Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

What is it about fiery red-heads that just make good main characters?  Seriously. They're just so interesting.  Now I understand why The Doctor has always wanted to be a ginger.  Can't say I'd argue with him.    

Anyway, I had some SERIOUSLY HIGH expectations for Defiance.  I mean, I have been waiting on this book ever since I saw the cover (how freaking beautiful is that cover art?!) and read the description on Goodreads.  And, I will say, Defiance met my expectations pretty well.

And, despite what I usually feel about changing  P.O.V. books, I seriously enjoyed having both Logan's and Rachel's viewpoints.  Redwine pulled it off quite beautifully in my opinion.  It tremendously helped to enhance the plot of the book and gave it an interesting side that wouldn't be seen if it had only been told from Rachel's point of view.  In fact, I think I honestly enjoyed reading what Logan had to say more than Rachel most of the time.   

One thing that I seriously like about this book was that Logan and Rachel had history.  So many YA books these days have a "hey-I-just-met-you-now-kiss-me-I-love-you" kind of feel to them.  It was nice to get a background story along with the characters so that the love story wasn't something just completely out of the blue.  My favorite types of YA books are when the characters have history, so that's one component of this story that made me extremely happy.

As far as characters go... I am in complete love with Logan.  He's one of those guys that always has a plan, is strong, firm, compassionate, loving, steady, and he always knows what Rachel needs.   He's just awesome.  He's one of those guys that I wish I could just read off of the page.  (Why, oh why, could I not be Meggie from Inkheart?)  

Rachel, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about anymore.  I loved her in the beginning, but then, she was a lot more innocent in the beginning.  Granted, she did go through more than I could ever even imagine, but still, towards the middle and end of the book, she started to act solely to get revenge.  Which seriously gets on my nerves.  

This one part of the book demonstrates my feelings exactly on this subject:
" 'Rachel? What do you need?'
I remember Melkin saying he'd lost almost everything, the weight of unspoken grief hanging over his words, and wonder if giving him one piece of the truth might work in my favor.  Especially if what I need is something he might secretly want as well.  Looking him in the eye, I say, 'Revenge.  I need revenge.'    
His eyes darken and slide away from mine as he hefts the pack against his back.  'Try not to harshly judge those of us with more than that left to live for.' "

And Melkin's response is pretty much how I felt about Rachel's attitude the whole second half of the book.  Honestly, she could have found something than revenge and rage to feed off of the whole book.  Something other than revenge to fight for.  But she didn't. And that seriously gets on my nerves.

So for that reason, I give this book four stars.  But, despite that part of Rachel that irked me,  it was a fantastic book with a lovely plot, and I will eagerly await book two.  

Favorite quote from the book:
"I need Logan.
Not because I need saving.  Not because he could plan our way out of this.  But because on some basic, soul-deep level within me, he is the solid ground beneath my feet.  The one who looks at me and sees."