SOLVED. YA Fantasy Book Series about a woman whose Father disappeared after leaving their city-fortress and she wants to leave to go look for him

[Psyche]

I read this book a few years ago, maybe around 2016-2017, however, I believe it may have been published before then. What I clearly remember about the book is that the main female character lives in a fortress city so as to keep out a creeping monster/dark presence that lives within the dark woods outside of the city. Her father leaves (I can't remember the reason why) into the outside and does not come back. The female character is left with her father's young, male apprentice to look after her (whom, at one point she had feelings for) but she is devising a plan to escape from the city to go search for her father. I think the first time she tries to escape she gets caught by the head guard or something and is thrown into prison? (That might be wrong, but I vaguely remember). I hope this is enough for someone to help me out! OH, and the female might have been red-head? (Maybe not)

[Rainbowheart]

Defiance

[Psyche]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Defiance"

Thank you so much!

[Rainbowheart]

Welcome, glad to help out!

This book has come up a lot.