I wasn’t expecting much from The Defender. And then
there was Brooklyn being nothing like any other FMC Ana’s written, Vincent
being all kinds of swoon-worthy, and Truffle the pig casually stealing the
show. My life as a reader was over.
I don’t even know where to start.
If you read The Striker (which I highly suggest you
do to get the full effect from this book), then you would be familiar with who
Vincent DuBois and Brooklyn Armstrong are. In short, we have the captain of the
Blackcastle football team and a nutritionist intern who also happens to be the
coach’s (Frank Armstrong) daughter. An intruder situation puts Vincent in some
danger, so he’s hopping from one place to another in order to find a temporary
place to stay. Vincent lasted a week at Scarlett (his sister) and Asher’s house
because he caught them doing some... different variations of training. Adil was
next, and that didn’t work out because he loved to talk, and of course the
hotel situation was a hindrance. So, after a suggestion straight from
Scarlett’s mouth, he ended up sharing a flat with Brooklyn because she was the
only person known to mankind who was unflappable to Vincent’s charm.
Clearly, that would soon out to be wrong. There
were some house rules set alongside a friendly bet: whoever caves and kisses
the other first gets bragging rights for life and £100. The only thing that
wasn’t mentioned was how, between their playful insults and enemy facade, there
was romance budding — and that’s how we ended up with my personal favourite God
of the Games book written by Ana so far.
The Twisted Series was fine, the King of
Sins Series was intense, and I hadn’t realised how intense it was
until both Ana and her readers took a break and went back to the world of Blackcastle.
Of course, there had a bit of suspense, but coming from King of Envy in
April, it was like breathing normal air rather than puffing it out.
The writing was just so great. . I find it amazing
how the same author can create their worlds, worlds she wrote herself, that are
so far apart in different universes and yet are just words on a paper. The
syntax, the grammar, everything, it never bores me or ceases to amaze me, which
is how I know I made the right choice in going into publishing.
The writing is impeccable. I saw a lot of Xavier in
Vincent. Brooklyn wasn’t like any of the other FMCs written by Ana. A lot of
the time, I feel like they overlap, but no, not Brooklyn. Actually, I saw a bit
of Skylar Stone in her from Wild Eyes written by Elsie Silver. I
guess at times I saw glimpses of Bridget from Twisted Games, but
I couldn’t say they were anything alike. Also, rep the blondie, because
everyone loves a blondie.
Adil was so funny. Tell me why I was laughing for
five minutes when, after getting kicked under the table by Vincent, Adil said, “So
you kicked your foot into the air for no reason?” The whole team for that matter
were amazing and it felt like an actual family rather than a formality. Henry
was irritating and was dressed in nepotism.
Brooklyn
and her dad, I liked the conversations they had and the way he was trying to
be a better one. It warmed my heart to see how much he actually cared about
Brooklyn. The mother on the other hand or the ‘hurricane’ as Frank
correctly named her, was truly so much work. Also, I was already dramatically
whining about Brooklyn and her mom and the fact that she had already booked
that darn flight to be at her mother’s C-section. I’m just glad that formality
was out of the way. Long time going.
I really appreciated the conversation between Coach
and Vincent when he came clean about his relationship with Brooklyn, and when
he said they played Twister, I almost died laughing. What I will say is
that when Vincent went to sleep saying “life couldn’t get much better than
this,” it would in fact just get that much more, and I was kind of living
for it.
You know, I was very curious about this sexy time
on the football pitch, and my God, talk about creative writing. I was so sceptical
about it, but I should have known better than to judge Miss Ana Huang. And no,
I haven’t forgotten that one scene they initiated over a laptop screen, but I
just cannot think about it without combusting in flames, so Ana, thank you, but
please let me recover. I’m a bit tingly.
Once Vincent and Brooklyn were happily together of
course a the careers got in the way. Desperate to prove her worth and make a
legacy away from everything attached to her last name, Brooklyn declines her
offer to become a junior nutritionist at Black Castle to find her own path.
That path lands her an interview with the Moores, who said her job was remote
but needed her in Chicago, with Haley’s nationals so close. Thank God she
managed to finalize something, because guess who came back to London for good
during the summer? Oh yes, it was Brooklyn Armstrong.
Let’s back it up for a second.
When Vincent got the Zenith deal while Brooklyn got
her rejection email from ISNA, it hit home. I’ve had times (and still do, for
that matter) when I got a rejection, and then moments later someone would share
their happy news. While I’m happy for them, it highlights my own failures more,
so you best believe I screamed from Brooklyn when she got the Moores interview.
I was so convinced that when Brooklyn sent her
email regarding her decision to the job offer to the Moores that she declined.
Come on, you cannot just have a montage of the best things Vincent had said and
then accept the offer. Where’s the sense in that? The cinematic equivalent to a
book moment? Truly devastating. Oh, by the way, she did accept it, so I guess
that wasn’t too bad.
Zedd – Clarity was the best song choice since Plaza
– All Mine for King of Wrath.
Let’s just say, that out of all the Ana Huang books
I have read, The Defender places second. It almost got to first but I’m just
not quite ready to part with Dante and Vivian just yet.
I’m going to re-read. I have to. I can’t just let
it go. It was too good.
If I had to choose my top three moments, it would
have to be the following.
- When Frank
Armstrong found Vincent and Brooklyn amidst their pancake baking fail that
almost burnt the flat down.
- The kiss in the
Budapest streets.
- The last scene
when they were cuddled up watching The Great British Bake Off in a stark
comparison to when they first watched it. I could see it panning out in my
head side by side.
Also, I’m glad there was no breakup act (the first from Ana, I believe?), but of course the almost-murder scene almost killed me, so maybe I didn’t get away unscathed. I thought it was Mason all along but no, of course it was Seth.
The nickname? Buttercup. Short, sweet, and
simple, because for the life of me, I still cannot pronounce Srce Moje
from King of Envy. Honourable mention to Truffle the pig, alongside the
budding bromance between Asher Donovan and Vincent himself and finally the book
club that I totally forgot about. Dinosaur erotica? My Asian queen makes her
appearance as Isabella (not Kai) Valencia. Also, Holchester, you give me ick.
This section over here is my random notes section that I found from my phone’s notes app. I always do this in real time and when I look back it makes me giggle so now, I get to share it with you to.
- I know how the song and dance with these bachelor auction galas goes, and Ana delivered her part even though I rolled my eyes at the mention of it between Coach and Vincent.
- I would have loved to see Luca or Xavier at the Budapest trip. At the same time, I’m glad that this world was so detached from the Twisted Series and King of Sins Series. Sometimes it’s needed. Though I did wonder if that security team Vincent hired, especially Spike, was from Harper Security.
- The word “glum”? I haven’t heard that word in a hot minute. Also, the word “loo” — just stop saying it. It’s not a British thing. I mean it is but you get what I mean.
- Thank God Brooklyn said no to her date with Mason, because if Ana dragged that mess out, I wouldn’t have lost it.
- Okay, that Do Not Contact was his birth mother is so had to be. I was almost sure of it, especially after that weird text.
- Oh lord, the foreshadowing in the “I don’t know what I’d say to her if we met, but I doubt that’ll happen anyway.” Vincent, my sweet baby boy, you will meet her because she’s been haunting you for months.
- Oooooooh, the sad story about October 3rd Do Not Contact. Now that was sad. Awww, my Shayla.
- Coach’s Ahem in italics killed me. Talk about Vincent and Brooklyn initiating shower time, and then Coach comes in.
- Was it Seth? MASON? I’m having palpitations. Of course it was Seth! Also, I’m glad there was no breakup act (the first from Ana, I believe?), but of course the almost-murder scene almost killed me, so maybe I didn’t get away unscathed.
- Can we take a quick break because I’m dying over the fact that Jude Bellingham has been fan-cast as Vincent DuBois? It’s perfect to the T.
- Zedd – Clarity was the best song choice since Plaza – All Mine for King of Wrath.
5/5 stars. A red velvet cupcake of perfection. No
ifs, ands or buts. It is the most flawless book I have read since King of
Wrath. Utterly fantastic from start to finish. This book was more than
addictive. Maryland chocolate chip cookies put into hot tea is addictive. This
was all-consuming; mind, body, soul, and senses. I used to savour reading it. I
teased myself the bookish way. I delayed it. Yes, I’m serious about this one,
guys.
Despite the 5 stars though, the bonus chapter was
disappointing. It really wasn’t anything really. So much more could have been
done but alas, it is what it is.
This is one of those books that get you into a
reading slump. It was just that good. Now, I say I’m not excited for
Noah and Carina (which I’m not) in The Keeper come next year, but I also
said that about Vincent and Brooklyn, and look at me now, I’m a simp.
In the meantime, I’m off to go find another book,
more like re-read this one, but don’t forge to check out my sister blog Paper
Chapters and my Instagram which you can find in the Let’s Connect page!
Until next time.
Mwah.
Vivian.
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