🧪 Mini Review 🌸
Y’all, I have so much to say about this amazing book, but I would end up spoiling everything 🙈

I am a huge fan of @brigidkemmerer and was so excited when I got approved for Defy The Night. It’s one of my most anticipated reads and it didn’t disappoint! 🥰

The Kingdom of Kandala is dealing with a horrible sickness that is making the people desperate and restless. After the death of the King and Queen, King Harrison, their eldest son, and Prince Corrick, the King’s Justice, have had to try to help their people get better. This is hard when the elixir is very limited. And because it is so limited, only the rich can afford it.

After years of their people dying, the poorer sectors have had enough and are ready to rebel. Few are trying to help the people, unlike the King and Prince. Tessa, an apothecary apprentice, and Wes, her best friend, go out almost every night, risking their lives, steal the elixir from the rich and distribute it to the poor. But when the King's Justice commits a cruel act for all to see, the people have had enough and are ready to rebel, as is Tessa. After sneaking into the palace and getting caught, she realizes there is so much more to this sickness and its cure than she ever knew.

I absolutely loved everything about this book! 😍😍 Tessa, Wes, and Prince Corrick were amazing and I couldn’t get enough of them. I loved being able to see the world through Tessa and Corrick’s eyes. There are so many twists and turns that you don’t see coming and it blew my mind every time. For the last quarter of the book I was on the edge of my seat, anxious about what was going to happen next. The writing, as usual, was addicting. Brigid has a way of writing characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and creating a world that you can easily imagine yourself in.

If you love enemies to lovers, outlaws, Robin Hood, and rebellions, then this is the book for you! I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Defy the Night is one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

I loved this book from the beginning. I was worried for a bit if it was going to head in the direction I wanted since A Curse So Dark Lonely series did not. But all my wishes came true and this book was so good. I was say it is very classically YA. Like the plot was something that I've read before, but not in a bad way, it was actually familiar and that was nice as a reader.

I don't get the title or cover because I don't think they particularly match the story. In fact they are what deterred me from picking it up in the first place. That and the fact that I didn't like the ending of the Cursebreakers series. I will be recommending this book and also looking forward to other books in the series.

I received an advanced copy of Defy the Night through NetGalley so I could share my review with you!

The kingdom of Kandala is under attack from disease, and the only cure is closely guarded by the ruling class. Moonflower, a rare plant grown in only two sectors of Kandala, can keep the fevers and disease at bay, making it the most desired commodity in the land. Many are willing to risk death to get their hands on it. Two rebels, Tessa and Wes, fight to save the common folk around them by completing dangerous missions to steal moonflower petals, make them into medicine, and distribute them to the people. But, when a mission gone awry leaves Tessa trapped behind palace walls with the notoriously cruel prince Corrick, she begins to realize that Kandala’s problems lie even deeper than she could’ve imagined.

You can get your copy of Defy the Night now from Bloomsbury YA!

Though I’d never read a book by Brigid Kemmerer before (I know, I definitely should get on reading the Cursebreakers Series) I had heard enough people raving about her writing to know that I needed to pick up a copy of Defy the Night. I am so glad that I did because Defy the Night has easily been one of my favorite reads of the year so far. There were so many juicy twists, hidden identities, and rebellious plots. Defy the Night was written from two characters’ perspectives, which were equally enjoyable to read. Corrick was an especially compelling character, as I felt that he had such well-written depth. Kemmerer did a fantastic job of creating a strong motivation for each of his actions, which drove the story forward.

My Recommendation-
If you love well-crafted fantasy stories with heart-pounding stakes and swoon-worthy romance, you need to pick up a copy of Defy the Night! This book would be the perfect read for fans of The Red Queen Series or The Gravemaidens Duology!

Defy the Night is a dual perspective fantasy story. A deadly fever has broken out in Kandala. Tessa and a masked man named Wes smuggle medicine from the upper class citizens to the poor working class who can’t afford it on their own. Meanwhile, the king’s younger brother Corrick is viciously protect the kingdom by any means necessary.

