{Tour Stop} Review & Giveaway: Defy by Sara B. Larson ★★★★

Defy by Sara B. Larson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Defy #1
Publication Date: January 7, 2026
ISBN: 978-0545597586
Page Count: 336
Rating: ★★★★
Review Copy: ARC
Reviewed by: Lynsey
Buy Link: AMAZON



Synopsis: A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.


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?

Swords and Sorcery

I'm a total sucker for this genre it's fair to say. I've read pretty much every book that's ever existed in it, and loved most of them. I was a little bit concerned that DEFY might prove to be too similar to the too many others I've read, and of course there's the whole Mulan style storyline that was bound to feel familiar. But I have to say that, thankfully, it proved to be a very engrossing read in its own right, and very difficult to put down after the first few pages. I read it in a single sitting.

Our heroine, Alex/Alexa is a master swordsman/woman--

Okay, this is going to get confusing - I'm just going to refer to her as a girl, okay?

Alexa has always been the better fighter between her and her brother - her twin - Marcel. On the day their parents are murdered, and with the threat of Alexa being taken to the breeding houses, as all orphaned girls her age would be, they make the snap decision to shear off her hair, say she's a boy, and enrol her in the prince's guard. The story then jumps forward three years and we learn that not only did the plan work, but Alexa has moved up the ranks to a senior position, second only to the captain, and is widely known as the one to beat when it comes to sword fighting and archery.

Cool, right? So she's a badass, and has one one the most dangerous secrets you could think of. One that, if discovered, would mean instant death. Add to that the fact that she's now 17, and suddenly becoming very aware of certain other members of her guard, and the prince himself, who all think she's a boy and, well, there was just no damn way I was putting the book down until I saw how all that played out!

And the plotting was good. Really good, actually. Yes there's a love triangle, but I thought it was handled well and it by no means overtook the action. And although the story contained in this novel is wrapped up perfectly, I have enough interest in these characters to come back for the next instalment to see where the author is going to take them next.

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by:

About Sara:

Sara loves writing, reading, and dessert--but the order varies by the day. She wrote her first book in second grade about a woman who had a premature baby, complete with a "to scale" drawing of the baby's size--while her mom was pregnant. To say she was a bit precocious is putting it lightly. Now that she’s an adult, she writes books for teens that have magic and romance and kick-butt girls (and very few premature babies). She lives in Utah with her husband, two young s

ons and baby girl. She writes during naptime and the hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims that she should have a degree in "the art of multitasking." On occasion you will find her hiding in a bubble bath with a book and some Swedish Fish. she is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary and her YA debut DEFY is coming January '14 from Scholastic!

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

5 Signed Copies of DEFY US ONLY

3 Audio book Downloads of DEFY US/Canada Only

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