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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
The Princess Knight does its original title, medievally blonde, justice. In our book, we follow Clía, the princess of one of five kingdoms. She loves fashion, sews and adjusts her own clothes and even though she hates it, she’s skilled at participating in the happenings of a royal court. She’s supposed to marry the princess of a neighbouring kingdom to establish a political stronghold, until he decides she’s not enough of a warrior for him to marry. And so, what’s more logical than following your man to a prestigious warrior academy and proving that you are indeed a warrior in order to win him back. Along the way, Clía is helped by Roman, the prince’s guard, and the two share a spark.
The Princess Knight was highly entertaining. While it’s of course entirely separate from legally blonde, this book manages to recreate the satisfaction of when an underestimated woman proves everyone wrong. It’s also a funny book and the characters are lovable and well characterised. I also really enjoyed the entirely casual LGBTQ+ representation. Especially in fantasy books, the introduction of a characters sexuality is often done quite awkwardly. Here, it’s not even discussed, characters just are queer and that’s just how it is. It made me very happy.
My only point of ‘criticism’ is that i wish this was a standalone. I think this will turn into a series but it would’ve worked perfectly as a standalone and I probably won’t continue the series even though I really enjoyed this. In fact, the only negative things about this book are related to preparation of a sequel. The aspect of magic in this book was kind of unnecessary, there was enough going on without introducing magic and gods and so that felt unnecessary and the exposition of it was rushed. I understand that the magic will probably be a major point in sequels, which is why im saying what i don’t like about the book is connected to turning it into a series.
However, the book can for sure be read as a standalone if that’s what you prefer. We’ve got a satisfying ending. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and me saying it shouldn’t be a series isn’t a reflection of it being not entertaining enough for a series but it relates to the fact that too many fantasy books nowadays get dragged into longer series that are less good than the singular books and kind of ruin the original experience. Either way, I recommend reading the princess knight if you enjoy fantasy. Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Domhnall and Clía, Clía and Domhnall. They were supposed to be the perfect match for each other - or so their courts and the nobles think. Until Domhnall has to ruin it by refusing to propose to Clía, which destroys the plans of Cliá's mother. Heartbroken, hurt but determined, Clía developes the perfect plan: to enroll at Caisleán Cósta - the military school that is known for its brutal reputation. But if she can finish it, Domhnall cannot say that she wouldn't be "too weak" and "that he needs a warrior queen". Unfortunately for her, learning how to fight is a lot harder than anticipated and Domhnall's guard Ronan was a variable she didn't forsee.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Originally, the book was titled Medievally Blonde as it is based on the movie Legally Blonde and the "inspired by" shows a lot. Despite the title change to The Princess Knight, the bones of the novel are still a fantasy retelling (in a loosely medieval Celtic setting) of the movie. Unfortunately, that is the book's greatest downfall. The author wanted to follow the movie's plot as accurately as possible (within the medieval fantasy setting) that the majority of the book is boring because everything feels forced and underdeveloped. I think the story would've worked better as an unique idea (or a "loosely inspired by" novel) with intense word building and more depth because the Celtic mythology setting has barely any influence on the acutal plot. You could easily exchange the Celtic names to generic fantasy names and it wouldn't change anything.
The characters on their own are ok - although at times utterly underdeveloped and 2D-esque because of them being based on the movie characters - but I didn't really click with any of them or felt utterly invested in them being alive or not. The romance between Clía and Ronan came out of nowhere as well. Yes, they are very sweet in their interactions and they have more foundation to a relationship than Clía and Domhnall, but I didn't feel any chemistry. There was no tension, no true pining. It just ... happened. I think the book is truly aimed at the YA audience because at times all the young characters act so childish and I had to remind myself that they were 18/19 years old. Given that the main characters are two royal teens (a prince, a princess), two nobles (Niamh and Kian), and the captain of the prince's guard: I would just expected more in terms of behaviour.
