“When there are calls for revolution,” I say to him, “we should be riding at the front, not hiding in the shadows.”

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) I love a book that makes me excited to read it. I’d put this down but keep thinking about it until I could get back to it.

A strange fever has ravaged the kingdom and the Royals are nowhere near to solving it. Tessa lives in the Wilds and with her best friend Wes, they deliver stolen medicine to those that need it. Corrick is the King’s Justice which means he takes care of the awful responsibility to those who go against the crown. Corrick and his brother, the king, are barely holding the kingdom together.

I love Kemmerer’s ability to grab me from page one. I love outlaws and revolutions and people fighting for the good of all. Who doesn’t love a good Robin Hood theme? Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor (instead of money it’s the fever cure) will never get old. She did an amazing job with each character, bringing in back stories and showing us the good and bad sides of each one.

The story is fast-paced, addictive and easy to follow. It has surprising twists and a sweet romance all while taking us on an adventure that will grab you from the start. I have already pre-ordered the hardback copy, you should too! Click on the links below!

Content Summary: Very little language, and intimacy. Kemmerer tends to have a few descriptive details in fighting and blood and in this book, dead bodies. It’s not severe but still might be too much for some.

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA for the gifted copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book releases September 14, 2021.

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Defy the Night might have "defied" my expectations for the novel. The summary that is provided didn't garner any desire to read the book. I read it because I like every book by Brigid Kemmerer. In my opinion, the summary didn't do the book justice. It deserves more.

What I liked about this book:
-- The twist that happens 1/4 of the way through the book is spectacular. I did not see it coming. For the first 1/4 of the book, I kind of wondered where it was going to go (selfishly because I was curious about the romance). The twist does not disappoint.
-- I liked Tessa. I like how she always fought for what she believed in and did what she could to help the people she cared about, no matter who they were. She was fiercely loyal and gained the trust of a lot of different people. I liked that she never backed down and that she figured out how to make a difference.
-- I liked the dual points of view. It made is so that we not only got the thoughts and feelings of each character, but saw different parts of the story that were happening when they weren't together. It made the plot feel less linear and made the story more interesting in terms of the direction everything was going.
-- The ending is resolved. Although for me, it leaves some questions about where the story is going to go. While it is evident that not everything is solved, there doesn't seem like there is enough for the plot to continue. We'll see what happens.

Things I didn't like:
-- I felt like for as big of a role the consuls played towards the end of the book, that they should have been more prominent throughout the book as well. While the ending wasn't a complete shock, I felt like there could've been more hints throughout the story that foreshadowed the ending. I wasn't really able to go back into the story and say, oh, now it makes sense.
-- I wish there were more scenes in the palace with Harriston, Quint, and Rocco. I liked Rocco and Quint. I wish we would've seen more of them.
-- I wouldn't say it was a jaw dropping concept of a story, but it was compelling and everything I would've expected from a Brigid Kemmerer novel.

4.5 stars
This book was so good!
I loved Tessa, I loved Wes, I loved their relationship. I was rooting so hard for them to be these Robin Hood type characters and save the kingdom from this sickness. They were both so willing to put their own lives on the line for people who could not afford the medicine and it was so admirable. I also really liked Harristan and Corrick. They were these royals who were forced to put such a strong armor around themselves because they were scared to be executed like their parents, but ultimately they were 2 people who really wanted what was best for their country and loved their people but couldn't show it. One of my favorite side characters was Quint who was the Palace Master. He was loyal to a t and was just such a great guy.
I was so interested the whole time reading this book. We start out with Tessa and Wes and then Harristan and Corrick and I thought it was going to be an "us vs them" kind of scenairo, but their 2 worlds collide and things go in so many different directions one after the other. There were places where it would slow down, but it always picked back up.
The only thing that kind of threw me off was that in the first chapter or 2 of Corrick's POV we were thrown A LOT of names and places of consuls and places in Kandala and it made my mind spin. Most of these characters and places were important, but just being thrown them literally all at once was just a little bit hard to get through and remember for the rest of the book.
I really can't wait for more in this series!

Defy the Night weaves the tales of Robin Hood and Zorro together to create an exhilarating and creative story about secrets and duplicity, betrayal and trust, outlaws and royals, and power and sacrifice. Filled with thrilling action, heartfelt romance, and intense political intrigue, Kemmerer brings readers into a new imaginative world that will make you question every twist and turn and fall for the unlikely heroes and conflicted villains.

In a world where sickness is on the rise, only the petals from a healing flower can keep the illness at bay. Two outlaws take to the streets to help the people by stealing petals and distributing medicine on their own but find themselves in the middle of a brewing revolution, torn between both sides.