This story was very slow until a quarter of the way through. I enjoyed all the characters, but the story of a fever and class war hit way too close to home. This book was intense!

Rating: 4/5 moonflower petals

Format: ebook. I’d like to thank the author and Bloomsbury YA for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

To sum up:
Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors sicken and die from the illness that ravishes the kingdom of Kandala. She does what she can by stealing Moonflower petals, mixing an elixir and distributing the treatment with her best friend Wes in the dead of night. Rumors are spreading however that the elixir may no longer work and rumblings of a rebellion are growing stronger by the day. King Karristan and his brother Corrick can only rely on each other after their parents were brutally betrayed and murdered. With the sickness worsening inside and outside the palace gates, and the Moonflower petal supply limited, the kingdom is on the brink of disaster.

What I enjoyed:
This was my first Brigid Kemmerer book and I really enjoyed it! Her short chapters, alternating POV, and constant tension made the pages fly by in this book. I loved how the characters come together in this story and how the conflict unfolds. I thought it would be too soon to read a book about an illness, but it was actually therapeutic to see our main characters work so hard to help people get better and to attempt to improve a broken system against overwhelming forces against them. This is definitely a story that will tug at your heartstrings and made me think of all the heroic medical personnel out there doing a thankless job to keep us all a little safer and healthier.

Also, wow the romance! The brotherly angst! There was conflict and tension on every page and the characters were very relatable.

What was meh:
Although this was enjoyable, I didn’t have a moment where I really emotionally connected hard with the writing or characters so nothing quite put it over the top to a 5-star level.

Overall, I thought this was a sweet and entertaining read! I definitely want to check out Kemmerer’s other books.

I found Defy the Night engaging from the very beginning. I read it quickly, only putting it down when I had to. I made a couple guesses early on that turned out to be right, and was thrilled to discover I had guessed correctly. I really enjoyed how complex the characters were, and that the problems the kingdom faced were well nuanced. I usually love Kemmerer's work, but Defy the Night is easily my favourite of her books thus far.

I loved this!!!!!! It was a wild adventure that had me constantly wondering what was going to happen next! When I got to one part in particular, I was HOOKED! I really loved how I was swooning right away too!!!! This had a very Robin Hood feel!

Tessa was such a wonderful, fierce main character! I loved her big heart even in the tough times! But Prince Corrick, Cory, stole my heart and I don't want it back! *SWOON* A morally grey, protective Prince is 100% my type! I loved the romance in this and the build up! There were so many butterflies! "Mind your mettle, Tessa" *insert dreamy eyes gif*

I was a little nervous after being slightly disappointed with how A Curse So Dark and Lonely turned out, I just loved this book! It was excellent and I hope my OTP are safe!

I received this and as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for giving me access.

**This story contains a epidemic and may be triggering to people who have loss loved ones or suffered from Covid.**

Oh my word. Defy the Night is such a wonderful read, I couldn't put it down. This is a loose retelling of Robin Hood, with a twist that I am here for! Without giving anything away, if I was to pick a favorite troupe, this one has to be it.

Between the Robin Hood-esque style story and the world building, Kremmerer knocked this one out of the park and I am dying for more.

Happy pub day!!! As always, thank you so much to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for providing me a galley in exchange for an honest review. I was SUPER pumped to be approved for this one as I will literally read anything Brigid Kemmerer writes. After completing falling in love with the Cursebreaker series, I was excited to dive into a world that was completely different.

I LOVED this book. I struggled to put it down most days, and read well into the night in order to finish it. It even travelled with me on my Vegas vacation and was read by the pool every day and at night just before bed! It was just that good. The story follows Tessa Cade who is an apothecary alongside her best friend Wes who work diligently to steal petals from the Moonflower, known to heal a sickness that ravages the world of Kandala.

Honestly I can say that this was easily in my top 3 favorite books of 2021. The characters in this story are so well fleshed-out that I actually missed them when I finished the book. There was definitely something about these particular characters that enveloped me into their story from the moment they spoke. Even though Defy the Night is rather long, it keeps you enthralled the entire time. If you are looking for a great fantasy novel with twists, turns, and kick ass females, you found it! Look no further! Run to your nearest book store and purchase it today!

