Review of Defy by Raine Thomas

Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.

Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.

Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.

As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate.

Another five stars for Raine!!

I literally read this book in two days!!  I could not put it down!  I had to know what happened, and to make sure that Tate was ok.  I was scared for her!!

This is the story of Tate, who is the firstborn daughter of Skye and Caleb.  She's seventeen, and has to wait until she's eighteen until she can get her wings.  Being a typical teenager, Tate doesn't want to wait that long. She wants to fly now!

By making one fateful decision, Tate sets a motion of events she could have foreseen.  As she's trying to get home, she meets Zachariah, who she's able to connect with through her dreams.  He saves her life, after his kragon (dragon) Nyx grabs her as a gift for him.  

I love Zachariah, who Tate nicknames "Sparky".  He's stubborn, grumpy, and is determined to keep his distance from Tate as much as he can.  Which is actually very funny, because reading how he has to talk himself out of making sure she's ok, and then actually going against what he wants to do, always made me smile.  Just because he was always mad at himself for doing it.  Zachariah, had been by himself for a very long time, with only his kragon for company, and doesn't really know what to make of Tate.  She's a new type of class, called the Kynzesti who have a second power.  

He confused by Tate's emotions, and doesn't understand why she talks funny.  It is his ultimate protection of her that really impressed me.  For someone who does spend the whole book trying to convince himself Tate doesn't matter, he proves that she really does matter.  

One thing that was very apparent was the strength of the family.  Her twin, Teige, goes looking for her with two of his cousins, and knows that Tate is alive.  What they don't know is that Tate gets involved in something that almost costs her her life.  A plot that would be very bad for everyone.  There was always action going on!  I was glued to it for two days, praying Tate would be found in time.  There was so much urgency going on from everyone involved who were searching for her.  

All in all, this was a great book!  I can not wait for Shift to come out!!  Great job Raine!!