Thank you to Cait Jacobs, NetGalley, and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like this book is a kid I've watched grow up. I've followed Cait Jacobs on Instagram for years, and when she first started discussing the idea for this book (back when it was still Medievally Blonde) I could not wait to read it. I was absolutely elated to get an ARC of this book and could not wait to see how it measured up to my hopes for it.

The world building, characters, and lore were all excellent. The political structure of this world was so fascinating, and there was exactly the right balance of getting enough information to understand the dynamics without being overwhelmed by vocab/names/etc. Despite having a general sense of where the plot was heading (given the source material of Legally Blonde), I still couldn't put it down and became desperate to know what each new page would bring for the wonderful ensemble cast. I love Clia and Ronan so much, and seeing their relationship develop from strangers to friends to lovers was such a delightful ride. They're a couple you can't help but root for. But beyond Clia and Ronan, the supporting cast of this book was a delight and I wanted nothing but the best for all of them.

I absolutely loved this book. The fact that this is Cait Jacobs' debut novel is unbelievable. I cannot wait to see what she does next.

3.5! i enjoyed a lot of the plot, but thought the characterization of certain people was inconsistent. it was also a bit predictable. but i really found myself rooting for the main character.

2.5

Fun concept! Now super well fleshed out. It didn't feel as heavily edited as you'd hope for in a traditionally published book. Decent bones though!

hmmm I follow this author on TikTok, I have of years and I find her endearing. I had no idea this would be a legally blonde retelling (of all things) set in a fantasy world. this was fun but it's essentially the movie, with different changes obviously, it's almost never unpredictable.... the ending was lackluster.

Armor-sparkle, sword-swoons, and just enough grit to keep the fairy dust grounded.

Cait Jacobs’s The Princess Knight is pure comfort-fantasy popcorn: palace intrigue, an enemies-to-allies training montage, and a princess who can parry a broadsword without sacrificing her signature hair ribbons. I inhaled the pages—and only docked a star for a couple pacing stumbles.

What won my heart
Clía’s glow-up. Watching a “ballroom royal” morph into a legit combatant is empowering and hilarious (cue her tiny, chaos-loving pet otter ferret-thing stealing scenes).

Training-ground chemistry. Ronan’s gruff focus versus Clía’s diamond-bright determination delivers banter, tension, and sparks that practically clang like crossed blades.

A fashion-forward battlefield. Chain-mail corsets, jeweled vambraces—Jacobs proves you can be deadly and glamorous.

Real stakes. Beyond flirty fencing matches, an encroaching war forces every character to step up—or fall.

Why it’s not quite five
Mid-book lag. The academy competition rounds start to blur; trimming a duel or two would sharpen the momentum.

Love-triangle light. Domhnall’s role feels more device than fully fleshed rival, so the emotional punch is slightly dulled.

The verdict
If you crave swoony swordplay, makeover magic, and a heroine who can save the realm and the romance, grab your tiara and dive in. The Princess Knight left me smiling, fist-pumping, and eager for whatever quest Clía—and her lovable ragtag crew—ride into next.

This is a solid debut and I personally had a good time reading this book! This is a great book that appeals to both YA and adult readers based in an academy setting and coming of age.

I enjoyed the romance and humor in this story and I thought Cait did really well expressing the humor in here.

This story has political intrigue, forbidden love, and hint of medieval times kind of vibes. If you like duels in your books where the MMC trains her but is intrigued by the princess kind of vibes, then this book is going to be for you ✨

Thank you again to Harper Voyager, Harper Collin’s and Jessica for gifting me this copy! I can’t wait for more readers to start this book as this will be releasing this Oct!

This debut novel blends whimsical charm with courtly ambition, delivering a fantasy tale that reimagines the "Legally Blonde" arc in a medieval setting. While the concept is undeniably clever, princess-turned-knight-in-training at an elite military academy, the execution doesn't quite match its promise.

Clia, a sheltered royal suddenly thrown into a world of swords and strategy, embarks on a quest to reclaim her sense of purpose after being deemed unworthy by her would-be fiancé. While her determination is admirable, the ease with which she’s admitted to a prestigious warrior school strains believability and undermines her character’s growth. Unlike her inspiration, Elle Woods, whose academic success underpins her transformation, Clia’s advancement often feels unearned.

Tonally, the book leans heavily into YA territory despite being marketed otherwise. The romance between Clia and Ronan, while sweet in concept, lacks chemistry and feels rushed. Their connection never quite lands with emotional weight, perhaps due to underdeveloped tension and limited buildup.

On a brighter note, the story's commitment to inclusivity is one of its greatest strengths. The cast is refreshingly diverse, with queer and non-binary representation presented as a natural part of the world. Disability is also explored thoughtfully, adding much-needed depth and realism.

The world-building, however, falls short of expectations. Political machinations and lengthy battle sequences overshadow character moments, and the lack of clarity about geography and factions makes it difficult to stay invested in the stakes.

Despite its flaws, this is a fast-paced, accessible read with genuine heart. The light tone, focus on self-discovery, and cozy fantasy atmosphere may appeal to readers seeking an easy escape. While it doesn't fully deliver on its high-concept premise, it does lay a promising foundation for Cait Jacobs as an emerging voice in fantasy.

Thanks NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Cait for the eARC!!

I loved reading this!! I was so happy that Cait is finally able to publish her book after I've been hearing about it so long. I loooove the cover but I was so confused on why the name had changed. I enjoyed the title 'Medievally Blonde' better but I understand that there were probably reasons for that to change. I also suggest there should be some sort of pronunciation guide for at least the main characters inside the book. I had to search for a guide on Cait's website and it was difficult to start out this book because of the names for characters and places.

The journey that Clia takes away from pampered and privledged princess feels very realistic and I liked that she struggled getting outside of that royal bubble.

I'm so impressed with how awesome the queer and disability rep is. I struggle with chronic pain myself and it was very refreshing to see a strong character battle with my same battles.

I had hoped to give this 5 stars but I feel like portions definitely needed to be polished and the pacing needed to be checked (there were some slooow sections).

Overall, I would recommend this to all of my friends!!

I did not know this was being marketed as a Legally Blonde retelling until about halfway through, and knowing that at the beginning may have helped set the expectation that this book was going to be very light.

The storyline itself was interesting, and isolated, the plot was pretty well paced.

While there were some aspects of the story that I enjoyed, overall, this was a miss for me.

Here are a few reasons why.

One, there were lots of names and place names that were complicated enough to read that it frequently took me out of the story. Though there was a pronunciation guide at the front, it was nearly impossible to keep flipping back to it on an e-reader, and ultimately, frequently stumbling over the names broke the reading spell just a little. I fully recognize that this won't be a problem for everyone, though.

Two, the world-building was weak. I didn't feel like I had the proper structure for a fantasy story, even a light fantasy. There was so much random world lore sporadically dropped in with very little structure to support it. I felt like, without the right framework, I was guessing at what the author wanted me to get from the random piece of world-building trivia.

While part of me thinks this would be an easy first-fantasy read for people, another part of me (perhaps the more annoying part) thinks that this would be a really frustrating first-fantasy read for someone looking to explore the genre. There were a lot of crutches used somewhat poorly.

Three, while this was meant to be a light, fun read, it almost read as too light and fun because I never felt any emotional stress, even when the plot was clearly emotional and stressful. I felt detached from the characters, and without a strong emotional buy-in, I didn't get to go on the journey with the characters.


All of this being said, if you are looking for something really light, or you love Legally Blonde, this may be the read for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this was a solid fantasy romance debut! It was low stakes and the world building/political intrigue was easy enough to follow... I loved the character development for the FMC. She definitely was giving medieval Elle Woods-vibes 😂 As far as MMC's go though, I will say I personally gravitate more towards those of a morally-grey/villain/enemies-to-lovers flavor. I guess I haven't read a fantasy where the main character was so kind and wholesome. Also the original MMC, the princess' betrothed, was a bit bland for me. It kinda seemed like he may have been teed up for a potential sequel? (I surprisingly really liked Niamh's character) but I wasn't expecting him to have a redemption arc, to be honest.

Anyways, I definitely was in the mood for a cozy fantasy palette cleanser and this one delivered. I'd rate it a 3.5-4 ⭐️

Thank you Avon/Harper Voyager for the eARC!

This was such a fun read, and it’s definitely one of my favorites this year. The journey of this book was incredible, and It surpassed my expectations in a wonderful way.

This books highlights so many struggles, and Cait Jacobs beautifully weaves self discovery with love, friendship, and found family. The struggles of each character were so reflective and showed a beautiful progression of what love looks like in unlikely places. Beyond the fleshed out characters, the world itself was immersive from court politics to the political intrigue and war strategy that I did not expect from this book. The twists definitely kept me on my toes, and the tension definitely kept me feverishly turning the page for more. This book was such a wonderful read, and I am yearning for a second book to just experience more of this world.

Super cute book i enjoyed the banter. I love a strong, girlie fmc! The adventure was super fun! It was a cute resd eith some sad moments and betrayal.

I am so thankful to be able to recieve an arc for this book. Iv'e been looking for a read with a knight and a princess for so long that i knew this would be perfect. I love our FMC and how she is strong willed but is still the girl with a loving heart and an obsession with beautiful dresses. This was my first read by this author and i can't wait to see what else she comes out with.

Thank you to the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this story just wasn't for me. I feel like it had potential and didn't quite hit the mark, and it forever like a chore to read. Not only that but the names seemed a bit too... Extra? If that makes sense.

I ended up DNFing this story, but I wish nothing but success and growth for Cait as she starts her journey as an author.

I absolutely loved this debut! Cait Jacobs creates a beautiful fantasy world full of political intrigue, undiagnosed autism, and sweet romances. The plot was predictable, but entertaining. The romance between Clia and Ronan was so sweet and I really enjoyed watching them fall for each other. Clia was an incredibly relatable character because her autistic thoughts are also mine and I loved watching her overcome thoughts that I also have had to overcome. I really enjoyed reading The Princess Knight and I can't wait to read more from this author. There is so much potential in their writing and story telling abilities and I'm so excited to see what they do next!

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs is a charming read, especially if you love a sassy princess with a strong character development arc. I really appreciated how the protagonist stayed true to herself—and her love for fashion—throughout the story.

This book is a solid young adult novel that I would happily recommend to a younger audience. It took me a little while to get fully invested—the first 45% felt a bit slow—but once it picked up, I found it quite enjoyable. The plot was somewhat predictable, but the characters around the main story were well fleshed out and added a lot of depth.

Overall, a sweet and fun read with relatable characters that I think fans of YA will appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a delight! I absolutely loved The Princess Knight. From the first chapter, I knew I was in for a fun, swoony, and empowering ride—and it didn’t disappoint.

Cait Jacobs has created such a lovable main character—fierce, witty, and full of heart. I was completely cheering for her the entire way through. The blend of romance, adventure, and just the right amount of banter made this story impossible to put down. And can we talk about the chemistry? It was off-the-charts in the best way.

What I loved most was how it balanced soft moments with strength. It’s a story about love, but also about bravery, agency, and fighting for your place in the world. The whole vibe reminded me of classic fantasy fairytales but with a modern, refreshing twist.

The Princess Knight gave me everything I wanted—romance, tension, sword fights, and a heroine to root for. I can’t wait to see what Cait Jacobs writes next!

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy—this was such a gem. 💫

I was really intrigued going into this story. It had such an interesting plot: a princess determined to win back a prince follows him to a military academy and has quite an adventure by falling in love, meeting new friends, gaining skills and saving her kingdom.

This story contained it all: Adventure, love, growth and found family.

I did find that it started well paced but slowed down towards the middle then the plot became stuck in a slightly repetitive loop perhaps to lengthen the story. I enjoyed Clía as the FMC and enjoyed her banter, sarcasm and cheerfulness. The dialogues were definitely a highlight in this book.
I do think that the plot could have been expanded upon a bit more especially in terms of the villainous arcs and how easily ploys were figured out. I’m glad that a list of the many nations and their deities were included at the beginning in order to help keep track of them.

Overall, this was a light, fun and encouraging read, and I do look forward to more of this author’s books.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✧ ✧
Oct 14, 2025
ARC review

The Princess Knight is a medieval fantasy retelling of Legally Blonde. It’s always been known that Princess Clía would eventually be Prince Domhnall of a neighboring country in an arranged marriage. Until Domhnall refuses to propose, so Clía does what everyone would: go to the ruthless military academy he’s planning on attending to win him back. But here’s the catch: Clía doesn’t know anything about fighting. Ronan has been training his whole life to become a warrior. He’s worked his way up to become one of Domhnall’s guards, as well as a captain. After Clía has a rough start in the academy, Ronan offers to train her, and the two end up getting along. As the lines of friendship blur, they both face tough decisions between love and loyalty.

I was really excited going into this book because who wouldn’t want to read a medieval Legally Blonde retelling? One of the things that I liked the most about this book was Ronan and Clía’s relationship. I think that it reflected the movie well. It was able to capture little scenes that you’d recognize if you’ve watched the movie, which still having the ability to be entertaining if you haven’t watched the movie. What disappointed me would be the ending, which I found lacking. Overall, this book was very enjoyable, though.

Features:
- legally blonde retelling
- academia
- new adult (fade to black scenes)
- romantasy
- allies to lovers
- queer rep
- dual POV (third person)

2.5 stars; read on for my chaotic thoughts

Look I was all about this when I heard ‘Medievally Blonde’. Unfortunately, expectations and reality did not meet at the finish line.

I’ve seen some reviews comparing this to Fourth Wing, and I have to agree that it definitely shares similarities, but though I have my issues with the Empyrean series, there are things it does better than this—tension, for one. There’s also a sense of propulsion in that series that serves it well and which is sadly lacking here.

The biggest problem I have with this book is how distant and flat it reads. The writing is extremely clunky and there were few places where I thought the lines were well-written and suited to whatever emotion was trying to be conveyed. But a big part of the problem was that there’s a lot of telling and not enough showing. Scenes fly by, but we don’t linger long enough in pivotal moments (only occasionally does this happen). Likewise, the dialogue is consistently expository and not unique to the characters—most of them sound the same, and reading big passages of text where someone is talking about the world (more on that later) and their feelings (show me! don’t tell me!) is not fun. It doesn’t take long before they all begin to sound a little robotic.

And on that note: the characters…well, there isn’t much to them. I caught glimpses of what could have been, and I didn’t necessarily dislike any of them, but I also felt very little attachment (tbh, Niamh and Domhnall might be the most interesting of the bunch, but that’s just me). I think without Legally Blonde in the back of my mind, I would have even less understanding of these characters.

As for the world, there’s too much for one book that (imo) seems to be having an identity crisis. Is this a YA medieval-style rom com? Is this an adult epic fantasy? Well, it’s a bit of both, which is the crux of the problem. Though I believe the publisher is marketing this as adult, it most definitely reads as YA. However, I’ve seen reviews which claim the author wrote it as YA, so I’m not holding that against them—but I wish the publisher would read the room. (This is one of my biggest bookish pet peeves.) Beyond that, I’m someone who reads a decent amount of fantasy and I had trouble following the world-building and mythology here. (I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this was originally conceived as a series. I’m still not totally sure if it’s a standalone or not.)

I don’t go into books wanting to dislike them (and I didn’t dislike everything!), but this would benefit SO MUCH from a developmental edit because it’s just plain overstuffed. Passages could be cut, the plot reworked to simplify some aspects and expand others. I might be in the minority, but it just reads like a first or second draft, and it feels like a disservice to the author not to be upfront about these issues before the book is out. (I’m not even gonna go into the grammatical mistakes since this is an ARC and hopefully they’ll be fixed.)

Thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC