Title: The Silent Night Series
Authors: Amy Cecil, Angie Martin, Jade Royal, Leah Negron, Gabriella Messina, and Anchorette Rousseau
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Release Date: September 19-25, 2021
Checkmate: an act or instance of maneuvering the opponent's king into a check from which it cannot escape, thus bringing the game to a victorious conclusion.
Serena Valentine had it all - the Blood Empire in which she was the reigning queen, a family that loved her, and subjects that worshiped her. But most importantly, she had peace. Being a living relative of the Vampire Queen, Lillith, Serena strived to maintain peace between the vampires and humans, looking at humans as a means of survival and not as the enemy.
Claus Devlin had differing views on humans and more importantly hated the fact that a woman reigned over the Blood Empire. Eventually, his way of thinking got him banished from the Empire and his intended bride, Serena. Angered by her father’s disregard for his way of thinking, Claus built an army of his own and rose up against Serena and her kingdom. He killed her family and in turn banished her from the Blood Empire.
Defeated, Serena leaves her beloved kingdom with one vow - she will return and take back what is rightfully hers.
When Serena finally returns to the Blood Empire, she comes with a vengeance. She plays the game according to Claus’ rules. She answers to his every desire and shows him every day, that she belongs to him and him alone. She is punished and treated like a common slave. But through it all her one mission is to make Claus believe that she has submitted to him completely all the while lying in wait for the right time to strike against him. When opportunity presents itself in the form of a handsome guard who is loyal to her, Serena makes her move and puts the king under direct attack from which escape is impossible.Stalemate: a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible.
Following her mother’s death, Calista rises as the new queen for the Arelia Region of Merfolk, and her troubles start. A failing region, suffering subjects, humans and merfolk killing each other, and a queen over all merfolk who doesn’t care what happens to any region, least of all, Calista’s.
With her sub-mate by her side, Calista knows she must rescue her region, but she cannot from her current position. Determined to restore order and safety to all merfolk, she does the only thing she can: challenge the current queen for her throne.Queen's Pin: A pinned piece can still check the opposing king and therefore can still defend friendly pieces against captures made by the enemy king.
Willow:
Knowing vulnerable information will help me during an attack, giving me the advantage. King Devlin is expecting to marry the woman his father arranged for him. It would secure his seat on the throne by his birthday. A quick switch guarantees me to be queen, regaining my stature and making me his wife. Once he finds out the truth, it will be too late. Being tricked into marrying a banished princess wouldn't fair well to our unforgiving people.
Devlin:
My father arranged a marriage to a beautiful woman who will give me heirs and secure our bloodline on the throne. Feisty and more responsive to me than I could have ever imagined, she is perfect in every way. With the prestige of her family, my wealth, and our popularity, there would be no question of our destiny to be king and queen.
Queen's Gambit: to temporarily sacrifice a pawn to gain control of the center of the board
Honor…
For Lyssa of Kenworth, the quest to restore her family’s name has consumed her for decades.
Now she has devised an audacious plan: capture the “mad king.”
Duty…
The charismatic Ardeth is intrigued by the fiery woman and agrees to assist in her wild plan.
The handsome thief has a past of his own, though.
Love…
Lyssa and Ardeth cannot deny the passion they feel.
As a fateful moon rises, will their love be enough to fortify them for the trials of the Silent Night?
Refute: To prove that a previously accepted move, line, or opening is deficient when the best play is pursued by both sides. It is not necessarily the best move, but good enough to refute the opponent’s previous move.
Andaya:
A night out at Club Hellion was supposed to be my remedy for a horrid week, fate had a different plan though. King Demarq requested me for a night in his bed but I wasn’t interested. His family took away my birthright including that throne he likes to sit on. So excuse me for hating everything about him. I won’t dance with the devil, even if he is the dragon king of our realm. I’ve got better things to do like plotting his downfall. It’s time for the rightful bloodline to take a stand and for his to die off. End of story.
Demarq:
Nobody tells me what I can’t have, including the temptress Andaya. She walked away from a once-in-a-lifetime offer that will ruin everything she touches. I have the power to make her suffer, and I will. The destruction of her self-determination could have been prevented if only she would have said yes. Either way, I win. She’ll be mine, like it or not. Being king has advantages, and she’s about to find the hard way.
En Passant: is a special pawn capture that can only occur immediately after a pawn makes a move
Isabella Graystone, watched as an intruder destroyed her family. Someone who had gained her father the King’s confidence.
When she learned the truth behind the deceit, she was locked away in a small cell at the back of the dungeon, with only an old woman who was unable to speak or hear. Isabella was only nine years old when she was locked away from the world, with no one to care for her.
She has had a long time to formulate a plan to regain not only her freedom but the throne, which is rightfully hers.
It’s Isabella’s twenty-first birthday, which means it’s now or never, but will Isabella be able to escape and take back the throne?
Castling is the only time in chess that two pieces can move at once, and the only time a piece other than the knight can move over another piece.
It had taken Sapphae half a lifetime, but she had finally stepped up to keep the promise she kept around a traveling campfire years ago. Traveling through the Mist to her home, she will reclaim what is rightfully hers. But in her way stands the beautiful Telen and the awe striking King Jarin. Which will she chose as her ally? Which as her enemy? Which as her soulmate?
