Defy

I saw this book on the newly arrived list for the library and it looked like a book I might enjoy.  It has the added bonus of being written by a Mormon!  Defy is written by Sara Larson and is a nice, young adult fantasy novel.  Do you remember reading Alanna by Tamora Pierce?  I remember reading (and rereading) that when I was about ten or so and I loved it.  A "classic" story about a set of boy and girl twins trading places so the boy could go study and the girl could be a warrior.  Now that's a good story.  Defy is a similar fantastical tale except that the girl twin becomes a boy twin (to escape a bitter fate) and they both become warriors in their kingdom together. 

As you read Defy you will follow the girl twin as she struggles to find her place in the world.  Will she be discovered?  Will she survive?  Will she live up to her reputation?  Will she save the entire world as we know it?  Adventure, sword fights, arrows, romance...for those of you love a good love triangle, that's here too.  Watch out though, this novel contains some grim tales of societal woe and some violence.  It is, after all, a story about overthrowing the current despotic king so there has to be some tyrannical elements.  It is also a stand alone novel so you don't have to worry about getting sucked into yet another series.