This was cute. Merilot was likeable and I just wanted what was best for her. I did feel like the first 60% dragged, but the last 40 really made up for it. I was relatively surprised by the villain and the love interest. I also really enjoyed all the nods to fairytales, but the classic Grimm versions. Overall, cute and kind of cozy.

What a fun and funny take on a classic fairytale. The cover drew me in but I stayed for the story. Loved it!

This Princess Kills Monsters was easily the most fun, tongue-in-cheek fairytale retelling I’ve come across. While the pacing felt a bit off at times, the wry humor more than made up for it and I wasn’t bored for a second. The characters were great, the plot was engaging, and I loved the queer world. This book breathed life back into me. It was my exact brand of humor, and I couldn’t have had a better time reading. Thank you to Ry Herman for creating this ray of sunshine.

What I loved

fairytale retelling
magical creatures
lgbtq+ rep
feminist retelling

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group & Dial Press Trade Paperback for providing me an early copy to review. I had so much fun reading this book and I can’t wait until its release so everyone else can love it like I do!

This was so fun! I have read the original Grimm's Fairytale, but Herman's prose makes it so I don't feel like I need to. Melilot was a fun protagonist to follow, and it was so interesting seeing how her journey twisted and turned from beginning to end. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an earc!

This was a fun adventure of a book! Filled with lots of fairytale lore, This Princess Kills Monsters strikes a great balance between not taking itself to seriously and some darker elements, giving adventure, mystery, and a bit of romance their chance to shine too. There are also some glimpses into complicated family dynamics and self-reflection and discovery.

The writing was engaging, and you don't need to be familiar with Grimm's Fairytales to enjoy it. The author's note at the end gives a great insight into their inspiration and the fairytales that were referenced, and how cannon things in the book were.

4.25/5

This book was not what I thought it would be and that is merely because I am boring and lack imagination.
What a wonderful story full of all the whimsy of fairytales and the complexity of normal non-fairytale emotions.
I can't think of a single character that I did not like, even the evil ones. I adored Melilot and her many plights, her stepsisters and their peculiar spouses were a delight, the Hunstmen were phenomenal additions, the talking Lion was fun, the magic was great, I just had a fantastic time reading this and I always love queer representation and retellings.
If you're excited to read this you won't be disappointed and if you aren't excited to read this you should be.

This review is already posted at the links submitted!

I went into this book purely blind because I loved the title, and I didn't want to see the reviews. I had a blast reading this. I was laughing and really rooting for the protagonist to end up with whom she loves and not marry someone she doesn't love. This was such a fun adventure too.

Melilot is the barely magical, step-sister that can never live up to the standards set by her fantastical step-sisters. So it comes as no surprise to her that she is being sent away to marry the King of a nearby land. When she is attacked by monsters en route and rescued by mysterious masked huntsman, she decides she must conceal her identity to keep herself safe. What follows is a magical journey and unlikely love story that blends so many of our favorite fairytales with a diverse and highly entertaining cast of characters!

This story was actually really fun! It didn't take itself too seriously and I enjoyed both the diversity of the characters and the fact that it was often the "otherside" perspective of each fairytale included.

I read it out loud to my boys (9 and 6) and they were very invested in the story through the entire book and wanted to rate it 5⭐️s! I'm rating it a 4 star because I found the writing style a little hard to follow, especially in the beginning. The main character, Melliot, takes a lot of side quests with her thought process which had a tendency to make the story telling very long winded. The actual language used was also not my cup tea (maybe because I was trying to read it out loud) but that's more of a personal preference.

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.