Ignite

From Goodreads:    Murder, kidnapping, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa continues to harbor a secret love for the newly crowned King Damian, yet she remains by his side as his guard and ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people. However, when a new threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on the once friendly nation of Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. Once again the fate of her country hangs in the balance. Will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

My Thoughts:

-    It has been a while, and I didn't take notes. I hope I can remember how I felt about this.

-    Overall, I liked it a lot. 

-    The Alexa/Rylan/Damian triangle thingy still bugs. I wish Rylan was just a good friend. Alexa doesn't even consider him an option.

-    I liked the fighting and action. I love reading about how Alexa beats everyone.

-    I felt bad for Alexa and her insecurities. I'm sure any woman would be sensitive over her face getting burned, and I liked how the author portrayed Alexa dealing with that. I liked seeing how others could overlook her scars. It was a bigger deal to Alexa than it was to anyone else, and I'm sure that is so true for a lot of things in life.

-    I hated Alexa keeping secrets and things from Damian. Their relationship seemed a tad immature in this book. Although there were plenty of tension moments.

-    I love the different cultures and seeing them through Alexa's POV.

-    Again, I felt like the romantic relationships overpowered the actual story. I wish more focus had been on the conflict. There was a lot going on with the politics and stuff.

-    Despite the minor setbacks, I'm eager to read the final book! 

Previous Book

(cover is linked)

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.