Review: The Defiance (#2) by A.G Henley

Title: The Defiance (#2)
Author: A.G Henley
Published: July 21, 2013
Pages: 207
Series: Brilliant Darkness (first installment, 'The Scourge')
Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: It hasn't been long since Fennel, a Sightless Groundling, and Peree, her Lofty Keeper, fell in love and learned the truth: the Scourge, and their world, are not what they seem.

Fenn and Peree are determined to guide their people to the protected village of Koolkuna, but first they must convince them that everything they believe is a lie. An impossible task, especially when someone seems hell-bent on trying anything--even animal sacrifice and arson--to destroy the couple's new bond and crush the frail truce between the Groundlings and the Lofties. Not everyone wants to uproot their lives in the forest, and those who stay behind will be left terribly vulnerable.

Fenn and Peree's resolve to be together, and the constant threat of the Scourge's return, push both groups to the breaking point. Unable to tell friend from foe, Fenn must again decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to ensure the future of the people of the forest.

Only this time, the price of peace may be too high to bear.

**REVIEW**

(Read my review of the first installment of the Brilliant Darkness series, here, first! Otherwise spoiler alert:)

From chapter one something unsettling occurs and puts the first half of the story in a slightly eerie light. Someone's out to get Fenn and you'll speculate if it's from the inside or the outside. This was where I was most frustrated that Fenn couldn't see and that this person terrorizing her was getting away with it so easily. 

However, I had an inkling that (not only who it was but) that it ultimately wasn't going to leave such a big dent in the storyline. It kept you on your toes and reminded you not to get too comfortable but it didn't really conflict the story the way it could have. By the time everything was revealed it didn't matter anymore (though there will be a little twist in the revelation.)

I had a huge problem with Moray. Who else. If you've read the first installment you'll know this character attempted rape and murder on Fenn. Prior to this, his family had threatened to kill Fenn's little brother and plotted against Fenn's "adoptive" mom, Aloe, whom was one of the Three.

These are quotes from 'The Defiance': "

".. He [Moray] didn't face any other consequences [except for a bitten tongue which Fenn caused him] for attacking me and leaving me to die in the ground.. Neither did his family.."

".. The new Council didn't have the will to really punish Moray's family after all our losses"

Reading this practically made me see red. What the actual what?! Unbelievable and unrealistic that a man capable of such horrid things was free to prance around being obnoxious and disgusting towards the victim and no one thinks twice about it.

Not only this but Moray is the one to get assigned to protect Fenn when she's working alone in the caves. Oh-kay.. clearly the fact that he'd forced himself on her, tied her up, and pushed her into a pit (that later filled with water) to die, means absolutely nothing.

All of this was just impossible for me to get past since Moray is in a lot of the story (even if he tried redeeming himself later on, it could never be enough.)

I actually really felt for Fenn's friendship with Calli and how her best friend had turned into someone she didn't know if she could trust anymore. But I rooted for Calli. And I loved Bear, he was so wonderful. Despite his feelings for Fenn, he was an amazing support and really made an impact on the story and in Fenn's life.

There were some superb character development, for sure.

Speaking of chosen. I'm not short of love for Peree. 'The Defiance' was definitely much more centered around the love between the Groundling and the Lofty and the people working against it. I couldn't help but wanting to scream, "Their love hurts no one!"

Fenn doesn't leave for Koolkuna until more than half of the book. I found that it was a little slow in the beginning because Fenn just kind of hangs around and gets into trouble when you want her to pack her things and just go and be free. However, when she's finally off I needed to read until the very end.

'The Defiance' definitely had some surprising, shocking, emotional, and heartwarming turns. I was satisfied with the ending even though it ended in an intriguing twist and I'll be waiting to read the third installment!

(3.5/5)

Review: The Scourge (Brilliant Darkness #1) by A.G Henley

Title: The Scourge (#1)
Author: A.G Henley
Published: January 30, 2012
Pages: 242
Series: Brilliant Darkness
Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: Seventeen-year-old Groundling, Fennel, is Sightless. She's never been able to see her lush forest home, but she knows its secrets. She knows how the shadows shift when she passes under a canopy of trees. She knows how to hide in the cool, damp caves when the Scourge comes. She knows how devious and arrogant the Groundlings' tree-dwelling neighbors, the Lofties, can be. 

And she's always known this day would come--the day she faces the Scourge alone. 

The Sightless, like Fenn, are mysteriously protected from the Scourge, the gruesome creatures roaming the forests, reeking of festering flesh and consuming anything--and anyone--living. A Sightless Groundling must brave the Scourge and bring fresh water to the people of the forest. Today, that task becomes Fenn's. 

Fenn will have a Lofty Keeper, Peree, as her companion. Everyone knows the Lofties wouldn't hesitate to shoot an arrow through the back of an unsuspecting Groundling like Fenn, but Peree seems different. A boy with warm, rough hands who smells like summer, he is surprisingly kind and thoughtful. Although Fenn knows his people are treacherous, she finds herself wanting to trust him. 

As their forest community teeters on the brink of war, Fenn and Peree must learn to work together to survive the Scourge and ensure their people's survival. But when Fenn uncovers a secret that shatters her truths, she's forced to decide who and what to protect--her people, her growing love for Peree, or the elusive dream of lasting peace in the forest. 

**REVIEW**

What a refreshing, highly enjoyable read.

Fenn is my favorite kind of heroine - leveled, brave, and strong. The fact that she was unable to see made the story so interesting (just a tad frustrating when I really wanted her to see so that she'd have an easier time). It gave everything a certain mystery while simultaneously giving your imagination free reigns - the appearance of every face, every expression, and every setting.

It was really amazing how much you could see through Fenn's mind despite her Sightlessness, using only sound, touch, smell, and sense so naturally (though there were a couple of times Fenn described something she shouldn't be able to see, but overall it was very well written). I saw everything in the story so clearly. And had Fenn actually been able to see but the story being written the same way, I barely would've noticed, that's how great of a writer Henley is.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic time where the Groundlings and Lofties (divided groups of inhabitants that live on the ground and up in the trees) live in fear of the Scourge (horrific-looking, flesh-eating creatures). I admit that there were a few "holes" in the story; why didn't the Groundlings have more of a sufficient way of protecting themselves and surviving the Scourge already (since issues with hiding in the cave rose so quickly like they'd never done so before)?

While the Lofties had bows and arrows to protect themselves with and kill the Scourge (also wasn't logical why they didn't just kill them all instead of a few only to scare them off), why didn't the Groundlings have any weapons? And why didn't the Lofties simply get water for themselves, protecting each other instead of relying on a Groundling in exchange for protection?

What I really didn't understand was why they would send a blind teenage girl to find the Hidden Waters in the cave all by herself when no one had managed to find it before or even made it back. Her only advantage was that she was used to darkness, but that was it. I understood the rule that another teenage boy couldn't accompany her unless he was her partner, but why couldn't anyone else be her companion (volunteer or not)?

The answer is, if they did send someone else with Fenn, the story wouldn't have been half as fun. So I'm okay with it. I was already really okay with it just as Fenn was to set off into the foreign parts of the cave.

The story had a nice pacing, giving you time to get into it. I actually liked that 'The Scourge' wasn't a crazy action-packed book. There were great dialogue and a sprinkle of nice lightheartedness, but also little twists and baffling discoveries.

I liked Peree. He was so gentle and calm, yet with a slight edge when needed. The romance was nice and believable, perfect for the story. I loved that it wasn't overwhelming or intense, it was just very soothing and comforting.

I enjoyed the forest, the refuge of Koolkuna, and many of the secondary characters (Kora, anyone?) - there's no doubt I'll read the sequel right away!

(4/5)