I thought the entire storyline of Defy the Night was absolutely brilliant! I loved the dark outlaw vibes, the Robin Hood inspiration, and the mystery of the plot. One of my favorites aspects of the book was the contrasting storylines between the brothers, and I LOVED it. I adored how the development flourished and thought the characterization of the two was heartfelt and bittersweet. For me, our VERY morally grey prince stole the show. From the very beginning, his character was strong and had a large presence in the story. And the way Kemmerer grew and layered his development was *chef’s kiss* AMAZING. From his complex relationships to his conflicted sense of self and duty, I fell for him! Also, I adored the romance. I loved that they had a sweet friendship, and sparks definitely were FLYING!

From the first chapter to the last, this book was a wild ride of emotions and had me on the edge of my seat. I am really excited to see what’s going to happen in this series, and am looking forward to watching it grow!

4.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a wild ride. I really enjoyed this story it gave me a bit of Robin Hood retelling vibes. The story follows Tessa an apothecary apprentice who is tired of seeing her neighbors sick and dying. Her and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflowers the only known cure for the deadly fever that is plaguing the kingdom of Kandala. After a particularly cruel act by the King’s Justice, Tessa is desperate enough to sneak into the palace. What she finds there makes her wonder if it’s even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.

Tessa’s character is genuine and kind but also brave. She steals for the good of helping others and throughout the entire story she never loses that aspect of wanting to help. I enjoyed how real and relatable her character is. I also really enjoyed how she confronts the cruelty of the King and his brother as she finds not everything is as it seems within the kingdom.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents’ shocking assassinations, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take the brutal role of the King’s Justice. The two brothers rule with an iron fist and react mercilessly to any signs of rebellion. I really enjoyed the forced proximity that Tessa and Prince Corrick had to deal with. It added great tension and really helped drive the story along. Both the king and the prince are very intriguing morally grey characters. I really enjoyed the dual POV’s (Tessa and Prince Corrick) in this book.

I did find that I saw a main plot twist coming but it didn’t take away from the overall story. The book was a little slow in the beginning but there was a lot of world building and setup that needed to be done. I did like that it didn’t end on a major cliffhanger but it does leave me wondering what will happen next. If your a fan of Brigid’s other books I would definitely recommend reading this, it was my favorite of her books so far.

After not being a fan of A Curse so Dark and Lovely due to it being a retelling, something I'm not a huge fan of, I was excited to pick up a Brigid Kemmerer book set in a different world because I did enjoy her writing. I am so glad I picked Defy the Night up, it has the writing I enjoyed in Kemmerer's other world but a world and story that I was much more interested in reading. I think Defy the Night is being marketed as a gender bent Robinhood telling. While I can see that it is inspired by Robinhood it's not super obvious to the point of is dominating the plot.

I really enjoyed the world the Brigid Kemmerer built in Defy the Night, it was heavily enriched, structured and most importantly conveyed in a way that was is no way confusing to understand. The characters were also really enjoyable, Tessa is a great female lead and King Harristan and Prince Corrick were also well fleshed and complex characters. I really enjoyed following their journey in this first installment of a series. The relationship between Tessa and her love interest were by far my favourite aspect of the book though, they have the kind of deep emotional relationship based on love and respect that I enjoy reading about and see progress through a series.

If you're a fan of high fantasy set in a well developed world with characters that are refreshingly human in terms of their actions and emotions, a swoon worthy relationships and lots of action and danger I would strongly recommend picking up Defy the Night. I think that Brigid Kemmerer's latest work will really appeal to a lot of readers.

Strong Robin Hood vibes, friends to lovers (kinda), lies, deceit, espionage, and political backstabbing. What else could you want?

Tessa, Wes, and Corrick really grab you from the start and never let you go.

Action packed and fast paced, I devoured Defy the Night in a single sitting

This book surprised me in the best way. I really liked A Curse So Dark and Lonely series, but I think I am going to love this series even more. A great start to a new series with characters I already love.

I was completely and utterly blown away by this book! It was so unique, angst, romantic, and fast-paced.

Tessa is definitely a new favorite heroine. She’s smart, kind, and compassionate. She stands up for what she believes. I love that she shows readers you don’t have to be a fighter to make a difference.        

Corrick was SWOOONY. His character definitely falls into the morally grey area and I was here for it. The depth of his character was amazing as he struggles with the violence he’s known for and who he wants to be.                          
The setting! I adored it. The royal aspect, but also how we saw the opposite side of from the village. The worldbuilding was intricate and I loved all of the plot turns that I didn’t always see coming.

