Defiance (Significance, #3)

by Shelly Crane

[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.