Editorial Content for Julia Defiant
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JULIA DEFIANT is the sequel to Catherine Egan’s 2016 debut novel, JULIA VANISHES. I’ve been interested in the series for a little while, and this release gave me the push I needed to read it. While other high fantasy books tend to bring the action head-on, this series is much slower to start. The books focus more on character development and world building than action.
JULIA DEFIANT starts a little while after JULIA VANISHES ends. At the start of the book, our cast of characters are in Tianshi, having traveled across the continent to get there. They are on a mission to find Ko Dan and remove the piece of the book from baby Theo, all while trying to evade Cassimir’s forces. At the same time, Julia is slowly learning more about her mysterious powers.
"I would recommend JULIA DEFIANT to fans of classic fantasy. With the slower pace, it can be hard for it to keep up with some of the popular series today, but [it] is definitely rewarding."
JULIA DEFIANT is much slower than my preferred reads. It took me a while to get through the book, though it was definitely worth it. I don’t know if I ever would have pushed through if I didn’t have to review it, but I’m glad I did. Fans of slower paced novels will definitely enjoy the series.
It felt like the plot of this series didn’t really start until JULIA DEFIANT. Book one is mainly focused on the relationships between the characters and lots of world building. JULIA DEFIANT quickly moves into a faster pace than JULIA VANISHES and the plot development really picks up.
As the book goes on, the reader begins to learn more about, well, everything. Each chapter brought new revelations, whether they were about Julia’s abilities, getting the book out of Theo, or presenting entirely new problems.
My one big concern is about the overall plot. At this point, there are many plot threads, but none seem to be what’s tying the series together. There’s sub-plot upon sub-plot, but none are overarching. Each plot line encompasses a couple of the characters, and while there is overlap, it feels a little jumbled at the moment. My hope is that the third book will tie the plots together, and I look forward to seeing how Egan handles all of these loose ends.
I would recommend JULIA DEFIANT to fans of classic fantasy. With the slower pace, it can be hard for it to keep up with some of the popular series today, but if someone is willing to put in the effort, JULIA DEFIANT is definitely rewarding.
Teaser
Julia and a mismatched band of revolutionaries, scholars and thieves have crossed the world searching for a witch. They are no closer to finding Ko Dan. No closer to undoing the terrible spell he cast that bound an ancient magic to the life of a small child. Casimir wants that magic, and every moment they hunt for Ko Dan, Casimir’s assassins are hunting them. Julia can deal with danger. Her strange ability to vanish to a place just out of sight has grown: she can now disappear so completely that it’s like stepping into another world. It’s a fiery, hellish world, filled with creatures who seem to recognize her --- and count her as one of their own.
Promo
Julia and a mismatched band of revolutionaries, scholars and thieves have crossed the world searching for a witch. They are no closer to finding Ko Dan. No closer to undoing the terrible spell he cast that bound an ancient magic to the life of a small child. Casimir wants that magic, and every moment they hunt for Ko Dan, Casimir’s assassins are hunting them. Julia can deal with danger. Her strange ability to vanish to a place just out of sight has grown: she can now disappear so completely that it’s like stepping into another world. It’s a fiery, hellish world, filled with creatures who seem to recognize her --- and count her as one of their own.
About the Book
Fans of THE ROSE SOCIETY, GRACELING and SIX OF CROWS will thrill to the masterful world-building and fiercely flawed heroine in this heart-pounding follow-up to JULIA VANISHES, book two in the Witch’s Child trilogy.
Julia and a mismatched band of revolutionaries, scholars and thieves have crossed the world searching for a witch. But for all the miles traveled, they are no closer to finding Ko Dan. No closer to undoing the terrible spell he cast that bound an ancient magic to the life of a small child. Casimir wants that magic --- will happily kill Theo to extract it --- and every moment they hunt for Ko Dan, Casimir’s assassins are hunting them.
Julia can deal with danger. The thing that truly scares her lies within. Her strange ability to vanish to a place just out of sight has grown: she can now disappear so completely that it’s like stepping into another world. It’s a fiery, hellish world, filled with creatures who seem to recognize her --- and count her as one of their own.
So...is Julia a girl with a monster lurking inside her? Or a monster wearing the disguise of a girl?
If she can use her monstrous power to save Theo, does it matter?
In this riveting second book in the Witch’s Child trilogy, Catherine Egan goes deep within the heart of a fierce, defiant girl trying to discover not just who but what she truly is.
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