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A Knight so Loyal and Broken:
The Third Instalment in the Bestselling 'Counterpart Academy' Series
Avenging a betrayal this unspeakable may call for a sacrifice just as great.
My own mother has imprisoned me in Overwatch, along with my best friends and companions in crime. When escape eludes us, we’re sent back to a transformed Counterpart Academy—now a dark prison overseen by the ruthless Kipling Sloan. Our purpose? To serve as bait for Jupiter.
As Aberdeen and I explore the feelings between us, Sephy and I struggle to envisage what the future looks like for all of us. I distract myself by throwing all of my willpower into escaping Kipling's reign of terror. The fate of our country and the freedom of Shadows everywhere hangs in the balance.
But all I ultimately want is my vengeance on the woman who should have loved me, but instead took everything... and I don’t give a damn about the cost.
Avenging a betrayal this unspeakable may call for a sacrifice just as great.
My own mother has imprisoned me in Overwatch, along with my best friends and companions in crime. When escape eludes us, we’re sent back to a transformed Counterpart Academy—now a dark prison overseen by the ruthless Kipling Sloan. Our purpose? To serve as bait for Jupiter.
As Aberdeen and I explore the feelings between us, Sephy and I struggle to envisage what the future looks like for all of us. I distract myself by throwing all of my willpower into escaping Kipling's reign of terror. The fate of our country and the freedom of Shadows everywhere hangs in the balance.
But all I ultimately want is my vengeance on the woman who should have loved me, but instead took everything... and I don’t give a damn about the cost.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2026
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Sam Blood
10 books33 followersSam Blood lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where he spends his days writing urban fantasy, eating, and trying to impress his spectacular Sri Lankan lawyer wife with plot twists. He started writing the first book about magical creatures called Shadows when he was nine years old, and frankly, things have spiralled out of control ever since. If you enjoyed his books, he’d really appreciate a quick rating or review—reviews help indie authors get seen! www.sambloodauthor.com www.instagram.com/sambloodauthor www.facebook.com/sambloodauthor
Dive into the Shadows universe with my other books:
Counterpart Academy: (Young Adult, Urban Fantasy)
A Warrior So Clever and Cursed (Prequel)
A School so Gorgeous and Fatal
A Princess so Noble and Vengeful
The Shadows Series: (Young Adult, Portal Fantasy)
Shadows
Raven
Cameron
Majestic
Eclipse
Winghold
Dive into the Shadows universe with my other books:
Counterpart Academy: (Young Adult, Urban Fantasy)
A Warrior So Clever and Cursed (Prequel)
A School so Gorgeous and Fatal
A Princess so Noble and Vengeful
The Shadows Series: (Young Adult, Portal Fantasy)
Shadows
Raven
Cameron
Majestic
Eclipse
Winghold
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 9, 2026
I have loved the previous books in this series and I loved this one just as much!
This is book 3 and I loved the developments to the characters, there's been so much depth to all of them. I especially love Sephy and March. I am incredibly excited to read the next installment of the series and can't wait for it's release!!
This series is absolutely brilliant and I thoroughly recommend everyone read it!
This is book 3 and I loved the developments to the characters, there's been so much depth to all of them. I especially love Sephy and March. I am incredibly excited to read the next installment of the series and can't wait for it's release!!
This series is absolutely brilliant and I thoroughly recommend everyone read it!
February 4, 2026
A Knight So Loyal And Broken is the third book in Blood's Counterpart Academy series. It picks up where the second book, A Princess So Noble And Vengeful, left off. This YA dystopian, urban fantasy takes place in Wellington, New Zealand and centers around Alexandra Crowley.
This is not a standalone; the series should be enjoyed from the beginning.
After Crowley and her crew (Sephy, Aberdeen, and March) spend about two months locked away and tortured in Overwatch, the Praetory's prison, they're sent back to Counterpart Academy to serve as bait for Jupiter. Kipling Sloan warns them not to try anything because they're being watched and he'd be all too happy to make an example of them. Does that stop Crowley? Not a chance. She steadfastly refuses to let herself be used in a trap for her beloved Jupiter and she will do everything in her means to ensure he remains free, leading the resistance.
Much of this book is set within Counterpart Academy where we learn what has changed during the months Crowley and crew were imprisoned. The school is now more of a prison and the students are barred from leaving the grounds. Shadows are segregated from their counterparts, and their living conditions reflect what the Praetory thinks of them. Anyone who disobeys is publicly taught a lesson. The situation is dire and absolutely heartbreaking. As a reader, you can't help but be grateful for the liberties we currently enjoy while knowing that the world can change at any time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ongoing evolution of the quartet's relationships - Crowley & Sephy, Aberdeen & March, and Crowley & Aberdeen. These characters, while only kids, continue to be faced with the brutality of war, and the battle between good and evil. The choices they make reflect who they are and how far they're prepared to go to stand up for what they believe in. They are strong, confident and somewhat headstrong characters. It is impressive to see these young people fight so hard for equality and freedom.
Once again, the author has delivered an action-packed book that continues to take readers on quite the ride. There were unexpected and surprising moments as well as emotional and heartbreaking ones. I powered through it in about a day. When I finished, I quickly looked to see when book 4, A Shadow so Queenly and Defiant, is expected as I need to know what comes next. I was thrilled to see I won't have long to wait; the release date is currently May 1st.
This is not a standalone; the series should be enjoyed from the beginning.
After Crowley and her crew (Sephy, Aberdeen, and March) spend about two months locked away and tortured in Overwatch, the Praetory's prison, they're sent back to Counterpart Academy to serve as bait for Jupiter. Kipling Sloan warns them not to try anything because they're being watched and he'd be all too happy to make an example of them. Does that stop Crowley? Not a chance. She steadfastly refuses to let herself be used in a trap for her beloved Jupiter and she will do everything in her means to ensure he remains free, leading the resistance.
Much of this book is set within Counterpart Academy where we learn what has changed during the months Crowley and crew were imprisoned. The school is now more of a prison and the students are barred from leaving the grounds. Shadows are segregated from their counterparts, and their living conditions reflect what the Praetory thinks of them. Anyone who disobeys is publicly taught a lesson. The situation is dire and absolutely heartbreaking. As a reader, you can't help but be grateful for the liberties we currently enjoy while knowing that the world can change at any time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ongoing evolution of the quartet's relationships - Crowley & Sephy, Aberdeen & March, and Crowley & Aberdeen. These characters, while only kids, continue to be faced with the brutality of war, and the battle between good and evil. The choices they make reflect who they are and how far they're prepared to go to stand up for what they believe in. They are strong, confident and somewhat headstrong characters. It is impressive to see these young people fight so hard for equality and freedom.
Once again, the author has delivered an action-packed book that continues to take readers on quite the ride. There were unexpected and surprising moments as well as emotional and heartbreaking ones. I powered through it in about a day. When I finished, I quickly looked to see when book 4, A Shadow so Queenly and Defiant, is expected as I need to know what comes next. I was thrilled to see I won't have long to wait; the release date is currently May 1st.
February 9, 2026
A Knight so Loyal and Broken
Counterpart Academy book 3
By Sam Blood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌏 YA fantasy
🔮 Humans and their shadow counterparts
🌏 A Rebel uprising
🔮 Political Intrigue
🌏 Fierce FMC
🌏 Amazing side characters
🔮 A mission to save
🌏 NZ based
🔮 Unique Magic Systems
🌏 Real world with magical twist ✨️
Ohhh this third instalment 👀 she was darker, the tension was pulled tight, and it was expl0sive. The way it ended? SAM! 😩 I need book 4 stat.
We head back to beautiful New Zealand to fight the good fight against the bad guys, the guys that are refusing to let our counterparts be seen as equals, and Alex? Alex is a mastermind set on vengeance for her dad's passing, even if it costs her her bond with her own Counterpart.
So much comes out in this twisty instalment, then there are the battles! The Banter is top tier of course, and a love interest is FINALLY recognised.
Every book in this series just gets nail bitingly better!
A Knight so Lonely and Broken is out now 😘🖤
#rebeluprising #fantasybookrecs #fantasybooktok #bookreview #booktok
Counterpart Academy book 3
By Sam Blood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌏 YA fantasy
🔮 Humans and their shadow counterparts
🌏 A Rebel uprising
🔮 Political Intrigue
🌏 Fierce FMC
🌏 Amazing side characters
🔮 A mission to save
🌏 NZ based
🔮 Unique Magic Systems
🌏 Real world with magical twist ✨️
Ohhh this third instalment 👀 she was darker, the tension was pulled tight, and it was expl0sive. The way it ended? SAM! 😩 I need book 4 stat.
We head back to beautiful New Zealand to fight the good fight against the bad guys, the guys that are refusing to let our counterparts be seen as equals, and Alex? Alex is a mastermind set on vengeance for her dad's passing, even if it costs her her bond with her own Counterpart.
So much comes out in this twisty instalment, then there are the battles! The Banter is top tier of course, and a love interest is FINALLY recognised.
Every book in this series just gets nail bitingly better!
A Knight so Lonely and Broken is out now 😘🖤
#rebeluprising #fantasybookrecs #fantasybooktok #bookreview #booktok
February 8, 2026
Disclaimer: I was gifted this to review
I may be a touch late with the review but I could not stop reading.
It was a pleasure to continue ARC reading this Counterpart series.
More plot and storyline unfold in this next installment. It was gripping and engaging.
This is book 3 of a series so not a standalone!
I may be a touch late with the review but I could not stop reading.
It was a pleasure to continue ARC reading this Counterpart series.
More plot and storyline unfold in this next installment. It was gripping and engaging.
This is book 3 of a series so not a standalone!
February 9, 2026
A superb third book in a four book series. The author is so good at bringing all these main characters to life. There is pain and violence, but also love and loyalty. And such carmaraderie and sarcasm between the four main characters. I laughed, I cried, I ate this book up. And I so desperately want to read the finale.
February 9, 2026
This was a good continuation. I am curious at how the next installment will go.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews