✩🏴☠️🌊Review:
Get ready to set sail and embark upon the show-stopping sequel to “Defy the Night.”
For the first time, the reader is able to venture beyond the Kingdom of Kandala aboard the “Dawn Chaser.” Kemmerer immerses the reader in in the environment on the pirate ship by using language fit for sea life, nautical terms, and detailed imagery.
Kemmerer is also thoughtful in the worldbuilding of the Kingdom of Ostriary. Through Captain Rian Blakemore’s character, the reader learns about the political atmosphere surrounding the chain of six islands and the infighting over the throne.
Blakemore also serves as a source of tension for Tessa and Corrick’s relationship. Blakemore manipulates Tessa into seeing only the evil in Corrick, who is struggling to choose his true self over the cruel persona he has adopted for so long. With so many people influencing their perceptions of each other, Tessa and Corrick's love is put to the test overseas like never before.
Once again, the reader alternates between Tessa and Corrick’s perspectives with the addition of a new viewpoint: “The Outlaw.” The Outlaw’s point-of-view allows the reader to keep up with Kandala while Tessa and Corrick are abroad. The mystery surrounding his identity also keeps the reader on their toes and contributes to the story’s wild twists and turns.
While there are only three perspectives featured, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing side characters like Quint, King Harristan, and Rocco play larger roles in this novel. I look forward to seeing how they fit into the final book in the “Defy the Night” trilogy and how Tessa and Corrick will recover from the explosive way “Defend the Dawn” ended!
➤ 4.25 stars
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@brigidkemmererwrites
