3.5 stars

Realm of Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis is the first book in the Knights of the Realm series and when I came across this one, I immediately added it to my TBR. It had everything I typically look for in a book and I’m glad I picked it up.

This book centers on Reid Ellington. Since the day Reid was born, she has pretended to be a boy/man at her father’s direction. As the youngest daughter of one of the wealthiest landowners in the kingdom, the only way her father can pass on his land is to a son, so this was his solution. Unfortunately, they are now in a bit of a situation. Everyday Reid struggles with keeping her secret and when one of Marsden’s princes sees her sparring, she is forced into an agreement. In order to protect her father and family, she needs to lead her father’s troops to the border and work with the prince on a secret task. She eventually learns of the covert organization called the Knights of the Realm and finds herself right in the middle of Marsden’s secrets.

The story revolves around the kingdom of Marsden and the fact that the current king is being threatened by his uncle who happens to be king in another country. Reid needs to navigate the truth to figure out what really is going on and she doesn’t really start to learn what she needs to know until it’s almost too late to turn back. I can’t say too much here but there are some political secrets that could make things very dangerous.

As for characters, I thought Reid was a solid MC. There were times that she did something I had to shake my head at but overall, I thought she showed solid growth throughout the story. I liked how Davis reflected the changes in Reid’s relationships with Knox and Harlan when they find out who she really is, and I appreciate her attempt to make them realize she’s still the same person.

Reid’s relationships with the princes (Ackley and Gordon) were interesting. I thought I knew who her love interest was going to be, but all the twists made my guesses completely wrong. Adding the king’s agenda to the mix was an interesting challenge for Reid and it really showed how much she doesn’t know and needs to learn.

Secondary characters were great. I mentioned Knox and Harlan before along with the princes, but we also get introduced to the princess, Idina, who has a fairly important role, both in the Realm as well as the story. I like that we got a peek into Reid’s relationship with her family too.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. With the way this one ended I will definitely be picking up book two. I can’t wait to learn more about the other kingdom and its prince. I am also looking forward to seeing how Reid gets along. If you haven’t added this one to your TBR yet, definitely consider it. The story is interesting, the characters are well developed, and there are a number of twists and turns that will keep you wondering what will happen next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.