Us Defiant Few

Us Dark Few #3

by Alexis Patton, Ángela Esteller García (Translator)

Quizá mis palabras no te recuerden. Pero el filo de mi cuchillo sin duda no te ha olvidado.

Khalani solo conoce la supervivencia. Escapó de una prisión letal y es una de las pocas personas del subsuelo que ha caminado bajo el sol. Pero, ahora, la muerte ha dado con ella y su suerte se ha esfumado.

El hombre al que ama ya no la recuerda y solo tiene en mente un matarla.

Si desea ver un nuevo amanecer, Khalani necesitará mucho más que cuchillos afilados y una voluntad de hierro. Tendrá que acercarse a su enemigo y averiguar la manera de recuperarlo antes de que los destruya a ambos. Pero, mientras unas fuerzas oscuras se ciernen sobre ellos y la verdad se revela, Khalani empezará a desconfiar incluso de sí misma.

El destino los arrastrará de vuelta al lugar donde todo comenzó: Apolo. Para salir victoriosa, Khalani deberá forjar alianzas brutales, entrenarse sin descanso y aferrarse a un amor hecho de sufrimiento y sangre. Puede que llegue a la ciudad del subsuelo sin ser degollada, pero una pregunta seguirá carcomié ¿Qué sentido tiene sobrevivir… con la verdad que ahora conoce?

Solo los que arden quedarán bajo el sol.

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Dark Romance, Romantasy, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fiction

426 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2026

About the author

Alexis Patton is an emerging talent in the literary world, poised to captivate readers with her debut novel, Us Dark Few. Born with an insatiable curiosity and a passion for literature, Alexis Patton brings a refreshing perspective to the literary landscape, pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling. Her writing embraces the human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, self-discovery, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Raised in DeLand, Florida, Alexis is a Florida girl by heart. From a young age, she developed an avid love for reading and was one of those kids who got in trouble for reading too much during class. With a voracious appetite for learning, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Stetson University and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Florida. Through her life experiences and undeniable passion for literature, Alexis Patton honed her skills to craft stories that resonate long after the final page is turned.

Alexis Patton eagerly anticipates connecting with readers and building a community of like-minded individuals who appreciate the power of literature. Stay connected with Alexis Patton for updates on her upcoming projects and to join her on an exciting literary journey!

Instagram: @alexispattonauthor
Twitter: @alexxis_patton
TikTok: @alexis-patton.author

Reviews

[Momma Eureka]

Wow what an ending ! I decided to read this trilogy in a spur of a moment because I normally do not gravitate towards this type of books, this is a dystopian romance and it takes place in the future post apocalyptic world. Earth was destroyed by bombs and the surface becomes uninhabitable due to radiation, so the ones that survived built underground cities with a system that imitates daylight and other things. We first meet Khalani our FMC in a prison and book 1 is all in the prison and it game me all the prison break vibes. There as a guard we also meet our MMC Takeshi Steel. Khalani makes a few friends there and THEY ARE THE BEST ! Serena is my favorite ❤️ together with the help of the very mean brute guard they plan an escape because they find certain things out ! The second book is their entire journey figuring out things and making alies as well as enemies and damn to all damn going again to another underground prison 🤦🏻‍♀️
And this final book is their rebellion and taking it back! I can’t say anything else because all it’s a mystery, but omg what a GREAT story! The plot was plotting the whole time. How we went from hating Takeshi to liking him to hating him again and to love him it’s a ride ! I will say that the story needs to be good to tie me to this trilogy because this has things I hate like Slow Burn, I mean so slow that they have maybe 2 kisses in the entire trilogy and one half ass spicy scene….. the romance is definitely a subplot here and I normally don’t like that, but I still absolutely love this trilogy and the ending was PERFECT!

[Alexis Patton]

We have reached the end of the Us Dark Few series. It’s surreal to even say that. Us Defiant Few is a book that I poured all of myself into and it truly is my favorite book in the trilogy. I hope you all love it too 🥹 I know there are millions of books to read, and the fact that you chose mine means the absolute world. Thank you for reading and coming on Khalani and Takeshi’s journey with me❤️

[GCR | Book Realm]

ALC provided by Podium Entertainment

The Us Dark Few series did not disappoint. This was a great dystopian series with strong worldbuilding, fast pacing, plenty of tension, romance that actually develops, and a final book that wrapped everything up in a way that worked for me.

Khalani still annoyed me throughout, but honestly, that’s just Khalani and probably says more about how I would handle certain situations than anything being wrong with her character. I was still invested in her and the bigger story even when I wanted to shake her a little.

The romance becomes more prominent as the series goes on, especially in book two, and that slow burn absolutely tested my patience. I am not built for that level of waiting, but the relationship development felt earned.

Book three really takes off in the second half. The twists were twisting, but they never felt thrown in just to shock me. They made sense with everything the series had already built, and I went through the full range of “OMG,” “WHAT?!” and “aww, that was actually really cute.” The first half was a little slower compared with everything that came later, but not enough that I ever lost interest.

Raquel Beattie did a phenomenal job narrating the series. Single narration still isn’t my favorite format, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise, but she made it work. I could distinguish the characters, she carried the tone really well, and even when things started escalating, the story stayed easy to follow.

I’d recommend this series to readers who enjoy dystopian worlds, rebellion and survival stories, romance woven into a bigger plot, slow burns, and twists that actually feel earned.

[Renee Polks Reads]

⭐️ 5/5
🌶 2/5
💀 2/5
🩷 4/5

What a perfect ending to one of my favourite dystopian romance trilogies of all time!

The plot took a total 180 flip from where I even thought it was going. I thought at one point it was feeling predictable, but then Alexis went and dropped me on my head haha.

This was such a good way to tie in her little hints and foreshadow cookies from the 2nd and 3rd book.

I am always going to recommend this series.

°~♡~°

😩💔 The LOVE and the YEARNING that Takeshi and Khalani had was perfect, but so was the hate:

“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙚?”
“𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥. 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬.”
𝘚𝘰, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯, 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙… 𝙃𝙚’𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧. ~ Takeshi Steele

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙞 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝘼 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚. ~ Khalani Kanes

🥹🫣🤭 Special mention to Winnie for being so damn loveable and hilarious throughout this entire series. But especially in book 3:

“𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨.” ~ Winnie

“𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙚’𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩." ~ Winnie

“𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘. 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙨 . 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.” ~ Winnie (I just know she was telling talking about ACOTAR and Fourth Wing 🥹)

°~♡~°

⚔️ Dystopian Setting
⚔️ Slow Burn Romance
⚔️ Whitty Banter
⚔️ Deadly & Very Morally Grey Prison Guard MMC
⚔️ Broken Yet Resilient Prisoner FMC
⚔️ Found Family
⚔️ Pining, Longing, & Spice
⚔️ Very High Stakes
⚔️ Major Plot Twists
⚔️ Happiest Ever After

📖 This series was everything, and I think this book gave me everything I needed and wanted.

*Quick flashback to book 1*
Khalani, Takeshi, and the others escaped Braderhelm - the dark underground prison in Apollo - where they immediately discover the atmosphere is safe.

*Quick flash back to book 2*
Khalani was tortured by Dr Strauss, made some allies, escaped the second city prison, but just as they were leaving, Takeshi shows us and tries to kill them and doesn't remember her 🥺😫🤮💔 (rip my damn soul through my throat).

*Update for present day*
They have Takeshi captive. He has no memories (I love a memory loss trope!). They have to go back to figure out what Prometheus is, and so they set off to find it.... WITH a psychotic amnesiac Takeshi in tow.

°~♡~°

💀 This book has violence, but it is written in a really entertaining way. For reference, I give it the same dark rating as The Hunger Games... violent but not overly graphic. I loved the way Takeshi is completely unhinged, psychotic and deadly.
*swoon*
My man leaves no fingers attached for those who dare touch what is HIS.

It did also have a lot of funny and happy moments loaded with sarcasm and banter, which grows throw book 3.

🩷 The romance... mmmm
Brock and Serene 👏👏 Ayooooo, I loved their side romance! Takeshi was always a man possessed by his woman... memory loss and all.

📝 This series is giving Divergent, The 100, Total Recall, Altered Carbon, and something NEW ✨️

👉 If you're new to Dystopian and want to start, this series is a great entry point.

