My Thoughts: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

First let me just apologize for the uber generic background. Blogger is not my friend right now. Moving on.

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.

Have you ever read a book and, after closing the cover once you've read the last glorious word, you sit back as a writer and think..."I will never write like that!"

Me too. After almost every awesome book I read.

DEFIANCE was that kind of book. I finally sat down and read this ditty after picking it up at C.J. Redwine's book launch. Yeah, I know, I'm horrible. I am so very glad I did, though. There are so many things that I adored about this book that I'm having difficulty on where to start.

Baalboden is one of several city states in a sort of post-apocolyptic world. The walls are thick, the borders secured by lethal guardsmen, the people are oppressed, women are meek and mild, men are Protectors and worthy of anything more than a tea set, and the whole place is run by Commander Jason Chase; a man who makes Hitler seem warm and fuzzy. Loyalty and fidelity to the Commander are the only things that will keep you alive and all citizens are 'tagged' like sheep in a flock.

I was totally blown away by C.J.'s world building. Details were laid out perfectly as to not overwhelm but provide the reader with a vivid vision of what Baalboden was. The politics of Baalboden were well thought out and positively ruthless. And before you start thinking, "This sounds like Hunger Games" let me just say, there is a super cool fantasy element to DEFIANCE that I didn't expect.

Rachel and Logan... LOVE these characters. Rachel is impulsive, fiery, fierce, determined, and loves her family to the depths of her soul. Logan is logical, intelligent, methodical, unpredictable, lethal, and will do anything to keep those in his life he cares about safe. He's your creeper character, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Where Rachel is very take-her-at-face-value, Logan reveals himself to us slowly, and I sort of love him for that. Don't get me wrong, there are many layers to Rachel-Girl, but like her blunt personality, she doesn't hold punches.

Another thing I admired about DEFIANCE is the slow-to-build love. I think, at its core, DEFIANCE is less a romance than an adventure type of book. It's riddled with conflict that left me in awe. Many writing panels and advice sources say to "punish your characters" and good LORD did C.J. take them seriously. She drags us (willingly) on this horrible journey with Rachel and Logan. Once that we simply cannot see as going well, and then sucker-punches us in the gut every time you think that things will start to work out. And in the middle of all of this, Rachel and Logan find this slow-to-burn type of love that is unwavering. And I have to admit, Logan's initial incompetence in this area is beyond hysterical. Seriously. Well done.

If you haven't picked up Defiance, you seriously need to. C.J. is a wonderful storyteller and she sucked me in with the uniquely independent voices of Rachel and Logan, as well as this tale of heroism and suffering. I have this habit of dog-earing pages that I find epic in their voice, their writing, their descriptions; anything that really blows me away. This is sacrilege to many of you, I know. It's my tick. Let me just say, there are a LOT of dog-ears in my copy of DEFIANCE.

Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Six does have the Power...to make me want M-O-R-E!

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

I just love this series! I am Number Four was awesome and now I am totally on board with The Power of Six. I think it is because the author, Pittacus Lore, plays his own special part in the story. Some may say the dude is a serious whack-job, but I think it’s genius to completely immerse yourself in the story. Pittacus Lore claims to be an actual Elder from the planet Lorien that has observed the ‘actual events’ in the Lorien Legacy series. He is merely changing names to protect the ‘innocent.’ I love it!!!

The Power of Six picks up right where Number Four left off, John is on the run with his best friend, and human, Sam, and fellow Loric, Number Six. Henry is gone and the three are now being set up as fugitives and terrorists after the showdown in Paradise, OH. John’s face is plastered all over the internet and there is nowhere to hide. All they can do is train.

Six work with both guys, who both develop interest in the bad-ass chick that Six is (I heart her seriously!). After John finally reads a letter left by Henri, they learn some interesting info about Sam’s dad, whom Sam still believes was abducted by aliens. Against some better judgment the trio heads back to the wolf’s den, Paradise, OH, to search out some vital info. Of course John has a Sarah meltdown and HAAASSSS to see her. Things get ugly quick and the boys get hauled off by The Man (aka FBI). My girl Six shows just how bad-ass she can be and pretty much saves the day…for now.

There is some major stuff going on in Spain as well. We meet another of the Loric Garde, Number Seven, who is closed up in a catholic orphanage with her Cepan, Adelina, who has pretty much given up the fight. Seven, or Marina as she goes by in Spain, has some super cool Legacies and soon finds herself being hunted by possible Mogs. Marina befriends a small girl as she struggles with her developing Legacies and the realization that she will have to leave Adelina if she is to survive at all.

We also get introduced to Number Nine, who seems to be quite the little hottie…grrrr, while John and Sam attempt to retrieve their Loric Chests with their Inheritances. He is cocky, cockier than John I would say, and is much more educated in the Loric ways than John. I see some great conflict brewing with these two…

There are fantastic snarling beasts, deafening explosions, friendships formed, friends lost, love lost and found, and all around great entertainment! The Lorien world is fascinating and truly imaginative. The characters are great and well thought out. The pacing is great! It was a quick read and I cannot wait to see where Pittacus takes us on this journey. The Power of Six leaves us with so many cliffhangers I am not sure what to ponder first! Book three dangit!!

Did The Power of Six rock my world? Holy Lumen I love these books! 8.5 babe!