Thank you so much to Harper Collins, Cait Jacobs, and NetGalley for my e-arc copy of The Princess Knight.

Overall Specs:
3.5 ⭐️

Genre:
Mid/Upper YA Fantasy (with a touch of romance)

Things I Loved:
•I loved seeing a FMC decide to take fate into her own hands
•I loved the military academy vibes. There’s just something about training with dangerous men *chefs kiss*
•I loved the cover art — I know that if this was sitting on a shelf, I would immediately pick it up. (And for authors and publishers, that’s half the battle right there!)

Things I Found Lacking:
•While I love seeing the FMC (Clío) challenge destiny by going to the military academy, I didn’t love that it was to follow a man, no boy (Domhnall). A boy who openly broke her heart (and their *almost* engagement)
(I understand why to include this for the plot, but I do worry about the message it might send to youngish readers — maybe I’m overthinking it?)
•I wish we got more lore for the academy. I just wanted it to not feel rushed past the appeal and story behind it all.
•Overall, I wouldn’t say that I got overly attached to these characters. (And trust me, I wanted to get attached to Ronan.)
I felt like a large portion of the plot was rushed and forced when in actuality I feel like that this could have easily been a duology with more lore, more story, more romance.

Tropes:
•Military Academy Vibes
•War is on the Horizon
•FMC and MMC size difference
•Trials, Missions, Tasks
•1 on 1 Training with FMC and MMC (if you know, you know I love this vibe)
•Mostly Strangers to Lovers (blackout romance)
•Forbidden Romance (Princess & Guard)

I’m not confident if this is being marketed as YA or Adult Fantasy, but I definitely think it’s safe to say it’s YA. I think I would love this more if it has more romance, pining, and lore. I would have loved seeing the development of these characters over two books.
Overall, it was a good book.

Fun but not that special. I first heard of this book when it was being called "Medievally Blonde," and while I understand they may have had some legal issues with that, I am disappointed with the new title. Regardless, this was fun. As a huge fan of Legally Blonde, I read this looking for parallels, and there were some points I thought could have been added. Some aspects were a bit hard to believe, also. For one, Elle Woods is already very smart and top of her class, so while everyone is shocked when she gets into Harvard, that is not because she just 'oops I'm a pretty girl'-ed her way in there (she got an almost perfect LSAT score, people!). Here, however, Clia is literally handed a spot in the most difficult warrior school because of her title of Princess. I lost respect for the character, and when Ronan mentioned that to her, I was surprised he could overcome his feelings of resentment of her.
The political side of this story goes more in depth than is necessary, and the final battle lasted a long while. There was also insufficient explanation of the world, so I was very confused about who was fighting who, and what even were these other kingdoms? Countries? Cities? I was confused. And I didn't care enough to figure it out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was good but I don’t really like it. I love a lot of romance books but it didn’t really hold my attention that well. If anything I’d get it at the library to reread it if I wanted to. If anything, I’d give it to someone who likes the Princess Bride.

I loved it! I really enjoyed the easy going feel of the book. The two downfalls is that there wasn't enough romance to me. For a book which title and cover give off romance vibes it was really slow to kick off. Other than that I enjoyed it!

This one wasn't my favorite. It was an okay read. I struggled a lot to get into the story, along with struggling with a lot of the names.
I really really loved the idea of this book. A princess attending a school to become a warrior, that sounded badass. But it fell a little flat for me. I think later on, I may try to reread this one and see if my thoughts about it change at all.

Thank you for the chance to read this arc.

The Princess Knight is a delightful and refreshing take on classic fairy tale tropes, blending adventure, romance, and a strong sense of self-discovery. This novel introduces a spirited protagonist who defies expectations, proving that courage and strength come in many forms, regardless of a crown or a sword. Jacobs crafts a charming world filled with endearing characters and a narrative that is both lighthearted and impactful. The princess in this story isn't waiting to be rescued; instead, she takes charge of her own destiny, often with wit and determination. The romance is sweet and heartwarming, developing naturally alongside the exciting plot. The writing is engaging and flows smoothly, making it a quick and enjoyable read. This book is a wonderful choice for readers who enjoy feel-good fantasy, empowering heroines, and a fresh perspective on traditional stories. It's a tale that celebrates individuality and the idea that true strength lies in being true to yourself.

I thought this book was really good! It was different than I was expecting, but not in a bad way! The writing style and story telling was great. I even enjoyed the side characters! The only thing I will say for those who may be like me is there’s someone in the book with “they them” pronouns and I haven’t ran across that while reading yet and I found myself confused at times. It’s not good or bad it’s just different adjusting to words on a page as opposed to real life. My brain did adjust it just took me sec 😂😂😂
The cover is gorgeous. I can’t wait to buy my shelf trophy!!

This is a fantastic debut! It has a good plot. Remarkable characters that I enjoyed getting to know. The writing is clear and engaging. Very entertaining. And I’m extremely satisfied with how things ended.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up

The Princess Knight is a fantasy novel about a princess, Clia, who decides to go to a military academy after a broken engagement.

Knowing this book was inspired by Legally Blonde, I was really interested to see how Clia would work to be accepted at the academy and then work to become a renowned warrior/fighter. However, it seemed this wasn't the main focus of the book. Instead, the book was more focused on the romance between Clia and Ronan, a guard and fellow student.

While the pacing was a bit slow at first, the interactions between the characters introduced later on really added to the story.

If you enjoy fantasy romances, then The Princess Knight should be your next read.

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

I truly loved The Princess Knight. This book is such a fantastic NA fantasy romance. The world Cait has created lives in my head rent free, and the romance is spectacular. I finished this book in one sitting because of how fast paced and intriguing the plot was!

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the character development of Clia. She starts the story yearning to be loved and be married, because that had been ingrained in her since she was young. Then, we watch as she overcomes her grief and accepts the idea of not being good enough to be desired by the one person she thought she’d have forever with. Once Clia learns who she is and realizes men ain’t shit, she comes to terms with who she is as a person.

I don’t think I’ve read a book that quite captures neurodivergence as well as this one has. Clia’s struggles related to my own, and being able to read her experiences felt so therapeutic.

I cannot wait to continue this series…and I do not say these words lightly, but this book feels like what reading your favorite comfort book for the first time feels like. Cait takes us on such a rollercoaster, I’ll be thinking about this book until the sequel comes out.

What first drew me to this book was the cover—it’s absolutely stunning. But what really hooked me was the concept. I’d never come across a book pitched as Legally Blonde meets Celtic mythology, and it turned out to be such a unique and fun twist.

I really enjoyed how the author wrote the FMC. She starts off fully aware of her privilege, and it was refreshing to see her grow and evolve as the story unfolded. Her determination to work hard and find where she truly belongs made her arc so satisfying to follow. The character development was strong and authentic.

I also really appreciated the representation throughout the book. There were several amazing queer characters, and their inclusion felt natural and unforced—it was just a normal part of the world, and I loved that.

The story also brought a solid dose of politics, combat, and action. The plot moved at a great pace and kept me engaged.

If I had one critique, it would be the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. While it wasn’t bad, there were moments where their connection didn’t quite land for me—it felt a little off or underdeveloped at times. That said, it didn’t take too much away from the overall experience.

Overall, this was a refreshing and entertaining read, and I’d absolutely pick up more from this author in the future!

🗡️👑BOOK REVIEW👑🗡️
The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️/5

A million thank yous to Harper Voyager US and Avon Books for allowing me to read this early!

