Deception : a defiance novel

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A rich postapocalyptic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Graceling and Tamora Pierce, this sequel to C. J. Redwine's Defiance continues the story of warrior Rachel Adams and her love, Logan McEntire. With their city-state ravaged, their lives threatened by rival armies, and a band of survivors looking to them for leadership--Rachel and Logan must work to forge a new future for them all.

Abandoning the ruins of their home to take their chances in the Wasteland, the group soon realizes their problems have only begun: an unknown killer --possibly inside their ranks--has begun picking off the survivors one by one. And Rachel and Logan must question whether the price of freedom may be too great--and whether they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

Redwine's romantic dystopian adventure, which she began with Defiance (2012), continues at a brisk and well-managed pace. Rachel and Logan continue to share the narration as they try to salvage their city and their culture from the onslaught of warring parties and a beastly power with mythic attributes. In this episode, 19-year-old Logan, an unschooled but talented chemist and leader, and beautiful, sad Rachel confront political dangers within their small band of survivors as well as mortal danger from without. There are ready metaphors between Logan and Rachel's world and the political shortcomings of our own, but Redwine has created such an engaging fantasy and well-developed foreground characters that readers can notice the similarities and revel in the rich world building at the same time. On top of these delights, the passion building between the two protagonists is palpable. New readers will want to finish Defiance first, but it won't be long before they eagerly anticipate Deception's future follow-up.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2010 Booklist

Horn Book Review

A post-apocalyptic landscape, a huge underground monster, corrupt adults, a murderer in their ranks--Rachel and her beloved, Logan (Defiance), have the odds stacked against them. Rachel's fierce determination, so powerful in some scenes, mysteriously evaporates when convenient, an exasperating writing choice. Even so, the cool, subtle hints of the world before and the magnificently described Wasteland save the day. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Just a scant 157 residents of Baalboden remain after the devastation wrought by the dragonlike Cursed One at the end of series opener Defiance (2012). Reluctant 19-year-old leader Logan knows they will soon be beset: by the leader of city-state Rowansmark, whose prized piece of stolen, Cursed Onecontrolling tech Logan holds, or by the ousted Commander of Baalboden, bent on revenge--or both. Sure enough, the Commander comes knocking, and they all go fleeing in an unlikely exodus that takes them into the Wasteland. Logan's kick-ass lover, Rachel, with the help of Tree People Willow and Quinn (ersatz Native Americans in this bizarre, post-apocalyptic very-near-future), conducts weapons training along the way. But who is leaving creepy notes and murdering refugees as they go? It must--gasp--be someone among them. Logan frets, and Rachel fights grief, guilt and PTSD; only in each other's arms can they temporarily forget their current miseries. The plot trudges along with the refugees, narration shared between Rachel's and Logan's indistinguishable first-person, present-tense voices. The murder mystery fails to generate enough tension to distract readers from the slipshod worldbuilding (not a whit improved over the opener), but it does provide some opportunity for extra grieving and hand-wringing. Revelations discovered in their hoped-for haven of Lankenshire feel anticlimactic, chucked in to provoke enough angst to fuel the third book. Only the truly devoted will feel like joining the slog. (Dystopian romance. 13 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.