Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

                                            Book: Defiance by C. J. Redwine
                                            Pages: 403
                                            Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian
                                            Source: Library

Short Synopsis: After her father does not come back from a trip, Rachel refuses to believe that her father is in fact dead. Upon the request of the Commander, Rachel must bring back a package that her father left behind.

My Thoughts: Though this novel did have some entertaining moments, it wasn't all what I expected it to be.

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses 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 one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a 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.
--From Goodreads

I didn't really know what to expect from this novel. It wasn't my usual typical read, and it didn't really leave a lasting impression on me. I enjoyed reading about the main character, Rachel, and the fact that she seemed rather fearless and determined, but at times she also proved that she was just human, like everyone else. 

I loved reading about Logan and all the interesting inventions he could make and what he was trying to do to help Rachel find his father. There was an obvious connection between Rachel and Logan and that they shared a past, and I wished the author had gone into a little more detail. 

I enjoyed reading their relationship and how it came to grow, and thankfully there wasn't a love triangle involved as other books seem to be infected by. It was obvious that both characters were infatuated with each other, but I disliked how both kept denying their mutual attraction. 

Redwine does an excellent job of disliking the Commander as he manipulates citizens for getting what he wants without a care of other people's feelings. The Commander is a big abuser of the power that he has been given, and more times than not, the reader experiences emotions and situations that makes the Commander seem rather heartless, and not at all human. 

I also wasn't a fan of this "Cursed One" business as maybe I missed reading it, but wasn't given much about it, like why it was named the "Cursed One" or why it attacks people and villages the way it does, and why and who designed a device to control it. Overall, it was an okay read, but I'm not quite sure if I'll continue to read on if this is a series.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this a 3/5.