Trust me, you won’t want to miss this next book by Brigid Kemmerer.
 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
🔥🔥/5

I loved this book! It captivated me from the first page and I was so invested in everything that happened. I am so happy to be out of my book slump and also can’t wait to be able to read the continuing of these characters stories!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was the first book in the Defy the Night series. An absolutely enjoyable read filled with strong characters, a kingdom divided, and a mysterious illness plaguing the land.

The plot was very action packed with a lot of politics and power play. While, it was a bit predictable and repetitive at times it was still entertaining. The world building was nice as well but I would have liked just a tad bit more details or description on the surrounding sectors.

All the characters in this book were brilliant and the dual POVs was amazing. The romance between the main characters was adorable and I loved how well they worked together.

The ending wrapped up very nicely and there’s definitely a lot of potential for the future books in the series as it left on a very hopeful note.

Overall, an entertaining young adult fantasy with a great storyline and characters.

Kemmerer is a wizard in dialogue and character's feelings, and this book is no different. Defy the Night is the political pandemic book we have all been wishing for this past year and a half. I could feel the emotions on both sides of the divide, just as Tessa was struggling with. I loved the angst between her and her Prince. There is plenty of mystery and unresolved points in the plot that I am drooling in anticipating for the next book in the trilogy. I laughed. I cried. I panicked. It was truly a tidal wave of emotion, and I adored every moment of it. This book is suitable for readers of all YA ages but probably most suitable for middle-aged YA readers. Readers sensitive to pandemic content should consider that before reading.

DEFY THE NIGHT was an exciting and very promising start to an entire new trilogy, characters, and a world that we get to fall in love with thanks to the brilliant mind of Brigid Kemmerer. A word of warning: This book is not ACSDAL, and readers looking for ACSDAL will not find it here. That's not a bad thing, nor was it something I was looking for as I read. DEFY THE NIGHT follows the apothecary Tessa, who finds herself with the attention of the King and the King's Justice, the cruel Prince Corrick. Secrets come to life that shakes everything Tessa knows to the core, and she soon finds herself embroiled in rebellion and dastardly plots to rob Kandala of the medicine her people need. I really liked the twist that occured between Corrick and Tessa early on in the novel, and I won't spoil it. I thought it was a clever plot twist and really provided some good old fashioned conflict and obstacles in her way that worked to deepen the main OTP of the novel. I really enjoyed all of the political intrigue and the power structures in the kingdom of Kandala. Once again, Kemmerer writes characters that the reader can't help but adore, with the resourceful and passionate Tessa and the very swoony Corrick and Harriston. The pacing in this novel strikes a good balance of slower heartfelt moments and breakneck action. DEFY THE NIGHT is a story about how difficult it can be to do the right thing in a world where everyone views their own courses of action as what is right, and how there are some who will sacrifice what is right for many to do what they think is right for themselves and how people can suffer as a result.

Brigid Kemmerer's done it again! Defy the Night is not only a fantastic new book to add to her oeuvre, it's also my favorite to date!

The characters were masterfully written. Tessa, Corrick, and the rest of the cast were complex, nuanced, and flawed, which humanized them to an extent rarely seen in YA. These are the kind of characters you get attached to! I was rooting for the main romance storyline so hard it was ridiculous, and I was way too on edge on all the action scenes (I don't want my babies to get hurt, okay??). Tessa and Corrick were fantastic, but I loved the whole cast. Quint is an extremely underappreciated side character, and I hope we get to see more of him in the following books! There's also a lot left to explore about Harristan, so I'll enjoy his development.

Kemmerer chose to portray themes of forgiveness, family, and revolution, and she did it perfectly! It's extremely hard to talk about it without dipping into spoilers, but I loved the whole arc of Tessa forgiving Corrick for everything that happened. There was also a bit with the rebels giving a second chance to Harristan that I loved. Family in books is everything, and Corrick and Haristan's relationship was flawlessly done. It's difficult to talk about the themes without spoilers, but just take my word on the fact that you'll love it!

The best writing is hardly noticeable. Kemmerer didn't go on tangents of purple prose or wound the reader (my) soul with juvenile prose. Her writing set the tone of the story perfectly and blended into the world effortlessly. It didn't seem like she was trying too hard to too little, it just worked.

The worldbuilding was both complex and comprehensible, which is something that's hard to come by! I loved the setting of the royal sector and the Wilds, but I can't wait to journey outside of them! Kemmerer's created such a large and detailed world, and I can't wait to see more of it.

All in all, this was an excellent book. While I was only lukewarm on Kemmerer's A Curse So Dark and Lonely, I can confidently say that this is the kind of book every reader hopes for.

I love Kemmerer's books. I feel like she is so talented and her scope encompasses several genres - and she does them all well! I enjoyed Defy the Night! My favorite is still A Curse So Dark and Lonely but this was great.

Another amazing read from Brigid Kemmerer! This one reminded me of a mix of the brotherly love from the Elemental series and all the goodness and amazing writing from the Cursebreaker series. I can't wait for book 2! I'm so sad that I finished Defy the Night so quickly and now have to wait for more.

"I hate you."
"Everyone does", he says."

Brigid Kemmerer's blockbuster fantasy series is one that you just pick up. Don't even read the synopsis. It's THAT good. I'm like this...


but K (that's me)+ C = xx. Cruel Cory.



@ me. ☝️

Defy the Night is *chef's kiss*. I LOVED IT. I was SUPER invested in the story. Too many emotions were warring in my chest. Tessa is fierce and reckless and passionate. Prince Corrick. Cory. His eyes spark with devilry and YA readers are going to gobble him up! "Lord, Tessa." And I swoon. Every. Time. I have it BAD. If you enjoyed ACSDAL, then you will revel in the kingdom of Kandala.

*places Defy the Night high on a pedestal*

READ IF YOU LIKE:
-YA fantasy
-hate to love
-Brothers: King Harristan & Prince Corrick
-the TWISTS of all TWISTS
-sickness & rebellion
-secrets & sacrifice
-outlaws & justice
-honeyed apples
-apothecary
-#IsThisAKissingBook: temple kisses, hand kisses... "we'll pick that up later".

@ Brigid Kemmerer ☝️

Thank YOU Bloomsbury YA for an advanced copy! I cannot wait to continue this story!

🎶Song: Don't Give Up On me by Andy Grammer 🎶

Defy the Night Playlist

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc. I have read a couple of Brigid Kemmerer’s books and really enjoyed her writing style and storylines. I’m happy to report both of these things carried into Defy the Night, but in its own way.

This new young adult fantasy is set in a world plagued by fever and there isn’t enough medicine to go around. The poor are dying, fear is spreading across the land, and people are beginning to take matters into their own hands, which could lead to a rebellion.

In this story, we get the point of view of Tessa, an apothecary, who is doing her best to help her fellow people. Even if that means stealing from the Royal sector. We also follow Prince Corrick, the ruthless King’s Justice, whose job is to ensure those who break the rules are punished. 👀 See where this is going?

I really enjoyed the two points of view, although I was more intrigued by Prince Corrick’s chapters. I found his position really interesting and being in his head was a compelling perspective. I also enjoyed reading about his relationship with his brother. There is a turn of events early in the book that makes Tessa’s point of view more intriguing and I was really excited to see how it developed. At times I felt confused by Tessa’s personality, but in all, she is a likable character whose viewpoint brought value to the story.

I recommend this to readers who enjoy court politics, morally grey content (note there is on-page brutality), a romance to root for, and sibling relationships. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

This author always delivers! It took a little bit for me to be drawn in, however once the plot got going I was hooked. I definitely enjoyed the characters and the world. I will definitely be picking this book up to purchase on my own!

Having being a fan of Kemmerer's pervious series, "A Curse So Dark and Lonely", I was thrilled to have gotten this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Defy the Night takes place in a kingdom named Kandala that is slowly being ravaged by a sickness. The only cure is through a special plant called a Moonflower that grows in only two sections of the kingdom. The Moonflower is regulated by the King's orders and the supply is not enough for the citizens. Cue our main characters, Tessa and Wes, to begin the story. Tessa and Wes are citizens of Kandala that are tired of seeing their friends and neighbors die due to inadqequate distribution of the Moonflower elixir. Tessa and Wes take it upon themselves to steal away in the night and help those they can by stealing Moonflower petals to create elixirs to the needy.

My thoughts on this book as a whole: It was phenomenal! Kemmerer does a great job at creating a new world and making it not tedious to read while world building. The book is told through two point of views, Tessa and Prince Corrick, the King's brother. We get to see the inner workings of the palace through Corrick and we follow Tessa along on her mission in making Moonflower accessible to all. I don't know how Kemmerer makes courtly discussion so interesting, but she really does! The discord between the court's members was never dull and helped to move the story along. I didn't realize it until I read the author's acknowledgements that Defy the Night was inspired by the fairy tale of Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to help the poor.

Defy the Night is packed with action, a little romance and a few surprises. I enjoyed it all and will definitely be recommending this to fellow readers.