Sara B. Larson

Murder, kidnapping, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY. Alexa continues to harbor a secret love for the newly crowned King Damian, yet she remains by his side as his guard and ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people. However, when a new threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on the once friendly nation of Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. Once again the fate of her country hangs in the balance. Will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

Ignite (Defy, Book 2)

Megan During

This book was ok. It was entertaining but didn't blow me away or wow me.

Frankie The only thing I crave is a peaceful existence. I’m scared, I’m tired and I just want to wake up each not afraid of him finding me. What I never wanted to find was Hardy Hanson. Turns out, cravings, once fed, turn into something different. I couldn’t ignore the need he awakened in me, but giving into it would mean only one thing. We would both go up in flames. Hardy When I’m in, I’m all in. I was born to protect and my second chance at redemption came when I crashed into Frankie Windsor. The problem was, she was so damaged, I wasn’t sure even I could save her, but I was willing to put it all on the line to risk enough for the both of us to finally find some peace. What I didn’t know, was just how dangerous loving her would be for both of us.

Book 2 - The Sisters Series

Ignite

Elisa Bieg

Hmmm. This wasn’t nearly as entertaining as the first book.

I wanted to hear more about what was happening with the general political climate of the kingdom and hear a bit more about this world the story takes place in; and of course I wanted a bit of resolution to that slow burn between our MC and her love interest.

What I got was a lot of... I don’t know, padding, I guess. Yes, things were happening, and there were some tense or suspenseful moments, but unfortunately for the most part there was way too much angst and not nearly enough character/story development to hold my interest and justify me continuing the series.

Maybe I will at some point, but I honestly don’t feel an urge to do so at the moment. The “cliffhanger” is mostly talk, as far as I’m concerned, and my eyes need some rest from the frequent rolling 🙄🙄 so I’m rating this 2 1/2 STARS and setting the whole series aside until time undetermined.

Nikki Sojkowski

***This review and more can be found at my blog Love at First Write***


This book was nowhere near as awesome as Defy was, but it was still good. I know I had lots of questions after I finished reading Defy, and I don’t think any of them were answered in book two. I’m still not sure if you’re born a sorcerer or learn how to be one, or how one becomes a certain type, and apparently I also don’t know how one can have powers and NOT be a sorcerer. Additionally, I felt like the characters had become more flat, less three-dimensional from last time. I remember being stunned with Defy, there was a badass swordswoman, there were different types of relationships expressed, they lived in a tropical jungle AND there was magic. But we’re two thirds of the way done with the series and I still don’t see or understand the politics/relationships/cultures of the three different kingdoms. World building is crucial to any book, but this particular series is ABOUT the 3 kingdoms and war. Their world building seems crucial to the plot and is pretty nonexistent. 

The plot of this book is that now Damian is king, there needs to be delegations from the surrounding allied countries just to reestablish connections with the new ruler. People from Dansii and Bvelon both show up, oddly around the same time, and it turns out the Bvelon soldiers are under a sorcerer’s control to attack the king. An attempt on the king’s life would be bad enough, but he’s the newly established monarch so his country is already unstable, and the Bvelonese were the people they literally just stopped fighting a war with in book 1. Basically, something’s fishy. Additionally, the Dansii couldn’t just send a normal delegation, they had to send a young pretty woman to seduce Damien, and to the torment of Alexa, she is successful in controlling the king. More complicated relationship stuff happens between Alexa, Rylan and Damien which eventually resolves itself to the conclusion of book 1. Alexa is still a badass swordswoman, but now she gets disrespected by the guards and the commoners which literally makes no sense because the guard knew her and was friends with her and respected her before she revealed her true gender. Being a girl doesn’t suddenly change the fact that she can kick all of their butts because she’s the best swordsman in the kingdom. So that was annoying but expected I suppose.

I also liked how Alexa’s relationship with Damien’s little brother was expanded upon. Their sibling bond is really cute and a great contrast to her complicated relationships with Damien and Rylan. The little brother looks up to Alexa and she helps him train and they platonically love each other and trust each other. When he is in danger, his life is put above all else. Not because he is heir to the throne, but because she cares for him. I will probably get around to reading book 3. Hopefully I will finally get some answers to all of my questions as well as a conclusion with some closure!

Patricia Santos

Opinião do blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...

Eu não estava a pensar ler este livro. Pelo menos não agora. Mas, apesar das falhas de Defy, apercebi-me que estava curiosa e até que, não só tinha algumas saudades das personagens como recordava alguns dos momentos desse livro com um certo entusiasmo. Afinal Defy até era promissor e algo me dizia que a sequela seria melhor. E, Ignite é de facto superior ao livro que o antecedeu, para minha surpresa e alegria. Sara B. Larson cresceu como autora e isso nota-se, não só na sua escrita, que já era envolvente e agora detém uma certa segurança e maturidade, como também na narrativa, que já não apresenta as falhas que havia apontado ao primeiro livro. Finalmente há garra na história de Alexa. Acabaram-se as confusões, as crises existenciais e o triângulo amoroso. Mas a acção, as intrigas e a magia voltaram em força numa história de perder o fôlego.
Mistério e segredos, conspirações e sacrifícios, são alguns dos ingredientes que contribuem para a aura carregada de tensões e emoções que se vivem nas páginas desta história. Nada é o que parece, nada é simples e tudo está errado num mundo em que se previa, finalmente, a paz. Inimigos inesperados com planos secretos e maquiavélicos, uma magia até agora desconhecida capaz de manipular a mais pura das vontades, irão fazer tremer os alicerces de um reinado que se previa luminoso. Esta é uma narrativa diferente da que encontramos anteriormente. Mais empolgante e destemida, com mais reviravoltas e surpresas e ainda mais acção. Muitos são os momentos em que os protagonistas se encontram numa corda bamba entre o dever e o amor, deixando-nos na expectativa se as suas escolhas serão as mais acertadas e quais serão as consequências dos seus actos aparentemente inocentes.
Explorando as intrigas e desavenças políticas entre os três reinos que constituem este mundo, a autora dá-nos um olhar mais aprofundado sobre as raízes de algumas personagens, para além de nos preparar para as razões que, novamente, irão virar este mundo do avesso. Há muita coisa ainda por descobrir mas, desta vez, acaba por resultar como chamariz para o próximo livro em vez de saber a pouco como no livro anterior. Quanto ao romance, agora que o suposto triângulo está definitivamente resolvido, foi muito mais fácil aproveitar os momentos entre o casal. A relação dos dois não é o centro da história, mas ajuda-nos a compreender que muitas vezes o que queremos não é o melhor e, também, que sacrifícios têm de ser feitos em prol do bem de todos, por mais que vá criar cicatrizes numa relação que já de si não é fácil. Mesmo assim, gostei de ver este romance a tornar-se mais confiante e maduro, apesar de todos os obstáculos e dramas que tem de ultrapassar.
Mas, o melhor deste livro são as personagens. Gostei muito da Alexa em Defy mas aqui ela ultrapassou as expectativas, mostrando que não só mantém o seu espírito lutador e corajoso, como a sua dedicação e lealdade não só a guarda e a Damian, como ao seu país e ideais. Por mais que sofra, ela nunca desiste nem deixa de colocar de lado o que quer para o bem de todos. E apesar das inseguranças que os acontecimentos recentes lhe provocaram, sinto que ela cresceu e aprendeu com eles, guardando cada experiência como uma lição para a vida. Já o Damian também ficou com sequelas do que aconteceu no final do livro anterior, mas ao contrário da Alexa, parece não estar a saber lidar muito bem com as coisas. Mas esforça-se e tenta impor-se por mais estranho que lhe pareça. 
Uma boa surpresa com que não estava a contar, Ignite é uma sequela fantástica e promissora. Fico muito contente por ter seguido o meu instinto e ter continuado a ler a série. Só espero que o final seja tão empolgante quanto estou a contar.

Ignite (Defy, Book 2)

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