covergirlbooks 's review for:

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs

3.75

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the Advance Readers Copy!

This was an unexpected surprise! 

Cleí’s closest male friend, Domhnall breaks the news: he doesn’t think she’s the best choice for a royal betrothal that will strengthen both their kingdoms.

Cleí is determined to prove that she’s more than a pretty and socially equipped choice for his queen, and the alliance that has been planned for them since childhood. Since Domnhall’s next stop is military school, Cleí gains admittance into the program to up her battle skills.

Ronan, Domnhall’s closest friend and bodyguard is also a student at the academy, and he offers to help Cleí prove her worth. What started as a plot to persuade Domnhall of her eligibility becomes a discovery of how capable she is, with the right friends on her side, of course.

I didn’t notice until the author’s note that the story is inspired by Legally Blonde? I guess because the princess enjoys fashion design in her spare time, and has an animal companion?

Ronan has both chronic pain and trauma rep, but while losing his mother at an early age was mentioned, I don’t remember the origin of the pain being explained, just hinted at as something he planned to eventually tell Cleí.

The Celtic setting makes this a little difficult to break into story-wise, with character, kingdom, and people names you need to look up to pronounce, and many side characters without too much to differentiate them. 

There is a teaspoon of political plot, but it’s not anything you need to overly study to understand. Nothing to scare away readers who were there for a good slow burn romance. 

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️

If you like this kind of setting, but with more focus on the magical elements than the romance, I’d recommend Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier, and the A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross.