Review: Realm of Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis (@AuthorJennifer, @ReignPublishing)

Realm of Knights

Author: Jennifer Anne Davis

Release Date: September 10, 2019

Publisher: Reign Publishing

Knights of the Realm Book #1

ISBN:  1732366152

ISBN13: 9781732366152

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

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.

Why did I wait so long to read this?

I really liked Reid. She is in a bit of an identity crisis for most of the book, but she is super strong throughout all of it. She is extremely loyal and willing to do everything she can to protect her family, even at the expense of herself. I just really liked her and had no problem falling into her head as her story progressed.

The whole story has a great pace. I was never bored or wishing things would happen faster or slower. The world building was well done and I was constantly surprised at the events that took place.

There was a little bit of romance that added a good amount of tension, but it didn't take over the story. I can totally see Reid and this character together, but I don't see how that could possibly happen. I am hoping that Reid falls for a certain someone that she is on the way to meet at the end of the book.

I want more and I'm counting down the days until SHADOW KNIGHTS releases.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Reveal: Sister of Embers & Echoes by Annie Anderson (@annieande, @XpressoTours)

Sister of Embers and Echoes
Annie Anderson
(Rogue Ethereal, #4)
Publication date: January 17th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy 

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes Noble

Demons, murder, and a trip straight to Hell…
I thought I’d get a little time off before the veritable poop hit the fan, but fate — or rather the Fates — have other ideas. The witch who tried to have my sister possessed has escaped, and not only do I find him dead, but I don’t have a clue who he was working with. Or working for…
Now I have a Council Member in human jail, a ragtag bunch of stuffy law-abiders to lead, and a solid inkling that the next person on the chopping block is me.
All of that would be bad enough, but I’ve got bigger problems. Maria isn’t quite right after a demon almost stole her body, and I have a hunch it’s going to require a trip to Hell to get it fixed.
Time to sharpen my athames, vacation time is over.

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Annie Anderson is a military wife and United States Air Force veteran. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she is a southern girl at heart, but has lived all over the US and abroad. As soon as the military stops moving her family around, she'll settle on a state, but for now she enjoys being a nomad with her husband, two daughters, an old man of a dog, and a young pup that makes life... interesting.

Find Annie and her books

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Interview + Giveaway: Taming Demons for Beginners by Annette Marie (@AnnetteMMarie, @XpressoTours)

UFI welcomes Author Annette Marie. Thanks for Joining us!!

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

I’m a slow-burn-romance addict, both in what I read and what I write. I can’t get enough of that irresistible push and pull, that tantalizing will-they-won’t-they teasing. If you enjoy that, you’ll probably love my books.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time? 

I love anything arts and crafts! Aside from writing, I draw, paint, sculpt, and sew. I have an entire room of art supplies and half-completed pieces, plus a bad habit of starting more projects than I have time to finish.

What is your favorite part of writing? 

Starting a new series is my favorite part—meeting new characters and delving into a new world is so exhilarating.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write? 

I prefer to be on my laptop and reclined in my favorite chair with music on. I start by reading over whatever I wrote the previous day, then I dive right in where I left off. Pretty straightforward. :)

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Genres? 

So many I could never choose favorites! I recently read the Tainted Accords by Kelly St. Clare and it was a fantastic series. She has a new series coming out really soon and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

How would you pitch Taming Demons for Beginners to someone who has not heard of it before?

Taming Demons for Beginners is packed with adventure, humor, magic⁠—and the unexpected but completely enthralling relationship between a shy bookworm and the lethal demon she accidentally binds into a contract in exchange for...cookies?

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that Taming Demons for Beginners is set in?

Taming Demons for Beginners is set in the world of The Guild Codex. In it, a magical community hides just beneath the surface of modern society. Magical people—mythics—join guilds, which both protect and regulate them, ensuring that magic stays hidden from the public. There are a lot of rules—and lots of fun and dangerous ways to break those rules.

Do you have a favorite scene in Taming Demons for Beginners? 

All my favorite scenes are huge spoilers! But I will say they all involve hilarious, heart-pounding, and/or intriguing interactions between Robin and her mysterious demon.

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you? 

I’m continuing down the wild, interweaving roads of the two Guild Codex series, Demonized and Spellbound. Robin, an unlikely demon contractor, and Tori, the feisty human bartender of a magic guild, are delving into deeper and darker adventures with each new book, and I can’t wait to see where they end up next.

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Annette Marie is the author of Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

Find Annette and her books

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Taming Demons for Beginners
The Guild Codex: Demonized #1

Goodreads / Amazon

Rule one: Don't look at the demon.

When I arrived at my uncle's house, I expected my relatives to be like me—outcast sorcerers who don't practice magic. I was right about the sorcery, but wrong about everything else.

Rule two: Don't listen to the demon.

My uncle chose a far deadlier power. He calls creatures of darkness into our world, binds them into service contracts, and sells them to the highest bidder. And I'm supposed to act like I don't know how illegal and dangerous it is.

Rule three: Don't talk to the demon.

All I had to do was keep my nose out of it. Pretend I didn't find the summoning circle in the basement. Pretend I didn't notice the shadowy being trapped inside it. Pretend I didn't break the rules.

But I did, and now it's too late.

--
From the author of The Guild Codex: Spellbound comes a new series that will plunge an unprepared young woman into the darkest magic of the mythic world.

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New Releases: 11/3-11/9

Tue. Nov. 5th

 Call Down the Hawk (Dreamer Trilogy #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
 The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs , William Hutson , Jonathan Snipes
 Find Me Their Bones (Bring Me Their Hearts #2) by Sara Wolf
 Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire #2) by Natasha Ngan 
 The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising #1) by Kiersten White
 Novice Dragoneer (Dragoneer Academy #1) by E.E. Knight
 Rage (Rogue Team International #1) by Jonathan Maberry
 Shadowscent (Shadowscent #1) by P.M. Freestone
 Sisters of Shadow and Light (Sisters of Shadow and Light #1) by Sara B. Larson
 Song of the Crimson Flower (Rise of the Empress companion) by Julie C. Dao
 The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern 
 Supernova (Renegades #3) by Marissa Meyer
 Tears of Frost (Heart of Thorns #2) by Bree Barton 

 The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3) by Neal Shusterman
 Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner
 Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw

Happy Reading!!

Guest Blog + Giveaway: The Shadow Prince by Stacey O’Neale (@StaceyONeale, @XpressoTours)

UFI welcomes Author Stacey O’Neale . Thanks for Joining us!!

Teenage Garage Sale


Looking back on my teenage years, I’m not sure there would be much for me to sell in a garage sale. We didn’t have cell phones in every car, but I’m sure I could try to sell my collection of pagers. I remember how excited I was when my pager had a voicemail service added. I thought that was cool in middle and early high school. I got my first cell phone when I started driving, and it was the size of a brick. It was so big it took up all of the space in my glove compartment.

I suppose I could sell some cheerleading uniforms that I guarantee no longer fit. Sadly, I was a horrible cheerleader. I never wanted to go to practice or cheer, so I rarely knew all of the moves and probably looked pretty stupid out there. The only reason I joined the squad was that we got to wear our uniforms every Friday, and that got me out of our school uniform. Sorry to all those dedicated cheerleaders out there. I’m a cheer failure.

There are other items I could sell and make money on, but I wouldn’t put them up for sale. I have a nice collection of comic books. Some of them are worth a couple of bucks. I was a bigger fan of Marvel, but my brother loved DC. I have a lot of Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Avengers, and X-Men comics. They were a big part of my life growing up. I can see their influence in my stories even now.

I also had a lot of art supplies. During my teenage years, I was into anything artsy. Painting, sculpting, ceramics, drawing with charcoal, woodworking, etc. If it was art-related, I wanted it.   
Creative writing wasn’t an interest of mine until I was an adult. I did love to read, especially in the paranormal and fantasy genres. I did a bit of non-fiction reading too. I liked mythology and spiritualism. Oh, and I’d never sell any of my books. That’s sacrilege. ;-p

***The 2019 updated edition of The Shadow Prince is available on Amazon for free. You can get your copy by clicking here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Prince-Mortal-Enchantment-Book-ebook/dp/B00IT1DQX0    

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Award-winning author, Stacey O’Neale, lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she’s not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.

Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult fantasy and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.

Find Stacey and her books 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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The Shadow Prince
Mortal Enchantment #0.5 

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Prequel novella to the award-winning YA fantasy series Mortal Enchantment. Discover a world of elemental powers, courage, duty, sacrifice, forbidden romance and a war for the very elements of life.

Sixteen-year-old Rowan is an elemental prince. Banished to the mortal world, he doubts he will ever return to Avalon and claim the fire court throne. Until he receives a challenge from his estranged mother. If he slays Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental, princess of the air court, she will abdicate her throne. Is he capable of completing such a heinous task? And what price will he pay if he refuses?

Perfect for fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas.

The Shadow Prince is part of the
Mortal Enchantment box set
OUT NOW!

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Week in Review: 10/27-11/2

Books Received for Review

Give up the Ghost by Debbie Cassidy

Books I've Read

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (Re-read)
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs (Re-read)
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs (Re-read)
Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs (Re-read)
Hunted by Erica Woods

Reviews Posted

Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter (@HunterFaith, @AceRocBooks, @LetsTalkLTP)
A Ghost of a Chance by Debbie Cassidy (@amoscassidy)
The Blacksmith Queen by G.A. Aiken (@KensingtonBooks)

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Friday- Guest Blog + Interview: The Brutal Time by Christina Bauer (@CB_Bauer, @MyMonsterHouse, @XpressoTours)

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?

BlogLovin

Networked Blogs

Facebook
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Amazon
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You can also add me (as in Stacy) to your friends on these sites if you're on them.

Twitter

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 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Guest Blog + Giveaway: The Brutal Time by Christina Bauer (@CB_Bauer, @MyMonsterHouse, @XpressoTours)

UFI welcomes Author Christina Bauer. Thanks for Joining us!!

My Top Five Fantasy Worlds

By Christina Bauer, Author

As part of launching my new book, BRUTAL TIME, the lovely folks at Urban Fantasy Investigations asked me to share my top five fantasy worlds. Love this topic! So without further ado, here goes:

Five: Radiance

Grace Draven has built out some sweet fantasy worlds, but Radiance is by far my favourite. It’s got some beloved storylines such as: a forced royal marriage that turns into something else … as well as monster guys who aren’t so monstrous when you get to know them! Plus, Draven does a great job of building out her universe without having it overload the story. Not easy.

Four: Last Hour of Gann

R. Lee Smith needs to start writing stuff again! Last Hour of Gann is a gritty and romantic tale about space travel and alien love. Has that genre been around? Sure. But Lee’s world building and characterization are so superb, this book transcends anything else out there. 

Three: Frankenstein 

It’s hard to come up with new monsters and settings. We all try … but Mary Shelley nailed it like a boss. She really synthesized modern angst about the role of technology and our burgeoning ability to play god. 

Two: Anything by Jane Austen

In terms of world building, Austen very much relied on the actual world around her. That said, I think she KILLED it in terms of coming up with fantasy romance scenarios. Like any great story, these tales feel absolutely real, which is why they’re still so impactful. 

One: Lord of the Rings

There are other world-builders out there, but how many created their own freaking languages? The only one I know of is the amazing JRR Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings series. Tolkien also wrote the series as letters to his sons while they were fighting in World War II (Tolkien himself was a WWI vet) and the world building subtly includes a lot of that reality. 

So there you have it … my five favourite worlds! I had fun writing this post and hope to stop by again on a future tour!

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Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

Find Christina and her books

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The Brutal Time
Angelbound Origins #6

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    “I love the Angelbound Origins world and just can’t seem to get enough of it!” – The Avid Reader

    As the Great Scala, Myla Lewis is the only being who can move Purgatory’s souls to Heaven or Hell. It’s a big job. Too bad Myla goes through assistants faster than a hot knife through brownies. Not that it bothers her much; Myla’s always been a solo fighter.

    Then comes the problem of the fading angels. Millions of Heavenly residents are dying. According to a prophecy, the only way Myla can save them is by traveling back in time, meeting King Arthur, and creating her own knights of the round table. The catch? Doing so might end the after-realms in a bloody demonpocalypse.

    Yipes.

    Myla and her main squeeze, Lincoln, aren’t afraid of taking a few chances (in between kisses). But with so much at risk, the stakes may be too high, even for them. And the biggest challenge of all? Finding those knights.

    Because Myla Lewis doesn’t play well with others. At all.

    “These books don’t just capture your attention, they straight up demand it. Christina Bauer has created a fascinating and unique world that you do not want to miss out on.” – Bookhalolic Brittany

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