ifoo2's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bookatarian97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3 ⭐ CW: violence, torture, blood, death, murder, death of a child, death of a parent, illness
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer is book one in the Defy the Night series. This one was disappointing after reading and loving the Cursebreakers series. This one just felt boring and a bit long and slow.
We follow the povs of Tessa, a common girl who has apothecary skills and outlaw by night; and Corrick, the cruel King's Justice. Tessa has been working with a masked man to steal precious Moonflower petals, the only thing that can help cure the sickness ravaging Kandala, and make them into medicine for those too poor to supply their own. One night, when Tessa's partner Wes is captured as a smuggler, it throws her into a world she never meant to have a part in. We find out that Prince Corrick isn't all that he seems.
We get an enemies to lovers thing between Tessa and Corrick. That is mostly what the book focuses on, between all the political intrigue. I thought this book was too long for just having these two main characters. We don't really get to know anyone else. I really liked Quint, but we don't get much of him, though the little we do tells me he's definitely a sass master. I thought Tessa was a little too earnest and perfect? She really had no flaws, and it was all on her to emotionally fix Corrick, and get the kingdom back in order. It all just seemed too easy to me. Corrick and his brother King Harriston were secret softies.
The one thing I did like about this story was the morally gray theme. Tessa discovers that things are not all black and white. The king isn't a monster who wants all his peasants dead, and the rebels aren't perfect saints and can go too far. Other than that, it felt like something was missing. I just don't care enough about the characters or the plot to continue to the next book.
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer is book one in the Defy the Night series. This one was disappointing after reading and loving the Cursebreakers series. This one just felt boring and a bit long and slow.
We follow the povs of Tessa, a common girl who has apothecary skills and outlaw by night; and Corrick, the cruel King's Justice. Tessa has been working with a masked man to steal precious Moonflower petals, the only thing that can help cure the sickness ravaging Kandala, and make them into medicine for those too poor to supply their own. One night, when Tessa's partner Wes is captured as a smuggler, it throws her into a world she never meant to have a part in. We find out that Prince Corrick isn't all that he seems.
We get an enemies to lovers thing between Tessa and Corrick. That is mostly what the book focuses on, between all the political intrigue. I thought this book was too long for just having these two main characters. We don't really get to know anyone else. I really liked Quint, but we don't get much of him, though the little we do tells me he's definitely a sass master. I thought Tessa was a little too earnest and perfect? She really had no flaws, and it was all on her to emotionally fix Corrick, and get the kingdom back in order. It all just seemed too easy to me. Corrick and his brother King Harriston were secret softies.
The one thing I did like about this story was the morally gray theme. Tessa discovers that things are not all black and white. The king isn't a monster who wants all his peasants dead, and the rebels aren't perfect saints and can go too far. Other than that, it felt like something was missing. I just don't care enough about the characters or the plot to continue to the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
jana_m's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
klwl_0's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
rrickman33's review against another edition
5.0
This is a wonderful first book in a new YA series. First off, the map in this book is gorgeous AND we get a breakdown of characters and where they are from in the Kingdom. My organized Type A heart SWOONED. Beyond the great world building we get complex characters, a fun plot, and a Robin Hood retelling that is more grey than black and white. There is also a sweet romance that is all substance and nothing shallow or fleeting.
Picture the setting: there is a fever that has reached epidemic proportions and the cure is a flower petal that is ground and added to tea. Tessa and Wes are "outlaws" that steal extra flowers from the rich who hoard them, and distribute them to the poor and dying. When Wes suddenly goes missing Tessa makes the decision to sneak into the Castle where the wicked King and Prince live... and her life is never the same.
These characters were so well rounded and full of morally grey thoughts and actions. The entire plot was shown from both sides, how do you distribute the flowers and run the kingdom while keeping the peace among everyone? It seems black and white until you're in it and trying to find the answer yourself. I loved following Tessa as her view of the world broadened and she tried to solve problems after seeing the other side.
Is it right to steal from the rich and give to the poor? Or should the laws boosting the rich be fundamentally changed to benefit all of society? I loved exploring these themes from both sides of the argument and I think this is such a great book for the YA audience to read to help them navigate real life, modern day politics.
I immensely enjoyed this Robin Hood retelling from a dark YA fantasy point of view and I can't recommend it enough.
Picture the setting: there is a fever that has reached epidemic proportions and the cure is a flower petal that is ground and added to tea. Tessa and Wes are "outlaws" that steal extra flowers from the rich who hoard them, and distribute them to the poor and dying. When Wes suddenly goes missing Tessa makes the decision to sneak into the Castle where the wicked King and Prince live... and her life is never the same.
These characters were so well rounded and full of morally grey thoughts and actions. The entire plot was shown from both sides, how do you distribute the flowers and run the kingdom while keeping the peace among everyone? It seems black and white until you're in it and trying to find the answer yourself. I loved following Tessa as her view of the world broadened and she tried to solve problems after seeing the other side.
Is it right to steal from the rich and give to the poor? Or should the laws boosting the rich be fundamentally changed to benefit all of society? I loved exploring these themes from both sides of the argument and I think this is such a great book for the YA audience to read to help them navigate real life, modern day politics.
I immensely enjoyed this Robin Hood retelling from a dark YA fantasy point of view and I can't recommend it enough.
alishajoy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
reyvioli's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
motleybooksandtea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jennamae's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I enjoyed this book way more than i thought i would. You can’t help but love both Corrick and Tessa. I kinda wish we had more romance scenes between them, but the plot was so fun and hard to stop reading.