The pacing is all over the place as well and the majority of the book drags on for a long time (where nothing truly happens) until the author suddenly remembers that the book has a plot aside the romance (and Clía's underdeveloped attempt at getting Domhnall back) and tries to construct some plot points and some action scenes, which were meeh. Everything is very forseeable because the foreshadowing is utterly heavy-handed and the villain is such a boring choice. Even the betrayal was foreseeable. Also, for a military school, I would expect more training on-page. Instead, it's often done off-page and the author then tells the reader about it. The only semi-constant thing is the training between Clía and Ronan. As for missions: two. Two entire missions happen before the war truly breaks out. Everything else is solved off-page with time skips etc.
Plus points for the representation though. It's a queer-normative world and the book also includes chronic illness rep as well as mental health rep. We need more of that. As for the celtic mythology: I cannot say how accurate it is (in terms of names, the religion, the druid order, ...) because I'm from Germany. My knowledge of the Celtic world comes from a bunch of ADHD-related hyperfocuses but I'm far away from being an expert or being very familiar with it.
TL;DR: I'm still standing by my point that the book would've worked better as an unique idea with the Celtic setting. Maybe even with a second book that solves the entire crisis (and has them discover the other lost artefacts). Being its own thing would've helped with world building and the development of the plot because the author wouldn't had to base their characters on the movie's characters. It would've given the author the chance to truly invest into the politics of the book as well because currently it's very much brushed over. Yes, Inismian's politics are the reason for the war happening but it isn't truly explained in detail. The reader has to just accept it.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
TWs & CWs: death of a parent (off-page, mentioned in flashbacks and dialogue), general death, blood, general violence, war (themes), animal death (wild fantasy beast, not a pet or domestic animal), internalised ableism, kidnapping, threats of tortue, sexual content (on-page but vague language)
Trope(s): found family
Genre: Young Adult, (Romantic) Fantasy
Representation: Chronic Pain, bisexual characters, non-binary character, aromantic (demi-romantic) character, celtic mythology
Heat/Spice: 1 🌶️ (on-page but very vague and fade-to-black vibe)
Domhnall and Clía, Clía and Domhnall. They were supposed to be the perfect match for each other - or so their courts and the nobles think. Until Domhnall has to ruin it by refusing to propose to Clía, which destroys the plans of Cliá's mother. Heartbroken, hurt but determined, Clía developes the perfect plan: to enroll at Caisleán Cósta - the military school that is known for its brutal reputation. But if she can finish it, Domhnall cannot say that she wouldn't be "too weak" and "that he needs a warrior queen". Unfortunately for her, learning how to fight is a lot harder than anticipated and Domhnall's guard Ronan was a variable she didn't forsee.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Originally, the book was titled Medievally Blonde as it is based on the movie Legally Blonde and the "inspired by" shows a lot. Despite the title change to The Princess Knight, the bones of the novel are still a fantasy retelling (in a loosely medieval Celtic setting) of the movie. Unfortunately, that is the book's greatest downfall. The author wanted to follow the movie's plot as accurately as possible (within the medieval fantasy setting) that the majority of the book is boring because everything feels forced and underdeveloped. I think the story would've worked better as an unique idea (or a "loosely inspired by" novel) with intense word building and more depth because the Celtic mythology setting has barely any influence on the acutal plot. You could easily exchange the Celtic names to generic fantasy names and it wouldn't change anything.
The characters on their own are ok - although at times utterly underdeveloped and 2D-esque because of them being based on the movie characters - but I didn't really click with any of them or felt utterly invested in them being alive or not. The romance between Clía and Ronan came out of nowhere as well. Yes, they are very sweet in their interactions and they have more foundation to a relationship than Clía and Domhnall, but I didn't feel any chemistry. There was no tension, no true pining. It just ... happened. I think the book is truly aimed at the YA audience because at times all the young characters act so childish and I had to remind myself that they were 18/19 years old. Given that the main characters are two royal teens (a prince, a princess), two nobles (Niamh and Kian), and the captain of the prince's guard: I would just expected more in terms of behaviour.
The pacing is all over the place as well and the majority of the book drags on for a long time (where nothing truly happens) until the author suddenly remembers that the book has a plot aside the romance (and Clía's underdeveloped attempt at getting Domhnall back) and tries to construct some plot points and some action scenes, which were meeh. Everything is very forseeable because the foreshadowing is utterly heavy-handed and the villain is such a boring choice. Even the betrayal was foreseeable. Also, for a military school, I would expect more training on-page. Instead, it's often done off-page and the author then tells the reader about it. The only semi-constant thing is the training between Clía and Ronan. As for missions: two. Two entire missions happen before the war truly breaks out. Everything else is solved off-page with time skips etc.
