Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Blessed Knights (The Angel Knights #2) by Mary Ting

Title: The Blessed Knights

Series: The Angel Knights #2

Author: Mary Ting

Publisher: Mary Ting

Publication Date: October 28, 2016

Pages: 249

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: ARC

Eli, Lucia's half-demon love interest, has been stabbed with a true-cross dagger and captured by Cyrus, master of the possessor demons.

The Chosen Knights must work together once again not only to save Eli, but also to decipher a clue to find the second missing page of Jacques de Molay's journal. Meanwhile, Uncle Davin informs Crossroads Divine Elders of the danger ahead and learns there is much more to fear.

Countless children are being taken from all over the world to be turned into demons.

Michael, one of the Divine Elders, has no choice but to intervene. The Chosen Knights track down Mortem, the demon who is the key to finding Cyrus, and learn they must travel deep into the pit of a Hawaiian volcano.

When they astral travel to the past in search of a clue and follow Jacques de Moley to Roselyn Chapel in medieval Scotland, what they find will rewrite history.

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Amazon AU | Amazon CA

I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author via Barclay Publicity.

I love this series so much! It seriously gets better and better with each installment. This book will take you on an emotional ride, so buckle up!

The plot thickens in the next book of The Angel Knights series. So many new things are brought to light, and just as many things are questioned. The Blessed Knights picks up where The Chosen Knights left off. We get to jump right back into the story. There is no lull, which I love! The plot is strong. I can't even imagine all the plotting and time went into this story. I love that the premise is wholly original. There are common themes with many other fantasy and paranormal books, but the author does an incredible job of making them seem new. She really makes these themes her own. The pacing of the story is fairly fast paced, so you will never be bored. There is an enormous amount of action in the story, which I adore, and there are emotions running wild across the board. I love that the story is told from multiple perspectives. It gives the story so much more depth.

The characters really stand out to me in this series. I feel like I know each character intimately. I feel what they feel while I am reading. Lucia and Eli's characters grow a lot, as does their love for one another. I just can't get enough of their romance. There are some new characters in this book that were not in the previous books. I liked the new dynamic that they brought to the series. I am also very curious about the mystery character at the end. I cannot wait to be enlightened in the next book in the series!

I really loved the blending of historical and paranormal/fantasy. It really makes the story stand out in the mass of young adult fantasy and paranormal books. The very unique premise is outstanding.

Overall, this book is incredible! It will grab hold of your heart and never let go. I can't recommend this series enough. I don't know how I am going to wait for the next book in this series! I want it now!

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE SERIES

Title: The Angel Knights

Series: The Angel Knights #0.5

Author: Mary Ting

Publisher: Mary Ting

Publication Date: March 08, 2016

Pages: 44

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Michael and Claudia’s decision to move back to Crossroads was to keep their children safe, but they can’t escape who they are. Their children, Zachary and Lucia, were destined to be demon hunters—Venators. From the age they were able to hold a sword, they were trained to become the best and to ensure they would become leaders one day.

All is peaceful throughout the land until the Fallen and demons’ presences were felt in the between and on Earth. As the Venators investigate these locations, they will quickly learn how dangerous their lives are. Hearts will be broken. Teammates will lose their lives. And they will face obstacles which will test their faith.

As danger grows, the fear of fallen angels and demons regrouping has the Divine Elders on pins and needles. Now, Zachary and Lucia, along with Uncle Davin, must prepare themselves—mentally and physically—to live on Earth to investigate where the focal point of evil resides before it’s too late.

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Check out my review for The Angel Knights (The Angel Knights #0.5) here.

Title: The Chosen Knights

Series: The Angel Knights #1

Author: Mary Ting

Publisher: Mary Ting

Publication Date: March 22, 2016

Pages: 328

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: ARC

When teens go missing in Hawaii, a group of demon-hunters—half human and half angel—disguised as high school students, must leave Crossroads, the place where they reside. In a race against time, they uncover the mystery connecting the missing teens, which dates back to the era of the Knights Templar. However, when they discover one of the Templars passed down a book containing all the secrets and codes to finding a particular treasure, they soon realize this forbidden treasure needs to be found before Cyrus, the lord of the possessor demons, acquires it—a treasure which been safeguarded and hidden from him.

There is only one problem: the pages containing the clues leading to the treasure is missing. When the first page is found, Cyrus threatens to kill more descendants of the Knights Templar if it is not given to him by Friday the thirteenth. In the midst of threats and discovery, the demon-hunting angels find they are not alone when supernatural beings begin to reveal themselves. Can they put their differences aside and work together to solve the Knights Templars’ cipher? As they astral travel to the past, they witness a lot more than they have bargained for. And some things are better left unseen.

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Check out my review for The Chosen Knights (The Angel Knights #1) here.

Ikelia leaned back against the door and looked at her fingernails as if she was bored while the other hand stroked the dagger on her belt. “What do you want, Vince? Why bother to come? You know how this will go. You’ll try to capture me, but I’ll humiliate you by kicking you out. Run along to Cyrus and tell him you couldn’t find me, and maybe he won’t butcher you.”