Defy the Night
4/5 stars

I have never read any of Brigid Kemmerer’s fantasy books so I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this but I was pleasantly surprised. This book was super action-packed and thrilling to read.

Kandala has been plunged into chaos and it’s all due to a mysterious fever that can only be cured by an elixir made from moonflower. We follow Tessa Cade, an apothecary apprentice, who is tired of seeing all her friends and neighbors die so she does the only thing she can, alongside her friend Wes, she steals moonflower and distributes them to the people in need. Alternatively, we follow another perspective, Prince Corrick who is the King’s Justice as well as his brother. His brother was forced into power after their parents were assassinated. This particular experience has taught them to rule mercilessly, quashing any sign of rebellion at the first sight of it. However, rumors begin to flare up that the moonflower elixir no longer works, and a rebellion sparks. One night, Wes is captured and brutally killed, and Tessa, who is stricken with grief, in an attempt to get some sort of revenge, sneaks into the palace but not everything is as it seems. She begins to wonder if they can save Kandala instead of relying on a revolution to solve their problems.

I loved the characters as well as their interactions. I do wish Tessa’s moral compass was less strict because she never gave up a chance to mention how much she was against Prince Corrick’s actions.

I look forward to reading the next book!

Absolutely loved it! Fans of Bridget Kemmerer are going to be delighted with this new series.

A spellbinding tale of love, trust, and courage, Defy the Night is set in a fictional Kingdom of Kandala, where people are dying of mysterious fevers. The only real cure, Moonflower, grows in only two sectors of the vast country ruled by young King Harristan and his brother, King’s Justice Corrick. Unfortunately, the poor do not always have the means to buy the cure, while all the rich care about is a steady, reliable supply. Nobody wants to die and nobody wants to see someone they love suffer.
Tessa Cade’s father was an apothecary, who tried to distribute the elixir made of Moonflower petals to as many people as he could. When Tessa’s parents were killed by the patrol, Tessa found courage to continue their work by stealing supplies, preparing potions and giving them away to the most needy. She is added by her faithful partner Wes, Weston Lark, someone she trusts with her life, even though she’s never seen his face without a mask. Both of them know it’s a drop in the ocean, as people are becoming more and more desperate and ready to revolt…
The story is told from two equally compelling points of view: Tessa’s and Corrick’s. Based on the blurb, I expected Tessa to be more of an adventurous risk-seeker, while she turned out to be somebody extremely compassionate and people-oriented, kind and…soft. Corrick appeared to be a more complex character- he’s torn between what he sees as his brotherly duty and his desire to lead his life according to his principles, a normal human desire to trust/be trusted and the need to be seen as a strong ruler capable of maintaining order. Although King Harristan remains a bit of a mystery in this book, it is clear he’s a multi-dimensional character.
The main intrigue in the book is the disease itself and our protagonists trying to find the best way to defeat this cruel and relentless enemy, while also helping to keep the country stable. A large portion of the book is set in the Royal Palace, so expect a fair share of political intrigues. One of the topics raised in the book is that it isn’t easy to lead a safe and prosperous country, let alone a country ravaged by a health crisis.
Bridget Kemmerer’s writing style is as entertaining and captivating as always. The pace is fast, although the book isn’t all about action- there’s the emotional side: affection, friendship, loyalty, grief, and worry. The twists kept me on my toes and there’s clearly plenty of them coming in the next book, which I’m already looking forward to!

The first in a new fantasy series, DEFY THE NIGHT takes the reader to a kingdom plagued with disease that only has one cure, two young brothers trying to rule with an iron fist, and one young women willing to risk it all to save her people.
I loved the brothers’ relationship, learning their past and how it affects their actions in places of power. When we first meet Corrick, he is portrayed as hardhearted and cold. But as we get to know him and understand the love he has for his brother (the King), we see how sacrificial he really is; willing to give up everything to protect who he loves. I definitely think Corrick will be added to my top 10 book boyfriend list.

The chemistry between Corrick and Tessa is swoonworthy, and my fingers are crossed that this love story is one that stands the test of a fantasy series. Kemmerer’s writing just gets better over time, and I can’t wait to see where this story goes.

I recommend to fans of her Cursebreaker series and the early days of From Blood and Ash series.

In 2017 I fell in love with Brigid Kemmerer and her writing. I picked up one of her books, Love Letters to the Lost, at 7am one day and by the end of that night I was done, while working a full day. Her writing grabbed me immediately and I never turned back. Since then I have devoured 5 other books by her and have loved them all to pieces thinking she could never get any better. And then I read Defy the Night. This book, to me, is by far Brigid’s best work and I’m obsessed and head over heels in love with it.

Defy the Night is the first book in Kemmerer’s newest fantasy series. It’s the story of Kandala, a kingdom being torn apart by corruption. There is an illness sweeping through the lands and only the richest can afford the elixir made with a diminishing supply of Moon Flower. While King Harristan (put into power after his parents assassination) and Prince Corrick, the King’s Justice, trying to keep the country from falling apart, Tessa and Wes sneak around the Wilds stealing what they need to create the elixir and passing it out the poor. But when words starts that the elixir may not be working and the King’s Justice commits an act that destroys Tessa’s heart, she makes a decision and sneaks into the palace. But behind the palace walls is not anything Tessa expects and soon she learns that not everything is completely black and white and things she thought she knew are not as they seem at all.

Without going into detail, Defy the Night is a magical book. The world and characters that Brigid created had me on the end of my seat, crying, and swooning. I was so completely wrapped up in Tessa world and in Prince Corrick’s world that I didn’t want it to end. Even with the story feeling close to current life, an illness destroying a nation, I was never focused on that aspect. I was focused on the position King Harristan put his brother in as the King’s Justice. I was focused on Tessa and her need to help at any means. I was focused on my love for Prince Corrick and my heartbreak for him too. All these things lead to a story that was so full of intrigue and love I couldn’t turn away.

In my eyes Defy the Night is complete perfection. It had everything I love in a good fantasy book. It was the start of a series that I think is going to be amazing and will stay with readers for a long time. This is not a book to sleep on. You want this book and you want it NOW. Simply put…it was fantastic!

This was a good start for a new series by Brigid Kemmerer. It's not an automatic favorite, but I definitely enjoyed it and wanted to find out what would happen next. My biggest complaint is that it really didn't bring anything new to the YA fantasy realm. It had a lot of pieces that are very similar to other successful series, which I understand definitely happens. There's main themes for a reason. But it just didn't have anything to make it really rise above and stand out to a lot of other series, even though it was an enjoyable Robin Hood-esque retelling. I'll pick up the next book and hope Kemmerer takes some bigger risks.

ACSDAL is my very favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I’ve had a major girl crush on Brigid and her storytelling abilities ever since reading the trilogy. When I found out I would be able to read an ARC of Defy the Night, I squealed, did a happy dance, poured a glass of wine, and immediately dived in!

Defy the Night is a retelling of Robin Hood like no other. The kingdom of Kandala is plagued by a fever that comes on quick, kills too many, and seems unstoppable. The only known cure comes from the petals of moonflowers, but not everyone can afford to take them everyday, or they do not have access to them. Our quirky and badass duo, Wes and Tessa, steal the petals from the elite, create the tea that aids in fighting the fever, and disperse it to the poor every evening they can. Until the unthinkable happens and everything changes forever.

The book is action packed, with major plot twists, redemption, power play, and a sprinkling of romance that gave my heart the pitter-patters.

This is Kemmerer’s best book since Letters to the Lost; and honestly, that’s saying something because every book Kemmerer has put out is an absolute WIN!

This was honestly absolutely incredible and breathtaking. Kemmerer has a way to capture and entrance a reader. It’s impossible to put her books down once you start them.

I’m going to be sitting here anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I’m ready for more NOW!

