I really, really wanted to love this book. The premise looked cute, the summary sounded promising...but unfortunately, the story fell flat for me. The world building wasn't smooth and the plot as a whole felt slightly younger than the intended audience would be looking for. I did like the characters individually and wish the main romantic relationship felt more organic and less forced.

Overall I’d say it was an easy to read, light story on the more YA side of things.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

After the prince she has been promised to her whole life rejects their engagement, Clia joins a military academy to prove herself worthy of his hand in marriage. Falling in love with his best friend and needing to save the realm was not a part of the plan.

I inhaled this book in one sitting; this felt like the most girl's girl book I have read in a while and I was absolutely here for it. I found myself crying for Clia for the first half and then kicking my feet the second half. The inspiration from Legally Blonde was perfect and well done however the story wasn't just surface level. Aside from the love life turmoil and fashion, there was full world building, character growth, and political intrigue that the FMC was involved in.

- Friends to Lovers
- Queer Rep
- Chronic Pain Rep
- Yearning!

I will admit the balance between fun, quirky and trying to establish the entire world and the war that is coming wasn't perfectly balanced as it could have been however, this was a great debut novel and the cutest thing I have read all year.

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs is such a fun, feel-good fantasy adventure! From the very first chapter, it had a light, adventurous energy that made it so easy to read. The heroine is witty, determined, and just the right mix of bold and relatable, which kept me rooting for her every step of the way. The fantasy setting was vivid and engaging without ever feeling heavy, making this the perfect kind of story to curl up with on a cozy afternoon.

I really enjoyed how the book balanced action, humor, and a hint of romance. The banter between characters felt natural and added so much charm to the story, while the world-building gave just enough detail to feel immersive without slowing down the pace. Even in the quieter moments, the book kept that spark of fun that made it such a pleasant read.

Overall, The Princess Knight was an adventurous escape with heart, charm, and plenty of entertaining moments. It’s perfect for readers looking for a light fantasy with a dash of romance and a lot of personality.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC!

2.5 stars

I wanted to love this book but there was no world building. I also had a hard time following the characters because off their names/nicknames/ titles. I felt like I didn't get to know the characters because there were so many and I had to reference the five kingdoms of Inismian.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Could of been my mood but I enjoyed this. I am a mood reader. Some parts the MFC annoyed with how lacking knowledge or maybe naive/ignorant of situations. I also found her to be too trusting of every single person, it was very slow in the beginning, I kept thinking is this a book where they kiss right at the end like a Hallmark movie. Everyone was really right it was Legally Blonde like, and maybe that's why I loved it so.

The MMC did not have much character growth because he was damn well perfect, the MFC needed a lot and still at the end I feel like she feel flat in character development. I wish some parts had a bit more details, but the story was so nice. I had a few laughs and I cannot complain. It all came down to "Would I reread this?" "Did it make me happy afterwards" I answered Yes to both of these so I gave it an extra star.

I really enjoyed this story! A medieval retelling of Legally Blonde, with lots of battles, banter, tension, and yearning! I really connected with the FMC, and loveddddd the MMC. Highly recommended this to anyone looking for a fantasy standalone!

I absolutely adored this!
It really has the same energy as Legally Blonde in that it is a light, fun read, that also ends up being a much deeper story about self-discovery, self-confidence, and following your dreams; Not living for others, but for yourself. I fell in love with Clía and was really rooting for her, and the way Ronan lifted her up and supported her without centering himself? Brilliant! 😭
I also loved the politicking and war school
setting, and it gave me everything I love about other series in similar settings without feeling unoriginal or boring. I also really loved the representation and handling of Ronan’s chronic pain issues, I felt very seen.
Overall, this is everything you love about Legally Blonde and Elle Woods in a romantic fantasy setting that becomes more than the sum of its parts, and reminds you to never try and be someone you’re not.

First, I want to say I really appreciated the representation for chronic pain/illness. This was a fun and fast paced allies to lovers story. Clia was a fun FMC and I enjoyed the “legally blonde” retelling.

3.5 stars

Not going to lie, this book was really slow going at first, enough that I almost DNF'd.
The FMC was NOT likeable in my eyes. Yes, she has growth in the end, but all I kept thinking throughout the story was about how naive she continued to be. Even at 84% it was still a glaring issue to me.
That being said, I DID like the MMC. His personal struggle was more interesting to read about.
There were some bits of story that I wish were fleshed out; more explanation and/or further use would have made how integral they were to the story make more sense.
At the end of the day, it is a good read and I will recommend it out to friends.

I really liked the world and the world building. Clia's character development was amazing. I think the pacing was a little off for me. And I am not sure but the ending felt incomplete and the battle not as satisfying as I would have wanted

I saw the cover for this book everywhere and immediately needed to hop on the bandwagon just by the title alone. I went into it not reading the blurb or knowing much of what it was about and I think that is the best way to read viral books.

⚔️With that said I had fun time reading this book, it was a very cute and easy to follow fantasy. I haven’t read very many books with this medieval princessxknight vibe and I loved it.

🩷Clía and Ronan’s having a strong friendship first (with of course pining and tension) before becoming romantically involved was a breath of fresh air.

🗡️I do wish the battle at the end would have been written with more detail, I had a hard time keeping up and couldn’t visualize what was happening very well, it all just happened too quickly. I also wanted more of Clía and Ronan’s relationship when they returned to her home but the author did leave it open for other stories so hopefully we will see more of them in the future.

While on the whole this was an entertaining read, I can't help but feel a little disappointed after finishing it.

This is a Legally Blonde retelling via a medieval setting & war college - and maybe I was going into this with the wrong expectations (my thoughts went to quippy banter, witty one-liners, a lil camp, etc) but I was very surprised to be met with a lot more political upheaval, court dissent, covert missions and general military academy assignments in addition to training and classes. There was an almost Mulan-esque feel to the training arc our FMC went through and all of it felt like it could have been backed up with a swords and shields singing montage.

What I liked:
- Girl power! Though at times it felt a bit forced, this was very much a girl's girl book and it was charming.
- The giant otter! I'm a sucker for a water dog.
- Our FMC overcame a GREAT DEAL to turn into the badass warrior princess she set out to be.
- Disability representation and likable queer characters!
- Immersive Celtic mythology & cultural references!

What I disliked:
- This was way more YA than I expected. I'm not fully sure if this is labelled as NA or Adult, but it read very young.
- Our love interest/MMC. My guy was as dimensional as a cardboard cut-out and couldn't for the life of him accept the facts laid out CLEARLY in front of him despite him being "gods touched" and one of the brightest men of the entire academy (and his kingdom?).
- I didn't find the political uprising (or reasons fueling it) very convincing or clear.
- *Spoiler* Our FMC finding one of the most dangerous and coveted jewels on the whole continent on accident and then using it as a paperweight was ridiculous lol.
- I found one particular side character (cough the prince) to be utterly unlikable and irredeemable from beginning to end.
- I hate to say this you guys... but I'm gonna say it you guys... this kind of felt like a YA version of Fourth Wing minus the dragons/magical powers. The plot twists, the villains, the political turmoil, the training, the boyfriend... it all felt vaguely familiar.
- The author used "silken lips" as a descriptor when they kissed so that was an immediate -1⭐ (I'm sorry).
- The oddly placed "fortune cookie" feeling phrases sprinkled throughout (ex. "Perfection isn't something you can plan, but instead what happens when you accept what you can't control." "Don't cling to the familiar to avoid potential pain of the unknown. It will come for you whether you are ready or not.") It felt out of place and didn't fit with the otherwise VERY YA dialogue and writing style.

YA Fantasy but make it a Legally Blonde retelling?! SAY LESS!!!!!

I ate this up and had a great time with this book.
I thought I'd have a hard time with it being 3rd person POV and the names being hard to pronounce, but I was so consumed with these wonderful characters and the plot and the academy that I didn't even care.

These characters were so easy to root for. I loved Clia & Ronan, but I also loved all the side characters so much.

LANGUAGE: 2 f-words, a couple uses of other curse words
SPICE: kisses only, one scene in ch27 that was implication only. Nothing on the page and no innuendos throughout.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, & Cait for the ARC of The Princess Knight.

The Princess Knight is a pleasant, lighthearted rom-fantasy. It delivers on its charm and inclusivity, and Clia is undeniably likable with her balance of bad ass-ery and femininity.

The comparison and all the little nods to Legally Blonde are fun— anyone who is a fan of the movie will enjoy this I think. For me, I enjoy a bit more angst and tension in my romance and it fell a bit flat there.

I did love how inclusive the book is and Clia’s journey overall, but the book didn’t hook me and grab my attention as much as I wanted it to.

The cover art though? Absolutely stunning!

Celtic mythology meets Legally Blonde by way of a military fantasy adventure, with a unique balance of heart, grit, and camp in this lovable debut by Cait Jacobs.

I had the privilege of reading an early draft of this book way back in 2022, and it captured my heart. It may combine a fascinating collection of ideas (Legally Blonde but make it a gritty military romantasy with knights, and also make it kind of a retelling of Celtic folklore?) that you wouldn't expect to go together, but Cait has poured so much care into the conversation of all of these elements from the silly musical references to the complex disability representation, and it really pays off in this heartfelt adventurous tale.

If you like diverse casts, fantasy adventures, women with swords (who also wear gorgeous dresses), found family, court politics, gritty action scenes, feet-kicking romance, and Legally Blonde (of course), I think you'll adore this book as much as I did.

Celtic mythology meets Legally Blonde by way of a military fantasy adventure, with a unique balance of heart, grit, and camp in this lovable debut by Cait Jacobs.

I had the privilege of reading an early draft of this book way back in 2022, and it captured my heart. It may combine a fascinating collection of ideas (Legally Blonde but make it a gritty military romantasy with knights, and also make it kind of a retelling of Celtic folklore?) that you wouldn't expect to go together, but Cait has poured so much care into the conversation of all of these elements from the silly musical references to the complex disability representation, and it really pays off in this heartfelt adventurous tale.

If you like diverse casts, fantasy adventures, women with swords (who also wear gorgeous dresses), found family, court politics, gritty action scenes, feet-kicking romance, and Legally Blonde (of course), I think you'll adore this book as much as I did.

Disclaimer that I am friends with the author! I beta read a very early version of this book and was additionally sent an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to HarperVoyager and NetGalley for sending me a galley of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love this book and while I did enjoy parts of it, it just didn’t completely land for me.

Clía was my favorite part of this book. She’s strong, determined, and I loved watching her grow into a more confident version of herself. The side characters were also a highlight, each unique and adding charm to the story.

And I really loved that the romance started with friendship. Clía and Ronan work so well together in that space, and I was here for their banter. But when it came to the romance itself, I didn’t quite feel the slow build or longing I was expecting. It was obvious they were supposed to be falling for each other, but their feelings sometimes came across a bit immature. I just wanted… more yearning, more tension.

The pacing was also a sticking point for me. here were moments where I was hooked, and then others where it dragged with repetitive situations. It made the story feel a little uneven.

In the end, it was still a fun read with some great moments, but I was left wishing for a tighter pace and a romance that made my heart ache just a little bit more.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Harper Voyager for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was really interested in the premise, but sadly, I just couldn’t finish this one. I tried picking it up several times, and it never fully pulled me in. The heavy info-dumping at the start made things feel a bit overwhelming and sometimes confusing, and none of the characters really left much of an impression. They felt too underdeveloped to connect with. The plot didn’t really grab me either, so it was hard to stay interested. I can see how it might click with some readers, but for me, it just didn’t have the spark to keep me going.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC.

Why Did I Read?

This book was originally titled Medievally Blonde, and was marketed as a medieval Legally Blonde retelling. Legally Blonde is an all time favorite movie so I was sold! Due to what I assume are legal reasons, the book has been retitled as The Princess Knight.

My Thoughts:

Well things got off to a rocky start when I was inundated with a lot of names: of people, countries, entities, regions, all in the first 5-10% of the book. The story has a medieval Irish background so the names were really hard to remember, in addition there is simply a massive amount of info dumping in the first section. I pushed through.

Unfortunately, things didn't improve tremendously. The story centers around Clia, who has her betrothal broken by Domhnall, because she isn't serious enough and he needs a serious warrior queen. Clia decides to follow him to a renowned military school to prove she could be that fierce warrior. It sounds good, right? However, I feel like the story followed the plot of Legally Blonde so closely it was to the detriment of THIS story. It almost felt like this story was being forced into following the plot of legally blonde instead of a natural retelling. It felt like it was to the detriment of having this story be told. In the last quarter of the book, events deviated (war is decidedly different than a court case) and that felt much more natural.

Now, the characters were individually fine. But as I rewatched legally blonde after reading this, the thing that made the movie so good was Elle. Elle had such a big personality knowing exactly what she was after, she was charismatic and quirky, determined and funny, and throughout the movie, showed a great arc of growth. She made the movie what it was. Clia couldn't hold this story up. Clia was .. fine. But she was also a little bland. She likes fashion and wants to learn to be a warrior. I needed to see more of that. I wanted to see personal pursual of her growth as a warrior vs only some private training sessions with Ronan. Speaking of, for such a renowned military school did they ever have any other classes? I'll be honest, I was skimming by the second half but they had less classes than Fourth Wing.

Ronan is the stalwart captain of the guard for Domhnall. They're friends. I liked Ronan just fine. But him and Clia as a thing was just okay? I love captain of the guard / training montage tropes but I wasn't drawn into their relationship emotionally.

This book is also very long. At one point I saw I was 300 pages in but only barely over 50%! I think the story could have benefited from cutting parts of the first half. By the time anything interesting happened it was 70% in and I was in it just to finish it.

This book is supposed to be adult but felt VERY YA. I think if it HAD been YA, it would've been better! It could've had a coming of age character arc and self discovery theme. I'm not sure, it just felt YA but with older characters.

Now, despite all my issues with this book, I will say it had great queer and neurodiverse rep (and perhaps disability rep, whether it be a magical ailment or autoimmune issue with Ronan). I always appreciate the diversity rep.

In short:

This fell short for me based on variety of reasons and could have stood better with less stringent parallels of the Legally Blonde plot. I did buddy read this with a friend who enjoyed it more than me, so if a fantasy medieval retelling of Legally Blonde sounds intriguing to you, this could still be a winner for you!

(actual rating: 2.5 stars)

One of the prevailing thoughts I had while reading this was, “I’m not crazy, right? This is super Legally Blonde coded?” I resisted the urge to check other readers reviews to confirm my suspicions- only to be delighted when I discovered that this book was, at one point, actually titled Medievally Blonde.

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, especially the back half. I went in with zero expectations (I try my hardest to avoid reading book descriptions before starting) and found myself cheering for Clea within the first 30 pages. Her journey- from shedding her naivety to steadily adding to her list of strengths- was a joy to read. To be clear, Clea didn’t need to change; who she was at the beginning wasn’t flawed or weak. But watching her choose to grow and rise above the low expectations of those around her was so satisfying (in a definite “take that!” kind of way).

I also loved that basically every single character in the book is queer, without it ever needing to be explicitly stated. It simply is . My only real struggle was keeping track of the names- normally I’d look up audio clips for pronunciation, but instead I just made them up in my head, almost certainly incorrectly, which definitely added to my confusion.

All in all:
♥ Beautiful cover
♥ A main character you can’t help but rally behind
♥ A slightly slow middle fourth
♥ A fantastic back half
♥ A sweet romance with an absolutely besotted male lead

At the time of writing, I’m not sure if this is a standalone or the start of a duology (or more). Either way- yes, read it. If you don’t love it as much as I did, that’s okay. It works perfectly well as a standalone. But if you’re like me and do love it, please join me in begging for a sequel! My free title suggestion: The Warrior Queen (follows the naming convention, and honestly, I just really want to see Clea as queen!!!!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this novel- it was a joy to read and review.

She went to prove a point but in the end she found herself…
“He would learn how wrong he was to underestimate her.”

This book was such a fun read and I really want to highlight the representation in this book: mental health, queer & non-binary representation, and disability representation. Not only was this a great romantasy book but the author really showed how easy it is to have well done representation in fantasy realms.

The writing was fast paced and well developed, as the reader I could always see how much growth was achieved by the main characters, and the author highlighted how growth/healing is not a linear process. Sometimes it’s one step forward and three steeps back but it’s all about continuing to grow.

Perfect for anyone looking for a fun read and for people who also want some inspiration.