
Member Reviews

Lady's Knight was absolutely fantastic! The author wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.
The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
This one is for the Merlin girlies. If you were on Tumblr in 2012-2016 you should probably read this because Morgause is one of the reasons you're not straight.
2025 really is the year for female knights and sapphic medieval stories. Lady's Knight is a fun and fresh romp through medieval times of dragons, jousting, and knighthood. While at times exceedingly YA, and also bearing a girl power message that doesn't so much speak to you as shout at the top of its lungs at you, there is enjoyable romance, good humour, and characters you definitely want to root for. I won't call it shallow, but it's definitely not something you need to sit and think about for a while after finishing. Light, both in terms of message and impact, it's almost what I'd call cozy low fantasy. And it is indeed pretty low fantasy. The dragon (yes, there's a dragon) is pretty much the only ode to magic we get in the world. I do really think that fans of shows like Merlin will love this. The overbearing king who mistreats his ward and the secret identity trope match up perfectly. The occasional reference to modern-day terminology like t-shirts or fandom are interesting but don't detract at all from the enjoyment of the story, and I think having the interludes placed periodically really gave this book a unique feel and vibe. I look forward to a potential continuation of the characters in the hinted sequel!

3⭐
Thank you to the publisher and the authors for the ARC! All opinions are of my own.
An undeniably fierce, unforgettably funny, unapologetically queer feminist romp through the England of medieval legend. Bestselling and acclaimed authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring readers along on an epic quest for valor, freedom, and, above all, love. A Knight’s Tale meets the Lady Jane series, with a dash of The Great!
I had decent expectations for this book but this novel seemed to work more on vibes than the plot. So many things were dealt messily and despite it being a YA novel, it didn't feel like one (except the minor use of explicit language). It felt more like a middle grade novel and it was so different than what the synopsis said. The depth of intelligence with Gwen and Isobelle was lacking. The focus on the actual tournament was less and so was the 'Lady Knight'.
Overall, I think it was a decent read but I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel.

I was really excited about the premise—give me knights, duels, and a girl challenging tradition, and I’m in. But the actual story barely spends time on the tournament or the training, which was a letdown. The narrative often zooms past the parts I wanted more of or shifts to a POV that doesn’t care about them.
I did really like the melding of the modern world with the medieval setting, including party games like “Hast Thou Ever”? It felt more quirky and also created an immersive world.
Tone-wise, it’s a strange mix—teen-level character voices with adult-level jokes and language. And the romance moved so fast it left little room for emotional development.
I didn’t dislike the book, but it didn’t quite deliver on its potential.

I am so in love with anything these two write, especially when they write together! And I absolutely LOVED the added twist of a princess and a knight romance - except make it sapphic! This was so incredibly fun to read, and I can’t wait to see what might be next from this author duo!

"An undeniably fierce, unforgettably funny, unapologetically queer feminist romp through the England of medieval legend. Bestselling and acclaimed authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring readers along on an epic quest for valor, freedom, and, above all, love. A Knight's Tale meets the Lady Jane series, with a dash of The Great!
Gwen is sick of hiding - hiding the fact that she's taken over her father's blacksmithing duties, hiding her attraction to girls, hiding her yearning for glory as a knight.
Meanwhile, Lady Isobelle of Avington, queen bee of the castle, has never once considered hiding who she is - until now. She's been chosen as the grand prize in the Tournament of Dragonslayers, to be given to whichever knight can claim her hand. And for the first time in her life, she can't talk her way out of trouble.
When Isobelle discovers Gwen's knightly ambitions, they hatch a scheme together - Gwen will joust in the tournament, disguised as Sir Gawain. Winning means freedom for Isobelle, and glory for Gwen. Losing means...well, let's not go there.
One thing's for sure: Falling in love was never the plan.
But the best laid plans…are often trampled all over by dragons."
I need something to fill the My Lady Jane hole in me. This will do nicely.

3.5⭐
Thank you Amie Kaufman, Meaghan Spooner, HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 is an undeniably fierce, unforgettably funny, unapologetically queer feminist romp through the England of medieval legend. Bestselling and acclaimed authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring readers along on an epic quest for valor, freedom, and, above all, love. A Knight’s Tale meets the Lady Jane series, with a dash of The Great.
It isn't historically accurate but is filled with amazing plot lines, dragons, sapphic romance, lady knights, and witches. Its storyline is grounded in magical realism.
The prose is intricate and whimsical, packed with a fast-paced adventure in short chapters. There are interludes narrated by an anonymous storyteller which adds a unique and hilarious touch to the narrative.
The relationship was developed without any unnecessary drama or insta love but through, trust and desired goals for the end.
The stakes of the knight tournament and the risks of Gwen’s secret being exposed kept me engaged and hooked but I felt like we needed more of the knight training and broader explanation of the concept of the tournament. Isobelle was introduced as a stereotypical noble but as the story delved deeper, we see the different layers of her --- her brilliance and sharp mind. Gwen is earnest, serious, straightforward, with ambitions for equality and difference.
My criticism is that it felt like the authors were focusing more on the overall vibe and entertainment instead of the plot or historical accuracy. The pacing finally picked up around 75% mark and there were certain (a lot) instances where the prose was unnecessarily detailed on plot points that seemed irrelevant at the end. The depth of intelligence with Gwen and Isobelle was lacking, which made it feel confusing at times. The focus on the actual tournament was less and so was the 'Lady Knight'. The presence of the knight was severely lacking in my opinion and that was likely due to the tournament's lack of presence.
Overall, it's a simple and vibes filled read for a YA audience. There's a sequel to this book and I am conflicted on whether to read it.

I loved this book and think it will be the perfect addition to my high school library. It deals with new love (LGBTQ+ style), gender expectations, fulfilling one's potential, feeling overlooked, and societal pressures. This story kept me interested and surprised me often, especially with how nuanced the female characters were. If you're looking for an awesome "girl power" novel, this one won't disappoint.

This was an absolute joyride of a book to experience. I can’t even singularly pinpoint my favorite part as so many scenes had me physically grinning like a lovesick fool.
Set in a medieval society where a county is hosting a tournament where the best knight wins not only a mines worth of gold, but the hand of the admirable Lady Isobelle—she will stop at nothing to prevent her fate that is written by men. When her path crosses that of Gwen, the daughter of a blacksmith who secretly desires to be a knight, they team up to win the competition under a guise to help aide their own ambitions while unintentionally setting ablaze feelings filled with longing, tension and desire.
This story was action packed and full of amazing drawn out characters that helped make this book so much more impactful to me. I loved the way the author went about storytelling as it made it even more immersive as the reader.
Did I mention this book includes DRAGONS?! Need I say more? I think not. This features all of your fantasy dreams morphed into an amazing sapphic love story that will warm even the chilliest of hearts- I can’t recommend this book enough!

Fun, flirty, and with just a bit of fire, Lady’s Knight was everything I wanted when I picked up this book. We follow Gwen - a blacksmith’s daughter who has taken up her father’s job to keep their family fed, and Isobelle - a noble lady seen as nothing more than a prize to be won in a jousting tournament. When these two meet a plan comes together that has unexpected consequences for not only them - but everyone around them.
I loved the way this book was written, with fun little medieval versions of modernizations of things. This is especially seen in the occasional breaks of the fourth wall chapters where we - as the reader - are being spoken to directly about what we are reading. This made reading a fun and enjoyable experience, as every time I turned the page I found something new to love about reading this book.
Told from the dual perspectives of Gwen and Isobelle, it was really fun to watch their romance - as well as the rising tensions surrounding Gwen’s deception as Sir Gawain - develop. I found both of them interesting and multi-layered, and I really enjoyed how at no point was Isobelle cosigned to be a supporting character in the novel - or seen as the less important of the two women.
Perfect for anyone who was looking for a sapphic knight tale - complete with secret identities, overly-competent and secretive maids, and an action-filled ending that will leave you at the edge of your seat.
A huge thank you to the author, Netgalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing me this e-ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
A Knight's Tale is one of my favorite movies so a sapphic take on it was right up my alley and I throughly enjoyed reading it! This was cute, cozy, and flirty such a fun read.

This was a really cozy and cute read! Gwen and Isobelle are such sweet characters. I was more invested in Gwen and her storyline because I love the concept of a lady knight fighting to find her place in Medieval England.
I also loved the aspect of Gwen balancing two secret identities. Feigning as a noblewoman and Sir Gawain is no easy task. I kept wondering when everything would all crumble down.
I found the plot a bit predictable, and I would’ve liked more development in terms of the romance. However, I still really enjoyed the book overall.
The narration and sense of humor reminded me of My Lady Jane. I believe fans of the book or show would love Lady’s Knight as well.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an ARC of Lady’s Knight in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved everything about this: the smokin’ hot blacksmith turned lady knight willing to take on the impossible odds for honor and the woman she loves, the damsel dealing with her distress by putting together a frickin’ plan, the maid who is way more than she seems, the snarky interrupting narrator, and an epic showdown with a dragon. This story is so fun that I’d give it more than five stars if I could. Sure, it’s more of an “occasionally historic” novel, along the lines of A Knight’s Tale or The Great, but that’s half the fun. And the sapphic romance is a deliciously swoony slow burn. Gwen just became my newest book girlfriend, although I almost feel guilty about pining for her since she and Isobelle are absolutely meant for each other.
My favorite book of 2025 so far!
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
Knights tale, but make it gay, what more could you want. The main characters are fun, flirty and the slow burn really takes its time. All in all a fun addition to the genre, and a lovely time :)

This book is for everyone who watched BBC's Merlin and thought Morgana and Gwen should have ended up together.
Lady's Knight is a cozy YA fantasy about knights, dragons, witches, and girls with big plans. The stakes aren't super high, the narration is comedic, and the world has very loose references to Arthurian legend. To be honest, I'm not usually a fan of cozy or low-stakes fantasy, so I think the reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped is because of this. I still highly recommend this book to others; it just didn't particularly stand out to me.
Gwen wants to be a knight, and Isobelle wants to be rescued by one. Once Isobelle finds out that she will be the prize for the next jousting tournament, she and Gwen come up with a plan: Isobelle will help Gwen enter and win the tournament, and in exchange, Isobelle will not be married off to the winning knight. As other reviewers have said, the plot is fairly predictable, and the stakes are relatively low, but I think the comedic nature of the story definitely carries it. Outside of the humor, I didn't find it to be anything particularly new or unique. The pacing also felt a little slow, but again, the narration makes up for that.
This could also be the beginning of a reading slump, but I didn't feel super connected to any of the characters. I really did like the dynamic between Isobelle and Gwen; I think they complemented each other well. I just didn't find them to be super three-dimensional. I did like Isobelle's character arc, and I appreciated Gwen's perspective on the lives of nobles. I struggled a bit to differentiate between all of Isobelle's friends (I just kept picturing the girls from Sofia the First), but I did like the banter between them. Overall, I liked the characters; I just didn't think they were super complex.
Lady's Knight is a fun-spirited YA fantasy - probably fitting for the younger side of YA - that explores the love between a lady and her knight.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5

I had super high hopes for this book going into it for many reasons, mostly because I love Amie Kaufman's writing, I'm always down for sapphic romance (an a medieval setting is even better!), and I absolutely loved My Lady Jane, one of its comps. With all of that in mind, I was actually a bit let down by this book though that's not to say I didn't still enjoy it and have fun reading it.
To start with the characters, I absolutely adored Gwen and Isobelle! I thought they both came across as witty, rational (mostly lol), and lovable. Their romance was very sweet and developed well - as they began to get to know each other more they began to love each other more. Neither Gwen or Isobelle were the perfect character from the jump and watching them go through character development together was super fun.
The humor within the book was an aspect I liked at times and didn't like at others. It didn't hit the same way that the humor in the My Lady Jane series did, which I did find disappointing because that's one of my favorite aspects of that series and what I was expecting with the comp. It was super overt and I felt at times that it was a bit too over the top and did disservice to some of the more serious and/or sweet moments. It did shine at times, especially during the narrator's chapters where they felt more appropriate. While I think some people would definitely enjoy how extra the humor is, I personally would've enjoyed it better if it was a bit toned done at points. I also think an attempt with the humor was taking modern elements and making them medieval but I honestly felt like when those instances appeared in the book, it completely took me out of the fantasy medieval setting. Those components made the story feel more as if the setting was a modern day ren faire as opposed to a legitimate (albeit fantasy) medieval world.
The plot was mostly what I expected, nothing crazy or intense but that is what I want out of a cozy medieval fantasy. I didn't think that the plot carried the novel as there were times where I found myself a bit confused about whatever was happening but kept reading because I was invested in the characters. I wish we had seen more of the actually tournament and the jousting since the title does make it seem that way.
All in all this was a super fun book! It just had some aspects that I personally either didn't like or were unexpected based on the blurb and comps.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I had such high expectations for this book, I’ve been waiting for a story with a similar premise for so long: knights, tournaments, and a lady stepping into a traditionally male arena! Unfortunately, while it was a good book overall, a few flaws really impacted my reading experience and brought down my final rating.
Let’s start with the biggest letdown: despite being a novel about a “lady” entering a knight’s tournament… there are very few actual scenes focused on this aspect. Her training is either completely glossed over or shown through the perspective of Lady Isobel, who doesn’t care about such activities. Even her training to become a proper lady—like etiquette lessons—is barely explored. There’s even a humorous interlude suggesting we read other books about etiquette. But I don’t want to read other books—I’m reading this one because I want to experience knights, tournaments, and courtly customs. Why are these elements treated as secondary?
Another thing that gave me the ick was the blend of modern and medieval elements—specifically, very modern ones. In one chapter, the narrator retells the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin… and then they’re drinking cocktails? Later on, the characters play a game called “Hast Thou Ever”… seriously? There’s so much potential for creative worldbuilding, and this is the party game noble ladies play at tea? This mix of tones was jarring and broke the immersion for me. I know it was meant to be funny, but I personally didn’t find it amusing at all.
Something else that confused me was the overall tone of the book. The characters behave in a very immature and naïve way (which makes sense for a YA audience), but at the same time, there’s constant swearing, dick jokes, and sexual innuendos. So… is this a YA novel? New Adult? Adult? The target audience feels really unclear.
And finally, the romance. I didn’t enjoy it. The two protagonists fall in love the moment they meet—completely awe-struck. I mean, you have an entire novel to flesh out their relationship and show how it develops, so why rely on the love-at-first-sight trope?
All in all, I did like the book, but these aspects seriously hindered my enjoyment of what could have been a truly great story.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, the authors, for gifting me this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Edit: the more I think about the novel, the more I realize that I didn't quite enjoy it, so I am lowering a bit my rating.

Lady's Knight is an adorable YA sapphic romance between Gwen and Isobelle and I ate this one up.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and found this one funny with a lot of heart. I like that the romance was not insta-love and you can see their feelings progressing. The characters were all distinct and even the side characters were fleshed out. Plus, there were some interstitials from the narrator that added some flavor to the world.
Would recommend this if you're looking for a fun book with dragons!
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I'm gonna tell you what this book has - and if you enjoy three or more of these, then just go and read this very heartwarming and fun book.
🏡 Cozy fantasy
🛡️ Knights – especially lady knights
🕵️♀️ Secret identity
🧙♂️ Quirky fantasy
🐴 Horsie
🏰 Medieval tournament
🧙♀️ Witches
👀 4th wall breaking
👩❤️👩 Sapphic romance
💪 Female empowerment
💖 Adorable characters
🌀 Did I mention quirky?
🐉 Ah right – and dragons
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are an incredible writing duo, and I want more (and we will get more!)
4,5/5 stars
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollins for the eARC!
#LadysKnight #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.
OMG this was SO FUN!! Take A Knight’s Tale, make it sapphic, and throw in a dragon, and you have a rip-roaring time!
This is funny, irreverent, subversive, feminist, and triumphant. Gwen and Isobelle are fantastic MCs, and they have the sweetest, cutest slow burn friends to lovers romance. Plus we have Madame DuPont, the best dancing/sword master there is, who reminds me of Lady Danbury!
The narrators break the 4th wall several times, and it’s such a great device when used to perfection as it is here. The story is pretty self-contained and wraps up nicely, while setting us up for future adventures in the next book. Highly recommend for a fabulous time!