Book Synopsis
Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.
Author Bio
C.J. Redwine loves stilettos, lemon bars, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She lives in Nashville with her husband, four kids, two cats, and one long-suffering dog. To learn more about C.J., visit her website. Also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Would you tell us a little about yourself and how you became a writer?
I’ve been writing stories since it dawned on me in second grade that someone’s job was to make stuff up and write it down. I didn’t seriously pursue publication until I was 30, though, because it took a cancer diagnosis to make me realize that life is too short to wait for our dreams to come to us.
Defiance is a fantasy with sci-fi and dystopian elements. Where did you find this world and what inspired you to write about it?
I’d had the idea of a Leviathon-like creature living underground for a while. One day, I saw a picture of a fortress that reminded me of a city-state and the world for Defiance was born.
What first drew me to your book (after the gorgeous cover) is Rachel. Where on Earth (or elsewhere) did you come up with this fiery heroine and her world?
My characters arrive in my head already fully formed. I just get the fun job of learning who they are. Rachel is a product of her upbringing and her environment, but the inner strength she has caused her to bend a different way under tyranny than most of the other citizens in her city-state bent. I enjoyed writing the story of a girl who is fierce and strong but who breaks inside and has to figure out how to put those pieces back together again.
Defiance was auctioned as part of a trilogy. Did you plan it to be a trilogy from the start or after you’d finished book one?
I always knew it would take more than on book to tell Rachel and Logan’s story, but it wasn’t until I was almost finished with book one that I could see the entire arc and scope of the trilogy.
I hear that you might be a ninja. Is this one reason why your heroine is more of a sworld-wielder than a dressmaker? How did Rachel come to be the girl that she is?
Shh. No one is supposed to know my secret ninjaness! Actually, Rachel showed up in my head fierce and impulsive and courageous when it comes to risking her life but not so much when it comes to risking her heart. Her father raised her to know how to defend herself because he understood the dangers of their world and because that’s really the only way he knew how to relate to his daughter. Combine those character traits with her upbringing and you have the makings of a girl who can start a revolution.
Rachel’s new Protector Logan once broke her heart. Awkward! What dynamics are involved with their relationship?
Oh, poor Rachel and Logan. There is much awkwardness there. They were friends for a long time before the broken heart, and then they became almost strangers until Logan became her Protector in the absense of her father. Awkwardness FTW! They are both stubborn and loyal and tend to butt heads about almost everything, but in their hearts, they both want what’s best for each other.
Rachel and Logan go through many challenges as they go through the Wasteland. What was your favorite part of their journey?
The lake scene! *wiggles brows*
Oh lala. Would you share a few teaser lines from your novel?
“Jared Adams has something I need,” he says. “You and the girl will get it back for me.”
Relief rushes through me. “I understand.”
He spits his words at me. “You listen to me, inventor who likes to play with words. You are replaceable. The girl is replaceable. I won’t hesitate for a second to spill her blood and find another willing to take her place. Do you really think the life of any one citizen matters in comparison to what I decide Baalboden needs?”
Before I can do more than draw in a sharp, panicked gasp of air, he spins on his heel and lunges toward Rachel, his sword raised.
Do you have plans for after the Defiance trilogy?
I am already working on three different projects in my spare time. We’ll see which one hits the shelves next. 🙂
Review – Defiance
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Soma Rostam says
LOVED the interview! I really want to read Defiance afetr hearing so many good things about it,
Great interview and blog!
Fall Into Books says
Great interview! I agree that Logan and Rachel had some seriously awkward moments, haha.
alicia marie says
Thanks for the awesome interview! I am so excited about this book and cannot wait to read it : ) I love hearing about how authors come up with their characters and things : )
Rebecca Hipworth says
This book sounds sooo good! 🙂 I love the cover and the synopsis sounds brilliant. I also adore books that have dual points of view, so I look forward to seeing the different characters' perspectives. 🙂
Gaby says
Loved the interview 🙂 How do you determine what questions you want to ask?
Crystal says
Thanks Gaby! I ask what I want to know and what I think my readers want to know. It varies from book to book and author to author.
Lili says
I loved this interview! I loved Defiance, so I liked the question about her characterization of Rachel. She was always there and CJ was the one who discovered who she was as her story panned out. That is such an amazing response. Our characters always seem real to us! haha
Thank you for stopping by!
Natalie Aguirre says
Awesome interview. I loved hearing about C.J.'s secret Ninja-ness. Loved Defiance and so excited for C.J.'s debut.