YA Review: Lady Knight (The Diamonds #2) (Amalie Howard)

About the Book:

Lady Zenobia “Zia” Osborn, a duke’s daughter, is frustrated that her entire life has been predetermined. What good is skill or intelligence if one is forced to suffocate it because of one’s sex? She’d much rather make her mark on the world than bat her eyelashes for the ton.

Zia only comes alive in the Lady Knights, a clandestine social club for rebellious girls. In it, she is free to compose music, fence, read controversial literature, and save orphans from destitution by any means necessary. Aside from her closest confidantes, no one knows about Zia’s indecorous other life. . . .

Until Mr. Rafi Nasser, a rogue with secrets of his own, finds out. Shocked yet intrigued by his best friend’s younger sister, he agrees to keep Zia’s secret—if only to help her avoid utter scandal.

*Review Contributed by Connie Reid, Site Manager and Staff Reviewer*

Lady Knight features the love story of Lady Zenobia Osborn. With timeless quotes from Mary Wollstonecraft to start each chapter, we see the societal cage Zia wants to break from. Yearning to make a difference and push the boundaries of female agency, she and a small group of friends form the secret group, The Lady Knights. Disguised as men, they horse race, fence, and rob her brother Keston and his friends all to raise enough coin to save an orphanage from defaulting on their loans.
Along the way, Keston’s best mate, Rafi Nasser, discovers their night escapades, and instead of trying to expose her, he tries to keep her protected. These late-night, adrenaline-filled, unchaperoned run-ins bring them closer together and are so much fun to read.
The author brings a unique set of plot elements not usually seen in Regency settings. First, Zia and some of her friends have multicultural backgrounds and still hold high positions of power. This positive representation is a nice bonus while reading. Next, the way she chooses to push boundaries is certainly fun, but not exactly realistic. The fact that she is at the top of society protects her when needed.
This clean romance is a fun read and speaks to themes of female equality that remain as pressing as ever. I listened to part of the book on an audiobook. The author does a nice job bringing the characters to life and conveying Zia’s frustration and ambition throughout the story. As a small note, she pronounces Elya’s name differently than the narrator did in Queen Bee, which took me out of the story when it happened. Overall, I’m excited to read the third book that just came out.

*Find More Info & Buy It Here!*

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