Immortal Defiance

Dulcea's Rebellion Book 1

Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
378 Pages
Reviewed on 11/17/2019
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Immortal Defiance by Laura Maybrooke is the first book in the author's epic fantasy war series, Dulcea's Rebellion. Betrayed from among her own, Queen and Silver Elven Dulcea Lightbringer is kidnapped. The worlds are at war and her captivity with the Saruseans - the enemy - changes unexpectedly as she is condemned to die. She becomes the prisoner of the immortal vampire Lord Krath. The book alternates between Dulcea's and Krath's points of view, the two being polar opposites in every conceivable way, although the motives of Dulcea are far more clear than those of Krath. She is, after all, still his captive and the dynamic plays to build on Dulcea's strength, resilience, intelligence, and leadership alongside one who has many, many lifetimes of experience and the power and knowledge to harness them and soar toward unimaginable heights.

Laura Maybrooke is to be applauded for world-building that is as profound as it is deep and layered in Immortal Defiance. The complexity of the backstory and tying it all together at the height of a six-year war is at a level that is rare in a genre full of cookie-cutter romance over fantastical substance and intrigue. I mean this as a compliment to the author, but warn those who prefer the latter that they might get lost in frequent flashbacks and lots of talk of war. When a book starts with maps and a glossary, a dedicated reader of epic fantasy classics will get goosebumps and a definite thrill. I fall into this category and found both the writing and the slow-burn to be deliciously well done. Maybrooke works at building, building, building toward a romance that is secondary to the mission of its lead characters, and in doing so allows the story and the characters to unfold at their own pace.

K.C. Finn

Immortal Defiance is a work of romantic fantasy fiction penned by author Laura Maybrooke and forms the first novel in the Dulcea’s Rebellion series. In this compelling work of magic, dragons, and paranormal romance, we first meet Dulcea when she is awaiting her execution. This powerful elven enchantress falls victim to the betrayal of a countryman and finds herself in enemy hands, but this is only the start of her story. A mysterious figure named Lord Krath begins her new journey, offering her a way out that involves the darkness of the Realm of the Dead. As these two figures collide in an unlikely situation, Dulcea negotiates her freedom but also finds more to Krath than she could have imagined.

Fans of slow-burning romance with plenty of fantasy plot and atmosphere are sure to devour this unusual and unique take on the paranormal romance genre. First and foremost, author Laura Maybrooke puts her efforts into Dulcea and her emotional journey, straddling the difficulties of politics, war, and magic as she hopes to one day lead her army again. She is a highly relatable heroine with plenty of strengths and struggles, which makes her an excellent match for Krath. Readers who like a mystery will love unpicking Krath’s dark psyche and re-evaluating him over and over as the plot progresses. Dulcea’s Rebellion looks set to become an excellent series over its three-book arc, and overall Immortal Defiance is an exciting and covertly passionate start to a brave new fantasy world.

Rabia Tanveer

Immortal Defiance is the first book in the Dulcea's Rebellion series by Laura Maybrooke. It is the story of a woman who was betrayed by one of her own people, but when the opportunity presented itself to break the bounds of betrayal, she took it. Dulcea Lightbringer is a silver elf enchantress, a leader of the rebellion and a Dragonmistress who is scared of nothing and no one. But when she is betrayed by one of her own people, she knows that she can never trust anyone. While she is awaiting her execution, a mysterious man called Lord Krath offers her a proposition that she cannot refuse. She has the opportunity to get out of this prison and join the cause once more, but will she be able to do it? What does Lord Krath want from her?

This is such an entertaining epic fantasy that is packed full of action, drama, and romance. There is nothing that I would want the author to change about this novel. The atmosphere is thick with tension from the get-go, the plot is fast-paced, the story is phenomenal and the characters are very interesting. Dulcea is a strong and determined woman; she knows what she wants and she is not afraid to take risks. She is a true leader; she knows her decisions have consequences, so she makes them with care. Lord Krath, on the other hand, is a mystery. He is such a complex character, one that makes you want to know more about him. I enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the characters and I cannot wait for the next novel in the series.