This Princess Kills Monsters was a fun, quirky, and adventurous read. It is a feminist, queer, satirical retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ The Twelve Huntsmen, but combines many elements and cheeky remarks of other fairy tales. Herman’s humour is perfectly witty and sarcastic while being cozy at the same time.

Princess Melilot’s sorceress queen stepmother orders her to marry a new king. Chaos ensues; twelve identical masked huntsmen with different magical powers (toads hop out of one’s mouth whenever they talk), spiderwolves, rude talking mirrors, and a pretentious gender-essentialist lion. What can go wrong? The characters were so amusing and I found myself giggling out loud. I especially liked Melilot’s older step-sister Jonquil and her green fairy princess, sword-wielding wife Gnoflwhogir. I would love to read a book about them next.

This story by Ry Herman, is a refreshing fairytale retailing that reminds me a bit of Snow White and the huntsmen.

Growing up I’ve always loved retelling of fairytales especially from the grim brothers. This was one of those story where I was able to breeze right through it since I was so easy to follow and cozy up to.

I would categorize this as of those cozy fantasy. If you love a book that has good banter and can make you laugh, this is the books for you. There were so many times where I would say to myself only a few more pages and boom I’m half way through it fully immersed in the fantasy. It’s great !

The main character is so spunky and a breath of fresh air, she is so fun, brave and all the same time stubborn/ thick headed for sure!

The favorite character in this book happens to be the villain ! Chefs kiss to a good villain !


I would like to thank net gallery and the publisher random house for giving me the opportunity to enjoy such a cute cozy fantasy that I can read over and over again !

I thought this book was great! It was well-plotted with a great heroine and had just enough irreverence in the telling to be fun rather than annoying.

This Princess Kills Monsters is the tale of Princess Melilot, stepdaughter of a sorceress queen. Melilot is sent by her stepmother to marry a prince, but on her way there her carriage is attacked by spider-wolf creatures, and she is saved by six identical hunters in masks. Adopting a false identity, Melilot soon discovers that her betrothed’s kingdom is under attack by an unknown enemy, and must do what she can to save it.

Melilot was a fantastically funny character with a unique voice. Her growth (both of hair and of mind) is fantastic and was wonderful to read! I also loved the way that different fairytales were interwoven with the plot of This Princess Kills Monsters. They were recognizable for what they were, but they didn’t dominate the story.

Overall, this was a great book and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted read!

this book was okay. It had a very slow and dull plot, but i did like that it was the opposite of a fairy tale, where its not a princess waiting to be rescued, but instead a kickass princess who is doing all that herself and saving others. that part was good!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

fun voice but ultimately slow plot wise. At 40% not much had happened! I still enjoyed the humor and the jokes - definitely charming

This story — and the stories within the story — is just … fun. Melilot suffers less from the fairy tale nonsense of having to save the prince, fight an evil sorcerer, learn fearsome magic (though she does all those things) than she does suffering from her relationship with her mother.

Being the step daughter of the evil queen isn’t easy, especially when the two of them seem to speak a different language. The queen wants something from Melilot, who refuses to give it to her, so much so that when Melilot is struggling, drowning and dying, she still won’t give in. The queen herself isn’t an evil queen or a wicked stepmother — well,not really, but not-not really — as much as she is a powerful woman who struggles to be likable. She expects to be treated like a parent because she married Melilot’s father; when Melilot says they’re not related, the queen had a child with Melilot’s father so that they were now bound by blood, and still doesn’t understand how that didn’t make Melilot rush to embrace her.

But really, there’s a lot ol things going on between all of this. Monstrous hybrids that are very not fairy tale are attacking the castle of Melilot’s husband-to-be; Melilot falling in love with a mysterious masked man who is most certainly not her husband-to-be; Melilot unleashing her magic in a way that turns everyone against her, Melilot performing battlefield surgery — her parents were physicians, and she’s better at that than she is magic — and Melilot growing her hair.

Honestly, this book is fun … but for me it’s right on the line between a four and a five. It has some wonderful takes on some lesser known fairy tales, and some self-aware takes on fairy tale tropes, but for all of that, I would have liked just a little more of a character arc from Melilot. While she has the expected adventure and discovery of powers, personality wise she is the same at the beginning of the book as she is at the end, only in the end she’s riding off with her one true love.

If you want magic and adventure, a friends to lovers, a dragon, all with strong writing and a strong pace, you’’ll probably enjoy this book. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

*This Princess Kills Monsters* by Ry Herman is an exhilarating, action-packed fantasy that blends humor, adventure, and heart. The story follows a courageous princess who defies the odds in a world filled with danger, magic, and mythical creatures. Herman’s writing is fast-paced, witty, and filled with rich world-building, bringing the fantastical setting to life. The characters are well-developed, especially the protagonist, whose strength and vulnerability create a compelling narrative. With its clever dialogue and unexpected twists, *This Princess Kills Monsters* is an entertaining and empowering read that fans of fantasy and adventure will thoroughly enjoy.

This Princess Kills Monsters is a book that weaves multiple fairytales together to create a book that is totally unique.

I love how this book didn’t take itself seriously. It made it such a fun and quick read.

I really liked Melilot. She’s a super complex character. Between her relationships with her step family and the journey she goes on, we see her go through a range of emotions and experiences. Throughout all of this she seemed like such a well rounded character.

The story also captivated me. It’s a retelling of The Twelve Huntsmen and it was done super well. I loved the LGBT representation and how other fairytales were woven in.

This was such an entertaining read! I appreciated how the book didn’t take itself too seriously, which made it a light and fun experience. The way the author wove together different fairy tale elements was clever and added a unique charm to the story.

While Merilot wasn’t my favorite main character—I found her a bit whiny at times, especially in her complaints about her sisters and stepmother—I did enjoy her overall journey. Her character arc brought her growth and resolution, which made her story satisfying in the end.

The LGBTQ representation was seamlessly integrated into the narrative, adding depth without feeling forced or detracting from the plot. It was lovely to see her and Sam end up together—it felt earned and genuine. Jack, on the other hand, was quite annoying, but I suppose every story needs its share of frustrating characters to keep things interesting!

All in all, it was a fun and whimsical ride. A great pick for fans of reimagined fairy tales who enjoy a little humor and romance mixed in.

I absolutely love a fairy tale turned on its head, and this has to be one of the best ones I've read. Absolutely enticing story, loved all the main characters, and it was delightfully queer.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! I don’t normally love fairytale Retellings but I’m glad I gave this one a try!
I enjoyed the heroine and the pacing and the ragtag band of side characters. The setting was fun and interesting and made me chuckle as well as experience wonder.

I think fairy tale reimaginings are just not for me... Everything about this book *should* have drawn me in and refused to let go, yet somehow I was ambivalent while reading it and just never connected to the writing style. I love the cover. I love the concept. I love the sassy spunky eponymous princess. But I still struggled to connect with the story and find myself forcing page turns rather than eagerly engaging with the storyline. I'm WAY in the minority here, and given my previous challenges with reimaginings, I am pretty sure this is on me. Wrong book, wrong reader...

I liked it a lot. It's funny and doesn't takes itself too seriously, but still the story is well constructed and the writing is good.
I liked the many references to fairytales woven in to story, the light romance and the many adventures the MC goes through.
Unfortunately I didn't really connect with any of the characters. They felt unidimensional and not very likeable, except maybe for the sisters, which were my favourite.
Overall I had a good time but I felt like it really missed some character development.

Thank you Random House!

*an advanced digital copy was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

This book was an adventure to read, keeping me on my toes throughout. What stood out most was the quirky writing style, the vibrant characters, and the fresh twists on classic fairy tales.

This book follows Princess Melilot, the stepdaughter of her very powerful yet demanding sorceress stepmother. Tired of constant peril and relying on her magical stepsisters for rescue, Melilot embarks on a quest to save her betrothed’s kingdom—and herself. Along the way, she's joined by twelve identical masked strangers.

The main character, Princess Melilot, is quirky, down-to-earth, and relatable; she really makes the book amazing. From the beginning to the end, she shows a ton of personal growth and really grows into herself as a character. She meets a lot of interesting characters along the way, particularly twelve masked hunters, all of whom are identical except for one minor quirk that differentiates them. (Not only does she get confused with the characters, but the reader does, too.)

Something else that's really fun about this book is the world-building. It's set in the world of the Brothers Grimm stories, but it shows us some satirical different sides of those stories. There was a lot of humor attached to the classic stories. There are also some really unique monsters that Melilot and the rest have to fight with that make for a very exciting, action-packed story. While the pacing felt perfect for the bulk of the story, the initial setup dragged slightly as Melilot navigated the new kingdom.

Overall, this book was a refreshing and enjoyable read, blending action, adventure, humor, and romance seamlessly. I laughed out loud, empathized with Melilot’s struggles, and rooted for her triumphs. Perfect for fans of humorous fantasy, fairy tale retellings, and heroines who are determined to prove themselves!

Thank you again NetGalley for the ARC!

This Princess Kills Monsters

If you’re looking for a fun take on fairy tale stories, this is the book for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for letting me read this ARC. I really enjoyed this novel, and it’ll easily be in my top ten novels of the year.

5+1
Novels take so much work, so I try to give five positives when reviewing, but nothing is perfect, so I’ll also give one criticism.

Five positives:

1. This novel is hilarious. I’ve been searching for a novel to take me away from all the darkness in the world, and this came to me at the right time. I rarely laugh while reading, but multiple times in this story I laughed out loud. If nothing else, Herman’s use of voice, the absurd, and anachronistic language/humor were a blast. The dialogue is so good throughout!

2. Melilot. I liked Melilot a lot. She’s a classic middle child archetype, but Herman executes this perfectly. She isn’t all bitter and envious all the time, though these elements do exist within her. She is a complex person who is brave, funny, sassy, insecure, irreverent, stubborn, kind. Plus, she’s technically a princess, and a very loose Rapunzel retelling. Herman has a ton of fun playing with the Rapunzel story.

