I have not watched the movie that was the inspiration for this story (Legally Blonde), so I am sure I have missed a lot of references. However, I still enjoyed this sweet story that comes with a lot of heart and humor.

Celtic mythology meets military academy meets stubborn princess meets medieval setting - in a delightful queer normative world and featuring chronic illness rep.

Honestly, that's basically all you need to know going in. If you love the above, you will love this book.

I liked the characters - some of them easier to approach (like the title heroine) and some harder to understand (like the prince that refuses her).

There's a sweet romance at the heart of it, and a lot of swordplay and banter.

While this story wasn't groundbreaking or made my head spin, I had a really great time with it - and anything that feeds into Lady Knight Autumn is an automatic win!

3,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the eARC!

#PrincessKnight #LadyKnightAutumn #Netgalley #Bookstagram

This book really intrigued me because it was supposed to be a reinterpretation of the film Legally Blonde in a medieval setting. It promised a plot full of surprises, lighthearted and witty, with a somewhat modern take on the Middle Ages. And indeed, the light and easygoing story and this kind of "pop" medieval world are present.

However, what this book really lacked was a strong narrative voice. The book isn't poorly written per se, but it's simply bland in its development, in the characterization of the characters, the events, and the settings.

Even though I read it in just a few days because I was curious about the story and the hype surrounding the title, but I still found the style formulaic, with no introspection from the characters, no reflection — almost a list of events, actions, and shallow thoughts. This prevented me from enjoying the book as much as I had hoped. More importantly, it’s not a book that leaves a lasting impression. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be banal. Not boring — it’s certainly original — but also very, very basic.

I don’t believe that a plot or an idea alone is enough to hold a book together and give it real value in this somewhat saturated market, especially in the fantasy genre. A book needs something more — and this one doesn't have it. Even the plot itself remains very simple, split 50/50 between the romance and the political intrigue, but without either element standing out in any meaningful way.

For me, it's a no. It's not a book I would recommend.

Though marketed as New Adult, I think YA would’ve suited the book more so I’m going to review it as a YA novel!

I really loved the queer-normative/non-misogynistic world in this novel, it really set the tone as an easy, cosy fantasy. The concept of the book was also great (Medievally Blonde is still my title for this book!), a war academy and the princess going against her inapt royal parents. However, as the tension in the novel came from her being inexperienced at war and privileged in her position, I would’ve liked to see more of the class divide between the nobility and the peasantry. Jacobs also alludes to a Fear Gorta in the novel and I feel like he could’ve been utilised more to show the inequality between Álainndore and the other Kingdoms of Inismian.
The Gaeilge was also lovely in the book and you can tell the author has a strong passion for it, using meaningful adjectives to describe her place names and characters (ex. Álainndore for a kingdom that thrives on luxury and aesthetics, Camhaoir; daybreak for a sword of light, Morrigan - traditional god of death & war - is from Scáilca where the patron god is also of death etc.). I did wonder why some names were Anglicised though like Kían or Murphy (missed pun with Ó Murchú). However, as it was loosely based on Irish mythology, and the author is only learning Irish I thought the introduction of it in the novel was amazing despite this! Not many books are based on Irish mythology so it was a nice middle ground for those who wouldn’t be familiar at all with Gaeilge/Ireland.
My main issues (though these were minor to my enjoyment) was parts of the plot.
I thought the twist was predictable which made the ending fall flat, and I would’ve liked to see the tensions between some characters more (ex. Morrigan/Clía. Ronan and Domhnall were considered brothers at the beginning of the book, yet barely interacted once getting to the Caisleán).
But, as said, this was minor and I know if I was a teenager these flaws wouldn’t have bothered me at all! All in all this was a great debut from Cait Jacobs and I’m looking forward to the rest of her books!
Thank you to Harper Voyager, Cait Jacobs and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊𝖘𝖘 𝕶𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕮𝖆𝖎𝖙 𝕵𝖆𝖈𝖔𝖇𝖘
𝔞𝔨𝔞 𝔐𝔢𝔡𝔦𝔢𝔳𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔶 𝔅𝔩𝔬𝔫𝔡𝔢
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ | 𝔣𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔬𝔦𝔫𝔱 𝔣𝔦𝔳𝔢 𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔰

𝗔 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺'𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼, 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆.

I discovered Cait through her cover reveal for the orignal title and I was just obsessed and intrigued by title itself! Formerly titles Medievally Blonde, this book ignited the need to read more about Lady Knights.

I was immediately sold when the pitch was 'Legally Blonde but with medieval Knights insted'. This story followed Princess Clía as she follows Prince Domhnall to the elite military academy in hopes to set their engagement.

There are so many things about this book that I loved so much! The queer-normative world, the disability representation and the overall behaviour towards the LGBTQ community felt like a warm hug here. It felt so comfortable reading this book because there was no underlying bigotry or homophobia.

𝕮𝖑í𝖆's journey throughout the book can be described as a phoenix rising from flames. She learns to let go, to love herself and put herself first. She's been taught to sacrifice her personal self for others and seeing herself believe in everything she does and putting herself first has been a wild journey.

𝕽𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖓 is the Captain of Prince Domhnall's guard. From his very first interaction, he's been giving green flag signals. His quick thinking and kind nature to everyone makes him so lovable. I'm assuming that he has chronic pain or a chronic illness from some of his pain descriptions. While it's explicitly not named on page, he does suffer from pain but he learns to help himself and take help of others too.

Their romance development was short but sweet. I wish we had more time with couple because they had sizzling chemistry between them.

There so much action and adventure throughout the book, with revelations and betrayals slapping through the pages. I'm hoping that there's another novel in this world too. There's a couple who is hinted to be the next protagonists and I'm very excited if it all works out! Overall, it's a very cosy and adventurous fantasy novel with great romantic chemistry and a epic battle sequence!

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙤𝙗𝙨, 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙑𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙐𝙆 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝘼𝙍𝘾.

I really liked it! My expectations were high, and despite some issues, they were mostly met. I loved the world and all in all, I think this was a great medieval fantasy debut novel.

Princess Clía and Prince Domhnall, heirs of neighbouring kingdoms, are betrothed. Everyone expects them to marry and unite their two kingdoms. But when Domhnall decides to not propose because he thinks Clía is too weak to protect his kingdom, she decides to follow him to Caisleán Cósta, the military academy he’s attending. She's determined to prove him wrong. Ronan is the Captain of Domhnall's guard and his friend. He is at the academy to prove himself to his mentor. He has no time for princesses, but Clía captures his attention nonetheless. He starts training her, and the more time they spend together, the more feelings grow. But war is coming, and it threatens them in more ways than one..

This book took inspiration from Legally Blonde and it was really well done, a lot more subtle than I thought it will be.
The pace was slow at times, it dragged a little, but there were some amazing moments that made up for it. There were quests and battles and political intrigue and betrayal.
I really liked the lore, Cait created her world beautifully.

Clía was such a force, incredibly determined, but she did frustrate me a lot. I absolutely loved Murphy though.
Ronan was so kind and amazing. I adored him, the way he was there for Clía and how he put Domhnall in his place. I also loved how well his battle with chronic pain was shown.
I honestly hated Domhnall, but he did grow on me a little by the end. He is a good man, he just needs to work on his attitude. I feel like he and Niamh are perfect together, because she'll keep him in check. She's terrifying, so naturally I loved her. And Kían and Sárait, ahhh. I adored them. They were so cute together.

I really appreciated the representation, it was refreshing.

The biggest let-down, for me personally, was the relationship between Clía and Ronan. Don't get me wrong, they work perfectly and I love how they were there for each other, but they felt more like friends than lovers.

Now, there's something I need to rant about. Feel free to skip this part, as there might be spoilers..

I just can't get past the fact she went to a military academy woefully unprepared. Who, in their right mind, just shows up to a prestigious MILITARY academy without even knowing how to hold a sword. Like, she got zero information beforehand, she just showed up and was surprised they were dueling on the first day. What in the world was she expecting, it is, again, a MILITARY academy. People train for years to get that opportunity and she just showed up, with nothing but hopes and dreams. I mean, come on. It got on my nerves so bad. I almost dnfed right then and there. My anxious self was dying. And not to mention Ronan and his blinding loyalty. Honestly, the sheer stupidity in certain situations was mind-boggling.
Also, the fact that it took so little for Clía to question Ronan. After everything, it only took a well placed sentence and she was distrusting him. I can understand why, but I can't forgive it.

Rant over..

I still think this was a great book with characters I generally loved and it did get me out of a slump, which is why I decided to give it four instead three stars. I feel like it has so much potential and I really hope we'll get more books. It was left open-ended and I would love to see them all again, on a new adventure.

The Princess Knight offers a fun and heartfelt premise, but while I appreciated the intent, the execution didn’t quite sweep me off my feet.

Princess Clía is determined to win back the prince who broke her heart by enrolling in a military academy to prove her worth. The twist? She ends up falling for someone completely unexpected, his best friend, Ronan. The bones of the story are strong: a classic “prove them wrong” arc with a side of slow-burn romance and a dash of court intrigue. I even enjoyed the subtle Legally Blonde energy Clía brings to the battlefield, complete with fabulous outfits and unshakable confidence.

But the pacing and world-building left me wanting more. The early chapters dragged, and despite the military academy setting, training scenes were surprisingly scarce. The looming war felt more like background noise than a real threat, and the political stakes, why Clía’s marriage to Domhnall was supposedly so crucial, were never clearly defined. I kept waiting for the world and its conflicts to expand, but much of it stayed vague and underdeveloped.

Romance-wise, Clía and Ronan had their moments, but the chemistry didn’t quite crackle. A lot of their development leaned heavily on tropes (enemies to reluctant allies to lovers), but I found myself wishing for more emotional tension and fewer miscommunications. And while Clía’s determination is admirable, her obsession with Domhnall for most of the book started to wear thin, especially since their interactions were mostly one-sided and painful.

That said, there are definitely bright spots. The writing has charm, and Clía’s growth into someone who no longer needs to be chosen to feel worthy is genuinely satisfying. I think younger YA readers or fans of light, tropey fantasy romances will enjoy this more than I did. It just didn’t dig deep enough for me personally.

A charming debut with a lot of heart—but one that mostly stays in the shallow end.

4.25

What a delightful story!

I had no idea it was a medieval Legally Blonde retelling until over halfway through the book when I saw it listed as a retelling, and I could immediately see the parallels.

I’m no longer a big fan of retellings (for various reasons, partly because it feels like we went through a period where they were so popular and the market was flooded with them), but I really enjoyed The Princess Knight. Honestly, maybe this is my type of retelling. Just like Elle in Legally Blonde, I was rooting for Princess Clia to succeed!

I genuinely loved the concept and the slow-burn romance. It’s a dual-POV book, so it’s very clear (if you haven’t read the blurb that is) who the love interest is early on.

Princess Cila is a great character. Much like Elle Woods, she joins the military academy to try and prove herself to Prince Domhnall, who has rejected their proposal and is claiming to know what’s best for her, in an effort to win him back. Instead, she finds her inner strength and comes to prove that she’s capable of much more than everyone thinks.

Ronan was a fascinating character, watching him balance his friendship with Domhall while trying not to fall for the girl he rejected. Alongside all this he is dealing with his own struggles of chronic pain, and he too goes through his own journey of self-discovery.

While many threads are tied-up by the end of the book, part of it is left unresolved. Not in an unsatisfactory way at all, but the political situation between the kingdoms that’s happening in the background can’t be solved in a single book. You feel satisfied that Cila’s story has been completed, but you know that should the author chose to do so, more could easily written in this world.

I’d definitely recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this story, you really pick up on the lighthearted legally blonde vibes throughout the book while still having the high stakes plot to keep you engaged.

Clia was a fantastic FMC, her character development and growth throughout was so fun to follow.

The book is full of Celtic folklore and mythology throughout which was really enjoyable.
The whole world is completely Queer normative, with characters who are gender neutral and have a variety of sexualities, all existing without being overly explained.
There is also some great chronic pain rep for one of the main characters.

