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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was perfection. It was everything I wanted and so much more.
I absolutely loved this book. It was such a fast, engrossing read. It's easy to see the parts where the inspiration for legally blonde were added, but I didn't mind that aspect and felt as though they were made to fit seamlessly into the story.
I loved our characters and how we saw them grow and change throughout the course of the story. I haven't been into reading about teenaged characters as of late, but man, there was just something endearing about this group. I didn't want to leave them. They were all so well written. That being said, I am sure I messed up a significant portion of the names of people and places in this book. Honestly, all these names of places at the beginning of the book were somewhat difficult to keep track of.
Thankfully, they were reintroduced enough that I was able to sort out the place names. We are given a pretty good introduction to the world and the background of the different kingdoms. I am hoping if there is a book 2 that we do a deeper dive into them, but I enjoyed the story with the world building we were given.
I went in a bit blind to the story, and man, it was so much better than I expected. I don't want to spoil anything, but there was good depth and a few things I didn't see coming as I was reading. I sincerely hope there is another book to follow this one. I would love to spend more time in this world and with these characters. This was a wonderful read, and I highly highly recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager.
I absolutely loved this book. It was such a fast, engrossing read. It's easy to see the parts where the inspiration for legally blonde were added, but I didn't mind that aspect and felt as though they were made to fit seamlessly into the story.
I loved our characters and how we saw them grow and change throughout the course of the story. I haven't been into reading about teenaged characters as of late, but man, there was just something endearing about this group. I didn't want to leave them. They were all so well written. That being said, I am sure I messed up a significant portion of the names of people and places in this book. Honestly, all these names of places at the beginning of the book were somewhat difficult to keep track of.
Thankfully, they were reintroduced enough that I was able to sort out the place names. We are given a pretty good introduction to the world and the background of the different kingdoms. I am hoping if there is a book 2 that we do a deeper dive into them, but I enjoyed the story with the world building we were given.
I went in a bit blind to the story, and man, it was so much better than I expected. I don't want to spoil anything, but there was good depth and a few things I didn't see coming as I was reading. I sincerely hope there is another book to follow this one. I would love to spend more time in this world and with these characters. This was a wonderful read, and I highly highly recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
When I first picked up this book, I initially didn’t know that it was a fantasy retelling of Legally Blonde, but when I realized that it was, it made the impact of the twists and mysteries fall flat. The book tried to hard to follow the character relationships and plots from the source material that I could guess the final relationships between the characters and what the main twists and villains were going to be. Because of this the reveals didn’t surprise me and it felt predictable.
I also think that relying too heavily on the source material made the character relationships strong, it hindered the world building. I’m still left wondering about the world and the other kingdoms and what their political motivations are in the war, that wasn’t answered in the book. I thought there was going to be more politics and fantasy elements, but it focused a lot more on character growth and building relationships - which isn’t a bad thing- just not what I expected. I was left feeling like the final battle could’ve been more explosive as I felt like it ended so quickly in a neat little happily ever after bow, when the book is literally about a budding war and invasion attempt.
The ending hints at the potential for a sequel, but I’m not really sure what they’d do for it since this book focused heavily on the romance rather than the fantasy.
I did enjoy the romance and the relationship between Clía and Ronan was cute but I again was left wanting more. I still enjoyed reading the book, but i think people who didn’t remember the plot to Legally Blonde would enjoy it more.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review
I also think that relying too heavily on the source material made the character relationships strong, it hindered the world building. I’m still left wondering about the world and the other kingdoms and what their political motivations are in the war, that wasn’t answered in the book. I thought there was going to be more politics and fantasy elements, but it focused a lot more on character growth and building relationships - which isn’t a bad thing- just not what I expected. I was left feeling like the final battle could’ve been more explosive as I felt like it ended so quickly in a neat little happily ever after bow, when the book is literally about a budding war and invasion attempt.
The ending hints at the potential for a sequel, but I’m not really sure what they’d do for it since this book focused heavily on the romance rather than the fantasy.
I did enjoy the romance and the relationship between Clía and Ronan was cute but I again was left wanting more. I still enjoyed reading the book, but i think people who didn’t remember the plot to Legally Blonde would enjoy it more.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review
Very clunky writing and world building with flat characters
I loved the first 75% of this book, the world was interesting (if slightly underdeveloped) the characters were funny and lovable, the banter was great and the Legally Blonde hints were very fun. The writing was great and I didn’t feel bored ever. I thought the ending was incredibly rushed, which I found very disappointing. I thought the final battle was too short and easy and there was not a great conclusion on the love story or on the world
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was super excited to read this book (Medievally Blond forever) and I did really enjoy it! I was especially looking forwards to looking for the Legally Blond references and they did not disappoint. The medieval setting was great and actually worked really well as a reimagination of the Legally Blond setting!
