Defiance is the third book in the Regina Shen series and once again the author pulls me into Regina’s world.

As I’ve stated in both my reviews of the first two books, what makes this series so good are the well-developed characters and the world-building. This continues in the third book as Regina continues to run from those wanting to hunt her down. This time she gets the support from renegade groups who see her as their hope for a better world. Regina is no longer navigating the swamps on the opposite side of the Wall that separates the outcasts, but she is in foreign dry land, hiding in bunkers, forests and among the truckers who cross desert-like areas to deliver their goods.

Regina is a pawn in the corrupt political arena that plays out for power in this dystopian setting. She’s 17 but has a photographic memory and has been trained with knowledge from illegal salvaged print books so that she is able to outwit some of those who are after her for her DNA to solve the fertility crisis. The Chief Inspector who hunts her down understands how Regina thinks because they come from the same background and she is the perfect villain. The author displays both her cruelty but also her vulnerability, making her a fleshed-out well-developed character.

Once again we are introduced to new characters and I must say that the author does a great job doing this. Each character pulls their weight in carrying the storyline forward and their distinct characterisation makes his novels such a pleasure to read. Ester, who becomes Regina’s companion on the run becomes lovesick and annoying. She’s a distraction to Regina and doesn’t always understand what makes Regina such a survivalist but she eventually redeems herself in my eyes by the end of the book.

Once again, through many twists and turns, Regina finds herself at a crossroad by the end of the novel, leaving the reader wondering how it will continue to play out. I look forward to digging into the last book Endurance Book 4 in the series to see how Regina keeps growing as a character and as a leader for change in her broken society. If you like well-written dystopian novels don’t miss this series. It will not disappoint!

(by Laura Fabiani at http://www.libraryofcleanreads.com/2016/07/regina-shen-defiance-book-3-by-lance.html)