♾️ In summary, this series is worth an infinite star rating. The plot, the characters, the banter, the violence, the romance, the found family, the world building, the cliffhanger... ALL OF IT 😘👌

[szreads]

Perfect ending to the series!

Us Defiant Few is an unforgettable journey through darkness, resilience, and what makes us human.

The synopsis at the beginning is such a great addition if you need a refresher for the plot and characters from the last 2 books.

The chapters when we’re in Takeshis head… amazing. He’s a 6’5 icon.

I also continued to love Winnie so much. She’s such a perfect character addition.

The poetry from Khalani throughout and quotes at the top of each chapter seamlessly blend art and storytelling.

What I loved most was how the book wrapped up so effortlessly and I enjoyed every minute that I was along for the journey.

If we want to go deeper… this book feels like a warning and examination of our current world. It’s just the type of dystopian book that young adult readers and adults need in current times that can be reflective but also enjoyable to read since it deals with AI subtly, control, and fighting for what’s right even in dark times.

Winnie is spitting facts when she says “that nuclear bombs weren't what ended civilization. It was the loss of empathy that marked humanity's collapse.”

My fav quotes ⬇️

“You were born of violence. But I chose it.”

“You’re in every breath I take, but it isn’t fucking enough.”

“In another story, you would’ve been my beginning.”

“You were the only person who ever made the darkness feel like home.”

“You turn my chaotic waters into calm seas.”

I really like too that I’m noticing a trend where authors make their books more accessible for all readers by providing warnings or non sexual options for the story. Alexis does a great job at doing this in a way that doesn’t take away from the story if readers choose not to read scenes with sexual content.

Notes:
- the ideal date question got me!! Ugh so cute but also a funny subtle reference

Thank you so much to Alexis and Bloom Books for an advanced copy of the book!! Being chosen for your street team has truly been a dream. I can’t believe I’m 1/150 who got this book early 🥹

Tropes
✅ Found family
✅ Touch her and die
✅ Amnesia
✅ Broken FMC/MMC

[Julie]

methinks we lost the plot somewhere along the way (the beginning) and then we just rolled. I'm not going to insult YA authors by saying this read more YA because they deserve respect. This just read like a teenager coming up with stuff off the top of their head and throwing in a relevant-to-the-times-we-live-in one-liner to sound intelligent and deep.

I'm so disappointed because I really liked the first two books and Patton's writing was strong and poetic. This just felt like angsty teen on AIM putting dramatic quotes in their profile.

do not recommend.

well. onwards and upwards, i guess.

[Kaylee✨ (dailykayleereads)]

♾️⭐️
Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened!🥹

I just finished Us Defiant Few and I don’t even know how to put all my thoughts and feelings about this series into words. I loved everything about this book and this series and I am so incredibly sad to say goodbye to the characters and story. I cried as soon as I finished the last page because I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters who touched my heart, but it was truly the perfect ending! It had romance, angst, jaw-dropping moments, and scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. Ultimately at the heart of this story is the persistence of hope and love and the best that humanity has to offer when we treat one another with kindness and love.

Khalani was an incredible FMC to follow. She is strong, brave, resilient, but where she really shines is in her empathy for others. Khalani always chose to do the right thing, even if it wasn’t the easiest choice. I loved getting to follow her journey of self-discovery and finding her found family.

And then we have TAKESHI! Takeshi is without a doubt a top book boyfriend. The way he yearns for and loves Khalani is beautiful. The way I kept highlighting everything that came out of this man’s mouth was CRAZY!!! I loved getting a few POV chapters from his perspective and getting to see what was really going on in his mind and his internal struggle. Takeshi is the definition of the trope touch her and die, and I ATE IT UP EVERY👏🏼SINGLE👏🏼TIME!👏🏼 How am I to ever move on from Takeshi?!😭

Alexis’ writing is nothing short of perfection and her words on page are beautiful and inspiring. The way she weaves together poetic storytelling, character development, and morals that resonate deeply with the reader seamlessly is something I am in awe of. Alexis nailed everything and it was such a satisfying conclusion and all I could have asked for and more. This is truly such a god tier series that I will reread over and over again!

The biggest thank you to Alexis and Bloom Books for allowing me the opportunity and privilege to be one of the first to read Us Defiant Few! It was such a dream come true to be part of the Street Team and share in the excitement and hype for the entire series!

[Kelsey Cornwell]

The first two books were interesting enough, though I could feel the momentum and quality already waning in book two. I picked this up right away because of the crazy cliffhanger on book two, but oh my god, this was hard to get through.

The writing felt extremely juvenile. There was no subtlety…. Several moments meant to be deep and revelatory that came off cringy.

The plot took about two dozen left turns that made no sense. It felt like between the Sinners, Desert Spring, Prometheus, the Aces, Apollo, the governor being AI overlord…. None of it had depth and was not explored enough to be meaningful.

Every issue the characters had was immediately solved when the characters just really wanted it to be. This is my biggest gripe. When Takeshi’s mind was taken over toward the end he suddenly broke through because he wanted to? Why? How?

I almost DNF’d solely because every 6 pages they asked Takeshi, “okay but…. DO YOU REMEMBER? Do you??? DO YOU???” 😭😭😭

I’m glad this is over.

[Emily ✨]

wow what an ending! This was a perfect conclusion to this trilogy so much so that I fully devoured the majority of this book in one night.

I love Khalani so much and I think the way she’s portrayed is done so well. Her relationships and values are everything to me. The found family is so damn good in this book. We can’t forget about Takeshi either. Ugh so good I love him so much.

In terms of the plot, wow so good. The plot twist was definitely plot twisting and in fact I found myself glue to my seat the entire time. 3 books for this series was exactly what it needed and I appreciated it not being drawn out for any longer

A big thank you to Alexis Patton and her team for the opportunity to read this arc!

[Bookalicious-Inc]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!!!!

It's actually criminal that goodreads doesn't let you rate this book 6 stars. I absolutely DEVOURED this book and the entire series. I'm still in some type of haze after just finishing this. The romance is honestly incomparable. The level of longing, yearning, chemistry and loyalty between Takeshi and Khalani... the touch her and die but for REAL... the way they talk to each other... forever obsessed with them. The Dystopian elements and dangers of A.I. being written so perfectly and scarily timely... so well done. The found family who would die for each other... the emotion and danger and every chapter keeping me on the very edge of my bed... this series is beyond ♾️ I couldn't have asked for a more perfect or more fitting ending. I will read anything Alexis Patton writes. If she published a grocery list, I would happily read that too. Her writing is pure poetry and I've never been so entangled in a series before. Everything was so beautiful.

[Brittany Cabrera]

THIS ENDING WAS EVERYTHING WE COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR AND MORE.😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Rachel]

I went into this book with very high expectations and high excitement. I loved the first two books and where they went, so I was excited for this one, especially with how the second book ends. And while this book was incredibly easy to read and breeze through, I was a little disappointed.

For a conclusion book, it felt very convoluted. There was so much new information revealed without a lot of time to live in the moment. And that goes for more than just the plot, we didn't really live in the scenes with these characters. I wish we sat in the moments longer, and I wish we saw conversations and scenes instead of mentioning that they happened off page, or just saying they talked about something without seeing that play out. There was also a lot of things that were magically solved, or convienant that they happened. And I know this is an easier to digest book, it doesn't feel like it is supposed to be this big thing, but it was a little too easy.

Some of the scenes and interactions didn't feel natural, the flow felt off compared to the other two books. Jumping emotions without the steps to get there, conversations were all over the place.

Unfortunately the confessions and devotion came off a little cheesy and not really well written, felt taken from other books because that is how it should be instead of how it felt natural for the characters. It felt scripted. And for a book to feel scripted... it isn't really supposed to feel like that.

I did want to live in the aftermath more. The last chapter was very sweet and I loved the callback to the other books with him getting her flowers, that was incredibly sweet. But I just wanted longer in these moments for this to hit bigger. But at the same time, I did love how easy the books read and how fast you could get through them.

Overall, I do like this series. I think it is pretty solid. I did enjoy the first two books more. How the story went from 0-100 in this third book with all the crazy revelations that happened, and all the new information it felt a little too much packed into too little. But I don't regret reading it, and I still will look back on the trilogy fondly.

[Courtney Seymour]

THE PERFECT ENDING TO A PERFECT SERIES!

I can’t explain how much I love this series. Us Dark Few was my first dystopian book I’ve read and was what started my love for dystopian and the ending of the series was just perfection 😍😭 the beginning broke my heart and then the twist I didn’t see coming at all I was ready to throw my kindle.

Also I read the acknowledgements..highly recommend because that would’ve just been criminal

THANK YOU FOR THE ARC

[Olivia💜🗡️]

The MMC is hot

[nichie j.c]

What a trilogy. I’m in awe at how good this series was. Finishing it feels like I’m saying goodbye to my friends.

Alexis Patton is a fantastic author and I can’t believe this is her debut series. One of the best romances I’ve ever read. Takeshi is the true definition of a book boyfriend and Khalani is just my fav. Both are amazing in their own rights as individual characters and have incredible chemistry.

Beyond the romance, the dystopian aspects really aren’t praised enough. It’s a fresh, interesting take on the Romantasy-esque post apocalyptic genre and really understands the politics that makes dystopia work.

I can’t wait to see what Alexis publishes next. I really can’t recommend this trilogy enough

[Bree Delgado]

Oh my god. Where do I start? I’m so sad this is the last book but this trilogy was perfect. It had so much tension, yearning and relatable quotes. You can tell the author poured her entire soul and heart into her words. I felt every gut wrenching inner thought and the love between the main characters will live rent free in my brain for the rest of my life. I fell in love not only with the main characters but the side characters as well. I don’t know how to put into words what this series did to me. How is it possible for this series to connect to my soul like it did? I can’t wait to read more by this author

[Esther]

The perfect ending to the perfect (AND TRUE) enemies to romance slow burn dystopian series!! Held my breath until the very last page and then sobbed through the acknowledgments!

Getting to read this series from being indie published, to trad to a NYT bestseller feels like such a special gift. The lessons learned, the hopeful dystopia, the found family, and a romance to rival any others.

Takeshi, the man you are!!!

So sad to be leaving this world but can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Alexis!

Thank you Bloom for the ARC and Podium for the ALC — immersive reading was absolute bliss. And thank you Alexis for having me interview you on the LA stop of your book tour — what a pinch me moment! 💕

[Tia Toro]

This was everything I needed for the conclusion of this trilogy.

I didn’t expect to have to wait so long for Takeshi & Kanes to be reunited, but the payoff was so worth it.

I could not put this book down, and the world parallels are scary. These things need to remain in dystopian books and out of the real world.

Loved this trilogy from beginning to end & will miss these characters sm

[Stephanie Bleckley]

I always struggle writing reviews for the final book in a series - especially when that series has had such a profound impact on my journey as a reader. I never want to say too much and risk spoiling anything, but I also want to make sure the book and this entire series gets the praise it deserves.

I picked up Us Dark Few on a whim after seeing Alexis' TikTok videos shortly after I got back into reading, and I absolutely devoured it. I finished it in a single day, couldn't put it down, and rode that book hangover for days afterward.

Since then, I've been incredibly lucky to receive ARCs for both Us Deadly Few and now Us Defiant Few, and somehow Alexis has managed to exceed my expectations every single time.

There was so much to unpack in this finale, but it never felt rushed. Every revelation, every twist, every emotional moment was given the space it deserved. I found myself anxiously turning page after page, desperate to know what would happen next. I'm usually someone who reads multiple books at once, but I couldn't even pick up another book while reading this. I was completely consumed by Khalani's story.

Watching Khalani grow throughout this series has been one of my favorite character journeys. Seeing her discover her strength, find where she belongs, and build a family out of a ragtag group of people who chose one another was incredibly moving. Every character brought something special to this story, and saying goodbye to them was much harder than I expected.

This series reminded me why I fell in love with reading again. It's full of heart, unforgettable characters, impossible choices, and the kind of story that stays with you long after you've turned the final page.

Thank you, Alexis, for creating a world I never wanted to leave. I already know I'll be revisiting this series again and again.

[Lisa DeBack]

I’m convinced most of these are paid reviews. This book was bad, like really pretty terrible. The first two were corny but decent- this last one was so poorly written, no character development, I didn’t even feel like I knew the MMC or FMC. I skimmed the last 50 pages I just could not take it anymore.

