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Defector

(Variants #2)

Susanne Winnacker (Goodreads Author)

3.80 · Rating details · 945 ratings · 108 reviews

Tessa has finally made peace with her life as a Variant. She and long-time love Alec are officially a couple, and for the first time, she has everything she wants.

But the air is tense at FEA headquarters. An agent has disappeared, and rogue variant organization Abel’s Army is likely the culprit.

When Tessa is summoned for her second mission, she is unexpectedly launched int ...more

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Hardcover, 288 pages

Published June 26th 2014 by Razorbill

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· 945 ratings · 108 reviews

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Nov 16, 2013 Sarah Elizabeth rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, read-2016, as, read-with-abbie, romance, sci-fi

This was an okay story, but I did get a little bored in places. I also thought that there wasn’t enough resolution at the end.

6 out of 10 ...more

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Jun 24, 2014 Veronica Morfi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rating: 4/5

Defector is the second book in Tessa's story (and hopefully there will be a next one). This time around there is not big murder mystery for Tessa to solve, instead things take a very different turn.

Tessa is happy with her life after her first mission is over. She is back at FEA headquarters, she and Alec are finally together and she is back with her best friend Holly. But during her second mission Holly gets kidnapped and Tessa knows that they took the wrong person, because they were ...more

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Jan 31, 2014 Pat rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4, young-adult, read-2014, humans-with-powers

EDITED 07/28

This was actually better than the first book. And the ending omfg! I'm so glad I read this. Thanks to the people who convinced me! You guys rock!

~°~

Oh shit. Tessa and Alec are together. SMH. Let me NEVER READ this book. I hate Alec so much.

Edited 4/28

Okay, first of all. I'm going to give this book a chance, if I ever read a good review about this. Second, Alec will be mentioned a lot in this book. His character annoys me. It bugs me every time he says something. You can check my rev ...more

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Jun 28, 2014 B rated it really liked it

Shelves: june-2014-arc, finished-review-copy

I can't believe these books had flown under my radar for so long, because damn, they're good. Whereas Impostor could be pitched as Veronica Mars meets X-Men, Defector could be pitched as Scandal meets X-Men, and both just as awesome those pitches would imply. In Impostor, the focus was more on the plot than the characters and relationships, which I was okay with since the plot was fun and the mystery, engaging. Defector, on the other hand, has all of the aspects of the plot that made the first o I can't believe these books had flown under my radar for so long, because damn, they're good. Whereas Impostor could be pitched as Veronica Mars meets X-Men, Defector could be pitched as Scandal meets X-Men, and both just as awesome those pitches would imply. In Impostor, the focus was more on the plot than the characters and relationships, which I was okay with since the plot was fun and the mystery, engaging. Defector, on the other hand, has all of the aspects of the plot that made the first one so much fun, with added character growth and relationship development, both of which are stellar. Basically, in Defector, Susanne Winnicker took all of the things I had disliked in the first book and flipped them, and I could not be more pleased with the outcome.

I loved Tessa's character in Impostor, with her tendency to defend and stick up for herself, but I think I may love her even more so in Defector. From book one, Tessa was vocal about her not needing protection from her boyfriend, Alec, or anyone else, despite their protests. This was my favorite thing about Tessa: how she was honest with Alec and wouldn't accept any protection from him because she knew she could fare well on her own. She's not a damsel in distress and is able to fend for herself, and it shows in Defector. Tessa's character arc evolves her into her own person as she tries to discover herself and her origins, and finally make decisions on her own, which she hadn't felt she'd been able to do much under the watch of the FEA (Forces with Extraordinary Abilities). I loved seeing this particular character growth, and also loved how she was rational under circumstances other authors may have portrayed their characters distraught. The only thing with Tessa's character that I wasn't a huge fan of was that some select moments bordered on describing her as "not like other girls" without actually saying it.

