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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I've been dragging my feet a little with this review, because I don't quite know how I feel. I really enjoyed the first book but unfortunately I liked this less.
My biggest issue is that I really didn't like Tessa in this one – she annoyed the crap out of me. Like a lot, a lot. That made the whole story drag for me and it wasn't until well into the second part of the book that I got into it. However, ending was amazing, even though I was holding my breath in panic.
While Tessa wasn't for me this time around, Corrick is still everything. My love for him is cemented. He is my favorite part of the books and I also loved that we got to see more of his and Harristan's bond. I love reading about strong sibling ties.
It definitely felt a little like a filler book until the conclusion, that hopefully will come with book three, which I will definitely be reading once it's out because I need to know what happens after that cliffhanger ending.
So to summarize – not bad but also not amazing.
My biggest issue is that I really didn't like Tessa in this one – she annoyed the crap out of me. Like a lot, a lot. That made the whole story drag for me and it wasn't until well into the second part of the book that I got into it. However, ending was amazing, even though I was holding my breath in panic.
While Tessa wasn't for me this time around, Corrick is still everything. My love for him is cemented. He is my favorite part of the books and I also loved that we got to see more of his and Harristan's bond. I love reading about strong sibling ties.
It definitely felt a little like a filler book until the conclusion, that hopefully will come with book three, which I will definitely be reading once it's out because I need to know what happens after that cliffhanger ending.
So to summarize – not bad but also not amazing.
a bit of a second book. the first half was a bit dull but the second half made up for it!
I am so sad...
Defy the Night was one of my favorite YA reads of 2022, so I was super excited to read Defend the Dawn this year, unfortunately though... this was just nowhere near how good Defy the Night was.
I wanted court politics, rebels, brewing uprisings, backstabbery, looming wars etc. etc.
Instead I got completely unnecessary relationship drama in a journey book (aka the bane of my existence) where both the journey and the drama was dragged ouuuuuttt...
To make it worse, Tessa seemed completely unnecessary in this book? She was just there as a pawn between two guys (aka 2nd bane of my existence - love triangles... although this isn't a legit one of those) and didn't really make any decisions herself.
And lastly, I felt like this book was way too long for what it was. Not saying 430 pages is a long book by any means, but this FELT 150 pages too long for what it gave.
The pure frustration I've felt throughout reading this... Only finished because I'm hoping the third book will make it up to me, but WE WILL SEE.
I did enjoy the "The Outlaw" chapters, but unfortunately there were only 5-6 of those (or something like that) and they were resolved way too quickly.
3/5⭐
Defy the Night was one of my favorite YA reads of 2022, so I was super excited to read Defend the Dawn this year, unfortunately though... this was just nowhere near how good Defy the Night was.
I wanted court politics, rebels, brewing uprisings, backstabbery, looming wars etc. etc.
Instead I got completely unnecessary relationship drama in a journey book (aka the bane of my existence) where both the journey and the drama was dragged ouuuuuttt...
To make it worse, Tessa seemed completely unnecessary in this book? She was just there as a pawn between two guys (aka 2nd bane of my existence - love triangles... although this isn't a legit one of those) and didn't really make any decisions herself.
And lastly, I felt like this book was way too long for what it was. Not saying 430 pages is a long book by any means, but this FELT 150 pages too long for what it gave.
The pure frustration I've felt throughout reading this... Only finished because I'm hoping the third book will make it up to me, but WE WILL SEE.
I did enjoy the "The Outlaw" chapters, but unfortunately there were only 5-6 of those (or something like that) and they were resolved way too quickly.
3/5⭐
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
3.5
this was def tessa's flop era like girl you are now in the royal circle you must start thinking like it or at least start to
anyways still slayed even tho we took too many Ls
miscommunication and petty era
this was def tessa's flop era like girl you are now in the royal circle you must start thinking like it or at least start to
anyways still slayed even tho we took too many Ls
miscommunication and petty era
I love those books that you have to stay up all night to finish and this was one of them for me. I cannot wait for the 3rd book!!
all of brigid kemmerer's books follow the same formula of tell, not show. i did not pick up any of the foresaid political tension, and most plot beats seemed to come out of nowhere. i don't think i'll be finishing htis trilogy for a while sadly. i did really enjoy the romantic tension in the first half of the book between corrick and tessa, but it progressively got more annoying.
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
5 Stars
This series has the comforting feel of 2010s YA fantasy yet also feels fresh and right at home in 2022. We love it!
Defend the Dawn mostly takes place on a ship, and there's mystery and tension both of the political intrigue kind and the romantic kind. Can we trust anyone? Who knows! You even start to distrust the main characters, whose heads we're in, which is quite some feat. Only sometimes, but still.
The romance never feels too angsty, mostly because the tension is earned. Tessa is still trying to come to terms with Corrick's past and, honestly, that's smart of her. He's still clearly got issues too, and though we see from his POV that he really does mean well, that doesn't mean it comes across to everyone else, or that Tessa should forgive him. I actually love that this was explored because it's more common for YA protagonists to just conveniently forget their love interest's dodgy pasts. (Not that I hate this, it can be fun, but this was refreshing).
5 Stars
This series has the comforting feel of 2010s YA fantasy yet also feels fresh and right at home in 2022. We love it!
Defend the Dawn mostly takes place on a ship, and there's mystery and tension both of the political intrigue kind and the romantic kind. Can we trust anyone? Who knows! You even start to distrust the main characters, whose heads we're in, which is quite some feat. Only sometimes, but still.
The romance never feels too angsty, mostly because the tension is earned. Tessa is still trying to come to terms with Corrick's past and, honestly, that's smart of her. He's still clearly got issues too, and though we see from his POV that he really does mean well, that doesn't mean it comes across to everyone else, or that Tessa should forgive him. I actually love that this was explored because it's more common for YA protagonists to just conveniently forget their love interest's dodgy pasts. (Not that I hate this, it can be fun, but this was refreshing).
My favourite sections of this book though were the Outlaw sections. They were exciting and funny and ultimately emotional, and the Outlaw ended up being exactly who I hoped they would be! SpoilerI can also now confirm I ship Harristan and Quint.
I was debating whether this was a 4.5 or 5* read, but honestly, the fact I wanted the sequel immediately after reading it really pushed it into the 5* bracket for me. Defend the Dawn is just a really good, solid YA fantasy story, and I'm so happy I enjoyed it this much because I met Brigid Kemmerer at YALC recently and she was absolutely lovely. Bring on book 3!
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced