We pulled the trigger and braced ourselves for the fallout. We were ready for anything. Or so we thought.War revealed our greatest weaknesses, the ones inside of us that we kept hidden. It forced us to face our vulnerabilities, to overcome the battles within that threatened to hold us prisoner.Enemies came in all forms, but so did strength. As a united front, we were unstoppable. Our power came … unstoppable. Our power came from each other, and our greatest weapon was about to be unleashed.
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Ali has a way of writing that just sucks you into the story. This book was nothing short of phenomenal!
Cruz and Hazel
Book 3 is the conclusion of the defiance falls trilogy ,
While this trilogy held some good interesting moments I didn’t love it and I found my interest in it raining at times .
Book two was the most interesting with the plot unfolding and getting to know Cruz on a deeper level but I found this book (3) not a lot happened . I was expecting a mafia war that they would be up against but there was little to no fight back .
Character development of the MCs was pretty minor too, I could see what the author was aiming for but it got lost in the boring parts of the story .
So yep not a favorite of mine , I would probably recommend for younger teen readers though as it’s not gritty and no triggers but enough of a story line for that age group
Hazel and Cruz have started a war, not exactly what they were wanting but this is what they’ve gotten.
The crew is ready, the plans are in place, and all the back up plans are set up and ready to go. They have prepared this, but the turn of events is more than even they could’ve imagined. The new questions that arise during this book kept me on the edge of my seat whispering to myself “what the heck, what happened?”
I was sucked in from books 1 and 2 so book 3 was a very quick read. I couldn’t get enough I had to know how it played out and the story did not disappoint. I loved it. The secondary characters and all of their lives and the bond between the whole crew, I craved more. I loved the dynamic between the crew and the acceptance of each other and the closeness that they all had with each other. The revelations were well played out and the heartstrings were definitely tugged. Ali Dean did a phenomenal job with this series!
The investigation regarding the Malones is ongoing. Cruz is crumbling on the inside, but still keeps his confident persona. One thing through this ordeal, Cruz, Hazel and the guys all are loyal to their mission and each other. It’s a game of chess, revenge, trying to take charge of life, plotting and fighting. Ali Dean has another stellar sports romance.
Sarah Puckett and Gregory Salinas are phenomenal. They both bring depth to each character. They live the story. I can feel each moment of anguish, anger, torment, fear, throughout the story. Thank you for bringing this story to life.
audiobookobsessionreview
This is not a stand alone story. Start with the first book in the trilogy (Defiance Falls). This installment had more relationship drama than action compared to the two prior books in the series, but it does wrap up the story nicely.
I listened to the Audible version. Sarah Puckett and Gregory Salinas are a fabulous narration team. They’re a big part of why I liked the story so much and I highly recommend the audio version.
#AudiobookObsession
Defiance Falls War
By: Ali Dean
Narrated by: Sarah Puckett, Gregory Salinas
The third book of this trilogy had me on the edge of my seat! Picking up right where we left off, Hazel and Cruz are on a mission to keep their families together and the town safe. But life is never that easy. There are still struggles between the families and secrets are plenty. Hazel is still strong willed and competent, loving her sass and ability to stay on track with her dreams despite the craziness. Cruz is an incredible character, dealing with the company, his schooling, his dreams and his dad. But what I really enjoyed with this book is the compassionate way Ali Dean introduces the struggles of dementia. It’s a fantastic series, exciting, action packed, romantic and addictive.
Sarah Puckett and Gregory Salinas finish out the series as Hazel and Cruz. Their narration is impeccable. Each nuance and inflection led to me feeling the characters emotions. I enjoyed this team and hope to hear them together again!
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Great ending to the series, sad to see it end. I like her writing style and books. The characters are relatable and well developed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the 3rd book as much as I loved the first one! I
I loved the action, the intrigues and the loyalty between the group of friends. Even if sometimes it was weird to think that they are supposed to be in high school.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First of all, I have to say that I’m so so glad that I was able to read this in a boxed set, because if I had to wait for each book I think I would’ve died! LOL
Ali created such an amazing world! I’ve only read one other book of hers and this one was soooo different. There was so much drama, suspense, & emotions. I loved watching Hazel & Cruz figure out a way to be a part of each others lives.
I don’t want to say too much & accidentally give away spoilers, but I would definitely recommend this box set! You won’t be able to stop reading it!!
What an amazing way to end the Defiance Falls Trilogy!
Ali Dean had me hooked with this world and these characters. It was fast paced, suspenseful and quite emotional at times.
You need to read books 1 and 2 to understand what is going on in Defiance Falls War.
I loved the first two books and gave them 5 stars but this one it took me a little while to get into and I don’t know why.
Following the War between Cruz’s Crew and the Malones that have been going on for years. All the family is tied up in it. I loved how they worked together to over come all of the obstacles and issues in their way and I loved that there was more sports content this time around. I’m happy that I finally have answers after those epic cliffhangers we were put through!
What an action packed series!
Ali Dean’s Defiance Falls War is the perfect ending to Hazel, Cruz & Co.’s tale. I’m going to miss Hazel and Cruz (and Moody, Bodhi, Emmett and Spike, for that sake), but if they had to go this well-written and perfectly plotted story was the best way for it to happen. Easily 5-stars.
Defiance Falls War is book three in the Defiance Falls series. It’s the last book in the series and it can not be read as a standalone. This one picks up where Defiance Falls Revolution left. I liked this one. It’s not my favorite in the series but it’s still really good. There’s plenty of action and romance in this one. There were times I was like urgh, Cruz and Hazel just need to get it together. I loved Cruz and Hazel and their friends. AS whole those one was a really good series.
What a great conclusion to an amazing series! It should go without saying that unless you read the first two books in this series, you won’t get the full effect of the third. So, I highly recommend reading the first two books prior to reading this one.
Having a dual POV is a benefit to every book in my opinion. It allows us to see the struggles that both characters face and what exactly is going on through their mind at the time of each situation. I love this and commend all authors who are able to write this way. Ali Dean does an exceptional job with both Hazel’s and Cruz’s POVs. Job well done!
In this book, decisions are made, questions are answered and there’s plenty of angst, drama, excitement, thrills and romance. The characters are just top notch and nothing short of fantastic. Each of them contains a unique quality about themselves that brings a special element to the story. I honestly don’t think there was one thing that I didn’t love about this book. It captured my attention from start to finish and was thoroughly entertaining. You’ll be sorely missing out on an amazing series if you choose to not read this.
The final book in the Defiance Falls trilogy slayed me. It was the perfect end to a phenomenal trilogy. I highly recommend this series to all if you love the suspense, angsty, y/a type of read!!
5 full stars of fantastic conclusion
Oh wow! I don’t know how to write the review of this awesome story and not give anything away. Let’s just say I didn’t expect the plot to go into the direction author so skilfully directed it to. This part is more about emotions, about changed reality and struggle how to fit in the order our characters find themselves after all that happened in part two. There’s still danger lurking, no one can, neither should feel truly safe and there’s a lot of action to keep the reader interested. Really serious twists to the story line that kept me reading and I was not able to put the book down. I loved how author showed struggles of each of the characters with the post Malones’ reality and weaved the story around it at the end giving all of them a little teenager normalcy they all deserved.
I couldn’t imagine better ending for the fantastic trilogy and I love how author adjusted her writing style in comparison to her other series. I hope we could in some point of time read more about any of them or all of them again.
This is an amazing read with well developed and engaging characters. The storyline flowed smoothly from beginning to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a good conclusion to the series. I did start to warm up to Hazel a little bit but I wish she was a stronger character.
ARC REVIEW
Oh Man! We’ve reached the conclusion of this amazing story and I am not sure I am ready to let it go yet!
‘Defiance Falls War’ by Ali Dean is the third book in the ‘Defiance Falls’ series, it is a mature YA sports romance with a whole lot of mystery, drama, passion, and banter.
We have been through high and lows with this series, moments where we couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, moments that left us speechless or maybe even sobbing, moments that made us light up in laughter and love.
The balance throughout the whole series is magnificent and truly something you can’t miss.
In this book, we pick up right where we left, anxious to know what the future will bring but happy at how these characters have been dealing with everything throughout the books.
If you have read boon one and two, then you have probably fallen in love with Cruz and Hazel, but also with Moody, Spike, Bhodi, Emmett and all the other amazing characters that are part of this series. Also, you’d probably realize that things are slowly settling down, and while still keeping in mind to expect the unexpected, everything is setting in place.
The growth these characters have gone under in the previous books is immense but even through this last book, they will have to come to terms with the present, learn how to move on from the sh*t show that has been their lives up to this point, adjust to everything that has happened while still keeping a ‘normal kids’ facade up.
These characters have made mistakes and will probably keep making them, but they have learned from them, grown closer because of them and becomes wiser thanks to everything that has been going on.
Hazel is a fighter, a true fighter who will not back down from a challenge, someone who refuses to be scared and let that fear rule her actions, she is someone who despite everything that has happened, she still chooses to do the right thing where possible, to help others and live her life as her best possible self.
She has truly come far from the shy girl she was in book one, she is confident and powerful, the glue that keeps this whole group together, a skilled athlete with goals she isn’t ready to give up and a lover ready to fight to protect her family.
Cruz has finally achieved what he’s been working so hard for, he got both the girl and end of a war that has been going on long enough. What he hasn’t achieved though is peace of mind, moments when he doesn’t feel like his emotions are getting in the way, the ending of the war that is going on inside his head. He has always been strong and calculating but he has reached his breaking point in this book, he will need to learn how to deal with his raging emotions, he will need to get better in order to be happy beside the girl he loves and finally move on from the past.
Cruz will need to take space and learn from his mistakes, but when he comes back, he will be back at full force, being the outgoing and confident guy we all know and love.
Challenges and tragedies still await these characters, but they couldn’t be any stronger.
The whole group will go through some adjustments, each in their own way, but they will always have each other’s backs.
Through this book, we don’t only get to fall in love some more with Hazel and Cruz but also with every other characters that play a significant part in this story.
We get the answers we had been looking for and even more insight that we never knew we needed, we get a closer look at each of these amazing characters’ lives, learn more about them, about their past, about what will become of their future, and with every little piece of information we get, we love them more and more.
Despite their differences, their flaws, their ticks, and quirks, despite their banter, their fight and their interactions, you will fall for these characters, they will infiltrate your mind and soul, they will make you laugh, cry and make you angry. But you will still love them unconditionally, just like they love and care for each other.
This is a series you can’t pass on if you love dramatic and mature YA that have the power to give you all the feels, render you a mush of goo and shock you in the best way possible.
Sports elements, violence elements, mafia elements and most importantly passion, this book is multiple different sub-genres all mixed and combined in one glorious series.
‘Defiance Falls War’ has been my light on a rainy day, a book that transported me to another world and made me feel like I belong.
This is a fun and mysterious must-read that will make you dream with open eyes.
The conclusion to Defiance Falls was a wild ride! Ali Dean created a series that can fulfill the need for an adventure filled read but at the same time keep things a bit on the realistic side.
I love this conclusion of Hazel & Cruz. It’s not all about happy days for this couple. There are still things to work through together and hope they come out on the other side still together. Many couples face trials all the time, throw some intense and dangerous situations into the mix and it makes it that much harder to get through.
Things in this book were intense for the whole crew! Them feeling like they were just waiting around for something else to happen or if it was actually over. Wondering if they actually get a chance to be kids; while it was an insane trip that the guys embraced wholeheartedly…they all need to get back to just being kids again. Not that they were ever really given the chance to do that before.
Now the crew is hoping they get to go to college and play soccer; just live for themselves for a bit before they all have to take on responsibilities of adulthood.
After everything that happened in the first two books I was unsure how everything would work out. The author did a great job of tying things up and I love how everything ended up working out in the end.
Very glad the Ali Dean gave us the ending this trilogy deserved. While there was some action and fast paced chapters, I really appreciate how some of the focus was on the internal musings and growth of Hazel and Cruz. I loved to see the vunerable side of Cruz. His uncertainty of “what’s next”, and his fear of losing Hazel and not knowing how to deal with being able to be a normal teenage. I also love the growth Hazel shows of continuing to feel like she belongs instead of swaying in the wind. I like how she shows confidence in her decisions and her stepping into more of a roll of leadership. And once again I am greedy and want more. I want to know what happens to them in college and in life!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.