This book was a hoot and a half! I am a ho for absurd, deadpan, whimsical humor, and I love fairy tales, so I gobbled it up. It was so serious about being unserious that it looped back around to serious.

I really liked how the author centered the fairy tale as a narrative device and how they were able to weave deep topics (familial relationships, queerness) into the story.

A unique and chaotic adventure filled with comedy, action, and romance! This book felt like a cross between the Princess Bride and Ella Enchanted. Herman's ability to weave in multiple fairytales and references was amazing. Melilot's narration set a fun and spunky tone for the book, I couldn't help but root for her. The setting felt creative and elaborate. Not only did this story pay homage to classic tales, but it brought so much more to these stories.

I really enjoyed this fairytale with a twist. I wasn't familiar with the tale of the 12 Huntsmen, which is a thing apparently. That being said, there were a lot of fun easter eggs throughout the book that alluded to different fairytales. Melilot is a not a very princessy princess, and her stepmother usually has her doing odd jobs and adventure missions until one day she informs her that she is to be married to a random prince. Melilot leaves on her solo adventure, but soon runs into trouble with monsters and is rescued by the "huntsmen". What follows is a different kind of love story and fairytale, full of found family love.

Melilot is often sent on dangerous quests by her stepmother, then must be rescued by her more magically talented stepsisters. Now she is commanded to marry a king she’s never met. En route, spider-wolves attack. Twelve masked huntsmen rescue her, but there are other assassination attempts, a talking lion giving out gender tests, and a king who doesn't recognize her when she puts on a pair of trousers. Even worse, she is attracted to one of the huntsmen and her fiancé’s attractive sister. If Melilot can't rescue herself from peril, kingdoms will fall. Worse, she could end up married to someone she doesn’t love.

The Kingdom of Skella is laced with magic and ruled by a powerful Sorceress, Melilot's stepmother. She's the middle of three girls and not as good as her sisters in magic, and always feels less than. She's selected to marry and is attacked en route. She pretends to be her own handmaid, and realizes that this new kingdom doesn't have magic. They find her experiences and past quests impossible, though the twelve identical huntsmen all have different talents, such as heightened vision, the ability to blow things over with a nostril exhalation, or causing a snowstorm if not wearing a hat. Tradition is important, especially to the magical talking lion that serves as the advisor for the kingdom for generations. Someone is targeting the royal family, and Melilot is tangled in the entire mess. She's drawn to Princess Angelique, but more so to Sam, one of the twelve hunters.

I love the mention of myths and fairy tales that pepper Skella and its environs. It was fun to pick out the mentions and see how it was adapted into the novel. I also enjoyed seeing Melilot grow over the course of the story. She resented her stepmother from the start, and feeling weak compared to her sisters, but never saw what she could do. By the end of the novel, she has a greater appreciation for herself and understands the dynamics of her family much better. We also see the truth that healing isn't just rebuilding destroyed castle walls and saying someone is free, it's asking what people actually need and trying to get them there. Melilot might be the discarded fiancée of the Twelve Huntsman story, but she's ready for her own happily ever after.

This mishmash of fairy tales breathes new life in to the world of fractured fairytales. Pulling threads from both well known and niche fairytales, this charming tale of a princess finally finding her own power, with a little help from true love, is perfect for those who grew up reading Gail Carson Levine and Alex Flinn books.

Skalla is a very magical kingdom with a sorcerer for a queen. When the king of a very not magical kingdom nearby asks to marry one of Skalla's princesses, Melilot, as the only single princess, is chosen by her stepmother the queen to fill the role. Which is not something Melilot wants to do, but no one says no to the queen. So off she goes to fulfill this very simple task - that turns out to be anything but.

Along the way she'll meet some new friends, fall in love with someone other than the king (oops), and finally realize her true potential. So long as she isn't killed strange monsters first.

this book was so much fun! i usually don’t always love breaking of the fourth wall, but it worked so well with the fairytale vibe of the book. princess Melilot is a hot mess honestly, but i loved how she pushed against what was expected of her. as a satire on “the twelve huntsmen” i think this was successful, it knows what type of book it is and plays to those strengths in the actual story. there’s so many monsters and characters, the romance was cute too. if you’re looking for an entertaining read with queer characters, read this.

This book is an absolute delight and will be one I read multiple times!

The story is told from the point of view of the Princess of the Mountain, Melilot. She is the least magical of her three siblings. All of whom live with her “evil” sorceress step-mother who sends them all on impossible quests constantly.

The book has good chapter lengths and enjoyably witty chapter titles. The tale is slightly reminiscent of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, in that they both bring cozy fantasy vibes to the forefront.

This story is thick with adventure, mystery, fairy-tale retellings, fun magic, lovable characters and more than one delightful love story.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group & NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Go into this book expecting a silly, sarcastic , fun ride, and you won't be disappointed! I had a great time while reading this. The story was funny, fast-paced, had fairy tales woven throughout the fairy tale, had a good plot, and really pulled you in. I think it's the kind of book where you will know from the first chapter of you're going to like it or not.

The only issue I had was the character development. I wish we got a little more out of each character, kind of like in The Princess Bride where you developed such a connection with the characters as well as were enthralled with the plot which you can definitely see The Princess Bride influence throughout this book. I am definitely interested in reading more work by the author, and I hope we can get more stories from some of the secondary characters as well!

I adored this book. This Princess Kills Monsters is sharp, funny, and full of heart- exactly the kind of fairy tale remix I love. It weaves together clever, self-aware nods to classics like The Seven Swans, Rapunzel, and Rumpelstiltskin, but never feels like it’s relying on nostalgia. Instead, it uses those familiar elements to build something entirely its own.

The humor absolutely landed for me. It's smart and snappy without undercutting the emotional moments. And the queer representation is outstanding: affirming, integrated into the story, and full of joy. At its core, this is a book about embracing who you are, especially when you don’t fit the mold. Its message about being different- and being okay with that - hit me in just the right place

If you like fairy tales that break the rules, a found-family vibe, and stories that balance wit with warmth, I highly recommend picking this one up.

*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

A sorceress princess who feels that her talents are lacking when compared to those of her sisters, particularly in the eyes of her 'evil' sorceress stepmother. A misogynistic giant lion that acts as a valued advisor to the prince of a faraway and troubled land. Numerous classic fairy tale references. Oh, and twelve mysterious huntsman. Interest piqued? If yes, then the offbeat story told in, THIS PRINCESS KILLS MONSTERS, is for you.

I quite enjoyed this book. I found the writing to be witty and at times laugh-out-loud funny. I did, however, feel that there were issues with pacing that would, at times, take me out of the story. That said, my curiosity about what happens next brought me right back.

If, like me, you grew up loving GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES, you'd likely enjoy this book. If you enjoy modern day fairy tales, you'd likely enjoy this book. If you think fairy tales are absolutely ridiculous, you'd likely enjoy this book. In short, I'd recommend this book to a variety of readers

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House
Publishing for the advanced digital copy of this book, My reviews will be posted to my socials on June 16, 2025, (Fable and Goodreads)

(posted o storygraph on june 16 2025)
This story was a blast! if you can, go in blind like I did (I forgot the synopsis by the time I started reading). Melilot is a sorcerer with very little magic, surrounded by her very powerful sisters and stepmother. That wouldn't be a problem if she wasn't sent on missions by her stepmother all the time, with said missions requiring much more than good luck. Her most recent mission, marrying a prince from another kingdom, isn't one she particularly wants to do, but defying her stepmother is worse. And so the adventure begins.
The fairytale vibes of this book were so fun to read, with many events being shown as stories instead of normal typical flashbacks. There are a bunch of characters in this book, which usually terrifies me since I'm bad with names, but it wasn't too bad at all. Many secondary characters are easily distinguishable even with their smaller roles, and the main characters are very well presented, which made things easy to follow for me.
I was not expecting the romance pairing we got in this story, it was actually better than I anticipated! I don't want to spoil anything, but the couple (whoever they are hehe) were a great fit and it was a blast seeing their relationship grow.
It took me quite a while to figure out the « bad guy », which is always nice since I like the surprise. All in all I really enjoyed this story, it was different from any retellings I read before with all the different Easter eggs all throughout.
(LGBTQ+ rep: pan, trans man, gender fluid, lesbian)

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc. These are all my honest thoughts and opinions.

Looking for a funny, fresh, feel-good fantasy adventure this Pride month? One with incredible LGBTQ+ rep woven so seamlessly it feels like it’s always been there? I can’t think of a better pick than Ry Herman’s 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.

From the first page, I was swept up by how clever and delightfully irreverent this story is. It’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦.—if it were unbearably smart and quietly profound, with layers of genuine heart beneath the humor. A fairytale retelling by definition, but nothing about it feels rehashed.

Built around the Grimm brothers’ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘯 (with clever nods to Rapunzel and others), this tale follows Melilot, a princess sent off to marry a foreign king—only to be rejected when one of his huntsmen is revealed as his ex-fiancé in disguise. On her journey, Melilot meets and falls for Sam, another of those huntsmen, and together they face down a mysterious plague of monstrous creatures that threatens the kingdom.

Herman writes with respectful irreverence, embedding retellings within the narrative that feel both faithful and gloriously cheeky.

And oh, I adored Melilot. Her internal monologue is chaotic, clever, and so painfully relatable—like Emily Wilde’s brutal intellect meets My Lady Jane wit. A chronic overthinker, she’s a princess plagued by self-doubt, forever in the shadow of magical sisters and clashing with her stepmother. Her journey to claim her worth is deeply moving.

And Sam? Yes, he has superhuman strength, but it’s his softness that shines. He shows up for Melilot again and again, helping her see what makes her special. I just loved how beautifully hopeful their ending was.

What makes this book sing is how every character shines in their own right. The prince may be charming, but he’s easily the least interesting of the bunch. The true MVP? Melilot’s sister-in-law, Gnoflwhogir (say that three times fast)—she’s got Geraldine Grus’s chaotic energy, but trades the detail-heavy monologues for blunt, side-splitting one-liners.

𝑶𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆:
✨ Laugh-out-loud funny—I was cackling throughout

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ rep embedded in its DNA—including a beautifully written trans MMC

👑 Genuine plot twists that took me by surprise (especially that one)

🫶 No evil stepsisters here—just sisters who love and choose Melilot

🧙 A stepmother who’s more try-hard single parent than evil sorceress
🫑 Romantic, but the spice is off screen

🧵 Bonus shoutout to brother-in-law Liam and his oddly specific, always-relevant battle preparedness

With 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, Herman crafts a love letter to folklore—one that’s smart, funny, and full of heart. I devoured it all the way through the author’s note, where they honor the uncredited women behind the Grimm tales.

𝑻𝑳;𝑫𝑹: Poignant. Witty. Wildly funny. Heartfelt. I just adored this one. I was laughing, kicking my feet, and gasping at every twist and turn. Best LGBTQ+ rep I’ve seen in fantasy yet. Incredible, unforgettable side characters.

THANK YOU to Dial Press / Random House for the eARC on NetGalley! What a joy it is to be one of the first to read this beautiful, important story.

What a wildly fun and quirky novel about finding true love, finding yourself, and realizing what family really means.

This novel was mainly based on the story by the Brothers Grimm, The Tale of the Twelve Huntsmen, but it included a plethora of other fairy tale references as well. I never felt overwhelmed with the amount of references and nothing ever felt forced.

I picked up MAJOR vibes of The Princess Bride and Labyrinth from the very first page, and I was absolutely hooked from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a queer positive, witty, and downright funny read, I would highly recommend this book!I really hope to see this story continued in a sequel!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Reviews will be posted to all of my socials (Goodreads, NetGalley, Fable, & Instagram)

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read! I absolutely loved this book!!!

Off beat and irreverent, this is a fresh take on classic fairy tales with modern humor and delightfully queer. Originally inspired by "The Twelve Huntsman", it pulls from a variety of the classics and weaves them together.

The princess kills monsters, her so-called evil stepmother is just trying her best as a single mom, and her siblings in law have uncanny battle advice and an enthusiasm for axes. It's delightfully absurd and doesn't take itself too seriously, and I laughed out loud multiple times. The queer representation is also well woven in, including several different types of romantic pairings and a trans love interest.

Quick to read and bitingly funny, I recommend this if you, too, grew up loving fairy tales but also recognizing the ridiculous aspects at times. (What do you mean, you're marrying a stranger?!)

this was such a fun and very queer fairytale retelling!! Princess Melilot my pookieeee and i loved all her relationships with the other characters especially her family. this was just so fun and i had a great time reading. very funny and silly!! also loveddd that the chapters had titles/names we need to bring this back in a big way…

thank you netgalley for the arc!!

I love fairy tales and enjoyed this story! I liked all the references to other brothers Grimm stories. I liked the spin on the “how Sox made their way in the world” because I always liked that one and it’s not usually well known. It was a fun read for me. I liked the main character and felt for her as she dealt with her feelings of where she belonged in her family as well as her duty vs her desire.

This story is so cute. It gives off Shrek fairy tale vibes. In the sense that we see the fairy tale stories in “real” life. There are a lot of connections to other fairy tale stories, but this hints at them all being connected in some way.

I have to say I really enjoyed it. There are so many moving parts, but I devoured it because I wanted to see how it all connects in the end. This was such a great twist to the tales we all know so well, and to a tale that isn't as popular.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.

I loved this book so much ❤️ Although the main fairytale this story is based on is The Twelve Huntsman, it incorporates aspects from many others, like Rapunzel, Cinderella and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. It starts out with telling you a short synopsis of the fairytale, and then telling the reader she is going to tell you what really happened, as she is the Princess in the story, so she would know.

I especially loved how the author wrote the gay and trans characters. They were not there treated as less than or put in the book the same way corporations put out merch every June. Rather, the characters were in the book because gay people exist. Even though the story is fictional, there every day things written in to the conversation. Like a character having to wear a binder for days and finally being able to take it off, which just thinking about the scene is so emotional, as I know so many people who have been in those situations. Which should never happen, but unfortunately it does.

Zero smut in the book. There is one implied sex scene and some kissing, but that's all. For those people who want to know smut level.

The book isn't set up for a sequel at all, but I would love more books set in this world! It was so good!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this arc! 3.5/5 stars

Hey Grimm fairytales lovers this book is for you! A fun twist on the tale of the 12 huntsman/Rapunzel it’s about the other woman, the stepsister or the other princess “rival”. I thought it was a really fun and refreshing take since most of the time it isn’t about the other character and their perspective. The author was funny and I felt like you could really feel their personality shine through with their writing. Which I always love. Not only is this about the 12 huntsman but it still manages to weave other fairytale stories into the story as well, with many meta references. While I did find the references to other fairytales fun Easter eggs, at times it was a little too much and to the point where it was cheesy at times. This was still a fun read especially for someone who loves fairytales. With twists and turns I personally did not see coming. It’s the perfect ode to a fairytale and then also poking fun of the classic tales. A parody I would say! It’s fun, queer and shows that even the middle child deserves their story!