Defy
Series: Defy #1
Author: Sara B. Larson
Published January 7th 2014 by Scholastic

Goodreads Synopsis
A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?
Goodreads

Review
I adore the trope of girls having to disguise themselves as male in order to survive in a difficult world - in this case to avoid being captured by the evil king's army and forced into slavery for simply being female, or worse, one of the king's 'breeding houses'. Our main character, Alexa has had to be hiding as Alex in the prince's guard. She is tasked with protecting Prince Damian, but can't stop herself, the prince, and a fellow guard, Rylan, being kidnapped by a sorcerer. As the three of them work to free themselves, and try to get home and deal with the wicked system and the magic that is coming into the land.

Alexa was a fantastic character, with a backstory that fully explained why she was such a bad ass. She sometimes struggled with the fact that she was the only girl in the palace, but she had a reason for pretending, and the way that women were treated in this society was despicable. Both Rylan and Damian had good character arcs, Prince Damian especially, but the whole love triangle aspect is the main reason this book is only a 4 star, and not five. I am glad I have a copy of book 2, because I can't wait to dive in and find out more from Alexa's story.