Plus points for the representation though. It's a queer-normative world and the book also includes chronic illness rep as well as mental health rep. We need more of that. As for the celtic mythology: I cannot say how accurate it is (in terms of names, the religion, the druid order, ...) because I'm from Germany. My knowledge of the Celtic world comes from a bunch of ADHD-related hyperfocuses but I'm far away from being an expert or being very familiar with it.
TL;DR: I'm still standing by my point that the book would've worked better as an unique idea with the Celtic setting. Maybe even with a second book that solves the entire crisis (and has them discover the other lost artefacts). Being its own thing would've helped with world building and the development of the plot because the author wouldn't had to base their characters on the movie's characters. It would've given the author the chance to truly invest into the politics of the book as well because currently it's very much brushed over. Yes, Inismian's politics are the reason for the war happening but it isn't truly explained in detail. The reader has to just accept it.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
TWs & CWs: death of a parent (off-page, mentioned in flashbacks and dialogue), general death, blood, general violence, war (themes), animal death (wild fantasy beast, not a pet or domestic animal), internalised ableism, kidnapping, threats of tortue, sexual content (on-page but vague language)
Trope(s): found family
Genre: Young Adult, (Romantic) Fantasy
Representation: Chronic Pain, bisexual characters, non-binary character, aromantic (demi-romantic) character, celtic mythology
Heat/Spice: 1 🌶️ (on-page but very vague and fade-to-black vibe)
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a tremendously strong start! The early character development, the setup for the second half, and the evolving relationships gave me high hopes. The main character, though initially naïve, grows into someone worthy of her title, and I absolutely adored her journey. And Murphy—I always love an animal companion! I just wish we saw more of him.
For the first 40% of the book, I was hooked. The story was engaging, the relationships were layered, and the pacing felt just right. Unfortunately, as the romance began to take centre stage, the strengths of the novel—its plot, character arcs, and interpersonal dynamics—faded into the background. It was disappointing to see what had been such strong foundations get sidelined.
The side characters, in particular, lost their spark as the story progressed. The male lead especially felt like a different person than the one we met at the beginning. While there was some continued development in terms of his internal struggles, his personality flattened. What happened to the charming, loyal friend who shared such a great dynamic with Domhnall? There was so much missed potential.
The writing itself was fairly average, and I found myself wishing for more depth in the worldbuilding. However, I appreciated how rich and vibrant the Irish folklore in this novel was, it was beautifully woven into the story. Despite its shortcomings, the novel remained an easy and somewhat entertaining read through to the end and I am sure others will like it.
The side characters, in particular, lost their spark as the story progressed. The male lead especially felt like a different person than the one we met at the beginning. While there was some continued development in terms of his internal struggles, his personality flattened. What happened to the charming, loyal friend who shared such a great dynamic with Domhnall? There was so much missed potential.
The writing itself was fairly average, and I found myself wishing for more depth in the worldbuilding. However, I appreciated how rich and vibrant the Irish folklore in this novel was, it was beautifully woven into the story. Despite its shortcomings, the novel remained an easy and somewhat entertaining read through to the end and I am sure others will like it.
This reminded me completely of Legally Blonde but in mediaeval times. In this we have a princess who is suppose to marry the prince who she knows and he breaks her heart because he feels he needs to secure a better marriage to secure his kingdom…he goes of to a war college and she follows him because of course she needs to show him that she is more than what meets the eye.
I really ended up liking my time with The Princess Knight. While reminiscent of Legally Blonde I never felt if strayed to close to it and ClÍa was still unique to herself. Wanting to secure her own kingdom. There was action and fashion. I didn’t feel like the story ever dragged and the pacing was well done.
For a debut it makes me excited to see where the author goes from here and what Cait cooks up next.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really ended up liking my time with The Princess Knight. While reminiscent of Legally Blonde I never felt if strayed to close to it and ClÍa was still unique to herself. Wanting to secure her own kingdom. There was action and fashion. I didn’t feel like the story ever dragged and the pacing was well done.
For a debut it makes me excited to see where the author goes from here and what Cait cooks up next.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Why Did I Read?
This book was originally titled Medievally Blonde, and was marketed as a medieval Legally Blonde retelling. Legally Blonde is an all time favorite movie so I was sold! Due to what I assume are legal reasons, the book has been retitled as The Princess Knight.
My Thoughts:
Well things got off to a rocky start when I was inundated with a lot of names: of people, countries, entities, regions, all in the first 5-10% of the book. The story has a medieval Irish background so the names were really hard to remember, in addition there is simply a massive amount of info dumping in the first section. I pushed through.
Unfortunately, things didn't improve tremendously. The story centers around Clia, who has her betrothal broken by Domhnall, because she isn't serious enough and he needs a serious warrior queen. Clia decides to follow him to a renowned military school to prove she could be that fierce warrior. It sounds good, right? However, I feel like the story followed the plot of Legally Blonde so closely it was to the detriment of THIS story. It almost felt like this story was being forced into following the plot of legally blonde instead of a natural retelling. It felt like it was to the detriment of having this story be told. In the last quarter of the book, events deviated (war is decidedly different than a court case) and that felt much more natural.
Now, the characters were individually fine. But as I rewatched legally blonde after reading this, the thing that made the movie so good was Elle. Elle had such a big personality knowing exactly what she was after, she was charismatic and quirky, determined and funny, and throughout the movie, showed a great arc of growth. She made the movie what it was. Clia couldn't hold this story up. Clia was .. fine. But she was also a little bland. She likes fashion and wants to learn to be a warrior. I needed to see more of that. I wanted to see personal pursual of her growth as a warrior vs only some private training sessions with Ronan. Speaking of, for such a renowned military school did they ever have any other classes? I'll be honest, I was skimming by the second half but they had less classes than Fourth Wing.
Ronan is the stalwart captain of the guard for Domhnall. They're friends. I liked Ronan just fine. But him and Clia as a thing was just okay? I love captain of the guard / training montage tropes but I wasn't drawn into their relationship emotionally.
This book is also very long. At one point I saw I was 300 pages in but only barely over 50%! I think the story could have benefited from cutting parts of the first half. By the time anything interesting happened it was 70% in and I was in it just to finish it.
This book is supposed to be adult but felt VERY YA. I think if it HAD been YA, it would've been better! It could've had a coming of age character arc and self discovery theme. I'm not sure, it just felt YA but with older characters.
Now, despite all my issues with this book, I will say it had great queer and neurodiverse rep (and perhaps disability rep, whether it be a magical ailment or autoimmune issue with Ronan). I always appreciate the diversity rep.
In short:
This fell short for me based on variety of reasons and could have stood better with less stringent parallels of the Legally Blonde plot. I did buddy read this with a friend who enjoyed it more than me, so if a fantasy medieval retelling of Legally Blonde sounds intriguing to you, this could still be a winner for you!
This book was originally titled Medievally Blonde, and was marketed as a medieval Legally Blonde retelling. Legally Blonde is an all time favorite movie so I was sold! Due to what I assume are legal reasons, the book has been retitled as The Princess Knight.
My Thoughts:
Well things got off to a rocky start when I was inundated with a lot of names: of people, countries, entities, regions, all in the first 5-10% of the book. The story has a medieval Irish background so the names were really hard to remember, in addition there is simply a massive amount of info dumping in the first section. I pushed through.
Unfortunately, things didn't improve tremendously. The story centers around Clia, who has her betrothal broken by Domhnall, because she isn't serious enough and he needs a serious warrior queen. Clia decides to follow him to a renowned military school to prove she could be that fierce warrior. It sounds good, right? However, I feel like the story followed the plot of Legally Blonde so closely it was to the detriment of THIS story. It almost felt like this story was being forced into following the plot of legally blonde instead of a natural retelling. It felt like it was to the detriment of having this story be told. In the last quarter of the book, events deviated (war is decidedly different than a court case) and that felt much more natural.