The magic system and politics in this world were actually a lot more in depth than I thought they'd be, and while I was generally pleasantly surprised by that, it did almost seem a bit too complex at times and I found myself wishing that more background was given. Not only was the setting medieval, but there were strong aspects of the world's religion, deities, and folklore, which I found super interesting.
I really liked both of the main characters and especially liked Clia. Even though the tone of this book was more YA than I was expecting, Clia's character development throughout the book felt very rewarding to read. I really enjoyed seeing her discover her own worth outside of a pawn in marriage. Rowan, the MMC, felt well-rounded and I loved the dynamic between him and Clia, and how he supported and rooted for Clia throughout the book.
My main issues with this book were just that the plot and worldbuilding felt a bit rushed. I feel as though it would've been better to either cut some aspects out for simplicity or spend more time dedicated to explaining the more complex aspects. There were definitely times while reading that I felt as though I was just expected to know something, even though it hadn't been explained before. Also, the marketing led me to believe that the book would be more adult and less YA, but it definitely felt more YA. That wasn't really an issue for me, but it did take some adjusting of my expectations as I read.
All in all, I did enjoy this book and thought it was a very fun reimagining of Legally Blond that could stand well on its own!
I was super excited to read this book (Medievally Blond forever) and I did really enjoy it! I was especially looking forwards to looking for the Legally Blond references and they did not disappoint. The medieval setting was great and actually worked really well as a reimagination of the Legally Blond setting!
The magic system and politics in this world were actually a lot more in depth than I thought they'd be, and while I was generally pleasantly surprised by that, it did almost seem a bit too complex at times and I found myself wishing that more background was given. Not only was the setting medieval, but there were strong aspects of the world's religion, deities, and folklore, which I found super interesting.
I really liked both of the main characters and especially liked Clia. Even though the tone of this book was more YA than I was expecting, Clia's character development throughout the book felt very rewarding to read. I really enjoyed seeing her discover her own worth outside of a pawn in marriage. Rowan, the MMC, felt well-rounded and I loved the dynamic between him and Clia, and how he supported and rooted for Clia throughout the book.
My main issues with this book were just that the plot and worldbuilding felt a bit rushed. I feel as though it would've been better to either cut some aspects out for simplicity or spend more time dedicated to explaining the more complex aspects. There were definitely times while reading that I felt as though I was just expected to know something, even though it hadn't been explained before. Also, the marketing led me to believe that the book would be more adult and less YA, but it definitely felt more YA. That wasn't really an issue for me, but it did take some adjusting of my expectations as I read.
All in all, I did enjoy this book and thought it was a very fun reimagining of Legally Blond that could stand well on its own!
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
massive thanks to netgalley and harper voyager for this arc <3
i absolutely LOVE the premise of legally blonde at a fantasy military school and i love even more how jacobs took the concept and ran with it, delving into a world of their own creation with political tension, a unique religious pantheon, and tales of history and folklore. i found this entire book a really fun afternoon read and i really enjoyed it!
the world-building of the princess knight is really interesting, filled with gods and folklore and fantastical creatures. i was very intrigued by how their history, lore, and gods seemed to be interwoven into their daily lives and culture and how well-done and depicted that aspect was, even if done subtly. i found the political set-up very intriguing as well, how culture differed in the different kingdoms. i do wish there was more usage/mention of the alternate language system that was alluded to a few times, but that's more me being a nerd than an actual gripe.
i really liked the push-and-pull dynamic between the two main characters, though i wish that there was more time spent showing the development of their actual feelings. in the beginning half of the book and the build-up of their relationship, we get a couple scenes of them training and studying together and then it jump cuts to them being close and comfortable and touchy with each other with us being told that they spend all their free time together. the slow-burn aspect of their relationship feels like it suffers with a lot of telling and not showing, which is a little bit frustrating because i really enjoyed the scenes with them together. i thought they matched each other quite well and that they were entertaining to read about.
