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rach 's review for:
The Princess Knight
by Cait Jacobs
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!