December 2013 Wrap Up & January 2014 TBR

December 2013 Wrap Up  

Here's the last of the books that I read in 2013.  

In a Glass Grimmly (A Tale Dark & Grimm, #2) by Adam Gidwitz ★★★★

My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, #1) by Jean Craighead George ★★★

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland ★★★

A Beautiful Dark (A Beautiful Dark, #1) by Jocelyn Davies ★★★★

Indelible (The Twixt, #1) by Dawn Metcalf ★★★★

The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy, #2) by Jennifer A. Nielsen ★★★★★

The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard ★★★ 

Sisters In Love (Love in Bloom #1: Snow Sisters & The Bradens) by Melissa Foster ★★★

The Queen's Choice (Heirs of Chrior, #1) by Cayla Kluver ★★★★

Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings, #4) by Jackson Pearce ★★★★

Snow: A Retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Tracy Lynn ★★★

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst ★★★★

I'm happy about reading 12 books in December but I still didn't read 100 books in 2013. Maybe this year will be different. 

Overall the month of December was 4 out of 5 stars. 

January 2014 TBR

My goal this year is 80 books in 2014, so far I have a good head start with 6 books already read! 

          

Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson  

In the After (In the After #1) by Demitria Lunetta 

Deception (Defiance #2) by  C.J. Redwine

Northwood by Brian Falkner & Donovan Bixley 

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

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Review: Defy by Sara B. Larson

Title: Defy  

Series: Defy #1

Author: Sara B. Larson

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy, Romance

Reading Source: NetGalley

Reading Level: 12+  

Grade Level: 7+

Length: 336 pages

Format: ebook 

  Cover Art: 5/5

 Overall: 4/5

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?

Review: 
When I first heard about this book right away I thought of Mulan, where a girl pretends to be a boy to fight. Alexa pretends to be a boy for a very different reason. 


Alexa joins the army as Alex in an attempt to stay out of the breeding house after her home is burned down and her parents are murdered. She cuts her hair short, dresses like her brother and becomes part of the prince's personal guards. Alex soon becomes the best fighter of the guards. Alexa starts to feel more than just a guard toward Damian. She isn't the only person pretending though, Rylan is hiding feelings for Alexa and the spoiled Prince Damian is also hiding he isn't all the he seems either.  And when an attempt to assassinate the prince fails Alex is moved in close to Prince Damian's room, but that's not enough and Damian along with Alexa and her fellow guard, Rylan, is kidnapped.   


There was romance in this book but I did not like it. It was not the love triangle, I don't mind love triangles, it just seemed forced and not believable. It was a quick book though, there was action and adventure that kept me reading. I liked that Alexa was a brave, strong character, she didn't need anyone to save her. This book had some issues but it was Sara's first book and I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes. I'll be reading the next book.



Thank you to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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