Now, the characters were individually fine. But as I rewatched legally blonde after reading this, the thing that made the movie so good was Elle. Elle had such a big personality knowing exactly what she was after, she was charismatic and quirky, determined and funny, and throughout the movie, showed a great arc of growth. She made the movie what it was. Clia couldn't hold this story up. Clia was .. fine. But she was also a little bland. She likes fashion and wants to learn to be a warrior. I needed to see more of that. I wanted to see personal pursual of her growth as a warrior vs only some private training sessions with Ronan. Speaking of, for such a renowned military school did they ever have any other classes? I'll be honest, I was skimming by the second half but they had less classes than Fourth Wing.
Ronan is the stalwart captain of the guard for Domhnall. They're friends. I liked Ronan just fine. But him and Clia as a thing was just okay? I love captain of the guard / training montage tropes but I wasn't drawn into their relationship emotionally.
This book is also very long. At one point I saw I was 300 pages in but only barely over 50%! I think the story could have benefited from cutting parts of the first half. By the time anything interesting happened it was 70% in and I was in it just to finish it.
This book is supposed to be adult but felt VERY YA. I think if it HAD been YA, it would've been better! It could've had a coming of age character arc and self discovery theme. I'm not sure, it just felt YA but with older characters.
Now, despite all my issues with this book, I will say it had great queer and neurodiverse rep (and perhaps disability rep, whether it be a magical ailment or autoimmune issue with Ronan). I always appreciate the diversity rep.
In short:
This fell short for me based on variety of reasons and could have stood better with less stringent parallels of the Legally Blonde plot. I did buddy read this with a friend who enjoyed it more than me, so if a fantasy medieval retelling of Legally Blonde sounds intriguing to you, this could still be a winner for you!
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Review incoming!
adventurous
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Just managed to squeeze this one in before the end of the month! This was such a fun read! I've been following this author since the early days of Bookstagram/BookTok, and I've been excited for this book since even before its days as 'Medievally Blonde', and so I was very grateful for the opportunity to read this E-ARC. And, on the whole, despite my issues which I'll get onto in a little bit, I really enjoyed this book and I think it's a really promising debut!
The concept for this book is original, taking the general plot of Legally Blonde and twisting it to fit a medieval, fantasy setting. I thought this was an interesting spin on a well known story, without relying too much on the original film, and instead still reading as unique and fresh. I found the worldbuilding to be very interesting, with a continent of distinct nations, an impending war, and really clever use of Irish mythology. This was one of the stand-out elements of the book to me, and it was clear how much thought and love had gone into this element, with careful respect given to the Irish language, naming, culture, and mythology, and I thought it fit wonderfully into this fantasy world. I thought this book balanced the light-hearted elements and the darker, harsher realities of war and suffering really well, and this brought an added depth to the story.
I also really enjoyed Clía's character, finding her to be an interesting take on the typical 'spoiled princess' character type, and I enjoyed seeing her come into her own and learn how to take responsibility to do what was best for her and her kingdom. Similarly, I thought Ronan was an interesting take on the usual 'brooding knight' style of character, and was approached with much more depth than I am used to seeing, with genuine love and care for those around him, and a backstory that helped to shape his motivations. Their romance was very sweet and respectful, and I enjoyed reading it. It may have been slightly cheesy at times, but I honestly didn't mind that here. My very favourite aspect of the book, and of these two characters, was the disability rep. Clía's autistic rep and Ronan's chronic pain rep - as someone who is both autistic and has chronic pain - meant the world to me. I resonated so deeply with both characters and their struggles, and was so moved by their positive disability journeys and the overall representation. Reading this really reminded me once more of the importance and power of diverse representation, especially when it is written by authentically disabled authors, as this book is. The representation in this book as a whole was excellent and respectfully done, with both MCs being bi/pan and a wider LGBTQ+ cast of characters, as well as other diverse identities, and this served to make this book feel safe to be immersed in.
Whilst I did really enjoy this book, and will be heartily recommending it in the lead up to its release, I did have a few issues. I think, on the whole, this book just needed a bit more polish, and whilst it is a promising debut, I think it is still very clear that it is a debut. Whilst I think the side characters were distinctive and nuanced in their characterisation and identities, they just seemed to exist simply to be there, and I think could've been utilised much more for the plot. Similarly with the war and politics and villain motivations: it all existed, but never felt fleshed out quite enough. The pacing faltered a bit in places, (especially in the middle, where the switch from the 'knight-school' style of plot to wartime scheming felt a bit unsteady and awkward) and some scenes felt skipped over or simply addressed in monologued narration where they should've been drawn out, and vice versa, some scenes felt too focused on when it wasn't needed. There was also a little bit too much convenience (beware some minor spoilers here), for example Clía finding the jewel, and serious injuries seeming to disappear/be forgotten about after they happen (especially after the camp battle/kidnapping section). I think this book/world/characters just needed more time to develop/be neatened up. There were some loose threads in this which might suggest future books, and I'm really hoping we get more in this world to allow for that development and strengthening.
Overall though, I did really enjoy this book and do recommend checking it out! Whilst I thought it was a fun read, it managed both light and dark moments satisfyingly, and the representation was outstanding and did really move me. I think this was a promising debut, and I am really looking forward to whatever Cait Jacobs does next!
Just managed to squeeze this one in before the end of the month! This was such a fun read! I've been following this author since the early days of Bookstagram/BookTok, and I've been excited for this book since even before its days as 'Medievally Blonde', and so I was very grateful for the opportunity to read this E-ARC. And, on the whole, despite my issues which I'll get onto in a little bit, I really enjoyed this book and I think it's a really promising debut!
The concept for this book is original, taking the general plot of Legally Blonde and twisting it to fit a medieval, fantasy setting. I thought this was an interesting spin on a well known story, without relying too much on the original film, and instead still reading as unique and fresh. I found the worldbuilding to be very interesting, with a continent of distinct nations, an impending war, and really clever use of Irish mythology. This was one of the stand-out elements of the book to me, and it was clear how much thought and love had gone into this element, with careful respect given to the Irish language, naming, culture, and mythology, and I thought it fit wonderfully into this fantasy world. I thought this book balanced the light-hearted elements and the darker, harsher realities of war and suffering really well, and this brought an added depth to the story.
I also really enjoyed Clía's character, finding her to be an interesting take on the typical 'spoiled princess' character type, and I enjoyed seeing her come into her own and learn how to take responsibility to do what was best for her and her kingdom. Similarly, I thought Ronan was an interesting take on the usual 'brooding knight' style of character, and was approached with much more depth than I am used to seeing, with genuine love and care for those around him, and a backstory that helped to shape his motivations. Their romance was very sweet and respectful, and I enjoyed reading it. It may have been slightly cheesy at times, but I honestly didn't mind that here. My very favourite aspect of the book, and of these two characters, was the disability rep. Clía's autistic rep and Ronan's chronic pain rep - as someone who is both autistic and has chronic pain - meant the world to me. I resonated so deeply with both characters and their struggles, and was so moved by their positive disability journeys and the overall representation. Reading this really reminded me once more of the importance and power of diverse representation, especially when it is written by authentically disabled authors, as this book is. The representation in this book as a whole was excellent and respectfully done, with both MCs being bi/pan and a wider LGBTQ+ cast of characters, as well as other diverse identities, and this served to make this book feel safe to be immersed in.
Whilst I did really enjoy this book, and will be heartily recommending it in the lead up to its release, I did have a few issues. I think, on the whole, this book just needed a bit more polish, and whilst it is a promising debut, I think it is still very clear that it is a debut. Whilst I think the side characters were distinctive and nuanced in their characterisation and identities, they just seemed to exist simply to be there, and I think could've been utilised much more for the plot. Similarly with the war and politics and villain motivations: it all existed, but never felt fleshed out quite enough. The pacing faltered a bit in places, (especially in the middle, where the switch from the 'knight-school' style of plot to wartime scheming felt a bit unsteady and awkward) and some scenes felt skipped over or simply addressed in monologued narration where they should've been drawn out, and vice versa, some scenes felt too focused on when it wasn't needed. There was also a little bit too much convenience (beware some minor spoilers here), for example Clía finding the jewel, and serious injuries seeming to disappear/be forgotten about after they happen (especially after the camp battle/kidnapping section). I think this book/world/characters just needed more time to develop/be neatened up. There were some loose threads in this which might suggest future books, and I'm really hoping we get more in this world to allow for that development and strengthening.
Overall though, I did really enjoy this book and do recommend checking it out! Whilst I thought it was a fun read, it managed both light and dark moments satisfyingly, and the representation was outstanding and did really move me. I think this was a promising debut, and I am really looking forward to whatever Cait Jacobs does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Ableism, Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fantastical and fierce story featuring a princess growing into her true self and pushing back against the sexist idea that someone can’t be beautiful and smart/strong/talented at the same time. Oh and it’s loosely based on Legally Blonde, so there’s also a handsome ex, his new fiancée (a badass Warrior in this story), an older man in power who isn’t what he seems, and that man’s handsome protege, who takes our princess under his wing and helps her study, train, and excel in her new role. (Also, it was tentatively titled Medievally Blonde at one point, which is super cute.)
As much as I love Legally Blonde and the concept of this book, I felt like the moments it tried to stick close to the original were more stilted, and the moments it leaned into the originality of the setting, magic, and story were where it shone. There were scenes that I could directly connect to moments in the original story, and making those connections sometimes took me out of the story. I found myself looking for the next matching plot point instead of looking forward to what might come next. This aspect improved in the story's second half, when the threat of war became more serious and lives were in danger. Out of necessity, the details of the stories had to go their distinct ways, and I found myself enjoying the action more, sinking into each character development and plot twist. I actually wonder if it would have read better to me if I didn’t know the Legally Blonde connection, because I noticed that’s not mentioned anymore in any of the promo for the book. 🤔 I feel like I have to mention it in this review because it affected my reading experience, but try to forget it if you can before you read it. 😅
I really appreciated that there were some distinct differences between the book characters and the original source, as well as other side characters who didn’t have an exact match. Clia is much more insecure about herself at the start than Elle was - she knows how she’s perceived, and what her parents and others value in her. She also seems to be neurodivergent, perhaps autistic, having issues with sensory overload and anxiety, and a tendency to hyperfixate. When Domhnall chooses not to propose to her, Clia’s not brokenhearted like Elle at Warner’s betrayal; she’s upset at letting down her parents, about the future she had settled for being ruined, about suddenly not knowing what to do next. Though she’s initially naively confident about her place at the castle, she’s a hard worker and determined to learn and prove herself, at first to Domhnall but eventually to herself. I loved how her relationship with Ronan developed naturally, developing trust, real communication, and love over time.
Ronan is probably the most different from his Legally Blonde counterpart, Emmett, mainly because we know so little about Emmett’s history. For Ronan, there’s his close relationship with Domhnall, his tragic childhood, his history of chronic pain (an autoimmune disorder brought on by his mom’s death, perhaps), his longtime support from General Kordislean, and subsequent hero worship of him. And then he meets Clia, and falls in love with not just her beauty, but her true authentic self. As much as I love the romance between Ronan and Clia, I love their friendship even more - the moments they spend together studying, the early morning training, the way they learn they can be quiet and relaxed together, with no walls or masks or pretension between them. They definitely face challenges, and I will always wish for people to communicate their hopes and feelings more quickly and clearly, but the trust and devotion they develop are tangible. Everyone can see it.
As for the rest of the characters, I loved Niamh (our Vivian) - while she initially judged Clia like the rest of them, she treats people fairly, and she’s not afraid to admit to being wrong. And once you have Niamh on your side, you are set for life. I also loved Sarait, Clia’s tailor friend, who joins her at training, and Kian, a flirty fellow warrior who becomes a close friend. And I can’t not mention Murphy, Clia’s tiny puppy monster, who becomes less and less tiny as the book progresses. I can’t picture him at all, except I’m sure he’s adorable and he gives me bloodthirsty otter vibes.
I also have to mention the setting and magic that exist in this world. Although this is a fantasy world, the names are Irish, and it seems the magic is based on Irish folklore. I’m sure I was horrifically butchering all the names in my head, but the author has some helpful pronunciation guides, both a short one in the book and a longer one on her website. The history of the gods with their countries and the power their representatives, the Draoi, continue to have in government and society is intriguing. I wish we could have learned more about them. That power is certainly real, though, as seen in the downfall of Tinelann and in the magical objects that still exist throughout Inismian.