BUT, the development that I am most happy (read: relieved) with is the relationship development, namely the romance. The main aspect of Impostor that kept me from loving it completely was the romance, in which I felt Alec was overprotective and, as a whole, unlikable. I liked that they had bonded over classic horror movies, as that is the way to get to my heart, but that was it. A lot of big and interesting twists are taken into play nearly halfway through the novel that put Tessa's relationships to the test, and it did so really well. To not skirt around the topic, there is something of a love triangle present in Defector. I say "something" because Tessa is only interested in one love interest at a time, but theoretically they are both there and I can see both working out in future installments, although I hope not because I have a wonderful ship now. In this new relationship, it's actually acknowledged that Tessa can protect herself and the love interest respects that; the two have more chemistry than the previous ship in Impostor, and the bonding between the two holds more depth than just watching horror films and making out. Both Tessa and her love interest try to learn more about each other's lives and understand their origins, and it was all a damn pleasant and cute development. Not to mention the love interest thought he was a wizard after seeing Harry Potter as a child due to his mutations/powers. That alone probably would have sold me onto him and the ship.

Even with all the character growth and relationship development, Susanne Winnacker still manages to weave a tight and engaging plot that is just as intense as the aforementioned Scandal meets X-Men would have you believe. The political aspects were thoroughly intriguing, and I liked how we got to see more of the world and differing points-of-view with the rebels and their cause. There are confrontations aplenty, along with action and twists and betrayal, all of which made for an extremely fun and quick read yet again. To those who haven't read these books yet: you're sincerely missing out. ...more

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Jun 12, 2016 Stephanie rated it liked it

A quick, easy read. There was a little more relationship drama than I wanted, but the love triangle wasn't as bad as I thought. I did like that we got to see more Devon, though. I thought the intrigue surrounding the truth about FEA and Abel's Army was good, but I am not at all satisfied with the conclusion. I did like the ending, but it's definitely a middle of a trilogy ending and not a series ending and apparently the author has decided not to finish the series. According to a post on her Fac ...more

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Aug 21, 2014 Kelly (Diva Booknerd) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: hachette

4½ Stars.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/08/d...
I thoroughly enjoyed Impostor, but Defector was explosive. It follows the story of Tessa, abandoned by her mother to the FEA, she's called the compound home for the past two years and has been in love with Alec almost as long. When Tessa seems to finally find her happy ever after, her world is blow apart after a mission gone terribly wrong. If her best friend being abducted by the supposed enemy isn't enough, it seems her life within the FEA has b ...more

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May 08, 2015 Maddy Lanslots rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

I actually swore aloud when I finished this book - and believe me, that does not happen often. I love how most of the characters are deepened out more in this second installment in the series, making it easier for the reader to identify with them. Since we are still seeing things from Tessa's point of view, she is easiest to relate to; but you also get to know more about Alec, Devon, and even Major. New characters are introduced and no-one can be trusted.

The tension is built up very well and rem ...more

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Sep 27, 2014 julieta rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-in-english, 2014, series

I needed to read something before Blood Of Olympus. I obviously didn't finsh it on time.
But I knew it wouldn't be as good as the previous one.
Some of my probelms with it:
The clichés: It turns out she's one the good side and then she discover her father is the leader of the bad guys. then, the good guys turn out being bad and the bad guys are good.
*rolls eyes*
The ending: They're all a very happy family again. But what happenned to Devon? We'll never know.
Alec: Too much cheese. Even though he turn ...more

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Mar 13, 2014 Mads rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015

I was not expecting that in the end. I'm okay with it, but I just wanted her to be with Devon. I wanted that since the first book and I thought that it will happen in this one, but NO:( , it didn't!
description

...more

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Oct 05, 2014 Ana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: left-me-in-awe

Okay, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!

I can't believe this. I need to process this. I am in so much shock right now!
I literally just paced around my room. I CANNOT EVEN.

I'll brb.

- - -

Okay! I'm back now. I just had to get a bag and breathe into it for 10 minutes.

Okay, not really but I am just so darn ecstatic right now! I love, love, love Impostor. It was amazing. The plot was amazing. The characters were amazing. The mystery was just AMAZING. The cliff hanger about a "enemy group" at the end was AMAZING. ...more

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Jan 05, 2014 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

From the moment I finished reading Imposter, I have been eager to find out what trouble Tessa gets herself into next. Upon beginning Defector, we see that Tessa once again finds herself thrown into and investigation with Holly and Alec as company, however things quickly start to fall apart, and Holly is taken by Abel's Army.
Determined to find Holly, Tessa questions other members of FEA, and hearing some answers she didn't expected decides to investigate further, and uncovers some secrets and lie From the moment I finished reading Imposter, I have been eager to find out what trouble Tessa gets herself into next. Upon beginning Defector, we see that Tessa once again finds herself thrown into and investigation with Holly and Alec as company, however things quickly start to fall apart, and Holly is taken by Abel's Army.
Determined to find Holly, Tessa questions other members of FEA, and hearing some answers she didn't expected decides to investigate further, and uncovers some secrets and lies about the FEA, Alec, Kate, and her family.

I did feel sorry for Tessa, more so than I usually would. Everything that she thought was her life now, is a lie. Things that she thought were true for the past few years were just a cover up, to keep the truth hidden from her, even the relationships she thought she had with others weren't real, just another facade that was put into place. Yes she made some rash decisions about what she wanted to do next, but I genuinely do believe that they were for the best, even though they do lead to a whole lot of trouble along the way.

Defector is just as gripping as Imposter was, and although there isn't much investigation work going on as part of the FEA, Tessa does have her own motives for the work she does. Devon is her partner of choice, and it took me a while to remember who he actually was, but the more time they spent together the more the pieces fell into place and I had my answers. Defector takes this duo on a journey that isn't exactly easy or safe but definitely lets us see their abilities in action.

A lot of information was uncovered throughout Defector, and some of it I did not see coming, I was just as shocked as Tessa was, but like her, I also needed to find out the real details and not what was written on a piece of paper.

After finishing Defector I hope that what Tessa thinks is right for her, is the right answer, that she hasn't made her situation worse for herself. I hope that the answers she craved, and the truth she sought after, will all be revealed.....and I really hope we get another book to find out these answers ourselves. ...more

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Dec 26, 2014 Once rated it really liked it

Defector picked up right where Impostor left off. And, Impostor's ending did leave me super anxious for Defector, so I was excited to jump right back in to the Variants world. Where Impostor focused more on the story, Defector continued with plot importance, but also held its characters and relationships high up too. I loved Tessa more in this book, as well. She felt more mature this time around, and that has to do with her development which has been brilliant thus far. I love that she's her own ...more

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Nov 11, 2016 Carmel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: youngadult, teen, paranormal, family, consequences

Susanne Winnacker is an excellent writer. She conveys the characters' emotions well, provides anticipation and makes you want to read more. Although this book wrapped up nicely, I hope she'll write another book or two to tell readers what happened with certain characters. I know there's still more conflict between the FEA and Abel's Army too. ...more

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Sep 06, 2015 Maria rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 30, 2013 Alexandra added it

I can't wait for this one! VARIANTS #2 NOW HAS A TITLE & COVER! Check it out over at: http://sleepsontables.blogspot.com/20... ...more

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Apr 06, 2014 Carie rated it liked it

Shelves: waiting-for-a-series-ending

Hmm… Probably 3.5. I really liked this book up to the point where it started to annoy me :( I was irritated by quite a bit as the story progressed--especially in the latter third or so of the book. So much so that I started paging ahead, which I HATE doing, and which only bugged me more and led to my dragging my feet about finishing the book :( SO sad--especially since I actually really liked the first book in the series and I thought this one was VERY promising at the beginning :(

One major thin Hmm… Probably 3.5. I really liked this book up to the point where it started to annoy me :( I was irritated by quite a bit as the story progressed--especially in the latter third or so of the book. So much so that I started paging ahead, which I HATE doing, and which only bugged me more and led to my dragging my feet about finishing the book :( SO sad--especially since I actually really liked the first book in the series and I thought this one was VERY promising at the beginning :(

One major thing that irritated me was the romance. Even though I was pretty wary of him in the last book, I hate to admit that I actually felt kind of sorry for Alec in this one (view spoiler)! And, though I do LOVE Devon, there are problems with him, too :( Even though Tessa was attracted to him in the last book, he thought she was his sister, so I doubt he was feeling very romantic toward her then and (view spoiler) :( BUT, it's probably all a moot point now anyway, since (view spoiler)! How sad and pathetic!! All I can hope is that (view spoiler) :( The ending just INFURIATED me--stupid cliffhangers!!

