I’m a big fan of this author’s work and this book was no exception. I loved the world and the characters. Can’t wait to read more of her books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I really love the Cursebreakers series, but this one felt like a slog for me. Tessa seemed to do a lot of crying and even though Corrick always hyped her up with how talented and smart and strong she was, she just never came off that way for me. I do appreciate that the story is more political and not world-ending, and I may read the second one if only to see if what I was picking up between Quint and Harristan is actually a thing or me squinting.

I am embarrassed to say I waited to read this book. I genuinely feared that Brigid would disappoint me after my love of the “A Curse so Dark and Lonely”and the rest of the curse breaker series. I am in fact an idiot. I read this in a day and a half. I loved the characters and am desperately trying to figure out what is causing the fevers alongside Tessa. Another kick ass heroine from Kemmerer. Read if you loved Robin Hood or enjoy rebellion ala “Ember In The Ashes” minus the magic but just as much lusting.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley, thank you to them. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am super excited to read Defend the Dawn, I need to know what happens to these characters next. I love Tessa and Corrick and I hope that Kandala can fix the problems that they are facing.

So glad that I don't have to wait long to read book #2!

This is promising, action packed, engrossing, thrilling brand new series from one of my favorite authors who can write both brilliant and addictive romance and fantasy novels! This book had good character development, really shocking plot twist(who knows though, maybe I'm just a bit slow), and an intriguing storyline. I CANNOT wait for the next one!

This book was amazing!! So many twists and turns. I love the characters and anything Brigid writes is a must read!

I love this latest fantasy story from Brigid! It has action, intrigue, adventure. I really appreciated how a plague could be worked into the story. Given the worldwide pandemic, I definitely viewed this book differently than I would have if we hadn’t just experienced it ourselves.

Tessa and Corrick are goals & I truly just want to give Corrick a big hug!

Imagine a kingdom plunged into chaos by a strange fever that has reached epidemic proportions. The only cure is a tea made from the petals of the moonflower. This fantasy book is a fun adventure that high school students will enjoy.

From the best-selling author of A Curse So Dark and Lonely series comes another epic romantic fantasy. In Defy the Night, the kingdom of Kandala is divided by class and corruption. It’s a world where only the rich can buy medicine to save family members from a deadly virus.

But Tessa Cade, a secret rebel, isn’t going to just let it happen. Instead, with her partner, she steals medicine from the rich to give to the poor. (Definitely some Robin Hood influence here.)

But as the prince’s brutality and deaths worsen, Tessa decides to confront Prince Corrick only to discover that politics are way more complex than she ever realized. Perhaps Prince Corrick isn’t as awful as she believed?

Overall, this is a swoony and fast read that will keep you up reading late in the night. Fans of The Cruel Prince will love this one.

This book is a very light fantasy it felt fast pace (in a good way) and it is extremely addicting. I instantly gravitated towards the characters. I loved each and everyone of them. I really enjoyed the storyline and the political discussions were some of my favourite parts. It really presents the idea that it is not easy to lead and that the good thing and the right thing to do is not always possible. I really enjoyed the romance in the beginning but I kind of felt like it was losing a little bit of steam towards the end. I still really enjoyed this one and I’m very excited to see what the next one will bring.
If you’re looking for a light fantasy with Kings, princes, court politics and romance you will really enjoy this one!

This is the first book by Brigid Kemmerer I've ever read, but after this amazing book, it definitely won't be the last! I loved the plot of this book, the characters, the twists and turns, and the way this story was told.
I love how the characters were with each other and how they were in the world, but I also love how the characters each had their own individual personalities that separated them from the others and really brought them to life. Also, some of the side characters definitely left me smitten and I wouldn't mind getting to see more of them. '
The plot flowed smoothly, the world was well-developed and had me wishing I could jump right in. I really enjoyed this story and I'm excited to pick up the sequel and dive back into this incredible story.

I received a free copy to review through Net Galley!

I enjoyed this! I had read A Curse so Dark and Lonely and the sequel and also gave them 3 stars. I quite liked the world-building, but had some issues. I felt like the book read quite young at some points, but then the relationship I would say felt more for an older teen audience. This book felt older than ACsDaL which is odd. I didn't love it, but I also did not hate it. On the fence of reading the sequel.

Defy the Night is a fantasy wrought with a plague and deceit. There are whispers of rebellion and sabotage unless a cure is found and the kingdom united. This is a start to a promising young adult fantasy series.

I really liked this book and I really do hope to read the next book in the series in the future. I'm really living for these kinds of books.

Brigid Kemmerer has been making a name for herself in the young adult fantasy genre for years now. I’ve heard almost nothing but good things about the Cursebreakers series and Defy the Night has been garnering quite a bit of praise as well. After reading Defy the Night, I can understand the hype.

Defy the Night is the first in a new series (loosely based on Robin Hood) featuring a fantasy land being ravaged by plague. A young king and his brother are facing the prospect of revolution unless they can find a cure. With infighting amongst the leaders and whispers of rebellion from the greater population, Harristan and Corrick must find a way to unite the kingdom.

It’s a little eerie how similar the plague ravaging Kandala was to COVID-19. It made it very easy to relate to everything the kingdom was facing. The rebels were not without cause and while their methods were brutal, it wasn’t always difficult to see how they may have justified their actions. The leaders of the kingdom were quick to overlook the populations further from the city’s center. With less medicine and more death (be it from the plague or the guards from the kingdom), those citizens couldn’t help but look for a way to save their own lives. I would have liked to have seen more from inside the rebel camps and I’m hoping we’ll see a deeper look at them in future books. They had a very villainous introduction in this book and it would be nice to see a less brutal side of them.

The rebels weren’t the only ones approaching things in a rather harsh way. The king and his brother weren’t out to make friends when punishing the rebels. It was hard to see the good in Harristan and Corrick for a lot of the book. I hope that Harristan’s character is more fleshed out in future books. I only felt like I started to get to know him in the last 30 pages or so and I like to think there is more to him than meets the eye. Corrick, on the other hand, was pretty well-developed and much easier to sympathize with. Between him and Quint, I wasn’t completely against the royals and their companions. Quint is another one that definitely deserves more page time in future books. He’s quirky and smart and seems to be the brains behind many decisions in the royal household.

Out of all the characters, Tessa is the one that really takes the lead in Defy the Night. She’s smart, funny, brave, and kind. She is a little headstrong and doesn’t always think through her plans before putting them into action but she always has her heart in the right place. She’s neither rebel nor royal but finds herself right in the middle of both.

If you’re looking for romance, you will get it but don’t expect a ton of it. It’s a slow burn that promises more in future books. This book really helped to develop the friendship and trust that forms a very tentative new relationship.

The only reason Defy the Night didn’t get five stars from me is because I found it a little too predictable at times. The plot twists that should have shocked me could be seen coming from the very start. I don’t see that it detracted from my enjoyment of the book though so I don’t find it to be that much of a flaw.

Overall, Defy the Night is the start of a promising new young adult fantasy series featuring royalty, romance, intrigue, and betrayal. Readers will be left wanting more and eagerly anticipating the next installment from Brigid Kemmerer.

Brigid Kemmerer is the author of one of my favorite fantasy series, the Cursebreakers trilogy, so I was excited to see what was in store here with the start of another new series. Readers are introduced to the kingdom of Kandala, as well as the series’ two main protagonists. Tessa Cade attempts to sneak into the Royal Palace, where she crosses paths with Prince Corrick. I think this story helped set the scene for the series and I’m curious to see where the next book takes it.

A witty and heartfelt Robin Hood retelling with a twist, this story features Kemmerer’s trademark political intrigue and a cast of characters that tug on your heartstrings. Starring a friends to enemies to lovers romance (yes, you read that right) between an apothecary with rebellion in her heart and a mysterious outlaw who struggles with his duty to the people of his kingdom, this story is a fast-paced, adventurous read perfect for anyone with a soft spot for morally grey characters.

Brigid Kemmerer became one of my favorite authors with her Cursebreaker series and Elemental series. Defy the Night was a great, fast paced novel. I am eagerly awaiting the second in this series.

I love her YA contemporaries and her Cursebreaker series, so my expectations were very high for Defy the Night and they were met and exceeded.

The world-building is fantastic and I love the characters. Everything about this book worked for me and I seriously cannot wait for the sequel.

Highly recommended.