Review: Defiance by C. J. Redwine - Juhina

Title: Defiance (Defiance, #1)

Author: C. J. Redwine

Publication date: August 28th, 2012

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Genre(s): Young Adult (paranormal)

Challenges: Debut

Source: Edelweiss 
Format: Digital ARC

Pages: 416

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Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Defiance was a great paranormal YA novel! I am not the biggest fan of paranormal novels and I am very picky on what I like so after the rave reviews and the increased expectation I was afraid I would be disappointed, but for the most part Defiance was brilliant and a thrilling read. 

Rachel, the main protagonist lives in an enclosed 'town' called Baalboden. She has lived there all her life with her dad. In her world, anyone who seeks shelter lives in one of many enclosed towns ruled by someone. Women are not allowed to walk in the streets of that town alone and ignoring this rule could lead to her immediate death. Each woman has a 'guardian' who has to be with her when outside at all times. Since Rachel is not 18 yet, meaning she has a few months till she gets picked for marriage, her father is her guardian. When her father goes missing for over 6 months, he is declared dead and his apprentice, Logan is declared her guardian. Now this puts them both in an awkward position, a. because a couple of years ago Rachel was turned down when she confessed to Logan, and b. Logan is almost her age! However C. J. Redwine does not indulge in this child play and jumps directly to action. Rachel doesn't believe her father died and so does Logan. The plotting begins, then the mistakes happen, feelings get in the way, the tyrant king dirties his hands concerning both Rachel and Logan and they have to race against time and away from the king to stay alive and find her father and the mysterious box that started all of this. 

Now what I found misleading in the synopsis is 'Logan and Rachel battle their way through the wasteland'. When I found out that what I thought wasn't what actually happened, I got frustrate. They were split apart, and I love journeys that occur with both characters like Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. It got me a little bit impatient since it took up a big portion of the book, but I still kept on reading because reading from both POVs still keeps you in the loop with both characters that you don't really miss anything. The plot leading to the ending was very promising, we get some of the questions answered and the reader, myself, and the characters start gaining some hope on how to end all of this. However when the ending is taking place in the last couple of pages I was shocked, it was not what I was expecting and I always love it when an author surprises me, even if that ending wasn't the one I wanted, because its no fun when we always get what we want! Even if the ending was a bit confusing. So Defiance... it is definitely a great start to a series and a new sub-genre to the paranormal genre. I personally feel it is a bit of a paranormal/post-apocalyptic novel, but who cares about the label? I totally enjoyed Defiance and if it appeals to you, pick it up right now!