ROMANTIC TIMES MAGAZINE

Gods, demons and Spartans go at it again in book two of the searing Gods of Midnight series. Knight’s expertise at combining sensuality and pulse-pounding action is on full display. Make room for another “Knight” on your keeper shelf.

SUMMARY: In the previous battle, when the immortal Spartan warriors broke with their god Ares, warrior and slave River Kassandros was trapped in his dagger form and tossed into the sea. Despite desperate searching, the Spartans have been unable to find him.

Months later, River is discovered by Emma Lowery. In danger of losing his soul, River manages to mentally call a psychically gifted Emma. Emma’s blood frees River, but he fears he’ll endanger her with his berserker curse. Ares’ plot to destroy the Spartans is slowly being revealed. What is so special about River, and why does Ares want him? No matter; as far as Emma is concerned, Ares is toast!

4 stars - Hot!
- Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times Magazine

ARMCHAIR REVIEWS

Just because the gods decree it, doesn’t make it right or just.

River Kassandros is an honorable man but a servant, and will always do what he is told, even if he doesn’t truly believe it is so. River is an immortal Spartan and has the ability to transform into any weapon. He rounds out the seven warriors who bow down before the God of War, Ares, to protect mankind. River is not a full Spartan though. He is a servant, and before Ares tossed River into the River Styx to complete his immortality, Ares declared that River would remain a servant. He would be called upon in his weapon form to the side of Ajax, another warrior, in battles.

River has accepted his lot in life, but has always desired to wear the crimson Spartan cape. He desires to stand among his Spartan brothers as a free man. However, when a djinn demon tosses River into the Atlantic, while in dagger form, during a battle, River only desires to live. If he is in dagger form too long without anyone finding him, he will lose his immortal soul, and die.

Emma Lowery is a Daughter of the Delphi, an oracle of the gods, but she doesn’t know it. She just knows that she hears voices from the beyond, and has tried to shut them out for years. She is also deathly afraid of water. Emma watched her twin sister drown years ago and she has never been able to move beyond the tragedy. When she breaches her kayak on a deserted island, she is stunned to see the dark waves tunneling toward her. But what shocks her to her core is the voice whispering on the wind asking for help. She braves her fear to help someone in need and is stunned when she finds herself talking to a silver dagger.

Only Emma can free River from the dagger, but her thoughts are erased by a seemingly helpful Spartan, one of River’s brothers. When she does get her memory back, she races against time to free River before he dies. Emma and River are attracted to one another, and although they are steaming hot together, River backs away from Emma. He doesn’t feel he deserves a woman of her station, as he is a lowly servant. But they must put their differences aside to join the other Spartans to fight Ares, the War God. Dark forces are at work, and it will take all of them to overcome them.

This is a sensual, action-packed, steaming hot romance! Filled with demons, Gods, immortal warriors, and unique world building, Red Kiss will leave you begging for more. Compelling characters, a plot filled with suspenseful twists and turns, myth and magic and more will have you up late turning the pages. Absolutely loved it!!

Armchair Interviews says: Action-packed storytelling that will thrill any reader of paranormal romance.

Paranormal Romance Writers

Reviewer Comments: Ms. Knight’s newest book in her Gods of Midnight series picks up where the other one left off. In this unique series, 7 Spartan warriors were given the opportunity to postpone the afterlife for immortality and the chance to battle evil in all its forms. These brave men have vowed to protect humanity and then the god who granted them their powers, Ares, turns against them. Now the warriors must work together if they want to survive.

In this book, River Kassandros, a slave and one of the Spartans, has been forced into his dagger form. River can shape-shift into any weapon his master, Ajax, needs as one of his many talents. River has been thrown into the water and isn’t able to return to his human form. Fortunately for River, he floats passed a woman who can hear his call for help and just may be able to save him.

Emma Lowery has spent her life denying her special ability to hear the call of those who have passed on as well as God and angels. She lost her twin sister as a young child and ever since has closed herself off from anything related to the paranormal. Then one day she hears the voice of a man who says she is the only one who can save him from death. Despite her better judgment, Emma goes out into the water to save this man. As she helps him, she slowly realizes that she can accept the supernatural part of herself and must if she wants the man to survive.

Emma and River have more than just the supernatural to overcome. They both carry hurts and pasts that shape their present. River must accept that Emma can love him despite their disparate backgrounds. Emma must reconcile herself to the fact that being involved in River’s life means using her gifts as well as the new gifts she may acquire.

I really enjoyed this story. I think that Ms. Knight did a wonderful job blending the old world sensibilities with the modern age. She made her characters embrace the Spartan lifestyle while still being able to function in the modern world. I enjoyed the blend of characters. Each of the Spartan warriors is uniquely his own man. They have different wants, needs and desires, but they manage to work together in order to fight evil and demons. The way in which the Daughters of Delphi are tied into the fates of the warriors is a nice addition. It makes the role that mortal women play in the Spartans battle for freedom more believable.

The story is easy to read without too much jargon. I had not read the first book in the series and had no difficulty understanding the construct of the novel or what had happened previously. Background is given as Emma struggles to understand the life that River is a part of so it unfolds naturally without pages being devoted to catching us up.

- Paranormal Romance Writers