DNF

This will have to be a no from me. I got more than 40% through The Princess Knight and I have never been this bored while reading. I went in expecting a cheeky, fun romantic fantasy—something like Legally Blonde meets medieval magic—but what I got instead was a frustrating slog through flat characters, a painfully weak plot, and some of the most baffling worldbuilding choices I’ve seen in a while.

The main character, Clía, was completely unbearable. She’s whiny, privileged, and somehow always confused about the most basic things—like the fact that a prestigious military academy might actually train people to fight. She arrives not knowing how to even hold a sword, doesn’t seem to have asked anyone for information (maybe a quick chat with Ó Connor would’ve helped), and then acts shocked when she's expected to, you know, fight. This is an elite war school that accepts only a few and kicks out most of them every year, and yet when Clía drops her sword and completely embarrasses herself during a bout, she’s not sent home. Instead, the stern headmaster suggests that the academy’s best student, Ronan—who has trained his entire life for this—should waste his time babysitting her? And Ronan just... agrees? No resentment, no conflict, just a guy willing to throw away his hard-earned training time to help the girl who shouldn't even be there? Make it make sense.

The story promised magical monster-slaying adventures, but instead gave us mostly flirting on horseback. A little action is sprinkled in here and there, but most of it fades to black or is skipped entirely. There was even a moment where they discuss a creature being "poisonous" when it's actually venomous—like, have we not all seen that Tumblr post since we were teenagers? If it bites you, it's venomous. You're not eating it, so who cares if it's poisonous? It just felt lazy and uninformed.

Clía is somehow even ditzier than Elle Woods ever was, but without any of the intelligence or charm behind the glitter. She never seems to grasp the seriousness of being in a military setting. Her whole motivation for joining this academy is supposedly to “get stronger” so she can win back her fiancé Domhnall, but it’s never really explained why their marriage would help their kingdoms politically, or even what she needs to get stronger at. She barely trains, complains constantly about early mornings and hard work, and yet we’re told over and over that she’s improving and becoming this great warrior. But we never actually see that progress. She just somehow becomes good enough to kill a legendary general by the end? I didn’t even make it that far—once I started spoiling the ending for myself, I was honestly relieved I didn’t push through, because respectfully, what the actual hell? I’m supposed to believe that someone who picked up a sword maybe six months ago can beat one of the most skilled, battle-hardened fighters in the country? Absolutely not.

And the romance between Clía and Ronan? Completely bland and unearned. They had no chemistry, no tension, and nothing that made me root for them. Clía kept acting like she still loved Domhnall, even though she followed him to the academy just to prove a point that, frankly, only highlighted how right he was to walk away. The girl couldn’t fight, didn’t want to learn, and spent more time whining than growing. She didn’t deserve Ronan’s attention or his efforts, and it felt like the only reason they ended up together was because the story needed a romance.

All the other character dynamics felt just as forced. The book tried to create a “found family” vibe, but it fell completely flat. There was no real emotional connection between the characters, and their friendships felt more like plot devices than anything genuine. I didn’t actively hate any of them, but I also didn’t care about them at all. The only ones who even slightly intrigued me were Niamh and Domhnall, and that’s probably because they had goals and personalities that actually made sense.

The worldbuilding was an absolute mess. The first chapter threw out like a dozen kingdom names with no context, and I found myself just skipping parts because trying to keep track of everything in an ebook was impossible. I didn’t want to keep flipping back and forth to the map or glossary every time something new was thrown at me. It relied way too much on telling the reader what was happening instead of showing it, which made it hard to stay engaged. The pacing was choppy, the writing awkward and clunky, and the plot development felt both rushed and undercooked at the same time. There was too much going on, none of it well-explained, and it felt like the author was trying to cram five different tropes into one underdeveloped book.

Honestly, the idea had potential. I liked the concept of a fish-out-of-water princess trying to prove herself, especially in a combat setting. The cover is immaculate and sold me on what I hoped would be a fun, empowering story. But this book needs a serious rewrite. If you're looking for a story with the cleverness, charm, or growth arc of Legally Blonde, just watch the movie. This isn't it. This is Legally Blonde Goes to Medieval Times in the worst, most tropey, YA-fied way possible. The plot is way too weak to call this a romantic fantasy—or even a romantasy, honestly. There’s just nothing here that stands out or feels meaningful. It’s not funny, not romantic, not adventurous. Just disappointing.

I really enjoyed this book! This is one of my favorite reads this year. I really liked the characters in this book especially Clía, and I loved to see her grow into a more confident and determined person as the story unfolded. What I liked about Ronan is that he was always there for Clía, but also he respected her space. As for Domnhall, he wasn’t my favorite character, but I also understood his reasonings behind his actions, even though I didn’t really agree with how he would handle them. Overall, this was a fun read and it kept me entertained from start to finish and can’t wait to own a physical copy!


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

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This story is pitched as Legally Blonde if it were in a fantasy setting where the princess goes to a military training academy in order to win back the prince who rejected her. I appreciated the echoes of Legally Blonde that this story had without being too overly repetitive or predictable. The concept is fun and I liked seeing Clia grow over time. There is a great cast of characters that are all different and memorable. The banter was good, and the autism and chronic pain representation were nice to see explored.
The book was good, I think it just didn't really grab my interest as much as I had hoped. I was really excited for this as I've followed the author on social media while she was developing this book, so perhaps my expectations were too high.
I think I was also expecting more from the worldbuilding. The political intrigue and the dynamics between the different countries was interesting. A few settings felt explored, like the training academy she goes to and the woods. But the rest of the worldbuilding just kinda felt flat and fill-in-the-blank. Considering nobles from all over come to this particular school, it might've been cool to see them talk about or share their culture(s), but it just kinda felt generic.
Overall, I'm glad I read it though I didn't love it as much as I had hoped.

For fans of Legally Blonde meets Dungeons and Dragons and Game of Thrones vibes. It’s an Instant Classic.
This review may feature spoilers:

A war is brewing in the land of Inismian which houses five kingdoms––each associated with a patron god and enchanted object. Every royal is feeling “the calm before the storm”. So when Princess Clia and Prince Domhnall are caught in the crossfire– each wanting to protect their own kingdom, what’s going to happen?

Princess Clia of Álainndore is destined to be wed to Prince Domhnall of Scáilca. But when Domhnall breaks off the engagement because he “thinks” Clia can’t be a warrior, she takes fate into her own hands by enrolling into the prestigious military academy Caisleán Cósta. There she learns the language of war, embraces her own power, and falls for the resilient and dashing warrior: Ronan.

This medieval fantasy has it all! One minute we’re at an engagement party or discussing fashion design and the next we’re hunting monsters, exploring crystal caves, and protecting castles under siege.

If you like Irish Folklore, this book features Irish banshees, Irish druids called Draoi, and cute sea creatures called Dobhar-chu’s. The romance is fierce and the sword craft is described so well!

The inclusivity in this book was sewn with magic, love and care featuring Queer Normative Worlds (which made me feel so safe!), Disability Rep. and even Mental Health Representation which made me feel seen.

The writing was cinematic which means I was able to visualize everything vibrantly and deeply down to the facial expressions such as the anxieties Clia felt as she navigated being a Princess at Casleán Cósta. The author is excellent at showcasing each character’s emotions.

Princess Clia’s whimsical demeanor makes everyone underestimate her–which she brilliantly uses to her advantage. Her fashion-sense and determination is what makes her unpredictable as she defeats two of the main villains in the story. The author writes a narrative where Clia’s pain is tangible when she unalive’s Kordislean in order to save the love of her life: Ronan. I was speechless!

This novel is a Dual POV of Clia and Ronan. Clia’s Character Arc was learning she’s enough just as she is and her wants & needs are also important. She also experienced what reciprocated love felt like and how her own feminine firecress energy is a force to be reckoned with. If you like Lady Knights, Princess Clia becomes one of the strongest warriors in this novel.

Ronan’s Character Arc–– he’s my baby! I love him so much! He’s humble, protective, and resilient. But his resiliency was his caveat. He eventually learns that rest is important too and to give himself credibility for his achievements as he heals from trauma but finds love along the way. Both Clia and Ronan become an iconic warrior duo!

When Murphy (Clia’s pet dobhar-chú) drowns the enemy troops off their boat– I loved that! He was involved more than Clia knew. I could totally see Murphy listening in on the court war meetings.

Niamh and Clia’s authentic friendship development was comedic and fulfilling. They became friends exactly when they needed it the most. The found family in this book makes you fall in love with all of these characters.

Winding castle tunnels, winter wars, love and betrayal, this novel is set to release October 14th, 2025! A devotion of gratitude to Cait Jacobs and the Harper Voyager team for the opportunity to read an ARC of this beautiful medieval tale!

When her assumed betrothal falls through because she’s “just a pretty face,” Clíodhna is devastated. Her kingdom desperately needs the alliance, so when she hears that her would-be-fiancé is attending the most prestigious war college in the county, she decides to enroll as well to show just how brilliant of a mind a pretty face can hold. What could go wrong with a few extra practice sessions with his very talented, very handsome captain of the guard?

What a fun, delightful read! Being based on Legally Blonde was apparent, but in a omg-this-is-a-refreshing-homage way and not an I-couldn’t-think-of-my-own-plot way. The story diverged from the movie relatively early on as the book took on a life and depth of its own. Clía and Ronan are so earnest and precious and I LOVE THEM. Bonus: unexpected rep for chronic pain and sensory challenges. All in all, an absolutely wonderful read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Content warnings: violence, occasional language

Loved this one! Such an immersive and magical read. The characters were so lovable. Can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy!!

OMG I loved this book. The slow burn romance, the pining and yearning, the morally, just good person of a love interest, it was all fantastic. The plot, the character arcs, the development and the friendships were amazing. The LGBTQ representation was flawless, the use of they/them pronouns were seamless, and not the defining trait of the character. Sexuality in this was just something that was, not the main plot point for the characters, and I loved it.

Clia and Ronan's friendship and romance was pure, not morally grey or sketchy. Their feelings were not toxic, they were true, and just so lovely to read. Ronan was a fantastic character, representing chronic pain, disability, as well as maintaining autonomy and not letting it define him. He treated Clia, and well, everyone with utmost respect and kindness, his feelings and ego never wavering. Clia's character development was something to behold as well.

5/5 stars for me! I love a good legally blonde retelling!

3.5 stars 🌟

I enjoyed this book but it took me a while to get through. Throughout most of The Princess Knight, there aren’t very high stakes until the end. The main characters feel fleshed out BUT there were a bunch of background characters that played into certain plot points in the book where I forgot who they were. I think sizing down the cast of characters would’ve helped.

This was a pretty fun read but I felt it was a bit slow and dragged for some bits. I think it could’ve been shorter or introduced the climax a bit earlier. This could’ve made the ending have a bit more of an impact.

Other than some nitpicks and problems with the pacing, I liked this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! This review is my honest opinion based on my thoughts on the book.

CONTENT WARNINGS (may have spoilers):

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•War violence
•Chapter 27 has a fade-to-black scene between two characters. It’s not that descriptive, I would rate it closed door personally.

I appreciated the diverse rep in this book, worldbuilding and characters were solid but it felt a little predictable and I didn't find myself reaching for it and eager to find out what happens next, I'm sure this will have its fans it just didn't quite do it for me

It's pretty obvious fairly quickly what the inspiration for this book is, once you get a few chapters in. There are serious Elle Woods vibes, especially at the beginning, but as the story progresses, it wanders away from the movie plotline enough to stand on its own.

You can immediately recognize some familiar characters, and the writing captures the heartwarming, kick-ass aspects of its inspiration while being its own story, set in an alternate medieval style world. I say that because the author uses the word "okay" which is normally a turn off for me in non-modern settings.

The characters feel pretty realistic, not overly swoony or anything stereotypical of romantasies. It's refreshing to see a cast of characters who are pretty equal in their abilities and weaknesses, instead of exaggerated heroes and heroines.

Overall, it's a cute book and a great re-imagining of a favorite movie.

I don't know if this book is the start of a series, as there seems to be space left for a sequel, but it is a satisfying ending on its own.

I think this is so amazing and powerful and I can’t wait to to share this with my partner and friends! This was delightful and so much fun!

I would want to begin by stating that I believe this to be a distinctive story with well-rounded worldbuilding. I thought these were incredibly done, and I especially liked seeing people with autism and chronic pain represented in a queer-normative setting! Although it's not always simple, the portrayal was skillfully woven into the plot and characters without coming across as awkward or overdone.

My favorite character was Ronan. Domhnall Unfortunately I had a love hate relationship with him. I didn’t like his attitude in most of the book but at the end he got kinda better. Clía Was kinda alright even tho she’s the love interest her pov just wasn’t that interesting to me. And even tho Ronan and Clia get together they gaved me more friends vibes though out the whole book. I did enjoy the banter they had with each other but they should’ve developed more together. Something that bothers me and I still don’t get is how Clia was able into the military school. I get that she’s a royal but she can’t use a sword and Ronan spent years training to be a worthy warrior. This is a debut novel so it was okay and the representation is nice. Thank Cait Jacobs and NetGalley for the early read.

first of all — curse you for this being the start of a series (i hope, i think, i pray) i thought it was a standalone and now im literally pleading for more. as a queer reader, i don’t tend to read a lot of “straight” (bc this book is not that but it’s the closest word i have) books, but this was a feat of its own. i love love the normalized queerness in this book it makes sense for the fantasy genre and it was so refreshing to read. i genuinely loved this book i read it in 2 days and it was my first step back into fantasy after a contemporary romance kick. i loved the characters and their quirks but especially how honest clía is. she’s just an amazing fmc for an overly anxious people pleasing woman like myself. i genuinely had fun with this book. i laughed, i swooned, i cried, and i cheered so thank you for that 💕

This book immediately sucked me with the princess being rejected by her prince because he thought that she was too weak to rule a kingdom with and instead of breaking down and losing herself, she decided to become a knight. I loved the atmosphere and the competition that came with the knight school. And of course, I loved the trope of an off-limits person training her, and they eventually fall in love. The side characters were well rounded, and fully fleshed out. I saw some things coming, but there was still one plot twist that had me gasping. It was great to see the main character finding herself and realizing she didn’t want to become a warrior for a man, but she really did it for herself and finding her confidence in the end.

3.5⭐️ do you love trials? tribulations? names that are 10+ letters long? telling a man to his face that he's worthless scum? Well, look no further than-
✨🛡️⚔️Medieval Legally Blonde🏰🤺✨

This book is an easy read, built from a well known and well loved fantasy structure- a woman, out of spite, enrolls herself in her world's most prestigious fighting institute and uses her assumed total failure as motivation to exceed expectations! And me, a simple woman who loves spite and training montages, will eat that up every time.

There was, however, some follow through missing on these ideas. I think I would have given this a higher rating if it hadn't tried to force very complicated political and religious systems into the exact storyline of legally blonde. As an avid fantasy reader, it fell a bit flat to me when they brought up conflicts like "I am breaking off this political engagement between two kingdoms," or "We have two royals [their kingdoms' only heirs to the throne respectively] training at a deadly combat college," without discussing ANY of the consequences of these decisions in a broader political / world-building standpoint?? And none of that is a spoiler, it's all on the back, but we get no answers to things like "kingdom relations are just cool after that?" and "so 25% of the class does not survive this combat college, and it's fine to send the only bloodline heirs of two royal families there? one of whom will certainly be killed because she has zero combat training?" Plus, some of the broader emotional topics in the romance plot (chronic pain, self doubt, self respect, etc) were not explored very maturely. They were touched on and then resolved very shallowly, with no deeper conversation than like "remember, we all deserve to give ourselves empathy" "okay, you're right."

I read this book on the beach and I really enjoyed it, but I don't think it was meant to be a beach read. I'm very glad I read it but I will be honest some skimming was involved, and nothing was really lost from that. Take this book as it is, and you'll have a great time!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Medievally Blonde, I will always love you.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This was a fun debut fantasy novel! Legally Blonde, but medieval? War college instead of Harvard? Princess and Bodyguard? Sign me the hell up! The Princess Knight is funny, tender, and emotional. I was rooting for Clía and Ronan from the start, but watching their friendship grow into love with so much trust and honesty was great. Clía had so much growth over the coarse of the book; I loved watching her strength and resilience as she navigated unfamiliar customs. I enjoyed the disability representation in Ronan's character. The side characters were fun, and I loved all the diversity and representation represented in each of them, as well. I'm excited to see where Cait's writing journey takes her.

Okay- let’s get with it. For a debut, this is actually a great book. It makes me so hyped to see what comes next for this author.

I won’t lie, I was going to go for 4 ⭐️ BUT…. This is a vibe. Huge LGBTQ+ rep in the right ways and has all the right elements of a cute and … May I dare say somewhat cozy fantasy? It’s not a cozy fantasy BUT the vibes give medieval romance lovers such a feel.

As a debut novel, this book has a solid and sturdy foundation. I hadn’t seen The Princess Bride before reading it, but after watching the movie afterward, I could see the similarities—especially in the side characters and the sense of adventure. The author's writing is clear and easy to read, which made the story accessible and enjoyable. I'm curious to see how she evolves as a writer in future books. Some parts of the story felt a bit unnecessary or out of place, but overall, I liked the book and think it was a strong start.

If you like YA fantasy/medieval books, you’ll love this one!

Princess Clía and Prince Domhnall are from neighboring kingdoms and are supposed to one day get married. When Domhnall ends their courtship due to believing Clía would make an inadequate queen as war approaches both their kingdoms, Clía follows him to a military academy to prove she is stronger than he believes.

I love how legally blonde was sort of an inspiration in this story, but it’s still very unique. I loved how Clía’s “girly” personality didn’t get in the way of her becoming a warrior and how she grew as a character. I really enjoyed the side characters and their (physical and mental) journeys as well.

I thought this was a well-written book that I would definitely recommend to any YA readers!