Reviewer's Rating:
5
5.0Overall score
Auryn Hadley does it again!
Defiance By Auryn Hadley
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy
Released: August 19, 2016
Publisher: Spotted Horse Productions
Series: Rise of the Iliri, Book 3
High in the mountains of Anglia, Sal and Cyno face an impossible mission. This archaic country still has a line of succession, and it’s up to the two assassins to make sure their chosen candidate inherits the crown. That means killing the king – and the six people between him and the Marquis of Valmere. If they can manage that without getting caught, then they still have to convince the new ruler to sign an alliance.
It’s the kind of mission that will get them killed.
Sal knows why she was assigned to do this. Parliament thinks it’s a great way to remove the iliri taint from the military. Killing most of the ruling class and then convincing those left that she’s their best friend? It’s suicide! Her own country is hoping to keep their hands clean and get rid of their little iliri problem. But if it will bring an end to the continental war devastating her species, Sal is willing to try.
But Anglia is nothing like the Conglomerate of Free Citizens. They discriminate based on gender, not species. Iliri are thought to be just a myth – until she shows her face. To convince the king and his council that yes, a woman really can be a soldier, she’s going to have to make her own rules. The enemy is moving. She doesn’t have time to deal with outdated court manners.
Reviewed by Jean
Auryn Hadley does it again!
Once again Ms. Hadley captured and bound me to my ereader. I simply couldn’t put Defiance down. If some of my fellow romance readers question what I find so appealing about this SyFy/Fantasy series let me explain. While romance is not the main focus of the Rise of the Iliri series it runs a close second. Add to that the action, adventure, danger and suspense and you have a sure winner in my books.
While Bloodlust taught Sal all about the bloodlust and subsequent maast of her species and what it means to be Ilirian, Instinctual was Sal’s journey to discovering what comes most natural to a Kaisae, the matriarch of a pack. In Defiance, Sal learns what it means to not only to be defiant as a species but what it means to be defiant for others.
Sent with her deror or second mate, Jassant Cynortas or “Cyno” as his team knows him, Sal enters Anglia knowing this is just another glorified suicide mission. The CFC is looking for an ally against the Terrans and the chances for getting Anglia to sign an alliance are slim to none without the subtle elimination of those set to inherit the throne. But subtly is definitely in Sal and Jase’s wheel house when it comes to assassination.
Along the way, they stumble upon another sentient species, the grauori. You’re going to love the grauori. I know I do. The addition of Hwa and Roo to the pack adds depth. Then Sal moves on to claim a new home for the Iliri. By winning the position of Sergeant at Arms to the new King she sets a new precedence in Anglia as the first woman soldier and one that now leads its army.
Throughout this fast moving adventure Sal and Jase’s relationship continues to develop. While Sal will always love Bleac her relationship with Jase reaches new depths and understanding. By the end of the book I couldn’t wait to open the next in the series, Inseparable. If you like your Syfy/Fantasy with touch a bit of romance you’re really going to love Defiance and the Rise of the Iliri series.
♥♥♥♥♥
O Factor: Spicy
Add to your TBR on…
Auryn Hadley is known for writing deep and interesting characters. Usually strong women with brains, men who aren’t just rich jerks, and people who can be more than one thing at a time. From Science Fiction to Fantasy, with a little bit of Romance thrown in, she believes that a good story is created with interesting characters.
At a young age, she was branded a “geek” and wears the title proudly. Even now, Auryn wavers between being a hard-core gamer, intrigued by Rennaissance faires, and stuck with her nose in a good book. She’s always believed that we’re never too old to enjoy the simple things in life.
She lives in Texas, with a couple of dogs named after Star Wars characters, a midget cat, and a very tolerant husband.
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