Another thing I HATED was that Tessa wasn't smarter after (view spoiler) and that she hardly ever used her Variation afterwards--how dumb was that?!! She could have at least used it to (view spoiler) or something clever!! Just bugged me that she wouldn't have used her brain more and I really loved the use of her ability in the first book--it was SO cool! I missed it in this one—especially in the latter part of the book :( Beyond stupid that she didn't think to use it more! So many missed opportunities :(

And I have to say that I am SO SICK of reading books about (view spoiler)!! I have read SO MANY in the last year utilizing this plot device and it isn't one I like much anyway--it just makes me sick and sad and it infuriates me, especially when (view spoiler) :(

But, despite all of my complaints, this was an exciting, largely unpredictable book and the “who can she trust?” aspects really added to the suspense and intensity of the story. I have to say that I TOTALLY called it on my predictions about (view spoiler) in my review of Impostor, but a lot of other things were harder to call and really surprised me :) And, WOW, there were some incredibly nail-biting moments in this book which had me on the edge of my seat! And, the ending was CRAZY! I’m anxious to see where the story goes from here. I can only hope that somehow (view spoiler)!! A few predictions: (view spoiler). I wish I didn’t have to wait so long to find out if I’m right :(

One last thing: be warned that this book does have a little R-rated language, but no sexual content beyond a little tame making out. ...more

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Jun 06, 2017 Miss Mara rated it it was ok

Shelves: plot-twists, daydream-world, mc-has-powers, 2-star, dystopian

2.5 stars

It started out quite slow, but after the pace quickened, the book was very riveting and action packed. However, the ending was a major cliffhanger, and if there are no more books in the series, I would have to say the ending would be an extremely disappointing conclusion to the series. I'm afraid I doubt there will be another book, since it's already been three years since the release of this one, but who knows? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I would bump up my rating to 3.5 stars if there's another book in ...more

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Jul 18, 2018 Rebecca McAlees rated it it was amazing

This book was amazing, just like the first book, imposter. The plot was great and I’d already fallen in love with the characters from the first book so this revived my love for them. Trust seems to be the main theme of this book and specifically who to trust. This makes the book more thrilling and unpredictable. The only thing that I don’t like is that there is not a third book. The ending to this book needs to be resolved, so I desperately hope that Susanne is writing a third book in this serie ...more

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Aug 14, 2018 Fiona rated it it was ok

It was a 3, but it became a 2 when I realized that that's where the author ended the series.

Very transparent and immature writing in general. And this was obviously not meant to be the final book in the series. It feels similar to a TV show getting unexpectedly cancelled.. Very wrong of the author to end the series halfway and decide to retire from YA books.. ...more

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Jun 08, 2017 THKushan rated it really liked it

This book is a bit odd. I randomly found this book at my school library so I picked it up and grabbed it. I needed inspiration for a sequal to a book im writing, but so far, this book is not helping me with that.

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Jul 30, 2017 A.K. rated it really liked it

The ending needed way more detail

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May 16, 2018 Lynette rated it it was amazing

As good as the first book! In this book, the plot thickens even more. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, as it was very abrupt, but I'm hoping there will be a third book! ...more

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Jul 25, 2019 Mariah Garcia rated it really liked it

I loved the first book in the series and this one but I wish there was more books in this series.

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Sep 07, 2019 Beth Anderson rated it liked it

the first book was amazing. this book was great too but what was that ending. How was it just left like that?????

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May 19, 2020 Georgia rated it really liked it

Okay so I’ve just finished this book to find out there is no conclusion. Guys I need a third book, I need to know what happens! There’s just so many loose ends that I’m now losing my mind

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Aug 24, 2020 Elouise rated it it was ok

The ending! I feel betrayed. Not what I expected in a very bad way.

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Jul 13, 2014 Amanda G. (Nellie and Co. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Sometimes it's difficult to know when to request and read a sequel to a book you weren't that impressed with, and sometimes, those decisions can result in a good action, or a bad action - Defector is the sequel to Imposter and Imposter really didn't impress me an awful lot, yet my decision to continue with the series and consider it's concept was rewarded, and while it may not have been mind-blowing, it definitely was an improvement.

Unlike with Imposter, I found that my experience when reading D Sometimes it's difficult to know when to request and read a sequel to a book you weren't that impressed with, and sometimes, those decisions can result in a good action, or a bad action - Defector is the sequel to Imposter and Imposter really didn't impress me an awful lot, yet my decision to continue with the series and consider it's concept was rewarded, and while it may not have been mind-blowing, it definitely was an improvement.

Unlike with Imposter, I found that my experience when reading Defector was much more positive. I wasn't tempted to give myself a specific amount of pages to read and then dismissing it for the night, in fact, it proved to be one of the quickest books I've read for the pages it contains and this isn't just down to how I've developed as a reader, it was down to the pacing, the action and the actual romance that didn't have me feeling bogged down or tempted to run for the hills. While the first novel focuses more on Tessa's growth as a person and confidence in herself, the second installment focuses much more on her past and her growing need for the truth, not to mention her want to prove that she's worth so much more than others believe. Her character development from the end of Imposter to the end of Defector was intense and really quite noticeable and while I may not have agreed with everything she did during the novel, I did find myself much more connected, easier to relate to and ultimately, enjoyable to read about.

The biggest issue I had with Imposter was the romance, or, as I worded it - 'a teenage girl moping over a crush she had on a close friend of hers' that was 'icky, and quite frankly, boring' yet thankfully, this was quickly dismissed and taken out of the plot entirely. I know what you're thinking, how can they created a romance at the end book one and destroy it less than a third into book two? Well, let me tell you, with plot twists and secrets my friends, and thank the lord Winnacker used these twists and turns, because it was quite possible the best thing she could have done in this novel. Alec was a frustrating character and influenced Tessa too much, not only in her decisions, but in her actions and her beliefs, yet when this was taken away, Tessa was centre stage, calling the shots, showcasing her skills, her bravery and most of all, exactly how strong, independent and capable she is and I really enjoyed this new feature about her - it enlargened her character and created faith in a series that I had almost dismissed continuing with forever. What I did enjoy about the romance 'feature' was how Winnacker created a friend to almost romance in Defector between Tessa and a fellow character I found myself extremely attached to in Imposter. The slow burn was perfect, there emotions were honesty and raw, yet completed understandable; what they'd been through, together and next to one another was a strange concept, yet their romance was entirely believable and I couldn't fault how much I dedicated to wanting them to win out in the end.

Defector wasn't all singing all dancing through, it still had it's issues. There were definite moments in the novel when the pacing was off and slow, or scenes that could have been developed and explored more, like Tessa's past with her mother and her relationship with her, or her growing need to know more about herself, where she comes from and what she comes from, there's features could have been so much better, yet I can't say I didn't enjoy what was explored. I also expected more conflict between Abel's Army and the FEA over some of Tessa's decisions, yet I didn't feel them as much as I would have liked and there was just something about the overall plot that didn't sit right with me that in turn, became more apparent during the last few scenes of the novel. Tessa's decision, as the synopsis so rightly says, does take a turn and really, her decisions took me by surprise, yet not quite breathless.

Defector, for fans of Imposters mystery side, might not be impressed with the direction the series takes in this installment, and while I would consider myself a fan of the mystery in the first novel, Tessa's development throughout, the learnings of her past and her capabilities and more on her family and the romance really won out for me. It definitely isn't an amazing sequel, but it's given me the temptation, especially that final page or two, to continue and see this series through the end, which I can definitely confess to never thinking I'd do after Imposter.

3.5 Stars. ...more

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Jun 29, 2014 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series-read-in-full, finishedreviewcopy

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.

When Defector showed up unsolicited, I was honestly kind of eh. Like, I read one Susanne Winnacker book and it was fine, but didn’t put a strong need in me to read another, and then a book two shows up. Finally, I managed to get book one and, shockingly, I liked it. I say shockingly because I’m always really surprised when I like a thing I didn’t expect to. Then Defector is even a bit better than Impostor. Actual rating: 3.5 stars

For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.

When Defector showed up unsolicited, I was honestly kind of eh. Like, I read one Susanne Winnacker book and it was fine, but didn’t put a strong need in me to read another, and then a book two shows up. Finally, I managed to get book one and, shockingly, I liked it. I say shockingly because I’m always really surprised when I like a thing I didn’t expect to. Then Defector is even a bit better than Impostor. I can’t say that the Variants series is incredible or mind-blowing, but I think it’s solid, thrilling and super fun. These are great fast-paced reads.

One of the things I actually liked about Impostor was undone in the sequel. However, I actually like the way it was done. In my Impostor review, I noted how refreshing it was for the government facility to not be completely evil. Unsurprisingly, since the title is Defector, in the start of this one, Tessa learns some things that make her question the FEA. It’s a predictable change, really, but I do like that there’s a whole book devoted to her life before she realizes that her life with the FEA isn’t quite as idyllic as she thought it was. Plus, it’s hard to be too angry when I had advance warning that was coming.

The reason I actually like the way it was handled is because of how unclear things are. Defector is a bit like Impostor in the sense that things manage to be predictable but also kind of not? That makes very little sense and I apologize. In Impostor, I couldn’t tell who had committed the murders because Madison was surrounded by so many creeps. In this case, I honestly cannot tell for sure whether I should be rooting for the government or the rebels. I sort of suspect the answer might be neither, but I really don’t know. I think it’s really convincingly done, since Tessa really doesn’t know that herself. She’s just a teen girl who knew basically nothing about being a variant during her shitty childhood, spent a couple of years getting fed government lines, and then is trying to find the truth.

On top of that, knowing who to trust is really impossible, because so many people can manipulate emotions or memories or change their appearances. How do you know what’s real and what’s fake? Tessa isn’t the smartest heroine out there by any means, but she’s also not TSTL. She’s trying really hard to make good choices in a really confusing world. The only exception is when it took her waaaay to long to consider that the vehicle they stole from the FEA might have a tracker. No shit.

The romance takes a turn for the better in Defector. Since I can’t talk about this without spoilers, I’m going into the spoiler tags. I personally knew ahead of time and it didn’t detract from my experience, so if you’re curious feel free. (view spoiler)

Winnacker also does a better job striking for emotional resonances in Defector, I think. It’s still not an emotional read for me, but I think there are less moments where I’m TOLD about Tessa’s feelings and more showing. The plot line with her mother is surprisingly tactful. Tessa’s mother has not been a good mother to her, but I like that she’s not outright condemned when that would really have been so easy.

Defector continues the fun of Impostor and improves on some of the weak points. The writing in this series isn’t the strongest and I’d love to see further improvement of characterization, but I’m most certainly on board for the next book ...more

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Nov 13, 2013 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, 2014

This is the sequel to Impostor, which I enjoyed, and picked up immediately where that book left off. Tessa is a Variant - a person with some extraordinary ability, in her case the ability to change into anyone else if she touches them to get their DNA - and is in training to work for the FEA, a secret government branch comprised of Variants fighting Variant problems. On a mission, her best friend is kidnapped and Tessa realizes that this might be a part of the FEA vs. Abel's Army war that's been This is the sequel to Impostor, which I enjoyed, and picked up immediately where that book left off. Tessa is a Variant - a person with some extraordinary ability, in her case the ability to change into anyone else if she touches them to get their DNA - and is in training to work for the FEA, a secret government branch comprised of Variants fighting Variant problems. On a mission, her best friend is kidnapped and Tessa realizes that this might be a part of the FEA vs. Abel's Army war that's been brewing for quite some time, Abel's Army being comprised of Variants fighting the FEA. Unsure whether her best friend will be returned if she doesn't search herself and unsure who to trust, Tessa goes on the run with a fellow Variant and decides she needs to start at the beginning, finding out what secrets her own parents might have kept from her.

This book seemed to start almost in a clunky fashion, with the plot going from point A to point B, getting everything set up... and then, when the action started happening, it seemed to get more complex and exciting instead of simply moving along out of necessity. I think it was just a rough start in comparison to the rest of it.

