Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman is a first person-POV fantasy remixing fairy tales, particularly The Twelve Huntsmen. Princess Melilot is ordered to marry a king she has never met and who is madly in love with a princess from a different land. But the woman the king loves has put on a pair of trousers and is coming to get her man while Melilot is caught in the middle.

I feel like ‘remix’ or ‘fractured’ is a better term for this than ‘retelling’ or ‘reimaging.’ A lot of fairy tales are blended together and then bent into new shapes in a humorous manner, such as the belief that all princesses are sensitive to peas and spindles being outlawed in Melilot’s homeland and all clothes are spun by elves or made by animals and are extremely fragile. A lot of stories about the characters’ pasts are told in a fairy tale style and the inspiration is obvious for a lot of them, such as Rapunzel and Snow White.

Melilot herself has an origin story very similar to Rapunzel and certain details that appear in some adaptations are poked at, such as Melilot’s stepfamily being a royal family living next to a poor family. I think that this works well because Ry Herman clearly has a lot of knowledge and love for fairy tales, but if you want fairy tales to be played straight and in an earnest manner, this is probably not for you. The characters themselves point out the more ridiculous bits, almost like small children when being told a bedtime story and there is something very charming about that.

Of all the characters, Melilot is the most like a straight man but even she is so deep in the nonsense that she can’t always see it. Reading her try to explain how her kingdom works but everyone in this new kingdom is nodding along in confusion helps to highlight this. Melilot has her own issues with her stepfamily and she seems aware of fairy tale tropes, which also makes this something of a meta. I think this sits in a very similar space to Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan where it’s funny, it’s self-aware, it pokes at things, but it’s a love letter instead of making a mockery of the genre.

I would recommend this to fans of fractured fairy tales and readers looking for a humorous take on fairy tales

This book follows Princess Melilot, who has never really felt like she fit in. Since her father's death, she has been raised by her step-mother, who isn't evil but is certainly not sunshine and rainbows. Melilot is not as talented as her two half-sisters and is getting tired of going on seemingly pointless missions for her step-mother. When she is told she will be married to the King of Tailliz, she thinks maybe this could be a chance to start fresh, even if the circumstances are maybe not ideal. She is interrupted on her journey by an attack from strange creatures. But she is thankfully saved by a group of nearly-identical huntsman who happen to work for the king. She doesn't completely trust them, so she assumes a fake identity, and plans to deal with the details of her real identity if she makes it to the castle safely. But there are many secrets surrounding the Taillizan throne and nothing goes to plan. Does Melilot have what is takes to save a kingdom, and find a path forward that makes sense for her life?

This was a very fun read. The basis is the tale of the twelve huntsmen (of which I was not familiar) but it also references many other familiar stories, and puts a unique twist on many fairy tale conventions. There is lots of humor, and it fits in effortlessly and it never feels like they are working too hard for the joke. I laughed out loud several times. There's a lot of great queer representation as well. Definitely would recommend this one!

Thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the eARC for review!

1/5 stars: This is Herman's 2SLGBTQIA+ Fantasy Romance Retelling (The Twelve Huntsmen) stand-alone that follows a princess with a mostly useless magical talent who's commanded to marry the king of a distant land she’s never met. She soon finds herself facing near-constant attempts on her life, dealing up against a dozen identical masked heroes, a talking lion that sets bewildering gender tests and a king, the man she's supposed to marry, who can't recognize his true love. All while fighting her growing attraction to not only one of the huntsmen but her fiance’s extremely attractive sister. She'll have to work fast to unravel the mysteries and rescue herself from peril or kingdoms will fall. Worse, she could end up married to someone she doesn’t love. While Herman's writing and character work are well done with plenty of whimsical, humorous flare, I lost interest in this book; leading me to DNF it at 53%.

I received this eARC thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Dial Press!

Okay, this book was really fun lol. It was ridiculous in the best way because it made sense within the world. This isn't really a retelling, but it has bits and pieces from all these fairy tales incorporated into the story. I guess the basis for the story is The Twelve Huntsman, but as standard for me, I'm unfamiliar with that fairytale. Either way, it made sense for this and it worked.

Honestly, it's hard to explain this because generally it's about a princess being sent off to be married and she ends up intertwined in this plot to kill the king but it's also sort of about ...finding what you're good at and establishing boundaries with your parents while trying to make them proud. Sort of. I don't know if this was meant to have a "deeper meaning" but that's what I took from it.

This book was super queer too which honestly made it more fun. It wasn't hammered in or overexaggerated, it just existed in the story again within the context of the fairytale world you're like yeah....I can see that lol.

I don't usually like humor, so I would say some of the dialogue fell flat for me because it was a little corny but overall reading this was fun and the world felt fleshed out. I can totally see this being turned into a tv show lol. So yeah, it was a good time and I'm happy I got an arc 😂

This book had a lot of potential! I was very excited to read it, however, I found this book very disappointing. I felt like it was trying to cover so many things while also completing none of them. I did not find myself caring for any of the characters and the moments of romance or intrigue were way to rushed. The ending was also rushed with her stepmother. Overall, I enjoyed the premise but was disappointed in many aspects of the book.

This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman was just the book I needed to help get me out of my reading slump. It's been a while since I've read a book in a single day, something I used to do regularly, but this book was just so much fun I couldn't put it down.

Princess Melilot's stepmother, the queen of Skalla and a powerful sorceress, commands her to marry the king of the nearby kingdom of Tailliz. Melilot knows from past experience, that to disobey her stepmother is futile, so she agrees, but on her way she is attacked by spider wolves (not wolf spiders), and rescued by 6 huntsmen who look suspiciously alike.

A retelling of the Brothers Grimm's story of The Twelve Huntsman, this book is hilariously funny from beginning to end. But it's also adventurous, nerve-wracking, and romantic (but not overly so, so it doesn't take over the story). And although it's based on one fairytale, I think there are references to every fairytale I've ever read in this book.

Melilot has a difficult relationship with her stepmother, but unlike most fairytales, she has a wonderful relationship with her stepsisters, and they are very supportive of her.

This was just a wonderful read, if you're into fantasy retellings of your favourite fairytales, or just a lover of humourous fantasy, I think you'll enjoy this book. I'll be looking for more books from this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a lot of fun (and funny)! I really enjoyed the characters and finding bits of fairy tales thrown in the mix. The queer representation was great (and NORMAL) and while present, it was not the focus of the story. There were sections that were a little slow, but I was able to put it down and pick it up and jump back in the story without a problem. I would love to see more of Melilot's story, although she's been through quite a lot so she deserves a rest!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I originally picked up this book for the fantasy aspect. But the main character is fantastic! It really is nice to see a female main character that is kind of swash buckling. Super cute story.

I am in awe of this story. I laughed, I cried, and I was judged by my wife every single time- not that I cared. I was enjoying the book too much.

Melilot seems very much like a real person, thanks to the way the author wrote her character. She has insecurities like everyone else, feels emotions so strongly that they seem to consume her at times, and she was irrational about her family in the way only a stepchild could be. (Having a stepfather with a big family, I fully understood where she was coming from... but as an outside perspective, you also get to see the other side of it.)

I think it's really cool that the author used misogynistic fairytales to take a feminist stance, and the queer rep was AMAZING. I love it when it's just considered completely normal in a book world for LGBTQ+ to have normal human rights, without the author going to extreme lengths to explain that this is the case. As a lesbian, that always stands out to me. It makes me want to read more of their stories in the future. I really, truly hope that they explore more of this world that they created. There are plenty of interesting characters that I think deserve a more detailed story!

I can't wait for the book to be available in physical form, because I want to read it over and over again.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This was absolutely adorable. I read it in one sitting! It’s cozy, hilarious, and completely unhinged in the best way. I laughed out loud more than once. There’s a sprinkle of magic, a dash of feminism, and queer joy that just exists without needing to be explained. Just queer characters living and loving.

This is a feminist and queer retelling of The Twelve Huntsmen. Princess Melilot is fierce, clever, and determined. She’s been tasked with marrying a king she’s never met. On the way there, she gets attacked by spider-wolves, rescued by twelve masked huntsmen, and people keep trying to kill her. It’s a lot.

The romance could have been a bit more developed, but it didn’t take away from the fun. Don’t take yourself or the book too seriously. Just enjoy the ride.

