Great book! Looking forward to the next one! ( )

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Brandon Sanderson - Defiant: It’s an ending. I imagine this series connected more with teens than others. #cursorybookreviews #cursoryreviews ( )

Defiant is the conclusion to the Skyward quartet, although there are also 3 novellas from the perspectives of secondary characters which take place during book 3, and a sequel trilogy is in the works. Like the other books in the series, Defiant is well written, with compelling characters and engaging plot. The conclusion is somewhat more predictable in this book than in the other three, but it is still a great read. ( )

In this 4th book of the Skyward series Spensa returns from the Nowhere, after sharing her soul with the Delver she refers to as Chet. With the addition of Chet, she also demonstrates that she has enhanced new powers. She also realizes that the Delvers fear her but she doesn't know how to capitalize on this.

Winzik, with the help of the human Brade, has taken control of the Superiority and now threatens Spensa's home world of Detritus. Spensa definitely matures as the book progresses as she sheds her instinct to disregard the orders of her superiors.

I found this book on par with the other sequels, but the first book of the series is still far and away the best and remains one of the best books I have ever read.

In the Epilogue Sanderson cleverly lays the groundwork for further adventures in this interesting Universe. ( )

Spensa's character progression in this one is really satisfying. This is probably the best book of the series. ( )

This was a really fun read. I was invested the entire time. The only thing I didn't like was how quickly the final battle ended. Other than that I thought it was amazing. I am super excited to see what happens next in Skyward Legacy. 10/10 - December 31, 2023 ( )

Defiant is the fourth and final book in Brandon Sanderson's Skyward series. Events pick up not long after where book 3 ended with Spensa back with her old flight and about to face down the Superiority's galactic dominance to attempt to free humanity.

I went into this without having read the Skyward Flight novellas. Turns out this was OK as there is enough information contained within Defiant as the other characters bring Spensa up to speed so the reader has the context needed for the story.

For those hoping for a Spensa/Jorgen romance you are in luck! I can see how Sanderson has improved greatly in his romance writing as theirs was so sweet and nice to read.

I admit the book almost lost me with Spensa's continual self doubt since it felt so out of character and lasted for almost 3/4 of the book. For those encountering a similar frustration, Ch 30 is the turning point and well worth pushing through. Gran Gran gives one of the best speeches I've read in a while and I just absolutely love all the taynix. The last quarter of the book is written from alternating points of view that I enjoyed immensely. It really tied everything together for me.

Overall, this is a satisfying end to the series and Spensa's story, with all the loose ends tied up nicely. ( )