Book Shelf: Defiance (Strange Angels #4) by Lilith Saintcrow

The heart-stopping fourth novel in New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels series.

Now that sixteen-year-old Dru's worst fears have come true and Sergej has kidnapped her best friend Graves, she'll have to go on a suicidal rescue mission to bring him back in one piece. That is, if she can put all of Christophe's training to good use, defeat her mother's traitor, Anna, once and for all, and manage to survive another day . .

Blurb thanks to Goodreads....


Review: (Warning Spoilers)

Hmmm, what to say, what to say..... First off, I loved it, and second....I hated it. Well, not really. I didn’t actually hate it, but I was frustrated by it and excited and shocked and angry and well, you get my point. It was both everything I wanted and everything I didn’t want all rolled into one.

I must admit though that I was a tad disappointed that it took so long to really get into the storyline. Considering how the last book ended, I expected things to pick up exactly where it left off, but Dru actually didn’t get to really looking and searching for Graves until about 3 quarters through. While I didn’t necessarily dislike this, I still would have preferred things to have been a bit faster paced and more centred on Dru finding Graves from the beginning. This series is very descriptive and tends to have a slower pace than a lot of other books I’ve read, and while that’s not usually my sort of thing, for some reason (I can’t say why) I’m actually not bothered by this. I enjoy seeing this evolve slowly for the most part, and when the exciting and important moments happen, I do actually enjoy them and appreciate them a bit more.

I love Dru, simple as that! I find her to be one of the best heroines that I’ve ever come across! There’s nothing about her that really stands out, and while she does tend to make stupid decisions sometimes, I still love her regardless. It’s hard to really explain why I feel this way....She’s such a good, realistic character and every decision she makes seems plausible to me, and yet there’s something about her that just makes me unable to dislike her, even when I want to strangle her. When she does make the wrong choice, whether it is an action she really hasn’t thought through, or believing someone when she shouldn’t, it’s impossible for me to hold it against her as she always has good intentions. It’s often because she is trying to do the right thing or for someone. Granted, even though I love her, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t want to jump into this book and strangle her when she happened to question a certain blond haired, blue eyed djamphir that I love sooooo much!

I couldn’t believe that Dru actually believed that Christophe could have done what Leon had led her to believe he’d done. Perhaps I’m a bit biased as I’m totally Team Christophe, but I never once thought he’d betrayed Dru. Yes, he keeps things from her, yes he occasionally bends the truth....but he does it because he cares (I think loves is the better word, but I’m holding off for now) for her and wants to protect her. I don’t think he’d ever do anything cruel simply to get Graves out of her life; he wouldn’t want to hurt her in any way. That being said, while I don’t doubt Christophe, I also don’t doubt for a second that he wouldn’t do anything...and I do mean anything to protect her. I think he’d risk anything and anyone, including himself, Graves and every single person within the schola, to protect Dru and make sure she’s not harmed. The way he feels about her, the way he cares so deeply, she means more to him than anything and there’s nothing he’d let stand in his way to protect her.

And it’s because of this that I just can’t help but think that Dru is making a mistake questioning Christophe or even considering being with Graves. Yes, I love the guy, but Graves and Dru just don’t have what Christophe and Dru do. They’re great friends, and under different circumstances there could have been something, but I think what they have is too safe, too boring. I love the moments between Dru and Christophe. They have such great chemistry and there’s a spark between them that you just can’t deny. There’s no denying that they have something; something electric, which I think is real. Dru may have some kind of feelings for Graves, but it’s Christophe with whom she has a unspeakable connection and if she doesn’t admit that to herself soon, and I mean really, really admit it, not just think it and consider it, not to mention end up with him in the last book, I’m going to riot!

It was sooo great to see Ash change back in this book. I thought it was so cute how he acted. I think there are a few screws loose upstairs for that boy thanks to everything Sergej has done to him, but he’s a real sweetie, in a strange, odd way. Gotta love how protective he is of Dru and how he is on her side no matter what--it’s adorable. I actually felt a tiny bit bad for Anna in this book. Who’d have thunk it? In the last book I wanted her gone, gone, gone, but in this book she actually stepped up and did something good for a change. Perhaps there is some redeeming her--if she survives that is. I really want to know what’s going to happen next, now that Dru, Graves and Ash are on the run and now that Dru has bloomed. She’ll never be the same now and I wonder if being a fully bloomed svetocha will change her. She’s certainly beginning to step up a bit and is now more confident, and I look forward to seeing how she handles things now.

I can’t wait for the next book! I’m heart-broken that it’s the last, but I’m still dying to discover how this series ends. Dru better, better end up with Christophe. I need to see her apologize to him and watch them sail of into the sunset together. Hey, a girl can hope right?

Bring. On. The. Next. Book.....Like. Yesterday!

Rating: **** stars
Recommend: Yes!
Did I Buy, Borrow or is it an ARC: Bought
Recommend Buy or Borrow: Buy
Ebook or Actual Book: Actual Book
Cover: Love it.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes!