Defy the Dusk is like Snowpiercer meets Mad Max and a dash of Handmaid’s Tale. It’s this rich fantasy world exploring caste, magic, and how we can fight for our future. I loved the vibes so much as Mad Max is one of my faves! Keep reading this book review of Defy the Dusk for my full thoughts.
Summary
In the Sundered world, there are two options: Ride the dawn, or face what rises in the night.
Twenty years ago, Lirien’s magic fractured the world and unleashed nocturnal creatures that brought civilization to its knees. Amidst the carnage came salvation: The most powerful survivors were invited to board Dawnrider, a high-speed rig that would deliver those aboard into a new era.
The rest of humanity was left to die.
Instead, a king rose from the darkness to lead them.
In the years since, Lirien has dedicated her magic to Dawnrider while secretly plotting to overthrow the tyrant who rules the rig with an iron fist. But just as Lirien is ready to strike against him, she is violently abducted by Vox—the king of the feralists.
The mercurial Vox gives her two choices: Fight the creatures that hunt the night or be fed to them. Lirien agrees to join his ranks, but embarks on a strategy of seduction that will return her to Dawnrider.
Yet as Vox pushes the limits of her magic, Lirien begins to question whether defying the dusk is the true path to salvation. Intoxicated by both Vox and his war against the night, Lirien must decide where her loyalties truly lie—and how far she’s willing to go for redemption.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Defy the Dusk is about racing to the end. Can we escape our fate forever? For Lirien and the Dawnrider, they’ve committed to running forever, to outrunning the darkness. But is that sustainable? Meanwhile those who weren’t lucky enough to be ‘saved’, weren’t magical enough to be ‘worthy’ have been living in fear. Can humanity afford to run forever? Defy the Dusk asks us what we will we do if we can’t run forever. What will we sacrifice for a better world, one with the chance of freedom, or feeling the dirt beneath our feet? The ocean on our skin? Defy the Dusk also explores the twisting of dogma, belief and stories.
How leaders and figures of authority can twist these beliefs to suit their narrative. And the power we let these inspirational and terrifying stories have on our lives. Do we rule with an iron fist of fear? It’s this post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy which asks us what we will fight for – survival or freedom. I enjoyed Defy the Dusk way more than I thought considering how I felt about previous Jensen books. I think it’s mostly due to the Mad Max vibes even though the eugenics of it were awful – thematically connected to these vibes, but still. Defy the Dusk want us to pick whether we stay or fight, run or flounder, and just decide the weight of our breaths.
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Defy the Dusk is full of betrayal. Can we ever trust a twisting loyalty? And what happens if we actually change our mind? I am excited for the next book with the burden of leadership, the weight of the ending, and this elemental magic. Find Defy the Dusk on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.