Defy (Firstborn, #1)

Mar 28, 2012 Melody rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-nook, read-in-2012

The first thing I have to say about this book is what an AMAZING cover! I know I know, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. But, we ALL initially do it, so whatever. The cover blew me away and I honestly didn’t expect it to be better than the covers of the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy. After reading Defy, the cover felt even better because it portrayed Tate impeccably.

Now, onto the actual review.

One of my favorite things about this installment (and there are plenty) was being able to explore th...more

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May 09, 2012 Bethany Lopez rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved it! I think it took me two days to read Defy, but that is only because I had to work, tend to my children, eat, and sleep! I have read Raine's first series and eagerly awaited this trilogy to become available. I was lucky enough to get to read an arc, since I signed up to be a part of her blog tour... it killed me to have to wait almost two months to say anything about it!
Tate is a very endearing and relatable character, and Zachariah is my favorite kind of character. Strong, brooding, and...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Ashley (The Bibliophile's Corner) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was a little scared at first that I wouldn't like this book as much as I enjoyed her previous trilogy. I knew it had the same characters, but this book is focused on one of the offspring of Skye and Caleb, character from the third book in the Daughters of Saraquel trilogy.

Let me just say, I had no reason to be scared. This book is absolutely brilliant. I read it in three nights. I would have read it in one, but alas, I have to sleep for school.

Tate is a wonderful character to introduce this...more

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May 06, 2012 Krishna rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

This review was originally posted on my blog
Journey with Books

Defy is the first book I've ever read from Ms. Raine Thomas and I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised. Defy is the first book of First Born Trilogy which is a spin off series from Ms. Raine Thomas' other series which was entitled The Daughters of Saraqael.

I could say that Defy was definitely a very nice read for me. The world that Ms. Raine Thomas built in this book was pretty fascinating although at times, it co...more

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May 03, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Would I leave the protected zone around my house intentionally, not knowing what lies outside waiting to eat me? No. I would not, which is probably why I don’t have stories being written about my life. Tate is a headstrong young woman who really doesn’t like being told that she isn’t capable enough. When she decides to test herself against her parents’ wishes, she finds out how right they really were. Tate is violently thrown into the adventure she always wanted, and it will take all the skill s...more Would I leave the protected zone around my house intentionally, not knowing what lies outside waiting to eat me? No. I would not, which is probably why I don’t have stories being written about my life. Tate is a headstrong young woman who really doesn’t like being told that she isn’t capable enough. When she decides to test herself against her parents’ wishes, she finds out how right they really were. Tate is violently thrown into the adventure she always wanted, and it will take all the skill she possesses to stay alive long enough to see her family again…

The premise for Defy strikes me as very unusual. It’s clear almost instantly that this book is going to have some MAJOR world building that could get confusing. I am intrigued by all the twists I find in the summary alone, as that usually bodes well for a mysterious story. I really enjoy how I already feel like I know Tate just from the short time I meet her in the introduction; it shows me I will connect easily to her and her character.

Within the first two chapters, I confirm that I am correct about the huge background and world building that’s going to take place. It really has to when an author creates a completely new world with different people and rules. This is probably the worst thing about the book for me: the constant stream of information. I understand why it is necessary, if it is not there then I won’t understand what is happening and the information is needed to set up for the rest of the books in the series. But, it does make this first book move very slowly.

The romance is my favorite part of this book. It is sweet, and I love watching the progression from strangers into a more friendly relationship. Tate’s romance has many twists that I don’t see coming, and they make the whole plot fun and light! I also liked Tate’s relationships with her close family, especially with her twin Teige. Tate has a special bond with her family, and it makes them that much more persistent when she goes missing.

At the beginning of the book, Thomas provides a list of terms to use as reference when reading the story. They are pretty important to know. Now, on my Kindle I have no easy way to go back and look at that crucial list of words, so much of the process is touch and go. I definitely recommend reading Defy, but consider getting a paperback copy. For this type of book, it is definitely important to be able to flip back and forth to reference materials easily!! J

The Cover:

This cover is STUNNING. I really like how the girl's complexion compliments the peacock feathers in her hair. The girl’s eyes match the feathers and tie the whole cover together! I love how the feathers actually look like they are a PART of her hair :) So very pretty!

I give Defy 4 out of 5 hearts: Great Book!

review first posted on my blog: http://www.epiloguereview.blogspot.com (less)

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May 02, 2012 BookHookup rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don’t know about you but whenever an author I enjoy reading starts a new series of books I’m always fearful.
What if I don’t like them…what if they’re too different…what if the story isn’t interesting…what if…what if…what if?!?! I am very happy to say that I need not have been worried at all in this case! In Defy, Raine Thomas begins another wonderful saga filled with vivid characters, intriguing situations and enough twists and turns to keep any reader, old or new, glued to the pages.

This sto...more I don’t know about you but whenever an author I enjoy reading starts a new series of books I’m always fearful.
What if I don’t like them…what if they’re too different…what if the story isn’t interesting…what if…what if…what if?!?! I am very happy to say that I need not have been worried at all in this case! In Defy, Raine Thomas begins another wonderful saga filled with vivid characters, intriguing situations and enough twists and turns to keep any reader, old or new, glued to the pages.

This story begins 17 years after the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy left off. Our beloved characters, Amber and Gabriel, Olivia and James and Skye and Caleb, have had children of their own. And this adventure belongs to Tate. She is the daughter of Skye and Caleb and, together with her brother Tiege, has been protected most of her life. As the child of part human and part Estilorian parents, she’s different from the typical Estilorian and has led a more sheltered existence. But the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as they say and she’s got her mother’s curiosity and spunk. She yearns to step outside her boundaries and see the world she’s never seen. And this is where the adventure begins!

This time we are led out beyond the borders, into a different world of barren land and dangerous places where dragons exist and bad guys run free. As always, the imagery is crisp and vivid, putting the reader right in the middle of the action. This book is written from several points of view which adds to the richness of the storytelling.

Tate proves to be a brave and intelligent character, using the skills taught to her by her family in her attempts to undo the consequences of the decision she made…the decision to to run off into the unknown. Although this is Tate’s adventure, we meet many new characters as well. The children of the Daughters of Saraqael are more like siblings than cousins and we are drawn in by their love for one another. Along the way, Tate also meets Zachariah, an Estilorian who’s been living away from his people for many years. Her emotions and the decisions she makes baffle him but he feels compelled to protect her. Zachariah (or Sparky as Tate calls him) has a mysterious past and a grumpy disposition. But, darn…I love him anyway! Tiege is her twin brother. He has a special connection to her and a brave heart. Sophia, the child of Olivia and James, battles to take control of her own abilities even as she tries to deny herself the love she wants. And, of course, there are bad guys…Mercesti who are looking for an ancient artifact to give them more power and who are not afraid to hurt anyone who gets in their way.

Ultimately, this is a coming of age story. But not just for Tate. Many of the characters have their lives move in directions they never expected. They develop skills they didn’t know they had, handle dangers they never imagined and they build relationships that shake their very foundations. Some even learn to trust and love.

I can’t wait to see what happens next!!(less)

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May 01, 2012 Bri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: boys-boys-boys, arc, fantasy, own, ya-romance

Wow! Talk about a whirlwind of a story! This book was intense (in a good way), and all the action and plot twists had me sitting on the edge of my seat. With character perspectives changing throughout the story, there never seems to be a dull moment, and I was beyond riveted.

Initially, I was concerned about how much of this story I would understand since I have not read The Daughters of Saraqael series (which I will soon remedy). I worried for nothing! There is a nice glossary of terms and descr...more Wow! Talk about a whirlwind of a story! This book was intense (in a good way), and all the action and plot twists had me sitting on the edge of my seat. With character perspectives changing throughout the story, there never seems to be a dull moment, and I was beyond riveted.

Initially, I was concerned about how much of this story I would understand since I have not read The Daughters of Saraqael series (which I will soon remedy). I worried for nothing! There is a nice glossary of terms and descriptions of the different races in the beginning, and if there was a moment where backstory was needed, Raine summarized the past events nicely. All of the characters were new for me, but that did not prevent me from connecting to them, and I also enjoyed learning about the world and all the people in it. Essentially, nothing should stop you from reading this book!

I adored Tate. She is a free spirit and adventurer who craves to explore the unprotected areas surrounding her home. In moments of trial, she proved to be very resourceful and was able to fend for herself, which is something I always admire in a female lead. It is nice not always needing the male lead to swoop in and save the day (although there were a few moments that happened in this book- but it only made me swoon). That brings us to the male lead, Zachariah, otherwise known as Sparky, a name bestowed upon him by Tate. How could you not love a guy who lets a girl call him Sparky? Zachariah is a character shrouded in mystery, and events from the past plague him, forcing him to withdraw from society for over five decades. I liked his character from the very beginning, and learning more about him over the course of the story was a real treat. He has a tendency to be snarky, loves to overuse the word ‘bloody,’ and has a kraken as a companion, but that all just made up the amazing package (affectionately?) called Sparky. Tate is one lucky girl. My favorite parts of this story were the many interactions between Tate and Sparky, and I wish there could have been more! Their romance left me with a huge smile on my face, and I loved the chemistry between them. I hope we get to see more of these two in the next book!

Overall, this is a great read that you should not miss out on! Chocked full of action, adventure, plot twists, and romance, Defy is a book that will leave you wanting more. Raine is a talented writer, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
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Apr 26, 2012 Emily Leathers rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Emily by: http://alexiachronicles.blogspot.com/

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, read-preview

Tried reading a preview of this, couldn't get past the juvenile writing style. The word repetition isn't bad given how much the writing style didn't work for me (that's usually a huge trigger) there was just something else - something choppy - and I couldn't get into a smooth reading rhythm. Fewer periods would have helped, as would something having to do with the descriptions themselves that I can't quite put a finger on.

The trip took an eternity. She lost consciousness more than once. Each tim

...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Henrietta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first book in the Firstborn trilogy. Set in the world of the Estilorians, Defy is a story about Tate, a seventeen-year-old girl who is the first-born daughter of an Estilorian father and a half-Estilorian/ half-human mother.

Tate grows up in a protected environment with her siblings, parents, relatives and cousins. While her parents, uncles and aunties train the children to learn about defense, Tate never fully grasps the reasons behind why she and her siblings and cousins must live i...more This is the first book in the Firstborn trilogy. Set in the world of the Estilorians, Defy is a story about Tate, a seventeen-year-old girl who is the first-born daughter of an Estilorian father and a half-Estilorian/ half-human mother.

Tate grows up in a protected environment with her siblings, parents, relatives and cousins. While her parents, uncles and aunties train the children to learn about defense, Tate never fully grasps the reasons behind why she and her siblings and cousins must live in an area that is heavily protected by enchantments. Being young, stubborn and impulsive, she ventures outside of the realm of protection one day, and discovers that living away from home is actually not as easy or fun as she has once perceived.

The Firstborn trilogy is set at a time that is about eighteen years after the battle happened at the end of the Daughters of Saraqael series. Since many characters in the Daughters of Saraqael series also appear in the Firstborn trilogy, I think it would be a better experience to read the Daughters of Saraqael series before reading this book.

