The Princess Knight is a Legally Blonde x medieval times crossover. Worldbuilding was minimal, and if you've seen Legally Blonde you can pretty much guess the big reveals. This was fun and the plot of the book sounded so intriguing, but upon finishing the book I was left wishing for a little better execution. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Summary:
The Princess Knight (otherwise known as Medievally Blonde) follows Princess Clía as she sets out to prove herself in a ruthless knight training academy after her royal engagement takes a shocking turn. However, Clía is woefully underprepared for the academy’s demands, and unexpectedly bonds with her ex-betrothed’s captain of the guard, Captain Ronan. With Clía and Ronan growing closer and war brewing on the horizon, they must choose between the future they imagined and the reality they must face of love, loss, and loyalty.

Review ⚔️🧝🏻‍♀️💎
I was really excited to read this when I first heard of it! I have been following the author Cait Jacobs for years now (originally for her Grishaverse content) and was so excited when she announced her debut. And let me be clear, this was entertaining and a wonderful concept that blending the medieval era with Celtic folklore and, of course, the beloved classic Legally Blonde.

There was so much potential for this book. I loved the concept of exploring Celtic folklore but the magic system & mythology fell flat for me. The world-building didn’t come across as fully fleshed out. The major conflict felt superficial. I would’ve loved a more in-depth explanation of the politics and various religions that influenced the rising tensions between kingdoms. Which brings up another issue: there was sooo much “tell” and not enough “show.” We read the Clía felt nervous because of xyz, but how was that shown?? Did she feel butterflies in her stomach did her hands tremble did she experience anxiety? The love between Clía and Ronan similarly felt superficial, with the show vs. tell contributing to a lack of chemistry between the characters. It was obvious they cared for each other but only because the author told us they did. Ronan confessing his love came out of nowhere. In all, the characters lacked depth and made it hard for me to relate or even care about them. Additionally, every conflict seemed to be magically resolved with little to no explanation?? Why did everything seem to work out for them? Clía just happens to stumble on a magic gem from a religion that is barely touched on in the book and they don’t question it.

Finally, when I think Legally Blonde, I think rom-com. This was definitely a fantasy that reads more YA than adult, falling flat of a developed romance while failing to be a comedy. This book was just not as funny as I expected it to be. However it was still entertaining to read and I enjoyed picking out which plot lines were inspired from the movie! There is so much queer, disability, and chronic illness rep in this story and it was beautifully done. The cover art is also just gorgeous and I’m so happy that the author has accomplished a longtime dream.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

⚔️Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!! All opinions are my own. ⚔️

Goodreads Review published on Sunday, June 8 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7621422016)
Instagram Review posted Sunday, June 8 (https://www.instagram.com/p/DKqKxuvSqd1/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==)

This being a Legally Blonde retelling feels like a crime they didn’t call the book Medievally Blonde or something similar. It’s very…YA. Which there is nothing wrong with YA( I still reread Six of Crows, Percy Jackson, Hunger Games etc) I felt being inspired by the movie this book would have more depth. Legally Blonde makes statements on judging people based on what they look like, and that’s their privilege is, this being really touch on that. The Celtic setting was neat, and the LGBT rep, but I didn’t connect with the characters.

Just a little underwhelmed, but wasn’t a bad read. It just didn’t necessarily stand out.

What a book! Medieval anything has always been a favorite of mine and as a retired theater kid I was very excited for a medieval legally blonde-esque story. Cait Jacobs didn't disappoint. I found the world building easy to follow but also well established. Extremely early on in the story I found I genuinely cared for all the characters and wanted to see how their stories would unfold, which is often not the case so early in a book.

I really loved that Domhnall had reasons for what he did. While he was certainly far from perfect when it came to handling his problems, he wasn't written off as a self absorbed Warner Huntington. Every character was flawed, but these flaws didn't make them irredeemable.

The romance was also really refreshing. It wasn't insta-love, both characters had their own dreams and goals and weren't willing to throw it away for newfound attraction, but when both Ronan and Clía did realize the full scope of their feelings, it had been earned. I also really liked how relationships, both platonic, familial, and romantic, were handled. I think it's because I cared about every character that I really enjoyed seeing the relationships form and develop between them.

I thought the irish folklore was well done and that the author really gave attention to its roots while incorporating it in a fantastic way. The ending felt really quick, I have many more questions and things I'd like to see (especially regarding Clía's parents), so I hope that the author plans on continuing with this world and turning it into a series (I'm not sure if that is the plan).

Again, such an entertaining story, and a fantastic debut!

This book was Originally marketed as kind of like legally blonde and the book was originally called medieval blonde, but I honestly don’t think it’s that similar to legally blonde. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good book. I’m rating it so far a four out of five stars because it’s so good however, it’s like a missing just one little tiny thing and I don’t wanna say five out of five yet but this is such a long read. This book is longer than I thought it was going to be, but I am reading it quickly, like I am going through it. I am devouring this book. The plot twist? Insane I had to put the book down at 12 AM to go to sleep Anyways, read it. It’s so good. This is the best way that I can write my review without spoiling anything.

Formally titled <i>Medievally Blonde</i> this borrows from Legally Blonde, while still giving us a fully original plot. It is a blast to see the similar scenes but never felt too heavily borrowed.

I will say this that this is a lot more dense and lore-rich than I was expecting, which is NOT a bad thing, just different. It isn’t quite as cutesy and fun as its marketing would suggest and as long as you go in with the right expectations I think this is a great read!

What’s to love…
- rich in Irish folklore and mythology
- political intrigue
- Grade A banter
- he’s down so bad for her
- academic setting
- queer normative world and bisexual MCs
- SLOW BURN
- Military Academia setting
- Chronic pain rep (MMC)

What’s not to love…
- I really enjoyed the romance for its sweetness but it did lack a bit of chemistry/tension
- its only a standalone! I want a second book (marriage of convenience please!)

This was a fantastic debut and I’m really excited to see what’s to come from this author!


🌶️- Only 1-2 fade to black scenes. This is classified as adult but would be a great read for an advanced 12+ reader as well.

I was excited to receive this ARC because the premise sounded so cool but this book was just not for me. I think if I were still a teen I wound have enjoyed it but the pacing was a little slow and I didn’t feel like the main characters had good chemistry. While not horrible written for a debut novel, I feel like we were just being told about people and surroundings instead of feel immersed in them. I hope this book finds an audience that will appreciate it .

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ (fade to black)

Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager for this gifted ARC 💕

This book was….odd. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that left me with no many unanswered questions, I wondered if I was given an alpha or beta copy. But no. This was a finalized copy.
While I did enjoy the book, I can’t help but feel unsatisfied because of all the questions I have.

Not to mention, the ending was lead into even MORE unanswered questions.

I enjoyed this story because of the action and romance. The action of training and the romance between princess and knight. It was a good read. I had trouble with the names but it was okay. I do also like the happy ending.

Okay - have you ever seen that movie Cadet Kelly with Hillary Duff? Meet Princess Cliodhna (no i still don't know how to pronounce it after reading this whole book)
she is SUCH a cutie girlie pop, who finds herself at a
"school" of sorts to become a Curadh (basically a really high ranking and scary knight) to win back a Prince ... (i know yuck, but hang in there).
DURING this time she finds confidence in herself and her skills, her personality and her resilience, AND may accidentally develop a crush for her ex-fiancés Captain
While I could barely pronounce any of the kingdoms or names - I absolutely adored this story!! Devoured it in like 2.5 days, it's in third person but still kinda like split POV between her and him (which I always LOVE)
There is betrayal, plot twists, romance, empowerment, confidence, and so much more!!! And i loved the ending, anytime we are blessed with an epilogue l'm always a happy reader

The princess knight was captivating. It sheds light on when people think a princess is no more than pretty dresses and balls. The need to prove them wrong and to prove to yourself that you are more.

I absolutely love the female lead, despite every negative stone thrown at her, she got stronger, she was brave and at the end of the day she was not just a princess, she was a princess knight.

Don't get me started on Ronan. He was the only one who saw her, even behind her royal mask. He helped her learn to fight and was there for her. But, as he saw her, she saw him too. Their love grew slowly, creeping in through the crevices of their heart and forged a home for both of them.

I loved this story. It was so much more than i expected. It was an adventure, a fight, a love. It was mind-blowing in the best way possible.

3.75
I was wary going into this book, knowing the author was on bookish social media first, but I actually enjoyed this.

I thought both the relationships in this book and the plot were well fleshed out. I also liked how the ending could lead this into becoming a series, yet it perfectly works as a standalone.

I loved Clía. She was such a fun character without being annoying. I kinda wish this book was only from her point of view, but I did enjoy reading from Ronan's as well. His and Clía's relationship was really sweet.

The found family aspesct was probely my favorite thing about this book, since I'm a big sucker for it. I really loved how all the characters grew together in the end. Another big thing I loved was the casual queerness this book had. It always makes me really happy to see that in fantasy books.

I think falling for her was inevitable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager, for this eARC.

This was different than what I usually read but I did like it. This is my first book from this author, and they did not disappoint. I truly enjoyed reading this and I loved the characters.

This book had the premise to be a really great light fantasy. Inspired by legally blonde, we follow Clia and her journey to prove shes a worthy leader and fighter.
The beginning of this was really promising! I liked the atmosphere to begin with and I thought the world and dynamics were really interesting. Clia also seemed like a very promising character as I was rooting for her through the first half of the book.
The book had a ton of representation including chronic illness! I really enjoyed seeing this portrayed in a book and having it be consistent throughout.
Although this was had the makings of an amazing book, there are some things I had issues with. One was I didn’t feel like we went in depth enough of Clia’s training at the academy. It was a lot of telling and not showing in this regard for me. It made the fighting scenes later on feel very unrealistic as I didn’t feel she earned her skills.
My next issue are the characters. I really didn’t feel any connection to them. I enjoyed some scenes between Clia and Rona but no really had me rooting for them.
My last issue was the entire last half of this book. It felt very messy. Things were happening without solid reasons which made it seem unrealistic and everything was so convenient for these characters. I lost all motivation for this book at the end.
This book really had potential but it fell short for me at the end sadly.
Regardless, thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

While I did enjoy this book, there are certain things that just didn’t work for me that made this book just about average.

First, the author uses Gaelic/Celtic names for a lot of the characters and places that it often ruined the immersion for me. There was a pronunciation guide but with the frequency of the names it became frustration flipping back and forth that i just stopped doing it.

This book really read like a YA book to me even after seeing it be marketed as an adult book. I also just felt like the world building and characters weren’t completely fleshed out. In the beginning we learn that clía and Domhnall are scheduled to be married for the good of their kingdoms, but no where else is it really explained why that is or what it would do for their respective kingdoms. And in general the villains and overall plot just felt a little bit too predictable

Overall i did enjoy the book but it ended up being a really slow read that i struggled to get through at times. I think this would be perfectly suited to someone who’s looking for a lighter fantasy read.

i didn’t really know what to expect from this book but i loved it! i love all the diverse characters and the romance was super cute! it’s definitely a fun romantsy while still be driven by plot!

Medievally Blonde was a perfect title as it is a fun retelling BUT honestly The Princess Knight encompasses it so much better.
Initially, I was struggling to get into characters and the world, but it was worth it. There was a lot more political conflict, gods, and creatures than I anticipated. There was also beautiful LGBTQIA+ representation and a character with a disability. While I didn't love the "just keep going" mentality, but the end it worked out.
By the end I ended up loving all the characters and the romance felt very natural. Clia was determined and strong and beautiful. I am so glad the author never caved into the 'I am a warrior now and hate dresses' line of thinking.
"You set my world aflame, and I have never desired so desperately to be burned. With every sunrise, I fell in love with you again." SWOON

I enjoyed this book.
I really loved the aspects of it that were inspired by Legally Blonde and also enjoyed the things that made it different. I will say that I lovedd the original title and was sad to see it had to be changed, but I think "The Princess Knight" is a perfect alternative. I enjoyed the characters and the way their relationships progressed and formed. I felt that the length was good, but also hope for another book so that the story may continue.

One thing I will note is that the sentences could be short at times. I will admit that grammar is not my strong suit, but I do think using shorter sentences can be helpful to make something feel clipped or emphasized. However, there were a few times where it felt unnecessary. I don't think this is a big deal, but it definitely gave me a couple moments where I felt the flow was off and was reminded I was reading words on a page. It did not occur throughout the entire book, and there were plenty of times it worked well. This may just be a personal preference kind of thing.

Overall, for a debut book (and a book in general), I think the author did a great job. The story was fun, and I would recommend it to anyone who adores a pink-and-dress-loving princess who is also willing to pick up a sword and fight for what is right.

A medieval spin on "Legally Blonde"? Sign me up! This book was fun and funny and I think it was especially strong in the parts that really evoked the spirit of "Legally Blonde" but I also liked the various ways that the book expanded on that story. For example, the prince character who corresponds with the character Warner in the LB movie was a lot more fleshed out in this book, and of course the main romance with Clia and Ronan is also explored more. However, I feel like the book sorta lost me with the worldbuilding in the third act. I still enjoyed it over all though!

Okay, so I just finished "The Princess Knight" by Cait Jacobs, and it was actually pretty awesome! I went into it not really knowing what to expect, but it totally delivered on a fun, fantasy romance vibe. It's about a princess who's also secretly a knight, and of course, she ends up clashing with a grumpy but hot knight who's trying to figure out who she really is.
I loved the whole secret identity thing, and the way their dynamic played out was really engaging. The banter was good, and seeing the princess navigate her dual life while also falling for this guy was just really fun. It had a good mix of action and romance, and the fantasy world felt well-done without being overly complicated. If you're looking for a charming, adventurous read with a strong female lead and a cute enemies-to-lovers (ish) story, I would definitely recommend checking this one out. It was a genuinely enjoyable read!