Defiance Review

Synopsis

Now that sixteen-year-old Dru's worst fears have come true and Sergej has kidnapped her best friend Graves, she'll have to go on a suicidal rescue mission to bring him back in one piece.

That is, if she can put all of Christophe's training to good use, defeat her mother's traitor, Anna, once and for all, and manage to survive another day.

Defiance by Lili St Crow

Published : April 19, 2011

Publisher:  Penguin / Razorbill

Format: Paperback

Pages : 259

Playlist: Click on Audio

                                                                                                                                                  

First Look: Stick to the plan, Christophe had said. Stick to the plan and everything will be fine.

So I had. I laced my Doc Martens, good for everything from dancing to kicking ass-and put on the dress. It was a silvery baby doll number with spaghetti straps and with my hair up my neck felt indescently bare. Even my knee fetl naked. Continued the first chapter here .

                                                                                                                                                      

Review:

Lili St Crow's writing is a treat of high octane fun. Tense, with an air of expectation that keeps you glued to the pages even when the action lulls. Questions hang in the air. "Where's Graves?'  Is he dead, is Sergei torturing him and will they find him alive? Preys on your mind  when you're not reading and that's what pushes you to devour this book.

The plot is intricately woven with plot twists coming out of nowhere, blindsiding,  I usually spot them coming. With a nice efficient pace and underling tension that is palpable. A flurry of descriptive prose not overly ornate but immersing. From the fight sequences- unfurl with vivid color every kick punch underlined by the desperation of fighting for your life in an  dangerous situation. I felt like a spectator watching as Dru kicked ass.  I know that was wordy but it felt fitting some how, maybe, I'm still buzzing off the story but it was how I felt.

Upward and onward the romance  is present but its more of a cat and mouse game between Dru and Christophe. As much as she is attracted to Christophe she can't trust what she feels is real, then there is that whole elephant in the room - the fact he may have been in love with Dru's mother, but in an uncharacteristic move Christophe address the very subject. Confusing Dru even more. Graves on the other hand feels like home they're so in sync with each other they don't even need words, but both lack the courage to make the next step. Both suitors have advantages Christophe because he understands Dru's blood hunger, and gets under her skin in a way not even Graves can- Graves because he just understands Dru without words and he just see her, not want she represents. Disadvantages Graves is not sure how he feels about Dru being a  svetocha and can't always hide it. Christophe's need to protect her by keeping Dru in the dark muddies the trust she gives him and makes it tenuous (weak).

Now the dirt, no book is without fault and the same can be said about Defiance. Here goes I wish the wulfen had been featured more because between the paranormals they seem to be the only ones she can trust. Ash's is glossed over (you'll understand what I meant when you read it ) I wish there was more elaboration there. Dru should have taken the wulfen with her at the end. I think in Reckoning  Ms Crow should go easy on the daddy flashbacks. Dru must have brought the fact her daddy as a zombie tried  to kill her like a million times. Though it was appropriate to the context, it was really annoying after like the twelfth time. Flaws aside Lili St Crow in my humble opinion knocked this one out of the park I gave Defiance a 5 out 5.

Rating : Violence | Cursing | Appropriate for 16+ |