Knight of the God King - by Lauren Blackwood (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A powerful knight and her handsome squire must stop the deadly schemes of a savior king in this romantic fantasy of dark deeds and court intrigue.

Calliope's wish has always been to become a knight, an elite healer and protector who uses music to summon magic. Yet despite her exceptional skill, she's stuck lifting up her talentless cousin, whose family begrudgingly took Cali in as a child. But when an opportunity to become the royal knight of the immortal God King arrives, Cali finally gets a chance at a fairytale life - until her cousin blackmails her.

Forced to bring her cousin to court so she won't share Cali's shameful past, Cali immediately snubs Beric, the alluring, handsome squire tending to her. Now she must contend with his ire, even while feeling helplessly drawn to him. If that wasn't enough, her duty means accompanying the king into The Dark, a demonic entity that only the king's magic is powerful enough to battle - a battle he has been waging for centuries. She must also keep the king's secret under pain of death: that he's not a god at all, and every royal knight's magic that came before her was the only thing keeping him alive. It seems serving the God King isn't a fairytale at all, and when people start dying around her, she and Beric realize that they have no choice but to take their fate - and that of an entire kingdom - into their own hands.

In Lauren Blackwood's thrilling fantasy, Knight of the God King, a knight's power and her squire's love are the only things that can help her defeat a man playing at being a god.

Review Quotes

PRAISE FOR KNIGHT OF THE GOD KING:

"Blackwood has crafted an irresistibly romantic fantasy with endearing characters, court intrigue, and unique magic woven together in perfect harmony. In this swoon-worthy romance, readers will find themselves swept away into the Dark itself as a knight and her charming squire confront the demons outside the castle walls and within them. I tore through this fast-paced fantasy and was enamored with the romance from the opening pages. Prepare to enter a world of secrets and schemes with the feel of a dark fairytale." - Julia Alexandra, author of Midnight on the Celestial

"Knight of the God King is a scrumptious tale of palace intrigue and dark secrets. With compelling protagonists and antagonists you'll love to hate, this book will keep you up reading all night!" - Maria Z. Medina, author of Mistress of Bones

PRAISE FOR THE DANGEROUS ONES:

"Beneath the story's bloody and brutal trappings lies a tender romance about survival, agency, and liberation. The genre-bending elements add a fresh twist to the enemies-to-lovers historical drama. A cheeky, romantic, and thrilling revenge story." - Kirkus

"Set in a world full of vampires and demi-gods, Blackwood's world-building remains top-notch." - Paste Magazine

"A YA vampire fantasy romance to sink your teeth into." - Book Riot

"Lauren Blackwood breathes new life to the vampire myth in this captivating tale full of historical rage with a satisfying bite of revenge." - Nisha J. Tuli, author of Trial of the Sun Queen

PRAISE FOR WILDBLOOD:

"I devoured this gorgeous novel like I was one of the hungry jungle ghosts. I absolutely adore Victoria's relationship with Mumma River and how nature speaks to her. Every moment they were in the jungle was absolutely magical. With a super unique magic system, high stakes, untrustworthy men, a lush, protective jungle, and a fierce, loyal main character, Blackwood's Wildblood is not to be missed for YA fantasy lovers!" - The Southern Bookseller Review

"Deliberately paced and built with setting-specific terms and legends, this is a lush fantasy for fans of The Gilded Ones or Children of Blood and Bone." - Booklist

"A page-turning adventure set in a vividly imagined world." - Kirkus Reviews

"Blackwood's creativity shines through via the Jamaica-based jungle setting, which overflows with spirits and creatures of legend. It's an intense, socially conscious narrative featuring a compassionate and resilient protagonist." - Publishers Weekly

"The utterly unique and richly realized setting makes Wildblood stand out." - Paste Magazine

"[A] thrilling, Jamaican inspired fantasy." - Cosmopolitan (UK)

"Wildblood is a poignant, thrilling, emotionally complex story of love and sacrifice. Victoria's tense journey through the haunted jungle is filled with terror and beauty, both supernatural and human, and will grip you until the very last page." - L. Penelope, award-winning author of the Earthsinger Chronicles

"A lyrically told story of healing after trauma and finding home, Wildblood is as fierce as it is beautiful, and as hopeful as it is heartbreaking." - Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

PRAISE FOR WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS:

* A Reese's Book Club Fall 2021 YA Pick *
* Instant New York Times Bestseller *

"Lauren Blackwood's can't-miss debut is a magical, Ethiopian-inspired retelling of Jane Eyre." - Harper's Bazaar

"[A] creepy, immersive, romantic and thrilling retelling." - Ms. Magazine

"A fast-paced and heart-wrenching tale...Perfect for lovers of light horror, romance, and suspense, Within These Wicked Walls will be a surefire pick for the coming autumn nights." - Booklist (starred review)

"Stunning... An inventive, original, and legitimately scary debut, this is a must for fans of witchcraft, horror, and romance." - Nerdist

"Blackwood's eerie, evocative debut fully embraces its gothic lineage and brings a welcome contemporary feel. The book is sure to lure readers in with the promise of hair-raising chills and passionate romance." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Mesmerizing." - Buzzfeed

"This action-packed novel draws inspiration from Jane Eyre as our fearless heroine must conquer the supernatural...and survive." - Girls' Life Magazine

"...a deliciously dark and creepy Ethiopian-inspired romantic retelling of Jane Eyre with a pop of grim humor." - Buzzfeed

"A dazzling retelling... promises readers a fantastical, edge-of-the seat, swooning-over-Magnus kind of experience." - The Seattle Times

"The best sort of historical fantasy... leaves Jane Eyre in the dust." - Locus Magazine

"An indulgently Gothic fairy tale, comparable in mastery with Mexican Gothic and Jane Eyre. An intricate magic system, a grimly humorous Black heroine, AND a heart-thumping romance? This book leaves nothing wanting." - Jordan Ifueko, New York Times bestselling author of Raybearer

"Adds a haunting new landscape and a chilling curse to Jane Eyre's magnetic romance and searing chemistry. A Gothic retelling, and a true original." - Anna Bright, author of The Beholder

"Fierce, eerie and heartfelt by turns, Within These Wicked Walls is a romantic and spine-chilling reimagining of a classic. I loved every creepy, swoon-worthy moment of it." - Laura E. Weymouth, author of The Light Between Worlds

"The Jane Eyre retelling I didn't know I needed, and everything I needed it to be. Atmospheric and moody, with sharp subtle humor and romance, Andromeda's story is engrossing and unputdownable. This Jane Eyre isn't your average classroom read; it is so much more than that." - Rachel Simon, Newton Free Library

About the Author