Book Review: Defiance

• Book Blurb

  HER ONLY CHOICE IS TO CHANGE HER WORLD…

  The leaders of her own country despise her kind. They assume that Salryc Luxx and ever iliri crossbred are nothing more than expendable. But, if they can do the job, then the Conglomerate of Free Citizens is happy to use them. They win either way.

  So they sent Sal to Anglia without pack. She can no longer hear their thoughts and can’t smell her brothers. It’s just her and Cyno killing their way across unending expanses of snow-covered mountains. Her mission is to assassinate the current king and replace him with someone sympathetic to the Conglomerate, but Sal wants more.

  And she gets it. In a land where iliri are a myth, she’s treated like a hero. Here, the people don’t know they should hate her. All they know is that she may be the only thing standing between Anglia and the Terran Empire. To them, she may very well be their salvation.

  If she’s going to do this, she’ll make sure at least one government on the continent supports her people. She just has to figure out how – without getting herself killed. Lurking deep in the icy wilderness may be the answer she needs. And it speaks her language.

  Like all the books in this series, Rise of the Iliri is a complete epic science-fantasy novel, without a cliffhanger. The female lead has multiple consensual romantic relationships as well as fulfilling friendships that matter to the storyline. Because the iliri have insatiable and exotic sexual instincts, the smoking hot sex may make it unsuitable for humans under 18.

  HER ONLY CHOICE IS TO CHANGE HER WORLD…

  The leaders of her own country despise her kind. They assume that Salryc Luxx and ever iliri crossbred are nothing more than expendable. But, if they can do the job, then the Conglomerate of Free Citizens is happy to use them. They win either way.

  So they sent Sal to Anglia without pack. She can no longer hear their thoughts and can’t smell her brothers. It’s just her and Cyno killing their way across unending expanses of snow-covered mountains. Her mission is to assassinate the current king and replace him with someone sympathetic to the Conglomerate, but Sal wants more.

  And she gets it. In a land where iliri are a myth, she’s treated like a hero. Here, the people don’t know they should hate her. All they know is that she may be the only thing standing between Anglia and the Terran Empire. To them, she may very well be their salvation.

  If she’s going to do this, she’ll make sure at least one government on the continent supports her people. She just has to figure out how – without getting herself killed. Lurking deep in the icy wilderness may be the answer she needs. And it speaks her language.

  Like all the books in this series, Rise of the Iliri is a complete epic science-fantasy novel, without a cliffhanger. The female lead has multiple consensual romantic relationships as well as fulfilling friendships that matter to the storyline. Because the iliri have insatiable and exotic sexual instincts, the smoking hot sex may make it unsuitable for humans under 18.

• My review

  Defiance feels a little different from the earlier installments in the Rise of the Iliri series, but it’s absolutely pivotal to the overarching plot.

  Why different? Sal and Jase are on a mission without the rest of the Black Blades, and while I missed the pack dynamic, I also found myself deeply invested in the unique story that unfolded here. Honestly, I had to be patient with this one, which is why I rated it 4 stars, but by the end, I could clearly see how essential it is for the series.

  Why important? The new characters introduced here are critical to the series. If you skipped book two, you could still keep up, but if you skip this one, you’ll be completely lost going into book four.

  What I loved:

  • The relationship between Sal and Jase. Their dynamic is complex and endearing—there’s just something about Jase that pulled me in.

  • The chance to see a new side of the world, with different political and cultural perspectives.

  • Sal is making morally gray choices. If you’re expecting a flawless heroine, that’s not her—and I actually love that.

  Overall, Defiance might demand a bit of patience, but it delivers essential plotlines and new perspectives that enrich the entire series. It also proves again why Rise of the Iliri is one of the best science-fantasy sagas out there. Highly recommend continuing with it!

  Defiance feels a little different from the earlier installments in the Rise of the Iliri series, but it’s absolutely pivotal to the overarching plot.

  Why different? Sal and Jase are on a mission without the rest of the Black Blades, and while I missed the pack dynamic, I also found myself deeply invested in the unique story that unfolded here. Honestly, I had to be patient with this one, which is why I rated it 4 stars, but by the end, I could clearly see how essential it is for the series.

  Why important? The new characters introduced here are critical to the series. If you skipped book two, you could still keep up, but if you skip this one, you’ll be completely lost going into book four.

  What I loved:

  • The relationship between Sal and Jase. Their dynamic is complex and endearing—there’s just something about Jase that pulled me in.

  • The chance to see a new side of the world, with different political and cultural perspectives.

  • Sal is making morally gray choices. If you’re expecting a flawless heroine, that’s not her—and I actually love that.

  Overall, Defiance might demand a bit of patience, but it delivers essential plotlines and new perspectives that enrich the entire series. It also proves again why Rise of the Iliri is one of the best science-fantasy sagas out there. Highly recommend continuing with it!

Character & romance details

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