Book Review: Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

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.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have 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.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes 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. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.

Set in a richly imaginative world with striking similarities to our own, Brigid Kemmerer's captivating new series is about those with power and those without . . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to imagine a new future.

(Synopsis from Goodreads.com) 

Defy the Night is a brilliant start to a new YA fantasy series. 

When I was reading Defy the Night I thought I knew the direction that Brigid was taken the story. But she would pull out something different. This kept me hooked and entertained through the book. I also liked that she wrapped up certain elements at the end, as well as living the story open to continue that next book. 

The story is told via two POVs Tess and Corrick. I liked seeing the world Brigid has created. As they are at the different ends of the society spectrum. They also have great character growth and moments between them. 

There is a pandemic infecting the people of Kandala. Brigid has created one that doesn't match the pandemic we are currently experiencing. It is especially interesting in the way they are treating it. And they are taking the medicine. 

Overall Defy the night is a romantic adventure mystery YA fantasy. 

My rating for Defy the Night is 4.5 out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for gifting me the E-ARC of Defy the Night for Review.