Cage of Deceit by Jennifer Anne Davis
(Reign of Secrets #1)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: August 25th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
SYNOPSIS:
Jennifer Anne Davis’
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.
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EXCERPT:
Allyssa despised sparring in a dress.
However, that was the way her father had taught her to fight. He said if
someone attacked her, she would be in a gown, so she had to be able to maneuver
in heavy fabric.
“Faster,” Marek instructed. “You’re not focusing.”
She wanted to growl because he was right,
she was too distracted. Putting all thoughts of the pretty prince out of her
mind, she gave Marek her full attention. He swung his sword, hitting hers near
the hilt, making her drop it. Not intending to lose their match so easily, she
twisted and came in close to him. When he went to grab her, she rammed her
elbow into his stomach. He hunched over and she yanked him down, slamming her
knee into his face.
He dropped his sword.
“I win,” she declared.
Catching his breath, he wiped his forehead.
“You seem to have gained a few new moves.”
Not a question.
“Perhaps,” was all she said in reply. The
training room was lined with her personal guards.
She knew her father didn’t
want her practicing—he’d rather she prepare for the ball. But in order to make
it through dinner and dancing, she had to release her anger and frustration.
Marek took their wooden swords and put them
back on the rack.
“I’m not ready to return to my rooms.” She
still felt off balance and unsettled.
He glanced to the door where Mayra and
Madelin were waiting for her. “I need to go over some security details with my
father,” Marek stated.
“Then go.” She waved him away. “I’ll only
be a few more minutes.”
He briefly spoke with the guards before he
said, “Your Highness,” and left.
As soon as he was gone, she put leather
gloves on and went to the hay figure secured to the wall. Taking a deep breath,
she started punching it, imagining the dummy was the prince. Smiling, she
started hitting it harder and faster, allowing all of her aggression to
evaporate.
Someone started clapping, and she spun
around about to yell at whoever had interrupted her.
Prince Odar stood there with a smirk.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded,
wiping the sweat off her forehead with her arm.
He was accompanied by two of
his soldiers and the squire she noticed earlier in the Throne Room.
He
clicked his tongue. “A testy remark from someone so delicate and lovely.”
Her eyes narrowed. She was dirty, smelly,
and certainly not the picture of a princess at the moment. The squire clasped
his hands behind his back, staring daggers at her. He must not approve of a
woman who could take care of herself, knew how to fight, and who dared to
sweat. She hated him almost as much as she hated the prince.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she said,
trying to keep the detest from her voice. “Please excuse me, I must prepare for
this evening.”
Mayra rushed forward and placed a cloak
upon Allyssa’s shoulders. The princess yanked the hood up, concealing herself
so no one from the court would see her all sweaty. She swept out of the room,
not looking back. She could have sworn she heard the prince chuckling as she
hurried down the corridor.
“Why didn’t you use the opportunity to
speak with the prince?” Mayra asked, trying to keep up. “He obviously sought
you out.”
Allyssa’s eyes sliced over to her
lady-in-waiting. “Because,” she snapped, “I don’t want to talk to someone who
flatters with pointless words.”
Mayra laughed. “He is rather charming.”
“He appears to be exactly as a prince
should,” Allyssa said. “And I have no interest in princes.”
“Aiming a bit higher?”
“No,” Allyssa replied. “I’m aiming for
someone a bit more real.”
AN INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER
ANNE DAVIS
What do you feel about
the number '13'?
When I was in high school, the first date I
had with my now husband, was on Friday the thirteenth! So instead of being
freaked out over the number, I love it!!
What's
the best thing that happened after your book was published?
I love receiving messages from my readers
telling me that my book has touched their lives. There’s nothing better than
that!
Do you read reviews of your books?
Always. I want to know what my readers think.
If they liked the story, I want to know why so I can make sure I keep doing
it!! However, if there was a problem or something they didn’t like, I want to
know so I don’t make the same mistake twice!
What is your best or most unforgettable moment
with a fan?
I had a girl come up to me, in tears, saying
that my book helped her get through some stuff she was dealing with personally.
(My book deals with sexual assault, so hearing that I helped someone is beyond
words.)
Share us one embarrassing moment you've had.
There’s been so many . . . how to choose only
one?
Favorite color? Blue
Favorite
movie? Pride and Prejudice
Favorite ice cream flavor? Mint Chip
Favorite
song? Christina Perri, A Thousand Years
AUTHOR BIO:
Jennifer graduated from the University of
San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. Afterwards,
she married her best friend and high school sweetheart. Jennifer is
currently a full-time writer and mother of three young children. Her days
are spent living in imaginary worlds and fueling her own kids’
creativity.
AUTHOR LINKS:
GIVEAWAY:
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
- Clean Teen Publishing Mystery Box. This will include 3 specially chosen young adult print novels, bookmarks, swag, and awesomeness.
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