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The Triad Series #4
Defiance
Two enemies, born into conflict, find love despite the odds. Their fight to stay together will define the future not just for themselves, but for the world.
Petur Alloui is a powerful prince, a gifted shifter, and a fighter at the top of his game. He wants for nothing…except a challenge. He didn’t expect that challenge to come in the form of a trained assassin, immune to magic, who saves his life even though their countries are sworn enemies.
If Deyvid was smarter, he would have let Petur die on the road instead of taking the spell meant for him. By saving the silver-tongued prince, he gives Petur the chance to woo him, and Petur is nothing if not persuasive.
They’re in love…but love might not be enough to hold back the forces fighting to tear them apart.
Defiance is the thrilling M/M fantasy prequel to the bestselling Triad trilogy with enemies to lovers, graphic violence, and explicit sexual content.
Petur Alloui is a powerful prince, a gifted shifter, and a fighter at the top of his game. He wants for nothing…except a challenge. He didn’t expect that challenge to come in the form of a trained assassin, immune to magic, who saves his life even though their countries are sworn enemies.
If Deyvid was smarter, he would have let Petur die on the road instead of taking the spell meant for him. By saving the silver-tongued prince, he gives Petur the chance to woo him, and Petur is nothing if not persuasive.
They’re in love…but love might not be enough to hold back the forces fighting to tear them apart.
Defiance is the thrilling M/M fantasy prequel to the bestselling Triad trilogy with enemies to lovers, graphic violence, and explicit sexual content.
- GenresM M RomanceMagicFantasy
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2026
About the author
Cari Z.
138 books561 followersCari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She feels like Halloween should happen every month, which is why you get this picture of her, and hopes that you enjoy reading what she's put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 3, 2026
While this is marketed as a prequel it should definitely not be read until you have read all the previous books of the series. First of all, there are some spoilers and it's definitely set AFTER Dominion. So don't be fooled!
Having said that, if you haven't read this series yet, what are you waiting for?
Having said that, if you haven't read this series yet, what are you waiting for?
March 3, 2026
4.25 stars - I was not real sure about this one starting out, but once it got rolling, I was sucked in. It’s a prequel that starts out one way and then backtracks to tell you how it got there bringing you back to the beginning of the story. It is then that the worldbuilding really begins.
When the story begins, our three men are together, but as the story unfolds, we learn how that all came to be. Petur is a part of the royal family and a shifter capable of changing into multiple beings. He comes across Deyvid, a unique character who is immune to magic and whose people have generally been the enemy of Petur’s people. But he is basically an exiled assassin and they end up teaming together to defeat the mages wreaking havoc on Petur’s people.
There is a lot to the story about how Deyvid’s role in Petur’s life meshes out, but suffice to say their relationship has grown over the past decade. But, Petur’s sister, the Queen, has other plans for Petur and arranges a political marriage for him “for the good of the people.” This is where Sy comes in. He is the one chosen to marry Petur. He also happens to be a mage. We know they end up together from the very first pages of this story, but we don’t really see it all come to fruition by the end, although we know that is where things are headed.
By the end of this story, I was more than ready to continue on and really delve deeper into this threesome and how they all came to accept one another and how they dealt with their differences. It looks like this is all going to play out in the first book, which I am now eager to jump into. I really enjoyed the fantasy aspects at play here, between the shifters and the magic, and the mystery of who was attempting to cause trouble and the attempted assassinations. Cari Z. has not let me down yet, so I expect this story to get even deeper and more interesting than it already is.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
February 25, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Defiance is a prequel to Cari Z’s Triad series and it can be read as a standalone. Reading the rest of the series first may give fans a bit more background and character development, but Defiance does well enough on its own. Just as a side note: as this is a prequel, there aren’t many scenes involving Deyvid and Petur’s third partner, Symon, but he does show up here.
I enjoyed the relationship between Petur and Deyvid, as they were a sweet couple, and though their initial attraction was purely physical, it was fun to watch that evolve into a solid and loving relationship over the course of the book. Neither character read as fully developed and, while they were far from caricatures, I did find myself wanting more from them in terms of personal details and overall growth.
I think fans of the Triad Series will find a lot to like here, but for those newbies, like me, Defiance provided a nice jumping off point!
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Defiance is a prequel to Cari Z’s Triad series and it can be read as a standalone. Reading the rest of the series first may give fans a bit more background and character development, but Defiance does well enough on its own. Just as a side note: as this is a prequel, there aren’t many scenes involving Deyvid and Petur’s third partner, Symon, but he does show up here.
I enjoyed the relationship between Petur and Deyvid, as they were a sweet couple, and though their initial attraction was purely physical, it was fun to watch that evolve into a solid and loving relationship over the course of the book. Neither character read as fully developed and, while they were far from caricatures, I did find myself wanting more from them in terms of personal details and overall growth.
I think fans of the Triad Series will find a lot to like here, but for those newbies, like me, Defiance provided a nice jumping off point!
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
March 21, 2026
A good addition to the series. I enjoyed discovering how Petur and Deyvid got together and liked how it flowed into more current events. I'm hopeful (based on the ending) that we will see more of this trio (please?)
For those who are sensitive to such things, this is mainly MM, with MMM scenarios at the very beginning (includes sex) and end. That being said, this series is, for me, is a rare example of an MMM that I enjoy - 99% of the time MMM gives me the ick.
If you liked the trilogy, highly recommend. If you haven't read the previous books, you could start with this and it would work well, but it's also fine as a post-series standalone.
For those who are sensitive to such things, this is mainly MM, with MMM scenarios at the very beginning (includes sex) and end. That being said, this series is, for me, is a rare example of an MMM that I enjoy - 99% of the time MMM gives me the ick.
If you liked the trilogy, highly recommend. If you haven't read the previous books, you could start with this and it would work well, but it's also fine as a post-series standalone.
March 8, 2026
Fun idea to write a prequel
I have enjoyed the main series and I was intrigued to see that Cari Z had written a prequel novel. It gives a lot of backstory and is a great addition to the story.
I have enjoyed the main series and I was intrigued to see that Cari Z had written a prequel novel. It gives a lot of backstory and is a great addition to the story.
March 1, 2026
Good
This series is one of my favorites. It was great being able to go back to their story and see how Petur and Deyvid met. IMO, I would read books 1-3 before this prequel.
This series is one of my favorites. It was great being able to go back to their story and see how Petur and Deyvid met. IMO, I would read books 1-3 before this prequel.
May 31, 2026
Prequel
Like another reviewing, I agree you should read the main series first. I thought I had Tania before, but this book made me hate her even more. Would love more of the series
Like another reviewing, I agree you should read the main series first. I thought I had Tania before, but this book made me hate her even more. Would love more of the series
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews