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.

Ty Herman’s This Princess Kills Monsters is a fun read with a beautiful cover. Fairy tail retellings have been a major staple of my 2025 reading. I enjoyed the author’s voice and comical opening regaling of how the tale is usually told. Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy ahead of publication!

What a quirky read! This Princess Kills Monsters takes well known (and slightly less well known) fairytales and spins them on their head. I never quite knew what to expect next while reading. The prose is sarcastic, whimsical, and over the top in all the best ways. It definitely feels like it could fit into the comedy genre very well while still remaining a cozy fantasy. I also enjoyed how queer this book was, definitely a breath of fresh air. Read this if you’re looking for a bit of fun in your next book!

I went back and forth on whether I was even enjoying this while I was reading it. Would be thinking about DNFing, and then get sucked back in. This happened multiple times before I decided to just finish it.

3.5 stars

This was a fun one! It’s fast paced, full of magic and adventure, and includes aspects from lots of different fairytales. It has everything from evil stepmothers to talking animals to true love’s kiss. The humor was a bit silly but I liked how it didn’t take itself too seriously. Melilot was a fun MC and I also loved her crazy family. There was a hint of romance which was very sweet, as well as queer rep and discussions of women’s rights. I would recommend this to fans of fairytale retellings or anyone looking for a cozy lighthearted YA read!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun take on the Brothers Grim fairy tales with a twist on the stories we all know an love. While the tales feel similar, this fresh take is totally unique with humor that will keep you laughing and going back to reread only to find yourself laughing once more. Definitely a must on your tbr!

Thank you to the Dial Press and Ry Herman for the gifted eARC of This Princess Kills Monsters! All opinions are my own. Also, S/O to Goodreads because I won this physical ARC in one of their giveaways💖

I just finished this ARC and it was AMAZING! I had such a fun time. The storyline might be adapted from well known (and some lesser known) fairytales, but, Ry Herman created something so unique and totally its own! The best way I can think of to describe the vibes here are: Think Shrek 2 meets Ella Enchanted but with elements of fairytales thrown in that are reminiscent of Once Upon a Broken Heart. AND THE BEST PART about this story? The feminism and queer representation! I mean come on the love interest is transgender y’all!

Get ready to be swept away by lands far-far away, 12 identical huntsmen, magical beasts galore, evil sorceresses, so much subterfuge that it’s ridiculously funny, and a princess that does in fact—kill monsters. I truly loved every second of it and I think you will too!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My review was posted to Goodreads and Instagram on 6/6/25.
My Amazon review will be posted on 6/17/25.

THIS PRINCESS KILLS MONSTERS is a fairytale retelling with the wit and charm of The Tenth Kingdom and The Princess Bride, but with a voice unique to Ry Herman.

From the very first page I was (and yet not at all) prepared for the humor and self awareness of the storytelling. Princess Melilot is wholly in on the secret that fairytales aren't all live, laugh, love. Not even close. In a world of sorceresses and monsters and evil stepmothers it's closer to steal, stab, strangle. And that every character responded to the oddites of the world - talking lion, magic mirror, giant monster hamster - with ready acceptance made it easy to smile and nod and immerse myself in the adventure. Okay the monster hamster is met with panic, but you follow me right?

At the heart of the story though is a quest for belinging and acceptance. Princess Melilot has a major case of middle-step-child syndrome. Major in that her siblings are more magical, more celebrated, more accepted by their Sorceress Queen Mother. Step(!) mother to Melilot. And she won't let you forget that. Her journey to a far off kingdom as a contacted bride is seen as both punishment and opportunity. Think Faramir on a fool's mission to retake Osgiliath. Melilot has the chance to prove her mettle but carries the fear of her stepmother's judgment far beyond the borders of her home.

So she tries her best. That includes running away whenever possible. Being rescued by a dozen identical huntsmen. Lying like a rug. And eventually trusting herself. Having the time, space, and sometimes life or death urgency for the sake of one you love will inspire the heart to be true and brave. I loved Melilot's gradual realization that she was capable of great magic and could accept help.

Does that make sense? If not, read the book. It's a romp. Epic battles included. Queer love. Riddles and curses and golems and and and. Theres so much goodness I'd love to read more from this world.

Thank you Netgalley and The Dial Press for the advance copy to read and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperbacks for the eARC!

This is a cute cozy fantasy. I think it would make an excellent audiobook, but I did find the voice a little tiresome in print. I liked the nods to fairy tales I was familiar with, and the idea as a whole was really fun. I think we could have used a bit more downtime between action sequences to build up the cozy vibe, but the main character is a badass, so all the action does make sense.

When Melilot’s father becomes the consort to the Queen/Sorceress of Skalla, she gains a new stepmother who of course isn’t very fond of Melilot. The queen sends Meliliot on a quest to a faraway kingdom to marry a king she’s never met. While on her journey her carriage is attacked by spider-wolves and she is rescued by the 12 Huntsman. She lies about her identity and is escorted to Tailliz where she will meet King Gervase and find herself is a much bigger predicament.

