What do you think?
Rate this book
Knight's Sacrifice
For most people, running a funeral home is a dull and conservative line of work, but when Catherine Samuel inherits the family business she discovers that it is anything but straightforward. For a start, the dead do not always stay dead, they sit up, and they bite. In this strange world, Catherine needs help, and that comes in the form of Cassandra (Cassie) Evans, a heavily armed problem solver, knowledgeable in all things arcane and undead. Cassie, however, hates her posting to Catherine Samuel. Her charge knows nothing of family, her heritage, nor her duty as the sole remaining caretaker of The Gate, a sentient construct that guards the way to hell and stops the inhabitants of Hell finding their way to the land of the living. Anyone who does not understand the importance of this duty is a liability. Catherine is a liability. Except that Cassie finds an unsettling attraction developing between them that she neither expects nor wants. Duty first, there is no room for emotional entanglements, and certainly not with a woman who rejects all that Cassie thinks is important. When Catherine finds herself on the brink of losing everything, Cassie, her family, and even life itself, then she must awaken. She must become The Samuel, The Gate Keeper and guard the way between the living and the dead. To make it safe she must travel to hell, with the warrior that she has chosen, and there, if they survive, she must heal the problems of the Gate before all hell breaks loose.
246 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2017
4 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Nita Round
31 books88 followersNita Round is a British author who creates vibrant and unique new worlds as quirky as she is. She takes inspiration from her studies of history and blends together ‘what was’ and creates fantastical worlds, ‘what could be’.
Monsters, heroines, magic, and the strange are all woven into tales of hope and courage. Where women battle evil, something with nothing more than a stout heart, and no matter the odds, ultimately prevail.
If you want to know more about new books, then subscribe to Nita's reader's list. Free short story Dark Mission available via website, and exclusive to newsletter.
https://www.nitaround.com
Monsters, heroines, magic, and the strange are all woven into tales of hope and courage. Where women battle evil, something with nothing more than a stout heart, and no matter the odds, ultimately prevail.
If you want to know more about new books, then subscribe to Nita's reader's list. Free short story Dark Mission available via website, and exclusive to newsletter.
https://www.nitaround.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 22, 2017
The proprietor of a funeral home, Catherine Samuels, knows all about the dead but that's not what concerns her. No, it's the dead that suddenly become undead that keeps her up a night. So zombies? Well, that too, plus some demons, ghouls and well you get the drift. . . scary creatures! For Catherine this is her legacy, her family has been put in charge of the gate to Hell since the beginning of time. The problem is Catherine's family kept her out of the family business, and now that they have all passed on she's grasping at straws to figure out what to do next and stop the increasing flow of dead bodies that are coming back to life and reeking havoc.
Cassandra "Cassie" Evans, is a fighter. Her job on Earth is to put the evil undead back where they belong. She uses her special skills to keep order between the living and the departed. Cassie comes to Catherine's funeral home to help her figure out this mess. She has no clue that Catherine does not know her families secrets and what her duty as the keeper of the gate entails.
When Cassie gets to Catherine's manor in the beginning of the book you have your basic, "I'm attracted to you, but I don't want to be" setup. Cassie sees Catherine as part of her job and she wants nothing more than a professional relationship. What threw me as the reader is then we go for about a week with the boss and the employee completely avoiding each other. They even live in the same house, but no communication whatsoever. Once the do communicate its with kisses. Whoa! That kind of threw me, talk about zero to sixty.
Overall the book is an interesting tale of two women fighting to hold the world together, at the same time finding their inner powers. I will say there were times when I was a bit lost as to what was happening. I would have liked a bit more background information on what was happening and the Samuel legacy. You are finding out at the same time Catherine does, so as the reader, I felt as in the dark as she did. At times I found this to be a bit frustrating, but I was still interested in the outcome of the book. I believe this is Nita Round's debut novel, and I will definitely read whatever she writes next.
2.50 stars
Cassandra "Cassie" Evans, is a fighter. Her job on Earth is to put the evil undead back where they belong. She uses her special skills to keep order between the living and the departed. Cassie comes to Catherine's funeral home to help her figure out this mess. She has no clue that Catherine does not know her families secrets and what her duty as the keeper of the gate entails.
When Cassie gets to Catherine's manor in the beginning of the book you have your basic, "I'm attracted to you, but I don't want to be" setup. Cassie sees Catherine as part of her job and she wants nothing more than a professional relationship. What threw me as the reader is then we go for about a week with the boss and the employee completely avoiding each other. They even live in the same house, but no communication whatsoever. Once the do communicate its with kisses. Whoa! That kind of threw me, talk about zero to sixty.
Overall the book is an interesting tale of two women fighting to hold the world together, at the same time finding their inner powers. I will say there were times when I was a bit lost as to what was happening. I would have liked a bit more background information on what was happening and the Samuel legacy. You are finding out at the same time Catherine does, so as the reader, I felt as in the dark as she did. At times I found this to be a bit frustrating, but I was still interested in the outcome of the book. I believe this is Nita Round's debut novel, and I will definitely read whatever she writes next.
2.50 stars
December 23, 2017
Once I started this book I did not want to put it down. For me it was the right combination of a strong storyline, plenty of action and a romance. My personal preference is for a compelling plot with believable strong female characters, throw in a romance and it ticks the boxes for me. Even happier with supernatural beings and lots of things that not only go bump in the night, they bite too.
The story centres on Catherine, who following the loss of her parents and brother takes over the running of a funeral home. She soon discovers there is more to the “family business” than meets the eye. Undead rise and supernatural beings haunt her dreams. She enlists the help of Cassie, someone who knows how to deal with evil beings. They both find themselves neck deep with demons, undead and other unholy creatures.
I liked the build up to the 2 main characters romance, which starts with mutual attraction and leads to much more. I loved their interaction and how their relationship develops as each learn/discover new things about themselves and each other.
The plot is engaging and held my interest throughout. The pacing is good, action packed, believable characters and well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal, urban fantasy or just wanting a good story with the added bonus of a romance.
The story centres on Catherine, who following the loss of her parents and brother takes over the running of a funeral home. She soon discovers there is more to the “family business” than meets the eye. Undead rise and supernatural beings haunt her dreams. She enlists the help of Cassie, someone who knows how to deal with evil beings. They both find themselves neck deep with demons, undead and other unholy creatures.
I liked the build up to the 2 main characters romance, which starts with mutual attraction and leads to much more. I loved their interaction and how their relationship develops as each learn/discover new things about themselves and each other.
The plot is engaging and held my interest throughout. The pacing is good, action packed, believable characters and well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal, urban fantasy or just wanting a good story with the added bonus of a romance.
July 19, 2017
Started muddle-some for me, BUT FINISHED BRILLIANT! 3.5 stars.
Throughout the entire novel Nita Round paints a vivid picture of the protagonists and antagonists. Her monsters are horrible and her heroes are valiant, and you feel the necessity and urgency of every fight.
But, I'm going to continue by saying I wasn't a fan when I began this book. I thought the premise was a good one, but I was getting bogged down a bit with the lack of information. I was befuddled by events or other things and that kept me from fully involving in the story. I think with Knight's Sacrifice, I was confused at the beginning, because as a reader I only knew what Catherine knew, which was nothing. It was a bit disjointed and muddled for me and it rated a solid 3 in the first 1/3 or so, which is what I give books I like but are not my favorites of all times.
But...BUT, the second half of the book? Now that was stellar! I was caught up in the scenes as one after another event culminated to the final showdown. And I couldn't help but be touched by the protagonists bond and dedication to each other either. What a beautiful melding of silver and gold. So if you have trouble in the first half like I did, I say push through it because the second half is the shining diamond in the setting. Well worth the read!
Throughout the entire novel Nita Round paints a vivid picture of the protagonists and antagonists. Her monsters are horrible and her heroes are valiant, and you feel the necessity and urgency of every fight.
But, I'm going to continue by saying I wasn't a fan when I began this book. I thought the premise was a good one, but I was getting bogged down a bit with the lack of information. I was befuddled by events or other things and that kept me from fully involving in the story. I think with Knight's Sacrifice, I was confused at the beginning, because as a reader I only knew what Catherine knew, which was nothing. It was a bit disjointed and muddled for me and it rated a solid 3 in the first 1/3 or so, which is what I give books I like but are not my favorites of all times.
But...BUT, the second half of the book? Now that was stellar! I was caught up in the scenes as one after another event culminated to the final showdown. And I couldn't help but be touched by the protagonists bond and dedication to each other either. What a beautiful melding of silver and gold. So if you have trouble in the first half like I did, I say push through it because the second half is the shining diamond in the setting. Well worth the read!
July 29, 2017
Really confusing book. The first half was intentionally obtuse I think. The second half? Nearly as confusing as the first.
March 3, 2017
4.5 stars
This book had an amazing new take on the stories of Heaven and Hell. Catherine Samuels is struggling to fulfill her familial duties and responsibilities after the violent and brutal death of her parents and brother. The problem is that she was sent away before learning all the arcane family secrets. Now things are going horribly wrong and getting worse by the day. It's time to finally ask for help. Cassie Evans is the help that was sent in response to Catherine's plea. Upon arrival, Cassie finds the signs of evil magic and it could have only been put there by someone close to Catherine. Unable to trust those around her, struggling to keep Catherine and her heritage safe, Cassie has to find a way to awaken Catherine to the magic inside her so she can assume the mantle of her family's power and take her rightful place. The problem is that helping Catherine could mean Cassie has to give up all her own goals and dreams.
I loved the fast pace of this book, and the fresh, innovative storyline. This was the first book in 2017 that rekindled my passion for reading. It totally engaged me, making it difficult for me to put down. I loved the steel of Catherine's stubborn will, and the compassionate strength of Cassie. These two characters will draw you into their world and make you root for them. The one thing that frustrated me in this book was the limited point of view. In the beginning of the book, we stumble along with Catherine, not understanding exactly what's going on. Even when Cassie arrives, she has a stubborn way of not explaining to Catherine the things she needs to know. The result is that it feels like there was a long period of time where I, as a reader, felt as lost as Catherine did. It works for the book - after all, there's a reason Cassie is hesitant to get close to Catherine. But it is at times frustrating for the reader.
It would be easy to simply say this was a book about Good vs. Evil, but the truth is nuanced. Yes, there are clearly drawn lines, but there are also places where that line gets a little fuzzy, and I find those places fertile ground for speculation. But in the end, this is a kick butt, action filled, zombie killing, demon fighting story that is quite a thrill ride. A definite recommend for any lover of urban fantasy.
I obtained a free copy of this book in order to review it.
This book had an amazing new take on the stories of Heaven and Hell. Catherine Samuels is struggling to fulfill her familial duties and responsibilities after the violent and brutal death of her parents and brother. The problem is that she was sent away before learning all the arcane family secrets. Now things are going horribly wrong and getting worse by the day. It's time to finally ask for help. Cassie Evans is the help that was sent in response to Catherine's plea. Upon arrival, Cassie finds the signs of evil magic and it could have only been put there by someone close to Catherine. Unable to trust those around her, struggling to keep Catherine and her heritage safe, Cassie has to find a way to awaken Catherine to the magic inside her so she can assume the mantle of her family's power and take her rightful place. The problem is that helping Catherine could mean Cassie has to give up all her own goals and dreams.
I loved the fast pace of this book, and the fresh, innovative storyline. This was the first book in 2017 that rekindled my passion for reading. It totally engaged me, making it difficult for me to put down. I loved the steel of Catherine's stubborn will, and the compassionate strength of Cassie. These two characters will draw you into their world and make you root for them. The one thing that frustrated me in this book was the limited point of view. In the beginning of the book, we stumble along with Catherine, not understanding exactly what's going on. Even when Cassie arrives, she has a stubborn way of not explaining to Catherine the things she needs to know. The result is that it feels like there was a long period of time where I, as a reader, felt as lost as Catherine did. It works for the book - after all, there's a reason Cassie is hesitant to get close to Catherine. But it is at times frustrating for the reader.
It would be easy to simply say this was a book about Good vs. Evil, but the truth is nuanced. Yes, there are clearly drawn lines, but there are also places where that line gets a little fuzzy, and I find those places fertile ground for speculation. But in the end, this is a kick butt, action filled, zombie killing, demon fighting story that is quite a thrill ride. A definite recommend for any lover of urban fantasy.
I obtained a free copy of this book in order to review it.
November 14, 2017
Unique
This was a very nice story about angels and gates and hell. I really appreciate the different take on hire they all work together. I really enjoyed this story.
This was a very nice story about angels and gates and hell. I really appreciate the different take on hire they all work together. I really enjoyed this story.
March 11, 2017
I couldn't really get into the story and - I'm not a big fan of this kind of book so maybe that was the problem.
For somebody who enjoys walking dead stories, they would probably like it.
https://andreazupanc.wordpress.com
For somebody who enjoys walking dead stories, they would probably like it.
https://andreazupanc.wordpress.com
January 23, 2019
Engaging and entertaining, but also quite confusing.
Throughout the first half of the book, I was lagging behind Catherine and her limited understanding of what was going on around her.
I was hoping for things to change after the turning point, and they did...but not in the way I thought they would.
By the time Catherine attained the knowledge she so desperately needed - straight from the fire hose - she was so much ahead of everyone else that even poor Cassie had a hard time keeping up with her. Cue more discomfort for yours truly.
In retrospect, this book was a rather disconcerting but not unpleasant experience.
I would probably have rounded the rating up to four stars, had my edition not been affected by punctuation problems.
Throughout the first half of the book, I was lagging behind Catherine and her limited understanding of what was going on around her.
I was hoping for things to change after the turning point, and they did...but not in the way I thought they would.
By the time Catherine attained the knowledge she so desperately needed - straight from the fire hose - she was so much ahead of everyone else that even poor Cassie had a hard time keeping up with her. Cue more discomfort for yours truly.
In retrospect, this book was a rather disconcerting but not unpleasant experience.
I would probably have rounded the rating up to four stars, had my edition not been affected by punctuation problems.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews