The Princess Knight is a fantasy book inspired by Legally Blonde that takes place mostly at a military academy. That fact alone (combined with the flawless cover) led me to have very high expectations for the book.

As for the characters, most of them lived up to my expectations! Cait created characters with engaging and truly unique personalities. As you turn the pages, you find yourself wanting to know even more about each of them, and even in a medieval setting, the author includes diverse representation, both in the main characters and the secondary ones. But of all of them, my favorite by far is Clía. It was a lot of fun to be inside her mind and see her inner conflicts. Cait managed to deepen these contradictions without losing the believability of her personality and her likeness to Elle Woods. I didn't hold back and, between some commissions, I drew a sketch of Clía as I see her, a delicate character but, even more so, a determined one.

Now, some things I didn't like so much were the excess of information at the beginning of the book and how it was presented. It doesn't really get in the way of reading, but the way the information about the kingdoms, the rulers, and the fantasy was presented by a first-person narrator seemed very artificial. Fortunately, this soon ends and the reading becomes more fluid.

The Princess Knight has the perfect balance of humor, romance, and fantasy. It was definitely worth the 400 pages, and I can't wait for it to be officially released to see everyone's reaction to it. Finally, I want to thank Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me early access!

This was one of my anticipated reads and while I did somewhat like it, I think my expectations were too high.
I love animal companions and our dear Murphy is the cutest star of the novel! I was not able to connect with the characters unfortunately, I just thought they were alright. I do commend the author for giving me such flip flopping feelings about Domhnall. I did think the pacing in the beginning and the middle was a little off with the training and tests in the military academy. Ronan is decent, but I felt like him and Clia, our main character lacked some tension and chemistry, the romance was just a little bit meh for me. I did like the plot though with the political intrigue and to guess what's going to happen next.

DNF @ 40%
So i haven't actually seen Legally blonde, but the influence feels obvious from what in know. Just with like swords and castles. Was marketed as adult fantasy, but the tone felt very YA, and not in an engaging way either. The most grievous offence i have to complain about, is it was perfectly set up for a ONE TENT SCENE AND JUST NOTHING HAPPENED. Felt very Scottish/Gaelic- like with the names but it was very hard to pronounce them or understand/memorize them. in the end i feel like someone was in a room telling a story, but there was no depth. Just words on paper. Maybe an audiobook would have been better for me? not sure.

Many thanks to Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me this e-arc to review!

Princess Cliodhna's life has been predetermined: she'll marry her closest friend, Prince Domnhall, and their two kingdoms will become stronger as a result of their alliance. The day Domnhall is due to propose, everything changes when he unceremoniously tells her they can't get married because she's too weak to be his queen. Understandably infuriated and embarrassed, Clia goes off to prove herself at the elite military "school" Domnhall and the captain of his guard, Ronan, are off to attend. She's got one year to demonstrate that she would be a perfectly strong queen and change Domnhall's mind. But war is looming, and things are not all that they seem to be...

This romcom-adjacent fantasy is a fun romp, but one that delves beyond the feminist satire of its inspiration. I love the premise and its nod to Legally Blonde, and was pleasantly surprised as it became a more sophisticated story along the way. Having your life upended, especially when that's accompanied by a blindsiding dismissal from your closest friend, would be devastating, and Princess Clia is not going to let that stop her from proving herself. I love a strong FMC, and that is who Clia is through and through. Though her strength doesn't initially manifest as warrior skills, and she's still saddled with insecurities, I loved watching her discover that she's more than she even hoped herself to be. And with Ronan by her side, I adored the two of them both getting to know and care for each other, but also boost the other's confidence. They're both struggling, even if they're not always open about exactly what plagues them, both because of status and their own walls. Their loving energy was so heartwarming, even in the wake of betrayal and war. It did read a bit YA at times for me, but that didn't take away any of the book's charm. Also, Murphy is precious and I need to have more of him in my life. I didn't expect to want a giant magical otter-like creature after reading this, but it's my mission in life now.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 4 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: July 30, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/83bb2c96-d7c9-4e4e-a21e-2804e7cf43bb?redirect=true)
Review posted to Instagram: PENDING

A fantastical and fierce story featuring a princess growing into her true self and pushing back against the sexist idea that someone can’t be beautiful and smart/strong/talented at the same time. Oh and it’s loosely based on Legally Blonde, so there’s also a handsome ex, his new fiancée (a badass Warrior in this story), an older man in power who isn’t what he seems, and that man’s handsome protege, who takes our princess under his wing and helps her study, train, and excel in her new role. (Also, it was tentatively titled Medievally Blonde at one point, which is super cute.)

As much as I love Legally Blonde and the concept of this book, I felt like the moments it tried to stick close to the original were more stilted, and the moments it leaned into the originality of the setting, magic, and story were where it shone. There were scenes that I could directly connect to moments in the original story, and making those connections sometimes took me out of the story. I found myself looking for the next matching plot point instead of looking forward to what might come next. This aspect improved in the story's second half, when the threat of war became more serious and lives were in danger. Out of necessity, the details of the stories had to go their distinct ways, and I found myself enjoying the action more, sinking into each character development and plot twist. I actually wonder if it would have read better to me if I didn’t know the Legally Blonde connection, because I noticed that’s not mentioned anymore in any of the promo for the book. 🤔 I feel like I have to mention it in this review because it affected my reading experience, but try to forget it if you can before you read it. 😅

I really appreciated that there were some distinct differences between the book characters and the original source, as well as other side characters who didn’t have an exact match. Clia is much more insecure about herself at the start than Elle was - she knows how she’s perceived, and what her parents and others value in her. She also seems to be neurodivergent, perhaps autistic, having issues with sensory overload and anxiety, and a tendency to hyperfixate. When Domhnall chooses not to propose to her, Clia’s not brokenhearted like Elle at Warner’s betrayal; she’s upset at letting down her parents, about the future she had settled for being ruined, about suddenly not knowing what to do next. Though she’s initially naively confident about her place at the castle, she’s a hard worker and determined to learn and prove herself, at first to Domhnall but eventually to herself. I loved how her relationship with Ronan developed naturally, developing trust, real communication, and love over time.

Ronan is probably the most different from his Legally Blonde counterpart, Emmett, mainly because we know so little about Emmett’s history. For Ronan, there’s his close relationship with Domhnall, his tragic childhood, his history of chronic pain (an autoimmune disorder brought on by his mom’s death, perhaps), his longtime support from General Kordislean, and subsequent hero worship of him. And then he meets Clia, and falls in love with not just her beauty, but her true authentic self. As much as I love the romance between Ronan and Clia, I love their friendship even more - the moments they spend together studying, the early morning training, the way they learn they can be quiet and relaxed together, with no walls or masks or pretension between them. They definitely face challenges, and I will always wish for people to communicate their hopes and feelings more quickly and clearly, but the trust and devotion they develop are tangible. Everyone can see it.

As for the rest of the characters, I loved Niamh (our Vivian) - while she initially judged Clia like the rest of them, she treats people fairly, and she’s not afraid to admit to being wrong. And once you have Niamh on your side, you are set for life. I also loved Sarait, Clia’s tailor friend, who joins her at training, and Kian, a flirty fellow warrior who becomes a close friend. And I can’t not mention Murphy, Clia’s tiny puppy monster, who becomes less and less tiny as the book progresses. I can’t picture him at all, except I’m sure he’s adorable and he gives me bloodthirsty otter vibes.

I also have to mention the setting and magic that exist in this world. Although this is a fantasy world, the names are Irish, and it seems the magic is based on Irish folklore. I’m sure I was horrifically butchering all the names in my head, but the author has some helpful pronunciation guides, both a short one in the book and a longer one on her website. The history of the gods with their countries and the power their representatives, the Draoi, continue to have in government and society is intriguing. I wish we could have learned more about them. That power is certainly real, though, as seen in the downfall of Tinelann and in the magical objects that still exist throughout Inismian.

I haven’t heard anything about a sequel to this book, but I think there’s room for it and still more to learn about this world and these characters. I was satisfied with the ending, but I’d love to know even more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an advance copy of this book for review. It comes out this October, but you can preorder it now!

I loved the premise of this story. Legally blonde retelling, but make it a medieval-esque princess? Say so much less. Unfortunately this didn't land in the way I expected. Like I said, I liked the potential plot, but I found all of the twists and gotchas to be extremely predictable. I love a training school situation, but the stakes didn't feel high enough. The world building felt rushed but also like it was trying too hard. The names were too much. And I just didn't feel like there was enough time for the chemistry of the two main characters to develop.

And I really feel this should be marketed as YA and not as adult fantasy romance. I think a younger audience will resonate with this book, especially if you take away from the story the development of the FMC. The writing style also seems to be more conducive to a younger audience.

A quick, easy read. But not a series I will likely continue if more books in this story are put out. Again, I'm SO SAD because this idea was perfect.

I unfortunately wasn’t a huge fan of this. I understand this was inspired by Legally Blonde, but I didn’t enjoy the story. The world building was minimal, and the story as a whole lacked depth.

I didn’t find myself invested in the romance between Clia and Ronan. Their interactions were sweet and all, but I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. There was no tension. Their relationship just didn’t do much for me. Though I do think that this might be because this book had a strong YA feeling to it and I don’t fall into that age group anymore.

Overall I’d say it was a cute, easy to read and fast-paced story, a nice little palate cleanser, but nothing more. Maybe someone who falls into the YA age range would enjoy this more than I did.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I was really looking forward to this one and intrigued by the legally blonde idea but it just wasn't working for me. I really struggled with the place names I couldn't keep track at all what was going on with the stakes for the war. I didn't feel a connection to any of the main characters and didn't feel much personality or chemistry.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Princess Knight was a such a fun and quick fantasy read with it's Legally Blonde vibes! Loved this so much!

From BookTok content creator and reviewer Cait Jacobs - The Princess Knight is a delightful, fun fantasy. I loved how Irish folklore weaved so effortlessly with Legally Blonde, as well as characters, plot lines, perspectives, and personalities that stood entirely on their own. Jacobs knocks it out of the park with her debut, definitely one to watch.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the eARC, and to Netgalley for facilitating the request!

4.5/5

As a follower of Cait Jacobs since 2020, when I found out she was writing a Legally Blonde inspired romantic fantasy, I was overjoyed, and literally cried when the ARC acceptance came in. That also means, my expectations were through the roof; I wanted to be excited for a reason, you know? I am so happy to say that Jacobs not only met but exceeded my expectations.

The Princess Knight was everything you'd want in a retelling. A strong, funny and 'out of place' FMC, and an MMC who knows her place is right where she is. The romance in this is so tenderhearted, and the LONGING had me giggling and kicking my feet. Their dynamic just felt so believable, and like Emmett and Elle in Legally Blonde, Ronan and Clía had a solid friendship before anything else happened between them.

I also loved every single side character. Their friendships, and everything they went through together, made this book even easier to sink into, and it assured we'd feel all the things that go down throughout the plot.

This was just so meticulously thought out, from the world to the pantheon, from the romance to the friendships. There is nothing in this that I didn't enjoy. I can't wait to see what Jacobs does next, because if this is her debut, then we're all in for a treat for her next work.

Medieval fantasy, Irish folklore, and Legally Blonde? Game on. I had such a fun time reading this book!

I loved Clia but the heart of this book is Ronan. I couldn't get enough of him, I love a man who yearns but also lets the FMC stand on her own. The banter between the two of them is great and the friends to lovers plays out well. I have to say that I deeply appreciated the non-love-triangle aspect of this. Domhnall could've been insufferable and while he's not *unproblematic* (he makes some really selfish and poor decisions) he ends on an upswing. I'd kill for a Niamh and Domhnall focused book....honestly...just give me more Niamh (and Murphy too)! While the big bad was a little obvious the lead up to their reveal had one very good gotcha moment in it. Is this a standalone? The way this is written with loose world building, heavy lore, and ultimately paused conflict left a ton of room for follow up books!

Thank you Cait Jacobs, HarperCollins, and Netgalley for the eARC!

The Princess Knight is a beautiful medieval fantasy debut novel by Cait Jacob’s. I did not know what to expect coming in to this book, and it completely blew me away.

The character development, the war politics, the world building, and the beautiful friendships made this an easy 4.5 star read for me.

This book took inspiration from legally blonde, and I loved how Cait Jacobs added similarities to the movie- but did it very subtly. We see so much growth from the FMC in this book- Princess Clía, and I love her relationship dynamic with Ronan. The pace was somewhat slow throughout- but I actually think it perfectly suits the depth of the world and political tension in this story.

All in all, I loved this book so much. The vibes were amazing and I would love to see more from this world and these characters! Add this to your tbr!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins!

SLAY PRINCESS SLAY! I followed the author's insta account when the book was called "Medievally Blonde," so getting this ARC was such a honor!

This book is pure fun, cozy, witty, and with just the right touch of romance. It never felt over the top, which I appreciated. The main storyline was engaging, but what really stood out to me was the character growth. Every character, even the side ones, felt like they had their own arc and purpose. I especially loved how the main character grew into herself without losing her spark.

I’m really hoping the sequel gives us more moments with the side characters because a few of them totally caught my attention and I want more backstory or conversations with them!

The Princess Knight is basically Legally Blonde but make it medieval, and I loved it.
We get a Princess, a military academy, magical weapons, mythical creatures, quests, fashion, romance, and just the right amount of drama. I had high expectations (that cover totally captured my attention!!), and I have to say, it didn’t disappoint.

Princess Clía grew up in luxury, balls, banquets, and a life carefully planned. For years, she was betrothed to Prince Domhnall of a neighboring kingdom. Everyone expected a perfect royal match… until he broke her heart by refusing to propose, claiming she was too weak to protect a kingdom.

Determined to prove him wrong, and win him back, Clía makes a bold move: she follows him to Caisleán Cósta, a brutal military academy, with zero combat experience and only pure stubbornness on her side.

There, she meets again with Ronan, Captain of Domhnall’s guard. He’s focused on proving himself to General Kordislaen, the man who saved him as a child and now runs the military academy.
Ronan has no time for spoiled princesses, especially not the one who was once betrothed to his best friend. But Domhnall didn’t exactly handle the breakup well, and Ronan can’t help noticing how determined Clía is to prove she’s not just a spoiled royal waltzing into the arena like it’s a ballroom.
He keeps telling himself to stay focused… but he can’t stop thinking about her.

After a rough start at the academy, Ronan offers to train her. As they spend more time together, they begin to grow closer. He knows he should guard his heart, because she’s not just a pretty princess he can’t stop thinking about anymore.

On the other hand, Clía finds herself torn between her heart and her duty to her kingdom.

I really enjoyed their dynamic. It’s a friends-to-lovers, not usually my favorite trope, but it’s done so well here. The chemistry builds slowly and naturally, and Ronan’s POV adds so much depth to the story. I giggled a lot reading some scene between them.

I especially appreciated that Clía wasn’t a super-skilled fighter from the start. We actually see her struggle, fail, learn, and grow. She’s soft, fashionable, and fierce in her own way, and I loved her personality.

The side characters are well written and important for the story, the world-building is immersive, and the quests and training scenes were genuinely fun to read. I loved the blend of magic, Irish folklore, and political tension.

That said, I did find some parts a little rushed, and others a bit slow. The “plot twist” didn’t really surprise me, I saw it coming from miles away, but it didn’t ruin the experience at all.

