Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

by K.A. Knight, Erin O'Kane

Welcome to the kingdom of Dresha, where power is everything, and the subjects are used as pawns.

Alyx was not born to be an assassin, but life is hard for orphaned children in the kingdom. With no other choice, she picks up the blade and forges herself into a weapon, becoming part of an infamous underworld gang. The Daggers. Years later, despite her cold-heartedness, she saves a man from a fate worse than death.

That man turns out to be none other than the king.

With his sights set on Alyx and the skills she possesses, he offers her a deal she cannot refuse—pretend to be his betrothed and discover who is plotting to kill him in return for everything she has ever desired.

What the king doesn’t know is the only thing she truly desires is revenge.

Kingdoms will rise or fall, friendships will be broken, and truth’s will be revealed.

Can you survive the Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers?

Genres: Fantasy, Why Choose, Romance, Audiobook, Romantasy, Dark Fantasy, Ebooks

551 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2024

About the author

K.A Knight is a Romance author from a little town in England. She writes the monsters you love to hate. The crazier the better.

She loves her fur babies, coffee and a good book. Katie also has an obsession with monster flicks, and plans to re-watch them all!

Facebook Reader Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Katie...

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/KatieKnightA...

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katieknight...

http://eepurl.com/drLLoj

Reviews

[Chelsie Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was it the best thing I’ve ever read?? No. Not really.
Was it the best book KA Knight has made?
No. Again. Not really.
Was it too long ? Kinda. Yeah.
Did 2 out of 3 men not have any
Spicy scenes until the 80..% mark?
Yes.

However
This was a very fantasy forward book— and I really appreciated the fact that the female lead character was actually bad ass. Not like just says that she is but literally murders so many people

Crux owns my entire heart and is probably my second second favorite character that Katie has made.

This was a very fun and I would recommend it, but it did not get five stars 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 stars.
I really enjoyed reading this. That ending was kind of unsatisfying for me, though.

[The Dirty Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

I love everything about this book and these characters.

Alyx was such a strong female lead. She took no crap from anyone and was such a badass. I also loved that even though she was strong and independent, she allowed herself to be vulnerable when the tines were right, and i enjoyed seeing her growth throughout the story.

Joha had me obsessed from the very second he appeared on page. I adore his loving nature but appreciate that he did what he had to do in the long run. His innocent personality often had me swoonig for him. He is such a romantic and probably my favorite of the three.

Orion was a character i grew to love. At first, I wasn't crazy about him at all, but as the story progressed, so did my love for him. His sense of duty to protect his king and best friend made me respect him, and his character was well written.

And then there is Crux, another character that i was instantly intreagued in. I knew instantly i would love him, and i was correct. His possesivness, his willingness to do anything for Alyx, and his filthy mouth had me in a chokehold.

The plot of this book had me guessing what was going to happen all the way to the end. I didn't see some of the twists, which is hard as im very good at predicting outcomes. Im glad it was able to end the way it did. I was worried there for a little bit. But i adore the ending, and i would love to see more of these characters.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie and Erin need to collaborate more because Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers was phenomenal!


These were some of the best characters. Our morally gray MFC, Alyx, is a badass. She's one of the best assassins out there, using her intelligence and cunning to run circles around the nobles and they didn't even realize it. Orion is dark and dominant, I love his protective nature. Then there's Crux. I know this isn't a paranormal rh but Crux is a demon and nothing anyone says is going to change my mind. I'm here for it though, plus I love me a psycho. However, it was Joha, the golden retriever with a bite that got me this time. He surprised me, he genuinely cares while also being cunning and brilliant. The best of both worlds.


After reading the first chapter I knew I was going to love this book. It was my kind of chaos and it left me riveted. Alyx was plotting, I enjoyed following the clues alongside her but it was her acts against a certain character that left me cackling, after all, turnabout is fair play. The guys and their pent-up frustrations were always entertaining, bodies were dropping in the streets (sometimes literally) and the power struggle to end all power struggles was taking place in front of all the nobles, the passive-aggressiveness was epic. The icing on the cake was the best plot twist because who saw that crap coming? No one that's who.


I loved it so much! Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers was spectacular! Most definitely one of my favorites of the year.

[Crystal D · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off RH ftw…those men 🫠🫠how three men can be different but still you want them all is winning!! Second a female assassin this is a win for us girls! She’s smart, cunning, amazing at her job and is loyal to her job which just so happens to be the king!

This was a wild ride I didn’t want to get off and was secretly hoping it would be end on some cliffhanger(it didnt) just so I could read a whole other book for more!! The action, the twists, the shocker at the end was all great!

Smut was minimal but when it was it was ahhhhmazzing! Hands down no disappointment for the whole book!

