Medievally Blonde was a killer title, and part of me is still mourning the loss of that brilliance, but I am also a huge fan of The Princess Knight and understand the change. The comparison to Legally Blonde had me immediately intrigued (as a certified Elle Woods enthusiast, I’ve been known to quote her), so when I heard about this book, I was convinced it was tailor made for me.

And in many ways, The Princess Knight should have been my perfect read. There’s so much here to admire: a queernormative world with nuanced chronic pain and autistic representation? Yes, yes, and yes! So needed and so perfect. I loved how those elements were thoughtfully woven into the narrative without feeling shoehorned in or overly explanatory and Cait Jacobs clearly cares deeply about this story and its message.

The worldbuilding was solid and imaginative, and I appreciated the Celtic myth inspired backdrop. Plus, the friendships (especially the female ones!) were a highlight. They were genuine, sweet, and occasionally surprising. Clía herself was also a bright spot. Her growth arc, from heartbroken princess to formidable warrior, was compelling, and I adored that she never sacrificed her femininity for strength. Sewing, sword fighting, and self discovery? Iconic combo.

But… now for what I did not like as much.

The biggest hurdle for me was the age mismatch. This is marketed as an adult fantasy (and the cover certainly suggests older characters), but the actual story reads more like upper YA. Ronan is nineteen. NINETEEN! Which would be fine—great, even—if that was what I was signing up for. But when you promise me Legally Blonde and deliver something more like Throne of Glass, you’ve set an expectation that the story just doesn’t quite meet. The characters, their behavior, the pacing, and the plot twists all felt a bit too young and predictable to fully deliver on the adult fantasy angle.

Romance wise, I loved the friends to lovers setup, but I needed more yearning, more tension, more chemistry than what I got. I was cheering for Clía and Ronan, but the romantic development felt undercooked. They had amazing friend chemistry, but the romantic spark just didn’t fully ignite for me. And as someone who rarely begs for more romance, that says something.

Lastly, the politics felt a little shallow. I typically live for a juicy subplot filled with court intrigue and strategic maneuvering, but that element never quite came to life in a satisfying way.

Overall, The Princess Knight is a heartfelt, unique, and promising debut that I think will resonate well with those who are okay with more of a YA fantasy who want inclusive rep, a fierce yet feminine FMC, and a lighter romantic adventure. For me, I didn’t love it, but I did really like it! But I truly hope it finds the right audience, because there’s real magic here and I know so many will love it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cait Jacobs, and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this book.