I haven’t heard anything about a sequel to this book, but I think there’s room for it and still more to learn about this world and these characters. I was satisfied with the ending, but I’d love to know even more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an advance copy of this book for review. It comes out this October, but you can preorder it now!
As much as I love Legally Blonde and the concept of this book, I felt like the moments it tried to stick close to the original were more stilted, and the moments it leaned into the originality of the setting, magic, and story were where it shone. There were scenes that I could directly connect to moments in the original story, and making those connections sometimes took me out of the story. I found myself looking for the next matching plot point instead of looking forward to what might come next. This aspect improved in the story's second half, when the threat of war became more serious and lives were in danger. Out of necessity, the details of the stories had to go their distinct ways, and I found myself enjoying the action more, sinking into each character development and plot twist. I actually wonder if it would have read better to me if I didn’t know the Legally Blonde connection, because I noticed that’s not mentioned anymore in any of the promo for the book. 🤔 I feel like I have to mention it in this review because it affected my reading experience, but try to forget it if you can before you read it. 😅
I really appreciated that there were some distinct differences between the book characters and the original source, as well as other side characters who didn’t have an exact match. Clia is much more insecure about herself at the start than Elle was - she knows how she’s perceived, and what her parents and others value in her. She also seems to be neurodivergent, perhaps autistic, having issues with sensory overload and anxiety, and a tendency to hyperfixate. When Domhnall chooses not to propose to her, Clia’s not brokenhearted like Elle at Warner’s betrayal; she’s upset at letting down her parents, about the future she had settled for being ruined, about suddenly not knowing what to do next. Though she’s initially naively confident about her place at the castle, she’s a hard worker and determined to learn and prove herself, at first to Domhnall but eventually to herself. I loved how her relationship with Ronan developed naturally, developing trust, real communication, and love over time.
Ronan is probably the most different from his Legally Blonde counterpart, Emmett, mainly because we know so little about Emmett’s history. For Ronan, there’s his close relationship with Domhnall, his tragic childhood, his history of chronic pain (an autoimmune disorder brought on by his mom’s death, perhaps), his longtime support from General Kordislean, and subsequent hero worship of him. And then he meets Clia, and falls in love with not just her beauty, but her true authentic self. As much as I love the romance between Ronan and Clia, I love their friendship even more - the moments they spend together studying, the early morning training, the way they learn they can be quiet and relaxed together, with no walls or masks or pretension between them. They definitely face challenges, and I will always wish for people to communicate their hopes and feelings more quickly and clearly, but the trust and devotion they develop are tangible. Everyone can see it.
As for the rest of the characters, I loved Niamh (our Vivian) - while she initially judged Clia like the rest of them, she treats people fairly, and she’s not afraid to admit to being wrong. And once you have Niamh on your side, you are set for life. I also loved Sarait, Clia’s tailor friend, who joins her at training, and Kian, a flirty fellow warrior who becomes a close friend. And I can’t not mention Murphy, Clia’s tiny puppy monster, who becomes less and less tiny as the book progresses. I can’t picture him at all, except I’m sure he’s adorable and he gives me bloodthirsty otter vibes.
I also have to mention the setting and magic that exist in this world. Although this is a fantasy world, the names are Irish, and it seems the magic is based on Irish folklore. I’m sure I was horrifically butchering all the names in my head, but the author has some helpful pronunciation guides, both a short one in the book and a longer one on her website. The history of the gods with their countries and the power their representatives, the Draoi, continue to have in government and society is intriguing. I wish we could have learned more about them. That power is certainly real, though, as seen in the downfall of Tinelann and in the magical objects that still exist throughout Inismian.
I haven’t heard anything about a sequel to this book, but I think there’s room for it and still more to learn about this world and these characters. I was satisfied with the ending, but I’d love to know even more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an advance copy of this book for review. It comes out this October, but you can preorder it now!
I was really looking forward to this one and intrigued by the legally blonde idea but it just wasn't working for me. I really struggled with the place names I couldn't keep track at all what was going on with the stakes for the war. I didn't feel a connection to any of the main characters and didn't feel much personality or chemistry.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.