Defy

Debut author Sara B. Larson's Defy is the first of the series of the same name.

Alaxa 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  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?

The Breakdown:
1. If you, like myself, are a fan of Graceling and Throne of Glass series, you will like this book. Larson sets up a story with lots of action, secrets and a little bit of magic.  I liked that the setting of the two kingdoms, Antion's rain forest and Blevon's arid landscape, shows the contrast between the kingdoms that is reflected even in their leadership.

2.  Alaxa/Alex is my favorite type of heroine, strong and awesome. She does not need a man to save her.  She does have some serious emotional upheaval in her life with finding out the two guys she is attracted to know that she is a girl, and dealing with her role in saving Antion.

3. Damian is quite the enigmatic character.  When first introduced, he has a cold mask of indifference and appearance to be pampered, lazy prince.  When that mask starts slipping, he has so many secrets that learning who he really is takes the whole book. It will be interesting to see how he develops in the next book.

4. I loved that Rylan was so loyal to Alex.  He has a little bit of the boy next door vibe to him, but he is definitely capable of some serious angst moments.

5. With the way this book ended, it will be interesting to see where Larson takes this series since she resolved most of the major issues from this book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Days of Blood & Starlight
by Laini Taylor