Urie, C.C. Defender. NP: Snow Ridge Press, 2022. 
The Divine Courage Trilogy book 1

Guide to categories: YA Review – review of books for teens

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Summary of Defender

Cast out of her family, Larken Hale, the Daughter of the Military, is forced to take up the cause to appease her family. Leaving everything she knows and loves behind, Larken sets out and tries to find her own way.

Captain Soren Deckard has only ever known the military, and he understands what is expected of him. But when the District Heiress joins the squad he has worked so hard to perfect, she turns everything he thought he knew upside down.

When their two lives clash together, it seems like nothing will survive the carnage. Together, they must learn to trust and accept the other. But when feelings and emotions are set on fire, will the two make it out to the other side?

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My YA Review of Defender

Urie is a new-to-me author but I am sure this will not be the last of her books that I read. This sci fi book drew me in from the first page. While God is not mentioned as “God” there are many Biblical concepts shared in the story and the characters attend “temple.” There are several conflicts that are not resolved in the book and the book ends in a cliffhanger which left me hoping book 2 comes soon. 

Larken comes from an elite family but has never felt loved. When she leaves to join the military there is an attempted kidnapping attempt. She and her mentor are rescued by the squad she will be joining. There are hints at romance as well as enough conflict to make this a page-turner. Once I was in the book, I couldn’t put it down. 

Defender would make an excellent addition to a k-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for eighth grade and up.

I received a complimentary copy of Defender. This is my honest review. 

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