Realm of Knights: Knights of the Realm, Book 1

Knights of the Realm #1

by Jennifer Anne Davis

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.

This is the first book in a new fantasy series from best-selling author Jennifer Anne Davis.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Ebooks, Fiction, Adventure

Audible Audio

First published September 10, 2019

About the author

Jennifer Anne Davis graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. She is currently a full-time writer. Jennifer is the recipient of the San Diego Book Awards Best Published Young Adult Novel (2013), winner of the Kindle Book Awards (2018), a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2014), and a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards (2014).

Visit Jennifer online at:

www.JenniferAnneDavis.com

Reviews

[NAT.orious reads ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 knighted ★★★★✩

This book is for you if… you enjoy ya although that genre might have let you down recently. There is more plot than romance but you'll still get some lovin'. The writing and world-building is excellent, although there needs to be some more engagement with side-characters to make the story feel more genuine. Light cliffhanger ahead.

⇝Preface.
Loool y'all, have you ever tracked a book on GR just to realize you've been actually reading a different book? Hands up if you're guilty.

I was reading this amazing book right here but kept tracking The Blacksmith Queen instead because that is the book I originally wanted to read. How come, you ask?

Well...I am ashamed to admit it but I was bamboozled by the covers. They are both red and black with kingdom/knight related metal stuff on the cover . I am a simple woman who just wants to read, kay? I don't need to justify myself...ehrm. Sorry about that.

⇝Overall.
EDIT for the reread: Still liked it a lot and pretty much have the same positive and negative points to remark this time around.

Excuse me but how dare you not provide me with the sequel instantly, Jennifer? This is outrageous. I can not WAIT to continue this story, seriously. It is well written from page one on and the world-building is excellent. I need to know what Reid will do next. OMG. Send help.

I was sucked into this fairly quickly and couldn't wait for work, social life and uni to be over so I could come back to it. (Yes, I will end up as a crazy dog lady - not ashamed to say it.) The plot twist was very unexpected, which I loved. I suspected there was something going on Reid didn't catch on to. The twist was executed fabulously.

The only distinct problem I had with the story was that it felt very difficult to connect to the characters - aside from Reid herself. The relationship-building between Reid and Gordon, Ackley, and Idina was very vague and made parts of the plot feel unrelatable. I think this is mostly owed to the little interaction of Reid with the characters that was paired with strong emotional opinions towards them, which doesn't make sense if the relationship is not drawn out more precisely. I also felt that there were too many men involved in the plot.

I immediately checked out Jennifer Anne Davis and was overjoyed that I already have one of her other books on my kindle app. I'll definitely check The Key as soon as possible (she said, fully well knowing she'll be overwhelmed by the sheer choice of books on her app as soon as she has to pick a read.)

↠What’s happening.
The youngest daughter of an heirless duke, Reid has played the role of the son for as long as she can remember. To ensure that her family will be able to keep their lands and title, she dressed, walked, spoke and acted like a man. Only men are eligible to inherit in Marsden, such is the law.

But then the princes Gordon and Ackley, brother to King Elodin, turn up and the entire act is uncovered. Forced to accompany them to their home and the king, Reid finds out that being a man is far easier than a woman. You have close to no rights, are not taken seriously by anybody and are underestimated and dismissed.

Reid becomes a figure in the royal family's chess game against the rivalling kingdom of Elodin's uncle Hendrick, ruler of Axian, a country people know very little of. Hendrick is said to want the throne and the kingdom all for himself. And Reid is to be the one to prevent that.
_____________________
Writing quality + easy of reading = 5*

pace = 5*

plot development = 4*

characters = 3*

enjoyability = 4*

insightfulness = 3*
_____________________
The first time I read this, the eArc was provided by Xpresso Book Tours via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!

[exploraDora · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4 stars***

I don't think I ever expected to like this as much as I did, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about this fantasy world of knights. A promising start to the series.

Full rtc!

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising start to a new series.

As with most of Ms. Davis’ books, this is a clean and typical YA. If you’ve read any of her other books, the writing style is the same. Simple and straight forward. Some things were quite predictable, but that might just be me.

Pros:
- A strong-willed heroine who can actually hold her own in a fight
- Mysterious Third Prince who isn’t a love interest and is actually dedicated to his job
- Smart and friendly princess who treats the heroine as an equal
- Heroine‘s father and sister love and support her
- One solid best friend who stands by the heroine through all the craziness
- Main “villains” aren’t dumbed down in order to make the heroine seem smart

Cons:
- A plot that’s rather predictable
- Heroine accomplishes supposedly difficult missions far too quickly and easily
- Generic Second Prince who catches feels for the heroine, who unfortunately does the same 🙄
- Book is too short to give characters enough time for growth and development

The ending has me excited for a potentially promising hate to love relationship aka the one of best kind. So chances are I’ll probably pick up the second book to see where this adventure goes.



*Detailed Review to come*

[Nassy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Got the advance reading copy from NetGalley!

This book had the potential to be great but it wasn't executed very well.

I loved the plot, It reminded me of Mulan in the sense that the MC was pretending to be a man. The difference is that her dad was the one that thought of the idea from when she was young. This is illegal in her society so when one of the Princes finds out, She was given a choice: It was either she joins the army and uses her advantage of a woman pretending to be a man, or her and her family would be punished for the crime.

What i didn't like about this was how fast-paced it was. Don't get me wrong, I hate slow books but books that are too fast are also problematic. This book brought up like 4 subplots in less than 300-pages. None of these plots were sufficiently built up so it was hard to get invested. It felt like the author was more concerned about adding new elements to the story than building up a few. I believe in quality over quantity! Even the hinted romance was all over the place.

I will probably still read the second book when it comes out because a few of the subplots were interesting enough but I hope the storyline becomes more focused!

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book – Realm of Knights
Author – Jennifer Anne Davis
Series – Knights of the Realm
Cliffhanger? - Yes
Publication Date – September 10, 2019
Genre – YA Fantasy
Rating – 4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary copy generously provided by the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - Story

Jennifer Anne Davis is one of my favorite fantasy writers and she is always my “go to” author when I’m in a fantasy funk and need to be pulled out.

And…she didn’t disappoint with Realm of Knights. I was sucked into this story and couldn’t put it down for the life of me. Yes, it is a bit predictable, but the story overall is enjoyable and you can’t beat a book with the heroine who is strong and not fluffy/stupid.

Also, another selling point to this story is the cast of characters – it’s not just Reid who wins your heart but the rest of them too! I can’t stress enough that this book is like chocolate where you can’t just read a page or a chapter! You will be hooked.

But…..and this isn’t negative or positive….the story to me was just too short…I could have kept reading and I wanted more and more! I am anticipating the next book in the series and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Reason for Reading – NetGalley Review
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst – 5 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 5 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend To – Lovers of something addicting in fantasy

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠]

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

I am tentatively hyped for this

[biblio-sj · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2 STARS

Realm of Knights was an empowering delight to read. Rich description brought to life a medieval setting that inspired my recent obsession with historically-set books. Well-developed characters were also at the forefront of my reasons for liking this book. This story vividly portrayed the internal conflict of being forced in to harsh situations for the sake of one’s family. Realm of Knights was an advocate for female power as well as gender equality in a time setting that was not known for either.

I adored the main character Reid as she was a comforting sentimental reminder of my childhood obsession with Alanna from Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness series. I grew up reading and fantasising about being a strong warrior maiden as a result of Tamora’s books. Realm of Knights started out with a similarly well-written and descriptive tale of a woman’s plight to save those she cares about most.

While I thoroughly enjoyed majority of this book there were however, a few aspects that negatively caught my attention and brought down my overall rating. The mystery entwined with this story was intriguing at first, yet the consistency of it throughout the book without providing any answers to the reader became tiresome. I was left with SO MANY questions, half of which I had formed during the first half of the book. I had been expecting at least some of them to be answered by the ending, to no avail.

In addition to this, a dramatic alteration in pace from the beginning’s action-filled moments to a slow trudge through the middle was quite jarring to the reading experience. When paired with some questionable decisions from Reid, of which I couldn’t quite reconcile with my version of her as a character, I was left feeling a little bit lost. The inclusion of more ‘bread crumbs’ and consistency throughout the book would have made it worthy of the story’s highly impactful beginning.

Characters:
REID – Was my favourite character in this HANDS DOWN. She was intelligent, brave and deeply loyal to her family. She commanded respect from everyone she met and earned mine within the first chapter. The sacrifices she had willingly made throughout her life for her family’s safety were commendable. I loved that at heart she was adventurous and progressive. Reid had experienced the freedom given to men and refused to accept any other treatment as a woman, which made me happy! She was definitely not easily manipulated nor weak of inner strength.

PRINCE ACKLEY – Was an intriguing and quiet character. He had considerable impact in this story though, despite his dislike of revealing any personal information. If I had to describe him at all it would be… cunning. Nothing about him seemed straight-forward or genuine. Instead I was constantly looking for an ulterior motive in his intentions.

PRINCE GORDON – Was the fiercely loyal army commander and as straight-forward as they get. He came across as brutish (in a good way) and of sound moral fibre. The prospect of him being related to Prince Ackley seemed almost unbelievable. The brothers could not have been more different. This was a captivating dynamic as their first loyalty was essentially to each other and yet despite Prince Ackley’s position (SPOILER… so I won’t reveal it) it seemed like only Gordon fought for the good of all in the Kingdom.

SIDE CHARACTERS – Harlan was an absolute and utter gem! There’s no other way to describe him other than to say he’s loyal, intelligent and Reid’s supportive best friend. Her other friends Royce and Knox were well-meaning but their attitudes altered for the worst when they discovered she was in fact a woman. Gone was their high esteem of her (at least in Knox’s case) and in its place they felt the need to constantly overpower and restrict Reid’s actions in a way that they hadn’t seen fit to when she was considered a boy.

Overall, this story was a very pleasant read and part of a series that I will continue with. I loved that the ending was not as I had predicted it was going to be and nicely set up some intrigue concerning Reid’s future. I look forward to the next book and hope the series continues to surprise.

[Kalyn✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A super-interesting plot with heaps of potential, which was unfortunately suppressed by mediocre execution, cut-out characters, and semi-odd pacing.

Due to legal and social issues preventing women from inheriting land and titles in the kingdom of Marsden, Reid has spent her entire life pretending to be a man. I had high expectations for her, but unfortunately she became an unrealistic Mary-Sue of sorts. She becomes a spy, uncovers (and stops) an assassination attempt, goes on a super-secret mission, etc, and everybody is so impressed with her. She’s boyish when her hair is up, but when it’s down everybody can’t stop staring. You know those movies where the nerdy girl takes off her glasses and suddenly the coolest guy in her school falls in love with her at first sight? That’s what this reminded me of. And while she’s supposed to be exceptionally skilled and smart, she often proves herself to be naive and whiney. The male characters suffer the same fate: set up to be tough and complex, we see nothing that actually portrays them that way.

The writing is pretty choppy at times, which annoyed me more than I could convey in words.

“Reid removed her cape.
She hated when people called her Ellington.
It reminded her of her father.
A few of the men standing around slapped her back as she climbed over the fence.
Since everyone knew her as the duke’s male heir, they expected certain things from her.
Like knowing how to fight so she could lead Ellington’s soldiers if needed.”

There is also a whole bunch of things “going through her”:

“An ominous feeling spread within her.”
“Fear shot through her.”
“Relief flooded through Reid.“
“A tingly sensation brushed along Reid’s spine.”

The pacing is quite detrimental to the story, as well. Readers have no clue how much time has passed, and everything goes so quickly. At one point a character asks something, and shortly after Reid refers to that interaction as something that happened weeks ago. It’s extremely fast-paced, which generally isn’t something I’d ever have an issue with, but this application reminds me of something I’d read on Wattpad, not a published novel.

Despite the fact that I didn't love the first instalment, this trilogy is something I wouldn't mind continuing just so I could find out what happens to Reid. I’d also really love to stick around to see how the author grows in her craft— I just know there's potential for something absolutely amazing here.

And just because it’d be basically criminal of me to finish this review without talking about that cover: it’s GORGEOUS. Have you ever seen something so pretty?

I received this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spotted this and couldn't resist because it's a girl dressing as a boy trope and frankly I was reminded certainly initially of Mulan. Now there the similarities end because Lord Reid ( or do I mean Lady Reid ? ) is just pretending to be male due to old-fashioned ideas about who can inherit.
Initially the author had me convinced that Reid was fighting on the right side but as this story progressed both this reader and indeed our protagonist Reid starts to get serious doubts ! I enjoyed the juxtaposition of it all but sadly at times things did feel too easy and a little trite. I guess I just wanted more from Reid although I'm aware this is the first in the series so clearly introducing the situation and the characters.
Oo the characters are sneaky and I liked that and even though this isn't a romance the author does dangle possibilities although I'm pretty sure Reid's newly discovered libido has been barking up the wrong tree and perhaps any future ideas she gets will involve someone who could well be at this time far from Reid's romantic yearnings.
This certainly grabbed and kept my attention and I loved the way it ended as now I'm desperate to discover exactly what Reid gets up to next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Melissasfandomworld · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2 STARS

This is a very difficult book to rate and review for me. In the end I went with 3,5 stars that I rated down to 3 in the rating system, which to me is a book that has some enjoyable elements but that had some things present as well that had me 2nd guessing and wishing for more. Upping it to 4 stars was just a bit too much for me (but having being able to rate exactly 3,5 stars would’ve been perfect. GR really needs to change their rating system, ugh)

I am super intrigued by all characters and really liked reading about them, but in the end I also feel that a lot of characters weren’t really well developed either - but this is also something that could be remedied in a next installment of course - aside from the MC. Reid was interesting to follow and I ended up liking her immensely much. The minor characters have me, like I said, all intrigued and I really hope the author ‘dives’ a bit more into their development in the next installment.

The story-line is fun and has me excited to see what’s about to happen next, even though it’s not super original and/or surprising. But I just really like these kind of stories. And with how it ended, I’m really curious about book 2.

The political elements are also interesting and well woven into the story. And I do love it a lot when there are Royals involved haha. I did really like the way the author had me changing my opinions on some characters when learning more about certain things regarding politics and the Royals, so that was a plus for me!

Conclusion
This was a book that was fun to read, fast paced and had quite some enjoyable elements present, but in which I definitely missed some more depth on some levels as well and therefore didn’t really stand out to me as something special unfortunately. But then again: it still wasn’t ever boring or anything like that. I went through the story fast and just really enjoyed myself.

I really hope a lot of things will be developed more in the 2nd book though. This story has so much promise in general, and combined with the ending (the promise of there being a hate to love romance present in the next installment), I want to see where it all goes from here.

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
LOVED THIS SO MUCH!

Full review to come ~ Blog Tour: Sept 11

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[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Realm of Knights is a young adult fantasy book and is the start of the Knights of the Realm series by author Jennifer Anne Davis. To say I was excited when I first heard about this novel, and series being releases, is a huge understatement. Fantasy is my favorite genre by far, and Jennifer Anne Davis has written one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. (Her Reign of Secrets series is EPICALLY AMAZING, if you have not checked it out already) Bottom line: I was pumped to see a new fantasy series by her and after I have read Realm of Darkness...dare I say...I might have a new favorite series. I loved this book so much! I am already itching for book 2.

In Realm of Knights we meet our main character Reid. Reid is the fifth daughter of the Duke of Ellington. Her father is the Duke in a land that only allows title to pass to male heirs, so when Reid's mom passes away giving birth to her, her father conceals her identity and has Lady Reid pretend to be Lord Reid so title can remain in their family. Our book starts when Reid has turned 18. Now that she is no longer a child, it is harder to continue the charade of pretending to be a man. Our book really picks up very early on when two of the crowned princes visit her father demanding men to serve in the army, and demanding that Lord Reid accompanies the Duke's men. Watching Reid vacillate between her easier and more comforting role of pretending to be a man, and her desire to be a fierce and independent woman in a society that is so male-centric, was fantastically played out. I love Reid. 

When Reid, with some of her childhood friends, set out with the Princes Ackley and Gordon, the adventure really takes off. Jennifer Anne Davis is a master storyteller, and one of her greatest talents (in my opinion) is her ability to weave political intrigue, secrets and deceits several layers deep into a characters multifaceted personality. She writes some of the best characters. I loved the cast of characters in Realm of Knights, and what I loved the very most about them is how complex they all were. I also loved the fact that I don't have a clear pinpoint on any of their motivations. I am normally a pretty astute reader, so for me to not be able to tell who is trustworthy, who is not and why the characters are acting the way they are acting is unusual...but it also makes reading so much fun! I love that Jennifer Anne Davis keeps me on my toes so much. In a way that few authors can, she has me flipping pages not only because the story is addictively good, but because I have no idea where it will go next. And that is so darn refreshing, I can't even tell you how much I love her novels. She is in a class of her own when it comes to writing great fantasy. I loved how surprising the kingdom of Axian and the Kingdom of Marsden were. I will admit that I think they both played off some extremes to prove a plot point, but I think it worked really well in the larger story, and I am dying to read the next book to see how it will all turn out. 

Overall, Realm of Knights is a fantastic young adult fantasy. One of my favorite reads of 2019 for sure, and probably will be a favorite series of mine. If you are a fan of Mulan, secret societies, and epic fantasy adventures will love The Knights of the Realm series. I am holding off talking about a romance until I see book 2. I have a feeling all of my thoughts and opinions are about to be jumbled up in a royal fashion. ;) The bottom line is this dear readers- If you have never read a book by Jennifer Anne Davis, you are really missing out. Pick any of her series and start reading! I think Realm of Knights is a great book for new readers to fall in love with. You will become just as hooked as I am. 

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Hayley 🐾 · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 Stars 🌟

The Realm of Knights is a story about a girl named Reid who disguised herself as a boy. Reid was pronounced as a boy at birth by her father so that Reid would be able receive the heir of the estate (only boys can receive the heir). Reid is the last daughter of five and now has to live her life as a boy in public only really.
As Reid matures into a woman, she struggles with keeping her true identity a secret because she no longer feels comfortable as a boy anymore. We see Reid also struggle with feeling like it is her duty to protect her family from any harm that may come their way. To help protect her family, Reid ends up joining an army known as the Knights of the Realm where she undergoes particular tasks.
To put simply. 😁
.
Sadly, I did not find myself enjoying this story. It was not meant for me and there are people out there who might enjoy this book better than I did.
I didn’t enjoy this book because I ultimately could not connect or engage with the story whatsoever and even the characters. The writing was bland which left the plot to be boring and characters to be very basic. The writing was a little too simple and not enough richness that I was looking for. The writing was lacking descriptions of things like the world and the characters. There was absolutely no world building or character development. I just kept wanting so much more from the author’s writing, but it just never really came out and “wowed” me. I was left bored for the most part of the story.
Then, there was romance which I wasn’t expecting. And not at all in a good way. The love interest was random and there wasn’t nothing leading up to it. It was too sudden and just....weird.
.
I truly did like the concept of this story and the medieval time period that this novel took place in. However, the writing just ruined this book for me completely.
By no means is this book bad, I think it wasn’t for me and I what I look for in an exceptional novel.
.
I did receive this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Iona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating - 3 stars

As I review this book, I will try to constantly remind myself that this is marketed as a YA book. I would like to start off by saying that I would have loved this book all the more if it had been written for adults--I think the whole idea of a Duke raising his daughter to be a man, and suddenly this daughter is thrown into a giant political war because she is the only female in the kingdom who knows how to fight (because of the tight gender reforms), is a captivating idea. I really feel like Reid was held back by YA rules; as a woman living in a man’s world, I think Reid would have had a much more difficult and delicate time than what was pictured in this book.

Because this is YA book, instead of Reid dealing with the brutality that women faced back in medieval days (the rape, the beatings, the killings that happened to women constantly), she is instead faced with the existensial question of “Who am I?” Which, although disappointing, I do think is appropriate. If someone of Reid’s likeness had existed in this period of time, the difference between man and woman would not just be “wearing a dress and having to act respectful”. I remember at some point in the story, Prince Gordon says “There’s nothing wrong with a woman who knows her place,” and Reid has a meltdown as if she’s never heard any man say something so awful, which just has to make me laugh. I’m sorry to rain on the parade, but had Reid had grown up with all male friends, it is almost downright stupid that she has such strong reactions to this at her age after a lifetime of being a man. In 2019, some of my male friends still say things about women that are questionable as fuck, so I know in a time where men had no repercussions for the actions against women, Reid would have had a rude awakening long ago as she disguised as a man.

This glaring issue aside, this was an enjoyable read. The idea behind the story was very intriguing, and I thought the contrast in character personalities was very interesting. Sometimes, authors have a bad habit of making all of their side characters blend together, but Davis created a fine cast of characters to follow Reid around.

For a YA book, I also feel Davis nailed the element of surprise. When I first started reading the book, I thought I knew what direction it was heading in. Especially in the very-cliche scene where Reid wears a dress for the first time and does a swirl in the mirror and “realizes her beauty”, I just had to roll my eyes. I got very cocky when it came to trying to guess whom was doing what, but the author definitely kept me on my toes. I was pleasantly surprised, especially after hitting the 75% mark, at the twists and turns the story took.

The writing was lacking; although it was very straightforward and to-the-point (which I am gathering is the author’s style from other reviews), it did lack some beauty and emotion. I felt that was a bit of a miss for me, especially considering the author has an English major, I feel she could have gotten a little bit more involved in the storytelling aspect. But, that aside, the pace was good. It did not feel like I was reading for this book for ten years; things happened fast and in succession, and Reid was always off on a new conquest before you could start yawning.

I think this was a very good debut novel of the series, and I am very intrigued and excited in reading the second book. Realm of Knights successfully hooked me in and had me wanting to know more about this kingdom it takes place in. I feel that this is definitely the kind of book I would recommend to my younger, junior-high siblings.

Note from me: Thank you for reading this review! Leave a comment about how you felt for the story :) And thank you Reign Publishing for the Advanced Readers Copy

[Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com

[Shorouk A · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
What drew me originally was the cover. The story started as an interesting one. The writing style was easy to follow.

I was glad that the story was told from one point of view . I missed that.

I loved the friendship here especially with Harlan.I hated the father in the beginning. He wanted the power even if that cost him his daughter's happiness or even personality.but after a while, I saw his love for her but still it wasn't okay to do that.

I liked the princes.They both had their strengths .I liked Ackley's intelligence especially.He was the most intriguing for me.Also his role in their country was intriguing. I liked how badass the sister was as well.

I liked the MC .She was good point to follow but Sometimes I didn't feel her appreciation for her family as when she said she didn't want her father to die so she wouldn't be a boy for the rest of her life without saying about her being sad he is dead!!

Overall,The story was intriguing most of the time not very fast but that was okay .For the ending,It was underwhelming in my opinion at least . I didn't like it.The marriage part not the chess piece in the box.If the story stopped at that,I would have loved the ending

Note: The story had many road tropes so if you don't like that,I think you shouldn't pick this up.

[Viking Jam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5/5

Review: There have been quite a few novels set in the Knightly era, where a girl tries pulling off being a man for various reasons. So where does this work stand among the masses? Read on!

What really stood out to me were the characters. Just patterned and bland. Take for instance Reid. Sword fighting boy whom gawks and then blushes at the site of her manly prince’s ripply muscles. She is a covert operative that fails at everything because there is always some royal to bail her out. Most of the characters follow the romance template of fiery passions and unrequited love. Barf.

The story line wanders a bit in order to build Reid as a super speshul character, only she ends up sucking as her lack of depth is detrimental to scene development. So while not caring what happens to Reid, I liked Knox’s forthrightness and his ability to tell Ms. Speshul to go suck an egg. Sadly, he is brief in appearance.

So what could have been a great character in Reid, with depth via a life built as a boy and toughened by circumstance is relegated to a role of tears and romance. Fug.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to get to read an early copy of this book because Jennifer Anne Davis is one of my favorite authors. This is book one of a new series and has many twists and turns. This book kept me guessing the whole time and when I read the last line, I immediately wanted to read the next book!

[hollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I completely purchased this book on a whim. I didn’t even really know what it was about until I started reading it and oh my god, I didn’t stop until I finished it.

- The writing was good and the author didn’t use any flowery language that stopped the flow of the story. It fitted the age of the character well.
- I really liked the plot. It kind of reminded me of a less modern version of She’s the Man and I liked that we got the perspective of Reid being a boy and a girl.
- I think the love interest aspect was kind of forced. I don’t really like Gordon and I didn’t think they matched. I feel like Reid and her new fiancée might have more of a connection.
- I really liked the ending and I think it leads to the next book very well.

Overall a really good book. I would highly recommend to get out of a reading slump and I am definitely going to read book two now!

[Carola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 *

[Dana]

11/14/20 Free on Kindle right now!

[Justine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Realm of Knights is the first entry in the Knights of the Realm series, and my first foray into the works of Jennifer Anne Davis. The cover and blurb are what originally caught my attention, and I went into this book with high expectations for a solid YA tale of female empowerment and one wild adventure. This is a story of equality, and fighting for what you believe in, regardless of how futile it may seem. It’s of doing what’s right for the safety and betterment of your friends and family, and of true acceptance. This book has tons of potential, but unfortunately falls short on execution.

The story is led by a cast of generally archetypal characters that have the building blocks to become exceptional. Reid, fifth daughter of the Duke of Ellington, is secretly raised as a boy in order to allow her family to retain their lands and titles. Necessary in a country with backward ideals regarding gender equality, Reid isn’t made completely aware of what it’s truly like for a woman in the Kingdom of Marsden. Regrettably, a character that should have been a strong female lead ended up becoming a naive, and oftentimes whiny, child. Princes Gordon and Ackley, warrior and rogue, respectively, first appear to be carefully crafted, notable characters with more to them than meets the eye. Again, they fall into the same category as our lead, and their established qualities begin to degrade at a rapid pace. They do have their shining moments, but for me, it wasn’t enough. While the characters seem to fall flat, the one saving grace is it becomes increasingly difficult to discern true intentions, having you constantly guessing who is friend and who is foe.

One of the biggest issue I had with this book is how everything felt rushed. It’s a fast-paced book, spanning months in little over 250 pages, and while I appreciate not having to travel every step of the way alongside Reid as she ventures across the Kingdom and beyond, this is really detrimental to many worldbuilding aspects. Reid arrives in the City of Buckley, uncovers and thwarts an assassination attempt, dives deep into the intrigue throughout the land, and is promptly sent into enemy territory on a super secret mission in what feels like the span of only a few days. Everything is rather anticlimactic, and I was often questioning the unrealistic decisions that had been made. While we travel by foot and horseback throughout the counties, environments are not vividly constructed around us, leaving too much to the imagination. I felt as though I was swimming in a shallow pool, wishing I’d eventually reach the deep end, only to never arrive.

As I mentioned, I expected this story to be one of empowerment, and I was sadly met with repetitious and exaggerated instances of extreme sexism and no resolve. In the Kingdom of Marsden, all women are weak and need to know their place, and all men, with the exception of maybe one or two characters, are pigheaded and condescending fools. With echoed “you belong to me” and “being a woman”, and all the variants in between, it became not only tiresome, but actually quite offensive. Reid’s constant astonishment of the lay of the land seems completely unrealistic, as she’s an adult that has resided with and witnessed the lives and struggles of her four older sisters. It’s one thing to use inequality to set the stage, but it’s not something to be used in almost every occurrence of character interaction.

Realm of Knights, while flawed, is built around an incredibly interesting plot of political intrigue and conspiracy. Each new facet introduced continues to weave a web that snags readers and holds fast. Its twists and turns keep you on your toes and champing at the bit to finally uncover the truth. Additionally, an enigmatic brotherhood with a plethora of shadowed secrets adds another layer to the the tale’s underlying machinations, definitely piquing my interest. The final pages leave readers at an unexpected cliffhanger, and although I wasn’t necessarily a fan of this book in its entirety, I admit I need to know what happens next.

Realm of Knights is available via Reign Publishing on September 10, 2019.

Note: I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up solely because it had a narrator that I adored. I needed something I could immerse myself in and I wanted to go for a narrator that I've enjoyed and felt sucked into the story through her voices. I'm also having difficulty getting into books lately so I wanted to pick something that was on the shorter side.

I really wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't get behind it. The plotline is pretty generic and I've seen this trope done before a bunch of times. The MC is a girl who's pretended to be a boy for most of her life. I guess the twist is that she's not an orphan or a runaway in the military - she's still at home. Her father needs to provide a male heir and so after her mother dies giving birth to her, he pretends that she's a boy. This is where I started having trouble. The mother's dying wish was for the father never to remarry, and that's a big ask because there was no male heir. This is a society where women absolutely do not inherit and do not do much outside get married and have kids or have some sort of 'feminine' job like a seamstress. To ask this of a nobleman without an heir is ... sort of unbelievable. The fact that for 18 years the father HASNT remarried and instead commits treason by pretending to have a son is a little ridiculous. I feel like with tweaks to the story this could have been written in a way that's more believable. Mildly different circumstances for why she has to pretend to be a boy would be easier to swallow, at least for me.

I also wasn't warming up to the main character. She went from being mature and someone who thinks ahead and plans... so someone who's impulsive and puts herself in danger frequently. When it's revealed to a couple people that she's actually a woman it wasn't as much of a problem as you'd expect it to be, it went down a little too easily.

Eventually, Reid finds herself caught by the duke's sons and found out to be a woman. In return for their silence, they require her to come and serve the king, and once they no longer have use for her, she can go back home and they will allow her father to break the rules and let her inherit - solving the heir problem, and the beheading for treason problem. It seems too good to be true, but she doesn't have a choice if she doesn't cooperate she's going to be hanged along with the rest of her family.

I got a bit further than that in the plot, I made it to about 50% before I put this one down. I didn't find myself motivated to continue listening because there was no hook that really sunk into me. The world was pretty generic, the characters were too, and so was the plot. Maybe something happens later on in the book that would prove me wrong, but I didn't get there.

[Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars!
*I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
For more book reviews check out my blog: Dreamy Addictions

This was a typical YA fantasy but I still enjoyed reading it because I love reading books with these themes where a girl disguises herself as a boy. Although I had issues, I had fun reading this book. Reid was a pretty likable character but I honestly didn't enjoy her infatuation with one of the characters. It was too insta-lovey and too rushed. I'm glad it didn't worked out in the end because it was totally meh.

Reid was a fierce and stubborn  heroine who was raised as a son since she was born. In her kingdom, inheritance should be passed down to the son but not to the daughter and breaking this rule is a treason. Reid's pretty skilled in sword fighting which her father is reluctant to acknowledge. When her secret  gets discovered by one of the Marsden's Prince, she's forced to choose between working for them or getting tried for the treason. Well, I really enjoyed Reid's character but I wouldn't say she was my favorite either. She was fun and totally kickass. Even though she's reluctant to work for the princes, she does loves the adventure and the freedom it brings. I admired her friendship with her close friends  who're also her father's soldiers. There isn't much romance in this book but I'm hoping there's going to be more in the sequel. I was a bit annoyed with Reid's attraction to the broody prince Gordon who never gave  much attention to her. There's not many interactions between them but suddenly they have feelings for each other and it seemed very awkward. I'm so glad it didn't worked out. I totally approve of the cocky prince Ackley and the new character we get introduced in the second half. I'm always ready for a good hate to love romance.

The plot was partially predictable but there are some interesting twists that made it an enjoyable journey. I liked the secret society of knights concept. The pacing was good but some parts seemed rushed. I never felt the need to skip the pages. The writing style was simple and easy to understand. The book was written in third person perspective. The world building was decent. It was a medieval style setting and there's no magic. I really want to explore more of the Axian Kingdom.

Overall, this was a nice start to a new YA fantasy series. There's adventure, politics, friendship, a dash of romance, and a little bit of women empowerment.  The book concludes with an interesting twist and  I can't wait to know what happens next.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild adventure! I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book. The characters are interesting, the world building is immersive, and the adventures abound, you won’t want to put it down.

We start off with a brief introduction to Reid and her daily life, which quickly gets interrupted by a set of visitors the family was not prepared for. After an awkward interaction with their new guests, things get into motion. Reid is quickly outed by the visitors from the new King’s convoy, namely his brothers, the princes. Despite knowing her secret identity, they move forward with the plans to take troops to secure the border.

Reid’s father sends her close friends with her and reveals her secret identity to them in order to help protect his only “male” heir. Reid keeps up the charade. Travelling with the Princes and their convoy keeps things interesting, especially when they change plans and take Reid back to the King’s castle.

The castle and culture in the capital city are very different from what Reid expected and it is decided that she will be presented as herself, a Lady of the Court instead of the male heir she’s been presented as her whole life. Cue a fast learning curve and some developing feelings for one of the princes.

Next Reid is sent on a mission for the King. The adventures await as danger approaches and minds are changed. I won’t give any spoilers, you’ll have to read it.

I think the things I enjoyed most about this story were the friendships and the politics. Despite a romantic inkling with our heroine, we learn a lot about her history growing up as a boy and the freedoms and friendships she had developed. These friendships are a continuing presence throughout the story and keep it interesting.

As with most countries there’s always a bit of power struggle when new leadership takes over. This story is no exception and the important players are moving pieces that are revealed throughout the story. It keeps the story moving and the plot thickens as Reid navigates her new roles.

I highly recommend this entrancing fantasy story to readers who enjoy brave heroines, important friendships, and surprises around every turn. You won’t be disappointed.

[Haley The Caffeinated Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2019...

I knew I was going to like this book, but I was wrong. I ended up loving this book, I underestimated how much I would enjoy this and that makes me so happy.

Davis is plot and character driven, her world building is easily worked in but not the focus, and it works well, she's slowly peeling back the layers of her world as you experience them through Reid's discoveries of the land.

I am a sucker for girls dressing up as boys trope and this delivered in spades, not to mention it had a unique twist to it. Reid isn't doing it to defy her father, she's doing it at his request.

Of course even the most carefully laid plans can backfire and once someone has discovered the secret, that The Duke's heir, Reid, isn't a he but a she, well it seems that the act is up.

But, what is the price of the secret?

This is where it gets amazingly interesting and I don't want to give anything away but expect some really cool things to happen.

There's political intrigue, a hint of romance, a mysterious other county, and the ever present thought; 'who is telling the the truth and who is lying?'

Reid has to keep her guard up as she wonders this question the deeper she gets thrown into the political side of things and at the end of the book, she's left with quite the unexpected path for her.

Seriously, I thought maybe that ending could happen but doubted it and then I was lulled into a false sense of security and then boom. And now I'm left with questions that have to wait until December to be answered.

Thanks to Xpresso Book tours and the pub/author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Realm of Knights is the first installment in author Jennifer Anne Davis' Knights of the Realm series. 18-year old Reid Ellington lives in the land of Marsden where women have no rights, nor can they inherit land from their fathers. They are basically cannon fodder for political reasons. Reid is the youngest daughter of 5 who has to play the part of a man until one of her married sisters has a son. Reid has spent 18 years hiding the fact that she was born female so that Duke Ellington's land stays in the family.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[lissy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.
Poor everything!
Poor world-building. Poor characterisation. Poor storytelling and readability. Poor plot.
It was like reading a report about what’s happening when I expect to be carries away by the story.
Sorry, but I’m officially crossing this author and all her works off my list.

[Amanda Deur · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book had some typical YA elements but also some that were not so common which I loved!
I think Jennifer Anne Davis wrote a fun and entertaining book with well-rounded characters and lots of twists. Perhaps a little too many. Review continues under the plot.

Plot:
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.

I think the plot is thought out well and the story makes sense. The pace is high but felt a little slow sometimes. Some things in this book get too little attention and lack a bit of depth and other things get too many focus. There is a bit of a uneven balance sometimes. I'm a big fan of the themes in this book. While there is a little romance going on towards the end of the book the main focus is on Reid and her journey of coming into her own. I think that was a great decision by the author. Many YA writers tend to add way too much romance without it being beneficial to the plot.

Overall this is a fun and entertaining read and I actually finished it in a few hours. I was completely drawn to the story and with every page I turned I kept wanting to read more. The plot twist at the end gave us something to look forward to in book 2 and I think there will be more romance included. Which isn't a bad thing because I think it will now be a part of the plot. Can't wait!

[Clockwork.bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for honest review.

In a kingdom where women aren't allowed to inherit properties, Reid had to spend her whole life pretending to be a man so that she can inherit her father's. property. So one day when one of the princes discovers her true identity and sees her sparring with a sword, he offers her to join a secret organisation for assassins and spies known as the Realm of Knights. To save her family from being convicted for treason, she agrees to work with the prince. But as she gets more involved in the court politics, she finds herself questioning if she can trust anyone at all.

This book completely took me by surprise. I did not expect to love it as much as I did. The world building and intricate court politics highly impressed me. Reid is a very strong, intelligent and empowering character and it was amazing to see the plot unravel through her eyes. However, I would have loved to get to know the other characters too. I am especially intrigued by Prince Ackley - he seems very cunning and motivated but we just don't know much about his motivations. The political aspect of it totally blew my mind - towards the end. I had to put down the book several times just to absorb all the things that were happening. I always love a fast paced book that can keep me on edge and this book just did that for me. The ending very unexpected and I can't wait to see what happens in the future installments. This book is an underrated gem and i am surprised that not enough people are talking about it.