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lkristin2018's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.5
In a land where citizens are dying of fever, there is only one treatment, and there isn’t enough for everyone. Tessa and Wes steal from the rich and distribute it to the poor until things go badly. The world building is excellent, and feels relevant in the world of Covid. The characters are complex and engaging and the political intrigue keeps the reader guessing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, and Physical abuse
Minor: Ableism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Ableist language for mental illness used multiple times (crazy, mad, insane) suicidal/self-harming thoughts includingamielreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
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
5.0
This is a book I will accept no criticism on unfortunately. Brigid Kemmerer has me in a chokehold and I’m grateful.
The way she writes stories is entrancing and you can tell this is her second fantasy series bc the twists are more even more compelling than in her last.
I love Tessa - I identified strongly with her and her internal discourse on power, politics, and government lead me to my own reflections and consolidations of my ideals.
I was always rooting for Wes and Tessa. His love for her always made me want to see him fight for himself.
I was frustrated by Harriston and I’m glad he came through in the end.
Quint and Rocco are delightful side characters.
The setting is compelling, dark, and fascinating. A fantasy world struggling with a pandemic with a mystery element running throughout
Please do yourself a favour and read this book.
The way she writes stories is entrancing and you can tell this is her second fantasy series bc the twists are more even more compelling than in her last.
I love Tessa - I identified strongly with her and her internal discourse on power, politics, and government lead me to my own reflections and consolidations of my ideals.
I was always rooting for Wes and Tessa. His love for her always made me want to see him fight for himself.
I was frustrated by Harriston and I’m glad he came through in the end.
Quint and Rocco are delightful side characters.
The setting is compelling, dark, and fascinating. A fantasy world struggling with a pandemic with a mystery element running throughout
Please do yourself a favour and read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Pandemic/Epidemic
ernea_navish's review against another edition
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, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lawbooks600's review against another edition
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: Confinement, Death, Torture, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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 depictionajpotz's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pretty fun book, definitely not literary art but easy to read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
dezzella'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: Death and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gore, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent
kfmcf's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
There's something missing from this book for me. I don't know what it is, exactly, but it just feels like there's a layer that just never made it in.
I also think that the pacing is just off. I never really felt the stakes of anything as I moved through the book because I just kept looking at how much was left and going...okay surely they're going to get to *something* and they didn't until the last like 2 chapters.
I'm also just really not of fan of such a textbook ingenue. She has nothing that makes her interesting and yet the MMC is supposed to be so enamored with her. I was really excited in the beginning to have her alchemy be a major part of who she is but it's really not, which is a bummer.
There were parts of the character interactions that I enjoyed, just not the characters themselves. There's some good banter, but it's just intermingled with a whole lot of NOTHING happening. Also OBVIOUSLY Corrick was Wes. We did not need to wait that long for a mediocre reveal. Or if we WERE going to wait that long, there needed to be more stakes of it. She needed to hate Corrick himself and not just government. Ugh. Missed opportunity.
Something about the writing also just didn't gel with me. Maybe it's from just finishing a few books where the prose felt very mature and well written (also YA) and then moving into this just felt a bit patronizing to teens and their reading capabilities at times. Juvenile writing is not a bad thing in moments, but having the actual writing structure of the book feel juvenile was a miss for me. CW: S Assault - Also, the scene where they're in his room after she's caught is CREEPY. It's creepily written and Corrick is creepy, he basically assaults her. And why did her breast need to pop out of her shirt in the struggle? It was gratuitous and made me uncomfortable and I don't think in the way that the writer was hoping for. I didn't feel her vulnerability, it just felt like an edition thrown in with no consideration to how it would affect the character. Also, like a line before it happened she made a joke (WHILST BEING ATTACKED) about his knife maybe being his boner (ala "is that a __ in your pocket or are you just happy to see me"). Took me out of the book, that whole interaction and really put a bad taste in my mouth for Corrick as a character.
However, all that said, I'm interested enough in the story and characters (not Tessa) to read the next one just to see if the exposition of the first book was just set up. If it isn't, then I'll probably drop this rating lower.
I also think that the pacing is just off. I never really felt the stakes of anything as I moved through the book because I just kept looking at how much was left and going...okay surely they're going to get to *something* and they didn't until the last like 2 chapters.
I'm also just really not of fan of such a textbook ingenue. She has nothing that makes her interesting and yet the MMC is supposed to be so enamored with her. I was really excited in the beginning to have her alchemy be a major part of who she is but it's really not, which is a bummer.
There were parts of the character interactions that I enjoyed, just not the characters themselves. There's some good banter, but it's just intermingled with a whole lot of NOTHING happening.
Something about the writing also just didn't gel with me. Maybe it's from just finishing a few books where the prose felt very mature and well written (also YA) and then moving into this just felt a bit patronizing to teens and their reading capabilities at times. Juvenile writing is not a bad thing in moments, but having the actual writing structure of the book feel juvenile was a miss for me.
However, all that said, I'm interested enough in the story and characters (not Tessa) to read the next one just to see if the exposition of the first book was just set up. If it isn't, then I'll probably drop this rating lower.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Sexual assault
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: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic