Format: E-Galley, 496 pages
Release Date: September 14, 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a brand-new blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption—and the girl who will risk everything to bring the system crashing down.
The land of Kandala is recovering from a devastating plague, with a cure so rare that only the wealthy can afford it. Tessa is one of the many in the lower class, whose parents were killed for distributing the cure on the black market. She continues their legacy by stealing supplies to give to those in need, along with help from her partner, the suave and mysterious Weston Lark.
As rumors spread that the cure no longer works, Tessa hatches a dangerous plan to infiltrate the castle and break down the class barriers for good.
Set in a fantasy world startlingly similar to our own, Brigid Kemmerer's new series illuminates the divide between those with power and those without. . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to flip the system.
Defy the Night is the first installment in a brand new series by author Brigid Kemmerer. The story alternates between 18-year-old Tessa Cade, and Prince Corrick, aka Weston Lake. The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand, and his consul's are at each others throats trying to one up on each other.
When his parents were assassinated 4 years ago, King Harristan was
thrust into power, leaving the
younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's
Justice. The brothers learned to react mercilessly to any sign of
rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can
strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate
Moonflower petals, is severely limited. But Corrick also has a secret identity, Weston Lake, only known to one other person.
Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade, who watched as her parents were murdered for treason and black market dealing, is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes, who saved her life the night her parents were killed and wears a mask to hide his real identity, risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.
As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. After being caught by the King's Guards, Tessa finds comfort in the most unusual places as well as finding out that her partner of two years isn't who she thought he was. There was a secret aspect to their relationship to protect them both if one or the other was caught. After Tessa is captured, she discovers a hard truth about her best friend. Now, Tessa has to find a way to help not only her people, but King Harristan as well who appears to be sick with a fever.
Harristan and his brother are also dealing with a rebellion by the Tessa's people and it's not just the people they need to worry about. Certain Consul members would love nothing more than to see Harristan and Corrick removed from power permanently. With Tessa involved in the mix, she suddenly becomes a key voice of reason between angry factions. She also finds that Harristan isn't the villain she's made him out to be for the past 2 years.
This story is definitely the authors own retelling of Robin Hood. This may be neither here nor there, but with the author coming out with a new book next year, a sequel in this series might be a year or more away. The author intends to return to her Cursebreakers series but 4 years in the future.
i love the title and the cover is okay. does sound like a good one
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental