Defy by Sara B. Larson

Summary: Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king’s army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince’s guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can’t prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.
 The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been kepping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alexa finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alexa strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?         

          

My Review:  Defy is such a great YA Fantasy/Romance Book. If u know the Disney movie Mulan then this book is similar to this. So Defy starts sadly as the main character Alexa Hollen and her brother Marcel loses their parents which they were burned to death by a sorcerer, after they escape Marcel has to cut Alexa's hair to boy size so she could look like one, because the king ruling there named King Hector collects all the girls and keeps them in the breeding house so they can make more men for his army. They basically rape the girls, like what the heck, that is SOOOO messed up. When I first read this, it seriously grossed me out, like who would do such a horrible thing.

         So years later her name changed to Alex to keep her identity safe and keeps pretending to be a boy while she still gets better at her fighting skills with her brother Marcel. When Alexa fights in a real battle with Marcel he dies with an arrrow shot through him. I swear, I somehow read the books with a tradegy always happening at the beginning of the story. I actually felt bad for Alexa in this part since Marcel was her only family left. Trying to get over her tragedy she soon is called to be the king's son Damien personal guard, which still no one knows she is actually a girl.

        So the story goes on about Alexa and Damien then soon falling in love with each other but her friend Rylan doesn't really feel comfortable with Alexa liking Damien. Ok, so we have a love triangle here, and its actually a pretty good one too, believe me I read some YA books with bad love triangles. If u don't like love triangles, im just warning u its heavy on it. By now in the book, I like Alexa's personality. Soon Damien and Rylan find out Alexa is a girl and that is where the romance really starts to take place. Damien then tells Alexa of how is mother got killed by his father who is the current king of Antion. They soon all plan to kill the king so that Damien can be the rightful ruler of Antion.

        At the end of the book their plan was a complete success which Damien becomes king but at the
very end Alexa doesn't trust Damien, like WHAT!?!?!??!?! Alexa are u serious I mean come on, u
like or should I say love him and now u dont TRUST HIM!?!?!?!? UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That made me
really upset but in the second book Ignite I hope its better. I really did enjoy this book but its just the ending and the breeding house part that doesn't make me give it 5 stars, so I give it 4. I would definitely recommend it.

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