Reviews with content warning for Medical content - Defy the Night

I am writing this review after rereading Defy the Night for a second time (date finished: 11/05/2023), in preparation for the sequel, Defend the Dawn.

I first read this book in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height. Now, with the pandemic seemingly winding down - but by no means over - this novel remains as relevant now as it was then.

The premise for Night is a terrible fever that has swept through the fictional kingdom of Kandala, an illness for which there is only one known cure - the dried petals of a plant called Moonflower.

Kandala is a kingdom ruled essentially by two people: twenty-three-year-old King Harristan, and his brother, the King's Justice, Prince Corrick, four years his junior. The kingdom is composed of eight sectors, each of which is ruled over by consuls. Moonflower only grows in two of these sectors, hence, supply of its petals is strictly rationed among each sector, with only limited amounts available. Unless you have the means to purchase your own supply - which most of Kandala's citizens do not.

Unable to bear the suffering of those who cannot afford to buy more than is rationed, outlaw Tessa Cade and her friend Weston "Wes" Lark help as best they know how - they steal supplies of petals from the Royal Sector to distribute among the local people. Their mission is fraught with danger - the kingdom is cracking down on those who distribute the medicine illegally, particularly smugglers.

But as the illness spreads, and discontent grows among the population, how long will it be until a single spark will ignite into revolution?

The fictional situation that Kandala finds itself in has some powerful parallels with the real-life pandemic, particularly in terms of vaccine distribution - wealthier, first-world countries had the means to purchase enough supply for their citizens, whilst the poorer, third-world countries were left with very little or none at all.

Brigid Kemmerer's writing is strong and assured, deeply exploring the politics of Kandala, while giving its main characters space to learn and grow as people. I did find on the second reading that there was rather a lot of introspection from our POV characters, which slowed the pace considerably - and which went on for a bit too long. I believe that a better balance between these scenes and the more action-packed scenes was needed.

But overall, Defy the Night was a thought-provoking book with interesting parallels to our own recent history. Bring on Defend the Dawn!

Content Warnings

foreverinastory's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was so addicting. I love Kemmerer's fantasy books just as much as her contemporary books!

Look no one was confirmed queer yet, but a man made eyes at another man and I HAVE SUSPICIONS!! I will sink with this ship.

Rep: white female MC, white male MC, cast of biracial and BIPOC supporting characters (no ethnicity implied since it's fantasy countries).

CWs: Blood, death, fire/explosions, injury/injury detail, medical content (widespread plague/plague outbreaks), murder, violence. Moderate: abandonment, grief, kidnapping, past mentions of parental death for both MCs.

Content Warnings

irisheyz77's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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