This Princess Kills Monsters is a medium stakes cozy fantasy with a mashup of multiple fairytales. The characters are enjoyable, the world building isn’t overwhelming, and the chapters are short keeping you engaged.

I loved the humor in this book. Every few pages I found myself giggling. The fairytale references added to the humor and I enjoyed picking them out. Ry Herman did a fantastic job creating a diverse fantasy world. The queer representation in This Princess Kills Monsters makes it a perfect read to add to your June TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC opportunity. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun read! Charming, witty, filled to the brim with affectionate references, and delightfully queer, there wasn't a single boring moment, and I sped through this book in only a few days! Melilot was a fun protagonist to follow, with her struggles as the least magical middle child to a family of sorceresses, and her arc growing into herself and reconnecting with her family was heartwarming. Her whirlwind romance with Sam was adorable, and I enjoyed their banter and mutual story-telling. Also, the way stories were told in this book were charmingly irreverent and one of my favorite parts; I could listen to Sam and Melilot retell fairytales for an entire book.

Fun concept, clever satire—but the execution didn’t fully enchant me.

This Princess Kills Monsters has all the ingredients for a sharp, subversive fairy-tale adventure: a fed-up princess with a barely-useful magical ability, gender-bending twists, and a parade of bizarre creatures and suitors straight out of Grimmland. Ry Herman clearly set out to parody classic tropes with humor and heart—but while the idea is charming, the delivery sometimes feels muddled.

🏹 What worked:
Melilot’s snarky voice. She’s over it in the best way—tired of being rescued, tired of royal politics, and tired of wearing impractical gowns. Her sarcastic inner monologue carries much of the book’s humor.

Creative worldbuilding. Talking lions, cursed huntsmen, gender tests, and fairy-tale absurdity galore. It’s delightfully weird in all the right places.

Queer rep. The love interests, fluid identities, and subversions of heteronormative fairy-tale endings are thoughtful and refreshing.

🕸️ Why it didn’t quite hit 5-star magic:
Pacing issues. The plot hops from peril to peril with little time to emotionally invest in any one character or relationship—including the budding romances, which felt more conceptual than chemistry-driven.

Too many moving parts. The satire occasionally overwhelms the story, making the heart of Melilot’s journey—finding agency and love—feel secondary to the absurdity.

Jokes sometimes wear thin. While clever, some gags are repeated or dragged out, undercutting the wit with repetition.

🧚 Verdict:
This Princess Kills Monsters is a quirky, queer fairy tale romp that’s sure to please readers who enjoy offbeat humor and fractured fables. But for me, it was more amusing than memorable—an entertaining detour, just not one I’d revisit. A solid 3/5 for creativity and voice, even if the spell didn’t fully stick.

A fairy-tale mash up that is better than the original (sorry Grimm Bros)!

You can look forward to:
- Wicked stepmother
- Princess That Was in a Tower (don’t worry, she free’d herself)
- Magical Artifacts
- Animal Helpers
- Sorceress Drunk on Her Own Power
- The Power of True Love’s Kiss

Melilot is the middle child, and only non-biological daughter to her step-mother, the Wicked Queen of Skalla. Living with a powerful sorceress and two other powerful daughters means that sometimes (a lot of the time) Melilot’s own powers seem sub-par. Especially since her specialty is magical hair growth, and her sisters tend to butt in on her quests, to save them the trouble of inevitably rescuing her (it’s out of love, I promise).

And what happens to middle-princesses who are still single? She gets sent off to distant lands to marry a king she’s never met.

Ry Herman’s exploration of the original fairytales is well written, well researched, and well-everything! I devoured this book, picked it up and sat myself down on a comfy couch, and did not get back up until I got to the happy ending (it’s a fairytale, what else did you expect???).

Reading this book felt a lot like watching Shrek. BEFORE YOU STOP READING: THIS IS A HIGH COMPLIMENT! Shrek is a Classic Film, filled with incredible fairytale references, an almost meta like treatment of its plot, and amazing humor, wit, and banter. This book has all that!!! This Princess Kills Monsters is also less sarcastic and derisive of the magical adventures Melilot finds herself in, which I much prefer.

If you are looking for spice, don’t look here. I’d call this book YA-adjacent, where mature content is referenced but it isn’t the focus and nothing explicit occurs on page. But the romance!?! So cute!!! It made me remember that feeling of being a teenager and liking someone so much, and everything feels super complicated. Except in this case, it is super complicated, because someone is trying to kill Melilot.

Ry Herman did a beautiful job of creating a diverse fantasy world, including characters of different species, races, gender expression, and sexuality, but also making it feel totally normal. As a queer person, that’s how I like my fantasy worlds, because the real world is hard enough. Thank you to NetGalley and Ry Herman for the opportunity to read an advance copy and share my honest opinions!

This is a fun, quirky tale about the adventures of a princess who is sent to a distant kingdom for an unwanted marriage. Ry Herman weaves many well-known fairy tales through the plot of this story, but focuses mainly on the lesser known tale of The Twelve Hunstmen. This version of the story explores the lengths people are willing to go to to keep those they love from harm and the hidden abilities that come to light when it matters most. I really enjoyed following along with Ry Herman’s humorous, brave, and loveable cast of characters. This was definitely the lighthearted and entertaining read I needed while dealing with life’s many stresses!
Thank you to NetGally and Random House for an early Galley copy of the book!

I want to thank everyone for this early gifted copy of This Princess Kills Monsrers.

This is a very interesting book, mashing together so many different fairytales that we’ve come to know and love over the years. I was very interested at the beginning, and found that it was a little hard to track what was going on. But then, unfortunately, I felt like I lot my interest in the book and it never really pulled me back in. I’m not sure why.

Still a fun concept for a book!

This was absolutely delightful.

Let's start off with first impressions: how stunning is this cover?! And unlike some other times I've judged a book by its cover, it only got better from there!

Melilot is a semi-magical girl with a wicked stepmother queen and two sisters she adores. When her stepmother shifts her focus from neverending, impossible quests to an arranged marriage in a neighboring kingdom, Melilot reluctantly obliges. Maybe it'll work out and she'll find a partner like her sisters have. Unfortunately, on the way she gets attacked by nonsense creatures and then sort of saved (?) by twelve identical huntsmen who end up not being what they seem. She tells them she's just the advance party because hey, somebody just tried to assassinate the king's betrothed so she can't be that until she figures out why. Until then, she's going to learn about the kingdom, try to figure out why the women are in seclusion, and endeavor to lay low. Spoiler alert: that doesn't go very well. What ensues is a queer, shenanigan-laden, monster-filled adventure with some falling in love along the way.

Rich in fairytale lore, hilarious and sarcastic, with powerful, complex, flawed, interesting characters. And I loved the side theme of seeing our parents and people who might have seemed villains in our lives as full, rich, complicated people. For fans of Running Close to the Wind and How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying.

This officially publishes mid-June and I highly recommend grabbing it for summer/gay reading. Enjoy!

*Received as a free ARC*
This was delightful actually. I didn't really know what I was going into, but I liked it a lot. It was extremely zany, but not too zany. Merilot and Sam were excellent. The family vibes were also good (except when they were intentionally not). I know exactly who I'm recommending this too.

If you're looking for a fun, whimsical fairytale kind of read for Pride Month, look no further than This Princess Kills Monsters! This is a retelling of The Twelve Huntsmen which I'm not familiar with myself, but there is a lot of details about the story within this book. And it's not just that fairytale - there are PLENTY of fairytales that make their way into this story in varying ways. I liked the way that it was clear how absurd these fairytales are, and made me chuckle quite a few times at how strange fairytales can be!

I enjoyed the romance between Mellilot and Sam and the relationship that Mellilot had with her sisters. All of the characters were super fun to read about and relatable, and the world was SUPER queer-normative (bi FMC, princesses marrying princesses, and a bunch of trans characters including the love interest).

Overall I had a really good time reading this and highly recommend it - plus the cover is gorgeous and don't you want to display that on your shelves??

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for early copy for review*

So unfortunately the writing style did not work for me. It felt like there was to many fairy tales and nothing was developed. The characters felt flat and bland. The plot was to convoluted for me. I love the thought of exploring obscure fairy tales, but disliked that there was to many shoved inside this book. However, a reader may enjoy this if they prefer a complicated plot centered around fairy tales.

Entertaining and fun, this novel is a pastiche in that it's both a fairytale and pokes fun at the genre.

I will admit I didn't know the story of the huntsmen before this, so that part sort of went over my head, though I appreciated the other references to fairy tale stories. The gender-bending aspect and how queer everyone was fantastic. This book even features a trans man love interest, which we don't see enough of in books.

The world building is quite fun, as every sort of fairy tale creature exists, so you're not sure what will come up next, whether it's girls turning into lakes or magic mirrors or dragons. The world was not complex enough for my liking, in terms of how the various kingdoms interacted, but fairytales themselves are notably similar in that regard.

The writing is also very easy to engage with, as the style is pared down and straightforward, with fun dialogue. However, I will admit that there's a godawful phonetic speech for one character that was a pain in the as to read.

Unfortunately, the characters I found a bit flat. There were a lot of them and quite a few sections of characters telling fairy tales to one another, so I didn't feel I knew them that well. I didn't dislike them, but I can't say much about them. I also found the main villain’s motives were incredibly flimsy, so it was hard to find the tension at times, given I wasn't entirely sure what the stakes were.

Likewise, while romance was a big focus of the story, there was nothing surprising in that regard. The couple seemed pretty much a couple from the get-go, so I didn't really find their love story all that compelling. It seemed the book was heading in a love triangle direction for a while, but that petered out ... not like I'm complaining, as I hate love triangles.

Overall, though, the story is very light and fun. If you like different takes on fairy tales, it's definitely worth a read.