Reviewing CAGE OF DECEIT by Jennifer Anne Davis, special excerpt from CAGE OF DARKNESS, & a giveaway!!!

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Keep reading for a special excerpt from the brand-new book CAGE OF DARKNESS!!!

 
O P E N I N G   H O O K:


  RUNNING ALONG THE rooftop, Allyssa kept an eye on the man below. He was three blocks ahead of her as he sprinted down the street, clutching a bag of coins. Allyssa jumped the two foot gap to the adjacent rooftop, not wanting to lose sight of the thief. He slowed and turned a corner into an alleyway. With any luck, he'd hide there and she could catch him by surprise.
(page 11, US ebook edition)

This review was first posted at A Backwards Story on August 25, 2015.


“She was a princess, elegant, refined, and all that the position implied. At least, that was she kept telling herself. Because, truth be told, she hated being stuck in this cage, playing this game.”

~CAGE OF DECEIT, Jennifer Anne Davis

I've been wanting to read THE KEY by Jennifer Anne Davis ever since Damaris from Good Choice Reading discovered it. (And it's still a FREE e-book so you should download it right now, too!) You don't have to read THE KEY or its sequels in order to read her new series, which begins with CAGE OF DECEIT. The new series stars Princess Allyssa, the daughter of the main characters from the previous series. I never got a chance to finish it and had no trouble diving in, though I would have liked to pick up on any little nods there for the fans.

The sequel, CAGE OF DARKNESS,
released this week!!!!
Princess Allyssa has always known she'd marry for political gain, but she always hoped to marry someone equal to her in intelligence in order to maintain Emperion once she becomes Empress. However, war is brewing with Russek and there is no choice but to enter marriage negotiations with Prince Odar of Fren. He's gorgeous, but doesn't seem to care about politics, and Allyssa isn't sure if she'll ever make a connection with him. On top of that, his squire Jarvik is recommending against the marriage and keeps a constant eye on Allyssa. Yet Jarvik is the only one she can turn to when an assassin threatens to destroy her entire family. 

If you enjoy fantasy realms coupled with political intrigue, you'll definitely want to check out Jennifer Anne Davis. I really like the lack of an archaic regime so frequent in this genre. Allyssa is absolutely allowed to rule and is, in fact, technically stationed above whomever her future husband may be. I like that! Allyssa can be headstrong and impulsive, and I'm looking forward to seeing her grow in the next book. I'm looking forward to seeing character growth in various other characters as well, and finding out if my predictions come true. So far all of my others have, so we'll see! 

I also hope to see a more straightforward story path. It bothered me that various characters always had SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT to tell Allyssa, things that couldn't wait, and then they'd get interrupted and days would go by before it was brought up again, and then they'd be interrupted AGAIN, rinse and repeat. Obviously not really all THAT important, right? I mean, I get it: save these things for cliffhangers and plot twists in future books. I understand WHY Davis did this...But it was so incredibly frustrating to me and I hope it's not like this for the rest of the series. I also hope it isn't a plot device in the prequel series! Other than that, I did enjoy the novel and look forward to more books from this author!


The brand-new sequel, CAGE OF DARKNESS, is out THIS WEEK!!!!!

Ready to get your hands on a tour-exclusive excerpt!?



Excerpt


“Why do you care?” she countered, taking a step back and putting more space between them. He wanted something from her—and she had an inkling it had nothing to do with the upcoming war. “What use am I to you?” Whatever game he played or line he toed, she had a sick feeling it was far more deadly than being locked in the dungeon. She needed to tread with caution.
“What use is the heir to the Emperion throne?” He tilted his head to the side, his eyes dissecting every inch of her face. She refused to flinch or show fear before this man, although he made her cower inside.
He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I think you should be asking yourself this—what can the heir of the Russek throne do for you?”
A chill slid over her skin. They were on dangerous grounds. Staring into his eyes, she didn’t see a cruel soldier standing before her, but a man hinting at an alliance if she was brave enough, strong enough, and cunning enough to forge it. However, she had to proceed with the utmost caution. For all she knew, Kerdan could be as cruel as Soma. “I am suddenly lightheaded from all the activity.” She wanted an opportunity to think without him watching her every move. “I’d like to rest.”
He leaned down close to her ear. “You play your part exceedingly well. You are just what I need.” He stepped away from her, and his face shifted, becoming stern. “Allow me to escort you back to my room,” he said, his voice loud, clear. He scooped up her tunic and boots and exited the tower, leaving a very stunned Allyssa there with her thoughts in a jumble. Apparently, he also played his part exceedingly well. 

~*~
C O N T E N T R A T I N G S

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details

Romance: PG ( mild kissing )
Language: --
Violence: PG ( relatively non-graphic fantasy death )
Other: --
~*~
C O V E R   D E S I G N: 

This one definitely has that "fantasy vibe" going for it.

 I really like the way the T in DECEIT is a sword and, if you look closely, also the end of a key! Very clever...especially when you wondering if it's alluding to her prequel series that began with THE KEY!

I like this new cover so much more than the original one. It's much more on-trend and something I'd pick up to peruse at the store!
 
~*~
O F F I C I A   I N F O:

Title: CAGE OF DECEIT
Author: Jennifer Anne Davis
Release Date: August 25, 2014
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Received: For Review
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18755539-cutlass
SUMMARY:

Jennifer Anne Davis's best-selling True Reign series captivated readers from the very first page. Now, get ready to become entangled in the follow-up series, Reign of Secrets. In this new series, follow Allyssa, the daughter of the beloved Emperor Darmik and Empress Rema— and find out what happens after happily ever after.

Seventeen-year-old Allyssa appears to be the ideal princess of Emperion—she’s beautiful, elegant, and refined. She spends her days locked in a suffocating cage, otherwise known as royal court. But at night, Allyssa uses her secret persona—that of a vigilante—to hunt down criminals and help her people firsthand.

Unfortunately, her nightly escapades will have to wait because the citizens of Emperion may need saving from something much bigger than common criminals. War is encroaching on their country and in order to protect her people, Allyssa may have to sacrifice her heart. Forced to entertain an alliance through marriage with a handsome prince from a neighboring kingdom, she finds herself feeling even more stifled than before. To make matters worse, the prince has stuck his nosy squire, Jarvik, to watch her every move.

Jarvik is infuriating, bossy and unfortunately, the only person she can turn to when she unveils a heinous plot. Together, the unlikely pair will have to work together to stop an enemy that everyone thought was long gone, one with the power to destroy her family and the people of Emperion. Now the cage Allyssa so longed to break free from might just be the one thing she has to fight to keep intact. In order to save her kingdom, she will have to sacrifice her freedom, her heart, and maybe even her life.


Title: CAGE OF DARKNESS
Author: Jennifer Anne Davis
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Reign Publishing
Received: For Review
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33893388-cage-of-darkness
SUMMARY:

Jennifer Anne Davis's best-selling True Reign series captivated readers from the very first page. Now, get ready to become entangled in the follow-up series, Reign of Secrets. In this new series, follow Allyssa, the daughter of the beloved Emperor Darmik and Empress Rema— and find out what happens after happily ever after.

Seventeen-year-old Allyssa appears to be the ideal princess of Emperion—she’s beautiful, elegant, and refined. She spends her days locked in a suffocating cage, otherwise known as royal court. But at night, Allyssa uses her secret persona—that of a vigilante—to hunt down criminals and help her people firsthand.

Unfortunately, her nightly escapades will have to wait because the citizens of Emperion may need saving from something much bigger than common criminals. War is encroaching on their country and in order to protect her people, Allyssa may have to sacrifice her heart. Forced to entertain an alliance through marriage with a handsome prince from a neighboring kingdom, she finds herself feeling even more stifled than before. To make matters worse, the prince has stuck his nosy squire, Jarvik, to watch her every move.

Jarvik is infuriating, bossy and unfortunately, the only person she can turn to when she unveils a heinous plot. Together, the unlikely pair will have to work together to stop an enemy that everyone thought was long gone, one with the power to destroy her family and the people of Emperion. Now the cage Allyssa so longed to break free from might just be the one thing she has to fight to keep intact. In order to save her kingdom, she will have to sacrifice her freedom, her heart, and maybe even her life.

~*~
  photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg

About the Author
Jennifer graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. Afterwards, she finally married her high school sweetheart. She is currently a full-time writer and mother of three highly energetic children. Her days are spent living in imaginary worlds and fueling her own kids’ creativity.


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