For such a non-rebellious person I really love me a rebellion story! In Defy the Night there are two POVs, first we follow Tessa and Wes who are helping to cure the sick and dying in spite of having to steal and go against the crown to do it. In the second we have Prince Corrick who has to punish those who break the laws of the kingdom. A sickness is rife throughout the country and Corrick must tiptoe through the royal politics to get the antidote to as many people as possible.

This book was really easy to read and a definite can't put down, page turner. I also got to feel smug because I guessed a couple of the plot points ahead of time. Some might say it is therefore slightly predictable but you know what? I am not mad about it. I still enjoyed theorising and wondering if I was right. And able to practice my victory dance, so it went well!

I am not usually a big reader of YA Romance stories but I actually really enjoyed this and I think that is because the action was there throughout and that kept me interested. I would have liked a little bit of character development for Harristan but I wonder if that is coming in future books. I will certainly be getting them to find out!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the complimentary advanced reader's copy.

I so wanted to love this book but, unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I found it overly tropey and just couldn't connect with the characters in anyway. I did enjoy the main story line and world. I can definitely say it was more me than the book, and I can see this being huge, I just really struggled to enjoy it and DNF at around 30%

This is a promising series just like other works I’ve read by this author previously. My most fond memory of this authors work was definitely letters to the lost which left an impactful impression on me. Both with the writing style and the characters, I promised myself Brigid was going to be an author I keep on the look out for. This is an action packed thrilling exciting new fantasy series with a romance leaving you wanting more.

Though I will say, this was a lot more action packed and thrilling then the beginning of a curse so dark and lonely even though that was a perfect first instalment itself. This story is set in a kingdom which is separated into sectors, burdened by the heavy amount of conflicting relationships by the higher ups. Prince Corrick was definitely my favourite of the series, a brutal killer and a punisher who refuses to back down from anything and will do as he pleases, he was reluctant to take this position but he did eventually after his parents death.

I think two unlikely characters coming together in this book is what kept me on edge. Sometimes it’s difficult for characters to have chemistry, whether it’s romantic chemistry or not. But this was amazing and something I highly suggest readers anticipate. Brigid has done it again with another amazing fantasy series. Only the beginning, but I cannot wait to see where this story goes. 4.5/5 stars, it was brilliant.

I really enjoyed Defy the Night! There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing and I absolutely loved the world building. Tessa and Corrick were really great main characters and I loved seeing their development throughout the book. I already can’t wait for the next installment in the series!
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury for sending me an ARC of this one. Defy the Night will be released on the 14th September

I bloody love Brigid Kemmerer. Absolute Instant Buy every time-and I’m never disappointed.
I was hooked from the very beginning and although I had an inkling to what the twist was it still got me. I enjoyed Defy the Night immensely and would like to credit Brigid with her ability to weave social commentary into her stories without it feeling like she’s smashing you over the head with her opinions or politics-some authors struggle with this.
Upon finishing Defy the Night I declared okay now I’m ready for the next one and my husband had to remind me that this one isn’t even out yet so I may need to learn patience. 😂

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A Robin Hood-esque story that totally grabs you from page 1 and doesn’t let go. Set in the kingdom of Kandala, a realm beset with a disease that can only be managed, but not cured with the use of moonflower and ruled over by King Harristan and Prince Corrick following the brutal murder of their parents.
Feeling they have no choice the brothers rule Zendala firmly, with Corrick performing the terrible and brutal role of King’s Justice.

Meanwhile in the outskirts of the realm, known as the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals to make medicine that they distribute to the poor and needy, who can’t afford to buy it.

Kendal’s is a realm on the brink, the people are discontent, scared and can’t see a way through, their rulers appear distanced, uncaring and cruel and the cure seems to be failing.

The characters are wonderful, nuanced, three dimensional and you soon fall into their world. Tessa, having brutally lost her parents has thrown herself into helping others, irrespective of the danger she puts herself in.

Corrick is a man of mystery, as King’s Justice he is forced to be cold, callous and often cruel, but there is so much more to him. The depths of his character go way beyond his public foil.

Defy the Night is a wonderful book that submerges you into a whole new world. The writing just flows and whilst I might have picked up this book to just read a couple of chapters…the next thing I knew was that I’d finished the book!

If you like retellings, stories with twists, turns and a bit if action and romance, then this is the book for you. I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Just what I needed for a summer holiday read!! Action, adventure, romance, grief, Royalty and betrayal are all in the book with an amazingly brave and relatable female main character - Tessa.

Defy the Night is a story where only the rich can afford the cure to a sickness that is spreading all over the kingdom. Tessa and her friend Wes decide that they will steal from the rich and distribute the cure to the poor, or who needs it the most. They make friends on their rounds and the people come to grow and rely on Tessa & Wes….until one day they witness an altercation that changes their perspectives and pushes them into more defying action.

The writing is fantastic and really gripped me as a reader. I loved the romance just as much as the action and thought it was executed well. I cannot wait to see how the story continues.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

There’s something with me finishing these books recently and taking days to review them so when I do finally come round to writing the review, I have forgotten the smaller details so please bear with me on this one.

I love a bit of BK’s writing so I was thrilled to see I got an ARC of this book.
This book reminded me so much of another book - I can’t for the life of me remember it’s title - and not necessarily in a bad way.

The premise wasn’t unique - I’m just going to throw that out there. Like I said, this books premise definitely had some overused elements and it was quite clear from the first few chapters what some of the reveals etc were going to be. I did appreciate, however, BK’s take on the poor girl/prince trope and the characters were relatable and refreshing enough that I was invested in the story.
I thought Corrick was complicated and misunderstood and not in the brooding, annoying way but he really had lost himself and it was nice to see him find it throughout his book. The double life aspect was, okay, <i>over done</I> yes, but it added conflict to the book.
I liked our main character too. She had a good head on her shoulders and wasn’t passively accepting things as they were. I also liked the element of the sickness and how she didn’t just claim to know the cure but was making logical steps to help improve things.
The slow burn romance was also done well.

I think the biggest thing that stopped this being a five star read for me was the predictability of the plot and how I spent the entire book waiting for something to happen and it never did. I was left wanting more and there was little conflict for a book of this genre.

Overall, a decent first book in a series from BK.
<i>I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.</i>

How does Brigid Kemmerer keep writing characters that I can't help but fall in love with!? This book is action packed, filled with rebellion and betrayal and a beautifully building romance. I love Tessa with all my heart - she is so unfalteringly good at heart, only seeking to help people, and that made me fall in love with her. Then there's the other side - Corrick. The King's Justice, the swift dealer of punishment to those who wrong the crown. But really, he's just a man trying to do the best for his sick and suffering kingdom.

I love the Robin Hood retelling aspect - stealing the limited supply of medicine to give it to the poor. Everything about this book was a yes for me, and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this fantastic new fantasy series - I'm just praying that I don't have to wait too long!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Tessa is a brilliant character. Full of life and desperation, she wants to use her skills to save others. I really liked getting to see things from her point of view, getting the nitty gritty of the poorer sectors - and how desperate drives those in need to different heights. I really appreciated that Tessa didn’t just accept the leniency she’d been given and jumped in with both feet into life at the palace. We got to see her frustrations and disbelief, her sadness and anger - a plethora of emotions that had me utterly gripped and enticed to see what she’d do next.
Corrick is a mysterious one. I really felt like I went on a journey with him. Getting to see his more tender side was a real stand out for me. We see the violence, the cruel and heartless pieces of him that everyone expects to witness, but those softer moments were gold dust. Many times I wanted to reach into the book and just give him a hug...

Kemmerer’s writing is just perfection to me. I can just sit and read, immersing myself in these brilliant worlds and find reality slipping away oh so easily. There’s such brilliant flow from one moment to another that it any story of hers is simply effortless to read. This story is emotional on many different levels and I really love that in a book. Getting to see tremulous thoughts battle in someone’s mind, seeing character’s vulnerabilities, seeing romance and hatred and anger and fear altogether is just a recipe for genius. I don’t just go on a journey from moment to moment, I’m on a rollercoaster and a journey of self understanding too!

Overall, Defy the Night is another outstanding story from Kemmerer that just has me begging for more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

A breathtakingly spectacular and undeniably enthralling start to an all new YA Fantasy series by bestselling author, Brigid Kemmerer. Honestly, it’s soo good I literally couldn’t put it down.

“A spark of rebellion is all it takes...”

In a kingdom where only the richest can afford a cure to the sickness sweeping the streets, King Harristan and his brother Prince Corrick are forced to rule with an iron fist.

Tessa Cade and her mysterious friend Weston Lark are masked outlaws who steal from the rich to save the poor by distributing food and medicine to the people who need it most.

When It’s clear the only way to save her people is to assassinate the King, Tessa embarks on a deadly mission that will take her into the darkest parts of the kingdom—and forced to work with the very people she had promised to destroy.

It’s absolutely fantastic! I really loved the robinhood/outlaw premise. The world building was utterly incredible and the characters,masterfully written. The way in which their (Tessa, Corrick and co.’s)emotions and motivations were portrayed were incredibly nuanced and,though occasionally flawed—I felt it really humanised them. I was so emotionally invested, especially in Tessa (but also in Corrick, Harristan and Quint,too). So much so in fact,that I was literally holding my breath during many of the nail biting,action packed and tension filled scenes.

The Romance was perfection,totally swoon-worthy, they had instant chemistry but it was delivered so well that it never got boring.

The pace was also perfectly timed with the action, twists and revelations (as well as the court intrigue) which I absolutely loved—It was soo addictive I literally sped through it in record time!

A truly spellbinding tale of love and duty that will sink it’s teeth into you and capture your heart. Recommended to fans of YA Fantasy,Lynette Noni and Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreakers series.

Also thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Defy The Night is such a brilliant mix of action and intrigue, as a suffering country reaches its boiling point.

The characters were brilliant - I loved almost all of them. There are lots of twists (all fairly predictable, but that didn't take away from them being entertaining!) and lots of situations where the right thing to do was not clear, which I ADORE. Its really hard to write about this book without giving spoilers, so I will just say ... go read it!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review