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novelswithsage 's review for:

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs
2.0
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I unfortunately was disappointed with this book. When I first started reading I initially thought I wouldn’t like it, but I’m not one to have one bite and immediately decide it’s not for me. So I read it all, and it just didn’t satiate my hunger for a rich fantasy plot. 

It felt more like a romance with fantasy as a sub-plot. The character of Clía seemed very pathetic at the beginning, although this got a little better towards the end. However, the plot remained juvenile. She went to school to learn how to be a warrior and we just didn’t get enough of that. It felt more like she was chasing after boys than she was actually immersing herself in school - which don’t get me wrong, is fine, that’s why she was initially there - but a little more focus on her dedication to actually learning would have been nice. Fantasy needs a lot of action - epic battles, gruelling training, grit and drive. It didn’t really feel like the FMC channeled those emotions enough for this to be a successful plot.

One thing that particularly grated me was that the author seems to equate that being a strong leader for your country directly correlates with being a warrior. There are many good leaders who have never even seen a battle field. Yes it may help when it comes to strategy but it’s not always the case. 

We need solid world-building, less predictable plots and detailed explanations. I don’t think the author executed it well in so few pages. I think if the book had been longer, with more of these elements it would have strengthened everything.

Furthermore, it reads like these characters know what iPhones and iPads are. I wouldn’t have been surprised if one of them pulled one out. Perhaps the writing style could have been a little less colloquial. This was a generic fantasy. It doesn’t leave a lasting impact on the reader; as a reader I love to read books I will constantly be thinking about after and this book will not be one of them.

Overall, a great premise. Poor execution. Great experience reading this arc. Thank you to those who approved.