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A review by jen1804
Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved it. I love the multi POV between Aaron, Juliette and Kenji, and all three of them had such interesting plots happening.
This is what all the previous books in the series have been building towards and BOOM, 5 stars!
In my opinion this book was a masterpiece. It’s exactly the kind of dystopian novel I was waiting for.
There are so many heart wrenching moments in this book, I mean utterly grim scenes involving torture, but which absolutely grip you. I cried at Emmaline oh goddd, help me.
There’s moments which made me audibly gasp in shock/horror/emotion. And several absolutely BAD ASS moments which I live for (I’m referring to the Evie/Ella, Aaron/Anderson respective parental murders)!
Part of me is bummed that Anderson can regenerate to some degree and keeps coming back once we think he’s dead. But also so far Juliette has had a chance to “kill” him and so has Aaron, and I’m wondering whether we’ll get another final kill scene but whether this time from Adam? I’d be here for that.
We get so many answers! And the history of Aaron and Ella is EVERYTHING. Stop it. When characters are continuously getting their memories wiped and yet continuously finding their way back to each other? Ugh god that does things to me🥹!
“Aaron always fell in love with her. Every time.”
We get reunion scenes, we love a reunion scene.
The bickering between Aaron and Kenji I adore so much. And their budding frenemies bromance. Love.
Aaron’s proposal in bed was legit the most perfect thing I’ve ever heard.
And that ending!? So wholesome! I loved that it was some normalcy in this life whilst acknowledging that the war is far from over and tomorrow would be hell. It was giving me a similar vibe as the Deathly Hallows Harry/Hermione tent dance scene and I loved it. Cannot wait to see what happens next.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
“I will love you for the rest of my life. My heart is yours. Please don’t ever give it back to me”.
Edit: because I now literally have no memory of what happens in this book I cannot in good faith keep this at 5 stars so am demoting to 4.75.
This is what all the previous books in the series have been building towards and BOOM, 5 stars!
In my opinion this book was a masterpiece. It’s exactly the kind of dystopian novel I was waiting for.
There are so many heart wrenching moments in this book, I mean utterly grim scenes involving torture, but which absolutely grip you. I cried at Emmaline oh goddd, help me.
There’s moments which made me audibly gasp in shock/horror/emotion. And several absolutely BAD ASS moments which I live for (I’m referring to the Evie/Ella, Aaron/Anderson respective parental murders)!
Part of me is bummed that Anderson can regenerate to some degree and keeps coming back once we think he’s dead. But also so far Juliette has had a chance to “kill” him and so has Aaron, and I’m wondering whether we’ll get another final kill scene but whether this time from Adam? I’d be here for that.
We get so many answers! And the history of Aaron and Ella is EVERYTHING. Stop it. When characters are continuously getting their memories wiped and yet continuously finding their way back to each other? Ugh god that does things to me🥹!
“Aaron always fell in love with her. Every time.”
We get reunion scenes, we love a reunion scene.
The bickering between Aaron and Kenji I adore so much. And their budding frenemies bromance. Love.
Aaron’s proposal in bed was legit the most perfect thing I’ve ever heard.
And that ending!? So wholesome! I loved that it was some normalcy in this life whilst acknowledging that the war is far from over and tomorrow would be hell. It was giving me a similar vibe as the Deathly Hallows Harry/Hermione tent dance scene and I loved it. Cannot wait to see what happens next.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
“I will love you for the rest of my life. My heart is yours. Please don’t ever give it back to me”.
Edit: because I now literally have no memory of what happens in this book I cannot in good faith keep this at 5 stars so am demoting to 4.75.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War