Tag: Knights of the Realm series

REVIEW: Shadow Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

REVIEW: Shadow Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

After the events of Realm of Knights, Reid is sent to Axian for an arranged marriage to Prince Henrick’s son, Prince Dexter. They have a rocky history, and he seems as excited about the match as she is – that is to say, not at all.

Reid and Dexter are both aware of the king’s true lineage. And neither of them trust him. But a marriage will align their counties and put them in a stronger position if King Eldon ever decides to cause trouble.

But Reid also has an obligation to the Knights of the Realm, at least until she is married. They want to know where Dexter sneaks off to. And they are keeping an eye on Eldon and some suspicious activity around the kingdom.

When assassins come for Dexter and Reid, it’s obvious that Eldon has escalated his plans. Whatever Eldon’s true goal, the attempt helps Reid and Dexter break through the frosty barriers between them. And together, they could be a formidable force against the illegitimate king.

Review

I would have liked a little more information at the beginning of the book to refresh my memory from book one, but once I was back in the flow of the story, I couldn’t put this down.

The development of Reid’s character in this is terrific. I feel like the match with Dexter is FAR better than the weird romantic dynamic in book one. Dexter – and his family – seem to bring out the best in Reid. And for the first time she gets to be as much herself as she can be with the Axian customs and her role as the prince’s fiancée.

There’s a major twist at the end of this that I totally saw coming, but loved anyway. And this left me breathlessly waiting for book 3 so it could all be explained. There are some nice, big developments at the end of this that add to the suspense for book 3 – Hidden Knights – and I was caught up in all of them. I was thrilled when my local library ordered book 3. They have been great about helping me stay connected to this whole series. (I wrote this review months ago and by now I have read – and enjoyed – book 3. I won’t be posting a full review of it due to my review backlog.)

This series is fantastic! The royal intrigue and the girl-power moments are right up my alley. There are some laugh-out-loud moments to balance out the suspense and seriousness of assassination, conspiracy, and war. Don’t miss this great series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Realm of Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

REVIEW: Realm of Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Reid Ellington is the youngest of the five daughters of Duke Ellington. And in the kingdom of Marsden, five daughters is a problem. Inheritance law dictates that property and rights move from father to son. So Reid is raised as a boy, and everyone is told that “he” is the heir to the estate. Only the family knows the truth.

When the king of Marsden dies, his oldest son, Eldon, takes the throne. And all of the dukes, including Reid’s father, are told to provide soldiers to protect Marsden. Eldon’s uncle, who rules the county of Axian, is preparing an invasion.

Eldon’s younger brothers, Prince Gordon and Prince Ackley, come to Ellington and discover Reid’s secret. Her father could be charged with treason for his lies. But if Reid agrees to help the princes with a secret mission, she can secure a pardon for her father.

So Reid agrees to spy for the kingdom of Marsden and joins the Knights of the Realm. Her future is so uncertain, it seems like a safe choice. But Reid’s work for the crown leads her to question everything she thought she knew about her home.

Review

This was great! Reid is a terrific character. Being raised as a man in a patriarchal society, but knowing she is a woman puts her in a unique head space. She loves the freedoms her unusual upbringing has given her, but she also knows those freedoms are largely illusion. She can’t live as a man forever. But she also can’t walk back the authority she’s enjoyed. She can’t accept an arranged marriage and a life as a powerless, voiceless woman in her society after 18 years of freedom.

There are hints of a romance which felt like the weakest parts of the story to me. One of the princes is blatantly flirty. The other is brooding. Reid has a visceral reaction to one, and apparently he is interested in her, too, but I didn’t find this played out very well. There’s supposed to be angsty-ness over his engagement to someone else, but the groundwork didn’t feel strong enough to me for that to really play out well.

The twistiness of the political/royal story was delightful! I had so many questions along the way – what would Reid be asked to do? Who can she trust? What lies have been passed off as truth, and to whom? I can’t wait to dig into the rest of the series. Book 2, Shadow Knights, released earlier this month. Book 3, Hidden Knights, will be out in the spring. I have to know what happens next!

If you enjoy political or royal intrigue, spies, and strong female protagonists, don’t miss this one! It reminds me of books like Ash Princess or Kill the Queen or Ruined. I LOVE books like this, and I am here for this whole series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½