Book Review of Defy the Night
The Children’s Book Review
Defy the Night
Written by Brigid Kemmerer
Ages 13+ | 496 Pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury | ISBN: 9781547604661
What to Expect: Fantasy, Pandemic, Social Equity, Dystopia
All is far from well in the kingdom of Kandala. Following the assassination of the king and queen, the young and ruthless King Harristan and his brother rule a kingdom increasingly ravaged by a mysterious sickness. The sickness can be cured with an elixir made from Moonflower petals, but the supply of these is short, controlled by powerful elites who fight for greater wealth and power within Harristan’s Court—or over it.
Meanwhile, Tessa and her friends risk their lives nightly to steal supplies of Moonflower petals to create cures for their impoverished and desperate neighbors, tired of watching them die while the nobles and royals do nothing to help. As the situation worsens, however, Eve realizes she will need to do more than merely smuggle cures to save Kandala.
Weaving together strands from fantasy, dystopia, and science fiction, Defy the Night is a rollercoaster narrative that touches on many of the concerns of twenty-first-century readers, from the risk of a society-destroying pandemic to the need for social justice and equity. Thrown into the mix is a gripping Robin-Hood-style adventure with an addictive romantic twist. With her tough façade and touching insecurities, Tessa is a relatable and believable heroine, and Kandala itself is exotic and captivating without resorting to fantasy clichés. In fact, despite a setting of castles, kingdoms, and smugglers, there are virtually no magical elements, helping the story more closely echo the real-world readers are familiar with.
Defy the Night is a captivating novel that readers won’t want to put down.
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About the Author
Brigid Kemmerer is the author of the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series, which includes A Curse So Dark and Lonely, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, and A Vow So Bold and Deadly. She has also written the contemporary young adult romances Call It What You Want, More Than We Can Tell, and Letters to the Lost, as well as paranormal young adult stories, including the Elemental series and Thicker Than Water. A full-time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family.
For more information, visit https://brigidkemmerer.com/.
Defy the Night, written by Brigid Kemmerer, was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like Defy the Night by following our reviews and articles tagged with Books For Teens, Brigid Kemmerer, Dystopian, Fantasy, Pandemic Books, and Young Adult Fiction.