3. This novel is a love letter to fans of fairy tales. There are innumerable references to popular fairy tales within this story from Little Red Riding Hood to Snow White. Just seeing the ways that Herman twists these stories to fit this world was such a delight. It’s also full of actual fairy tale retellings that are truncated, abridged, or retold in comical ways.

4. Progressive story. Slight spoilers ahead – Melilot is an out Bi main character, there are multiple trans characters, there is a prominent Sapphic relationship, and all of this makes sense within the context of the story. The role of women in a quasi-medieval world is explored at length, and it was one of the highlights of the story.

5. Villain. I think the Villain(s) were excellent choices and they really challenged Melilot on multiple levels. Both villains weren’t people she could just defeat with some magical MacGuffin. And I liked that even after Melilot overcame them, they had a lasting effect on Melilot that changed her and the world forever.

One negative:

1. I thought there were some issues with the pacing. It’s good, but I felt we spent about a third of the book fighting monsters (the title is about monsters, so I get it), but I wish we’d spent a bit more time developing Melilot’s romance and dealing with Melilot’s stepmother. I also thought that Melilot’s magical abilities improved a bit too rapidly. I understand it’s magic, so it doesn’t have to make a ton of sense, but to me it felt like we rushed a bit to Melilot’s endgame power.

One of the greatest compliments I can give this book is that by the time I finished, I had a constant smile on my face. I loved this story, and I look forward to checking out Herman’s other work.

This Princess Kills Monsters
By Ry Herman

This books was equal parts absolutely ridiculous, as well as hilarious and fun. The author tackles a lesser known and rather odd brother’s Grimm fairy tale from the perspective of the character with the least amount written about her. Throughout we have sprinkles of tales we recognize which I sometimes thought was a bit much, but mostly enjoyed.

Our MC had some depth to her and there was a lot about her relationship with her stepmother and her step- and half- siblings which I thought made her a more rounded character.

That being said, don’t go into this book looking for a ton of depth. But you’ll have a rollicking good time.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Princess Kills Monsters is a delightful retelling of the classic Grimm fairytale, The Twelve Huntsmen, and flips the story where we get the perspective of the neighboring princess, Princess Melilot, sent to marry the newly-crowned king Gervase of Tailliz. On the journey to Talliz, Princess Melilot is attacked by spider-wolves, only to be saved by a group of masked huntsmen in the king's service. While she was saved, she finds herself bristling against the traditions of Tailliz and particularly puzzled by the adviser to the king, a lion who seems to know everything there is to know about humans.

I really appreciated the re-telling and especially introducing (or emphasizing) all of the queerness to the story. Herman does a lovely job pushing Melilot's development and seeing her come into herself as a sorceress and whole person was a great adventure. The character exploration in general was so fun to see everyone (even the Lion) get some redemption as the story continues. I also really enjoyed the different references and easter eggs to other fairytale lore.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and RandomHouse for the advanced copy.

Absolutely Amazing!

A queer retelling of the tale <i>The Twelve Huntsmen</i> that has quickly become one of my top books of the year, and a highly anticipated release for 2025.

Princess Melliot has spent her life under the shadows of her magically talented stepsisters and at odds with her exceedingly powerful sorceress step-mother. Constantly being sent on quests and challenges, she now faces the most difficult one yet - Marrying a king in a neighbouring kingdom. As with the other challenges, things are definitely not simple, and Melliot finds herself constantly tested and in near death situations.

I love this book so much! All the characters are well designed, Melliot has a very well rounded character arc. The talking lion is absolutely hilarious (practically a comedic villain), probably my favourite side character just for how ridiculous he is. As a retelling of the <i>Twelve Huntsmen</i> it also includes so many references to other fairy-tales and, seeing how they are all connected, makes it even more enjoyable.

This is a feel good, light hearted, comedic novel - an amazing retelling of a classic fairy tale, and I cannot acclaim, extol and applaud it enough.



Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.



#indigoemployee

This book was absolutely delightful and the perfect lighthearted romp. I expected humour, wit, and that classic fairytale vibe and that's exactly what I got.

I love how fun each character is to follow, and how much love and joy is woven throughout the story. There's a lot of heart and humanity that kept me smiling while I read. It feels like a love letter to fairy tales, and while some aspects feel a bit simple and unexciting, that deep rooted love for all things magical adds a lot to the story as a whole.

It's also worth noting that I love seeing a queer-normative fantasy. It's always so refreshing to step into a story and feel safe and valued while reading, and this book felt like a safe place to land no matter how perilous the story gets. We need more books that feel like this.

This Princess Kills Monsters is a fun, feminist retelling of The Twelve Huntsmen with a fresh, humorous twist. The characters are quirky and engaging, and the book is packed with magic, adventure, and witty fairy tale references. While the romance and pacing can feel rushed at times, the overall story is an enjoyable, heartwarming journey through a fantastical world.