Defy the Night
- 443 pages
- 16 hours of reading
King Harristan rules Kandala with an iron fist, having inherited a kingdom on the brink of collapse after a deadly illness decimated its population. The cure, derived from a rare flower's nectar, keeps the people alive but also deepens the divide between the wealthy elite and the suffering masses. Young Prince Corrick is tasked with maintaining peace, often through lethal means. Tessa Cade, a masked outlaw marked for death, embraces her role as a thief, distributing stolen food, money, and medicine to the impoverished. Her hatred for the king stems from her parents' execution for selling medicine on the black market, while her love for her best friend Weston Lark, who saved her life, complicates her feelings. As rumors spread that the cure is ineffective, desperation grows among the populace. Tessa resolves to assassinate King Harristan, believing it to be the only way to save her people. However, she soon discovers that her understanding of the kingdom is built on lies, and to shift the balance of power, she must collaborate with those she once sought to destroy. This tale explores the stark divide between the powerful and the powerless and the courage it takes to challenge the status quo.