Cozy, funny, retelling with gusto, energy and heart. I loved it- the blurb suggested shrek, I’d say shrek-esq, it’s very fun, I enjoyed this one for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Princess Kills Monsters has one of the best premises of the year and a gorgeous cover, and because I’m a simple woman, that’s all you really need to catch my eye. When I picked up the book, I was hoping for a whimsical breath of fresh air in the genre, and while I did get a lot of whimsy, I can’t help but feel that the story fails to give us something truly brilliant by leaning into too many narrative tropes we’ve seen before.

To quantify what I mean, let’s start at the beginning: Princess Melilot hails from Skalla, a land ruled by her domineering (but not quite evil) stepmother. She's the middle sister, and her inability to summon great feats of magic or talk to animals leaves her feeling like the least talented and most inadequate of her stepsisters.

When I first learned that Melilot’s character arc was going to be about overcoming her insecurities about her siblings and becoming confident in her own abilities, I almost audibly groaned. At this point, I’m pretty over the protagonist being the ugly duckling of the family and irrationally upset that their siblings are so brilliant, amazing, etc. while they’re just them.

This Princess Kills Monsters also does the tired YA thing of having a female protagonist who is convinced that she’s not special at all (and trying so hard to convince the reader of the same thing), but also somehow attractive enough to land two important love interests at the same time, who fall in love with her after just one or two interactions.

In the end, my favorite thing about This Princess Kills Monsters wasn’t Melilot or her love interests or even the retelling of The Twelve Huntsmen, but the surprisingly badass subversion of the evil stepmother formula.

The Queen of Skalla stole the show every time she was mentioned, and I kept on thinking about her even when she wasn’t. I found her character the most unique and nuanced aspect about the novel, and I wished the story leaned into it more than it did, rather than on the somewhat shallow plot and romance.

Ultimately, what makes This Princess Kills Monsters stand out from the crowd of self-indulgent fantasy romance novels of the 2010s Tumblr era isn’t its plot or characters (with the exception of the stepmother), but that now, in 2025, these types of plots and characters can exist in such a queer story.

Sure, I’ve seen Melilot’s schtick before, and I’ve rolled my eyes at just as many love triangles in the past, but if you sit me down and ask me when, in those other stories, the female protagonist was bisexual and no one questioned it, and the love interests got to be a woman and a trans man, I’d probably say never.

If I hadn’t had to read so many of these (tragically straight) stories in the past, then This Princess Kills Monsters probably wouldn’t have felt so derivative to me as a reader. I think it’s great that, today, someone could be exposed to these tropes for the first time in a mostly competently written queer story. A lot of us didn’t get that choice.

Also, that talking lion can take his book and shove it.

It blends together multiple stories from Grimm’s original fairy tales and Ry Herman did a good job of trying to piece them all together it did feel a little disconjointed. The beginning was a bit confusing with so many descriptions of many fairy tales thrown together, i felt the characters were hard to understand as described.

Overall, i liked the general idea of the story and realized it was a queer story through small references. So I understand it was one but it was not overtly a queer love story. I like that it didn’t focus on that wholly, it just was. I think the final will be more polished and great for YA!

I REALLY REALLY LOVED THIS. Fairy tale retellings, queer characters, chaos causing fairies and family relationships.

Just really loved the way the fairy tales we know were woven into this intricate world with magic and princesses, and happy endings.

I started to fall in love with this book when I saw the cover and title, and by the end I had completely fallen in love with the book as a whole.

This book is utterly ridiculous in the BEST way possible. I was completely hooked from the start, drawn in by the author’s humorous and sarcastic writing style and laughing my way through the end. The worldbuilding was unique, and at no point in the story did I know what the characters would encounter next because quite literally anything was a possibility. Despite the chaos, we are still led through an engaging and well-structured plot, and I loved how the author wove in multiple clever references to other fairytale characters while still making this story feel entirely its own. I adored all the characters and especially loved Melilot's family and the layers of complexity Ry Herman added to all their relationships. The character development, queer representation, and feminism were all elements that added so much to the book in subtle ways, making each character so vivid and simply delightful to read about—even the villain!

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book, and will surely miss this world and characters.

4.75 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

OK. I really struggled with this one - it's very irreverent and fun, but the writing style was not my cup of tea. I do think there's an audience for this book though, and they will definitely enjoy it more than I did.

Unfortunately this was not the book for me. I dnf’d it before I got halfway through so I can’t accurately review the entire book. But I can say it was ridiculous in a way that made it really hard to take seriously. It doesn’t read like a finished novel. I had the hardest time figuring out what was really happening.

I’m someone who LOVES fairytales and adores the brothers Grimm but this did not hit for me. I understand it’s satire and supposed to be moderately ridiculous take on lesser known tales. I’m just not sure it fully succeeds. For me, it did not.

There is one thing I’m absolutely going to praise the author for though. The queer representation in this book and the transmasc character being prominent within the story. In this climate of 2025? I say HELL YES. More of this energy in more books please.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

1.5 but I can't even round up. Which sucks.

As much as it pains me to give a book with prominent transmasc rep a rating so low, I just can't get over a bunch of things about it.

Predominantly, it doesn't even feel like a YA book pretending to be an Adult book, which is a common critique these days. No, this book reads as a Middle Grade book pretending to be an Adult book.

The prose is stilted and seems very sure of itself being charming and funny, which it's generally none of. It also refuses to engage with itself seriously for more than a few pages at a time which I find insufferable. If even you won't engage with your book and the world within it earnestly, how can I? I keep seeing this compared to the Princess Bride, and as somebody who considers that their favorite movie, I'm sorry but I don't see it at all. The Princess Bride is silly and campy but it also has so much heart. It's also legitimately funny which, again, this book isn't— but it thinks it is.

If your book is largely based off of finding yourself funny at the expense of earnest care for your world, it should probably actually be funny. The humor is largely an ungodly mix of lawl random xD and millenialisms that would make a tumblr user cringe. It's a lot of making references to fairytales and going OMG ISN'T THAT SO SILLY YOU GUYS?

I can't help but feel let down, maybe because this was my first ARC since getting back into reading seriously. Maybe it's because I'm fresh off of devouring T Kingfisher's fantasy romance series, which engages with itself earnestly even when it knows it's being absurdist and ridiculous. I don't know. I'm sure this book is for somebody, but it certainly isn't for me when everything I read just makes me think of how irony-poisoned we are now. Everything is tongue in cheek. It makes me sad.

To transition to individual aspects of the book that make it a frustrating read: the way stronger/rural accents in this book are treated makes me sad and angry. Maybe it's because I just was talking about how Gaelic cultures are demolished by fantasy authors with little respect, with a particular demonization and jester-fication of Scottish and Irish coded characters prominent. There's a character whose accent being so strong nobody can understand them is their ENTIRE character, and in the year 2025 that accent is written out on the page in excruciating detail every time. It's weird and embarrassing.

The romance is... boring. I suppose? They set up a love triangle that doesn't go anywhere because the book isn't long enough and doesn't develop either love interest or dynamic nearly enough to stand on their own, much less pitted against each other. I want to like Sam as a trans man, and I think in another story he could've been the star of the show. But in this one? He's wasted.

To be honest, the only thing I can really appreciate is the guts it takes to publish a book with such prominent trans rep in the current political climate, especially a love interest.

So, sorry to be the first one to tank the rating of this book. I think there are people out here who will like it but not me, and unfortunately I would not rec this to any of my friends. This might find a home in the BookTok crowd, but who knows.

From the very first page, this novel had me laughing out loud. I seriously don’t think I have read a book as funny as this one. What initially interested me about this novel (apart from the gorgeous cover) was the premise of a fairytale world with queer characters. I can happily say that this novel is just that!

Plot:

This Princess Kills Monsters retells the classic Grimm Brothers’ story The Twelve Huntsmen. Princess Melilot is sent to a faraway land to marry a king. Although not her ideal marital situation, she knows better than to disobey the sorceress queen, a.k.a, her stepmother. Before Melilot arrives at her new home, she is attacked by a herd of monsters. With her guard dead and no weapons to defend herself, she is forced to trust the strange, identical men who come to her rescue. Thanks to these huntsmen, Melilot is brought safely to her new kingdom. Unfortunately, she quickly discovers this kingdom is a bit behind; the women have very few rights and are forced to stay in their own section of the castle. To make things even worse, Melilot begins to suspect someone is trying to kill her.

What I liked:

Like I mentioned above, I found this book to be very funny and satirical. There were multiple times I had to pause my reading to show my partner a witty line.

Another aspect of this novel I liked is the worldbuilding. This fairytale world felt unique yet familiar. Herman did a wonderful job of taking aspects of famous fairy tales and twisting them ever so slightly to fit Melilot’s worlds.

Finally, my favourite part of this book has to be the queer inclusivity. Melilot is a bi woman who falls for a trans huntsman and the king's sister. Additionally, Melilot’s older sister is in a sapphic relationship. Not only are these identities beautifully represented in this novel, but ideas of gender and identity are also explored.

What I disliked:

Although I didn’t explicitly dislike anything about the novel, there were some aspects that I felt a little let down about. To begin with, I was expecting a bit more romance. Although I found the romantic relationship in the novel to be quite sweet, I wish we got to see more of it. Additionally, going off of the description of the book, I assumed there would be a love triangle between the huntsman and the king’s sister. In reality, Melilot notices them both but only pursues a relationship with one of them. I feel like the introduction of both love interests may have been to show that Melilot is bi more than anything.

These next two points are more of a personal preference, but I thought I would mention them in case anyone feels similar. The second half of this book was very action-packed. I didn’t dislike this but I wish there would have been a bit more character development instead of battle scenes. I was really hoping that Melilot’s relationship with her sisters and stepmother would be explored more, but by the time the battles were over the book was basically finished.

Finally, the dialogue of one of the huntsmen was written in a Scottish accent. I know a lot of people enjoy this, however, I struggled to understand what they were saying.

Final Thoughts:

With all that said, I really enjoyed this book! I will definitely be grabbing a physical copy once it’s published because I’d love to read it again (and let’s be real, the cover is too stunning not to display).

Although I chose to DNF this book, I can absolutely see its charm. It offers a fresh and unique spin on the fairy tale genre, blending elements that captivate adult readers while still evoking a sense of nostalgia.

There seems to be a subgenre of fantasy that’s fairytale retellings told in a quippy, modern voice. This definitely fell into that enjoyable genre. This book has genuine stakes while simultaneously feeling cozy, making for a really fun, quick read. The narrative voice — funny, a little tongue in cheek — was definitely a strong point for me along with worldbuilding that brought a fresh spin to familiar fairytales.

This story is a clever and unique take on the fairytale fantasy genre.

The world-building is imaginative and vivid, with creatures and environments that feel both magical and haunting, it almost feels a little nostalgic to the fairy tales we read and watched growing up. The monsters the princess faces are more than just physical challenges; they represent the internal battles she must fight, making the story an exploration of identity. r.

That said, while the story itself is inventive and touches a few emotional points with the nostalgic elements introduced, I have to admit that I wasn’t entirely sold on the writing style. The narrative leans heavily into the classic "once upon a time" fairytale structure, which makes sense given the themes and the tone of the story. For me personally, it felt a bit too traditional and distant at times, and it just wasn't the kind of writing style I usually gravitate to. The writing, while charming in its own way, didn’t fully draw me in. There’s a certain level of formality to the language that kept me from connecting with the story on a deeper level.

I know that this approach is deliberate, and it does suit the themes in the book, but it just didn’t resonate with me as much as it might with others who enjoy more classic storytelling styles.

Overall, The Princess Kills Monsters is a creative, and nostalgic story with a strong message about finding strength in vulnerability. While I personally didn’t connect with the writing style, I can still appreciate the story’s depth and the way it challenges conventional notions of what a "princess" should be. If you’re a fan of traditional fairytale structures with a darker twist, this book will likely hit the mark.

I read this book not realizing that it was lbtq. I am not interested in this type, but I love Fantasy and Fairy tales. So that was right up my alley. Over all it was a good retelling of a classic Fairy tale that everyone has read. Or hopefully has read. There were some very funny moments in this book also. I do recommend it if you love happy endings.

Wow wow wow wow!!! This is one of my new favourite authors and books. I was blown away from the start. It’s jam-packed with hilarity and adventure - and it’s SO CREATIVE!!!
I love all of the characters - all so richly wonderfully weird and unique - and all the little details that make the story so fantastic. It’s a middle-finger-love-letter to fairytales, an ode to the women who tell them and the side characters forgotten.
I laughed sooo hard and also cried. And loved all the gender defying aspects.
I would read anything this author publishes.

This was a fun, adventurous novel that gave a feminist voice to a classic fairytale. Very cozy and had a good mix of stakes, a light romance, and a coming of age narrative with a full cast of interesting characters. I liked the references to different fairytales throughout and that it didn't take itself too seriously. Some parts could use a little more development, like Melilot's relationship with her stepmother, but overall very whimsical with lots of queer rep.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC.

This retelling of the lesser-known Grimms Brothers tale, The Twelve Huntsman, from the perspective of the spurned fiancee, is a hilarious and clever tribute to the fairy tale genre. Princess Melilot is the stepdaughter of a powerful sorceress queen and the least powerful sorceress of her family. When she's sent to marry a king of another land, she arrives to find the kingdom under siege by strange monsters and protected by twelve curiously-similar huntsmen, along with a king rather reluctant to marry her and a gender essentialist talking lion. Melilot is determined to face this dilemma alone without the help of her meddling sisters or her terrifying stepmother--a choice she might soon come to regret.

Ryman's absurd plot is eclipsed only by a delightful cast of characters who take the queer subtext of The Twelve Huntsman and make it text. This book is fun, smart, and hooks the reader from start to finish. Fans of Tamsyn Muir's Floralinda and the Forty Flight Tower or Hannah Nicole Maehrer's Assistant to the Villain will love this fairy tale romp.

Unfortunately, this is a book I had to DNF. I spent weeks trying to get myself to power through it and finish it but I just could not make it through. I love the Idea and the details for the book, but I just was not the biggest fan of the writing style which made it extremely difficult for me to continue reading.

This Princess Kills Monsters contains an entire universe within its 416 pages. I felt as though I’d been dropped into a world ruled by fairytale logic, where history had already been made long before I arrived and would continue to unfold long after I left. I personally think that the book has an unconventional structure, which really enhances the sense of lifelike immersion. It's split into nine parts, and while each has a clear arc and is structurally sound, the format also helps derailing the story from hitting the expected plot points at the expected time frames, resulting in quite the atypical pacing. And though I was glad to finish the book (which I’ll explain later), I still felt a strange pang of loss when I finally put it down—a reaction that rarely happens to me.

The narration is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. Had me giggling! I also want to note that the humor remained tasteful in every situation, which can honestly be a challenging feat to pull off so kudos to the author.

Another element I adored is how inspired this book is. It cleverly mixes and matches pieces of fairy tales and legends to create its own perfectly rational worldbuilding. Every detail, from the quirky characters to the lush environments, feels lovingly put together. Masterfully crafted.

What also stood out to me, further strengthening the fairytale theme, was how every bit of backstory is given by having the characters recite legends (with varying degrees of reliability). This helped so much with moving the story along while alleviating the boredom of the usual “plot recap” and “motivational speech” tropes. I just found this approach brilliant.

Now, while I’m here gushing with praise, I do need to mention that the book feel long. In my opinion, the pacing remains even but also consistently lingers in every scene too long. I can’t point to a specific part and say, “this needs tightening” or “not needed, cut 50 pages here,” but I definitely felt the weight of those 416 pages like I was reading a War and Peace-length epic fantasy.

Overall, I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book if you, like me, enjoy fairytale retellings and political intrigue! The romance isn’t the book’s strongest point, but I also wouldn't want it to be/don't think it was supposed to be the book's focus. Go in for the well-crafter storyline, worldbuilding and the easy ha-has, enjoy the ride!

The style of writing irked me, this book did not feel finished in its feel and detracted me from being invested in the plot.

This Princess Kills Monsters is an absolute delight. It’s a modern fairy tale retelling that effortlessly mixes humor, magic, and adventure in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The tone is playful and irreverent, with plenty of clever fairy tale references that feel fresh and fun, rather than tired or predictable.

Princess Melilot is a standout character. She’s witty, relatable, and her voice is so distinct that it instantly pulls you into the story. Her character arc, as she learns to embrace her power and figure out what she wants in a world that keeps telling her what to do, is both satisfying and realistic. Plus, she navigates all the chaos around her with a sharp sense of humor that makes her incredibly likable.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its diverse and inclusive cast. From genderqueer huntsmen to a dragon-riding princess and her fairy wife, the characters are wonderfully varied and bring a lot of depth to the world. The LGBTQ+ representation feels natural and adds a layer of richness to the themes of breaking free from societal expectations and discovering your own path.

The only downside is that with so many characters, it can occasionally be hard to keep track of who’s who, especially during the action-packed scenes. But this is a minor issue, as the plot moves quickly and the world-building is creative enough to keep you engaged.

If you’re into fairy tale retellings that blend magic, humor, and personal growth, This Princess Kills Monsters is a must-read. It’s a fun, inclusive, and refreshing take on classic tales, with a protagonist you’ll root for and a story that’s both whimsical and heartfelt. Definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quirky, modern twist on a fairy tale adventure.