as for the characters themselves, i really loved them! i thought they were well-developed and incredibly charming. i'm not usually the biggest fan of dual pov books, but i really enjoyed seeing ronan's thought processes in contrast to clía's and how they reacted to situations differently. i think clía was the absolute stand-out for me. she was incredibly charming, sympathetic, funny, and an entirely interesting perspective to follow. i loved ronan as well, the depiction of his chronic pain was very well-written. his dynamic with domhnall was something that i wish had been explored in a bit more depth since i feel it got pushed to the side a bit. clía's relationship with niamh was absolutely lovely, i loved their development and the slow respect that grows between them that eventually blossoms into friendship. i really liked their interactions, especially near the end! niamh herself was very interesting, i wish we'd spent more time with her, and i think domhnall was just the right amount of frustrating and sympathetic and altogether incredibly human. kian was also a standout for me, i loved the levity they brought and how they always came in clutch. genuinely, i think the character work in this book really shines, every single character is incredibly well-written in their own regard.
the main frustration i really had with the book is that it seemed to fluctuate between intended audiences. it would go from having the hallmarks of a YA book to flipping back to the tone of an adult fiction. this is most starkly seen in the difference between the first and second halves of the book, it feels like there's a complete disconnect in tone and while that feels intentional to some degree with how it shifts from the "college" plot to the war plot, the attempted transition between these two tones wasn't sufficient to bridge the gap between them in a satisfying way. it felt too jarring.
i also had some issues with the war plot, there were a lot of aspects of it that felt like they were left intentionally vague. the antagonists lacked clear development and motivation and i struggled to understand why certain characters and groups did certain things. the war plot in general just seemed pretty weakly developed in comparison to how strong everything else was, i wish more time had been spent on the antagonists, but it also felt like things were left intentionally vague even when characters should have reasonably had that knowledge.
all that said, i found this book to be delightful and entertaining afternoon read! the characters are extremely easy to find yourself caring for and the world is rich and incredibly intriguing. the relationship between clía and ronan is lovely. there's a lot to love about this book!
i absolutely LOVE the premise of legally blonde at a fantasy military school and i love even more how jacobs took the concept and ran with it, delving into a world of their own creation with political tension, a unique religious pantheon, and tales of history and folklore. i found this entire book a really fun afternoon read and i really enjoyed it!
the world-building of the princess knight is really interesting, filled with gods and folklore and fantastical creatures. i was very intrigued by how their history, lore, and gods seemed to be interwoven into their daily lives and culture and how well-done and depicted that aspect was, even if done subtly. i found the political set-up very intriguing as well, how culture differed in the different kingdoms. i do wish there was more usage/mention of the alternate language system that was alluded to a few times, but that's more me being a nerd than an actual gripe.
i really liked the push-and-pull dynamic between the two main characters, though i wish that there was more time spent showing the development of their actual feelings. in the beginning half of the book and the build-up of their relationship, we get a couple scenes of them training and studying together and then it jump cuts to them being close and comfortable and touchy with each other with us being told that they spend all their free time together. the slow-burn aspect of their relationship feels like it suffers with a lot of telling and not showing, which is a little bit frustrating because i really enjoyed the scenes with them together. i thought they matched each other quite well and that they were entertaining to read about.
as for the characters themselves, i really loved them! i thought they were well-developed and incredibly charming. i'm not usually the biggest fan of dual pov books, but i really enjoyed seeing ronan's thought processes in contrast to clía's and how they reacted to situations differently. i think clía was the absolute stand-out for me. she was incredibly charming, sympathetic, funny, and an entirely interesting perspective to follow. i loved ronan as well, the depiction of his chronic pain was very well-written. his dynamic with domhnall was something that i wish had been explored in a bit more depth since i feel it got pushed to the side a bit. clía's relationship with niamh was absolutely lovely, i loved their development and the slow respect that grows between them that eventually blossoms into friendship. i really liked their interactions, especially near the end! niamh herself was very interesting, i wish we'd spent more time with her, and i think domhnall was just the right amount of frustrating and sympathetic and altogether incredibly human. kian was also a standout for me, i loved the levity they brought and how they always came in clutch. genuinely, i think the character work in this book really shines, every single character is incredibly well-written in their own regard.
the main frustration i really had with the book is that it seemed to fluctuate between intended audiences. it would go from having the hallmarks of a YA book to flipping back to the tone of an adult fiction. this is most starkly seen in the difference between the first and second halves of the book, it feels like there's a complete disconnect in tone and while that feels intentional to some degree with how it shifts from the "college" plot to the war plot, the attempted transition between these two tones wasn't sufficient to bridge the gap between them in a satisfying way. it felt too jarring.
i also had some issues with the war plot, there were a lot of aspects of it that felt like they were left intentionally vague. the antagonists lacked clear development and motivation and i struggled to understand why certain characters and groups did certain things. the war plot in general just seemed pretty weakly developed in comparison to how strong everything else was, i wish more time had been spent on the antagonists, but it also felt like things were left intentionally vague even when characters should have reasonably had that knowledge.
all that said, i found this book to be delightful and entertaining afternoon read! the characters are extremely easy to find yourself caring for and the world is rich and incredibly intriguing. the relationship between clía and ronan is lovely. there's a lot to love about this book!
Despite being advertised as a “medieval Legally Blonde,” I think this novel succeeded in splitting from its inspiration enough that it can hold its own. Namely, I’m glad we sidestepped a crucial plot point in Legally Blonde involving her professor, replacing the unwanted sexual advance with something that still fit the story and Clia’s own personal battle. Though I think a YA could handle this subject, I’m just glad I didn’t have to see Clia go through it, you know? I also quite liked the dynamics between all the characters, namely the evolution of Domhnall and Clia’s relationship and how it reflects Clia’s own growth. Obviously, I loved Clia and Ronan’s connection, how they’re soft with one another but also hold each other accountable to be better and do better for themselves. Ronan’s representation of chronic pain and disability was something I recognized myself in, especially with pushing yourself too far, and I felt that this physical reality vs. the fantasy of how others perceived him nailed that experience.
As another reviewer mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised by how involved the politics and world building was—though there were times it toed the line of too much. We’re introduced at the very beginning to an array of kingdoms and their divine relics when I’m not sure that was totally necessary, unless there is a sequel in the works? I felt like that information could have been introduced organically seeing as only one relic was useful to the plot. That being said, I’m not mad about the world building in general and I don’t think this would be as entertaining without the politics. My one other qualm was that I wasn't sold on Clia’s pet? Animal companions in books just read Disney-adjacent to me and I’m not sure how necessary he was despite his cute factor. I often forgot her was there, but I suppose it was an additional way for the author to tell us about Clia’s personality (taking in and domesticating a very dangerous animal), but it wasn’t for me.
All this being said, I felt this was a solid and entertaining YA novel. Though I did instantly guess one of the big baddies of the story, the other one was a bit of a surprise—and I was especially impressed by the author’s choice in how Clia engaged with and later handled this revelation (especially when compared with Ronan’s similar situation). Rather than being told, we were shown time and time again Clia’s strength of character even when faced with something impossibly difficult. If there is a sequel, I will be reading it.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advance copy to read and review!
As another reviewer mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised by how involved the politics and world building was—though there were times it toed the line of too much. We’re introduced at the very beginning to an array of kingdoms and their divine relics when I’m not sure that was totally necessary, unless there is a sequel in the works? I felt like that information could have been introduced organically seeing as only one relic was useful to the plot. That being said, I’m not mad about the world building in general and I don’t think this would be as entertaining without the politics. My one other qualm was that I wasn't sold on Clia’s pet? Animal companions in books just read Disney-adjacent to me and I’m not sure how necessary he was despite his cute factor. I often forgot her was there, but I suppose it was an additional way for the author to tell us about Clia’s personality (taking in and domesticating a very dangerous animal), but it wasn’t for me.
All this being said, I felt this was a solid and entertaining YA novel. Though I did instantly guess one of the big baddies of the story, the other one was a bit of a surprise—and I was especially impressed by the author’s choice in how Clia engaged with and later handled this revelation (especially when compared with Ronan’s similar situation). Rather than being told, we were shown time and time again Clia’s strength of character even when faced with something impossibly difficult. If there is a sequel, I will be reading it.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advance copy to read and review!
relaxing
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Princess Knight is a sweet little nod to Legally Blonde. I enjoyed all of the nods to Elle Woods in Clía’s character, particularly her love of sewing and fashion, but I also enjoyed the ways she differed. Clía and Ronan both felt like very fresh characters for this genre to me. The highlights of this book were definitely seeing the bond develop between these two characters. Their relationship was just so sweet.
Unfortunately, this book suffered from being way too long. I think a good portion of this book could have been cut off and it would have been a much better reading experience. It hit a point where I was just so bored and nothing that happened surprised or intrigued me. Clía does have a good character arc, but that arc felt like it was pretty much complete somewhere around 60-70%.
I think if you’re a big Legally Blonde fan or you’re just looking for something simple, sweet and low stakes you might enjoy this.