I enjoyed this from beginning to end! I quickly fell in love with Clía’s character, and how she was feminine and elegant but could be tough and brave when she needed to be. She was not about to let anyone decide her future for her, and I loved that about her. As an avid fan of 90’s/2000’s chick flicks, I thought the Legally Blonde references were so fun and I loved the unique spin that the author put on it! I had a little bit of a hard time keeping all the world-building/politics straight, but I’m sure that’s more of a me problem than the book’s. 😂 Ronan was obviously so swoon-worthy, I knew right away that I was going to like him based on how he treated Clía like a person rather than a princess. Overall I highly recommend this to any fans of romantasy with a feminine but badass FMC!

👱🏻‍♀️Legally Blonde inspired
🏰Princess FMC/Captain of the Prince’s Guard MMC
⚔️War school setting
👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏽Fade-to-black
🤫Secrets and betrayal

OMG! This book! This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. Inspired by Legally Blonde, set in a medieval setting of gods and Druids, kingdoms and conflicts, Jacobs weaves an amazing story of growth, betrayal, and love. The characters were so loveable and I may or may not have cried a couple times, as well as screamed at my screen while reading. The pacing kept me gripped through every flip of the page, and it felt like I was dragged right into this wonderful world. The main characters were so loveable, and their growth really was impactful. The chronic illness representation was beautifully done, and it definitely made me feel seen as a person with similar struggles. The side characters were so amazing and colorful to the point where I want their own separate stories because I love them so much. The conflict was well thought out, and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I cannot give my praise to this book enough, and I very much look forward to any future projects that Cait gives us in the future! Also, go preorder this book. NOW!

It pains me to say this because the concept of Fantasy 'Legally Blonde' is fantastic, but this missed the mark for me.

The tone of this story from the first page was too light while - more YA than adult and bordering young-YA. The set-up and therefore pacing was a crawl for the first half which made it very hard for me to want to continue. I also found that the writing was clunky. The world-building left something to be desired and really didn't seem to matter to the story - just info-dumping and telling vs showing. The humor lacked for something was supposed to be comedic.

There is some great queer rep that didn't feel forced (one of the only things),

This is a good palate cleanser of a book to be sure, but for me it wasn't the next Romantasy sensation, nor did it live up to 'Legally Blonde'. As an adult debut, I would expect a bit more, but this will find it's audience - most likely in the YA area.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was truly one of my most anticipated reads of the year… I mean, Legally Blonde meets medieval fantasy romance? I was so incredibly honored to be approved to read this early and it just fell so flat for me. It had its moments, and it has absolutely wonderful disability rep as well a queer norm world, which was a breath of fresh air, but I feel like first of all, it could’ve been a good 100-120 pages shorter. It dragged throughout the first half and I found myself skimming at points to get to the 50% mark. Do I understand the purpose of the first half of the book? Yes, but it could’ve been shorter. Now, if you’re a Legally Blonde super fan like me, you will notice and appreciate lots of the moments that were nods to famous scenes, something I absolutely loved and thought the author did well. But there was no chemistry between the two main characters that had me believe they were falling in love and then it just happened? There was more chemistry between the hate to friend gal pal the FMC found and I looked forward to more of those scenes, as well as the FMC with other side characters because it advanced the plot and gave me relevant information. Did my heart drop and soar at points? Absolutely yes but this just didn’t live up to what I wanted it to be

Review contains flailing, screaming, and mild emotional damage

Let me tell you something: if The Princess Knight were a person, I would bake it cookies, marry it, and take its last name.
My first-ever ARC, and I was blessed by the fantasy gods themselves. This book didn’t just give me serotonin—it body-slammed me with it, then whispered, “There’s more where that came from.” And I said: YES, QUEEN, END ME.

Let’s talk characters:
Clía is everything. Autistic-coded, neurodivergent, fierce, witty, and unapologetically herself. There’s this scene—this SCENE—where she strolls into her final fight exam with zero armor, pure confidence, and every skill she learned from Ronan and the classroom. Like, hello? Peak main character energy. It was a serve. A moment. An “IN YO' FACE” to every dude who ever doubted her. I stood up. I applauded. I barked.
Ronan is sweet yet growly, and in chronic pain, which is unfortunately my type now. He’s soft where it counts and sharp where it hurts. I would knit him a weighted blanket and tell him he’s doing great.

And the banter? The slow-burn? The little moments where two very broken, very real people find comfort in each other? It made me laugh, cry, and re-evaluate my own trauma in one sitting. Thanks, I hate how much I love it.

And let’s not forget:
Disability and neurodivergence rep that felt honest, not forced.
A magical creature sidekick that I would die for, no questions asked.
A romance that simmers like a cursed soup pot—slow, a 'lil bit spicy, and slightly dangerous.

This isn’t just a fantasy book—it’s a raging war cry for more inclusive, deeply human, and emotionally intelligent storytelling in the genre. It said: “Yes, your heroes can have autism. Yes, your warriors can be in pain. Yes, softness can be strength.”
And I? I ate that up like a gremlin under a moonlit bookshelf.

Dear Cait Jacobs, I don’t know what deal you made with the gods of romantic fantasy, but I NEED BOOK TWO. My soul is not okay. My heart is still kicking around somewhere in chapter 21.
And to everyone else:
Read. This. Book.
Then come and scream with me!

Thank you Cait Jacobs for allowing me to read this book in return for my honest review. This book was highly anticipated for me and it lived up. I loved this book so much! I saw this book on threads last year and new I needed it immediately!

I've been reading a lot of serious books lately, and when I saw this listed on NetGalley, it seemed like exactly the sort of fun, quirky sort of story I was looking for. A romantasy loosely based on Legally Blonde? What a fun concept.

In the Princess Knight, we follow Clio, our Elle Woods figure. She's a princess who is soon to be engaged to a prince of a neighboring kingdom. However, that prince (Domhnall) suddenly breaks off their engagement, claiming that, with war on the horizon, he needs someone who is 'stronger' and 'more capable' as a queen for his kingdom than Clio. Clio, feeling slighted, decides to venture to the famous academy for warriors to prove herself as a warrior and get the prince back. While she's there, she befriends one of Prince Domhnall's guards, Ronan, who agrees to help her train. Together, they try to understand the motivation behind a neighboring kingdom's recent invasions.

While I do think this book was light, I'm not sure it was light in the right ways. I was expecting it to be funny, but it wasn't, really. There weren't a lot of jokes, but the lightness instead came from the...lack of depth to the story? If that makes any sense. It was a simple plot with fairly simple characters. Even in the more intense scenes (and there are several), I somehow failed to fully grasp the stakes. In general, something about this felt really YA, and I'm not really sure why.

Besides that, I think the legally blonde analogy sort of let this story down. I could see the connection, but it felt like the author wasn't sure how hard to lean into that inspiration. Clio is supposed to be an analogous to Elle Woods, but the only things that make her seem similar are that she likes to sew. She doesn't seem particularly 'weak' or 'girly,' even in the beginning, although the author does randomly throw in mentions of her doing things like packing lotions when they're leaving on scouting missions. There just wasn't enough "Elle-ness" to make her truly feel like an underestimated character, and without that extra depth, she ended up feeling a bit flat. Ronan was also a disappointing character to me. Although I did love the representation of chronic illness! But overall, I just didn't feel like he had much personality to him.

The world was also a bit disappointing. There were several aspects to the kingdom and its magic that were introduced in the beginning of the story but were then rarely mentioned again. It felt like there was a lot of potential to make this universe feel really intricate and lush, but again, it just didn't end up being fully realized

Honestly, this is one of those books where I just really didn't feel anything while reading. Not bad, but not good either. A three star book if I've ever heard of one!

I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the characters and thought the romance was sweet. Th plot kept me interested and I finished it in two days. Thanks for the arc. I will definitely be looking forward to more books by this author.

Such a fun and campy mix of Celtic myth and Legally Blonde! So much heart and humor and lovely romance. Refreshing and so much fun!