Defend The Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Defy The Night #2Published by Bloomsbury on September 2022
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 448
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
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To save their kingdom, they must embark on a dangerous journey...
The kingdom of Kandala narrowly avoided catastrophe, but the embers of revolution still simmer. While King Harristan seeks a new way to lead, Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to foster unity between rebels and royals.
But the consuls who control the Moonflower will not back down, and Corrick realizes he must find a new source for the lifesaving Elixir.
When an emissary from the neighboring kingdom of Ostriary arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa and Corrick set out on an uncertain journey as they attempt to mend their own fractured relationship.
This could be their only chance to keep the peace and bring relief to the people of Kandala, but danger strikes during the journey to Ostriary, and no one is who they seemed to be. . .
I cannot tell you how much I love this book! It’s the sequel to Defy the Night and I LOVED that first book. I was so happy to return to this world and the characters and the sequel did not disappoint!
Corrick! Tessa! and a privateer? What?
I don’t want to give anything away but it is kinda amazing/awesome/brilliant. This book does not suffer from a sophomore slouch and instead really advances the story and characters in this really intriguing way. I love the new characters and the new dangers they bring. Lots of political intrigue and some backstabbing. And yay, we finally get to see the King himself, Harriston and how he’s really doing. I loved Harriston’s POV. It was different than Tessa and Corrick and really pulled me in as a reader to root for him. In the first book, he was kept at arm’s length, mostly seen through Corrick and Tessa’s eyes. But in this sequel, he is front and center and I really love that he was given much more to do!
I also really liked Tessa’s POV. I like how she is questioning everything. There are some assumptions that could have been cleared up by, I don’t know, just talking to the damn prince! But it was also easy to see Tessa’s point and how uncomfortable and vulnerable these realizations made her feel.
The plot moves very fast and the writing is solid. It’s easy to get swept away into their world. You’ll have to read the first book to truly understand the circumstances in this one, but it’s well worth it. I think I finished it in two days? I can’t wait to read it again.
And that ending!
Um, I’m sorry.
Where is book 3???
You will not be disappointed.
Kimberly majored in Songwriting and currently works full time in the music industry. When she's not listening to music, knitting or writing, you can find her outside reading her favorite genres: Young Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
