This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic 
 Defiance is a whirl wind of a fantasy adventure. I was late to the party with this one, it didn't even hit my radar until after it was already published. But once I heard about it, I had to get my hands on a copy. And I am glad I didn't waste any time, because Defiance ended up being one of my favourite books of the year. 
 C J Redwine writes beautifully. She has a captivating style, that drew me in right away. I became enamoured to the world, the characters and everything she had created. The world of Baalboden, in particular was fascinating. It took all the best parts of fantasy and combined it with elements of science fiction (Logan's inventions, giant worms that made me think of Dune), horrible tyrants as leaders, a rebellious under current, and a hint of magic at play. It was a world I loved and a world that I wanted MORE of. I have so many questions, so many theories and I can't wait to read the rest of the series to find out the answers. 
 Defiance is told in alternating points-of-view. Logan and Rachel's. I thought this worked extremely well for this story. It allowed me to fall in love with both characters and I didn't have to second guess anyone's intentions. I could trust both protagonists and I didn't need to be distracted by second guessing their motivations. Don't get me wrong, sometimes the mystery is nice, but other times I just want to like the people I'm invested in. 
 Not only were Logan and Rachel great characters, I whole heartedly approve of how their relationship was developed. They didn't just meet each other during the timeline of the story. Instead they grew up together and had a whole complicated, layered relationship before the story even began. It made their dynamic much more interesting and much more believable. And it made me much more likely to root for them as a couple. 
 Recommendation: An absolute must read for high fantasy fans and for those who love their relationships well developed rather than the all too common insta love fare.