Tate is a character that I find memorable and adorable. She is not the easiest to like, and when you see her do things recklessly, you’d probably shake your head and scream, “what are you thinking…” Yet, she has this sense of humor that would just cheer you up and even when you know she is not behaving at her best, you’d just want to overlook her shortcoming and give her a justifiable excuse for her misbehavior.

Tate’s journey to find her way home is full of hazards and perils. As she struggles to survive, she meets Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from the Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Zachariah is physically strong, and because of his past, he has a tendency to include the word “bloody” in almost every sentence that he verbally communicates. I find him a little weird at first but as I learn more about what he has been through, I start seeing him as someone who is fiercely loyal, genuine, clever and reliable.

I really like the Estilorian world created by Raine Thomas. While there are different classes of beings living on the Estilorian plane, I never find the descriptive details confusing or overwhelming. I like that each class has their own special abilities and that the classes are meant to work together to create synergy.

With evil beings attempting to grow their power for greed and torture, Tate, Zachariah and many others must work together to hopefully outwit the evil. But this time, the evil ones are more cunning and they won’t stop… until they get what they want.

Personally, I find Defy creative, romantic and enjoyable. This is an exciting story that leaves me wanting to read more. Fans of the Daughters of Saraqael series will definitely not want to miss this remarkable continuation into the adventurous world of the Estilorians.

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This post was originally published on LeisureReads.com.

A copy of the book was provided by the author for review purposes.(less)

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May 09, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Greetings everyone! First and foremost before I proceed with my review I need to explain a couple things. So buckle up! Because we are going on a rough ride. I’m trying to assist you all so you don’t fall into the same trap I did. First, don’t be fooled by the title of this book. It claims to be the first in a brand new series by Raine Thomas, a favored author of many. Let me assure you it is not. I’d arguably say it is a continuation of Thomas’ first series, Daughters of Saraqael. I was not awa...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Anastasia & Demitra marked it as to-read

That moment when one of your favorite authors, publishes a new book.

But you don't know what to say, so you're like:

Then you remember how long you've waited for the book. So, you're like:

Then you pre-order the book, and the only thing that stands between you, and it is ... shipping & handling.

Then the delivery guy says, "Hey sweetie, where's your mom?" And, you have to "politely" inform him that you're not 11 years old...

(We'd like to apologize in advance fo

...more

That moment when one of your favorite authors, publishes a new book.

But you don't know what to say, so you're like:

Then you remember how long you've waited for the book. So, you're like:

Then you pre-order the book, and the only thing that stands between you, and it is ... shipping & handling.

Then the delivery guy says, "Hey sweetie, where's your mom?" And, you have to "politely" inform him that you're not 11 years old...

(We'd like to apologize in advance for the excessive use, in question marks, explanation marks, elipses, and commas. Thank you, and please continue reading ...)

Are we the the only one who just can't stop looking at this cover?! Get a load of it.

J ust take a couple of minutes to observe this beautiful cover. Oh my god, there is so much Cover Love. We are simultaneously thinking of a way to fit all our thoughts, about JUST the cover in one post. Can you imagine how our review is going to be? We can see it now ... the invention of a 6 star rating. On a scale of 1 to 6. 1 being not worth looking at, and 6 being Raine Thomas.

Okay, so anyway, this cover! We should keep our mouths shut, because flies might get in...
Defy's cover, is so enticing! We like the peacock feathers in her hair, it kind of gives her this wild, but calm, and nurturing look. How exotic does she look! Ooh! We don't think our hearts can take this much ache, and yearning. And, the contour of her face, kind of keeps us guessing on how her personality will be like. Sweet, sympathetic, and a bit assertive, or sassy, and impulsive. We vote for sassy, and impulsive. Don't you love strong-willed-woman characters? Words CAN NOT explain how excited we are for this book to be released. April 30th?! But it's so far away! 7 freaking hours?! Kill me now, why don't you? We WILL post a video of our reaction to the book's arrival at our houses, via Skype, we assume.
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May 24, 2012 Michelle Cornwell-Jordan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been planning in my head for days how I wanted to phrase my review; Defy was a book that I had been waiting for with fierce expectation! I will digress here for a moment… I am a HUGE Twilight fan; yes…yes…it is true. And when I have to wait for the next film installment, it is tortuous! lol. Okay, maybe a little overkill there:); but I use this as an example of my tortured apprehensive state, in waiting for the new Raine Thomas book! Alright, maybe I am being slightly dramatic, but I kid...more
I have been planning in my head for days how I wanted to phrase my review; Defy was a book that I had been waiting for with fierce expectation! I will digress here for a moment… I am a HUGE Twilight fan; yes…yes…it is true. And when I have to wait for the next film installment, it is tortuous! lol. Okay, maybe a little overkill there:); but I use this as an example of my tortured apprehensive state, in waiting for the new Raine Thomas book! Alright, maybe I am being slightly dramatic, but I kid you not when I state, I loved Ms. Thomas’s Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy and now Defy in Firstborn Trilogy, book 1
Defy, picks up approximately 18 years later, after the sisters Amber, Olivia and Skye have made their transition to the Estilorian plane, betrothed to their soul mates. Defy is the story of the Firstborn daughter of Skye and Caleb, whose name is Tate. Now, I would like to say, I was unsure how I was going to make the emotional connection to Tate…(Yes, I really went this deep in thought on the subject) I had followed the trials of Amber, Olivia and Skye; really connected with them, especially Amber and well, I wasn’t sure if there would be room for someone new. , lol. But I said “If she is Skye’s daughter, she must be okay”:)

I was not disappointed. Where the lead female characters in Daughters of Saraqael, stemmed from pain, almost tortured backgrounds; disjointed, separated, not knowing who or What THEY were, and finding the strength to move forward into their destiny. Tate, knows exactly from where she came, who she is and is surrounded by love and affection and protection of her family and community. Tate, is shown to be a regular teen; well loved, nurtured and chafing at the bit to see what is outside the well meaning, but at times constricting, boundaries of home and family.

She has been trained by her parents, aunts and uncles, and she shows great prowess, skill and fortitude, but Tate is not allowed to venture past the restrictions her parents have set. She is upset by this and attempts different avenues to see what is beyond. But Tate is unaware of a prophetic dream had by her mother Skye, of her untimely death; and thus the entire family is determined to keep her from that fate.
One day, Tate seizes the chance to slip out of her family’s sight to follow a trusted family friend and her cousin, who were training outside of the protected homestead. All seemed to be well, until Tate is captured and taken away by a huge Kragen, an Estilorian beast who is a great threat!

Tate is taken far away, and is greatly wounded, but a rogue Estilorian warrior who had been separated from Tate’s society for more than fifty years, helps her …but soon Tate is alone, newly healed, no shelter, food, family and no idea where she is, and this is the point where Tate moves away from being that young girl and sets out on the journey of survival. The book moves fluidly, and we see Tate battling the elements and surviving,; She leans on the training from her family, and as she is attempting to remain alive, a search is initiated by her twin brother Tiege, who will not believe his sister is dead. Also, throw into the mix, a Mercesti plot (really bad guys) and the stakes have now been raised. But Tate surprises herself by the fortitude and the skills she shows on her journey. Tate is also helped by Zachariah the lone warrior, who after leaving, soon discovers that there is an unexplained telepathic link between the two. Through this, he at the start begrudgingly aids Tate, but soon the two realizes that there is more to their relationship.

Defy details the journey of a young girl on the journey of becoming a great young woman defying the odds against her.
I could not believe that Ms. Thomas’s storytelling could get any better, but Defy is the proof. Well written, fluid, with major action it draws you in; and attraction between Tate and Zachariah was very intense, it literally kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the interaction between the two, the dialogue and how they understood the other. Tate’s secondary power was being able to see when someone was lying; and with Zachariah, she saw what was true regarding him, even when he had actually believed the lie about who he really was inside…

This is an incredible read that I loved, I hated when that last page arrived…

So for now, I am back in that dark cage of “waiting” not very patiently:)…for the next Firstborn Trilogy book!
Must read!

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Sep 04, 2012 Step Into Fiction rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ashley

When I started this book, there was a glossary at the beginning since this is a take off on the Daughters of the Saraqael series, so I was worried that I might be lost. The glossary is very handy if you haven't read The Daughters of the Saraqaul series, but it in no way takes away from the story. It helps a lot!! It isn't something that you have to have to understand, but I liked it a lot. With that said, OH MY GOD! I completely, totally and utterly LOVED this book! I have chills just thinking a...more

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May 05, 2012 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would first like to say I haven't read Raine Thomas's Daughters of Saraqael trilogy, and this first novel Defy, which is the Firstborn trilogy, is about the children of these daughters of Saraqael. Raine Thomas has added a glossary at the beginning of Defy for readers like me who haven’t read her novels. I found this very helpful to know who the daughters of Sarqael are, and to know that Defy is about the children of these daughters. Thomas has built an incredible world, which is called the Es...more I would first like to say I haven't read Raine Thomas's Daughters of Saraqael trilogy, and this first novel Defy, which is the Firstborn trilogy, is about the children of these daughters of Saraqael. Raine Thomas has added a glossary at the beginning of Defy for readers like me who haven’t read her novels. I found this very helpful to know who the daughters of Sarqael are, and to know that Defy is about the children of these daughters. Thomas has built an incredible world, which is called the Estilorian plane, and has a huge list of characters and is told from nine points of view. The main character is Tate, since this is Tate's story. I also would like to say Thomas gives readers excellent, in depth descriptions of this world and who the characters are. The first half of Defy is a process of getting to know this world and the characters in order to get to good stuff. But once I did, I fell in love with this fantastic world, wonderful characters, and the amazing storyline.

Tate is the firstborn daughter of Skye and Caleb, Tate will be turning eighteen in two weeks. Eighteen is the age where these children of the daughters of Saraqael will get their wings and be paired with their mates. Tate is also a twin, and her and her twin brother Tiege are total opposites. Tate is a strong-willed, stubborn girl who pretty much does what she wants. And this is how she gets herself into big trouble. She’s not supposed to go outside the protected area until she turns eighteen and gets her wings, but Tate can't wait to see the outside world. But listening to her parents has never been a strong point in Tate's life when she wants to do her own thing.

Tate soon discovers she’s in a lot of trouble outside the protection area. When a stranger named Zachariah saves her life twice, she learns she’s not as tough or as smart as she thought, and wishes she had listened to her father. Tate appoints Zachariah to be her protector and to help her get back home, but this is not what Zachariah had in mind when he saved Tate’s life. Zachariah is a loner, and he left Tate's people—the Gloresti—fifty years ago and he has no desire to return to Estilorian with her.

Tate and Zachariah’s romance is hilarious. Tate being the head-strong girl that she is, and Zachariah being the loner, and also one heck of a head-strong guy himself. Their love becomes a romance of fighting fire with fire, and it’s just as hot. Poor Zachariah doesn’t have a chance against not falling for Tate. She’s the only girl strong enough to take on Zachariah, the bad boy with all his secrets. The same is true when it comes to Tate, Zachariah is the only guy that can handle Tate.

Defy is a beautiful novel about Tate, a girl growing up and falling in love who becomes a strong and independent women. Raine Thomas is amazing at world building, while bringing us to the next generation the children of these daughters of Saraqael, the Firstborn trilogy. I can't wait to read the next editions in the Firstborn trilogy by Raine Thomas.

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Apr 14, 2012 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

MY REVIEW

My initial reaction when approaching this book was trepidation, as its a sister series to the Daughters of Saraqael, I thought maybe I would have to have read that series first. Then I saw the Glossary at the beginning of the book and thought "oh no I will never remember all these facts when reading the book" but I was pleasantly surprised as you don't really need lots of those facts retained as everything is explained in the actual book as the story progresses.
I loved all the character...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Annette M Guerriero Nishimoto rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Today's review is on Defy (Firstborn #1) by Raine Thomas

If you are a follower of my blog you know that I have read Thomas' Daughters of Saraqael series, and you know that I enjoyed each and every one them. Not knowing what to expect from Defy, I was happy to discover that I had no need to worry about anything.

Though time has obviously passed since the three sisters had become pregnant with their first children, Thomas' writing flows flawlessly into this next series. You can not help but to conti...more

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May 01, 2012 Mel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cover-love, makes-my-heart-swell, nook, 2012-releases, favorites, books-i-own, signed, paranormal, young-adult

There is no measure for the amount of love I have for the Estilorians. This world is unique, exciting, and completely entertaining! I’ve been counting down the days for the release of Defy and my patience (okay the lack thereof) was totally worth it. I bought the book, settled down in a comfy position, and prepared myself to be wowed. And boy was I ever WOWED.

The story takes off right away bringing back characters that I adore from The Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and introducing a whole bunch...more

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May 08, 2012 Becca Walters rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Raine, you better have lots of whatever magic dust you are not sharing because I may just go batty waiting for #2. It has to be magic dust for these books to be so consistently good. I love that Tate's story was a little darker and more edgy. The quality of writing does not change however which makes them a smooth easy flowing read. There is nothing worse than getting into a book only to suddenly lose it because you are trying to decipher a mangled sentence. Word to the wise, spell check only ch...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Jen (Dream Reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, reviewed

It is often said that when you love something it usually is hard for you to say why you love said thing because how can you explain perfection in just a few words, right? Well, this is how I felt about Defy. It was brilliant. It was such a breath of fresh air with it's unique blend of intensity and humour. It had mystery, intrigue, depth, romance, and an amazing cast of characters. Defy does not disappoint as it is the first book in the follow up series to the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy which...more It is often said that when you love something it usually is hard for you to say why you love said thing because how can you explain perfection in just a few words, right? Well, this is how I felt about Defy. It was brilliant. It was such a breath of fresh air with it's unique blend of intensity and humour. It had mystery, intrigue, depth, romance, and an amazing cast of characters. Defy does not disappoint as it is the first book in the follow up series to the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy which in it's own right is such an interesting and unique YA fantasy/Romance trilogy with it's introduction to all things Estilorian. Estilorian being beings with special powers who had to remove themselves from human society and who eventually became the stuff of what myth and legends are based on. In Defy we get to learn more about Estilorian society and it was beyond intriguing.

In Defy I think that Raine Thomas does a really great job at expanding the Estilorian world for the reader and it has to be said that she truly has an imagination that is out of this world. Her twists on traditional fantastical elements never cease to amaze me. The creatures she creates, the landscapes described, and the abilities/characteristics of the beings and people in this novel really are amazing and truly transport the reader to a whole new world in their mind and really what is a better testament to excellent world-building, right?

The characterization in Defy is also pretty incredible. Every character is so well developed. They are so complex that there is not one instance in which you feel like you truly know it all about a character. New things always keep coming to light and I love it when an author can persistently keep you guessing and on your toes about what really is going on underneath the surface in a character's life. It is the mark of truly good storytelling for me and this book had that in abundance and I loved it. The secondary characters in this book are all so charming and strong and determined to try to do the right thing. I fell in love with the newly introduced cast of Estilorians, too. And the main characters in this novel are a riot. Tate and Zachariah are so much fun and it is really surprising because throughout the novel they are facing danger at every corner, from beginning to end; but their personalities always remain so strong, stubborn, willful and funny and I thought it was really great to read about. To say that I liked them doesn't even begin to express the amount of love I had for these characters by the time I finished reading this book. Which leads me to the romance in this book.

Tate and Zachariah have a chemistry that is off the charts. It really is. I thought their banter was hilarious because they are just both so slick, clever, passionate and fearless and what I loved about them is that they both have incredibly strong personalities and it truly works for them because they challenge each others perceptions at every turn and it wasn't instantaneous love either. It took them a while to get to know each other and every word of it was fun. And what is really great about this book is that there are also two other big romances brewing in this book amongst the secondary characters which were also incredibly compelling, interesting, and humorous. Raine Thomas just knows how to do romance and I think she outshines herself in Defy. Tate and Zachariah especially were flawless. They just were. No other way to put it really.

Besides the really great characterization, world-building and romance. What I loved about Defy the most had to be it's exploration of emotions with it's special emphasis on what self consciousness and arrogance can do to a person's perception of self. A lot of the characters in this book including the main characters go on an incredibly journey of self discovery and battle not only physical danger but psychological danger, as well. It was really interesting to get into these characters head and to see how they would overcome these struggles that they had with themselves and when you add to that a backdrop of an incredibly scary cast of villains/dangerous landscapes and twists at every turn, you truly have yourself a very adventured filled book in every sense of the word.