[buckylover09]

got this one early a little early and finished it in one sitting which shouldn't suprise anyone.

i get worried reading the final book of a series because it truly makes or breaks everything for me but this one was written so well. it didn't feel rushed at all and nothing felt out of the ordinary. overall really enjoyed this book.

SLOWWWWWWWWWWWBURN for sure but we already knew that. SO WORTH THE WAIT!!! it was such a fun read!

such a fun, solid dystopian series i would reccomend to anyone.

[Keeana S]

5 ⭐️!!!

What a great way to end this series!! I was still left wanting more but I am so satisfied with this ending! I feel like this world has more to offer so I hope she does some spin offs!

Also, Takeshi 🙌🏾😍😍😍

[Jordan Harvey]

Anyone that says this series is rubbish is talking rubbish 🗑

[Dayton]

I can’t believe the series is over!

This was a perfect ending to this story!

I love these characters, this dystopian world Patton has created and the way this story played out.

I was so invested from start to finish, I cried real tears.

If you haven’t read this series, you totally should.

[em]

over 9 months😭😭 just finished book 1, i already know i will be waiting for this one with bated breath🥲

[Hira Khan]

Oh my gosh. I couldn’t have dreamt up a better ending to this series if I tried. I think I cried and laughed through this entire book.

Khalani is easily one of my favorite FMCs. Her self doubt and her thoughts made her one of the most real and genuine characters ever. I like that her internal struggles weren’t brushed aside and instead we got to experience her inner turmoil as she fought to survive and fought to save Takeshi. Her sheer determination and strength were absolutely inspiring. And I think she’s someone a lot of women can relate to as well.

Takeshi, oh my Takeshi. I had so many emotions running through my head with him. First with his whole issue and his own internal struggles. I absolutely loved the few POVs we got so we could understand his struggles more. I liked the parallel between Khalani’s inner turmoil in Us Dark Few and Takeshi helping her through it, and Takeshi’s in this one with Khalani on the other side. I think Takeshi is the ultimate book boyfriend. His yearning is impeccable and he’s the literal definition of touch her and die, even if he doesn’t understand it himself. They had the best banter and tension too. But this boy had my jaw dropping multiple times.

But oh my god, Winnie was so sassy in this. I was cackling with every sentence that came out of her mouth. And I liked seeing more of Serene’s aggressive side. Her sisterhood with Khalani was beautiful. I think Us Defiant Few has one of the most beautiful found families I’ve ever read. They truly would do anything for each other and I love that this beautiful band of misfits found love in each other.

I like that the world building isn’t overly complicated and it’s very easy to understand. What I really liked though was the parallel to our own world. I think this is an important story that needed to be told in 2026, and while this is a work of fiction, it all starts somewhere.

But oh my god, I absolutely did not guess where this story was going. I went on an absolute wild ride, especially in the second half. I absolutely love the unpredictability though. I love being surprised.

I know people ask about spice level a lot, and while I read it, I like that it’s clearly noted and skippable, allowing more people to be able to read it.

Overall, this is an infinity star read. I think it wrapped up more beautifully than I could have ever imagined. I’m sad this story is over, but I’m glad I got to experience it. I cannot wait for the world to have this story in their hands.

[Angela]

This final book was a well deserved five stars.
A solid, satisfying, deeply deserved one.

There is something special about reaching the end of a trilogy you have been following for years and actually feeling satisfied with where it all lands.
I have been following this story since the beginning, so I was genuinely anxious to see how everything would finally come together.
And thankfully, it did.

This is, at its heart, a post-apocalyptic dystopian story, which already puts it firmly in my comfort zone.
But what made this trilogy work so well for me was never just the world building or the action.
It was the characters.

I have been connected to these characters since the beginning, and by the end they felt less like fictional people I was reading about and more like people I had been carrying with me throughout the trilogy.
Which means, naturally, I am now going to miss them.

One of my favourite aspects of the story was the found family.
A group of people from completely different backgrounds, with different experiences, wounds and reasons for surviving, who somehow found one another and chose each other.
They became a family stronger and more cohesive than many families bound together by blood. There is something incredibly beautiful about that.

I also really enjoyed the constant action.
It was intense, but it had a purpose.
Things happened for a reason, the story kept moving forward, and everything felt carefully woven together.
The trilogy ultimately delivered what I always hope for in a series: a beginning, a middle and an actual ending that feels earned.

And then there is the villain.

The antagonist being an AI called Alan/Alex was probably the part that made me stop and think the most.
Originally created to help humanity recover after a devastating nuclear war, the AI eventually decided that humanity was simply too cruel, corrupt and destructive to be allowed to continue.
Its solution?
Control us, alter us, clone us… and ultimately eradicate us.

And honestly, that was unsettlingly thought provoking.

Especially because we live in a world where AI is becoming increasingly present in our everyday lives.
The idea of an intelligence observing humanity, judging us by our worst qualities and deciding that the world would be better without us is obviously fictional... but it raises some uncomfortable questions about what happens when something created to help humanity starts deciding what is best for humanity.

Ironically, Alan/Alex's attempt to "save" the world from human cruelty ends up reproducing the very things it condemns: control, violence, oppression and destruction. And I found that particularly interesting.

Most importantly, though, I was happy with the ending.

After everything these characters endured, they deserved happiness.
Humanity deserved a second chance.
And the planet deserved one too.
There was something almost restorative about the conclusion, as if the ending wasn't only about healing the characters, but about giving the world itself a chance to heal.

So, it was a genuinely satisfying, well constructed and emotionally rewarding conclusion to a trilogy I have cared about for years.

This one was absolutely worth reading. ❤️

[Sentranced Jem]

I LOVED the first two books, so my expectations for 𝐔𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐰 by Alexis Patton were astronomical and it completely delivered! 
I’m usually not a fan of the amnesia trope, but it was executed so well here. Takeshi loses his memory and sees Khalani as a dangerous enemy he intends to kill. Seeing Khalani fight to help him regain his humanity and memories while giving him space, surviving hostile forces, and navigating a slow burn romance with electric chemistry made this an absolute page turner!  
Beyond the romance, the dystopian world building completely pulls you in. Us Defiant Few takes you on an emotional rollercoaster from helplessness and fear to loss, love, and hope for a better future. 
 
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: 
⚡ Dystopian Sci-Fi 
⚡ Post-Apocalyptic Survival 
⚡ Amnesia  
⚡ Enemies to Lovers  
⚡ Survival & Dark Secrets  
⚡ Societal control via AI 
⚡ Climate Anxiety 
⚡🌶️🌶️🌶️ 
 

[Emmy]

Holy Dystopian! I recieved the ARC this morning and could NOT put it down! If you’re looking for a fantastic dystopian series LOOK NO FURTHERRR. Us Defiant Few has to be my fav of the series, I can’t put into words how beautifully Alexis Patton has written this story. The slow burn, the suspense, THE TWISTS, I was unwell and then well again. 🤣 I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better ending to this trilogy. It’s bittersweet for sure to know that it’s come to an end but I cannot wait to read anything else Alexis has up her sleeve.
*Fav Characters: Winnie, Takeshi
*Fav Quotes:
~“You might not have been at the start. But I’m happy you’re at the finish.”
~“He’d paint again. She’d make sure of that.”
~“Something or someone so important to me. It feels like a piece of my soul was tethered to it. And now there’s just this this gaping hole in my chest. I’d rather rip it all out.”
~”Words have power, and if her actions couldn’t make a difference, she’d write a thousand-page story detailing the wonders of him.”
~“He’s still threatening to string everyone upside down by their entrails. And honestly, a part of me wants to see it happen.”
~“Love destroyed and saved me in the same breath.”
~“I’m just as selfish and want forever with you. Every day, I’ll work to be better than the day before. But above all, I’ll never stop loving you.”
~“You may not have all my firsts, Takeshi but I promise you will have all of my lasts.”
~“I told you I would find some flowers for you.”
*Fav Scenes: The Studio. The Garden. There’s too many to count but def the ending 🥹IYKYK.

[Susanna]

The beginning was interesting. I was curious to see what was going to happen with Takeshi. It reminded me of what happened to Peeta in The Hunger Games. At least here, Khalani stayed by his side and actually tried to bring him back. I just wish he had remembered sooner in the story…

But other than that? Meh. This series unfortunately didn’t impress me. Even the other characters in their little “family” didn’t do much for me. I don’t know… it was just meh, I guess. 🥲