Vince hissed and whipped out his sword, and in a flash he was in front of her. Pointing the tip on Ikelia’s neck, he said, “Don’t mock me, little witch.” He lowered his gaze and the sword. “No necklace this time? What a pity.” He clucked his tongue and raised his hand to show her the same sunburst necklace Eli had around his neck.

Ikelia shoved the sword out of the way and paced toward the broken glass. “You can keep it. It won’t protect you, and it certainly won’t harm me. Besides, you don’t know the spell. You weren’t worthy to have one passed down to you. What a shame. It’s quite useful when you know how to use one.”

After she walked in a complete circle, she bent down on her knees and placed her hands a few inches off the pile of shards. At her mumbled words, blue, red, gold, and green pieces lifted in the air and pressed together, forming a beautiful three-feet-tall vase I had seen earlier on top of a small wooden table. The item had glued itself back together.

“There.” Ikelia clapped her hands two times and strode toward the door. “Good as new.” She smirked. “It’s like you were never here. Your magic is no match for mine. You’re in my domain. Don’t forget that. And I believe you have something that is mine.” She wiggled her index finger. The sunburst necklace Vince held flew into her hands and coiled around her neck.

Vince’s eyes darkened. He trembled with rage, ready to pounce on her, but instead raised his arm toward the glass cases.

The top of one of the glass cases shattered outward, and glass splinters blasted in the air. From inside the case, a small dagger flew toward her as he threw the one from his belt.

I gasped, and then held the breath. Had she seen the second dagger coming for her? I twitched, ready to bolt to her rescue, even though I knew I shouldn’t, but Father pressed his hand on my shoulder, firm and strong. He knew me too well. I had failed Eli, and I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing for his mother. I had enough guilt as it was; I didn’t want to add more.

The first dagger stopped inches from the spot between her eyes, but the second one nicked her leg and dropped to the ground with a loud clang. Blood soaked the dark fabric, but she made no sound. I was pretty sure she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of hurting her.

“Are you bleeding? Pity, I guess you can’t handle more than one at a time. You’ve been warned, but you can surrender anytime.”

Vince raised his hand again. Five daggers bolted from under his cloak fast as lightning. They jabbed her cape and pinned her against the wooden door, two daggers on each side and one between her legs, while some sort of darkness swirled around her. Magic light, only visible to supernatural beings.

“Well, well, well, what will Cyrus think of me now? I think he’ll butcher you instead of me. What do you think?” He took a step toward her with each word. Caressing her cheek, he spoke again. “It’s too bad we’re not on the same side, precious witch. Such a waste of a pretty thing. Now my eyes will be sore from missing your beautiful face. There aren’t many beautiful things that hold my attention in this world.”

“Shut up. Let me go,” Ikelia spat, wiggling herself to set free.

Vince pushed back. “Don’t even bother. Don’t you know about my special daggers? No magic can break my spell.”

Ikelia’s lips spread wide in a smug grin, like she had something up her sleeve, but she did nothing nor said nothing to break the daggers’ spell. “Don’t worry, Vince. You know I always have something handy, even if it isn’t on me.”

Vince whipped his head toward the wall, straight at us. Could he see us? Impossible. Father shielded us. Raising his chin, his nose twitched, like a dog sniffing the air. “I was right. You do have a human—not one, but two?” He beamed a mischievous grin. “Stay right there.” He didn’t look at her, but instead placed his palms flat against the wall just feet from where we looked through. “I feel so much energy coming through the wall. Perhaps someone or some beings are spying on us.”

I stiffened and held my breath as he tapped the wall. Ikelia watched with narrowed, daggered eyes.

“There’s nothing there, idiot. Touch the wall all you wish.” Ikelia scoffed.

“Release the wall, Ikelia, or I’ll hurt you more,” he threatened, eyes cold and unyielding.

Everyone inch of me begged her to do it, only because I had no idea what torture Vince would inflict on her. I already knew she wouldn’t die. Vince had said he was to take her to Cyrus, and I had watched her die when Eli and I astral walked to the day of her death. But then I thought of Jacques and Geoffroi. What took Vince so long to figure out humans were on the other side? Did they come out of the barrels? Oh please, let me be wrong.

When she didn’t answer, a smaller dagger flew out from the glass case and dug into Ikelia’s leg, the same spot she had been nicked earlier. Her body curled inward, but the restraints held her in place. Her face blanched and eyes rolled back, but she didn’t make a sound.

“Release the barrier, Ikelia,” Vince demanded, his tone harder and colder.

When she did nothing again, the dagger twisted, digging into her flesh. That time, she cried out. She must have released the shield unwillingly for Vince to curl his lips to his ears.

“That’s a good girl,” he cooed. “I think I’ll have fun with your pets.” He winked at her, and one of his feet slipped right through the wall.

I panicked. We had to help Jacques and Geoffroi. But before I could mutter a word, Ikelia closed her eyes, and then shot her eyes open toward the clock. The pendulum stopped ticking, frozen in place. As if the clock held the power of time and space inside the store, everything stilled, even Vince, who was almost through to the other side. One heel stuck out.

International Bestselling, Award-Winning, Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great.