What to expect:
👑High Fantasy Romance
👑Royalty Romance
👑Second Chance Romance
👑Enemies to Lovers
👑Why Choose
👑Sunshine and Sunshine protector
👑King and Assassin

[Volpot · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. DNF at 33%. Simply got bored reading about what amounts to nothing more than a love triangle between a weak woman and two weaker men set in a completely unrealistic kingdom. Otherwise, there was not much story to keep my interest.

[Tashie_LeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spicy content 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

I got this book as an ARC! and I am so grateful I got the opportunity!

This book, oh my goodness, it was such an exhilarating ride in a beautifully done fantasy world that gripped me from the start!
In this book, we follow Alyx, who is an absolute bad ass and a Formidable assassin for the Daggers! Her life has been filled with sadness and chaos. Her life takes an unexpected turn when the king himself seeks her help, which then throws you into a world of intrigue, deception, and danger!

The world building in this book is absolutely mesmerizing. From shadowy underworlds to regal palaces, every detail is crafted beautifully, pulling you deeper into this story! The twists and turns are jaw-dropping, with shocking reveals that kept me guessing until the end—especially when it came to uncovering who was behind the chaos in the kingdom.

Then we have the men! Oh my goodness, this is an RH, so who doesn't like multiple guys that only have eyes for her, and every single one of these men adds a different element to Alyx's life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, assassins, and rich, unexpected plot twists.

Check out tashie_leereads for my bookstagram! :)

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg Alyx pulls at my heartstrings when she leaves for the palace. She’s hellbent on revenge and nothing will stand in her way. She’s such a complex character in that you think she is one thing, and twists forming into another.

Crux is an alpha-hole, who eventually cares too much for his new found family that he will do anything to protect.

Orion is a typical guardian that loves too deeply but doesn’t let it show until you are ready.

Joha acts like an absolute dimwit but do not be fooled by this facade for he is a king with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

This book was such a slow burn it almost hurt. It did take a minute for me to get into the plot but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. KA Knight is a master at edging us with a plot that will send us on an emotional roller coaster. I adore her story telling and the fact that she teamed up with Erin O’Kane makes this book even more special.

The plot twist just broke my heart. I’m in literal tears writing this.

[Gabby Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨I received an arc for an honest review. These opinions are my own✨

I LOVE when the FMC is a force to be reckoned with and Alyx is definitely that force. She takes nothing from anyone. She’s fierce, unstoppable, and confident in everything she does. I loved her so much.

The MMCs were all so different from each other, they each had their own personalities and quirks. Joha is such a sweetheart and gives such golden retriever energy, but there’s that power he holds which he learns to use. Orion is a protective shield for everyone he loves and his personality is very dominant, fearless. Crux is the mix of the both in my opinion, except with no golden retriever energy. He’s a force and unrelenting, super protective. I do wish we could have known more about them.

The plot was very interesting and kept me pretty intrigued throughout the story. The spice was delicious.

4/5⭐️
3/5🌶️

[Sammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Katie and Erin for an ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the strong bad ass fmc, and I loved the twist on how one of the MMC's knew the fmc. I enjoyed how she was brought into the castle to help the king, and the discoveries that were made. How far she went to protect him, and the revelation as to who was behind it all was well written. I didn't see it coming.

I also loved all three love interests, I'm a slüt for a why choose. I was, however, expecting a lot more spice. If you're after a spicy read, this isn't it.

[beth m · Rating 2 out of 5]

one man, a king baby, a crappy captain, and a badA woman all living in the worst guarded castle

It sucks to rate this book so low especially when I really like the authors. I couldn’t handle Joha, it was remarked upon so frequently how he was “so intelligent “ but had to dumb himself down so he didn’t lead on how intelligent he was in front of his step mom, yet he literally goes walking around literally getting himself as$assinated . For having such clout as a king he literally acts as dumb as his advisors think he is. He has no skills, no crazy intelligence where he actually comes up with his own plans, nothing really redeemable that makes him half as good as the other characters. He’s literally a baby. A huge liability. An idiot. He throws a baby tantrum about a rumor the fmc is sleeping around in her past- even though he’s the one that planted her and is the one that knows her background. That was obnoxious.

The second biggest reason the book scored so low, were the huge plot holes and unrealistic plot twists.
Spoiler:

Alyx’s brother is alive and able to take the throne? What was the “old rule” that allowed for this? Especially when the king has been in place and alive the whole time, and making changes in a positive light? It doesn’t make sense. This glaring plot hole was just so quickly touched on that it doesn’t feasibly make sense. How did the MMCs get thrown out? The majority of the book was some filler nonsense and then it was like the authors remembered they needed to tie the book up and quickly came to this conclusion. His M.O. is revenge for his family, so why would he team up with the person who dealt that damage? That makes no sense.

“Alyx has passed”
I get it was supposed to be the “wow” moment but you knew she wasn’t deäď, not because of the poorly thought out and executed plan of it, but because this book would never survive without the fmc. It would’ve made more sense to off one of the MMCs. The way her brother got rid of her doesn’t feasibly make sense in a book that’s set back in a time where modern medicine isn’t real. She felt her body shutting down, she lost too much blood, her lung was nicked leading to a collapse, if it hadn’t already, and then she fell into the water, managed to evade Crux’s meticulous search bc of the current, and wind up on a river bank where a random sailor with no medical background saved her. Even though she slipped into unconsciousness while in the water for an unknown time. This was not thought out at all. That type of injury in this imagined type of world age makes no sense on survivability. Again, a huge rush to tie this book up.

Queen mother is the one causing the unrest. There were moments in the book where you thought the four main characters knew that queen mother was the cause of the unrest and attempts on joha’s life because she legit stands the most to gain and is so obviously the bad guy that it was confusing why they would question it or “search for answers”. It doesn’t matter that alyxs brother was part of it ( which is a huge plot hole in itself- especially as he’s been trying to get rid of everyone involved in his family’s tragic demise- a demise that was orchestrated by the queen, so why would he team up with her all of those years?) No sense. But he’s thirsting to avenge his family 🙄. The main characters needed proof, but legit could’ve found it closer to home as it was legit everywhere, down to the treasonous acts his advisors and the queen did.

Orion is literally the worst captain ever. How has he not tightened up his security or learned from all of the inadequacies of his guards? They fall asleep, they are clueless, they become useless at guard changes. Anyone can do anything at a guard change. The amount of times he remarks that he needs to have some sort of talking to or do something about them went unchanged. The guard was awful. There was also a moment of grey where there was a bit of dub con when him and alyx hook up. Idk. That was one of those barely thought out things and an attempt to make this super spicy especially because he had a “massive “ 🍆. 🙄

The only redeeming qualities of this book was the fmc and crux. Crux is the true hero. Legit bailing everyone out of everything. If I didn’t love RH so much id say that if she didn’t end up with him I would’ve boycotted. I feel like there’s so much more but I can only write so much. The book was disappointing

[Margarida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good standalone!
I absolutely loved this new world and the characters in it!
Alyx is amazing, so strong and resilient. Crux is everything you wish for in a morally grey MC. Orion is demanding and so clueless about his own feelings sometimes it's endearing. And Joha balances all the cray cray out perfectly!

[Kayceeisbookish · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was 🌽 with a plot, which might be some people's cup of tea. I don't mind spice at all, but I felt like the plot took a back seat to the 🌶🔥 and suffered for it. The characters felt one dimensional and flat. The dialogue was lacking. The love "triangle" (quadrangle?) felt forced at times with no real reason for some of the characters to be falling for one another. I'm sure a lot of people enjoyed this, but it was not for me.

[Tekayah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn’t necessarily dislike the book, I also can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is primarily driven by plot, with a sprinkling of romance throughout. However, I’m not used to this approach, especially considering it is a reverse harem novel.

Another point worth mentioning is the length of the book. At times, it felt drawn out, almost to the point of dragging. I genuinely believe the narrative would have benefitted from being about 150 pages shorter. Lastly, the twist at the end felt unnecessary, detracting rather than adding to the storyline.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)If you’re a fan of plot-driven stories with a hint of romance, it might still be worth a read, but I wouldn't recommend it without caution.

[Megan Wicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narration Notes/ Study Guide

Alyx (f): from the Lowers, a rough and impoverished area. Street smart, sarcastic, dark humor, wit. Strong sense of justice
Low, raspy, self-assured, confident, playful arrogance, swagger.
-Can code switch into a softer and more refined-tone, more ladylike, less raspy.
-Intimate/introspective tone for inner monologues
-EVOLUTION: Starts as a hardened assassin and gradually opens up to love and trust.

Queen Mother(f): (Constance) power-hungry and manipulative, desires control, ruthless, ambitious
cold, calculating, refined, bitter, resentful
-Facade of a caring supportive Queen Mother. Innocence, respectability, polite, concerned


Joha(m): (represents FUTURE): Kind, compassionate, intelligent, leader
refined, well-spoken, gentle, melodic
-Emotional vulnerability, grief, longing, lonely, capable of authority and determination

Orion(m): (represents SECURITY): Protective guard, dedicated, strong, serious, loyal
deep, resonate, no-nonsense, commanding, authoritative
-internal conflict between duty and personal feelings, jealousy towards Crux

Crux(m): (represents PAST): Trained Alyx as an assassin, also from the underworld, confident, possessive
smooth, charismatic, cunning, manipulative, Alluring, persuasive, underlying darkness, ruthless

Atlas(m): brother, starts out charming, familiar, gradually revealing manipulation and power-hungry

Terms/Pronunciations:

Deajul Hall (DEE-ah-jool Hall)
Mr. Singe: (rhymes with hinge)
Sang Pram: (Sang Pram) celebration welcoming laurel crop which has life-saving qualities
Advisor Ruik: (roo-ik) kings advisors signed with Queen Mother
Master Yiel: (yeel, rhymes with feel) skilled healer, treats poisoning
Arbella: (are-bell-uh)
Kelam (Key-lam)
Antlia & Willian: (Ant-lee-uh & Will-yun) working at the tavern Crux and Alyx visit
Storm Hallow & Whithorn: (HAL-oh, rhymes with PAL) Provinces
Cairn: (CARE-en) providence where the story takes place, Shipping business. Beaumont family lives here.
Lanide: (LAN-ide) river that divides Dresha into uppers and lowers.
? Oakenstram: (oak-en-stram) powerful nobel family, wealthiest, involved in plot to assassinate Joha


Lowers/Uppers
Stumbler: derogatory term used by Lowers to refer to the upper class, out of touch with reality
The Daggers: organized assassins and thieves operating in the lowers, skill/code of conduct
Telf weed: stimulant used by sailors to stay awake
Lunaris Empire: neighboring kingdom, tense relationship with Dresha (because of trade routes and land)
Yu-long: game played by palace guards
Cregin’s Disease: debilitating, fatal, killed Crux’s mom
Christ Church: market and surrounding areas in Lowers
Imperial Mountains: surrounding the palace and part of the kingdom
The Bleeding Sea: separate kingdom from other lands
Moonshadow Palace: Royal Palace where the king and queen reside
Frey Hall: A building within the Palace complex, treasury?
Windfall Hall
Flame Strand Province: Oakenstram family scandal

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Most RH standalones are so-so for me because it's not enough pages to get to know everyone and build all the relationships. It's just not possible. I mean, imagine how fast some contemporary romances are. Compound that with multiple people and it's a Herculean effort to make a standout standalone RH for me. Add in fantasy and it usually ends up worse as time is spent world building.

However, I was curious and went into not 1) realizing it was a RH (it wasn't obvious from the synopsis!) and 2) that it was a standalone. I figured out pretty quickly it was RH (also, it's a Knight book...so, yes, that clued me in haha), but had to go look to realize it was a standalone!

Anyway, point being...I was surprised how much I liked this. I think the authors were smart in making the book VERY straightforward. Sure, it's fantasy, but not magic-fantasy. It's more fantasy in terms of it's not our world and the typical castle-like setting. The plot, there IS a plot, kept me intrigued the whole way through because it focused on ONE thing the entire book: the assassination attempts on the king. That's it. That's the whole book and along the path, we pick up 3 guys. I think having one focus on figuring out who was trying to assassinate the king made the book not have to have 500 plot threads. The relationships too? Very straightforward. There was very little "I'm not worthy" or "she's kissing other guys!" situations. It was kind of like "whelp, it happened. Deal with it or not" kind of situations. So, yes, the romances were not deep at all. But I didn't need deep? Did the guys have different levels of romance and connection, 100%. Did I care? Not really because it was kind of nice to know it was happening with minimal drama!

The end, though, was interesting. I was kind of surprised the authors took the route they did that made the book ALMOST feel like a HFN rather than a HEA. I mean, it's definitely written as a HEA, but it was the way the RH played out for the world that was an interesting choice. I honestly didn't hate it because, frankly, given the guys' dynamics, it made sense. But I can also see how some people may not like this type of ending for a RH. At the same time, it worked for them and, again, it was minimal drama and clean.

Like I said...This book was super straightforward and I think that's what really drew me into the story. Not to mention the assassination wasn't exactly a mystery, but it kind of had some intrigue with it.

[Sharon McMaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome and gave me all the fantasy vibes that I needed but also threw in the why choose romance that I love along with a strong fmc. But I also loved the banter, twists and drama that KA Knight and Erin O’Kane gave to us.

Alyx is the top assassin (all the best ones are female in my opinion) in the kingdom and inadvertently saves a nobleman who ends up being the king. But Joha has his own issues and is ready to make a stand and take over his kingdom but first he needs more people in his corner that he can trust to protect him but to also help him figure out who is trying to kill him. Joha realizes that Alyx is the answer to all of his prayers and begs her to take on this job and be his fake betrothed, so she has access to the court and him. Orion who is Joha’s top guard/bodyguard doesn’t like this plan at all and is completely reluctant to give it a try, but he realizes they are fighting a losing battle, and he doesn’t want to see his beloved king who is like a brother to him lose his crown or head. Alyx is determined to take on this job, but this will also give her the opportunity for the revenge she wants to fulfill against those who wronged her when she was young. The only person that is truly against this whole fake relationship scenario is Crux who is king of the lowers/rats/daggers and assassins in the kingdom, but he is also Alyx’s best friend who has always loved her. He doesn’t want to see her get hurt but also feels like she is being taken away from him when she is meant to be his. He watches as she starts to have feelings first for the king and then for his guard but he knows that she has this burning desire for him too so he jumps in to assist in fulfilling this job but also protecting her back.

This storyline definitely keeps you hopping in the amount of attempts on Joha’s life which also starts to include Alyx’s life as well but the slow burn between the characters was such a fantastic buildup that it just made it feel more authentic. I personally like the multiple POV with each of the characters as things happen to each of them individually that affects the whole storyline and flow. The ending was such a shocker but made sense and I want to applaud the authors with my golf clap and proclaim “Well played, well played”

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I received this book as an ARC and god am I so thankful I got to read this!!

If you know me then you know I’ll read absolutely anything by K.A Knight so obviously when the opportunity came up of getting to read something co - written by K.A Knight, you bet your bottom dollar I signed up so damn quickly.

I haven’t had the chance to read anything by Erin O’Kane but after reading this I’ll be adding more of their books to my TBR!

In this book follow Alyx who is an assassin living in the lowers of the kingdom and has fought her way through life just to survive as she pushes her past and what memories she has left aside. One night when she decides to save a Nobel who is clearly lost in the lowers and is confronted by those who are willing to kill him for his money, she doesn’t think that saving this “nobels” life will end up changing her own.

Joha is the so called puppet king that has had enough of those around him thinking him an idiot and not capable of seeing through their disloyalties. Taking the matter of his people into his own hands he makes a trip into the lowers to finally see what is happening in his kingdom. He didn’t except to be surrounded by the wrong people and being saved by a female assassin. Putting the pieces together Joha realises that this assassin is just the person he needs to help him survive.

Throughout this book we not only get to see Joha and Alyx we also meet Orion who is Johas head guard and Crux who is the king of the daggers in the lowers. This book is so full of angst and suspense and I’m sorry but fantasy and why choose just go so god damn well together. That’s right folks Joha, Orion and Crux all have a thing for Alyx, and I enjoyed every minute of it!!!!

I swear I was at 92% of this book and a massive bombshell had been let off and I’m sitting here like excuse meeee how is this book going to wrap up because like ummmmmm… but of course these two knocked it out of the park with this book and I’m so glad I got to read it.

Happy reading x

[Adrianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the ARC for this book and I'm so glad that I did it was epic!

Oh my goodness, where do I even start with **Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers**? This book was an absolute whirlwind of emotions, and I loved every second of it! Set in the cutthroat kingdom of Dresha, where power is everything and loyalty is in short supply, this story had me hooked from the start.

Alyx is our fierce heroine—a girl forged by the harsh realities of life as an orphan. She becomes a deadly assassin, part of the notorious gang known as The Daggers. Her journey is raw and powerful, and I admired her resilience. Crux, the head assassin who took her under his wing, also stole my heart. His unspoken love for Alyx adds such a poignant layer to the narrative. You can practically feel the tension every time they interact!

Then, there's King Joha, who enters the picture when Alyx saves him from a terrible fate. The offer he presents—pretending to be his betrothed to uncover a plot against him—was absolutely gripping! I found myself torn between Alyx’s desire for revenge and the undeniable chemistry that blooms between her and Joha.

And let's not forget Orion, the king’s head guard. His initial distrust of Alyx is so relatable; I mean, who wouldn’t be wary of a former assassin? But watching him gradually open up to her, ultimately falling for her, added a delicious tension to the plot.

Towards the end, just when I thought I had it all figured out, BAM! A twist that completely blindsided me! Seriously, grab your tissues because the emotional rollercoaster is real. With kingdoms rising, friendships shattering, and shocking truths coming to light, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat!

**Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers** is a beautifully written tale that explores themes of power, revenge, and the quest for love. Seriously, if you’re ready for a wild ride through a world where every character has secrets and every page holds a surprise, dive into this one! You won’t regret it. 💖⚔️

[Mars Rads · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, fantasy books have to walk a fine line between detailed world building so I am transported to the new world and not being so complex that I lose all interest. Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers is able to walk this line and take the reader to this other world but not get lost in it. And who doesn’t enjoy a story with assassins, kings, twists, revenge, and a love triangle between three very different men and a BA FMC? This book is engaging and kept me interested until the very end.

Alyx was the type of FMC that you look for in a fantasy story. She wasn’t born into a spectacular life, but she worked and ended up becoming a top assassin. I love how strong she is but isn’t heartless. Her decision to help Joha without knowing who he actually is just shows that she hasn’t let her occupation turn her cold. The men in the book are all vastly different, not just in their personalities, but also the lives that they lead.

Joha is the king but known as the puppet king. In so many stories like this we get a king who is the cause of the divide in the kingdom, but that’s not the case here because he is a figurehead and the Queen Mother actually makes the decisions. Orion, his guard, is also his friend and loyal to the king. Then there is Crux, king of the assassins. These men could not be more different. It’s one of the things I really enjoyed about this book. Often in RH stories, the men are together when the FMC is introduced. But these men are brought together because of Alyx.

The thing I really loved about this story is how strong the plot was. Don’t worry, there is still spice. But the story is actually something to get engaged in. I loved the twists and turns. I wanted to keep reading to see where the story went. And I never knew what was going to happen, up until the very end. I love almost everything that K.A. Knight writes and this book with Erin O’Kane does not disappoint.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is the secret weapon I have been searching for.

Left to die, Alyx was sure to meet the grim reaper only she met the devil instead…and became the grim reaper herself. Years later one night changes the fate of Alyx, King Joha, Orion, captain of the guards and the underground king Crux.

Someone is after the throne to the kingdom and Joha must seek help from an unlikely source. An assassin…Alyx.

After all, you can put an assassin in a dress, but you cannot change who they are.

Posing as the betrothed princess, Alyx will have to have her wits about her at court as the palace has many vultures baying for the royal blood of the king. But, ever the clever assassin Alyx has something up her sleeve-not only her daggers but something to help mould her into being her perfect queen-to-be.

Can Alyx complete her task at finding who is trying to kill the king?
Or will she find a dagger in her own back as the masks slide down?

Fate has spun its wheel and these four souls are now woven together…will they overcome everything that comes their way?

This is a game. They move, we move, and it goes like that until one of us wins…and I never lose.

This story pulled me in straight away with its beautiful details, outstanding characters and page worthy storyline.

Alyx is a very strong female character and not just because of her background of being an assassin she brings a lot to this story. Funny, resourceful and deep down she had a kind heart that you could see melting towards the males around her.

Our males, Joha, Orion & Crux…are all very different in the roles that they portray and you will struggle to pick which one is your favourite. I enjoyed reading the dynamics evolve with them all throughout this story and also how Alyx was able to connect with each one bringing them all together.

An adventure, fun and page turner of a story that keeps you wondering what is coming next!

[Xime Ortiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️2.5 🌶️

A little too long but entertaining and enjoyable nonetheless.

I liked the plot, the whole undercover assassin playing princess was well developed, the world building was simple but complex enough and the characters had good depth and personalities.

I loved Alyx, I’m a sucker for an assassin FMC and she ATE. She was unapologetically her murderous self and I loved that her personality didn’t change at any point of the book.
Sadly I was expecting more badass moments were the MMC’s would see Alyx in action so I was a little disappointed when they didn’t happen.

Talking about the MMC’s, for me, it felt as the reverse harem we never got from TOG, with the warrior/assassin, the guard and the prince. I liked the individuality of each of the MMC’s and their unique dynamic with Alyx but I would have liked more background and information from each of them as well as a formed bond between them.

Crux was obviously my favorite, him being the assassin king and his obvious obsession with Alyx was top tier. I liked Joah with his innocence and trusting nature, but at times he was a little too naive for my liking. At first I wasn’t a fan of Orion, he reminded me too much of Chaol and I’m a Chaol hater so I didn’t had too much hopes for him, but in the end I grew to like him, I just think his sense of duty was a little too over the top.

I loved that from the beginning we got POV’s from each of the characters, this helped me getting to know each of them and made everything a little more enjoyable. Sadly I did think the harem was slightly unbalanced, or in the least a little shallowly built so I was expecting more from that.

Alas, I wasn’t disappointed but I was expecting more moments, tropes and situations in general and although the spice was good in my opinion all of it happened a little too suddenly so it felt like too much in too little time.

Nonetheless, in the end I did enjoy the book and would recommend.

[emsreviewsandrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers is hands down one of my top reads this year. Honestly, it’s my favorite fantasy read. The storyline, the characters, the action, the passion, and quite literally everything about this story was amazing. This story was long and it took me a few days to finish it but every second I wasn’t reading it, you can best believe I was thinking about it. Truthfully, I would still be reading it if there was more. K.A. Knight and Erin O’Kane knocked this book out of the park and now I need to read their other books together!

Alyx has been an assassin for a long time but wasn’t born into that lifestyle. When her whole world came crashing down at such a young age, training to be an assassin made her a strong and talented woman today. When she decides one day that she’s going to save a man from his demise, she gets hit with an opportunity she can’t pass up. With the king needing protection, Alyx has all the advantages she needs for revenge when she was a kid. What could possibly happen?

Alyx is quite literally one of my favorite female characters of all time. Her character is so strong, so fierce, and so beautiful. She went from being a broken and lonely child to this force to be reckoned with. She protects the people that she cares for and will quite literally step in front of an arrow to save them.

Joha, Orion, and Crux have my heart. Each one of these guys had their own personality and I loved it so much. Crux was so infatuated and possessive. Joha was so lovable and sweet. Orion was so protective and dominant. I really wish I was Alyx right about now.

This story was truly so good. While reading this book, I was imagining it just a like a movie. I was fully invested and I didn’t want it to end. The world building, the character growth, and the spice was just perfection. I highly recommend reading this one!

[Leslie || original book nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

💜𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔡𝔬𝔪 𝔬𝔣 ℭ𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔇𝔞𝔤𝔤𝔢𝔯𝔰 ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴💜

Author: K.A. Knight & Erin O’Kane

Couple: Alex with Joha, Crux & Orion

Tropes: High Fantasy Romance, Royalty Romance, Second Chance Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Why Choose, Sunshine and Sunshine protector, King and Assassin

Review: Kingdoms of Crowns and Daggers was another great read by the dark duo of Katie and Erin! This book was such a different vibe from others they have given us and I was sucked in from word one. The way they intertwined the dark fantasy vibe with royalty, court politics and assassins was the perfect blend of mystery, suspense and lust!

Alex was a conundrum of a character and the way she came into this book swords swinging showed how resilient she would be. Katie and Erin were also able to take her cold and hard edges and soften them once she met Joha which I adored. Seeing her melt for him added a ton to this book since we get to see her softer side shine through and also grow closer to the young king. The way these two were twin souls in this book added a layer to the romance since John was the softest of the three but also the one that kinda held them all together.

I also enjoyed how the story included a lot of the realms injustices and we get to see how each person pushes their agendas. Katie and Erin were also able to create a romance where each male added something to the harem but also pushed Alex into accepting her true origins as well as her place in the new realm they created. This book was slower burn for these two but also full of heat once it boiled over. I found that the banter set this book apart and also made it a binge-worthy read!

Rating: 4.5/5; Kingdoms of Crowns and Daggers was a ride of romance, lust, twin flames and found family and I hope to see more!

Thank you to Katie & Wordsmith Publicity for sending me this eARC!

[Blaire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waffling between 3-4 stars. Objectively closer to 3, but subjectively closer to a 4 when read with blurry eyes and a willful blindness

Notes to myself:
- the main problem with the novel isn’t what was in it but wasn’t. a lot of information would have been needed for the story to be less tropey and more intentionally well-designed. All the things could have potentially made sense, but with more explanation and clues. The mystery elements read more NCIS (withholding information, so you’re left to guess what will happen based upon what tropes the available puzzle pieces fit into), less Sherlock (giving out all the clues, confident in the deceptiveness of the intricate spiderweb being woven). World-building, relationship-building, suspense, etc was lacking because of the information that just wasn’t there
- loved the fact that the fmc was described in the beginning as a strong, smart assassin and actually was one. That alone is worth a star or two
- mmcs had distinct individual personalities and strengths. I really wish, though, that more info had been included that could fill in the hows.<\i> ex. Orion is supposedly this super well respected guard that all the guards look up to, highly respect, and listen to (they don’t even listen to the king; Orion’s orders supersede his). I need info for that to make sense.
- very anti-climatic ending. The whole brother puppet-master element seemed thrown in last minute anyway, but that aside I just didn’t understand why they needed the riot, how they tentatively unified the uppers and lowers after the fact (the enter book, neither class seemed interested in working together, so why now?), why is fmc being held up as a hopeful symbol of the lowers (she was like a bogey monster assassin of the lowers, how did neither class balk?), etc. More info was needed for this picture perfect ending to seem a matter of course

[kaylaschapterchats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! Yes! Yes! This story was so good. I fell in love with the world, Alyx and her guys 👑👑👑

Alyx, she's amazing. I loved her personality. She has a hard exterior but she is softer for certain individuals in her life (which isn't many mind you). Her sense of humour is the best and I love that she's a total bada$$ assassin.

Our mmc's are Joha, Orion and Crux. So my favourite today would have to be Crux. He's so rough around the edges and a king of sorts but he's so soft for our girl Alyx. Joha, he is the sweetest man but he had a darker side that no one really saw except Alyx, Orion and Crux. Orion, he is a little more standoffish and took him a lot to accept his feelings. I really like him and it was so cute seeing Alyx slowly break down his walls.

The world building was magnificent and I'm sad to leave this world behind. This story definitely takes us on a journey of who is to blame and I had inklings early on but that plot twist was so unexpected and my mind was literally blown 🤯🤯🤯. Alyx always had a plan but life and the choices of others can be so unexpected and chaos soon ensues for Alyx and her men. The relationship between Alyx and the guys was written so well, it progressed the way it was supposed to in my opinion 😊

Congratulations Katie and Erin. This was incredible 💗💗💗

Read this story, it is so worth it.

Thank you so much to Katie, Erin and the beautiful team at Wordsmith Publicity for giving me the chance to read this story. I am forever grateful 🙏 All opinions are honest and my own ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

👑 multiple pov
🗡 why choose
👑 secret identity
🗡 powerful fmc
👑 fantasy
🗡 second chance
👑 enemies to lovers
🗡 sunshine mmc
👑 royalty
🗡 spicy scenes

[Esther Books & More Seal Flame · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave the book 4.5 stars. Unfortunately, not quite 5. The story is really good, but when I read a book by Knight, I always expect a wonderfully spicy book. Unfortunately, that was not the case now. It is a very thick book of almost 500 pages. For fantasy lovers, it is highly recommended. It is about an assassin Alyx. She accidentally encounters the king who is being attacked by robbers. She helps the king without knowing who it was. The king continues to think of her and later returns in disguise to look for her. He can really use her help now that he is being threatened. The king asks if she wants to be his fiancée as long as he is under threat and that she can help him find out who his attackers are. He finds Alyx more than just nice, but cannot show it because she is not of noble birth. The king also has a personal bodyguard, Orion, who helps him and he also develops a crush on Alyx. And Alyx herself also has a friend Crux, with whom she worked together as an assassin. He never said how crazy he is about her. Now that she works for the king, he finds it very difficult, but he helps her anyway. The story is very exciting, and there is a lot of action. Fights with the attackers are well described. The ending is also different than you expect, because the attacker is someone else than you think. It is also a real slow burn, only after 3 quarters of the book something happens between the main characters. The spice is little, in this case it is a really good story. But if you expect smut, this is not the book. A super exciting story that takes place in and around the castle.

[Smutbookluvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

FMC: Alyx
MMCs: Joha, Crux, Orion
Tropes: why choose, reverse harem, fantasy, strong FMC
Spice Rating: 2.5
Series: No
POV: Multiple
Cliffhanger: No

Hot diggity dog! This book offered some new tropes and themes for me that I look forward to reading more of in the future.

The FMC is an assassin. Talk about girl power. She doesn’t need any man to take care of her. That doesn’t stop them from trying or taking care of her without her realizing it. Especially, Crux, the thief king who built an entire empire for her. And if you know me, you know I’m a bit unhinged in my love of red flag/morally grey book boyfriends so Crux stole my heart with this one. He's possessive, ruthless, and a dirty talker that had me swooning even when I knew I shouldn't.

But let’s not forget the rest of the FMC’s harem. Joha, the king, and Orion, a royal guard, and this group is complete. Joha is the fun golden retriever type. He strives to see the good in people and has a fun, laid-back feel to him. Orion takes some getting used to. He’s a bit of a jerk and very protective of the king as they’ve been friends for years. He’s more reserved and untrusting of those around him, as he should be in his line of work. 

The book keeps you guessing, especially with regard to the attempts on Joha’s life. Even though you know from the beginning who is behind them… or at least you think you do. The twist at the end threw me for a loop and had me all up in my emotions as the main characters experienced the loss of loved ones.

[Clare Baeriswyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! A brilliant fantasy to break your my dark romance spiral 😂.

The king, the assassins and the guard. The caring, the possessive and the dominant.

I was hooked for the first few chapters. A why choose fantasy that’s more plot than spice (but a good amount of spice).

The chemistry and unpredictability of this book was amazing! And you know this is a good book when it makes you actually cry. The world building 🖤 the action 🖤 the men 🖤 the FMC 🖤 the plot 🖤 the spice 🖤 the twist 💔.

The book of a multiple POV book between 4 main characters:
Alyx, the FMC, the assassin that’s always a step ahead. If you’re looking for a fantasy with a damsel is distress, this is not it. Alyx will hunt, plan out her attack, slit your throat and get a great nights sleep. Perceptive and always looking her best not matter what that situation is.

Joha, The puppet King, fearing the destruction of his kingdom after a wake-up call from witnesses the divide between the nobles and the lowers, after a chance encounter with the female assasin he seeks help to regain control.

Crux, Death, Assassin, King of the underworld, silent protector. Building up an underground empire for the women he loves, taking advantage of the uppers but never showing his true emotions.

Orion, the royal guard and best friend. Loyal throughout, always putting his King & best friend before himself, the grumpy one of the group.

Could we get a Joha POV of THAT scene?? 🙏🏻🔥

Highly highly recommend and really hope Katie and Erin team up again!

[Bretnie Shep · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would love love loveeee to give a shout out to Erin O’Kane and Katie because ladies 👏 👏 you did your darn thing with this . I mean omggggggg!!!! Are you sure you don’t want to continue this ? And make it a series ? 😆 😆 because I would be down to be front and center !!!! Okay, now onto the book. Obviously anything KA writes is an automatic 1000000x infinity for me. But sadly that’s not an option on here so I had to settle for 5 stars . I knew without a doubt I would love this, and was foaming at the mouth the entire book. Not because there was a lot of spice. There wasn’t as much as I thought there would be , but the spice that was in it was definitely yummy. The Fmc ( Alyx) is an assassin for the daggers. She lives in the “Lowers” where she saves Joha. The king. And because of this, he seeks her help . This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and there was just so much suspense and just GAHHHHH!!! All the stuff and things. We also meet Crux the king of the daggers in the lowers and then Orion who’s Johas head guard. I absolutely love Orion but Crux is everything . All of the men are amazing and they just compliment her so so so well. I wasn’t expecting the bomb that was dropped towards the end. Which is why I was surprised this isn’t a series, but everything was just so beautifully written and this duo of authors made pure gold. I honestly loved everything.