ARC REVIEW #172: Deception (Defiance #2) by C.J. Redwine

Title: Deception
Series: Defiance #2
Author: C.J. Redwine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: August 27th 2013
Pages: Paperback, 480 pages
Source: Traded on YA Book Exchange

Summary from Goodreads:
Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

Oh my goodness, I thoroughly enjoyed Deception.  The story starts off right where the first book left us.  Rachel and Logan are left with a ruined city, the Cursed One still alive, and their old leader still free.  Logan has become the leader of the survivors, trying to lead them to safety and secure alliances.  

I loved Defiance, so I was hoping Deception did not suffer from middle book syndrome and I can easily say it did not.  My only small dislike was the ending.  It was clear it was left for the next book to pick up right where this one ended but it was so abrupt.  This is how I felt.

But, back to the awesome-ness that is this series.  The romance is perfect, it is slow building and plays a larger role in this book yet never overpowers or becomes too much.  Redwine continues to develop the lies and deception that the brutal Commander perpetuated. The characters evolve and grow; while I cannot exactly relate to them or the environment they are in, the characters are easy to root for and understand all the complex sides to their personalities.   Redwine drops some serious drama in the last pages that I was not expecting at all which is always a bonus!  So between the powerful love story, continually developing characters, and frequent battle scenes I was flying through the pages.

Overall Deception was solid 4.5 stars!  Even though I can appreciate and understand why this book ended the way it did, super intense cliff hangers are not my favorite.  I totally feel left hanging and now I have to wait!!!   Logan and Rachel's journey was so action filled with beautifully crafted lies being exposed along the way leaving the reader to enjoy a crazy fun read that keeps you guessing.