I loved the mystery in here and was constantly unsure who to trust and who to be afraid of. The author did a nice job making everything and everyone seem questionable, and I liked the various secrets that were revealed throughout. There was just enough mystery and action in each chapter to keep me quickly turning the pages, needing to know what would happen next. Once the plot picked up, I was hooked and immediately remembered why I'd liked the first book so much. Tessa going on the run made sense, as did her decisions along the way, so it was easy to root for her, especially since I was just as unsure as she was about what to do and who to believe.

I don't remember all the details about the first book, only the main plot, but the author gave enough backstory and reminders along the way to make me remember what had happened previously. I don't think reading the first book would be a requirement before diving into this one, but why wouldn't you want to start at the beginning?!?

This reminded me, in a way, of Pivot Point by Kasie West, since that's also about a group of people with abilities, but the feel to that book and this were completely different - this one was more about action and thrills along the way - although both are great.

My only real complaint about this book is that I'm not sure if this is a two-part series or if there will be future book; I'm hoping it's the latter because the ending in here would be VERY dissatisfying to me otherwise! I did like the ending.... but it left me wanting answers and needing to know what happens next.
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Feb 01, 2015 Ally rated it really liked it

So Defector is the sequel of Imposter of the Variant Trilogy/Series. Let me tell you that the ending of this book leaves off on a cliffhanger. It isn't a big cliffhanger like The Mark of Athena. On the scale of a standalone's (practically nonexistent) cliffhanger to The Mark of Athena's cliffhanger, I'm going to say that this one is probably something like Cress's cliffhanger. Cress. From Marissa Meyer's series.

Okay. Obviously not everyone speaks books, so I will have to spell things out a bit m So Defector is the sequel of Imposter of the Variant Trilogy/Series. Let me tell you that the ending of this book leaves off on a cliffhanger. It isn't a big cliffhanger like The Mark of Athena. On the scale of a standalone's (practically nonexistent) cliffhanger to The Mark of Athena's cliffhanger, I'm going to say that this one is probably something like Cress's cliffhanger. Cress. From Marissa Meyer's series.

Okay. Obviously not everyone speaks books, so I will have to spell things out a bit more. The ending leaves off with the reader (that is me) wanting more. My recommendation for a reader who hasn't read this book yet to not read Defector. Until the sequel of Defector (which will hopefully be the ending of this series) comes out. And who knows when that book might come out? (And today's date is February, 4, 2015).

Okay. Let's get to the best parts of this book.

Defector is a solid book. There is a goal. There is a conflict, an obstacle. And there is two dividing sides with different versions of the truth. I find it all awesome to try and find the real truth. You never know which side is really lying until you get to the end. And that is why I mentioned the ending in the first two paragraphs of this review. Because it will end in a cliffhanger, and you'll be like... "What? What is this?"

So yes. It is awesome and amazing.

I think this sequel meets my expectations. It meets my expectations, but it doesn't raise the bar for the next book. If I had to choose a favorite between this and Imposter, I will have trouble. Both of them are great books, but they aren't... standing out very much. Or outshining the other? Yes. Outshining the other.

Tessa's faith in the FEA is challenged. She is shaken to the core, and she finds truths in lies, lies in what seems to be truths. She doesn't know where to turn, and she struggles to find the right thing. She knows that her friends at the FEA can't be trusted and she isn't sure if Abel's Army could be trusted either. It gets really complicated, and I find myself thinking that the FEA is a parent and Abel's Army is that absent father (or mother).

(Yes. Somehow I managed to turn this into some parallels between two organizations in a fictional book into a real-life battle for the child. And the child is basically Tessa, if you think about it).

Overall, I think Defector is a solid book. It is great. It entertains. And it is exactly like the X-Mens and Shatter Me series.

Rating: Four out of Five

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About Susanne Winnacker

Susanne Winnacker

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Susanne Winnacker studied law before she became a full-time writer. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals.

Her YA thriller IMPOSTOR will be published on May 28, 2013. It has been optioned for TV by Warner Brothers!
I don't read messages on Goodreads. If you want to contact me, please send me an email to this address: books(at)susannewinnacker(dot)com
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