Deception (Defiance Trilogy)
Redwine’s romantic dystopian adventure, which she began with Defiance (2012), continues at a brisk and well-managed pace. Rachel and Logan continue to share the narration as they try to salvage their city and their culture from the onslaught of warring parties and a beastly power with mythic attributes. In this episode, 19-year-old Logan, an unschooled but talented chemist and leader, and beautiful, sad Rachel confront political dangers within their small band of survivors as well as mortal danger from without. There are ready metaphors between Logan and Rachel’s world and the political shortcomings of our own, but Redwine has created such an engaging fantasy and well-developed foreground characters that readers can notice the similarities and revel in the rich world building at the same time. On top of these delights, the passion building between the two protagonists is palpable. New readers will want to finish Defiance first, but it won’t be long before they eagerly anticipate Deception’s future follow-up. Grades 8-10. --Francisca Goldsmith