Deception (Defiance #2)
Author: C.J. Redwine
Category: Young Adult
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
Available Now
Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander’s whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father’s death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it’s up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington’s army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.

 But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn’t long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.  In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.
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I’ve always loved reading fantasy because it’s such a complete escape from my world. It offers romance and action and suspense, and it also gives me the opportunity to immerse myself in something fresh and new. Also, I think there’s part of us that loves the clear delineation of good vs evil in fantasy and the fact that there are definitive ways to fight the evil. Who doesn’t love hot boys with swords and kick butt girls who are their equals on the battlefield?

Sadly, I am ridiculously inept at drawing maps. I do, however, use Pinterest to build story boards. And I think through each area of the world as I approach it. I explain all the pieces of it to myself (and sometimes to my critique partners) even though I know only a fraction of that will ever make it onto the page.

Yes! There’s quiet a cast of secondary characters in DECEPTION, and they are very important to the story. Quinn and Willow, the Tree People who were waiting for Rachel in the Wasteland, have a very strong story arc, as do Sylph, Thom, Nola and some others readers will get to meet for the first time.