Defy

Author: Sara B Larson
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Source: Gifted

Summary from Goodreads: A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.
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 keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex 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 Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Rating: êêêê

Review: I read this book in one sitting, thankfully it was a really long plane ride so I don't have to feel guilty for reading for several hours straight. The first thing that stuck out to me about this book are the characters - I really like them and found them to be well developed. I also found that sometimes characters took a little while to get to know, which only made me appreciate them more in the end. The love triangle was a bit predictable, but never annoying.

The plot moves at a good pace. There was plenty of action and lots of secret underlying schemes. The world building was OK, but I would have appreciated a bit more detail.

Now the ending was a bit weird to me. It seems obvious that there will be a sequel, but I am not sure where things will be going.