Defiance: A Significance Novel (Significance, #3)

by Shelly Crane

In the third installment of the Significance series, we begin with Maggie and Caleb in the clutches of a new enemy; the Virtuoso council. Not only do they have to deal with the consequences of taking the lives of the Watsons and the council attempting to take Maggie away to keep their precious Visionary safe, but they must deal with Marla as well. All are determined to undermine, control and use Caleb and Maggie's rare gifts for their own uses, some wish to destroy them entirely. Then Maggie's father and Bish are threatened but the council forbids the presense of humans. Peter and the family fight and stand beside them every step of the way to save Maggie's father, to keep Caleb and Maggie together when the corrupted council is so set on keeping them apart and to stop Marla and whatever she has up her sleeve. Then Maggie has the shock of her life when she discovers something about her real father. It may change everything for everyone. Stay tuned as the story continues.

• ISBN10: 1475009860
• ISBN13: 9781475009866
• Publish Date: 21 March 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 346
• Language: English

Reviews

[ladygrey]

I don't think I could ever give one of these books higher than 2 stars. Not because they're badly plotted or have terrible characters... they're just badly written. The grammar is flawed and in not one but TWO books Crane used 'passed' when she meant 'past.' It's a little like a review I read once about a book that was "fast paste" which was more amusing than annoying because the reviewer was a "best selling" author so it's totally forgivable.

This could easily be the end of the series because, while there's more to tell there isn't anything left unfinished. Since Maggie already has her powers it isn't focused as much on her being super fantastic and continually getting more and more power. Maggie and Caleb's relationship evolves nicely. And I do have to give Crane credit for not tearing them apart as so many authors tend to do in series "to create conflict" because they don't realize that the characters together is what the reader enjoys (at least this reader) and so separating them keeps the book from being any fun. Maggie and Caleb fight to be together and it's "realistic" (emotionally if not actually) and mildly fun.

Thematically, this one has a lot to say. More so even than the last one. I liked the theme but found it in places too overt or kinda cheesy. Mostly I attribute that to the overall quality of writing.

This one is perhaps better plotted than the first two, without the meandering scenes, but the one highlight of these books is that those meandering scenes are all characters and mostly dialog and not scenic description or action. I don't read these books because I'm particularly interested in "what happens." The characters are the only thing that makes them fun and this book could have used a bit more of them simply spending time together.

I totally think of this series as trashy books - not because of the content at all (it's very clean) but because it's so badly written and yet at times fun to read.