Member Reviews
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Megan Clawson for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Love at First Knight coming out April 25, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I thought the title was fun. I love stories set in England and medieval history is a fun subject. Unfortunately, this book didn’t really work for me. I felt like it was getting too long and I wasn’t interested in the story as it went on. The characters didn’t do it for me. I know 20-something’s are still young, but they acted immaturely a lot of the time. Daisy seemed to be wishy-washy and judgmental. I wasn’t a fan of hers. I would check out other books by this author though.
I hadn’t yet read a book with LARPing and I LOVED IT! It was so fun to read!
Daisy had a character arc I really adored, her finding herself and her confidence and coming to love herself was really heartwarming and with her family backing her it just felt so warm and fuzzy😭💜
The downside of this book was the romance, I just didn’t feel connected to them in a romantic way, it felt short for me. I definitely wanted her to be with Ellis, he seemed more fit for her. Teddy was the big rude broody man, Ellis was the sweet supportive type who would have helped her every step with her mental health journey, just felt like she was with the wrong guy!
This is the second book i've read from Megan Clawson and I really enjoyed it! Going into it I had no idea what LARPing was but really enjoyed reading about and learning about it, I loved that the story was a little different in that aspect and very entertaining, but......if there is one aspect of this story that was incredibly entertaining....Teddy....that is all!
I loved the chemistry between him and Daisy, i mean yes she doesn't exactly like him....but the banter is 10/10!
Highly recommend it's a really fun story
I am a big fan of the Tower of London setting of this book and the one before it. I think Daisy is a very different character than Maggie in the first book. Her confidence comes from a character she plays and while she learns to gain that confidence herself, she manages to also get a 'prince's' attention. I was worried for a bit there would be a love triangle, which is not always my favorite thing but I am excited to see whatever stories happen (maybe featuring a certain American archivist?). I really enjoy how different this book is, at least for me, with a setting somewhere I wish to visit one day.
DNF at 30%
I really wanted to enjoy this story as the premise sounded interesting, however I just felt disconnected to the characters and found I was scanning through what was happening as opposed to absorbing it. Whilst I didn't see the appeal, I can understand how others might enjoy the story and the characters.
When Daisy gets a job at a Knight academy for children during the summer holidays based at the Tower of London she never thought she'd meet her knight in shining armour.
She didn't... He met his.
This was a sweet novel. The humour had me chuckling in places and the characters were well written.
I loved Bobble and the quirky band of misfits who made up the fellowship in the village hall. However, at times the story for me just didn't move along in a way that made me feel as if the 'love' aspect of the story worked, though I did like the slow burn and how the enemies part of the trope did not just linger for a few chapters.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
3.75 stars
Love at First Knight is a heart-warming royal romance crossed with LARP-ing which is fun and at times a bit ridiculous. I found myself giggling away and kicking my feet with how much I loved the development of the couple's relationship. This is a light-hearted rom-com that touches on some bigger themes of comparing yourself to others, anxiety and building relationships with people.
I did find this one a little bit slower than the previous book, Falling Hard For the Royal Guard, and there were a lot of chapters that were very descriptive and even some that became long monologues - which I do think added to the story but at the detriment of the pacing in that it slowed it down.
The characters were nerdy, supportive, and included some good representation of anxiety in my opinion. I adored the cameo of the previous couple too!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Tower of London and the introduction of LARPing provides a unique and exciting setting for the concept of the novel. The detailed portrayal of Daisy's anxiety allows readers to fully empathize with her and relate to the anxieties of starting a new job or moving to a new city. However, there are areas where the writing style feels clunky, particularly in the internal monologues of stress, which can be distracting and make it difficult to understand what is happening. A third-person narrative or dual POV might have improved the reading experience, but this is subjective to personal writing preferences.
The romance between Teddy and Daisy feels rushed and could have benefited from more build-up. Teddy, as a disgraced viscount, is an interesting character, and it would have been intriguing to explore the struggles of living a life controlled by the press in more depth. Daisy's potential relationship with archivist Ellis doesn't develop much and seems to serve as a subplot that did not add to the overall plotline.
Overall, the plot, setting, and the concept of a disgraced viscount joining a knight training academy are enjoyable. However, the romance lacks development, making it difficult to root for Daisy and Teddy to have a satisfying happy ending. Despite this, the novel remains an enjoyable and light-hearted read.
In this book, we follow Daisy, who is very shy. She still lives with her parents, and apart from whilst LARPing, she struggles with her confidence. During LARPing, she takes on an alter ego almost, called Lady A. She ends up taking a job at a children's knight school, based at the tower of London, and is well and truly pushed out of her comfort zone. When Teddy turns up one day, a member of the royal family who is always in the public eye for the wrong reasons, she is asked to mentor him.
I really enjoyed Daisy's character evolution, from a very shy and almost timid character to someone who definitely had guts and spoke her mind when confronted.
The idea of a romance with a Viscount is something I'm sure a lot of people would love the premise of, but I truthfully wasn't overly sold on this romance part. I personally preferred the *other* love interest in this story and think that one had great potential.
That being said, it was an enjoyable, quick, and easy read. There were a lot of loveable side characters such as Bobble, the quirky roommate, and the storyline around LARPing. It was something I've never read about before, and I did enjoy it! I would definitely read more of Megan's work.
3.8 rounded up to 4/5.
"Love at First Knight" by Megan Clawson is a delightful romance novel that will capture readers' hearts with its charming characters and engaging storyline.
Daisy Hastings is a relatable and endearing character who dreams of living in a different era. When she lands a summer job at the Tower of London helping to run their Knight school, she sees it as a step in the right direction. Theodore 'Teddy' Fairfax, on the other hand, is a disgraced distant relative of the royal family, begrudgingly assisting with the summer program. Sparks fly between Daisy and Teddy from the start, leading to a war of words and eventually, an unexpected romance.
One of the highlights of the novel is Daisy's character development, as she navigates her anxieties and finds the strength to face her fears. Clawson handles Daisy's struggles with sensitivity, creating a realistic portrayal of anxiety and personal growth. The slow-burn romance between Daisy and Teddy allows both characters to evolve individually while gradually developing their relationship, adding depth and authenticity to their connection.
The supporting characters, particularly Daisy's family, add warmth and depth to the story, creating a rich and vibrant backdrop for the romance to unfold. While the premise of breaking into a royal palace may seem far-fetched, Clawson's storytelling skill makes it believable within the context of the novel.
Overall, "Love at First Knight" is a heartwarming and engaging read that combines romance, humor, and personal growth. Megan Clawson's writing is engaging and heartfelt, making this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.
Megan has once again written a romance that I absolutely adore. This book is chalked full of quirky, sweet, and loveable characters, a unique and entertaining story, and a romance that had my heart pitter-pattering a little faster. Love at First Knight is one of those romances you can just sink into and enjoy the ride. The story is light and fluffy and had me laughing more times than I can count. But even though there is this lightness to this story, there is still a surprising amount of depth to the characters and the problems that they are dealing with. The flow of this story is perfect, and I never once found my attention straying from the pages in front of me. In all honesty, I ended up reading this book in one sitting (it was how I spent my Friday night), and I loved every moment of it.
Daisy and her family are delightful in the best possible way. Daisy suffers from severe social anxiety and has shied away from the world for the past few years. She knows that she is stuck, but she is terrified of leaving her family and her home. Her only way of coping with the world and different social situations is pretending that she is the brave, elfin warrior called Lady Alenthaea. The only place she feels like she can be herself and is truly comfortable is when she is LARPing, a live-action role-playing game. With her family and close friends, Daisy belongs to this LARPing group called The Friskney Fellowship. This group of people is wonderful, and I wish they were a part of my life. They are so quirky, and there is never a dull moment when they are all together LARPing. Daisy's character is wonderful, and I loved hanging out with her. She is nerdy in the best possible way, and when she lets her geek out, her character shines. I loved her awkwardness because it made her character feel so real. I think anyone who has ever felt shy, socially anxious, or like they don't fit in will be able to connect with Daisy's character. Daisy's growth in this story was wonderful. For most of this book, Daisy sees herself as a failure and believes that she hasn't done anything meaningful with her life. I loved watching her find the confidence to step out of her comfort zone and figure out what she wanted to do with her life.
Daisy's family is perfection. They have this warmth that just pulls you in. Daisy's family are all a bunch of nerds (I mean this in the best possible way). They embrace their nerdiness with pride and welcome anyone into their circle. I loved watching this family dynamic. There is just so much kindness and love; your heart can't help but be happy.
Teddy was an interesting hero. He is a modern-day viscount who doesn't want anything to do with being royalty. His character had a lot more depth than what I was expecting. I thought I was going to get this spoiled royal who likes to cause trouble. But what I got was this man trying to find a way to live his own life and do what makes him happy.
The romance is a sweet, loath to lovers, closed door love story. I adored the chemistry between Daisy and Teddy. I always devour those sparks and chemistry between two characters who can't seem to get along. The banter between Daisy and Teddy is sharp and funny, and as their relationship progresses to something more meaningful, their banter becomes sweet and funny. There was just something so right about Teddy and Daisy. Their teasing and antics at work were entertaining and addictive. I enjoyed those quieter moments when they both opened up to each other. This is a clean romance, which means nothing beyond kissing happens in this book. There isn't any lusty steam between Teddy and Daisy, which fits with the story and Daisy's character.
Love at First Knight is a delightful, quirky romance that was hard to put down.
Super fun, romantic, nerdy story mixed with themes of self love, self assurance and the struggle to find your place in the world. I enjoyed the story even though it was cheesy. The characters were cute and the plot was unique. Great read!
Having read #FallingHardfortheRoyalGuard this was an immediate request when I saw it was available on Netgalley and I was utterly ecstatic when I was approved.
I loved Daisy and Teddy. I thought the adventure we were taken on with them was hilarious, a little far fetched at times nevertheless, interesting and gripping.
I relate to Daisy in many ways, feeling you’re not winning at life for multiple reasons, Daisy’s being due to her anxiety and quietness, she hasn’t yet found her voice in this world and it was holding her back. She was envious of everyone around her who were moving forward, whereas, she felt stuck in the one spot - I get you, girl.
I enjoyed the storyline between Daisy and Teddy. Their lives intertwining together in a very inventive, uncommon way and that’s all thanks to it being based around royalty. However, there were times throughout the book that I found myself thinking, surely it isn’t that easy (like sneaking by the guards etc.) and surely that’s not how it works? However, I am no royal expert and I still enjoyed the upbeat, lighthearted read.
Clawson is very good at building the tension between her characters, making them as realistic as she can and bringing the story to life. I really enjoyed it but I did want a bit more of the romance, relationship and less building around the royalty side of things. More Teddy and Daisy.
A huge thank you to Megan Clawson, Avon Books and Netgalley for this e-arc.
I really enjoyed this book as much as the first one. I liked learning about LARPing and the history within the Tower of London. Daisy, her friends and family were such fun to read about and Bobble is a fabulous creation.
Love at First Knight follows Daisy as she reluctantly leaves home to participate in a children’s program helping them learn to be Knights, which is where she meets alleged playboy Teddy. I really appreciated how Clawson handled Daisy’s anxiety and feel it was well represented throughout the book. The world building was plenty descriptive to set the scene regardless of where Daisy was located. Unfortunately, throughout most of the story, I struggled with believing the chemistry between Daisy and Teddy. Thankfully, that all changed with one key moment – the dance. I do love a classic love story where it all starts with a dance. That’s also the moment where I found myself engaged with the story, so I’m glad I stuck it out until that point. Speaking of characters, though, Bobble was such a treasure. I absolutely loved her and her steadfast commitment to her friendship with Daisy. To be honest, if the story was just about their friendship I would’ve been perfectly content. Aside from the dance, the epilogue was my favorite part of the story in part because of what it meant for Bobble. I do think, overall, the story is worth reading it just takes a little bit to become invested.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I have to admit I struggled with the first half of this book as it is a very slow burn. I was intrigued by the story and wanted to carry on and I’m glad that I did. Just past half way through the book really takes a turn and I enjoyed the second half a lot more.
It’s great to see the author representing different hobbies within the book however some of the inner dialogue around the LARPing did seem like a little too much and I struggled to follow at times.
All in all a good feel good romance that is still worth the read.
3.25 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of Love At First Knight!
I read Falling Hard for The Royal Guard earlier this year so when I saw I could request this book on Netgalley I did so immediately. In both books you can definitely tell that the author lived in the tower of London because of the knowledge of the place which is amazing!
I loved the Lord of The Rings references and the geekiness of the characters. Daisy was a great FMC and I really like the social anxiety representation in the book. There was parts of this book which made me laugh and made me feel so happy because it was so cute.
That being said I didn't feel that much of a connection between Daisy and Teddy, it felt a little surface level and I didn't feel like there was much of a build up to their relationship.
Overall, I did really like this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a geeky romance set in the Tower Of London.
A sweet and fun romance set in the Tower of London! With enemies that can't help but be lovers, a really sweet love triangle (and I usually can't stand them!) and a supporting cast you will want to spend much more time with!
A Royal LARP romance for anyone who doubts whether they are lovable. All about family, friendship, and sanctioned fighting.
Daisy is perfectly content working at her fathers shop and being with her family LARPing. When her twin tells her about a job at Knight School in London, she isn’t interested in uprooting from the place she knows, even if it’s for a couple of weeks. However, her dad thinks otherwise and submits an application for her. So when she receives a call and is offered the job, she is absolutely shocked. With a little coaxing, Daisy is on her way to London for the job. To make things even more uncomfortable, Daisy is asked to work with the one and only Viscount Teddy Fairfax. As a disgraced member of the royal family, Teddy is forced to work at Knight School for the summer. The two couldn’t be more opposite and his destruction and lack of care ends up leading to Daisy getting fired. With nothing more, Daisy sees failure and heads back home feeling defeated, but determined to find revenge in the only way possible - on the battlefield. However, Teddy might not be out of her life and if they just take the time to listen to once another, they might not so different after all.
I enjoyed the author’s first book just a tad more, but this was a very sold 3.5 cat rounded up. I enjoyed seeing how Daisy grew throughout the book and realizing just how strong of a woman she really is. I also loved the very quick nod to the first book and if you blinked you might have missed it. While knights in shining armor can be a common theme within a romance, it was a cool twist with the LARPing. I certainly learned a bit. This will be the perfect poolside read for any romance ready this summer.