Ignite by @SaraBLarson Review & Giveaway

Ignite by Sara B. Larson
(Defy, #2)
Release Date: December 30, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 304 pages
Rating:

Murder, kidnapping, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa continues to harbor a secret love for the newly crowned King Damian, yet she remains by his side as his guard and ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people. However, when a new threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on the once friendly nation of Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. Once again the fate of her country hangs in the balance. Will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

One winner (US only) will get the chance to own an ARC of Ignite and because this is a sequel, I'd really prefer if the winner has already read or they own Defy. I'd really love this book going to someone who I know is as excited for it as I was because of how much they enjoyed the first book. You have until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, December 21, 2014 to enter. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have NOT read Defy please read with caution. There are some spoilers that were unavoidable. Proceed with caution . . .

I'm going to be honest. I read Ignite in less than a day and I loved it, I really did but while I was reading, I was having trouble remembering a lot of the first book. This is a really weird thing for me for two reasons. One, I really loved Defy so how can I not remember what happened - like in more detail? Two, usually if I don't remember details going in to a sequel, they start to come back in bits and pieces as I read. They did, to some degree but I really felt like there were more things in Defy that didn't play out in Ignite? I can't dive in to details without giving things away.

Alexa is just as awesome as she was in the first book but now she doesn't have to hide her identity. Everyone knows she's a girl and they treat her differently because of it. She's also a girl whose the king's guard with a pretty scarred up face. She's a hero but yet she's not being treated as one or looked at as one. It's weird because she saved this kingdom and yet no one seems to really appreciate her sacrifice. Not that she lets that slow her down.

Damian is definitely more enjoyable this time around. I do remember I leaned more toward Rylan's side during the first book but sadly, Rylan wasn't in this book enough for me. I loved every scene he was in but Damian is a fantastic guy. He's a brilliant actor, as we've learned from reading Defy but let me tell you, you'll see a lot more of his acting in this book.

The villains in this book, they'll make you cringe and make your blood boil so hot with anger that you may be tempted to throw your book. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and imaging doing some intensive bodily harm to them and you'll feel much better, I promise. It worked for me. There were scenes that had your eyes skipping to the end of the next page because it was too tense to not know what happens. I tell myself time and time again not to do that but I swear, my eyes have a mind of their own because they keep doing it . . . scene after scene after scene after . . . you get the point.

I really enjoyed this follow up and I'm excited for more (there will be more, right?!) but I'm not sure I was involved in this book as I was the first book. I finished it quickly and I enjoyed the characters but I just didn't feel like I was in the adventure with them as much as I did in the first book. I truly felt like I was there with them and maybe because it didn't take place all inside the kingdom but that doesn't mean I didn't love it, because I really did.

Thank you so much to Scholastic for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.