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rejeneratingtbr 's review for:
The Princess Knight
by Cait Jacobs
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
came for the legally blonde references, stayed for the plot 🤭🫶
🩷 thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc! 🩷
3.5/5 stars
Like 99% of the other reviewers, I've been excited for this book since its OG title and rip it will be lovingly missed. However, I think The Princess Knight fits better! This definitely has Legally Blonde elements but overall it reads more as a YA fantasy with some more subtle nods to LB. If you weren't aware of its original title and don't LOVE LB, you probably won't notice them!
I want to shout from the rooftops how much I love this book for:
- being queernormative (without any weird notes that you sometimes see w/bi characters like "yeah, I've been with women, so what!" ykwim??? they're just queer and existing and it is beautiful)
- having chronic illness rep
- having autism rep
- having nonbinary, sapphic, and ace rep as well
I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to read about characters who can speak about love and attractions and none of it is shameful or hidden. It makes my tiny, cold queer heart so happy 🩷
HOWEVER . . .
I had a few issues.
Normally I'm good at ignoring ages and pretending everyone's aged up in my mind, but going into this with the notion of it having some LB themes I was s h o c k e d when the MMC said he was 19. Literally put the book down and reflect for a moment levels of shocked. And (correct me if I'm wrong) we don't really know anyone else's ages but it's fair to assume they're all around that age, no? The idea of all of these teenagers being at an elite warrior school just felt weird. Like, wouldn't that theoretically be more in line with law school? Not everyone's good enough to get in and you need to spend years training to be accepted, putting you at least early to mid twenties??
And overall, the romance between Clía and Ronan felt a little flat to me. I wanted more stolen glances, Mr. Darcy helping Elizabeth into the carriage and we get THAT moment after they touch hands, slow burn vibes but instead it felt more like a ........ situationship turned lovers?
I think the most interesting part of the book is the twists and the plot itself. The romance felt a little underbaked and I could have done without in all honesty. But those TWISTS?? Hooked, baby, HOOKED. I was so distracted by what I thought was a very obvious villain that another person snuck under my radar and caught me by complete surprise.
The fight scenes were beautiful, such a good balance of witty quips and brutal reality of the loss of war. And Cait Jacobs has a wonderful way with words; I was highlighting things left and right. Almost every chapter I had a "oh, that's beautiful/moving/sad" moment 🫶
🩷 thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc! 🩷
3.5/5 stars
Like 99% of the other reviewers, I've been excited for this book since its OG title and rip it will be lovingly missed. However, I think The Princess Knight fits better! This definitely has Legally Blonde elements but overall it reads more as a YA fantasy with some more subtle nods to LB. If you weren't aware of its original title and don't LOVE LB, you probably won't notice them!
I want to shout from the rooftops how much I love this book for:
- being queernormative (without any weird notes that you sometimes see w/bi characters like "yeah, I've been with women, so what!" ykwim??? they're just queer and existing and it is beautiful)
- having chronic illness rep
- having autism rep
- having nonbinary, sapphic, and ace rep as well
I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to read about characters who can speak about love and attractions and none of it is shameful or hidden. It makes my tiny, cold queer heart so happy 🩷
HOWEVER . . .
I had a few issues.
Normally I'm good at ignoring ages and pretending everyone's aged up in my mind, but going into this with the notion of it having some LB themes I was s h o c k e d when the MMC said he was 19. Literally put the book down and reflect for a moment levels of shocked. And (correct me if I'm wrong) we don't really know anyone else's ages but it's fair to assume they're all around that age, no? The idea of all of these teenagers being at an elite warrior school just felt weird. Like, wouldn't that theoretically be more in line with law school? Not everyone's good enough to get in and you need to spend years training to be accepted, putting you at least early to mid twenties??
And overall, the romance between Clía and Ronan felt a little flat to me. I wanted more stolen glances, Mr. Darcy helping Elizabeth into the carriage and we get THAT moment after they touch hands, slow burn vibes but instead it felt more like a ........ situationship turned lovers?
I think the most interesting part of the book is the twists and the plot itself. The romance felt a little underbaked and I could have done without in all honesty. But those TWISTS?? Hooked, baby, HOOKED. I was so distracted by what I thought was a very obvious villain that another person snuck under my radar and caught me by complete surprise.
The fight scenes were beautiful, such a good balance of witty quips and brutal reality of the loss of war. And Cait Jacobs has a wonderful way with words; I was highlighting things left and right. Almost every chapter I had a "oh, that's beautiful/moving/sad" moment 🫶