If you love:
✨ quests
🗡️magic items
✨mythical beasts
🗡️ political intrigue
✨ dual pov
🗡️ training scenes
✨ fashion-Coving FMC
🗡️ strangers to friends to lovers
✨ Irish Folklore
🗡️ soft FMC who learn to fight

…then add The Princess Knight to your TBR immediately!

Thank you to NetGally, Avon and Harper Voyager for the Arc 🥹💖

🇮🇹:
The Princess Knight è praticamente La rivincita delle bionde, ma in versione medievale, e l’ho adorato.
Troviamo una principessa, un’accademia militare, armi magiche, creature mitologiche, missioni, moda, romanticismo e la giusta dose di dramma. Avevo grandi aspettative ( la copertina ha totalmente conquistato la mia attenzione !!) e devo dire che non mi ha delusa.

La principessa Clía è cresciuta nel lusso: balli, banchetti e una vita attentamente pianificata. Per anni è stata promessa in sposa al principe Domhnall, del regno vicino. Tutti si aspettavano un perfetto matrimonio reale… finché lui non decide di spezzarle il cuore, rifiutandosi di fare la proposta e dicendole che è troppo debole per proteggere il regno.

Determinata a dimostrargli che si sbaglia e a riconquistarlo, Clía prende una decisione audace: lo segue a Caisleán Cósta, una brutale accademia militare, senza alcuna esperienza nel combattimento.

Lì ritrova Ronan, capitano della guardia di Domhnall.
Ronan è concentrato sul dimostrare il proprio valore al Generale Kordislaen, l’uomo che lo ha salvato da bambino e che ora dirige l’accademia.
Ronan non ha tempo da perdere con principesse viziate, soprattutto con quella che un tempo era la promessa sposa del suo migliore amico.
Ma Domhnall non ha gestito bene la rottura, e Ronan non può fare a meno di notare quanto Clía sia determinata a dimostrare che non è solo una principessa frivola che volteggia nell’arena come se fosse a un ballo.
Continua a ripetersi che deve restare concentrato sulla sua missione… ma non riesce a smettere di pensare a lei.

Dopo un inizio difficile all’accademia, Ronan le propone a Clía di addestrarla.
Più tempo passano insieme, più si avvicinano. Sa che dovrebbe proteggere il suo cuore, perché lei non è solo una bella principessa che non riesce a togliersi dalla testa… ormai è molto di più.
Clía, dal canto suo, si troverà divisa tra ciò che sente verso il capitano e il dovere verso il suo regno.

Mi è piaciuta tantissimo la loro relazione. È un friends-to-lovers (non il mio trope preferito), ma qui funziona alla grande. La chimica cresce piano piano, in modo naturale, e il punto di vista di Ronan dà quel qualcosa in più alla storia. Ho riso un sacco in alcune scene tra loro due!

Ho apprezzato particolarmente che Clía non fosse una guerriera super addestrata fin dall’inizio. Vediamo il suo percorso pagina dopo pagina. È una protagonista dolce, che ama la moda, ma è anche determinata e coraggiosa a modo suo, ho adorato la sua personalità.

I personaggi secondari sono ben scritti e hanno un ruolo importante nella storia, il world-building è coinvolgente, e le missioni e le scene di addestramento sono davvero divertenti da leggere. Ho amato la fusione tra magia, folklore irlandese e le varie tensioni politiche.

Detto questo, ho trovato alcune parti un po’ affrettate e altre leggermente lente. Il “colpo di scena” non mi ha davvero lasciata senza parole, era molto prevedibile.

Ringrazio tantissimo NetGalley, Avon e Harper Voyager per la copia Arc 🥹💖

The Princess Knight was the perfect blend of Legally Blonde and medieval fantasy. If you ever wondered how Elle Woods would faire as a warrior this book is your answer. I actually loved how the author still leaned in to Clia's "girly" side and love for fashion and blended it into a real need for her warrior pursuits. Clia's parents are down right snobby and I was so happy to see her find her family at the military academy and her real true love. Girls can still be girly and a bad ass a the same time and Cait Jacobs demonstrated that beautifully.

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC

Princess Knight follows Clía, the princess of a kingdom concerned with balls and banquets more than swords and sorcery, trying to win back the hand of her betrothed by going to War School to prove she’s more than a pretty face. While the plot itself is still vaguely reminiscent of Legally Blonde like its original ‘Medievally Blonde’ title would imply, the detail paid attention to worldbuilding, the complexity of Clía’s character, and the changes in the second half of the book do warrant the newer, more original name. The vibes were fun for the most part, especially in the first half, but I felt like as the book went on the worldbuilding grew tiresome, the characters fell flat, and the story lost its more grounded roots.
I was initially excited by the worldbuilding, but it was hard to follow, even as some who has read authors like Robin Hobb, Kathryn Addison, Joe Abercrombie, etc. The background politics felt fleshed out, but without depth or rigor beyond using traditional Celtic lore that could bind them together. I was willing to suspend my confusion - this is romantasy after all - but the more the plot leaned on these elements the more they felt like a leaky roof dripping my doubts into an increasing full bucket of disappointment.

I also soured on the entire War School/Clía aspect. To me, what made Legally Blonde so loved as a feminist film was the idea that intelligence is not relegated to the subjects or people that are ‘smart’. And that could work here! But a girl who has never held a sword, was denied basic training, going from dragging it on the ground to winning against the most seasoned commander in under sixth months? That’s not talent, that’s not dedication, that’s a power fantasy. Intelligence and physical ability are different attributes - both trainable, but you cannot exchange one for the other.

Add in the side characters who seem to exist only as plot or cannon fodder, a predictable villain lacking in proper motive, some deus ex machina magic (I think it’s meant to lean toward fate but it just feels like a deus ex machina), and an annoying they-can’t-be-together romance trope and this book is just not for me.

I really wanted to like this book. I’ve seen Cait a bunch on my feeds, and remember the ‘Medievally Blonde’ pitch fondly. I was surprised when I went to write this review to realize this was listed as ‘adult’ fantasy - with the characters aged 17-19 and fade to black scenes, I felt this was a decent YA, the kind of book that I would’ve enjoyed as a teen. As an adult, it falls flat.

Maybe I expect too much from romantasy, or the hype led to my expectations being too high. I did have a lot of fun reading the first ~250 pages or so of this, and I think the idea, and worldbuilding has merit. I hope the author continues to write, because Clía in the first half felt like a really interesting take on the ‘spoiled princess’ trope. I love the queernorm, the inclusion of autism/physical disability, and the real thought I can see in this. But I felt like at its core, this book missed its mark for me.

This was my first book I have read by this author and she did not disappoint! The story was very well written and you cant go wrong with a romantasy! Also you cant go wrong with this beautiful cover!

I really enjoyed the characters Clia and Roman. Didn't care for the prince, Domhnall, he wanted what was best for him and totally betrayed Clia. Anything he did or said irritated me and his choices were all wrong. For some reason this book reminded me of the Throne of Glass series in a way too.

The world building too was great in this one. You get not only a romantasy read but also a fun suspenseful action packed book.

I think many will enjoy this one so be sure to grab a copy!

Thank you to HarperCollins for the e-arc of The Princess Knight! What a cute story, from what I understand this author took some inspiration from legally blonde when writing this book and it was executed so well! This is at its core a love story and female empowerment story. I loved the character development and the chemistry between our two main characters was sooo good. The only slight issue I had was the politics were a bit hard to understand for the first probably 60% of this book I had no idea what was going on with the plot. Sometimes, the heavy plot and politics happening alongside this cute cozy character driven romance made you almost feel like you were reading two different books BUT I will say they did finally come together cohesively at the end.

I absolutely loved this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat while also being funny and adorable at the same time. I absolutely loved the characters. Clia being so strong despite how she grew up was so fun to read and I absolutely loved reading about the land and creatures as well. The love story in this was so cute, while also being realistic and Murphy is the cutest creature ever I cannot get over him. Hope to see more in the future by this author!!!