This is a standalone debut and honestly it was such a fun read and the end left me wanting more books set in this world following some of the other characters and couples we meet

If Legally Blonde took a detour through a medieval kingdom, this would be it and I’m here for the royal sass. 👑✨

Princess Clia is supposed to get engaged at the start, but plot twist: the prince calls it off. Cue her very own Elle Woods moment as she storms off to a medieval academy determined to prove she’s no delicate royal flower. Spoiler: she’s badass. 💪

The story nails that classic underdog energy, with Clia going full #GirlBoss, and the swoon factor spikes when she falls for Ronan, her ex-betrothed’s best friend. The tension and slow-burn romance had me hooked. 😍🔥

It’s fun, clever, and perfect if you want a retelling that flips expectations with humor and heart. A solid 4 stars from me because hey, even princesses deserve to break a few rules and rewrite their own stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Enjoyable read. I did find the pacing a bit slow at first. This could be down to the extent of setup. Once it did pick up the pace, I found I did struggle to put it down. Clia was an interesting character and I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book. The diversity in characters was nice to see, especially with the male lead who had to struggle daily with pain management. Enjoyed this, would recommend.

Read if you like: forced proximity, he teaches her how to fight, princess x warrior, military academy, YA fantasy, betrayal

Clia is a princess that has always known that she would marry a neighbouring prince. When he refuses to propose to her she follows him to a military academy to try win him back. Here she meets Ronan, the prince’s guard and starts to slowly fall for him.

While a cute concept, I found this book difficult to read. I kept wanting to put it down as it didn’t hook me. I wasn’t that into the writing style, there was zero chemistry and romance. It’s very much a YA fantasy novel when I was expecting a romantasy.

It was a very slow start to the book and I lost interest. The politics and war talk became confusing and a drag. I thought maybe as the book would go on I would learn more but I just stayed confused the entire time, I feel like the world building could be greatly improved.

Clia acted like she loved the prince but she didn’t 😭 girl get over him!! I can’t believe she followed him there to prove a point and then every interaction she kept bringing up their past and happy memories but he insulted her in EVERY single conversation. It was giving desperation and it was embarrassing. Then she had Ronan but she was dragging him on and I felt bad for him. They’re not very mature MCs (to be fair they do act their age, which is YOUNG), it was all bad communication and childishness.

It’s military academy setting but I didn’t see them once train in class or learn anything. The random jewel and magic that was briefly mentioned but not fleshed out at all?? Maybe give this a go if you like YA fantasy, this one just wasn’t for me

Love, love, love The Princess Knight.

This book was a cozy read with a perfect mix of war, love, lore and betrayal. I really enjoyed reading this book which although inspired by Legally Blonde was enough of its own thing to not feel like just a retelling. I thought that the characters were very well written and liked that they had grown and developed by the end of the book. I can’t believe this is a standalone! I want so many more books in this world and by this author.

Summary: Princess Clía chases love and honour at a brutal academy—only to fall for warrior Ronan, her betrothed’s best friend. War brews.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was a fun and cozy read that was full of adventure. I LOVE Legally blonde and enjoyed the moments of this book that seemed to draw inspiration from that film. I also appreciated Clia and the growth she experienced from beginning to end and the realization that it’s okay for things to not always work out the way we plan because usually something better will end up taking place. I thought her relationship with the loyal Ronan was very sweet and wholesome and love how well they complement and challenge each other.

Thank you so much to netgalley and Harper Collin’s for the ARC!

Sadly the book was not a good match for me. The book started off with me being confused on who was who and what kingdom was what with unfortunately not much explanation given. The concept of the book seemed right up my alley, however I just didn’t connect with the characters like I expected to. I’m not sure if it was just the layout of the arc file, but at the beginning of the book I found it hard to decipher which character was speaking.

The cover of the book is stunning and the world has a lot of potential!

Sadly this book wasn’t for me and my reading style, but I know of a lot of people who would love it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it

I went into The Princess Knight excited for a fun, romantic fantasy—especially since it's been described as a medieval Legally Blonde retelling. And while it definitely captured that energy at times (complete with fabulous outfits, a magical academy, and a pink-loving, determined heroine), the execution left me wanting more in terms of character motivation and narrative depth.

The story follows Princess Clía, who enrolls in a prestigious military academy to prove herself and win back Prince Domhnall, the man who broke her heart. Her motivation is supposedly to strengthen her kingdom through marriage, but the political reasoning behind this is never fully fleshed out. There are vague mentions of duty, power, and parental expectations, but I never quite understood why this marriage was so vital—or how it would actually help her people, despite Clía’s repeated claims that she wants to serve them.

This surface-level approach to conflict extended to the broader plot as well. The looming war and the villains’ motivations are treated more as background noise than serious narrative elements, with little explanation beyond generic labels like “invaders” and “warlords.” I found myself wishing for deeper world-building and more compelling stakes.

Where the book shines is in its inclusivity and lighthearted tone. The world is unapologetically queer, with LGBTQ+ representation woven seamlessly into the cast, and there's a non-binary side character too. That aspect felt refreshing and welcome.

Ronan and Clía’s romance was sweet, and I enjoyed their dynamic, especially as Clía trains and proves herself beyond the glitter and gowns. However, the emotional build-up felt a bit rushed and lacking in tension. I wanted more yearning, more slow-burn development—something that would make me feel their connection. Their relationship and emotional maturity leaned more YA than adult, which surprised me given how the book is marketed. Also! The miscommunication. Misunderstandings dragged on longer than necessary and felt more like plot devices than organic conflict. I kept wishing the characters would just talk to each other.

The ending also felt a little flat, without the payoff I was hoping for.

In terms of style and structure, the book does a good job of capturing moments reminiscent of Legally Blonde, which fans of the movie will appreciate. And if you go in expecting a light young adult-leaning fantasy with minimal world-building, no spice, and a sweet but soft romance, you'll likely have a good time.

Ultimately, this wasn’t quite the rich adult romantic fantasy I was hoping for, but it was a charming, inclusive debut with heart—even if it stayed mostly on the surface.

3.5-3,75⭐️
Captain Ronan, nadie podrá hacer que te odie.

No voy a mentir: The Princess Knight me atrapó muchísimo más de lo que esperaba. Es un retelling fantasy de Legally Blonde, y aunque al principio sabes perfectamente qué va a pasar porque sigue la misma estructura, es justamente ese toque familiar lo que engancha. Me lo leí en un día y medio, así que eso ya dice bastante.
La historia no es especialmente impactante, y lo cierto es que los giros y el final no me sorprendieron para nada. Hay traiciones, personajes de doble filo... lo de siempre. Pero aun así creo que el cierre está bien llevado. Eso sí, es un final abierto que claramente deja la puerta abierta a más libros (y honestamente, no sé si hacía falta una continuación). Espero que el segundo apueste más por la trama y menos por el romance, porque si es así, podría estar mucho mejor.
Clia y Ronan me han gustado bastante como personajes principales. Su relación va creciendo de forma muy natural, de COMPLETOS desconocidos a amigos y luego a algo más... es muy cute. Aunque, babes, el trope de misscommunication NO es el flex que creéis que es...
Clia me sorprendió para bien. Pasa de ser “la rubia inútil” a una chica que lo da todo, que se esfuerza y que lucha por lo que quiere. Su evolución es probablemente lo que más me ha gustado del libro. Ronan, por su parte, es lo mejor que tiene esta historia, aunque tengo que reconocer que como personaje es bastante plano.
Y esa es un poco mi mayor queja: la mayoría de los personajes, excepto Clia, no evolucionan nada. Están bien definidos, sí, pero se sienten planos, sin chicha, sin la sazon de la vida y los traumas. Y teniendo en cuenta que es un libro de fantasía ambientado en una especie de academia militar y que pasa en todo un año... pues se echa de menos algo más de desarrollo, la verdad. Estáis siendo encerrados y manipulados, por el amor de dios.
Lo que sí, estaba SUPER SUPER SUPER perdida con el worlbuilding, se explica muy por encima y todos los reinos, rifirafes entre ellos etc se me hicieron un lío completamente. Y ya no hablemos de los nombres, no solo de los lugares, si no de las personas. O SEA KHE- O los ponen más faciles o, mejor que mejor, ponen una super guía al inicio que explique la relacion y que así tu puedas ir recordando las cosillas... menudo cacao me llevaba encima, no os voy a mentir...
En resumen: lo he disfrutado, me lo he bebido, tiene una estética preciosa y una portada que da ganas de gritar. No va a cambiar mi vida, pero fue un rato muy entretenido

____
The Princess Knight pulled me in way more than I expected. It’s a fantasy retelling of Legally Blonde, and even though you kind of know exactly how it’s going to go ( it follows the same structure ) that familiar vibe is actually what makes it so addictive. I read it in a day and a half, so yeah, that says a lot.
The story itself isn’t mind-blowing, and to be honest, I saw all the twists and the ending coming from miles away. Betrayals, double-faced characters... the usual. Still I think the ending was handled well.
It’s open, clearly setting up for more books (and honestly... nope, it doesn't need a sequel imo ). I’m hoping the second book focuses more on plot and less on the romance, ‘cause if that happens, it could be a much stronger story.
I really liked Clia and Ronan as main characters. Their relationship builds so naturally from strangers to friends to something more and it’s just super cute. That said... babes, miscommunication is NOT the flex you think it is. Please stop. i cannot deal w kids that don't want to talk to each other.
Clia genuinely surprised me in a good way. She goes from being the typical “clueless blonde” to someone who’s driven, resilient, and actually fights for what she wants. Her character growth is probably my favorite thing about the book. Ronan, on the other hand, is the best thing this story has to offer, no questions, but I have to admit, he’s kind of flat as a character.
And that’s honestly my biggest complaint: aside from Clia, most of the characters don’t grow or change at all. They’re nicely defined, sure, but they feel flat...no spice, no drama, no trauma. And considering it’s a fantasy book set in a military-style academy that spans an entire year... yeah, you expect more development. You’re being locked up and manipulated, for gods sake.
Also, I was SO SO SO lost with the worldbuilding. It’s barely explained, and all the kingdoms and their beef with each other totally threw me off. And don’t even get me started on the names, not just of the places but of the people too. LIKE, EXCUSE ME¿!
Either make them easier or, even better, add a detailed guide at the beginning explaining who's who and how they’re connected so I can keep track... because I was straight up carrying chaos in my brain ngl.
To sum it all up: I enjoyed it, I devoured it, it’s got stunning vibes and a cover that makes me want to scream. It’s not a life-changing read, but it was a really fun ride.

4.5 stars. I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Harper Fiction for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. I had high expectations, having heard so much about it. I was expecting a romantic fantasy, but it was so much more. I absolutely adore Clia and Ronan, and I was rooting for them throughout the book. Their struggles with their roles and the expectations placed upon them were clear to see, and by the end, I was rooting for Ronan even more. I really enjoyed the pacing of the book, which set it apart from other fantasies I’ve read. This one focussed heavily on Clia and her responsibilities as a princess, leading her to make decisions she believed would be beneficial. However, the story takes an unexpected turn that I didn’t see coming. I’m already looking forward to reading more from this author.

Original title was Medievally Blonde? Incredible.

The Legally Blonde influence is really well done - obvious but somehow subtle? Like it doesn’t read as a Legally Blonde retelling, it reads as a book where you’d go ‘oh that’s a bit like Legally Blonde!’ There’s been more than enough original content and (Irish folktale inspired) lore added to the book to make it something separate.

Queer representation was great - non-binary side character, casual mentioning of F/F and M/M relationships as well.

The romance was super cute, but maybe a bit more tension would have been nice? But it is YA, so I’ll give it a pass on that.

The ending could have been a bit…more? Like I feel like there could definitely be a second book to expand on the ending (like how are you ending a book when they’re at war), so maybe that’s possibly in the pipeline?

Oh and we love a horse sized man eating pet. What a good boy.

3.75/5 rounded up. Overall a solid debut.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

Legally Blonde, but make it fantasy. It was an interesting read, and the writing style was good, but I just didn't connect with it in the way I expected to. That being said, it was a good book. Some people I think are going to love this book.