When someone says “pandemic,” we all have an image that comes to mind.
The kingdom of Kandala is torn apart by a plague that can only be cured by the elusive Moonflower, an herb that is either in too short of a supply or too expensive for most to afford. Tessa Cade lives alone in the Wilds, spending her days working as an apothecary’s apprentice and her nights as a Robin Hood-esque figure, stealing Moonflower elixirs from the rich to give to the poor. Her best friend, Wes, is her partner in crime.

However, not even their best efforts are enough to elude the eyes of the King’s Justice, Prince Corrick. Corrick’s job is to make sure everyone obeys the laws established by his brother, King Harristan, and punish them by execution if they don’t. Tessa hates Corrick and other elite figures with everything in her, but she doesn’t understand that sickness does not discriminate between the poor and rich. Corrick himself has witnessed the effects of the plague firsthand. He’s struggling to care for Harristan, who has the telltale cough of the sickness but just can’t seem to be cured by the Moonflower. In truth, Corrick doesn’t want to harm anyone, but when given the choice between making an example of a few rebels through public punishment or risking a full-on rebellion, he has to pick the former.
When Wes leaves to steal Moonflower from the royals and doesn’t return, a heartbroken and furious Tessa decides to take matters into her own hands. She breaks into the palace with a heart full of grief and hatred. However, what she finds there unravels every notion she has about the cruelty of the monarchy.
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer is a YA fantasy adventure that grips you from the very first page, with relatable characters, thrilling political intrigue, a hint of romance, and multiple jaw-dropping plot twists that appear when you least expect them. The novel alternates between first-person narrations from both Tessa and Corrick, giving the reader a unique view of both sides of the social class divide, showing that regardless of social or financial status, confronting the suffering that follows mortality is a universal undertaking.
Tessa, the ideal protagonist, truly makes the novel stand out. She is kind and compassionate, but also honest, disciplined, and brave. In fantasy stories revolving around royalty, the female lead often helplessly waits for the prince to save her, but Tessa is the antithesis, a true role model for all of us to look up to.
Tessa also believes that she can make a difference in her world. When she sees injustice, she takes a stand against it, whether by delivering medicine to those who need it most or speaking to the royals she once feared to help her people. Tessa uses the power of her voice to make changes that save countless lives.
Like Kandala, our world has a plethora of issues that need to be solved, but we often dismiss ourselves as too young to make a difference. However, defying stereotypes, Tessa proves us wrong.
If one eighteen year-old girl can distribute a cure to a deadly disease across an entire kingdom, we have the power to educate ourselves and others on issues facing our society today. We have the ability to protest and fight for something we believe in. We are capable of writing letters to our representatives to make our voices heard. We can look to role models like the 20 year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg and the 16-year old founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks Marley Dias, both striving to reform our imperfect world and make it a better place for future generations. It takes time and effort, but if we stop devaluing ourselves and start believing in our power to make waves, we can change our society just as much as Tessa changed Kandala.
Defend the Dawn, the sequel to Defy the Night, was released in September and was almost as gripping as the first. Anyone who enjoys reading about strong female characters, adventure, political intrigue, a bit of romance, and nonstop plot twists will find something to love in this series.