Ignite by Sara B. Larson

Title: Ignite
Author: Sara B. Larson
Series: Defy #2  
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: December 30, 2014
Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review (thank you Scholastic!)

Summary from Goodreads:
Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

Review

As I mentioned in my review of Defy, I was lured into reading this series by the promise of Ignite being so good (and a surprise ARC from Scholastic). Although, Ignite wasn't quite AS good as I had hoped, it was definitely a stronger novel than Defy and thus, I enjoyed it more so.

Larson definitely kicks things up a notch this time around. The peace that was so hard fought in the first book, doesn't last long and soon Antion faces a new threat but this time it wears a pretty face and has a evil twin brother. The magic in this novel was  definitely cause for suspense and kept me turning pages. Ignite had more surprises, higher stakes, and a quicker pace. The plot was more intricate and maintained that political intrigue. And Alexa is as badass as always. I can't say this book is wholly original but it definitely weaves a lot of elements of a strong fantasy together and had some really great moments.

But as much as I loved the story, Ignite is still very much romance-focused, which was my main problem with Defy and remains my main problem with Ignite. If there is to be romance in a fantasy, I'd rather it be second to the fantastical stuff.  But that is solely a preference. Then again, preference aside, this wouldn't have been my favorite romance anyway. The love-triangle is gone, but Alexa's insecurities lead her to act foolishly. And she makes an age-old mistake at the end by withholding information from Damian. (When will our MC's learn!?)

If the romance was handled differently, I think I would really, really like this series. However, it still falls a little short for me. But the ending of Ignite, and the progression of this story, promises an exciting 3rd book to come and I will definitely be reading it.

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Title: Defy
Author: Sara B. Larson
Series: Defy #1  
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: January 7, 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Review

I admit that had I not received an ARC of Ignite (book 2) from Scholastic, for which I saw many 4 and 5 star reviews for on Goodreads, I don't know if I would have gotten around to reading Defy any time soon, if at all. Although it is a Fantasy and has a strong heroin who is parading around as a boy, (things that would normally appeal to me) the reviews were all over the place and initially scared me away. But with the promise of Ignite being so good I decided to give Defy a chance, hoping that I would be in the group of those that loved it.

Sadly, I am not in that group, but I realize now why the reviews are all over the place - it comes down to whether or not you like the romance-focus. Defy has a lot going for it, but all of that is unfortunately overshadowed by the love-triangle, although I use that term loosely because Alexa  does favor one more than the other the whole time. I personally prefer romances to complement a story rather than be the main focus of it, so that is primarily why I did not love this book. If only the other elements of the story were heightened I would have enjoyed it a lot more. After all, there is a lot of potential here - a corrupt king, an oppressed kingdom, a bloody war, powerful rebellions, secretive alliances, political maneuvering, dangerous sorcerers, and a fierce heroin who has the power to stop it all. I was definitely interested in the story itself, which kept a good pace and showed glimpses of greatness, if only there wasn't so much talk about feelings. But then again, I feel like all that talk might have been intentional to keep the story from getting too dark, which was definitely a possibility, and maybe it was always intended for a younger audience (whereas I am a masochist and like my heart to be ripped out).

I was also pleased by the ending which did not end on a cliffhanger at all. The main plotline that was presented in Defy was concluded completely and satisfactorily, well for the most part (there is a little glitch in the HEA).  But I still think one could be completely content reading Defy and never picking up Ignite if he or she pleases (but Ignite is better, so I wouldn't advise on that).

If you are are a reader that enjoys a romance that is at the forefront of a story, the foundation of great Fantasy story but that is kept from getting too dark by said romance, and doesn't mind a love triangle, then this series is PERFECT for you. However, if you are more like me and prefer fantasy over romance, then this book might not be your favorite, but you might very well still like it, like I did.