Review: Defiance (#1) by C.J Redwine

Title: Defiance (The Courier's Daughter #1)
Author: C.J Redwine

Published: August 28, 2012

Pages: 416

Series: The Courier's Daughter Trilogy

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: 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.


**REVIEW**
'Defiance' is the first debut I've marked on my calender several months prior to its release. I was hooked by the description and just knew this was a book I could not, would not live without reading (just to be melodramatic about it.)

Rachel Adams is a kick-ass heroine, I just want to get this out there straightaway. I adored her. The girl was fearless, smart, fiercely determined. She had guts and courage like no other. Rachel's individual journey in 'Defiance' was hopeful and emotional and I really felt with her, hurt with her, believed with her.

I didn't fall for or truly connect with Logan, not nearly as much as I wish I had. From the get-go Logan went out of his way to keep Rachel safe, which was a difficult task, and I liked him for it but romance-wise he didn't really get there.

Although, as strange as it may sound, I found that Rachel and Logan were too comfortable with each other too soon. I expected there'd be much more tension and differences between the two as there should've been, but they immediately resembled old friends.

There was a dual point-of-view which I had a little bit of a hard time with in the beginning. The narrators of Rachel and Logan were far too similar, you really wouldn't be able to tell them apart if they didn't refer to each other or if you didn't know their different situations.
I'd be reading and have to go back to the first page of the chapter and check if I was reading Rachel's or Logan's point-of-view. Even though I usually prefer shorter chapters, it was especially hard to keep up with the dual point-of-views because of that this time.

'Defiance' was filled with unpredictable turns. I'd be so sure this or that was going to happen and be left surprised when it went a whole other direction.

The Commander, the leader and tyrant of Baalboden, reminded me of a power-drunk cartoon. He failed to impress me with his invincibility and instead succeeded annoying me a whole lot.

Oliver and especially Melkin were two unlikely characters I found a liking to and their tragic paths definitely moved me.

I was also confused about what time the story was set in which had me find that the names in 'Defiance' weren't suiting at all. I later understood it was supposed to be post-apocalyptic (something I completely missed while reading 'Defiance') but there was a lot I didn't understand.

I would've wanted more backstory to how Baalboden came about.
Why was it a law that women had to have Protectors, had to live with them? Why was it punishable to such an extreme degree to be seen without your Protector? It didn't make any sense if it was solely for safety reasons.

'Defiance' was a very eventful read. Though I have my reservations the story didn't disappoint me and I'll definitely check out the second installment.

(4/5)