Scan barcode
oakairi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Torture, Blood, and Grief
ernea_navish's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The start of the book was a little bit hard to read and focus. It has dual POV and it switched basically every chapter and with short chapters it made it harder for me to get absorbed in the characters. But when there was more action it got easier and better.
The romance story-line of the book was perfectly written. Considering all the circumstances Tessa had to face, nothing about the romance felt forced, it just felt natural.Especially since she was betrayed and did not trust so easily right away, I liked that part.
The story had a good balance of romance and politics. It wasn't heavily focused on just one thing, and it never interrupted a flow of one or another.
However, I feel like the plot twists were easy to spot way long before they happened. Sometimes, the foreshadowing was too obvious and it ruined a few scenes to me. Hard to say if it was actually a foreshadowing or if the plot was just too predictable. But even thought, it was still enjoyable read.
The romance story-line of the book was perfectly written. Considering all the circumstances Tessa had to face, nothing about the romance felt forced, it just felt natural.
The story had a good balance of romance and politics. It wasn't heavily focused on just one thing, and it never interrupted a flow of one or another.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Rape
novel_nibbles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fast paced (very loose) retelling of Robin Hood with a slow burn enemies to lovers romance.
I’m looking forward to reading more about the political implications following the fallout of the first book and I have already downloaded the second book in the trilogy.
I’m looking forward to reading more about the political implications following the fallout of the first book and I have already downloaded the second book in the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Death of parent, and Violence
bookswithjk's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
A good solid fantasy with the classic feminine hero and the morally grey royal. The plot twists were predictable (Wes, Allister’s true nature, the petals, etc). However, the pacing is quick enough to keep you intrigued. It ends on a rather high note without much of a cliffhanger, but I’m still invested enough to pick the sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
lawbooks600's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Representation: N/A
Score: Seven points out of ten.
One year ago, I mistakenly read the sequel to Defy the Night, Defend the Dawn. I initially enjoyed it, but soon enough, I picked out the flaws, now making it only an okay read. One year later, it was time to read the first instalment in the trilogy, Defy the Night. I soon picked it up and read it, and when I finished it, it was enjoyable.
It starts with the first person I see, Tessa, whose last name I forgot, working alongside her friend, Wes, to steal medicine and food to cure people from the epidemic that plagued the country they lived in, Kandala. They had to do this because the price for a cure to this disease is exorbitantly expensive and creates a barrier between the affluent king and his associates and the ordinary citizens of Kandala. It feels a lot like Robin Hood, but with an original twist. Defy the Night has an explosive beginning but the middle is where the pacing slows, with someone killing Wes, much to Tessa's dismay. I predicted that Tessa would have an enemies to lovers romance with the antagonist, Corrick. It turns out I was right. I don't know why the romance had to be there when it took me away from the fantastical aspects. I engrossed myself in Defy the Night since it was so immersive, but the worldbuilding left me one question: where did the epidemic come from? I don't know--that is an inquiry that has no answer yet. The conclusion picks up the pace, ending Defy the Night on a cliffhanger, but I know what happens next. The library has the final part, Destroy the Day. I'll pick it up when I have time.
Score: Seven points out of ten.
One year ago, I mistakenly read the sequel to Defy the Night, Defend the Dawn. I initially enjoyed it, but soon enough, I picked out the flaws, now making it only an okay read. One year later, it was time to read the first instalment in the trilogy, Defy the Night. I soon picked it up and read it, and when I finished it, it was enjoyable.
It starts with the first person I see, Tessa, whose last name I forgot, working alongside her friend, Wes, to steal medicine and food to cure people from the epidemic that plagued the country they lived in, Kandala. They had to do this because the price for a cure to this disease is exorbitantly expensive and creates a barrier between the affluent king and his associates and the ordinary citizens of Kandala. It feels a lot like Robin Hood, but with an original twist. Defy the Night has an explosive beginning but the middle is where the pacing slows, with someone killing Wes, much to Tessa's dismay. I predicted that Tessa would have an enemies to lovers romance with the antagonist, Corrick. It turns out I was right. I don't know why the romance had to be there when it took me away from the fantastical aspects. I engrossed myself in Defy the Night since it was so immersive, but the worldbuilding left me one question: where did the epidemic come from? I don't know--that is an inquiry that has no answer yet. The conclusion picks up the pace, ending Defy the Night on a cliffhanger, but I know what happens next. The library has the final part, Destroy the Day. I'll pick it up when I have time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Confinement, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Torture
Full trigger warnings: Fire, pandemic mentioned, near-death experience, kidnapping, death of a friend and murder of parents in the past, physical assault, poverty, medical content, imprisonment, torture, blood, grief and loss depictiondezzella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I would say this reads as upper YA dystopian fantasy with dark elements/themes. I was hooked as I started reading this, and very quickly the author had my jaw dropping with surprise. You have this kingdom that is facing an illness, and struggling to give medicine to everyone. Tension is rising and though the king has strict restrictions on the flower that seems to be halting most things, there is an underground market risking their lives to get the medicine - whether for greed or for more.
The romance is definitely a sub plot, and the focus is more on the sickness affecting the kingdom, but I like how it was done. The book feels like a combination of the futuristic dystopian novels and a fantasy setting. There are magical/fantasy elements and I think everything blended pretty well.
Over pretty good and I had a good time reading it, will definitely be continuing to book 2.
The romance is definitely a sub plot, and the focus is more on the sickness affecting the kingdom, but I like how it was done. The book feels like a combination of the futuristic dystopian novels and a fantasy setting. There are magical/fantasy elements and I think everything blended pretty well.
Over pretty good and I had a good time reading it, will definitely be continuing to book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Gore, and Torture
caelfind's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Torture
unusuallyy's review against another edition
got bored; i was reading it on vacation and got distracted upon coming home
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
middle_name_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Though the main themes are beaten to a pulp by the end, this is a decent adventure story with characters you come to be invested in. There are slow sections, but there is also action and shifting loyalties and castle intrigue. Lots of gore, too. I'm going to need a romance cleanser before reading the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Child death, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, and Vomit
calicat42's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Torture, Blood, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, and War