Defy

Rise of the Empress #1

by C.S. Doraga

The Eridian Empire is rife with discontent and animosity. Now, Imperial Princess Redrinna has a choice: stay trapped in a life that terrifies her or betray the trust of her parents—the two people she loves more than anything.

Sheltered from most of the Empire’s turmoil, Redrinna has spent her entire life preparing for her eighteenth birthday—the day she will inherit the throne of a country she has never seen with her own eyes. Her parents believe she is capable of greatness, but she believes she is doomed to fail. Then, her entire world is turned upside down by a betrayal she never thought possible, a betrayal that leaves her nearly dead.

With the help of a creature long thought extinct—a dragon—Redrinna uses the situation to run, determined to finally be free. But earning her freedom isn’t that simple. Somone knows she survived. To win her freedom for good, she may have to find a strength she’s never had in order to fight an evil long forgotten but responsible for the Empire’s dark creation and eager to do worse. And if Redrinna can’t, then the little she has left—her friend, her homeland, and her freedom—might be lost forever.

Defy is the first in a young adult epic fantasy series packed with unforgettable characters, mystery, and adventure. If you like reluctant heroes, dragons, and coming of age stories, then you’ll love the first book in C.S. Doraga’s Rise of the Empress series.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

C. S. Doraga grew up in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains with her nose stuck in any book within reach and imagination constantly running wild (to her parents' chagrin, at times). Her favorite author is the amazing mangaka, Hiromu Arakawa, the author of works such as Fullmetal Alchemist and Silver Spoon. What little free time she has, she spends playing the Fire Emblem video game series and a few, choice others. She has a deep love for the fantastic but also loves mystery and those characters that sit with you long after the story is over.
She has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Weber State University and lives in beautiful Northern Utah with her family and two, crazy cats.

Reviews

[Julia Sarene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely! 💥

Defy by C.S. Doraga definitely felt much more like a book somewhere between middle grade and YA.

The absolute biggest plus for me was there not being any romance, despite having a 17 year old female MC. Those books are rare finds, and I wish we had more of them! A girl finding herself, instead of pining for a boy or getting rescued every 2 chapters.

The plot had a few nice twists, but overall was really predictable. It also felt a bit disjointed here and there, instead having a smooth flow.
A few points didn't seem to make much sense to me, aside from driving the plot on. I think to work better for me it either would have to get some more depth added to them.

The voice was a bit too much coloured by teenage angst and coming of age for my personal taste. I love some YA, like Tamira Pierce for example, and it might just be this specific MC in this story, but at times it got a bit much.

What I really loved again though, was the dragon, and the friendships that grow along the way. I'm always a sucker for a good animal companion, and this definitely scratched my itch!

[The Reading Ruru (Kerry) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I read this book as 1 judge in Fantasy Faction's team for #SPFBOX. Opinions and rating are my own and do not necessarily reflect team's thought.
DEFY is the type of book I would have lapped up when I was a young teen. It is well written and has a compelling voice that engages the reader; more-so if you're just getting into epic fantasy but if you like a easier read epic fantasy then this will be a good reading experience. It is this style of book that got me as a young reader into epic fantasies that were full of betrayal, trust issues, denial, true friendship and of course, DRAGONS.

DEFY is Book 1 in the Rise of the Empress series. This is definitely not my usual reading fare, especially reading about teenagers but I liked Red's growth in this book. I tend to DNF or discontinue a series after book one because the young MC tends to be too petulant and whingy. Sure, Red does complain, makes mistakes but she learns from these and realise learning and growth doesn't just take a week to happen. I liked her spirit and determination and her willingness to listen and help others. Her friendship and encouragement of the young boy Tak in teaching him to read and write was lovely and I absolutely adored the bond between Red and Xandrin.

I rate Defy 5/10 for #SPFBO

[kay! · Rating 4 out of 5]

romance: none

For fans of: Tamora Pierce and Mercedes Lackey

Now I want a talking dragon.

THIS book y'all... It was amazing. I haven't had this much fun reading a book in a while.

The nostalgia is real here. Reading Defy made me feel like I was 13 again reading classic fantasy. I didn't even care that the plot was predictable because I loved it so much. I honestly almost cried toward the end because I didn't want the story to end.

I adored the main character and seeing her grow. It is so refreshing to find a YA fantasy without romance and centered around the main character's development. No boy saves her and makes all her issues disappear, she tackles them herself. Well, she and her talking dragon friend. TALKING DRAGON FRIEND. What else could you ever need from a fantasy?? The bond between the main character and her dragon was perfect and just wholesome.

The perfect fantasy coming-of-age story. I am so glad I took a chance on this book, and I hope you do too!

advanced reader copy provided in exchange for an honest review

[Carol Demmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an epic story of a princess, dragon and mentor. Redrinna happens upon Xandrin, the dragon, when she is pushed from a ledge. Redrinna forms a friendship with the dragon and when she uses her magic for the first time they are rescued by Timothon. This book is full on emotions that will make you smile and cry when things don't go as they should for Redinna. It will take you on an adventure as she grows from a pampered princess to someone who can take care of herself. I am looking forward to reading the next book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hollee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. This book was not what I expected but my review is based off of this book being for much younger readers not so much for my personal reading choices. I did not connect with the main characters much and the story line seemed very choppy and jumped around. I think it could be good for middle school aged reader level. I also wasn’t a fan of the POV I might have had more of an attachment to the characters if I got first person POV since most of the book was the main characters coming of age moments and the main character basically learning who she is.

[Lilimomlovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of, I think I wasn't the intended age group for this book, as it is more of a coming of age/finding your way in life story. So, as a teen, I would have probably enjoyed it a bit more. My rating is based on my reading experience, as I received this book for an honest review.

Redrinna, our main character, is supposed to become the next Empress of her kingdom, but the people of said kingdom shun her since an event in her childhood that left her with red eyes and red hair. So she doesn't really want to lead these people and instead find her own freedom away from it all. After an other event, she ends up with a Dragon and they continue the story together.

I had a hard time getting into the book as it doesn't really pick up until about 40-45% in and then it's good, slows down a bit and the end luckily makes it worth while for making it through. The story does have some things that can be smelled miles against the wind and some unexpected turns as well.

There are some likable characters and some not so much. My favorite by far is the Dragon.

All over, I'm rating this story a 3,5 which I rounded up to four stars. I'm not sure that I will come back to the story, but the ending keeps it interesting enough that I might.

Thank you for the opportunity of being able to read this book.

[Melanie Angwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of this book is intense and only continues throughout the story, the lfc is a feisty heir who doesn't want the responsibility of running kingdom, she is betrayed, so this starter of a series is what the title suggests she defies her heritage and forges her own path which leads to personal growth as well as a few welcome and unwelcome surprises on her journ6, looking forward to next in the series, thankyou for a great read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice world building and the story picked up a bit into it and kept me reading to the end. I do feel it was more of a teen read. I did enjoy that the author stayed away from becoming to predictable and put some thought into the back story. This is a good read for those that like dragons and coming of age stories.
I received this book from BookSirens and am happy to leave this reveiw.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow. WOW! Defy is one of the best books I have read in a long time. From the first chapter I could not put it down. I love Redrinna so much as a protagonist and Xandrin is so charming that I instantly fell in love him. Their relationship is so fun and I love the banter they share. Each character felt well thought out and solid, even smaller side characters were interesting. The story was full of interesting turns and it progressed so comfortably nothing felt rushed or drawn out.

If you love epic fantasy books I can guarantee you will love Defy. I will definitely be following C.S Doraga and seeing what's next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It kept me engaged from the beginning and I had a hard time putting the book down.

I liked seeing Redrinna's growth throughout the book, from a sheltered princess to becoming something much more by the end. I also like how real Redrinna feels, as she is a complex character who has very relatable insecurities and flaws. Redrinna's relationship with the dragon Xandrin and their interactions with each other were also very fun to read and I loved how their bond grew throughout the book.

The overall plot was very intriguing and there were a few twists that took me by surprise. I'm very interested to see where certain things will go in the next book.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing what will happen next with Redrinna and Xandrin, along with several other characters who I won't mention here to avoid spoilers.

Thank you to BookSirens for the free digital ARC!

[Erica Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defy is an interesting premise, with unexpected twists and a heroine you can really feel care for. It seems to fall between somewhere between a middle grade reader and YA fiction. It isn’t too scary or too angst driven but does touch upon difficult family relationships and a need for your young princess to prove herself.

I really enjoyed the relationships between different key characters in the book and am looking forward to seeing how these play put in the sequel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Book Dragons TBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this book in just a couple days. As a huge fan of dragons I thought Xandrin was amazing (one of my favorite characters). Redrinna is a character that you get to watch grow into her own skin throughout the book. She is really faced with some horrific situations that she has to navigate through. I enjoyed the plot and the author keeps you turning pages to find out what's coming next. This is definitely a series I'll be continuing. Overall a great book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelsey Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! For me, it took a little while to get into but the author did a good job really building up the main character and her family.

There’s magic and best of all, dragons! The friendships and hardships along the way will have you feeling all kinds of ways but I can’t wait for the next book.

I kept wanting to push on because there was SOMETHING about to happen.. I just didn’t know when :)

Cute story for middle/high school ages

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great start to the Rise of the Empress series, it had what I was expecting from the description. I was invested in what was going on and loved the fantasy elements going on. The characters worked so well in the world and did what I was hoping for. I'm excited to read more from this series and from the author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tom Mock]

This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.

A princess, soon to ascend the throne, has doubts in the aftermath of an attack on her city in this YA Epic Fantasy.

This 3rd person fantasy grounds the reader in its protagonist well. We remain focused on her experiences, her thoughts and feelings, and her conversations. The narration does good work introducing us to her circumstances.

The dialogue and prose are serviceable, though there is a lot of glancing and looking and the dialogue is rather one-dimensional. Nonetheless, the goals of our MC and the tension of those goals are clear.

I especially found the story details of this opening engaging. A great deal of consequence has already happened in the world of our MC. Some kind of conspiracy unmasked, a trial, a revolt that burned a 3rd of the city.

All of this underscores the main conflict of her life as she approaches her 18th birthday: is this what she wants? Is she up to the task of governing an empire? The reality of the complexity of that task and the weight of the responsibility is beginning to stifle her.

This deeply personal conflict is, I think, not quite given due attention in this opening. It is crowded by descriptions of our MCs immediate emotions and her interactions with first her knight attendant and then and old friend/adviser.

It isn’t that I think these things shouldn’t be in this opening, just that they feel so much less interesting than this central conflict which only emerges before me half-way through the chapter.

Additionally, I would like to have known so much more about this suppressed revolt and the figure put on trial. These things are presented as the immediate source of our MCs current strife, and yet we learn almost nothing about them.

Those details are where the story is. Not in the minutia of the characters interactions and how every beat makes our MC feel. At least for the moment.

This does some nice (possible) foreshadowing work with murals on the walls that also broaden our sense of the world we’re in. That’s real literary stuff, and to this openings credit.

I’m not sure about how ch1 ends. We’ve spent the whole chapter establishing her doubt, rising even to dread, and one look at her parents faces seems to steel her resolve in her duty - end of chapter.

The personal conflict of this opening is something I would expect to continue to hang over our MC for the whole of the novel. It may very well do just that. But for the moment this decision feels rushed and unearned.

It is interesting when characters are conflicted. It is interesting when they nonetheless act in spite of their doubts. How often have you thought you were going to do a terrible job in an interview for a job you weren’t even sure you wanted, but still went through the motions?

How often have you said “I love you,” when you didn’t feel it anymore and weren’t sure you ever would again? We act against our conflicted feelings all the time. It feels real when our protagonists do too.

All this is to say, you don’t have to resolve your characters emotions. The early motions of novels, especially, are all about setting the hooks in them and watching them wriggle.

This novel seems full of opportunities for just that. There is no end of possible conflict, both internal and external, in our MCs future. I’m engaged by its ideas, and especially by our MCs many weaknesses.

She is uncertain. She is prideful. She lies about her feelings (wouldn’t she have to in her position?) and is bad at it, at least to those who know her. She is intelligent, and dedicated despite her very real fears.

She is a princess, but first and most of all, to us, she is a seventeen year old girl who is trying to be what she has always been told she is expected to be. That is wonderfully compelling. This more than passes my humble assessment. I’m in.

[Liesbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book spoke to me not just because of dragons, of course, but also because of the main character, Redrinna. Everyone insists she is destined to rule, yet she would rather immerse herself in studying and reading than take up the mantle of leadership. Her struggles with failure come to a head when she experiences a devastating betrayal, losing trust in someone she once relied on. It is a painful experience, but it leads her to an unexpected bond with a fierce red dragon.

She had always heard tales of dragons as vicious monsters from the Dragon War, but this dragon defies all her expectations. Now, Redrinna finds herself on the run—not just from those who seek to capture or kill her, but from her own fears and doubts. Though she faces many harrowing encounters, the more she resists the throne, the more the people of the Eridian Empire suffer for her refusal.

Will she rise to the challenge, or will her fear hold her back, causing her to abandon her responsibilities? Along the way, she makes new friends who reflect parts of herself. While she cherishes them deeply, the thought of leadership remains far from appealing to her.

I loved this story because it resonated deeply with me. It taught me that it’s okay to feel afraid, but sometimes you have to push forward despite that fear.

The story takes readers on an exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions, blending heart-pounding excitement with moments of awe and wonder. The world-building is breathtaking, pulling you into a vivid and fantastical realm that feels alive with every turn of the page. One of the standout moments is when Redrinna soars through the skies on the dragon for the first time—a scene that perfectly captures the magic and majesty of the story's universe.

Filled with compelling characters, unexpected twists, and thrilling adventures, this tale is ideal for readers who enjoy action-packed stories about reluctant heroes and self-discovery.

[Izzy Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Defy has an interesting premise, and, despite Redrinnon being far too passive of a character for most of the book, she experienced some character development, Xandrin, her dragon friend is like a big golden retriever with scales and the dialogue-and heart- to match. Xandrin’s character and his relationship with Redrinnon was a highlight for me.

While the beginning was fairly interesting, the middle dragged and large parts of the story seemed unnecessary. For instance, Redrinnon having to be “tested” by surviving on the land was not needed at best, and cultural appropriation at worst. It was convenient that a spirit-guide-like character would show up when she was struggling to survive. She also makes a furry friend and it wasn’t clear why this was added. Very little happens in the middle other than training and making new friends. There were no encounters with the antagonists until the very end, other than a few short lived confrontations with a giant sent to capture her.

I rounded up to 3 based on potential, but it wasn’t a win for me. It reads more like fan fiction than a published work. It needs some work, including cutting out unnecessary plot points, refining writing style and dialogue, and giving the main character more agency.

Some reviewers mentioned that the “off” writing style is because this is a middle-grade book, but I disagree, and that statement does a disservice to all the brilliant middle-grade books out there- and there are many. This is the author’s first published work and I think the refinement will come with time and practice. I will probably pick up the next one on the promise of that potential and I hope the author will be able to fix these issues.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alexandria Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, C.S. Doraga for an eArc in exchange for an honest review...

I am going into this by first saying that the description and that it is marketed as YA, I was excited to read and applied for an ARC. I figured like Throne of Glass type of YA. However, when I got into it, this book was very much middle grade and geared towards the "young" part of YA. This does not affect my rating, though. I just want everyone to be aware. Also, to be aware that this is not my preferred genre, and because of this, I will only talk about the writing.

C.S.'s writing could use a bit of polishing. I had a hard time getting into the book because everything felt all over the place. The timeline transitions were not smooth. And when it did jump forward. The story fell flat. Like I said, the book is definitely targeted for a middle grade audience. Things were definitely written to be predictable and simplistic. Overall I do think this series has potential. Especially if the writing polishes up a bit (which I know second books always do for authors). This book just wasn't for me. But I wish C.S. the best of luck for her future book and endeavors.

What To Expect:
Reluctant Heroine
Dragons
No Romance
Coming of Age story

[Sara G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for an 8-12 age reader, if a bit scary. I offered to do an advance reader copy review in exchange for the chance to read the book for free. I do have to admit, it was written for a much lower grade level than I was expecting for a young adult novel. Nonetheless, it is a cute story of a princess who befriends a dragon.

Redrinna is a reluctant heroine, but willing to work hard for her new dragon bond. The dragon and magical beast friends were the best part of the book for me. I was a bit startled at the degree of violence, considering the book audience's young target age. But Redrinna works through her desires to just stay home reading and stands against them at the end with pizzazz.