💖 What You Can Expect
• Queer fairy tale retelling
• Cozy fantasy vibes
• Talking Lion
• A kinda evil stepmom
• Magical quest

🗓 Pub Date: June 17, 2025
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I loved the talking gender-obsessed lion, the sassy magic mirror, the sense of humor, and the nods to other fairy tales. Plus it was nice to see an adaptation of a lesser known fairy tale that hasn’t yet been Disney-fied. However, the pacing was inconsistent, making this a slow read for me. After about the 25% mark, much of the story meandered without advancing the plot much. Things picked up around the 75% mark when the identity of the villain was finally revealed. And I was immediately team badass antagonist.

Other than the lion and mirror, Melilot’s sisters and the king’s sister were the highlight for me and I wish they were featured more in the story. I also found Melilot’s stepmother intriguing. Melilot herself was okay, but she didn’t really have as distinctive a voice as I prefer from protagonists. And I felt like neither the king nor the twelve huntsmen had discernible personalities (the latter had different special skills from each other, but that was about it), so I wish those characters could have been fleshed out a little more. I also didn’t feel attached enough to the characters involved to truly be invested in the romantic subplot (more of an “eh, good for them” than feeling desperate for them to get together).

I’d recommend this to fans of The Enchanted Forest Chronicles and The Tough Guide to Fantasyland who don’t mind a slower book.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

This Princess Kills Monsters

I think this may very well become one of my favorite books I have read this year. Mixing and mashing up fairy tales? A protagonist whose loud mouth has gotten her into more trouble than she cares to admit? Overbearing family, a not so evil stepmother? I’m sold, immediately sold.

Princess Melilot feels rather…useless. The middle child of her family with no magic other than growing out her hair, she’s unaccomplished. Not a brave warrior like her older sister. Animals don’t love her like her baby sister. And yet her stepmother continues to send her out on ridiculous quests, completing even more ridiculous tasks. The last thing she expects upon returning from her latest quest is a summons from the queen. She’s been selected to marry the king of Tailliz, a neighboring kingdom with a monster problem.

Melilot discovers she may have bitten off more than she can chew when she’s rescued by six identical huntsmen, who all have strange powers. Even stranger is that there are six more of them in the palace. As she gets closer to her new companions, pretending to be a handmaid, she’s suspected of being a wicked sorceress, but the true evil power is lurking in their midst.

This Princess Kills Monsters is mostly based on the Grimm tale The Twelve Huntsmen, but it has sprinkling of other tales throughout! My favorite detail is how Melilot is this universe’s version of Rapunzel, but she saves herself. Equal parts ridiculous and enchanting, I adored this read so much!

Thank you to Dial Press and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This Princess Kills Monsters releases Jun 17, so make sure to preorder it wherever books are sold near you!

Review will be up on socials soon :))

THIS PRINCESS KILLS MONSTERS by Ry Herman

This book is a queer satirical retelling of the Grimm's Brothers' fairy tale, The Twelve Huntsmen. Princess Melilot has been ordered by her mother to marry a king that she's never met. While on her way to her husband-to-be, she runs into twelve eerily similar-looking masked huntsmen who rescue her from a spider-wolf attack. Melilot must contend with multiple attacks on her life and her growing attraction to one of the huntsmen, all while unraveling the mysteries of this new kingdom.

This was an enchantingly fun read! It made me laugh out loud, had lots of action and magic, and just didn't take itself very seriously. It also incorporated things from various other fairy tales besides The Twelve Huntsmen which was fun.

I honestly just really enjoyed reading this book. The bi + trans rep and queer joy was wonderful to read. The characters, the world and the writing all completely won me over. Melilot especially was a strong and witty FMC, and a joy to follow throughout the story.

I highly recommend this one to anybody looking for a lighthearted and cozy fantasy read! This Princess Kills Monsters comes out on June 16. It's the perfect Pride Month read so make sure to pick up a copy! 🙌🏾

A big thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the eARC.

The prologue of this book started off as a classic fairytale, and then hooked you and threw you right into the body of the book.

Melilot is a princess, a step-daughter with mommy issues, and a sorceress coming into her own. She is sent off to marry a prince, but problems abound, including strange monsters in the woods, 12 identical huntsmen who may or may not be women, an evil sorceress, and a talking lion.

This book references allll the fairytales while telling its own, and each little Easter egg is a joy to discover. You basically open up a box which explodes in confetti and little surprises and balloons and all the party supplies in a splash of color and wonder. If you like that idea, this book is for you. If you're looking for a more sedate party, then maybe this book isn't your vibe, because sedate - this book is not.

There's good pacing, good grammar, no spice but sweet romance. Some of the fight scenes got a bit long and skippable, and there is an HEA.

I am giving it 3 stars because although it is an engaging romp and a great story, it felt a little like I couldn't get off the teacups ride at Disney. But if you like the teacups ride, you'll probably love this book.

I received an ARC through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a complimentary early release copy of This Princess Kills by Ry Herman.

This Princess Kills Monsters took me a while to read, I thought about dnfing it a few times but I pushed through because there were some stuff that did hold my interest and I wanted to see where things would go. The start of the story is rather slow but I did like seeing Melilot’s magical step sisters, I enjoyed the relationship between the sisters, the magical elements, and the whole stepmother thing. The dynamics with Melilot’s family is interesting to read about and I like the direction that the story went in with those. Some of my favorite parts of the story had be the flashback/story book told chapters, while they were long I found them to be enjoyable though it was a little annoying to have present day characters interrupt whoever was telling the story at the time.

The story didn’t really pick up for me until about the fifty percent mark of the book. I have mixed feelings about Melilot’s character as I felt her among others held so much potential but they just felt a bit flat. For a good percentage of the book it feels like Melilot isn’t really doing much of anything but existing during scenes. Even when things pick up a bit more action wise I still felt disappointed by how things had played out with her. The love interest for Merlilot was a good one, I liked the love interest and thought that the two of them had great potential but I wouldn’t say that we got much of a romance between them. It’s made pretty obvious early on who Melilot was going to end up with, while I’m happy with who I’m disappointed that we didn’t get more between them. This story does have a twist that I didn’t catch onto and I liked that twist as well, the twist is what really kept my attention for this story.

I feel like the big reason that this story didn’t partially work for me is because it’s satire, I was aware of this going into This Princess Kills Monsters but I don’t partially think this type of writing works for me. The story tries to be funny & amusing, and it is sometimes but some scenes, plot details, and dialogue lose some of the mood because of it. The main plot line of this story is about the huntsmen’s and what’s going on with them. The cover for This Princess Kills Monsters is so pretty! The artist did an awesome job! Overall rating a 2.5.

I have to say that I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and I was beyond pleasantly surprised. It was funny, the characters were lovable immediately, the plot was interesting, and the references to old fairytales were well-placed and well done. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this reading experience.

Other important things to note were that the female main character was strong but real and not always right or innocent in everything, the relationships were complicated, the queer representation was portrayed in a way that hit that delicate balance between being real and true without making the entire story revolve around it in a tokenizing way.

If you love complicated family (found and otherwise), heartwarming romance, hilarious misadventures, fairytales, and books that move at a good pace and don't make queer identities tragic or reduce them to plot devices, there will be several things to be found in this story for you.

I really loved this one. I spent a lot of time in this one, soaking it in and getting excited every time I read a chapter.

March and April were tough months for me and this book was the bright light I needed to get through them. Not the normal type of review that I do, but nevertheless, I feel like the story invokes this sense of whimsy, delight, bed-time storytelling, and humor.

Escapism with a cast of interesting and compelling characters. I loved our main heroine who sucks at being a sorceress and has a semi-evil stepmother. I mean, what kind of stepmom sends you to another kingdom to marry a random stranger?

Evil.

And the monsters. A spider wolf. I have a new fear unlocked. We have queer romance, characters telling their backstories as if they were fables, and sometimes accidental drownings.

I need more in this world and more from this author. It was fantastic. I will be pressing it wherever I can!

I devoured this book in one sitting, and it finally smashed through my reading slump! I loved the way Herman combined humor and heart in this gorgeous fairy tale retelling. I wish one or two things were fleshed out just a bit more (Melilot’s journey with her magic and her stepmother) but I adored the romance and the eccentric ensemble cast. I also loved the book’s sense of humor- I found myself giggling clicking through pages. I am very excited to dig through Herman’s backlog! Thank you for the arc!

This was such a fun fun book. It gave me similar vibes to Assistant to the Villain with the witty commentary. I really loved every aspect of the story, and the unique twist on a fairytale! Full review will be posted close to release date.

Oh this was SO fun! Parts of this has me cracking up so much. I can totally understand why a lot of people wouldn't like this but it worked so well for me. I loved the retelling aspect because it put such a new twist on The Twelve Huntsmen. Honestly I cannot wait to see what Ry Herman comes out with next especially if it's a fantasy or retelling.