Book Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Title: Defiance

Author:  C.J. Redwine

Published: August 28^th, 2012

Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Fantasy

Pages: 416 pages

Rating: 2 out of 5

Rachel’s world is confined to the protective walls around her city. Beyond them are violent wanderers, extreme terrain, and a danger straight out of legend: a beast called the Cursed One that devastates everything in its path.
When Rachel’s father goes missing, she is desperate to search for him. But her attempts to flee the city bring her to the attention of its overbearing ruler. His efforts to control her make the world within the walls seem as dangerous as that outside.
Her only chance at escape is Logan. Once her father’s apprentice, and now her only protector, he feels that helping her might mean losing her completely. But if he can put his feelings aside, they might be able to save more than Rachel’s father. They might be able to break down the walls, and set their people free.

My review:

I debated whether or not I should write a review for Defiance so I thought, why not. I didn’t write one for YA books in ages. The reason I didn’t want to write this review is that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted too.

This book is a mix of dystopia, sci-fi and fantasy genre. It has a closed society surrounded by forest filled with monsters. I don’t usually associate fantasy with complicated surveillance equipment so that whole world felt a little bit awkward.

Rachel, our main character is a grieving her missing father when sudden changes force her to live with her guy who turned her down two years ago. In the beginning she is still a normal girl but after she ends up outside the town’s walls she starts to change. She becomes cold, distant, angry and very dangerous.

Logan, the boy who turned Rachel down still hasn’t gotten over the fact the Commander killed his mother and left him as an outcast. He worked his way up as the apprentice of Rachel’s father. He is builds all sorts of devices, mostly for warning people the guards are near. What I liked about him is that he analysis every situation. What is the best thing that could happen but also the worst.

The Commander was pure evil, read extremely unrealistic. He has no remorse and kills people like flies. I seriously doubt someone in his position would do such a thing. Probably in secret, but not openly kill not only a civilian but also a member of his guard. After all, they are living within the walls. People don’t grow on trees, you know.

Rachel has to find her missing father and the mysterious artifact he was carrying with him at the time and has to come back in one piece.

I won’t spoil what happens next. This whole storyline should be enough to keep me interested but it wasn’t that easy. Even during the emotional and action scene I couldn’t force myself to care for these characters. I don’t like to write negative reviews because after all, I did spent hours reading about it but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. 

2 stars