new trilogy.

When I say there was an interesting plot, I mean just that! There are quite a number of YA novels that make me shake my head and say, "What was the point of this book?", because there seems to be no meaningful plot. This book DEFINITELY had an intriguing plot. It might seem like all there is to this book is Rachel going to find her father and some important package, but it goes much deeper than that. This book was packed with action, left and right. It seemed like every time I turned a page, someone was being attacked or plotting or scheming or SOMETHING. Never a dull moment in this book. 

And can I just point out that the world-building in this book is really well done?! Mrs. Redwine has created a dystopian world that is Baalboden, and a mysterious unknown world outside of Baalboden. There are villages and people outside of Baalboden, and not all of them are "good". This world has a touch of fantasy to it (which I love!), and that is honestly what drew me to this book the most. I have zero complaints about the world-building of this book! Mrs. Redwine uses small things like swords and monsters and people in trees and a weird government to build an airtight world in Defiance.

I loved the characters and character development in this book. Rachel, the female protagonist, is seen as impulsive and a bit naive in the beginning of the story. All she cares about is finding her father and staying with Oliver and hating Logan as much as she can (and failing). By the end of the book, she sees and does things that haunt her, and she can't go back to her state of innocence. This character development is different in that Rachel grows as a character, but even though she is stronger as a person, she seems more broken and scarred by the end of the book than most YA female protagonists. I find this very intriguing and definitely something that sets this book apart from others.

Logan is the other protagonist, and the other perspective of the story. I love Logan so much, as the story's hero, the love interest, and his own personal villain. Logan is an awesome character! He's intelligent and clever, and uses his brain when most people shut down. He invents gadgets and technology, and this benefits both him and Rachel greatly in the story. He is sweet and protective and totally devoted to Rachel. By the end of the book, Rachel sees and understands this in him. Logan beats himself over every little thing, especially the things that happen to Rachel. I find that this makes him a tortured but realistic hero of the story.

The romance is not by means insta-love or lust or whatever. There is no love triangle. I loved the romance in this book because it was already THERE. Two years before this story, Rachel told Logan she loved him. He rejects her, and this is why she tries to make herself  hate him. BUT, it turns out, of course, that he cared about her all along. So, the romance was sort of already there. Which is why, halfway through the book, when one character realized that he loved the other, and the other character realized she loved the other, I believed that they did. Because by then, they fought to reach each other again, AND, it really seemed like their feelings strengthened, not necessarily sprang up.

I LOVE that Mrs. Redwine structured this book to have the perspectives of both Rachel and Logan. Mrs. Redwine does such an amazing job of choosing which character should have which scenes, in terms of perspective. I was very impressed with her ability to discern from which character we should see certain scenes. And I always love getting the male's perspective on things, and not just the female's. I don't really like first person point-of-view, but when it's dual first person point-of-view, that makes it better for me and easier to read and understand.

I have to say, this book is a brilliant debut and first-in-the-series novel. Usually, the first book introduces you to the world, the characters, a minor problem that leads to a bigger problem, and an initiation of a journey that will lead to another, bigger journey. Well, that's exactly what this book did, and I like the direction of this book, going towards the bigger problem and bigger journey. Rachel's problem of finding her father and bringing back the package snowballs into something very dangerous and very detrimental to Baalboden. 

The ending of this book is representative of this danger. What an ending! I felt like this book really sped up in the last fifty pages or so, compared to the pacing of the other 350 pages. Not that the rest of the book was slow or anything. But the last fifty pages went by quickly, and a lot happened. I'm terrified and excited to see what Deception will bring readers! Especially after reading the summary ten thousand times. DON'T DO ANYTHING TO THE ROMANCE!

And just a side-note about something. I saw that some people didn't like that Mrs. Redwine regressed women's rights. In Defiance, women have to be accompanied by their assigned Protector until they are Claimed. I think this aspect adds to the story, not detracts from it. Yes, we are in the twenty-first century. But look beyond that, into the story. Would certain women's rights fit in this story? No. It's what makes the world-building in this book amazing - the fact that Mrs. Redwine uses little details like that to paint a bigger picture - and it works.

What I Did Not Like:

There wasn't much of this book that I didn't like. I would have liked to see more action (in terms of romance) between Rachel and Logan, but I completely understand why Mrs. Redwine did not have at much obvious chemistry between these two characters as some YA books have. It suits Logan and Rachel and their relationship, not having crazy deep lusty chemistry.

But that's okay. I can hope for more in Deception? ;)

Would I Recommend It:

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes! I love fantasy, and while this book isn't quite as much fantasy as it is dystopia, they small aspects of fantasy make me really happy. Even if you're sick of dystopias, you may enjoy this book, because it doesn't feel like a dystopia novel!

Rating:

5 stars. I still can't believe I waited almost an entire YEAR before reading this book. Do yourself a favor and pick it up!

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