‘Realm of Knights’ (Knights of the Realm #1) by Jennifer Anne Davis

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

“Reid has spent her whole life pretending to be a man so she can inherit her father’s estate, but when a chance encounter threatens to expose her lie, she is forced to risk everything.

In the kingdom of Marsden, women are subservient to men and land can only pass from father to son. So when Reid Ellington is born, the fifth daughter to one of the wealthiest landholders in the kingdom, it’s announced that Reid is a boy.

Eighteen years later, Reid struggles to conceal the fact she’s actually a young woman. Every day, her secret becomes harder to keep. When one of Marsden’s princes sees her sparring with a sword, she is forced to accept his offer and lead her father’s soldiers to the border. Along the way, she discovers a covert organization within the army known as the Knights of the Realm. If Reid wants to save her family from being arrested for treason and robbed of their inheritance, she will have to join the Knights and become a weapon for the crown.

To protect her family, Reid must fight like a man. To do that, she’ll need the courage of a woman.”

Review:

As with all series by Jennifer Anne Davis, I enjoyed this well-written YA fantasy.  Reid is an easy character to relate to and root for.  The tale begins on her eighteenth birthday, as she is biding her time until one of her sisters gives birth to a boy, so that Reid can finally be known as a Lady and stop pretending to be the Lord and heir to her father’s dukedom.  Instead, two royal princes make a surprise visit to her father’s castle, discover her secret almost immediately, and insist that she join them as her father’s troops are led towards the border to prevent war.  Though the princes insist upon her presence and treat her well, she is left to ponder the mystery of what they could possibly use her help with.

Reid goes through much of this tale without knowing who to fully place her trust in, which translates to the reader also not knowing which members of the royal family to trust.  Not necessarily in a malicious way, but everyone has secrets, and this intrigue was one of my favorite things about this book.

Read quickly over 1.5 days, I found it difficult to put this book down, and even harder to reach the end and realize I’d have to wait until December for its sequel.  Very much looking forward to continuing this trilogy.

#RealmOfKnights #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. 

‘Realm of Knights’ will be available on September 10, 2019.

‘Mirror Bound’ (The Witchling Academy #2) by Monica Sanz

10 enchanting stars out of 5. Extraordinary sequel!

Book Blurb:

“Conspirator. Failure. Murderer.

Seraphina Dovetail is used to being called all these things. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, and the cause of her mother losing both her powers and her life, Sera has always felt isolated. Until Nikolai Barrington.

The young professor not only took an interest in Sera—he took her into his home, hired her for his moonlighting detective agency, and gave her the one thing she’d always dreamed of: a chance. Under Barrington’s tutelage, Sera can finally take the School of Continuing Magic entrance exam to become an inspector and find her family. Now if only she could stop her growing attraction to her maddening boss—which is about as easy as this fiery elementalist quitting setting things on fire.

But when ghosts start dragging Sera into possessions so deep she can barely escape, and then the souls of lost witches and wizards appear trapped in mirrors, these two opposites will have to work together to uncover a much deeper secret that could destroy the Witchling world…”

Review:

It has been absolutely lovely to be back in the magical world of Seraphina Dovetail and Professor Barrington, as well as the magical community in which they live.  The story picks up some months after the events of the series opener.  It is a pleasure to see the growth in Sera’s abilities, advancement of her training, and how well she and Barrington work together.

Author Monica Sanz is quite skilled at crafting words; driving the plot forward at a steady pace while our leads remain as engaging and relatable as they did in the first book, never feeling like they are being forced into situations merely for the sake of advancing the plot.  Readers get to see more of Sera’s clever, on-the-spot thinking and witty remarks as she prepares for the School of Continuing Magic entrance exam while following leads on a new case.  We are also treated to a closer look at Nikolai Barrington, as Sera learns more of his family’s history and his own connections.  The dynamic between Sera and Barrington slowly shifts as they grow closer together, especially now that she is no longer a student at the Academy where he teaches.

#MirrorBound #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

I adore this charming, clean YA magical series and recommend it highly.  Though no mention is made of this series continuing, I hope with all my heart that it does.  I’d love to continue to see these characters interact and grow.

The Witchling Academy series is best enjoyed in order:

Book #1 – Seventh Born – my review

Book #2 – Mirror Bound – available September 10, 2019

‘Ella and Ash’ (Happily Ever After #1) by K.A. Last

4.5 stars

Book Blurb:

“Three years after her mother’s death, Ella is left with an absent father, a cruel stepmother, and a magical pendant so powerful she must keep it hidden. The pendant is the only connection Ella has with her mother, and she will do anything to protect it—even if it means becoming a servant in her own home.

To escape her wicked stepfamily, Ella finds solace under the branches of the weeping willow beside her mother’s grave. Ella thought she could practice her magic there in secret, but when she is caught by Ashwin, the son of the richest lord in the county, Ella fears she may lose her pendant after all.

Ashwin gains Ella’s trust by promising not to tell anyone about the pendant, but Ella knows they are from different worlds, and she is reluctant to open up to him too much. When Ashwin invites Ella to a masquerade ball, she sees it as a chance to escape her life, even if it is for just one night.

But her pendant isn’t the only secret Ella has been keeping. If Ashwin learns who she really is, will the truth ruin her chance of happiness with him, or will it set her free?

Find out in this sweet and magical re-imagining of Cinderella. “

Review:

Interesting spin on 'Cinderella' in which each character has magic within them, and some have access to very powerful artifacts handed down within families.  In this re-telling, the son of the most powerful family in the land sees past circumstances and befriends our leading lady.  This is an enjoyable quick-read novella, recommended for fairy-tale fans.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. 

‘Ella and Ash’ will be available on September 9, 2019 through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.