Review: Ignite by Sara B. Larson

Ignite (Defy #2)

by Sara B. Larson

Publication Date: December 30^th 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Bought

Find This Book: Ignite

Rating: 4/5

As you may know, I was given an ARC of Defy back in 2013. You can read the review here if you’re interested: Defy Review. So I decided to follow up on the series and read book two!

This book was nowhere near as awesome as Defy was, but it was still good. I know I had lots of questions after I finished reading Defy, and I don’t think any of them were answered in book two. I’m still not sure if you’re born a sorcerer or learn how to be one, or how one becomes a certain type, and apparently I also don’t know how one can have powers and NOT be a sorcerer. Additionally, I felt like the characters had become more flat, less three-dimensional from last time. I remember being stunned with Defy, there was a badass swordswoman, there were different types of relationships expressed, they lived in a tropical jungle AND there was magic. But we’re two thirds of the way done with the series and I still don’t see or understand the politics/relationships/cultures of the three different kingdoms. World building is crucial to any book, but this particular series is ABOUT the 3 kingdoms and war. Their world building seems crucial to the plot and is pretty nonexistent.

The plot of this book is that now Damian is king, there needs to be delegations from the surrounding allied countries just to reestablish connections with the new ruler. People from Dansii and Bvelon both show up, oddly around the same time, and it turns out the Bvelon soldiers are under a sorcerer’s control to attack the king. An attempt on the king’s life would be bad enough, but he’s the newly established monarch so his country is already unstable, and the Bvelonese were the people they literally just stopped fighting a war with in book 1. Basically, something’s fishy. Additionally, the Dansii couldn’t just send a normal delegation, they had to send a young pretty woman to seduce Damian, and to the torment of Alexa, she is successful in controlling the king. More complicated relationship stuff happens between Alexa, Rylan and Damian which eventually resolves itself to the conclusion of book 1. Alexa is still a badass swordswoman, but now she gets disrespected by the guards and the commoners which literally makes no sense because the guard knew her and was friends with her and respected her before she revealed her true gender. Being a girl doesn’t suddenly change the fact that she can kick all of their butts because she’s the best swordsman in the kingdom. So that was annoying but expected I suppose.

I also liked how Alexa’s relationship with Damian’s little brother was expanded upon. Their sibling bond is really cute and a great contrast to her complicated relationships with Damian and Rylan. The little brother looks up to Alexa and she helps him train and they platonically love each other and trust each other. When he is in danger, his life is put above all else. Not because he is heir to the throne, but because she cares for him. I will probably get around to reading book 3. Hopefully I will finally get some answers to all of my questions as well as a conclusion with some closure!

Top Ten Tuesday #2

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish 

Top Ten Underrated Authors or Books in YA

Legend by Marie Lu: It’s a dystopian trilogy about the most wanted criminal born in the slums and the military’s elite-born prodigy trying to fix their country and hunt the other down. The Republic is at war, and on top of that a fatal plague has fallen on California. These two would have never crossed paths if it weren’t for the death of Prodigy’s older brother, Metias. Swearing revenge on his murderer, Prodigy goes undercover in the slums where the plot really takes some shocking turns. This was a really touching story that made me cry- something that rarely happens.

Department 19 by Will Hill: I never hear about this book in the US. It’s an intense Vampire Hunting novel about this 17 year old boy Jamie. Classic literature (Frankenstein and Dracula to be exact) are tied in perfectly throughout this series, as well as history. The style of the book (time-line/point of view wise) is a bit messy but all of the pieces come together effortlessly at the end of each book.

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini: This book has got a medieval feel to it with lots of magic. There are Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, Werecats and more to be found between the pages! Eragon, an orphan boy looked after by his uncle and cousin on their farm finds a strange blue stone while out hunting. Turns out to be a Dragon who imprints on him and gives Eragon the ability to use magic (and means he’s the only dragon-rider in existence aside from the Kingdom’s dictator Galbratorix).

Defy by Sara B. Larson: Defy is about Alexa (Alex) how disguises herself as a boy and joins the army with her twin brother Marcel. This would be because girl orphans are forced into a life of rape in order to produce as many soldiers for the army as possible before their body gives out. Training in the army since children, Alex and Marcel are now part of the Prince’s guard and virtually unbeatable- until a magician kidnaps the prince and takes Alex with them!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Karou is an art student in Prauge, drawing monsters that may or may not be real. She also disappears on errands to collect teeth for Brimstone. She’s grown up with a word of wishes come true, but the catch is that this isn’t her first life. Where does the magic come from? Who even is she? Lastly, What of the fiery Akiva and the bloody star-crossed love of her past?

Assured Destruction by Michael F. Stewart: This is a great new book series that I’ve reviewed on here. Stewart crafts being a teen with technology flawlessly and it was quite an enjoyable read. Janus is an amateur hacker/programmer whose family business is failing. Her father disappeared, her mother is severely sick, and Janus is suffering from depression, but that’s not the plot. I loved how their ‘disabilities’ didn’t mean they couldn’t function has a whole human. The plot focuses on technology in today’s society- the good and the bad. 

The Bartimeaus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud: If you’re looking for a great read, Stroud is one of my favorites. It’s kind of popular, but I’d still say it’s underrated. Bartimaeus is so sassy, witty, and sarcastic how could you not love him? He’s one of the best characters that I’ve ever read and this series honestly deserves more credit than it’s got. These books are about magicians, who can summon spirits to do their bidding. Spirits from another world as old as time. One such spirit is Bartimaeus, who has served many human masters in his time. Currently serving under Nathaniel, a magician prodigy out for revenge, Bartimaeus will find any loophole to bring his master’s downfall upon him in this fantasy-comedy.

The Quicksilver Legacy Series by Laura DeBruce : So far only the first book has been released but I absolutely loved it! The Riddle of Prague revolves around Hana Silna who comes back to Prague to claim her ancestral home from the Soviet Union. The city holds deep and dark secrets woven through history- maybe even the key to eternal life. She needs to find a flask in order to save her kidnapped family, meeting plenty of suspicious characters along the way. I was debating who was trustworthy the whole way through!

Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing: Vanessa and her friend Catty have always had special powers, but they never realized that the other did as well. Vanessa can turn herself into a gas-like substance (invisible and an interesting form of transportation) while Catty can time travel. This was a great blend of Greek Mythology with a Modern day setting. The girls soon befriend a 3^rd and 4^th girl like them who help them realize that they are daughters of the moon goddess. They need to fight together to defeat the evil Atrox in a thrilling 13 book series.

Pendragon by D. J. MacHale: Bobby Pendragon is a basketball star, with a happy family, home, and adorable dog. Pretty normal except for the fact that he can travel through gates to other worlds in crisis. He’s the savior, the leader of travelers, and the one to save all of Halla. Fast paced, plot twisting, and adrenaline pumping; this series was a great read. The world building and character intricacies were beautiful so this was one of my favorites in 8^th grade.

Review: Defy by Sara B. Larson

Defy

by Sara B. Larson

Publication Date: Jan 7^th 2014

Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Publisher

Find This Book: Defy

Rating: 5/5

I won this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. This has not altered my opinion in any way and my review will be honest, as usual.

I just want to start off profusely thanking Sara Larson and Scholastic for an arc copy of Defy! I loved this book and it’s characters and have definitely become a fan :) I can’t wait until it comes out and I’ll have people to talk about it with haha. But for now I’ll have to settle for a review.

Defy is about Alexa Hollen, a girl disguised as a guy to serve in the king’s army. Her parents were killed when she and her twin brother, Marcel, were 14. Male orphans are forced into the army, and female orphans are forced into the breeding house where once they hit puberty they are raped to breed more men for the army. To save herself from that fate she and Marcel become twin ‘brothers’ and she now goes by the name Alex. She is pretty badass and unbeatable in a sword fight, which earns her a spot on the elite prince’s guard. How she manages to do all of that without revealing her secret, I have no idea. However, she’s no match for a sorcerer that abducts the prince, herself, and her fellow guard Rylan. Being in close quarters soon makes it obvious that she isn’t a guy, but fortunately for the reader, unfortunately for the characters, everyone has their share of secrets as tensions rise! Now Alex/a must trust the very people who might break her heart in order to stop a war and save the kingdom from an even deadlier enemy.

So as mentioned above, I LOOOOVVVVVED this book. I didn’t read it in one sitting (time not permitting), but I wished I had. I did, however, finish it in less than 24 hours since it showed up at my house though, so that must count for something. This book was so beautifully written that I found it hard to believe that Larson was a debut author! For me, the mark of a good author is A) me wanting to quote parts, scenes, or something a character says (Check!) and B) developing the characters to the point where the reader can just KNOW who is talking without it necessarily being specified (Check!). Alexa’s brother, Marcel was easily one of my favorite characters in the book. Even though he wasn’t in it long, he was so intellectual and caring, always protecting his sister even when she didn’t know it. This book’s Love Triangle consists of Rylan, her long-time friend and crush, the sweet, caring, concerned, brotherly type, and then there’s Damian, the lazy spoiled brat who isn’t all that he seems. In fact, it turns out that Damian is actually a great guy in his own right and god did I ship Damian and Alexa together <3

Most importantly, Alexa was a well-built character that is respectable and a great role model. Despite all she goes through, she learns about love and sacrifice, but most importantly she learns about how to be herself. With great side characters to back her up, she manages to make it through the intense plot twists in this splendid face-paced novel. Another enjoyable aspect of the novel was the setting in the rainforest. I found the concept and it’s affects on the characters intriguing and refreshing.

I just have a couple things I’d like to say about what I didn’t like about the book, because there was a couple. There were plenty of unexplained parts that would’ve really added to the book if they had been addressed/ addressed in detail. Such as how some people caught on to the fact that she was a girl. Never explained, they just know! Also, how the heck did she possibly keep her secret, especially whenever it was her time of the month…. I think that would make her gender quite obvious. How Hector became king in the first place, building up the land and countries’ history would’ve been nice too. I felt like the reader didn’t know anything at all until the end of the book, which doesn’t work with huge chunks of information. Lastly, I wish that the whole ‘sorcerer’ thing had been better clarified, especially since it seems to be more complex than other author’s versions of sorcery and magic. There are clearly different kinds of sorcerer’s and I feel like the reader should have been enlightened, especially considering the number of characters who are sorcerers. Actually, I lied; I have two more last things to nit pick about, though they have nothing to do with things not being explained. At the beginning of the book there were so many names all at once that it’s hard to keep track of who’s who in the palace. And also why was Tanoori added to the book? She didn’t detract from the book of course, but she didn’t seem to add anything to it either.

All in all, this book is completely worth reading, despite it’s little irks, and I can’t wait till book 2 (which will hopefully answer some of my questions). I think it will definitely get good reception and that fans of Graceling and Iron Fey would enjoy this novel. Either way I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on more of Sara B. Larson’s works in the future and watching her grow as an author :)