My Rating: 5/5(less)

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May 06, 2012 Sana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

Defy is the first book I read about the Estilorians and it was a very intense experience. Tate is a very likable character because of her fierceness, determination and stubbornness. Estilorians have various markings on their bodies and the ones around the eyes signify a second ability.

Tate's ability is that she can detect lies. This ability played a significant part in her interactions with Zachariah which I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. Her markings make her beautiful and her blue-green ey...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Caro [The Book Rogue] rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Caro by: Jen (Dream Reads)

Shelves: 2012

While I had a lot of people jumping on that cover, I have to admit it didn't really appeal to me all that much - and it's definitively not how I imagine Tate. It looks a little over the top, no offense to the model, because the cover doesn't really look bad either, but Tate is just a lot more about being natural than this displays.
I liked how you started the story from differnt angles, adding one when it was necessary, that in the end all lead together. I think it's a very hard task to do that i...more

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May 21, 2012 Shawanda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So I think this book was an awesome spin-off. It equally balanced my need to have the original characters present and still allow me to be introduced to the new ones. So the story follows Tate, one half of the firstborn offspring of Skye and Caleb. Tate is a perfect mixture of her parents, free spirited like Skye and stubborn like Caleb. Tate gets herself in a bit of a mess when she sneaks out of the protected area. The character development is right on pace for me, some people like everything...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Julz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, ya, romance-ok-for-teens

Rating Clarification: 4.5
I loved all of the books in this saraquael series and consumed the first 3 in about 3 days. The world built by the author was unique and the characters were charming. The only reason I didn't give this a 5 star rating is because there was no concepts that lingered with me after they were finished. That being said, they are a fun, easy read and I will be snatching the next book as soon as it is published. I loved the adventure of this book and the opportunity to get to kn...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Abi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, other-world

This is a follow-up series to Daughters of Saraqael trilogy, so if you haven't read them yet, I suggest you do it. Reading the first series isn't necessary, probably recommended, the first part of Defy will be a little confusing if you haven't, it takes place around twenty years later, but it clears up and you should be able to understand clearer. There is a glossary ,at least for kindle, that helps keeps the classes organized and shows the Saraqael family tree, unfortunatly there is no who's wh...more This is a follow-up series to Daughters of Saraqael trilogy, so if you haven't read them yet, I suggest you do it. Reading the first series isn't necessary, probably recommended, the first part of Defy will be a little confusing if you haven't, it takes place around twenty years later, but it clears up and you should be able to understand clearer. There is a glossary ,at least for kindle, that helps keeps the classes organized and shows the Saraqael family tree, unfortunatly there is no who's who of all the characters, so in the middle of the book a name pops up and you know that person is important, but you can't remember exactly how he's relevant.
The POV is mostly from Tate, main protagonist, but the rest comes from other people and is relevant to the story yet at certain times I just wanted to see whats going to happen to Tate, not read about the going ons of characters that will have their own book soon, their POV's will help the coming books though annoying as they may be.
There were a lot of earth and modern sayings and phrase that didn't fit right with being in a magical land with flying and swords.
We get to see our favorite characters return and see how their existence is progressing, meet their family's, old friends.
*Spoiler* -----Ini-herit doesn't remember life in the human realm. It's kind of sad, yet it's nice to hear the unemotional and logical Ini-herit, I would have missed him if he wasn't the same, which will probably change in book 3 where he will be a main protagonist.
The best part of Raine Thomas's books, a lot of you would disagree, is the straigh foward romance. Her writing is not, for example, "I like you, but I don't want to so I'm gonna go on a date to make you jealous and you do the same thing and now we hate each other but can't live without the other but I love the other guy too."
So, other bits about Defy, the book was fast paced, I didn't get stalled during a slow part, not that there were many, the theme of the book is darker than the first series, with badder bad guys, the cover goes with the book and is not just a pretty picture that has nothing to do with the story, and I can't wait for the next book to come out, which is hopefully soon! Yay!(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Janice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Raine Thomas has created an intricate, rich world with characters you care about instantly.

Defy is a terrific coming-of-age story. Seventeen-year-old Tate defies her parents' wishes and leaves the safety of the protected Estilorian area, and ends up in a whole heap of trouble. I cried big fat tears, so have your tissues ready.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but the relationship that develops between Tate and Zachariah is beautiful and sweet and extremely funny.

It’s not only a coming-of-age sto...more Raine Thomas has created an intricate, rich world with characters you care about instantly.

Defy is a terrific coming-of-age story. Seventeen-year-old Tate defies her parents' wishes and leaves the safety of the protected Estilorian area, and ends up in a whole heap of trouble. I cried big fat tears, so have your tissues ready.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but the relationship that develops between Tate and Zachariah is beautiful and sweet and extremely funny.

It’s not only a coming-of-age story for Tate; it’s also a coming-of-age story of sorts for her dad Caleb, who realizes he needs to trust his daughter, for Corgloresti Quincy and for the Corgloresti Elder Ini-herit, who both begin to understand, and feel, human emotions, and for the delicious Zachariah, who realizes that he needs to open up to himself and others.

One of the things I loved about Defy was the relationships. The deep love these characters have for each other touched my heart. Even the relationship between Zachariah and the Kragen (dragon), Nyx, is heartwarming.

In Defy, Raine goes a little bit darker than in her previous books and really ramps up the tension. The evil Mercesti (The Dark Ones) want to get their hands on an ancient artifact, and they abduct a gifted Estilorian girl to help them find it.

I knew there would be multiple points-of-view in Defy, but I was surprised at how many there actually was, and the great thing is, they all worked. It was kind of like getting to ‘look behind the curtain’.