This book was everything and more that I expect from a Brigid Kemmerer book! I enjoyed the Cursebreakers series, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Defy the Night!

I haven’t been much in the mood for fantasy over the last few months, but you wouldn’t guess that by the way I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. There is action, angst, rebellion, a romance that will have you swooning all over the place, and so much more. I was invested in all of the characters, the world Brigid created, the impossible obstacles set before our main characters.

Did I mention it’s told in dual POV? How about that it’s a Robin Hood retelling with a spin on our own pandemic filled environment? This book was so unique and I love every single second of it. I need the next book ASAP!

I had requested this book from NetGalley after loving most of the Cursebreakers series, but shortly afterwards, I was informed by a buddy read partner that this was a DNF for her. The next day, I got approved for this, and approached the book with mixed feelings. By 10% of the way in, I understood what she was talking about.

While the characters and the world are well-built, they’re also extremely tropey and predictable. So is the plot. Tessa is the outlaw with the heart of gold, who constantly gasps and loses focus at the sight of a specific man without his shirt on. Never mind that she’s kind and brilliant and sweet and motivated, and well-spoken for a peasant girl. Her partner, Wes, has secrets of his own, naturally.

The plot itself was fairly predictable, as you can tell from the lackluster gasp factor below. It’s a Robin Hood retelling, and that happens to be one of my favorite stories. I read the whole thing, because I did want to find out what happened, and I honestly hoped that it would become less tropey and predictable. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

What I did enjoy was seeing the politics of the kingdom. I would have loved to see a map of the kingdom, and from my understanding, there is going to be a map included in the finished book. The author really did a great job with the way different factions in the kingdom interact, and how much pressure is on King Harristan and Prince Corrick to negotiate with them all to maintain a balance. In addition, the presence of a fever sweeping through the kingdom hit kind of close to home, and made me realize how dramatically it alters how people behave — hoarding resources and becoming different than they ordinarily would be.

I did like how the story developed, although I kind of wished that it relied a little less heavily on the standard tropes. It read surprisingly fast for nearly 500 pages. The author has so much creativity and talent, and I found myself changing how I felt about some of the characters after seeing their POV. Overall, this was a good story with so much potential, but it kind of fell a little flat for me. Chances are, I’m still going to read the next book though.

I first fell in love with Brigid Kemmerer’s writing in 2017 with Letters to the Lost. Since then, I’ve eagerly picked up everything new she’s put out, and Defy the Night is no exception.

It’s hard to say much about Defy the Night’s plot without revealing some pretty major revelations, which is to say, it’s got some great twists.

Kemmerer is great at setting the scene. She’s incredibly detailed, yet never gets lost in the details. She deftly balances emotion with plot, creating an immersive feel that nabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go.

And though Defy the Night is fairly long — approximately 500 pages — it doesn’t feel overly ambitious. In fact, I finished the book wanting more, which is good, because Defy the Night is the first book in a planned series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, Bloomsbury USA Childrens Books and the author for this digital ARC!

I’ll start by saying I liked this book so much I bought 3 different special editions of it! The characters, the atmosphere, the story… I cannot wait to see what comes next!

—
In the Kingdom of Kandala, a sickness has spread across the lands, causing a great divide between its people. The only known cure, the moonflower petal, is in short supply and too expense for those less fortunate. Tessa Cade and her best friend Wes vow to help those in need and in turn, risk their own lives to do so.

Meanwhile in the castle, the cruel Kings Justice, Prince Corrick, vows to keep order and keeping up with his reputation, severely punish those who don’t follow the rules. When the Prince takes things a step too far, Tessa decides to take things into her own hands and sneak into the castle. It is here that secrets are revealed and we see the fate of the peoples lives hang by only a small thread.

—

Well. It’s safe to say I found a new book boyfriend…Wes… 😍😂.

“ 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘭.”

The World building was fantastic. The characters had depth and personality and the the originality of this as Robin Hood retelling is phenomenal! It was such a great story that I did not want to put down!

I give Defy the Night ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫. Bring on book two! 😃