There is promise of future books as chosen children rebuild the Dragon Kin, and I'm interested in the story of her green-haired friend, that I'm sure will be revealed in future books, but I probably won't be continuing to read the series.

[a.erika.e · Rating 3 out of 5]

Redrinna is a princess in an empire. The people in her life isn't only who they claim to be. She gets let down by her family and there the adventure begins. Meeting a dragon and being hunted. Shaping her own path.

I recieved an ARC in exchange for my honest review. And honestly, I have a love-hate relationship to this. If I read this as a teenager maybe I would have enjoyed it more. It's very young and immature.

The plot didn't really lift. It jumped forward and then it stod still. Nothing happened that excited me. With that said, it took me a while to finish this. Cause it wasn't really interesting, except for the dragons and the gems. I love the spiritual animals too.

As of right now I'm not invested in the story and therefore probably won't continue to read this series. I'm certain there are those in a younger audience who will love this though.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I have lots of things to say about this book. First and foremost, this book is a middle-grade/YA book, so it’s not my usual genre. So that’s going to change how I talk about it. The rating is how I genuinely feel about it as a book without taking anything into account. When I take into account it being a younger YA book, I would probably give it 4 stars. I’m not going to give anything away, but this book is the epitome of when an English teacher tells you that you need to “show don’t tell”, because there was a TON of instances where things were literally spelled out to the heroine. There was absolutely no nuance to this book at all. That being said, there was a lot that was put into this book and none of it really had any detail at all.

I would recommend this to middle schoolers who are fans of Eragon!


Thanks to the publisher for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.

[cribnotesandcliffnotes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thought that this book had a lot of potential and the pace of the book picked up around the 70/80 pg mark. I ended up skimming a good portion of the book due to the lack of interest that it held for me with the writing seeming a little too on the nose with a lot of the tropes-- the cute dragon that seems big and scary but is really caring, the heir who needs to find themselves. I felt like the sense of humor was for a middle grade reader, which I found endearing but fell flat for me as a 23 year old. Overall, the book would be great for the intended reader-- which was not me and that is ok! I think that the potential this book has could turn into something much better in continuing the series.

[Katrina Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the storyline and the delayed reveals of all the characters true identities. This made for an exciting twist and reinforced of the book’s mythology. While the main character was a bit whiny at times, she is a 17 year old princess whose family lineage has been withheld and childhood filled with lots of trauma, so I guess I can giving her a bit of grace. I am looking forward to getting to read the next book, though I think it would have been better to have a bit more resolution to the ending instead of a cliffhanger. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wolf of Ice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book to pieces, and I was unable to put it down. I love seeing Redrinna's growth throughout the book, and I love the fact that it is a book written for teens with a female MC that doesn't have some boy sweeping in to solve all her problems. The dragon was probably my favorite part, and his and Redinna's relationship is very well done. The story easily captured my attention and stayed at a pretty consistent pace. Overall, the story in general is very well written and left me crying out for more. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[cowy]

18th June 2024, added to TBR
I read one chapter to prepare a TBR for my personal SPFBO reading challenge. I was hesitant at first because the cover and description did remind me of the somewhat outdated fantasies around (which isn't a bad thing on its own but would likely not become a favorite because of it). However, the first chapter was able to grip me from the start, with a promising mystery looming above a reluctant heiress. I'm very excited to continue in this one and see what kind of court intrigue will unfold.

[Eryn Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book, it kept me engaged from start to finish and left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book and I look forward to seeing how Redrinna continues to grow on her journey.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought that the plot of this book had a great deal of potential; once the pace started to pick up about eighty pages in things did get more interesting. However, the beginning of the book was not compelling enough to get me to more than briefly skim the last three quarters. The writing style seemed slightly juvenile and cliche; towards the beginning of the book I didn't really feel like Redrinna was really fleshed out as a character. Xandrin's introduction was also annoying; the 'adorable dragon who's not so scary as he seems' has been used too many times before, and the attempts to play this for humor fell flat. Overall this is a book that has a lot of potential, with an interesting plot premise, but it was too simplistic from the outset to hold my attention.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book for free; this review represents my honest opinions.