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Defiance of Shadows
In a city ruled by the Authority, silence means survival. Men wield magic and women hold Intuition, a divide that splits the city in half. But when a girl is born, gifted with magic, a revolution is bound to happen.
Jade rebels against the strict rules, driven by her own truth and questions, but when she uncovers secrets buried deep within the city’s walls, she is thrust into a dangerous struggle against forces far greater than herself.
As old gods are unmasked and alliances fracture, Jade discovers that the fight for freedom carries a price, and sometimes survival means facing the truth hidden within.
Defiance of Shadows comes in a beautiful hardcover edition, complete with stunning sprayed edges and custom endpapers.
Jade rebels against the strict rules, driven by her own truth and questions, but when she uncovers secrets buried deep within the city’s walls, she is thrust into a dangerous struggle against forces far greater than herself.
As old gods are unmasked and alliances fracture, Jade discovers that the fight for freedom carries a price, and sometimes survival means facing the truth hidden within.
Defiance of Shadows comes in a beautiful hardcover edition, complete with stunning sprayed edges and custom endpapers.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2026
About the author
K.T. Sterling
7 books46 followersK.T. Sterling is the author of the popular Daughters of the Fae fairytale retelling trilogy.
Defiance of Shadows is her first English novel.
Defiance of Shadows is her first English novel.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 31, 2026
Defiance of Shadow transports you back into that 2010 dystopian era with oppressive regimes, political tension, and a rebellious spirit that can turn the tide.
The prologue felt like one right out of the films, presenting the origin story of our main character, Jade. Years later, we get familiar with Jade and the society she lives in. The social structure was giving The Handmaid's Tail with a touch of magic. The murky streets of an alternative London are divided into men and women. The superior men can wield magic, while women only have their Intuition. Sounds like magic on its own too, if I say so myself 😌 HOWEVER, Jade, a curious troublemaker, a wildcard, a GIRL, discovers she can wield magic?! Don't let the Authority know because how that would hurt men's egos. This Authority is like the annoying sound of your alarm clock, the "I am human" verification not believing you, the unskippable online ads. I can't blame Jade for removing her home's megaphones through which the Authority reminds its people of their daily activities and its self-praise.
But as you can guess, Jade's secret is tied to a prophecy which she discovers later in the book with the help of her boy [friend zone] friend and a mysterious stranger she meets. Despite the typical "I am different, I don't belong" character of Jade, I could very well empathise with her for demanding answers about who her father is. As an adoptee, this question will always nag at me, so I could totally understand her desire for answers about her parents and why society is as it is. She felt a bit pushy at times, but her determined spirit can't be denied.
The main/side characters, Elias and Kalo, were distinct and had great chemistry with Jade. I loved the surprise that they knew each other already, creating questions about their history since they're not exactly buddy-buddy. All three have more history than they let on, forming this tension of trust and love. I did miss a bit of romance between Jade and the boys.
Regarding Elias, he and Jade were already friends, so there was a solid friends-to-maybe-lovers trope there. The revelation at the end explained much concerning his and Jade's feelings towards each other. I was like: "Okay, well, I wasn't sure whether I rooted more for Jade x Elias or Jade x Kalo if I HAD to choose, but oh well, this explains it then."
Kalo was such an intriguing character. Really rogue-like and your typical gloomy mysterious male love interest. Sometimes I did find it weird that he just disappeared at times, even though his actions get explained. I just felt like those moments were just to make room for Elias and Jade, for example. But maybe that's just something personal. This also made the ending (love-wise) feel sudden? I missed some solid romantic/emotional relationship between him and Jade to get to this lovely ending. (so, I did feel 🥰 at the end)
The minor side characters were also well fleshed out. I especially adored Myra, Jenca, the Matri, and Dansin. Myra and Jenca are so cute together, and the Matri was a really intriguing character after all. And I loved how Dansin's trans character complicated and modernised the male/female dichotomy. The Underground Movement sounded like a pretty cool storyline to have been explored more.
Then the protagonist(s) contributed well to the story. Their motivations were kind of tragic in a way. I imagined Dakath as a mix of Ben Barnes' The Darkling x The Sandman, but more whiny. I much enjoyed the snarky comments of Jade whenever she defied Dakath. The final battle felt suspenseful, like you expect in the dystopian genre. Time-wise, if you think critically, it may feel off; the ending somewhat rushed, the journey a bit dragging. But... who am I to lay rigid rules upon this dystopian story? I just go with it 🤷♀️
I also want to highlight the inspiration behind this book from the Children of Light, the Emerald Tablet, and the Philosopher's Stone. Sterling took amazing interpretations of them in spinned them into this compelling story!
Then the social themes were sharp and written with a strong voice. There's not only misogyny, but also discourses around drugs, homophobia, and stillbirth. From my pov, there's also commentary on orphanages in undisclosed regimes. (If you understand what I mean?) I think that these heavy topics were considerately woven into this story. It's a great book with complicated family relationships and tensions between duty and freedom, all with a magical touch.
Thank you, Hamley Books and K.T. Sterling, for an e-copy!