As well as introducing us to new characters, we get to read about the old ones. Although, Amber and Gabriel, Skye and Caleb, and Olivia and James take a backseat and allow their children to shine. There are a lot of Kynzesti (half human mothers, Estilorian fathers) offspring, which means Raine can write about the Estilorian race forever. Yay!

It's not necessary to have read the Daughter’s of Saraqael Trilogy to fully enjoy Defy, but it might help new readers familiarize themselves with the Estilorian Plane if they did. The book does include a glossary for reference, which I used a few times to keep the different Estilorian classes clear in my mind.

I can't wait for Shift, book 2 of the Firstborn Trilogy.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Annabell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I first became a BIG fan of Author Raine Thomas with her Daughter of Saraqael Trilogy, where I was introduced to the wondrous world of the Estilorians. My favorite book being Foretold, go Team Caleb and Team Skye! Upon getting news that Thomas was creating a follow up trilogy which would include the same characters I had come to love, I squealed with excitement and demanded the book as soon as I could! Defy is the first book in Thomas’s new Firstborn Trilogy and let me tell you, the book ROCKED...more I first became a BIG fan of Author Raine Thomas with her Daughter of Saraqael Trilogy, where I was introduced to the wondrous world of the Estilorians. My favorite book being Foretold, go Team Caleb and Team Skye! Upon getting news that Thomas was creating a follow up trilogy which would include the same characters I had come to love, I squealed with excitement and demanded the book as soon as I could! Defy is the first book in Thomas’s new Firstborn Trilogy and let me tell you, the book ROCKED MY SOCKS!

Tate is so much like both her parents, Caleb and Skye, which made me love her instantly. She is impulsive, far too trusting, and defiant much like Skye. She is also fiercely strong, good under pressure, and determined much like Caleb. Tate goes through a pretty tough journey through the book while attempting to find her way back home and I was impressed with how controlled she managed to remain of her emotions and temperament.

I was happy to see my favorites returning from the original trilogy: Amber and Gabriel, James and Olivia, and of course, Caleb and Skye. The Elders In-herit, Jabari, Uriel, Sebastion, and Knorbis are also back. My favorite is Ini-herit, I enjoyed his relationship with Clara Kate, who is the first born to Amber and Gabriel. It was fun to see how much In-herit was confused through Clara’s emotions and actions and how much he listened to Clara Kate and I liked how strong willed Clara is. I also enjoyed the slew of various new characters. I really liked Tiege, Tate’s twin brother. He’s so cute and loving and much calmer than his twin sister. I also was happy to read more of Quincy and loved his relationship with Sophia, first born to Olivia and James.

Zachariah was my favorite character of the entire book. He is extremely guarded, hot tempered, prideful and downright rude. He is also deadly agile, incredibly strong, and undeniably hawt! I couldn’t get to the scenes with him fast enough when I was reading. He had me cracking up and in the next sentence wanting to slap him. I so LOVED that he had a tomahawk as a weapon! I also really liked his connection with Nyx, a kragon (dragon-like creature on the Estilorian plane). I liked that they could communicate without words, just with emotions and expressions. They had such an intimate bond which was sweet and trusted each other without question. Nyx helped to show Zachariah’s more vulnerable side. Zachariah is such the anti-hero but it worked great against Tate’s optimistic and impulsivity.

I’m still Team Caleb *swoon* but Zachariah comes in at a close second ;)

The action was well done and one of my favorite scenes was when Tiege swopped in to fight against the Mercesti and took down Zachariah showing just how much like Caleb’s son he really is. The pacing doesn’t drag too much and the suspense, although at times too predictable, was built gradually as the scenes intensified. The characterization was developed with depth where readers can connect with them and relate to what they go through.

There were a few things that could use tweaking in upcoming books. Some of the dialogue sometimes sounded unlike the character who was speaking which made some of the dialogue come off choppy. There were times the pacing was a bit dragged because the story felt like it was being told too much over being shown to the reader. There was also a feeling of repetition when the same scenes where told from different characters and sometimes the details were a bit much. But for the most part, the book was well executed.

With loveable characters returning and new fun characters introduced, with action packed scenes and new budding romances, Defy is a great beginning to what seems to be a promising new trilogy!
(less)

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May 11, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour, kindle, review-on-blog

First of all, I have to say that I really love this cover! It grabbed my attention immediately. And the coolest part about it is that I totally pictured her as Tate the whole time. And I know that the whole point of having a cover model is to have her look like the character, but they don't always match up with the image I create in my head. But this one did- it was dead on. The cover just captures her essence really well.

Raine Thomas is like a master world builder. She made the coolest creatur...more First of all, I have to say that I really love this cover! It grabbed my attention immediately. And the coolest part about it is that I totally pictured her as Tate the whole time. And I know that the whole point of having a cover model is to have her look like the character, but they don't always match up with the image I create in my head. But this one did- it was dead on. The cover just captures her essence really well.

Raine Thomas is like a master world builder. She made the coolest creatures and world. I loved learning all about it. But the one mistake I made was that I didn't read the glossary before I started reading the book. As a result, I was kind of confused. There are so many new terms for the kinds of people and things that they all became kind of jumbled up for me for a while. But the good news is that this has such an easy fix. Don't be overeager like me- take the time to read the glossary of terms at the start of the book. It helps to clear everything up! Plus it is kind of like a cool little history lesson.

I really loved seeing the bond that Tate and Tiege( her twin brother) share. It was really touching to watch him go to such great lengths for her. And Tate, well she is a bit stubborn. But then again she is a teenager, and like ALL teens she thinks she knows everything. (Hey, it happens to the best of us- we have all been there). This can get her into trouble sometimes, but she is savvy and that is what I loved most about her. She uses her head, and I really appreciated that we got to see her thought process. For example, I loved her checklist of things to do in order of importance when she was first leaving the cave.

One thing I could not picture, no matter how hard I tried, was seeing everyone appearing as the same age. Everyone looked like they were 17-19, which is awesome but also a really strange concept to me. As I was reading, even though I knew all the adults and elders appeared like a teenager, I still pictured them as middle aged. It is just a hard habit to break. That would be really hard for me to give authority figured the respect they deserve if they looked to be my age. I would see everyone as my peer, which I guess in a way is very equalizing and good. But still a little strange. Don't get me wrong though, I would love to not age anymore. I would be more than happy to be frozen at 24 forever :)

Defy seems to be the start of a really promising series. I can't wait to see what Raine has in store for us next. I have her Daughters of Saraqael trilogy, which I recently learned is the sister/earlier generation series to this one (the firstborn trilogy) and now that I have gotten a taste of this awesome world, I need more! I think I will be bumping up the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy on my TBR list! (less)

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May 12, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review by OBS Staff Member Annabell

I first became a BIG fan of Author Raine Thomas with her Daughter of Saraqael Trilogy, where I was introduced to the wondrous world of the Estilorians. My favorite book being Foretold, go Team Caleb and Team Skye! Upon getting news that Thomas was creating a follow up trilogy which would include the same characters I had come to love, I squealed with excitement and demanded the book as soon as I could! Defy is the first book in Thomas’s new Firstborn Trilogy an...more Review by OBS Staff Member Annabell

I first became a BIG fan of Author Raine Thomas with her Daughter of Saraqael Trilogy, where I was introduced to the wondrous world of the Estilorians. My favorite book being Foretold, go Team Caleb and Team Skye! Upon getting news that Thomas was creating a follow up trilogy which would include the same characters I had come to love, I squealed with excitement and demanded the book as soon as I could! Defy is the first book in Thomas’s new Firstborn Trilogy and let me tell you, the book ROCKED MY SOCKS!

Tate is so much like both her parents, Caleb and Skye, which made me love her instantly. She is impulsive, far too trusting, and defiant much like Skye. She is also fiercely strong, good under pressure, and determined much like Caleb. Tate goes through a pretty tough journey through the book while attempting to find her way back home and I was impressed with how controlled she managed to remain of her emotions and temperament.

I was happy to see my favorites returning from the original trilogy: Amber and Gabriel, James and Olivia, and of course, Caleb and Skye. The Elders In-herit, Jabari, Uriel, Sebastion, and Knorbis are also back. My favorite is In-herit, I enjoyed his relationship with Clara Kate, who is the first born to Amber and Gabriel. It was fun to see how much In-herit was confused through Clara’s emotions and actions and how much he listened to Clara Kate and I liked how strong willed Clara is. I also enjoyed the slew of various new characters. I really liked Tiege, Tate’s twin brother. He’s so cute and loving and much calmer than his twin sister. I also was happy to read more of Quincy and loved his relationship with Sophia, first born to Olivia and James.

Zachariah was my favorite character of the entire book. He is extremely guarded, hot tempered, prideful and downright rude. He is also deadly agile, incredibly strong, and undeniably hawt! I couldn’t get to the scenes with him fast enough when I was reading. He had me cracking up and in the next sentence wanting to slap him. I so LOVED that he had a tomahawk as a weapon! I also really liked his connection with Nyx, a kragon (dragon-like creature on the Estilorian plane). I liked that they could communicate without words, just with emotions and expressions. They had such an intimate bond which was sweet and trusted each other without question. Nyx helped to show Zachariah’s more vulnerable side. Zachariah is such the anti-hero but it worked great against Tate’s optimistic and impulsivity.

I’m still Team Caleb *swoon* but Zachariah comes in at a close second Winking

The action was well done and one of my favorite scenes was when Tiege swopped in to fight against the Mercsti and took down Zachariah showing just how much like Caleb’s son he really is. The pacing doesn’t drag too much and the suspense, although at times too predictable, was built gradually as the scenes intensified. The characterization was developed with depth where readers can connect with them and relate to what they go through.

There were a few things that could use tweaking in upcoming books. Some of the dialogue sometimes sounded unlike the character who was speaking which made some of the dialogue come off choppy. There were times the pacing was a bit dragged because the story felt like it was being told too much over being shown to the reader. There was also a feeling of repetition when the same scenes where told from different characters and sometimes the details were a bit much. But for the most part, the book was well executed.

With loveable characters returning and new fun characters introduced, with action packed scenes and new budding romances, Defy is a great beginning to what seems to be a promising new trilogy!

http://openbooksociety.com/article/de...(less)

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Jan 06, 2013 Meghan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aaaawww. That was so cute. Not what I expected. Funny bits, romantic bits, drama, intrigue. Pretty good stuff. And I hate fight scene descriptions, but these were pretty good. Brief and to the point. Way too many pov's though. That was a major draw back. I hate it in the Cassandra Clare and Robert Jordan books and I still dislike it here. I can only tolerate 4 pov's per novel. Otherwise you just don't care enough about all the different characters to invest seriously in their journey. Tween frie...more

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May 01, 2012 Nicola rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Just last week, I read and reviewed Becoming, the first book in this author's other series. I adored it. I loved the characters, the plot, the writing and the world. So, naturally, I was very excited to get started on Defy. This book is set in the same world as the Daughters of Saraquel series but it's a separate series. There was a glossary at the start of the book to get readers up to speed on the world and the terms used within it. I really enjoyed the start of this new series and I'm glad I...more

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Defy (Firstborn #1)

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