Defy

From Goodreads:    A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

My Thoughts:

-    I had the pleasure of being a part of the blog tour for this one! I had to read this pretty fast and pass it along, but it was no problem! I devoured this book in a day!

-    The prince was full of surprises. He started out kinda creepy, but I grew to like him more and more. About halfway through the book, I started picturing him as Richard Armitage, and I liked him a WHOLE lot!

-    The story was like Mulan meets Graceling. Alexa is a girl disguised as a boy in the prince's guard, and she is a kick butt fighter!

-    The breeding house was creepy and terribly sad.

-    I didn't like the love triangle. I liked Rylan, but I wish he was just a friend. The love triangle got a little too much attention and started overtaking the story at times.

-    I really liked the bonds and relationships between characters. I loved Alexa and her twin, and how they cared so much about each other. Marcel reminded me of my brothers and how they protect me. I really liked the dynamic in the prince's guard. They were like family to each other.

-    The action was thrilling and fun. I loved the sparring and the fighting. I wish I could fight like that. 

-    The ending is good but killer! I want more! Overall, it was a great read! I'm looking forward to more from this author.

Re-read Thoughts:

-    I loved reading about Damian. I picked up on so much from him.

-    I still think the love triangle stole the spotlight a little too much.