The prologue felt like one right out of the films, presenting the origin story of our main character, Jade. Years later, we get familiar with Jade and the society she lives in. The social structure was giving The Handmaid's Tail with a touch of magic. The murky streets of an alternative London are divided into men and women. The superior men can wield magic, while women only have their Intuition. Sounds like magic on its own too, if I say so myself 😌 HOWEVER, Jade, a curious troublemaker, a wildcard, a GIRL, discovers she can wield magic?! Don't let the Authority know because how that would hurt men's egos. This Authority is like the annoying sound of your alarm clock, the "I am human" verification not believing you, the unskippable online ads. I can't blame Jade for removing her home's megaphones through which the Authority reminds its people of their daily activities and its self-praise.
But as you can guess, Jade's secret is tied to a prophecy which she discovers later in the book with the help of her boy [friend zone] friend and a mysterious stranger she meets. Despite the typical "I am different, I don't belong" character of Jade, I could very well empathise with her for demanding answers about who her father is. As an adoptee, this question will always nag at me, so I could totally understand her desire for answers about her parents and why society is as it is. She felt a bit pushy at times, but her determined spirit can't be denied.
The main/side characters, Elias and Kalo, were distinct and had great chemistry with Jade. I loved the surprise that they knew each other already, creating questions about their history since they're not exactly buddy-buddy. All three have more history than they let on, forming this tension of trust and love. I did miss a bit of romance between Jade and the boys.
Regarding Elias, he and Jade were already friends, so there was a solid friends-to-maybe-lovers trope there. The revelation at the end explained much concerning his and Jade's feelings towards each other. I was like: "Okay, well, I wasn't sure whether I rooted more for Jade x Elias or Jade x Kalo if I HAD to choose, but oh well, this explains it then."
Kalo was such an intriguing character. Really rogue-like and your typical gloomy mysterious male love interest. Sometimes I did find it weird that he just disappeared at times, even though his actions get explained. I just felt like those moments were just to make room for Elias and Jade, for example. But maybe that's just something personal. This also made the ending (love-wise) feel sudden? I missed some solid romantic/emotional relationship between him and Jade to get to this lovely ending. (so, I did feel 🥰 at the end)
The minor side characters were also well fleshed out. I especially adored Myra, Jenca, the Matri, and Dansin. Myra and Jenca are so cute together, and the Matri was a really intriguing character after all. And I loved how Dansin's trans character complicated and modernised the male/female dichotomy. The Underground Movement sounded like a pretty cool storyline to have been explored more.
Then the protagonist(s) contributed well to the story. Their motivations were kind of tragic in a way. I imagined Dakath as a mix of Ben Barnes' The Darkling x The Sandman, but more whiny. I much enjoyed the snarky comments of Jade whenever she defied Dakath. The final battle felt suspenseful, like you expect in the dystopian genre. Time-wise, if you think critically, it may feel off; the ending somewhat rushed, the journey a bit dragging. But... who am I to lay rigid rules upon this dystopian story? I just go with it 🤷♀️
I also want to highlight the inspiration behind this book from the Children of Light, the Emerald Tablet, and the Philosopher's Stone. Sterling took amazing interpretations of them in spinned them into this compelling story!
Then the social themes were sharp and written with a strong voice. There's not only misogyny, but also discourses around drugs, homophobia, and stillbirth. From my pov, there's also commentary on orphanages in undisclosed regimes. (If you understand what I mean?) I think that these heavy topics were considerately woven into this story. It's a great book with complicated family relationships and tensions between duty and freedom, all with a magical touch.
Thank you, Hamley Books and K.T. Sterling, for an e-copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
You know I love a good dystopian story, so of course I was really excited to pick up Defiance of Shadows! And honestly, this gave me some serious 2012 dystopian wave vibes, which I was totally here for. 👏
We follow Jade, a young girl living in London, where society is divided into two sides. One side is made up of men who wield magic, while the other is made up of women who possess intuition.
I really liked the idea behind this divided society. There’s definitely a lot of potential here, and I was intrigued by the world and where the story could go. That said, I did find myself having quite a few questions throughout the book, and I sometimes felt like the world building could have been explored and thought through a little more.
Especially with a society this divided, I found myself wondering why there weren’t more people questioning how things worked or pushing back against the system. I think I was expecting a little more rebellion and resistance, which would have made the dystopian aspect even more interesting for me.
I did enjoy the writing style, it was easy to follow and made this a really quick read. And despite some things not quite clicking for me, I still think the concept has a lot of potential.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We follow Jade, a young girl living in London, where society is divided into two sides. One side is made up of men who wield magic, while the other is made up of women who possess intuition.
I really liked the idea behind this divided society. There’s definitely a lot of potential here, and I was intrigued by the world and where the story could go. That said, I did find myself having quite a few questions throughout the book, and I sometimes felt like the world building could have been explored and thought through a little more.
Especially with a society this divided, I found myself wondering why there weren’t more people questioning how things worked or pushing back against the system. I think I was expecting a little more rebellion and resistance, which would have made the dystopian aspect even more interesting for me.
I did enjoy the writing style, it was easy to follow and made this a really quick read. And despite some things not quite clicking for me, I still think the concept has a lot of potential.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Defiance of Shadows by K.T. Sterling is an urban YA fantasy set in London in 2035. In this world, men possess magic while women do not. As a result, men and women live separately, divided by a towering wall. The rules are simple: obey the authorities and, above all, don’t ask questions.
But rebellious teenager Jade has no intention of simply accepting things as they are. While searching for the identity of her real father, she gradually uncovers the secrets behind the society she grew up in.
Defiance of Shadows is a fast-paced read with an interesting dystopian urban fantasy concept. At times, it gave me some mild The Handmaid’s Tale vibes, particularly in the way individual needs are sacrificed for “the greater good.” The mysteries are slowly unravelled throughout the story and kept me curious enough to want to find out what was really behind this divided society. Sterling also keeps the story very accessible, making this a great YA read for those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian stories but don’t want to get lost in overly complicated worldbuilding.
Personally, I didn’t really connect with Jade. For much of the story, she is mainly focused on herself and her own search for answers, and she doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the consequences her actions might have for others. To some extent, this fits her rebellious personality, but at certain points I found her behaviour difficult to fully believe for someone who had grown up in such a strictly controlled society.
I also found some parts of the story a little repetitive. Certain internal monologues as well as actions were repeated in similar ways throughout the book, and I felt the story could have been streamlined a little more in places.
Overall, Defiance of Shadows is an entertaining YA read for those who enjoy a fast pace, mysteries, and a dystopian urban fantasy setting without overly complex worldbuilding or character development.
3.5⭐️
But rebellious teenager Jade has no intention of simply accepting things as they are. While searching for the identity of her real father, she gradually uncovers the secrets behind the society she grew up in.
Defiance of Shadows is a fast-paced read with an interesting dystopian urban fantasy concept. At times, it gave me some mild The Handmaid’s Tale vibes, particularly in the way individual needs are sacrificed for “the greater good.” The mysteries are slowly unravelled throughout the story and kept me curious enough to want to find out what was really behind this divided society. Sterling also keeps the story very accessible, making this a great YA read for those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian stories but don’t want to get lost in overly complicated worldbuilding.
Personally, I didn’t really connect with Jade. For much of the story, she is mainly focused on herself and her own search for answers, and she doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the consequences her actions might have for others. To some extent, this fits her rebellious personality, but at certain points I found her behaviour difficult to fully believe for someone who had grown up in such a strictly controlled society.
I also found some parts of the story a little repetitive. Certain internal monologues as well as actions were repeated in similar ways throughout the book, and I felt the story could have been streamlined a little more in places.
Overall, Defiance of Shadows is an entertaining YA read for those who enjoy a fast pace, mysteries, and a dystopian urban fantasy setting without overly complex worldbuilding or character development.
3.5⭐️
September 19, 2026
Review of advance copy received from publisher
Defiance of shadows by K.T. Sterling is an urban YA dystopian Fantasy. It was fast paced and without complex worldbuilding.
In the book we follow Jade, our FMC. In this dystopian setting men possess magic and women do not. It is made so that women are seen as ‘lesser’ and mostly good for bearing children. (The handsmaid’s Tale vibes). Men and women live separately, ‘mates’ are assigned and that is how it has always been. Jade has absolutely zero interest in accepting this. She has questions about her background and wants to know who her real father is. On her quest to find out who her father is she finds out a bit more than what she bargained for.
I enjoyed the dystopian aspects of the book and found it overall enjoyable. I did have some trouble connecting with the characters as this is YA and I am, unfortunately, not a teenager anymore. I found our FMC extremely selfish and impatient which made her reasoning difficult to align with. It did fit her character traits to a tee and seeing her ‘redemption’ arc made me forgive her earlier flaws.
Concluding, if you like a fast paced, dystopian YA Fantasy without a complex worldbuilding than this is definitely a book for you.
3.5🌟
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Defiance of Shadows by K.T. Sterling is a gripping YA dystopian fantasy.
Jade is a compelling and believable heroine, and her journey through a world divided by power, magic, and oppression is both tense and emotional. The story balances action, mystery, and intrigue, while the rich worldbuilding keeps the tension. Highly recommended
Jade is a compelling and believable heroine, and her journey through a world divided by power, magic, and oppression is both tense and emotional. The story balances action, mystery, and intrigue, while the rich worldbuilding keeps the tension. Highly recommended
September 23, 2026
Defiance of Schadows is een dystopische roman over Londen in de jaren 2036, waarbij de mannen en de vrouwen gescheiden leven.
We volgen het verhaal vanuit Jade, die de wetgeving van The Autorithy nooit heeft geaccepteerd. Ze heeft ontzettend veel vragen, maar ze krijgt er nooit een goed antwoord op. Alles blijft vaag en mysterieus. Samen met haar beste vriend Elias en een nieuwe vriend gaat ze op zoek naar antwoorden.
De vragen die Jade heeft vragen wij ons als lezers ook af. Waarom zijn de mannen en de vrouwen gescheiden? Wie is The Autorithy? Hoe komt het dat Jade als enige meid magie heeft? Waarom hebben alleen de mannen dat? Deze vragen blijf constant door het hoofd van Jade en de lezer spoken. Op een aantal vragen krijgen je aan het einde een antwoord, maar op veel ook niet.
We missen voor mijn gevoel dan ook een beetje achtergrondinformatie. Ik denk dat een proloog waar meer wordt uitgelegd waardoor de jongens en meiden gescheiden leven en waarom dat zo is veel informatie had verschaft die nu ontbreekt.
Ik heb daarnaast verschillende recensies gelezen waarbij werd gezegd dat het boek een snel tempo heeft. Ik denk daar anders over.
Toen ik aan het verhaal begon, was ik direct gepakt. Hunger Games vibes, dan sta ik direct klaar. Maar toen we zo rond de 100 pagina's waren was er naar mijn mening nog niet veel gebeurd en mochten we onderhand wel beginnen aan het plot van het verhaal: namelijk op zoek gaan naar de antwoorden.
Tot slot vroeg ik me af of ik de magie wel een toegevoegde waarde vond hebben. Alles werd best wel realistisch neergezet, maar dat stukje magie voelde onnatuurlijk aan en pakte mij niet zo, terwijl het wel een belangrijk onderdeel van het plot is.
Ik wil wel benadrukken dit boek ook zeker sterke kanten heeft. Ik vind het knap dat wij net zo in het onwetende worden gelaten als Jade zelf en dat we soms (onverwachts) van perspectief wisselden. Aan het einde van het verhaal kwam veel aan het licht en een aantal onthullingen zag ik niet aankomen. Jade is daarnaast grotendeels een goed en sterk hoofdpersonage die zich niet zomaar de mond laat snoeren en niet zomaar alles accepteert.
Daarom geef ik dit boek 3,25 🌟en wil ik HamleyBooks van harte bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar.
'Defiance of Schadows' van K.T. Sterling is vanaf NU verkrijgbaar.
We volgen het verhaal vanuit Jade, die de wetgeving van The Autorithy nooit heeft geaccepteerd. Ze heeft ontzettend veel vragen, maar ze krijgt er nooit een goed antwoord op. Alles blijft vaag en mysterieus. Samen met haar beste vriend Elias en een nieuwe vriend gaat ze op zoek naar antwoorden.
De vragen die Jade heeft vragen wij ons als lezers ook af. Waarom zijn de mannen en de vrouwen gescheiden? Wie is The Autorithy? Hoe komt het dat Jade als enige meid magie heeft? Waarom hebben alleen de mannen dat? Deze vragen blijf constant door het hoofd van Jade en de lezer spoken. Op een aantal vragen krijgen je aan het einde een antwoord, maar op veel ook niet.
We missen voor mijn gevoel dan ook een beetje achtergrondinformatie. Ik denk dat een proloog waar meer wordt uitgelegd waardoor de jongens en meiden gescheiden leven en waarom dat zo is veel informatie had verschaft die nu ontbreekt.
Ik heb daarnaast verschillende recensies gelezen waarbij werd gezegd dat het boek een snel tempo heeft. Ik denk daar anders over.
Toen ik aan het verhaal begon, was ik direct gepakt. Hunger Games vibes, dan sta ik direct klaar. Maar toen we zo rond de 100 pagina's waren was er naar mijn mening nog niet veel gebeurd en mochten we onderhand wel beginnen aan het plot van het verhaal: namelijk op zoek gaan naar de antwoorden.
Tot slot vroeg ik me af of ik de magie wel een toegevoegde waarde vond hebben. Alles werd best wel realistisch neergezet, maar dat stukje magie voelde onnatuurlijk aan en pakte mij niet zo, terwijl het wel een belangrijk onderdeel van het plot is.
Ik wil wel benadrukken dit boek ook zeker sterke kanten heeft. Ik vind het knap dat wij net zo in het onwetende worden gelaten als Jade zelf en dat we soms (onverwachts) van perspectief wisselden. Aan het einde van het verhaal kwam veel aan het licht en een aantal onthullingen zag ik niet aankomen. Jade is daarnaast grotendeels een goed en sterk hoofdpersonage die zich niet zomaar de mond laat snoeren en niet zomaar alles accepteert.
Daarom geef ik dit boek 3,25 🌟en wil ik HamleyBooks van harte bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar.
'Defiance of Schadows' van K.T. Sterling is vanaf NU verkrijgbaar.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Advanced Reader Copy review (big thanks to the publisher and author for giving me this opportunity! 💙)
Defiance of Shadows feels like a mix between Divergent and The Handmaid’s Tale, with its divided city, strict societal rules and the strong separation between men and women.
The story is set in a London where men and women live separately and are only allowed to come together under very specific circumstances. Families are divided afterwards, with sons raised by their fathers and daughters by their mothers, creating a society where people can grow up without even knowing their other parent. It’s a fascinating, and at times unsettling, world to discover.
Jade was a pretty cool protagonist. She is strong-willed, curious and determined to question the rules she has been raised with. She doesn’t simply accept the way things are and wants to uncover the truth and stand up against a system she believes is wrong. I didn’t always agree with her choices, but I did enjoy following her journey.
One of my favourite aspects of the story is the mystery. From the very beginning, there are questions surrounding Jade and the world she lives in, and throughout the story, little pieces of information are gradually revealed. Every new clue makes you want to keep reading and find out what is really going on.
What also surprised me was how unsettling the world sometimes felt. There were moments when I caught myself thinking*: “What if something like this could actually happen?*” That’s also what made the The Handmaid’s Tale comparison feel so fitting to me. The idea of a society changing so drastically and taking away basic freedoms can feel uncomfortably close to reality if the world were ever to get completely out of hand.
The writing is fast-paced and easy to read, although there were some repetitive parts throughout the story. I think this would be a particularly fun read for young adult readers who enjoy dystopian stories with mystery, rebellion and a society full of secrets.
Overall, Defiance of Shadows was an enjoyable read with an intriguing world and enough unanswered questions to keep me turning the pages.
I’m giving it 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
Defiance of Shadows feels like a mix between Divergent and The Handmaid’s Tale, with its divided city, strict societal rules and the strong separation between men and women.
The story is set in a London where men and women live separately and are only allowed to come together under very specific circumstances. Families are divided afterwards, with sons raised by their fathers and daughters by their mothers, creating a society where people can grow up without even knowing their other parent. It’s a fascinating, and at times unsettling, world to discover.
Jade was a pretty cool protagonist. She is strong-willed, curious and determined to question the rules she has been raised with. She doesn’t simply accept the way things are and wants to uncover the truth and stand up against a system she believes is wrong. I didn’t always agree with her choices, but I did enjoy following her journey.
One of my favourite aspects of the story is the mystery. From the very beginning, there are questions surrounding Jade and the world she lives in, and throughout the story, little pieces of information are gradually revealed. Every new clue makes you want to keep reading and find out what is really going on.
What also surprised me was how unsettling the world sometimes felt. There were moments when I caught myself thinking*: “What if something like this could actually happen?*” That’s also what made the The Handmaid’s Tale comparison feel so fitting to me. The idea of a society changing so drastically and taking away basic freedoms can feel uncomfortably close to reality if the world were ever to get completely out of hand.
The writing is fast-paced and easy to read, although there were some repetitive parts throughout the story. I think this would be a particularly fun read for young adult readers who enjoy dystopian stories with mystery, rebellion and a society full of secrets.
Overall, Defiance of Shadows was an enjoyable read with an intriguing world and enough unanswered questions to keep me turning the pages.
I’m giving it 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
September 27, 2026
✨ ARC review Defiance of Shadows
Defiance of Shadows speelt zich af in een futuristisch Londen dat wordt geregeerd door de Authority. In deze wereld zijn mannen en vrouwen strikt van elkaar gescheiden. Mannen mogen magie gebruiken, terwijl vrouwen het moeten doen met iets wat “Intuition” wordt genoemd. Jade past totaal niet binnen dat systeem, want zij is als vrouw geboren met magie — iets wat absoluut verboden is.
Ik vond het verhaal vooral heel vlot en spannend om te lezen. Er gebeurt ontzettend veel en de ene onthulling volgt de andere op. De verschillende geheimen en plot twists maakten me nieuwsgierig en zorgden ervoor dat ik steeds verder wilde lezen. Ook zit er veel dialoog in het boek, waardoor het tempo hoog blijft en je er echt snel doorheen vliegt.
Mijn grootste struikelblok was toch wel de worldbuilding. Er wordt op relatief weinig pagina’s enorm veel verteld en daardoor voelde het soms alsof ik informatie miste. Ik bleef met best wat vragen zitten over hoe deze wereld precies in elkaar zit. Vooral het magiesysteem had voor mij wat meer uitleg mogen krijgen.
Ik had daarom graag wat meer achtergrond en ruimte gezien om de wereld en de regels ervan beter te leren kennen.
Al met al vond ik Defiance of Shadows een interessante dystopische fantasy met veel actie, geheimen en twists. Ik bleef nieuwsgierig naar wat er nog onthuld zou worden en heb me zeker vermaakt tijdens het lezen. Ik had alleen graag wat meer tijd gekregen om de wereld écht goed te begrijpen.
Defiance of Shadows speelt zich af in een futuristisch Londen dat wordt geregeerd door de Authority. In deze wereld zijn mannen en vrouwen strikt van elkaar gescheiden. Mannen mogen magie gebruiken, terwijl vrouwen het moeten doen met iets wat “Intuition” wordt genoemd. Jade past totaal niet binnen dat systeem, want zij is als vrouw geboren met magie — iets wat absoluut verboden is.
Ik vond het verhaal vooral heel vlot en spannend om te lezen. Er gebeurt ontzettend veel en de ene onthulling volgt de andere op. De verschillende geheimen en plot twists maakten me nieuwsgierig en zorgden ervoor dat ik steeds verder wilde lezen. Ook zit er veel dialoog in het boek, waardoor het tempo hoog blijft en je er echt snel doorheen vliegt.
Mijn grootste struikelblok was toch wel de worldbuilding. Er wordt op relatief weinig pagina’s enorm veel verteld en daardoor voelde het soms alsof ik informatie miste. Ik bleef met best wat vragen zitten over hoe deze wereld precies in elkaar zit. Vooral het magiesysteem had voor mij wat meer uitleg mogen krijgen.
Ik had daarom graag wat meer achtergrond en ruimte gezien om de wereld en de regels ervan beter te leren kennen.
Al met al vond ik Defiance of Shadows een interessante dystopische fantasy met veel actie, geheimen en twists. Ik bleef nieuwsgierig naar wat er nog onthuld zou worden en heb me zeker vermaakt tijdens het lezen. Ik had alleen graag wat meer tijd gekregen om de wereld écht goed te begrijpen.
September 25, 2026
Recensie: "Defiance of Shadows" – K.T. Sterling 🔮✨
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Stap binnen in het futuristische Londen van 2036, waar mannen magie hanteren en vrouwen over intuïtie beschikken...
Totdat Jade wordt geboren mét magische krachten. Samen met haar beste vriend Elias daagt ze de strenge 'Authority' uit en begint een gevaarlijke zoektocht naar de waarheid 🌪️🔥.
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De plus- en minpunten op een rij:
Razendsnel & verslavend: Dankzij de vlotte dialogen en constante spanning vliegt het verhaal voorbij ☕📖.
Sterke protagonist: Jade is een rebelse, pittige hoofdpersoon die niet over zich heen laat lopen...
Iets té mysterieus?: Het magiesysteem en de wereld missen hier en daar wat diepgang, waardoor niet alle vragen worden beantwoord.
Wisselend tempo: De actie is meeslepend, al komt het plot voor sommigen pas rond pagina 100 op gang en blijft de emotionele band wat afstandelijk ⚖️
Eindoordeel: Een vlot geschreven en meeslepende Engelstalige YA-dystopie vol magie, actie en plottwists. Een abso
lute aanrader voor liefhebbers van het genre! ⚡
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Stap binnen in het futuristische Londen van 2036, waar mannen magie hanteren en vrouwen over intuïtie beschikken...
Totdat Jade wordt geboren mét magische krachten. Samen met haar beste vriend Elias daagt ze de strenge 'Authority' uit en begint een gevaarlijke zoektocht naar de waarheid 🌪️🔥.
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De plus- en minpunten op een rij:
Razendsnel & verslavend: Dankzij de vlotte dialogen en constante spanning vliegt het verhaal voorbij ☕📖.
Sterke protagonist: Jade is een rebelse, pittige hoofdpersoon die niet over zich heen laat lopen...
Iets té mysterieus?: Het magiesysteem en de wereld missen hier en daar wat diepgang, waardoor niet alle vragen worden beantwoord.
Wisselend tempo: De actie is meeslepend, al komt het plot voor sommigen pas rond pagina 100 op gang en blijft de emotionele band wat afstandelijk ⚖️
Eindoordeel: Een vlot geschreven en meeslepende Engelstalige YA-dystopie vol magie, actie en plottwists. Een abso
lute aanrader voor liefhebbers van het genre! ⚡
September 22, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Defiance of Shadows has such an interesting premise: a dystopian London where society is divided, men possess magic while women do not, and questioning the rules is definitely not encouraged.
I really enjoyed the concept and the mystery surrounding this world. The story is fast-paced, easy to get into, and the worldbuilding never becomes overly complicated, which made this a very accessible YA fantasy. I especially liked slowly uncovering the secrets alongside Jade and finding out what was really happening behind the society she had grown up in.
I did struggle to fully connect with Jade at times, and some parts of the story felt a little repetitive, which kept this from being a higher rating for me. Still, I had a good time reading it and think it will especially appeal to readers who enjoy dystopian YA, mystery, rebellion and urban fantasy.
Thank you so much to K.T. Sterling and Hamley Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🤍✨
Defiance of Shadows has such an interesting premise: a dystopian London where society is divided, men possess magic while women do not, and questioning the rules is definitely not encouraged.
I really enjoyed the concept and the mystery surrounding this world. The story is fast-paced, easy to get into, and the worldbuilding never becomes overly complicated, which made this a very accessible YA fantasy. I especially liked slowly uncovering the secrets alongside Jade and finding out what was really happening behind the society she had grown up in.
I did struggle to fully connect with Jade at times, and some parts of the story felt a little repetitive, which kept this from being a higher rating for me. Still, I had a good time reading it and think it will especially appeal to readers who enjoy dystopian YA, mystery, rebellion and urban fantasy.
Thank you so much to K.T. Sterling and Hamley Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🤍✨
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Recieved advanced copy from the publisher
It took me some time to get through this book. The beginning was faster paced, then slow paced and back to a bit faster.
In this book we follow a young girl (Jade) who struggles with how to world is. She lives in Londn, where men and women live on different sides of the city. And are supposed to mix except for making babies.
Jade is trying to change the way of living. It is a surreal world where she doesn't follow the rules and gets into trouble so many times.
I was missing a bit more emotion, action and connection between the characters. I felt like the side characters had so much potential and everytime I started to get attached they kind of disappeared from the story.
Still a fun read!
Especially if you like:
- a futuristic fantasy
- friendship
- strong fmc
It took me some time to get through this book. The beginning was faster paced, then slow paced and back to a bit faster.
In this book we follow a young girl (Jade) who struggles with how to world is. She lives in Londn, where men and women live on different sides of the city. And are supposed to mix except for making babies.
Jade is trying to change the way of living. It is a surreal world where she doesn't follow the rules and gets into trouble so many times.
I was missing a bit more emotion, action and connection between the characters. I felt like the side characters had so much potential and everytime I started to get attached they kind of disappeared from the story.
Still a fun read!
Especially if you like:
- a futuristic fantasy
- friendship
- strong fmc
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5⭐️
What a cool story this is! I really loved it!💙 The main character, Jade, she was so amazing!🫶🏻 I felt so, like, connected to her! But all of them, even the side characters, were explained or written in a way that I liked everyone, in their own ways!💜 (Yes, even the bad guys 😂) The story flowed nicely, sometimes a bit fast at some points for me and some bits a bit slower. It left me shocked, gasping, laughing, made my eyebrows shot up. All the things!🤭
I was SO SCARED when something happened to my favorite character, who only appeared like 100 pages into the book.🫣 I was so shocked and scared! But I am so happy everything was okay in the end on that front!
But, really. It was such a good story! The world building, the characters, the tension, the planning.🫶🏻 Only thing for me that could've been different was the pace; either too much explaining or things went by too fast! But that can very well be a me-thing!😂
All in all; REALLY good story! I really really liked it! Totally worth a read!
Thank you to @hamleybooks and @ktsterling for this arc book! 🫶🏻💜
What a cool story this is! I really loved it!💙 The main character, Jade, she was so amazing!🫶🏻 I felt so, like, connected to her! But all of them, even the side characters, were explained or written in a way that I liked everyone, in their own ways!💜 (Yes, even the bad guys 😂) The story flowed nicely, sometimes a bit fast at some points for me and some bits a bit slower. It left me shocked, gasping, laughing, made my eyebrows shot up. All the things!🤭
I was SO SCARED when something happened to my favorite character, who only appeared like 100 pages into the book.🫣 I was so shocked and scared! But I am so happy everything was okay in the end on that front!
But, really. It was such a good story! The world building, the characters, the tension, the planning.🫶🏻 Only thing for me that could've been different was the pace; either too much explaining or things went by too fast! But that can very well be a me-thing!😂
All in all; REALLY good story! I really really liked it! Totally worth a read!
Thank you to @hamleybooks and @ktsterling for this arc book! 🫶🏻💜
September 25, 2026
Defiance of Shadows is an urban YA dystopian fantasy set in London in a world where men and woman live separate and only the men have magic. I really liked the setting of the world, with the devision between men and woman, I felt like it gave such a great ground base for the story. DoS is a fast paces read with a fairly easy to follow worldbuilding, which made it one of those books you can read in one sitting.
I however did feel disconnected a few times as I felt like I didn’t really connect with the fmc. I sometimes struggled to match her actions with what we already saw of her. I also was left with quite a few questions after finishing the book.
However, as this was the author’s first english book I feel like congratulations are in order.
I however did feel disconnected a few times as I felt like I didn’t really connect with the fmc. I sometimes struggled to match her actions with what we already saw of her. I also was left with quite a few questions after finishing the book.
However, as this was the author’s first english book I feel like congratulations are in order.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ik merendeel van het boek: Hoe dan? Dit kan toch niet? Dit werkt toch niet? 🫠
Jade is nieuwsgierig, eigenwijs en behoorlijk rebels. Ze wil weten wie haar echte vader is en gaat daarom op onderzoek uit. Daarbij trekt ze zich weinig aan van de regels. Haar gedrag was soms best egoistisch en dat het een young adult is, merk je ook echt wel aan haar.
Bij het lezen had ik echt super veel vragen, omdat het naar mijn gevoel niet helemaal klopte. Aan het einde krijg je veel antwoorden over hoe de samenleving werkt, maar nog denk ik.. hoe dan?! Misschien ben ik gewoon te kritisch, maar naar mijn idee had dit veel meer weerstand en rebellie moeten oproepen aan beide kanten van Londen.
Sommige dingen verliepen naar mijn idee ook iets te gemakkelijk. Zo komt ze makkelijk weg met straf, als ze dat al uberhaupt krijgt, en een rit van 6 uur binnen wat.. 30 minuten maken? Nogmaals.. misschien ben ik gewoon te kritisch op dit boek.
Het idee is leuk. Ik ben ook echt fan van dystopische verhalen maar het was het voor mij net niet. Het is lekker geschreven tho en ik heb mij redelijk vermaakt.
Jade is nieuwsgierig, eigenwijs en behoorlijk rebels. Ze wil weten wie haar echte vader is en gaat daarom op onderzoek uit. Daarbij trekt ze zich weinig aan van de regels. Haar gedrag was soms best egoistisch en dat het een young adult is, merk je ook echt wel aan haar.
Bij het lezen had ik echt super veel vragen, omdat het naar mijn gevoel niet helemaal klopte. Aan het einde krijg je veel antwoorden over hoe de samenleving werkt, maar nog denk ik.. hoe dan?! Misschien ben ik gewoon te kritisch, maar naar mijn idee had dit veel meer weerstand en rebellie moeten oproepen aan beide kanten van Londen.
Sommige dingen verliepen naar mijn idee ook iets te gemakkelijk. Zo komt ze makkelijk weg met straf, als ze dat al uberhaupt krijgt, en een rit van 6 uur binnen wat.. 30 minuten maken? Nogmaals.. misschien ben ik gewoon te kritisch op dit boek.
Het idee is leuk. Ik ben ook echt fan van dystopische verhalen maar het was het voor mij net niet. Het is lekker geschreven tho en ik heb mij redelijk vermaakt.
October 4, 2026
DNF at 47%
I was so excited for this one, but unfortunately, it kind of disappointed me.
The plot itself had so much potential, but it felt rather flat to me. I often found myself having questions about certain things that just didn’t make sense to me. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers.
I kept waiting for that spark to finally pull me in, but it just kept feeling rather boring to me. I also didn’t really connect with the main character, which made it harder for me to enjoy the story.
In general, I just wasn’t really enjoying it, and at 47%, I decided it was time to DNF.
The writing itself was fine and easy to read, but unfortunately, this book just wasn’t a good match for me.
I was so excited for this one, but unfortunately, it kind of disappointed me.
The plot itself had so much potential, but it felt rather flat to me. I often found myself having questions about certain things that just didn’t make sense to me. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers.
I kept waiting for that spark to finally pull me in, but it just kept feeling rather boring to me. I also didn’t really connect with the main character, which made it harder for me to enjoy the story.
In general, I just wasn’t really enjoying it, and at 47%, I decided it was time to DNF.
The writing itself was fine and easy to read, but unfortunately, this book just wasn’t a good match for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I gave this a solid 3 stars (3.5 if Goodreads allowed it). The story picked up really fast in the beginning. Jade was rebellious, didn't take no for an answer and went to find the answers herself when everyone tried to deny her.
I didn't see the ending coming at all, there were some twists in the last 100 pages that really shocked me!
Story sucked me in, kept me going and had a very good ending! A must read!
I didn't see the ending coming at all, there were some twists in the last 100 pages that really shocked me!
Story sucked me in, kept me going and had a very good ending! A must read!
October 5, 2026
I’m just about to open Defiance of Shadows and start reading! The concept of a city divided by magic and Intuition sounds incredible, and Jade seems like an amazing main character. The book itself looks gorgeous, too. I'm so excited to see where this revolution leads!
September 6, 2026
London is de stad waar Jade is opgegroeid. De stad wordt geleid door de Autoriteit. Mannen en vrouwen leven apart van elkaar en komen alleen samen als de autoriteit dit toestaat om zo gezinnen te kunnen stichten. Daarnaast hebben ook alleen mannen magische krachten, vrouwen niet. Of toch wel?
Jade is echt een rebelse meid, ze is het niet eens met de Autoriteit, gaat regelmatig tegen ze in en trekt zich vooral niks van ze aan. Tot ze grootse geheimen ontdekt en zij de kans heeft om alles te veranderen. Samen met haar vrienden gaat ze op pad om te redden wat er te redden valt. Maar dit is niet zonder gevaar. Krijgt ze het voor elkaar om de vrede te bewaren? Of wordt dit de ondergang van London? 👀
Wat was dit een heerlijk boek om te lezen! Optimaal genieten. Je draait snel mee in de wereld van Jade, je voelt haar frustratie tegen de Autoriteit en de onzekerheid waarin ze verkeerd. Maar al snel kom je erachter wat een sterke meid ze is en dat ze echt vecht voor het juiste. Een sterk vrouwelijk hoofdkarakter, ik houd er van!
Het boek is vlotjes geschreven en geen moment saai. Er gebeurd veel, maar het is allemaal zo logisch opgebouwd dat het geen moment “teveel” is. Dat is natuurlijk altijd heel fijn 😊 Zeker een boek die ik je aan zou raden als je een keer iets in de richting van dystopian wilt lezen. Echt een aanrader!
Ontzettend bedankt @k.t.sterling en @hamleybooks voor dit recensie-exemplaar! Heel dankbaar ☺️♥️
Jade is echt een rebelse meid, ze is het niet eens met de Autoriteit, gaat regelmatig tegen ze in en trekt zich vooral niks van ze aan. Tot ze grootse geheimen ontdekt en zij de kans heeft om alles te veranderen. Samen met haar vrienden gaat ze op pad om te redden wat er te redden valt. Maar dit is niet zonder gevaar. Krijgt ze het voor elkaar om de vrede te bewaren? Of wordt dit de ondergang van London? 👀
Wat was dit een heerlijk boek om te lezen! Optimaal genieten. Je draait snel mee in de wereld van Jade, je voelt haar frustratie tegen de Autoriteit en de onzekerheid waarin ze verkeerd. Maar al snel kom je erachter wat een sterke meid ze is en dat ze echt vecht voor het juiste. Een sterk vrouwelijk hoofdkarakter, ik houd er van!
Het boek is vlotjes geschreven en geen moment saai. Er gebeurd veel, maar het is allemaal zo logisch opgebouwd dat het geen moment “teveel” is. Dat is natuurlijk altijd heel fijn 😊 Zeker een boek die ik je aan zou raden als je een keer iets in de richting van dystopian wilt lezen. Echt een aanrader!
Ontzettend bedankt @k.t.sterling en @hamleybooks voor dit recensie-exemplaar! Heel dankbaar ☺️♥️
September 22, 2026
Liked it!! Would give it 3,5 but can't do halves on here
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Het boek is een combinatie van de dystopie verhalen van 2010, meets Handsmaids Tale and I am here for it! Het boek begint erg sterk en ik was direct geïnteresseerd. De verdeelde maatschappij geeft een interessante dynamiek waardoor het verhaal veel potentie heeft. Ik merkte wel dat ik met veel vragen bleef zitten gedurende het gehele verhaal. Hoe de wereld in elkaar steekt is soms niet helemaal geloofwaardig, en je krijgt gedurende het verhaal beetje bij beetje meer informatie. Ik vond het idee dan ook echt fantastisch, maar merkte dat ik door alle vragen niet helemaal in het verhaal werd meegenomen. Maar, als je houdt van dystopie, Handmaids Tale en een rebelse FMC dan raad ik het boek zeker aan!
Bedankt voor het recensie-exemplaar Hamley Books!
Bedankt voor het recensie-exemplaar Hamley Books!
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