Thank you to #NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital arc of The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton. This contemporary YA novel will be published on May 5, 2020. All opinions are my own.

Kit Sweetly works as a wench at a Castle restaurant in the Chicago suburbs. She dreams of being a knight like her brother Chris as it would come with a pay bump and allow her to save money and attend her dream college Marquette as well as help her mom with the mortgage payment. The policy at Castle is that only CIS males can be knights. Then one night, Chris gets into an altercation with the green knight before he show and allows Kat to ride out as him. She's supposed to keep her helmet on the entire show, but after the green knight goes off script during the show and continues the altercation, Kit puts him in his place and then reveals to him and the dinner crowd that "She is no man!" This sends Kit, the Girl Knight, on a crusade to change the Castle's sexist policies.

This book was hilarious, witty, cute, and empowering. While there is a focus on girl power and equality, the primary theme of the novel is actually one of the power of friendship. Though Kit is the catalyst in the situation, she wouldn't have been able to pull off her plan without the support, encouragement, and involvement of her friends. I also loved Kit's passion for history and how she continuously points out the Castle's inaccuracies and gives the reader bite-size history lessons. Finally, I loved that there was a romance plot line but that it didn't consume the entire novel. Sure, Kit likes Jett and there's some tension between them, but it doesn't take away from the primary conflict of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and believe that many YA and MG readers will too. It does include underage smoking and drinking, talking of drug use, and references to sex meaning not all parents may be comfortable with their middle grade students reading it.

I was all in on this book because it's got that Medieval Times, Game of Thrones, Ren Faire, A Knight's Tale vibe, in YA form.

To me, it had some fun parts, but it ended up having weird tonal mismatches. The basic plot, of achieving gender equality among the knights at a Medieval Times style place, is fun! The cast is diverse, in both race and gender.

The main character is living in poverty and being religiously abused by her substance abusing father. Maybe some people can read that kind of stuff and still enjoy the parts that are essentially lighthearted, but it's hard for me. It made me wonder what level of verisimilitude we're dealing with regarding the depiction of poverty; it didn't really ring true to my experiences.

The other thing I'm thinking about a lot is consent in YA books. There is kissing in this book that is done without consent. I don't think authors are necessarily obligated to model consent in books aimed at teenagers, but it's certainly more difficult for me to read something as romantic or sweet when I'm not seeing it.


***Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

This medieval-themed, coming of age story is for all you Renaissance Faire fans out there who love a main character that champions gender equality, fights for her right to fight (more on that in a second), and empowers everyone around her with her huge heart all before eating her pancakes. Kit is a breakfast-loving wench (aka waitress) at a medieval themed restaurant in Chicago. Although she loves her job, what she really wants to do is move up the ranks and become a knight both for the fun of it and for the pay raise that will get her to the college of her dreams. Unfortunately, company policy states that only men are allowed to joust in the arena and so begins Kit's crusade against an outdated policy as she fights for her right to fight in an arena.

I really enjoyed all the diversity in this story and commend the author for fitting in characters so seamlessly that represented all walks of life. This book included characters all across the gender and sexual orientation spectrum and even threw in different backgrounds, races, and financial situations. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Kit, her friends, and her brother. It made the story more fun to read because I had characters about whom I enjoyed reading. The ending left me feeling sentimental and gushy with the sweet reminder that sometimes all we need is to be around the ones we love.

The beginning started with a bang and throws the reader in the middle of Castle action, yet the middle dragged on a little bit and even though things were happening, I feel like we could have spent a little less time on the "Kit Sweetly Plan." I really wanted to be absolutely stoked when I finished this book and fired up about gender equality; however, I don't feel that way after having finished so I will say that while the book was satisfying and tied up all loose ends, it did not leave me feeling empowered like I was hoping.

Trigger Warning: drug abuse, emotional abuse

Kit Sweetly is a Wench who wants to be a Knight—if only the patriarchal hegemony ruling The Castle Corporation would give her a chance to succeed. When a chance opportunity to take over for her brother leads to her revealing herself as The Girl Knight and a video of her "I am no man!" speech goes viral, Kit seizes the opportunity to allow herself—and a group of non cis male knight wannabes—her chance in the tournament grounds once and for all.

This was a solid debut novel that tries to smash the patriarchy with lances and swords.

Did it succeed? Sure?

Was it entertaining? Hell yes.

Kit has a lot going on in her life, with college hopes and A Plan that will lead her family out of poverty once and for all. Her mother and brother have both been working two jobs to make ends meet after their feckless father ran off with their college savings and emergency funds, leaving them all broke and stuck paying the mortgage for their house.

Kit tries to help with her job as a wench at The Castle, a medieval dinner-faire where attendees eat anachronistic medieval food and watch men in armor bash each other with swords, but her heart is on the ground wielding a sword herself.

Not hiding how poor she is to her best friends Jett and Layla.

Not worrying about getting into college or paying for college.

Not trying to figure out how to keep the lights on.

Not agonizing over what their mother has done to cause them to be three months behind in their mortgage payments.

I particularly liked the representation in this book. It's filled with queer characters and characters of color and queer characters of color—and they also make up Kit's Knights—without seeming like check-in-the-box representation.

And I liked their friendship and how they banded together to take a chance to become Knights and prove that it wasn't just men—that gender equality could extend to corporate organizations like The Castle too.

The plot moves quickly—I was able to finish this in an afternoon—but I was left feeling a little unsatisfied with the ending. I'm not sure why, though.

I really didn't like Len, Kit's uncle who was a skeez and asshole, despite being marginally better than his feckless brother. I did like how Kit gains the courage to tell off her father, who is a complete narcissistic asshole, and how family was an important theme in the book. Family being—the family who sticks by you and the ones you would lay down your life for, not necessarily the family you were born into.

Overall, this is definitely good and enjoyable. And there are a lot of references to A Knight's Tale, if you want to get weepy and sentimental.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

3.5/5 Stars

I enjoyed reading about the main storyline of this book, which is Kit trying to fight against the company policy of her workplace. The Medieval-themed restaurant where she works won't let girls fight as knights and she's had enough of this absurdity and she's ready to put up a fight.

My issue was that apart from this storyline the others were very few and sounded a bit weak in my opinion. I didn't even find myself rooting for the main couple, which is something very unusual for me. I believe it was because we barely got to see the two of them together and so there really wasn't a lot to root for.

If you're looking for a nice read about equality in the workplace and you also want to see girls take on the fight to defeat gender roles, then you might want to give this book a chance!

3.5 stars

Super cute with some quibbles! I guess we're in the renaissance of Ren Fair-set books (pun intended) since I've seen so many recent releases (Jen DeLuca's WELL MET). Longer RTC closer to release date.

This was a cute and inspiring story. I really enjoyed the characters. As with most romance stories, you can guess what’s going to happen, but it doesn’t make the ride any less exciting. I found myself rooting for this character and wanting everything to be put right. I found it quite funny and I couldn’t put it down.

I was given an advanced readers copy through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

It is really lovely to see so many books out now that live in that world of geek culture. Kit is a likeable heroine who is earnest, vulnerable and hard-working and does the wrong things for the right reasons. The plot centers around her struggles to earn a place as a knight in the Medieval Times type restaurant where she works and her journey to balance the ideals of her life goals and what fulfills her personally and as a member of a community. The author does a good job of melding the heart-breaking realism of Kit's world with bubbly, joyful nerdiness. I have never been to a Medieval Times restaurant before, but I was very familiar with the characters and attitudes from SCA, Renaissance Faire and fan culture in general.

I was confused at first with the pronoun use of one character (because I am old) but it didn't take me long to figure it out. For an audience already prepared to think about pronouns differently, it is probably not an issue, but without the equivalent of a name tag with your preferred pronouns, it could be confusing to some. As with Eliza and Her Monsters, I find it a little odd how easy it is for teens to establish and make money on these online ventures, but again, I am old. These are minor quibbles though compared to what the author is doing with the themes in a space that seems strange now, but is becoming more normalized.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy the Once Upon A Con series by Ashley Poston and Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia.

The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly is so much fun and just what I needed while I'm stuck at home during the current pandemic. It's cute and entertaining, and while it's a light read, it also deals with sexism, poverty, and some tough choices.

Kit works at a cheesy, medieval-themed restaurant, where she's stuck as a serving wench (that's what they call the waitresses). She wants to be a knight because it pays better and also because she has a knight obsession, but women aren't allowed to play that role. One night, she takes her brother's place as a knight and she can't resist revealing her identity (stating "I am no man" from Lord of the Rings). The "girl knight" quickly goes viral, and Kit tries to push for a change in the company's sexist policy, forming a band of people who want to change to rules.

Kit is in a tough place. She wants to shake things up, but she also desperately needs her job because she and her family are the working poor. Her dad left after stealing the money her mother had saved for the kids' college funds, and he doesn't pay child support. Her mother never finished high school and works two jobs to try to keep up with the mortgage. Kit's older brother also works two jobs and goes to community college. Kit has a plan to get ahead, but she needs money for college and her path out of town is starting to look impossible. The author does an excellent job showing how tough Kit's choices are and how grinding poverty can be.

Kit is a likeable, imperfect heroine. She doesn't always make the best choices, but her mistakes make sense in the context of the story. She's a tough feminist who's been dealt a rough hand in life, but she's doing her best to make things better. This is a very fun book with an important message. It's also pretty diverse: Kit's love interest is half Indian, her best friend is African-American and bi, and one her co-workers is nonbinary.

Kit Sweetly seems like a traditional plucky narrator, but there is something about her that is unique and sparkly. She loves history, she loves her family, and she's dedicated to being true to herself. That all sounds normal, but Jamie Pacton is able to write a character that makes me feel like I've met somebody new and different.

Kit dreams of taking on a new role in the job she loves, but she has to convince the old guard to let her shatter that glass ceiling before it's too late. She's got to juggle viral internet culture, a super cute bff, and her family's financial situation. I'd recommend this book to YA romance addicts and anyone interested in a glimpse of what its like to be a feminist in high school in the present day.

The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly is a really funny YA book about feminism, poverty, first love. The Medieval Theme Park gives the Story a really nice touch.

I could not even finish this book. The main character is unlikeable and doesn’t think about other people except herself. Her friends are more resourceful and likable then her. I was excited about this book because I love Midevil Times and the time period. DNFed it at 30%...

CWs: exploration/depictions of poverty, underage drinking/smoking, mild parental abuse

This story is like the medieval shenanagins of "Well Met" meets the local theme park vibes of "Hot Dog Girl." In other words: it's smart, it's hilarious, and it makes you really feel like you're a part of something the entire way through.

What I appreciate most is how truly feminist this story is. A lot of stories that aim to "empower women" and "celebrate feminism" often act like anyone who's not a traditionally cis woman doesn't exist. Not here, folks. Kit Sweetly says loud and clear, "it isn't right that only cis men get to occupy certain roles." There is a deeply-supported understanding that TRUE feminism benefits people of ALL marginalized genders.

Kit's family life is also complex, because they're classified as (in Kit's own words) "the working poor." They live paycheck to paycheck, pool all their income as a family, often get behind on mortgage payments, and even lose power so often that they keep a cooler in the kitchen to save their food from going bad in the fridge. Because of her family background, Kit understands that you can't get everything you want in life; there will be some sacrifices and losses. But dignity is not something she's willing to lose.

(Plus, she acknowledges that even though her family is poor, she still operates on some level of privilege as a white girl from the suburbs, which makes if easy for her to call out sexism and misogyny in the workplace. What privilege she has, she uses for the betterment of others.)

Kit's message is clear throughout the entire book: she is done with the systemic erasure of non-male warriors and historical figures, and she will not rest until people of all genders can accurately portray the medieval era as being a time where all kinds of people existed. Performative feminism doesn't interest her, and I adored her steadfast determination.

If you enjoyed the titles referenced above, then this is definitely the story for you and one you should not miss! It has an abundance of nerd jokes, a great cast of characters, thoughtful feminist commentary, and a sweet romance to top it all off. Very glad to have gotten the chance to read this one early!

My The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly Top 3:
- Gender equality message
- Shows the realities of working-class poverty
- Interesting contemporary take (knights, fencing, a medieval re-enactments)!

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly is a story about defying the odds and taking control. It has a fantastic focus on gender equality, and it offers a great sense of realism on difficult subjects, like poverty. The modern world of social media and viral videos meets medieval fencers, chain mail, horses, and knights in this fun contemporary book!

In contemporary fiction, it’s always refreshing to see an author come up with a new setting, concept, or idea, and in The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly, Pacton does just that. Main character Kit lives in the cross-section between two worlds: the now and then. By day, Kit is an impoverished teenager with to-do lists and scholarship applications to negotiate. By night, she’s a serving wench at the Castle, a medieval theatre/restaurant, and she’s striving for a more 21st century approach to gender inclusion and knighthood.

The characters of The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly are friendly, likeable, and devoted to their cause. Kit’s struggles always have a strong sense realism, which makes them (and her) easy to relate to. As Kit faces mounting bills and an unpaid mortgage, clashes with her absent father, opposition from Castle management, confusing romantic feelings for her best friend, and a myriad of collage entry problems, she learns about who she is, who she wants to be, and what it will take to achieve her goals. Kit has a clear arc, which develops a little differently to what we might expect.

The key themes of The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly are gender equality and poverty. Kit becomes the accidental face of a tiny revolution, fighting to let girls fight, shaking off her role as wench in favour of the knighthood she knows she deserves. Meanwhile, she does her homework at her friend’s house, where they still have electricity, and she wonders how she will be able to afford to attend college if she isn’t granted a financial aid scholarship.

I’d recommend The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly to fans of John Green’s Paper Towns and Brigid Kemmerer’s Call It What You Want.

Thanks so much for this ARC! I loved Kit and thought this was a very fun setting for a story. I loved her "viral" fight to be able to be a knight, and the story of her family and friendships. I did feel like the romance and ending wrapped up perhaps a bit too quickly at the end, but I sure did enjoy the story along the way! Good first novel, will be watching for more!

This was very cute! I liked the premise and the idea of a young woman trying to take down a sexist system and figure out her life. However, this book was simply too short and weirdly paced for me. I felt like we didn’t really stop to digest what had just happened at a lot of points and the ending was very rushed. I would also be really into the book for a bit and then something strange would happen and I’d be immediately sucked out again. The premise was cute and had my attention, the execution, not so much.

Medieval times and girl power. What more could a book want? Maybe a little romance, some angst, and family drama. This book was great.

This was a fun and moving YA that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. The unique setting is balanced by universal themes that YA-age kids will relate to. Pacton does an excellent job showing the struggles that many readers deal with through Kit. They will relate to her and find someone to cheer for. Highly recommend.

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly is the story of Kit Sweetly and her quest to become a Lady Knight in her local medieval-themed show/restaurant. With a host of fantasy references, feminism and a dash of romance, this book was a pretty fun read.

I was really excited by the premise of this book, and found a lot of kinship with Kit. However, while the beginning is intriguing and heads straight into the action, I was sadly left wanting more from several facets of the story. I was thoroughly unimpressed with the romance, especially with the conclusion of it. I also wish we had seen more of Kit’s group of friends to give them a more three-dimensional characterization.

The best way that I can describe this book could easily be a Disney Channel Film. It will absolutely find it’s audience and has a lot of charm to it, but was just a bit too sweet for my taste.

I fully expected to adore this book, but found it instead to be disappointingly dull. There's a great plot idea here, but it's regularly dragged into the weeds by an uninteresting romance and ongoing (and often simply unbelievable) efforts to draw distinctions between Kit's lived experience of poverty (which is very well done) and the lives of her uber rich best friends (one of whom appears to live in a property with more amenities than the white house and has a monthly allowance exceeding even wealthy families' monthly income). I experienced something akin to whiplash as I was jerked back and forth between narratives suitable for a teen romance, a kick-ass 4th wave feminist power story, a deep dive into the hope-crushing nature of contemporary late-capitalist America, and a "fun and fluffy" YA adventure intended to be consumed in an afternoon of laughter and nostalgia.