Member Reviews
It was a cute story! I really enjoyed the witty banter between Zia and Rafi. I’ve always read Amalie Howard’s adult historical romance novels, so this is a first for me. I enjoyed the way she wrote this young adult novel, the main character definitely had her moments of being an adolescence. Zia could be a little bratty at times, but I believe it gave more insight to how her mind worked. During that time period, young girls were getting married so young. They had to sort out so many emotions. I liked the way Zia had to process and overcome some of those stringent society rules. I would definitely recommend this book if you like enemies to lovers!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
Content warnings: theft, violence, danger
Lady Zenobia "Zia" Osborn tries a novel idea to raise money for her school -- robbing well-to-do gentlemen of her and her friends' acquaintance. As the daughter of a duke, Zia knows the targets that are likely to have pockets full from nights of gambling and carousing. The Lady Knights nab items in daring nocturnal carriage heists to try to save their school and the accompanying orphanage.
The school is their pet project for two reasons. First, Zia's favorite teacher hosts a book club where the rebellious ladies read books often written by women deemed not appropriate for society girls (like Frankenstein). But more important is the money for the orphanage so the girls will have a place to live.
Zia's luck runs out when one of the Lady Knights' targets is her brother's best friend, Mr. Rafi Nasser. Mr. Nasser knows Zia was a part of the heist, and he agrees to keep her secret. But the scandal if she's discovered would be monumental.
Recommended for fans of YA historicals with more representation and more feminist views. If you liked The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton or another Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce, pick up this novel.
Representation: half Persian main character, half black main character, Asian side characters
*Although this is a sequel, it is also totally enjoyable as a standalone!*
This book is quite unique. It's an interesting balance of period and modern characters, language, and sensibilities. The author actually talks about her decision to do this in a note at the end!
There were parts that did catch me off guard, like when one character said "catch feelings," but overall, the blend is pretty well done and makes for good reading.
This review is also posted on my Goodreads.
I was so excited to receive this book so I could revisit Amalie's writing! The author creates rich worlds and stories and I'd definitely recommend this book if you loved the atmosphere of Bridgerton!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Last Zenobia (Zia) Osborn loves music and dreams of being a composer someday. Unfortunately for her. She’s the daughter of a formidable Duke and is destined to eventually be the perfect bride to a nameless, faceless, well-heeled gentleman. Well, she’s having none of that! Zia is part of a secret group known as the Lady Knights, a social club for rebellious girls. In it she’s free to study any subject she likes and save orphans by any means necessary. No one knows about her secret life, until Mr. Rafi Nasser finds out. Intrigued, he agrees to keep her secret, after all they can’t have a scandal on their hands can they?
This book has a humorous start, and I instantly fell in love with Zia. She’s brave and witty and rebellious, carving a life for herself that brings her true joy. Zia and her fellow Lady Knights rob a group of her brother’s friends in order to get money to save her finishing school and connected orphanage. Think Regency Robin Hood(esses?). Unfortunately for her, Rafi is part of this group, and he is much more observant than his companions.
Ms. Howard does a great job of presenting the very real challenges young ladies faced back then. She manages to capture the anxieties young women endured when being forced to marry by their families while also providing lots of moments of levity. She’s created characters who each have their own unique strengths. There are no wilting flowers here.
I really liked Zia, she was so multifaceted, and while she got into mischief as most teenagers do, she was motivated by a caring heart. She used her privilege for good. I also really enjoyed the banter between her and Rafi. He really doesn’t know what to make of her, and it was fun to watch him loose his head over her. While he was concerned about her, he never took away her agency and kept her secret.
While the novel had a strong start, the pacing does drag in the middle. This could be because the school drama between the cliques didn’t appeal to me. I must admit that when I first requested the novel I didn’t realize it was YA. That doesn’t take away from the story in any way, but some of the plot points were hard to relate to having more life experience and looking back to that time with a much more mature lens.
Overall, I thought this was a fun, quick read and perfect for fans of Bridgerton.
invigoratingly fun romance with two incredibly charming and interesting protagonitss and such awesome vibes. tysm for the arc. 4 stars. would recommend this work.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!
What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!
Lady Knight is the companion book to Queen Bee (which I loved). In this novel, Lady Zenobia “Zia” Osborn is the daughter of a Duke, but the idea of conforming to what society says she should be is stifling to her. She and her friends form the Lady Knights to do things secretly that would seem improper or unladylike to other people. This includes being disguised as highwaymen and robbing from her brother and his wealthy friends to save a school, church and orphanage. Unfortunately her former crush, her brother’s handsome and wealthy best friend, infamous rake Rafi Nasser, discovers her secret and the activities of the Lady Knights. He decides to tag along on all their activities to protect her, even though they are not romantically involved in any way. I liked the development of their friendship and relationship. This was an interesting mix of Robin Hood and Bridgerton and I really enjoyed it.
This is a story about Lady Zenobia AKA Zia. She is a young woman, the daughter of a duke and duchess who are trying to find her a husband. Zia is very outspoken and wants to be able to live as a young woman who.has choices. Her brother’s best friend, Rafi, is a handsome man who many girls have a crush on. Zia has liked Rafi since she was young but thinks he doesn’t like her. Another part of the story focuses on the school that Zia attends and the orphanage there which Zia and her friends are trying to help keep open. A very enjoyable story that I read in one day! I enjoyed the characters and the story and hope to read more stories in this locale and featuring these characters. Happy reading!
This is an invigorating Regency-era novel that bursts with spirit, where high society’s restraints are no match for the fiercely independent Lady Zenobia “Zia” Osborn. As the daughter of a duke, Zia is expected to adhere to tradition, but she dreams of a life far from the constricting expectations of the ton. Her true freedom is found in the Lady Knights, a secret society of young women who defy convention through daring pursuits: from musical composition to fencing, and even rescue missions for those society neglects.
The story takes a twist when Rafi Nasser, her brother’s close friend and an enigmatic rogue, stumbles upon her secret life. The tension between Zia’s iron-willed independence and her growing connection with Rafi builds a subtly charged dynamic that feels both fresh and authentic. Howard beautifully highlights the challenges of a young woman determined to defy societal norms, making Zia's story resonate for readers of all ages, though particularly inspiring for younger readers.
Each chapter is richly layered with historical references and literary nods, grounding the story in a carefully researched past that still feels accessible. Howard’s dedication to historical details and the inclusion of quotes from Mary Wollstonecraft lend depth to the narrative, making the book an engaging read for history enthusiasts as well. With an inclusive cast and witty dialogue that evokes the energy of recent anachronistic dramas, Lady Knight appeals to fans of period pieces with a modern twist, offering a captivating story filled with charm, courage, and romance.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's | Joy Revolution for sharing this unique regency era romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
This was a great follow up to Queen Bee! I love this author's writing and the books was so cute. I could not get enough of it! I am very happy to have been able to read this arc!
**I was given an ARC copy in exchange for a fair review. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**
Lady Zenobia "Zia" Osborn isn't your typical teenage member of the peerage. She has no desire to be married off to the highest bidder; she prefers to spend her time reading, composing unique pieces for the pianoforte, and maybe conducting a heist or two with her fellow Lady Knights- a secret group of like-minded rebellious girls.
When Rafi Nasser, her brother's friend that she has had a long-standing crush on, discovers her secret will it lead to utter ruin for Zia and the Lady Knights?
I truly enjoyed Lady Knights. I adore the trope of anachronistic fiction and television that has sprung up in the wake of shows like "Bridgerton" and "Dickenson." Lady Knights does not let down. With a cast of women with diverse skin colors, nationalities, and sexualities, this is a romp that made me laugh out loud and frustrated me to no end for the women who had to blaze the trail for those of us who came after. I DID realize (farther in than I'd like to admit) that Lady Knight was the second in a series by Amalie Howard. It didn't detract from the story, though, it simply made me go and put "Queen Bee" on hold with my library!
I really hope to see more of the Lady Knights and their stories, especially Greer and her Viking fiance!
I really liked this book. It was well written and the content is great. I loved all the diversive characters. The characters are so well written that you fall in love with them. I loved the way the girls described Frankenstein, and tyhe projects they did about it. Makes you look at it in a whole new light. I can't wait to read the next chapter!!! (Ihope there is one)
This book lives up to the first in the series. I love reading stories that include an alternate voice on history. The inclusiveness of the characters make the story so much richer. This story makes you want to pick up your own sword and go fight injustice.
Wonderful sequel to “Queen Bee” which wraps its story up nicely while illuminating the unique personalities of Zia and Ravi. I appreciate Howard’s research of the time period and her reflection on the challenges of being female during this age and realizing your true self.
This one was so cute. It is always so clear how much research goes into Amalie's historicals. Even if I knew a lot of it, I always learn something new. I know I wasn't the actual target audience for this book (as it had a tendency of feeling like an after school special at times), but I really see a lot of younger girls really resonating with this book, as Zia is truly a pinnacle of fighting for women and girls everywhere.
Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc. I would rate this book 4.5 stars and 1 chili pepper for spice. This was another amazing story by Amalie Howard! While this is the second book in the series, it’s a companion novel and can be read as a stand alone. I read Queen Bee first and this story was a great continuation. I loved Lady Zenobia and Rafi’s rebellious relationship. Zia is a strong and smart fmc trying to save her finishing school and connected orphanage. Rafi is an heir trying to further his love of painting which is not an appropriate profession for a noble. The tension in their relationship stems from Rafi being Zia’s brother Keston’s best friend and the fact that he keeps catching Zia in illegal and dangerous situations with her group of blue stocking classmates. I believe this is considered a YA novel so there isn’t much heat with only a few kissing makeout scenes, but the story is wonderful. You can still feel the passion and longing without the need for spice. I love the attention to historic detail that Amalie writes in her stories. In this series each chapter starts with a quote from Mary Wollstonecraft. At the end of each book is an explanation of all the literary and historical references written in the book, which is amazing and so fascinating. My only negative critique is that I wish this story was longer because I could have kept reading about Zia and Rafi for another 100 pages.