A 10/10 slay, easily one of the best books of 2025 - perfect amount of silly goofy without being overly ridiculous and dumb. It also had the perfect amount of women being kick ass and taking down the patriarchy, not shying away from some of the danger men can cause to women but also it wasn't so much that it brought down the tone of the book and made it too serious. The romance was well paced, but I'm desperate for more so my god I cannot wait for the sequel.

Lady’s Knight is a sapphic medieval fantasy romance that strikes the perfect balance between heartfelt themes and adventurous fun. Kaufman and Spooner are an author duo I have read & loved before so I was very excited to read this one!
We follow Gwen, the daughter of a blacksmith who dreams of becoming a knight, and Lady Isobelle, who’s just learned she’s the prize in this year’s knightly tournament (yes, really). Gwen enters the joust to prove to herself she could become a Knight, while Isobelle sees a chance to escape a future she doesn’t want. When their paths cross, sparks fly in more ways than one.
I really enjoyed both main characters. Their personal growth, the way they challenged each other, and the strength they found in themselves and each other. The feminist themes were powerful and moving without ever feeling heavy-handed. I was rooting for all these women the entire time.
The story blends romance, action, and classic fantasy vibes in a way that feels fresh and engaging. If you’re a romance reader looking to dip your toes into fantasy, or a fantasy lover craving more sapphic representation, this one’s for you.
Overall, a strong, satisfying read that left me smiling.

A Brilliant, Empowering Fantasy with Heart and Humor

Lady’s Knight is an absolute triumph, weaving together adventure, romance, and unforgettable characters into a richly imagined fantasy world. Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner craft a story that’s both sweeping and intimate, full of fierce loyalty, daring quests, and heart-stopping moments.

The protagonist is a standout — strong, witty, and deeply human — whose journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about saving a kingdom. The worldbuilding is lush and immersive, filled with political intrigue, ancient mysteries, and breathtaking landscapes that pull you in from the first page.

What truly sets this novel apart is the balance of emotional depth and lighthearted humor. The banter between characters sparkles, and the relationships feel authentic and nuanced, making the stakes feel all the more real.

If you’re craving a fantasy that combines action, romance, and a powerful message of courage and friendship, Lady’s Knight delivers on every level. This is a must-read for anyone who loves their heroes brave, their stories bold, and their journeys unforgettable.

⭐️ rating = 4/5 hedgewitch summoning circles!

Can Kaufman do wrong? No I think not. This is an adorable play on the knight’s tales of old.

Our story takes us to a time of jousts, blacksmiths and some serious overbearing patriarchy. We join Gwen and Isobelle as they try to turn around both their fates through a jousting competition. It’s a tale with hidden identities, amazing fair food, dragons and a lady’s maid who is definitely also an assassin.

This sort is a dual POV tale, alternating between our two leads. While each of the main characters are well developed it might be the secondary characters that steal the story, Olivia is an enigma that we desperately want to unravel and the posse of castle ladies help with the comic relief.
This story is a fantasy romance, the romance is a queer relationship between Gwen and Isobelle and it is the shining heart of the story. I was hanging just like Gwen for Isobelle to realise she felt the same way! ♥️

My favourite aspect of this is the authorial intrusion, it’s a well wielded tool throughout this story. Adding a burst of humour and also progressing the story along.

Great representation, funny and action packed! Takes everything I loved about the Heath Ledger film 'A Knights Tale' and gives it some much needed girl power!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this arc!

I enjoyed every single second of this book! Lady’s Knight is a cozy YA fantasy set in medieval times with knights, secret identities and dragons - think a Knights Tale (movie) but with a sapphic twist and dragons.

I loved the dual POV of Gwen and Isobelle. It was really fun to see their romance unfold throughout the story. Both characters were well written and so enjoyable to read about.

The writing was so funny and the little narration snippets truely blended the story well. The power of friendship prevails.

This is a delightfully sassy, nominally YA, novel. There’s a lot jammed in here: feminism, queer romance, subverting tropes – and it’s all done in such a way that the over arching feeling is one of having a lot of fun.

Gwen dreams of being a knight. But she’s female, and not even nobility – she’s a blacksmith’s daughter. Still, she dares to dream. Isobelle, on the other hand, is a noblewoman. Her life is just as circumscribed as Gwen’s, but in very different ways.

When the two girls meet, there’s an attraction between them. Together. they spur each other on to find directions for their lives that they hadn’t previously thought possible. But challenging the status quo means that those most invested in the current situation – men, mostly – will be less than happy. Changing your life, it turns out, can mean risking it.

There is quite a bit in the novel that’s familiar, but that’s pretty deliberate. The authors are setting up some very familiar tropes and situations so that they can immediately subvert or undermine them. They’re not always subtle about this; a narrator occasionally interjects herself (it feels like a female voice), often specifically to tell readers what they’re about to do.

But you know what? It works. It works because of the sassy tone, it works because there’s a fair bit of humor, and most of all it works because there’s genuine heart underpinning the story.

The strong characters are of considerable assistance. Gwen and Isobelle are both vivid, and provide strong portraits of young women who are starting to consider that they might be able to shape their own lives. That – just perhaps – things don’t have to work the way they’ve always been told they do.

Supporting characters are also strong – not all are filled out as fully as Gwen and Isobelle, but they’re vivid and believable, and as detailed as their role requires.

The world is also well realised, and despite a few jokes about anachronisms, it’s very easy to accept it. It suits the story being told very well.
There are messages here, and it’s true that the narrators don’t just hit you over the head with them: they put them up in neon lights and have characters dancing around them with jazz hands while they beat you with the messages. But they do this in such a jaunty way that I somehow didn’t feel lectured or irritated.

Although there are certainly some clear openings for a sequel (or sequels), this also works well as a stand alone story. It’s perfectly comprehensible, and there’s enough resolution. Mind you, if there is more to come, I’ll be among the first readers. I know I keep saying it, but reading this was fun!

Overall, this was just a pleasure to read. The messaging might impact more strongly on the intended audience (no-one has called me a “young adult” for some time), but readers of all ages are likely to enjoy it immensely.