This Princess Kills Monsters is so much fun!

There’s fairy tales, magic, subversiveness, and a whole lot of humour. I thought this was very Princess Bride meets Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

Princess Meliot is the middle sister with decidedly less magical power than her stepsisters. When her sorceress queen stepmother decides to marry her off to a king of a non-magical kingdom, all of a sudden she’s a very important person in a kingdom in strife.

I loved all the characters, the representation and whimsy of this book. Honestly, the perfect lil fantasy pride month read.

This book was so joyful and fun. It's like every fairytale you think you know has been turned on its head, and you are getting a whole new read on the situation through Melilot's eyes.

Melilot, the least magically gifted of three sisters, has been sent to a neighboring kingdom by her powerful sorceress stepmother for an arranged marriage with its king. After an encounter with spider-wolf hybirds along the road, and a timely rescue by a group of identical huntsmen, she hides her identity until she is certain she's safe in this new kingdom. She's not--there's definitely something dangerous when spider-wolf hybrids are wandering around--but she's encountered way worse on the many quests her stepmother has sent her on over the years. Plus, she's got Sam, one of the huntsmen who has caught her eye, and a potential ally in her betrothed's older sister, Angelique.

I was grinning through the whole story. Loved the characters, the irreverant take on well-known tales, the queer representation, and the empathy even the most apparently sinister and dangerous characters evoke.

4.5 stars 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! This Princess Kills Monsters is a delightful romp perfect for fans of Galavant and The Princess Bride.

Our story follows Melilot, a disgruntled princess who is tired of the endless errands she must run to appease her stepmother, a wicked sorceress who rules her kingdom. For her latest chore, Melilot has been ordered to a neighboring kingdom under instructions to marry their prince. What ensues is a number of failed assassination attempts, cross-dressing huntsman, a misogynistic talking lion, and a whole lot of tongue in cheek fun.

This novel had me genuinely laughing and grinning as I flipped through each chapter. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and yet it has some poignant reminders about gender roles, queer identities, and the complexity of human relationships. I had so much fun with this book and I can’t wait for the rest of you to read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for providing the ARC.

What an absolutely delightful book!

This book is such a fantastic mishmash of fairy tales, tropes, and more, satirically written and absolutely hilarious. Melilot is such a fantastic character, and you can really see how Herman's prose shines through in her story. She is sarcastically funny with her dry wit and her self righteous anger towards her stepmother and the situation that she puts her in. I love that despite everything, she is still very self-sufficient and prefers to take on tasks herself instead of damsel-ing it up as one would expect a princess to do. If there is one thing that I really enjoy, it's when expectations are subverted, and this book has that in spades.

This book is a chaotic good time, filled with adventure, magic, fairy tales and more. If you're like me and enjoy a seamless blend of fairy tales and tropes, and then turning them on their head, then this book is for you.

This book was a mix of every fairytale you could imagine. It was random and weird and I enjoyed it more than I thought. We follow Melilot as she’s sent on a journey to marry the king of another kingdom, who is already engaged to someone else, but she doesn’t know that. Along the way she set upon by beast, decided to lie about who she is and falls in love with someone else. All while figuring out who she meant to be, and where she fits in. Like I said this was a little random but a good time.

This Princess Kills Monsters takes fairy tales and their tropes, mixes them into one world, and turns them on their head-- and it's hilarious. The overarching theme of stories and the power of them and how they're told really resonated with me.

Melilot's keeps going on impossible quests. The most recent of which relies on Melilot getting past three sphinxes determined to eat her, but not before she solves some riddles and listens to some bad poetry. But that quest is rendered null and void when she comes across her half-sisters Calla and Jonquil, who've already completed said quest. Melilot is understandably annoyed; not at her sisters, really, but at the evil nag of a queen (her stepmother, naturally) who keeps assigning her tasks while still showing blatant favoritism to her own daughters. Melilot's rebelled before; but that didn't end well. So when her stepmother announces she's to go to another kingdom and marry their King, there's not much that she can do about it. So she's off to meet her appointed fiancé when her carriage is attacked by bizarre hybrid monsters and she's rescued by six (of twelve) identical masked men. It's clear nothing around her can be trusted, so Melilot pretends to be her own handmaiden to try to get to the bottom of this latest ridiculous quest, and hopefully avoid death or a loveless marriage.

This book has the absolute funniest prologue I think I've ever read. I was literally crying from laughter. I don't really annotate books, but I highlighted SO many funny parts on my digital copy to amuse myself again later. Ry Herman's prose also intricately weaves all sorts of fairy tales and folktales together seamlessly, so you immediately appreciate the ridiculousness of various tropes and scenarios. With the juxtaposition of the two kingdoms, they show how both extremes can be utterly nonsensical, from Skalla's magical yet convoluted land in which all tales exist simultaneously and in unexpected ways, or with Tailliz's mundane, conservative nature where fear and tradition rule.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book; sadly, once Melilot <spoiler>turns into a lake</spoiler>, the sequence of events became far less clear to me. It was harder to follow and understand what exactly was happening until the climax, which was rather jarring. I'd also have preferred to have the characters fleshed out a bit more, so it felt like the stakes were higher.

All of that said, I still found the book a fun read, and would 100% recommend it to anyone who can appreciate the chaos of fairy tales and nursery rhymes while also acknowledging they're inherently ridiculous. If you loved Disney films and fairytales growing up and can laugh about it now (and think Enchanted is one of Disney's best works), this is a great book to pick up!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: June 13, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/7aef134c-ae30-427a-b210-8552a857ed8e?redirect=true)
Review posted to Instagram: PENDING

If you like goofy stories kind of told like old fairytale you will really like this one. There is a bunch of really clever Easter eggs that hint at stories like the tooth fairy, and trolls and what not. If you like anything that amie Kaufman or Megan spooner have written than this book is right up your alley. Super cute and quirky with a lot more heart thrown in this was a fun read for me. Really recommend to people who like folk tales and fairy tales.

I enjoyed this book so much!

I was not expecting it to be so witty and satirical, I love a good fairytale retelling and this is probably my new favorite one. So many chaotic characters, weird quests, and even weirder villains.

If you’re into light hearted feminist fantasy with LGBTQIA romance, this is something you definitely should read.


I could see this being an anime and I definitely want to buy any special editions coming out.

‘This Princess Kills Monsters’ is an offbeat story with plenty of magic, a fairy tale retelling, queer representation, and wild happenings.

This book was not for me but is perfect for those looking for an off-beat magical fairytale story.

3.5

This Princess Kills Monsters is a fun spin on the classic fairy tales ◡̈ I had a challenging time feeling connected to the characters, but I thought it was silly and made me laugh throughout. One of those lighthearted stories that doesn’t take itself too seriously!!

If you’re a fan of classic fairytales definitely give this one a go!

Thanks so much to Random House for the ARC in exchange for my review!

This is a 3.75. This book wasn't bad. I found it to be extremely cute, heavy on the satire and humor and loved all the different fairytale references, but the book just felt like fluff. Thats not a bad thing and I think this would be a perfect palate cleanser or someone looking for an easy not super high stakes book. Because while there are battles and conflicts the book and characters just aren't super deep. They did feel a little surface level even though they do delve into their thoughts/feelings and deeper issues (self-worth, family drama and misogyny), but it still just felt very surface level I think because they were coming across with a funny antidote so thus it lost some effect. Like she would talk about how she was always being targeted by her stepmother to go on these quests and the quests would be so ridiculous your more focused on the humor than connecting with her over her stepmother issues. It felt like the book was more focused on the satire aspect of the writing than adding depth to the story which makes for a very fun read but very one note that I was not super invested in.
I think Melitot was interesting and clever who wants to be more as she has classic middle child syndrome and feels to be left wanting as she can't seem to measure up against her step siblings and she resents her stepmother. But while she feels likes she can't measure up like her step siblings I loved the three of them and their relationship as they truly loved and supported one another. For the romance I could see the romance with Sam one of the huntsmen who you find out is a transman and while they did have some light chemistry there was no real build up to their romance as a lot of their "flirting" was really light banter and storytelling. But it didn't come out of left field, and it was cute.
This book has some queer love representation not just with Melitot but also with her older stepsister who is married to a woman who was an elf, I think. The prince also comes off as Bi-curious, but I don't know if that is accurate considering who he was attracted to.
Overall, this was a fun humorous book that I am sure many will enjoy, and I had fun reading it, but I was left wanting a more depth and not all fluff.

This book is about a princess Melilot who has been sent by her oppressive stepmother to marry the new king of another kingdom. On one hand she is happy that she will no longer be sent out on dangerous and ridiculous quests by her stepmother where she usually ends up being rescued by her more talented sisters but on the other it seems that someone in this new kingdom is out to kill her as well. While that is somewhat normal her, she was looking for a fresh start. The attacks start enroute to meet her fiancé with giant wolf-spiders that result in her being rescued not by her sisters this time but by 12 masked huntsmen who bear a nearly identical resemblance to one another. But when she arrives in the new kingdom the attacks don't stop, and she is also having to deal with a talking lion who keeps having these weird gender-based tests and her fiancé the king doesn't seem to realize that one of his huntsmen is previous fiancé and true love just in pants and a mask. But as she tries to figure out what is going on with this kingdom and attacks, she is having to fight her own growing attractions to not just one of the huntsmen but also her fiancés sister. But Melilot can't afford any distractions because if these mysteries are not uncovered, they will have dire consequences for her and the kingdoms.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute. Merilot was likeable and I just wanted what was best for her. I did feel like the first 60% dragged, but the last 40 really made up for it. I was relatively surprised by the villain and the love interest. I also really enjoyed all the nods to fairytales, but the classic Grimm versions. Overall, cute and kind of cozy.

What a fun and funny take on a classic fairytale. The cover drew me in but I stayed for the story. Loved it!

This Princess Kills Monsters was easily the most fun, tongue-in-cheek fairytale retelling I’ve come across. While the pacing felt a bit off at times, the wry humor more than made up for it and I wasn’t bored for a second. The characters were great, the plot was engaging, and I loved the queer world. This book breathed life back into me. It was my exact brand of humor, and I couldn’t have had a better time reading. Thank you to Ry Herman for creating this ray of sunshine.

What I loved

fairytale retelling
magical creatures
lgbtq+ rep
feminist retelling

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group & Dial Press Trade Paperback for providing me an early copy to review. I had so much fun reading this book and I can’t wait until its release so everyone else can love it like I do!

This was so fun! I have read the original Grimm's Fairytale, but Herman's prose makes it so I don't feel like I need to. Melilot was a fun protagonist to follow, and it was so interesting seeing how her journey twisted and turned from beginning to end. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an earc!

This was a fun adventure of a book! Filled with lots of fairytale lore, This Princess Kills Monsters strikes a great balance between not taking itself to seriously and some darker elements, giving adventure, mystery, and a bit of romance their chance to shine too. There are also some glimpses into complicated family dynamics and self-reflection and discovery.

The writing was engaging, and you don't need to be familiar with Grimm's Fairytales to enjoy it. The author's note at the end gives a great insight into their inspiration and the fairytales that were referenced, and how cannon things in the book were.

4.25/5

This book was not what I thought it would be and that is merely because I am boring and lack imagination.
What a wonderful story full of all the whimsy of fairytales and the complexity of normal non-fairytale emotions.
I can't think of a single character that I did not like, even the evil ones. I adored Melilot and her many plights, her stepsisters and their peculiar spouses were a delight, the Hunstmen were phenomenal additions, the talking Lion was fun, the magic was great, I just had a fantastic time reading this and I always love queer representation and retellings.
If you're excited to read this you won't be disappointed and if you aren't excited to read this you should be.

This review is already posted at the links submitted!

I went into this book purely blind because I loved the title, and I didn't want to see the reviews. I had a blast reading this. I was laughing and really rooting for the protagonist to end up with whom she loves and not marry someone she doesn't love. This was such a fun adventure too.

Melilot is the barely magical, step-sister that can never live up to the standards set by her fantastical step-sisters. So it comes as no surprise to her that she is being sent away to marry the King of a nearby land. When she is attacked by monsters en route and rescued by mysterious masked huntsman, she decides she must conceal her identity to keep herself safe. What follows is a magical journey and unlikely love story that blends so many of our favorite fairytales with a diverse and highly entertaining cast of characters!

This story was actually really fun! It didn't take itself too seriously and I enjoyed both the diversity of the characters and the fact that it was often the "otherside" perspective of each fairytale included.

I read it out loud to my boys (9 and 6) and they were very invested in the story through the entire book and wanted to rate it 5⭐️s! I'm rating it a 4 star because I found the writing style a little hard to follow, especially in the beginning. The main character, Melliot, takes a lot of side quests with her thought process which had a tendency to make the story telling very long winded. The actual language used was also not my cup tea (maybe because I was trying to read it out loud) but that's more of a personal preference.

Thank you to NetGally and the author/publisher for an early copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I requested this book not having heard anything about it and it was really cute. It’s basically a cozy fantasy fractured fairly tales mash up. It’s mainly based on the Twelve Huntsman but there are elements of many other stories too.

It’s mainly a tale of the princess who is chosen to be married to a prince (who is already engaged to someone else) and her journey to get to him. Some things worked for me and some didn’t.

I really like the quick wit humor in this, it was really my style and made the story flow well, it’s a pretty quick read. I just wish there was more to it.

With the title being as it is I didn’t really expect this to be cozy. There are not many monsters being killed and it toed the line between ‘cozy’ and just ‘boring’. There should still be some plot happening.

I sort of liked the tone and narration of the fairy tales they tell to pass the time more than the story itself.

This has a lot of stereotypical YA tropes in it despite being labeled as adult, if that isn’t your thing you may not like this.

I enjoyed this, if you like YA cozy fantasy you’ll probably enjoy this more.