Effortlessly witty, unexpectedly romantic, and brimming with heart, this debut fantasy sparkles as brightly as its fashion-loving heroine. Princess Clía is an absolute delight—bold, stubborn, and utterly unbothered by anyone who doubts her just because she shows up to swordfight in couture. What starts as a misguided mission to win back her ex quickly turns into a journey of self-discovery, genuine empowerment, and maybe even falling for someone completely unexpected (and way more worthy).

Ronan, the brooding warrior with a secret soft side, is the perfect foil to Clía’s glittering chaos. Their chemistry is tense, tender, and full of deliciously slow-burn longing. With sharp banter, emotional depth, and a rich, immersive setting (military academy meets magical royal drama, yes please), this story hits all the right notes. Fans of The Princess Diaries with a sword, Graceling, or Red, White & Royal Blue–but make it fantasy—will fall head over heels

⭐⭐.5

This was a cute, medieval romance with a splash of political intrigue. There are somethings I really like about this book, and somethings I really don't. What I do like is the representation of different kinds of peoples in this book. LGBTQ and chronic illness rep was handled tastefully in the world building, and I really thought the author took the time to make sure they represented these groups accurately with sensitivity. I also genuinely enjoyed the world-building (albeit simple) was thorough enough to carry its weight. The characters were pretty two-dimensional, however, and this really drags the story down. This is marketed as "Legally Blonde meets YA Fantasy". While I definitely agree this should be catered to a YA audience, the rest is left to be interpreted. I did not find this anyway funny, nor particularly interesting, but I liked the overall idea. I really think there was potential here if the novel was catered and geared for an adult audience as the characters are 19+, and because ultimately, that's who this is being marketed to. The writing is juvenile, and the plot is very simple. Even the "villain" gives Disney villain evil, and there is some plot devices used that didn't really make sense for the characters.

I really wanted to like this, and I think the right audience will, but older adults will probably be let down, especially with the way this is marketed as. It's not badly written, and there is potential for a really great story, but it's a bit too simplistic with cut and dry plot.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon/Harper Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

As a HUGE Legally Blonde fan- I loved seeing Cait Jacobs' promotion of the book and knew I had to read it as soon as possible. There is A LOT of information at the beginning of the book, so much so it took me forever to get through the first act. I really enjoyed the story and the nostalgic aspects paralleling Elle made the book breeze by. Like most fantasy books- get through the info dump and you'll be set!

i reallly like Legally Blonde, so when I got the chance to read this ARC i was so hyped to check it out and it did not disappoint. the stakes get higher and higher, the chemistry better and better, and the action more and more. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This story pulled me in SO fast! If Legally Blonde picked up a sword and wandered into a fantasy world, it would come out looking something like The Princess Knight. Our FMC is quirky, determined, and the beating heart of the story.

The names are hard to pronounce (a better pronunciation guide would have helped!) and the setup of the story felt familiar, but I don’t consider that to be a bad thing. The predictably useless prince and his grumpy best friend hit their marks, though it was clear who the love interest was from the start.

I mostly appreciated how this world treats queerness as a given, and that the love interest has a chronic injury… I think it added a depth to the story without detailing the overall tone. The original sparkle to the story wore off around the second half, but that shift mirrored our FMC’s growing awareness of war, responsibility, and what it means to love and lose.

I found the writing to be solid, the pace was fast, and the overall vibe was just FUN. I tore through this in under 24 hours. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted fantasy that blends a little humor in with heart, and a touch of academy training vibes, consider this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the fun ARC!

3.5, I rounded up.

I loved that this book took inspiration from Legally Blonde. Cait Jacobs perfectly worked the movie concept into a medieval fantasy. The relationship between Cila and Ronan was the best part of the novel. Even though you know they're going to end-up together, their moments together are so sweet. I loved how Cila femininity was never down played. Her femininity was a part of her strength.

The parts of on the novel I didn't love is that Jacobs left some of the characters development off the page. Jacobs relies a lot on telling us what happen between characters instead of showing the readers. Even after major development in the relationship between two characters, we are told the aftermath. I think it would a have created more tension and impact if we are shown the interactions between characters.

DNF at 65%

I wanted to like this so bad but I just could NOT stay interested in the storyline of the characters. Was it medieval legally blonde? Sure. But like do we need that? Idk. It was so YA but it’s marketed as adult and it NEEDS to be YA cause the characters are so young and immature. I’m so sorry but this was a miss for me 🫣

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc

✨The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs✨



“From here, you can easily bend and—” “Snap their necks?”

I adored this book! Such a great homage to Legally Blonde, and all the characters were so well-rounded and their own people. The chronic illness/disability and queer rep was surprising and really well done in my opinion. While you can definitely see the influence of the Reese Witherspoon movie, it comes across delightfully in this book and is by no means a direct retelling - just an inspiration! The only thing that would have made this a better book would be if it was just a tinsy bit longer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ .5 stars and I can’t wait for you to read this when it comes out in October!

Back when this cover first dropped with the title Medievally Blonde I was all aboard. Legally Blonde is a classic for a reason, and coupled with Elithien's gorgeous art on the cover, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one.

After reading the book, I understand why they changed the title to The Princess Knight. Medievally Blonde sounded a little light-hearted for a book that actually featured a fair bit of bloodshed.

Instead of a undergrad majoring in fashion merchandising, Clía is the crown princess of her fantasy Irish-inspired kingdom, and instead of following her ex-fiancé to Harvard law school, our heroine is off to the military academy Caisleán Cósta. The Princess Knight takes the same broad plot beats and adds political intrigue, swordfights, and a little bit of magic.

What ultimately detracted from my enjoyment were the storytelling choices. From the get-go we are shown that Clía's greatest weapon is her adept social skills, so I assumed that the book would focus more on polishing that natural intellect into military strategy and political savviness; instead, it's all focused on Clía becoming a warrior. It felt like a bit of a waste to go in this direction when we could've subverted those expectations of her upbringing being a surprise strength instead of a weakness.

Aside from that, the plot is pretty straightforward, if at times a bit convenient, and the overall cast was enjoyable. Clía and Ronan had a very sweet dynamic with some heartfelt moments, and I knew from the get-go that I was going to like Niamh and Kian. I always love a queernormative world, too, and it sure does appear that our main couple is b4b!

In the end, this didn't end up being the book that I wanted it to be, but it still made for a decent read to enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

4.5, easily.

Legally blonde but make it fantasy? Yes please.

I was obsessed from chapter two and on, once we got to see the POV of Ronan, our male lead, I was taken away.

I loved all of the characters, main and supporting but I have such a specific love for Ronan and the depiction of his disabilty.

Between the queer representation and how fun it was to watch a Medieval/Fantasy retelling of Legally Blonde unfold in front of me.. I can't recommend this enough.

Unfortunately I've decided to DNF this one. I got 100 pages in and still wasn't very into the story and that's my sign to stop reading. I don't have any problems with the writing, I just couldn't get a feel for the characters. The FMC going to train at an academy to impress/win over a guy just gives me the ick. And according to the blurb she's not going to end up with him anyway, so it just felt kind of pointless. Idk, I can definitely see how others may enjoy this, I might just not be in the right mood for it at the moment! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was soo cute! It had been kicking my feet and giggling. The queer rep took me by surprise and I didn't anticipate it as I wasn't aware. It was very engaging, this world, and I was very interested in its dynamics and the way it works. I wanted more to be honest. I was rooting for our main couple a lot and adored that ending. It's everything my gremlin heart wanted.

A Princess and a knight set in the medieval times? This just became my new favorite book! Special thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collin’s for a digital arc of this book! I have been waiting so long for this book. I saw this book long ago on tiktok and knew it would be for me. I was immediately hooked by the plot and story. It was slightly slow at first and I was slightly confused on how the world’s magic worked but I had so much fun reading this. I loved the characters and related very closely to the fmc at times. You could really feel the live and effort that went into this book. I’m excited to purchase a physical copy when it comes out and I will be recommending this to everyone I know!

I first came across this title on social media, when it was being promoted as "Medievally Blonde," and I will say that while I understand why they decided to change the title, I actually think "Medievally Blonde" was carrying a lot of weight in the service of the book and kinda wish it had kept that title instead. "The Princess Knight" is overly generic, tells me very little about the plot or setting, and feels like it's just playing too safe.

The actual book though? Super fun, perfect for fans of Legally Blonde and romantasy, and had me staying up all night to finish. I adored the MC's social intelligence and at times bull headed decision-making. My only issue was that the internal clock of the narrative felt a little forced - I had a little trouble suspending my belief that these students needed less than a year of training to fight the battles that they did. But overall, it was a very fun and engaging read and I would recommend!

Knight and Princess? Attending the most elite and competitive academy? Found family? Cute pet? Magical weapon? SIGN ME UP. 👏📢🗣️

This book is about Clía, The Princess of Alainndore, who has to marry Prince Domhnall of Scailca to strengthen their tie between countries and secure the favor of the Draoi. Approaching their time of betrothal, Domhnall suddenly withdraws from their marriage that incite the eagerness in Clía to come to Casileán Cósta. Everything went sideways and as unexpected since she came to train in the strongest military academy.

“Perfection isn’t something you can plan, but instead what happens when you accept what you can’t control.”

Clía - I love that she always stands up for herself after every single time the other warriors, even the higher ups, doubt and underestimate her just because she is a royal. She never cease to prove everyone’s wrong and continue to strive for the best (with Ronan too 😝). Even though I must admit, I was a bit embarrassed for her when she first arrived at Casileán Cósta because she was not aware of how the princess title was not important there. But the way she improved throughout the end of the story makes me love her moree. She is a strong and a smart warrior in the midst of battle, using every advantage that she can find to outweigh her own weaknesses. Her compassion and love for others are also worth the mentioned. No wonder Ronan is head over heels for her (Niahm probably too). NOT TO MENTION SHE ALSO LIKES GIRLS????

Ronan - he is definitely a WALKING GREEN FLAG. Find a man like him. He is very gentle and screams genuine in everything that he does. His determination, the way he can be angry with his best friend when he knows he is wrong and that anger is reasonable. AND HE LIKES BOYS TOO???

Domhnall - he is pretty complicated. This princeling will do whatever it takes for the sake of his kingdom, and his approach to that may be a little bit harsh. 😭 but he is still a good person deep inside. He pushes Ronan to do whatever he thinks is right and good for him, talks to Clía about her relationship with Ronan, definitely their biggest shipper LMAO.

Niahm - I LOVE HERRRRR, she may seem a little bit rude at first but she redeems herself guys it’s all good and Clía’s biggest protector other than Ronan of course.

Sarait - okay she is adorable and one of Clia’s best friend!! Her and Kian are soo cuteee, I love them so much! Her sewing abilities just build this cute friendship between her and Clía!

“Morality and doubt all fall away when a sword is coming for your neck.”

It is safe to say that I love all of the characters and none of them are annoying so it made the reading journey very enjoyable and bearable. The queer representations here are also perfect. The pacing was not too fast and not too slow, so it felt right with everything complicated going on.

The plot was actually really good with how everything led up to the war between Scáilca (Casileán Cósta) and Tinelann because of how desperate Tinelann was to gain advantage over other countries because their land was deteriorating due to the previous king’s greed. But I wished the intensity of the war and how dangerous and close it was could be shown more because despite its theme of war, murder, and betrayal, it still felt pretty ‘light’ but I guess it was just because of the romance and relationships between the characters. Their quests and trainings took pretty much the first three part of the book with a certain important event unfolding, revealing secrets and unexpected surprises. The last part was pretty short for the feud between the countries involved and was resolved pretty quickly.

I love how Clía is such a fast learner and she can be the one to beat you know who, it’s just like she’s saving the love of her life. I also fw the fact that Clía and Ronan can follow their dream and even though another war may be close, Clía is the first person to actually cares about her kingdom and secure it to the best condition it can be if face with another country, even though she is just the princess.

thank you so much to netgalley and harper voyager for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
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domhnall and clia have a planned alliance that will unite their neighboring kingdoms; it is supposed to be perfect... until he refuses to propose. so, as anyone would have done, clia follows him to the military academy he's training at.

she then meets ronan, one of domhnall's guards who quickly becomes interested in clia. but, a war is on the horizon.
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cait jacobs has created a masterful fantasy inspired by legally blonde! though it is marketed as new adult, it is fade-to-black and i think this would be a fine read for ages 14 and up. while you will not be getting loads of worldbuilding, jacobs makes up for it with her fantastic fighting descriptions and political fantasy aspects.
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trigger warnings:
-violence
-death
-grief

tropes:
-disability rep
-irish folklore
-academic setting
-forced proximity
-slow burn

similar to:
-legally blonde (ofc)
-fourth wing (only in the aspect of the academic setting)

First and foremost thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

The Princess Knight was a fun read about a young woman defying what everyone thought of her. She has to prove she more than just a princess or a pretty face. In reading this you may feel it was heavily inspired by the great movie “Legally Blonde”. Honestly I wouldn’t mind a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Voyager for the advanced reader copy.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about this except to say that it was extremely confusing, Domhnall reminded me of a pre-pubescent whiney boy, and there was so much going on that I had no idea what was happening. It relied way too heavily on telling the reader what was happening, instead of showing it - which I'm not a big fan of. Also felt extremely info-dumpy at times. I felt like I was going cross-eyed trying to understand what was going on.

I was drawn in by the cover and the premise, and maybe eventually the story would live up to that, but I DNF'd at 10%.

this was SO fun! i went in knowing it was a legally blonde retelling (my fav movie ever) and i was so impressed with how it was true to the message of the story without being afraid to update/change some of the exact plot inflections. clío and ronan were SO wonderful and i loved all the side characters as well!! truly just a super fun read.

🔹My first ARC Review🔹

My sincerest thanks to Cait Jacobs, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy and the opportunity to share this review.

I was first intrigued by the charming cover art of this book while scrolling Instagram, then again by the title. Your girl is a sucker for an armored FMC baddie. Upon further investigation I noted that the story synopses was posed as a “Medieval ‘Legally Blonde’ Re telling”. Well, color me curious! While ‘Legally Blonde’ sits heavy in the nostalgia department for me, it was never a personal fave (I was more of a “Miss Congeniality” stan). So, I like to think I went into reading this story with realistic expectations for my enjoyment. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised for a multitude of reasons:

Where I held concern initially was that the FMC would exude the traditional “Elle Woods” vibe. I.e. The materialistic, barbie-girl. Sweet, superficial, oblivious and a tad annoying but also somehow endearing? I was prepared to read the phrase “Like,duh!” eventually… But her majesty Princess Cliodhna Fionnain is far more authentic than that.

Clia is a perfectionist who skillfully carries the high expectations of her parents while managing to stay uniquely optimistic and determined. She uses poise and beauty like armor and her secret love of dress making not only as a balm for the uneasiness within herself, but as a resourceful craft when admitted to the most prestigious military academy in the land. Having been jilted by her long-intended betrothed, Prince Domhnall, Clia over packs her bags and along with her lovable sidekick, Murphy, sets out to win him back.

Clia is an obvious fish out of water upon arrival to the famed military academy, Caislean Costa. Her insecurities are numerous and doubt weighs heavy as she trains, studies and takes on dangerous quests. Along the way she meets our MMC Ronan, best friend and Captain to the prince she’s trying to win back. It’s under his guidance and training Clia begins to thrive, and the two form a bond.

I live for a slow burn romance with mutual pining and can confidently say both were achieved to my personal specifications in this story. Even better? He falls first, and harder. There are a few intimate scenes but none I would categorize as “spice”.

But my favorite trope of all time is Found Family, and I feel like it was executed beautifully here. Clia’s band of royal, would-be knights is full of rivalry, banter and camaraderie as well as a dash of matchmaking. They experience love and loss together which makes them all the more devoted to one another.

Overall, Cait Jacobs’ debut fantasy was a captivating, wonderfully emotional reading experience. A nod to the iconic “Legally Blonde” with a variety of queer representation and an intimate, eye opening depiction on life with chronic illness. This story touches on the struggles of unique life experiences and the strength it takes to persevere.

I felt like the ending left a door open to possible future additions to the story and I sincerely hope that is being considered. Would definitely read!