This book was so, so whimsical and unserious (in the best possible way). This Princess Kills Monsters is what finally made me get what cozy fantasy is supposed to feel like. The stakes weren’t too high, the characters were hilarious, and the romance was just as cute and eccentric as the rest of the book.

I love books that don’t leave me stressed but instead make me feel warm and make me laugh, and this one checked every box. I especially loved how it worked as a retelling while also introducing a magical and unique world of its own.

Melilot was such an enjoyable main character. Her voice felt fresh and honest: you always knew what she was thinking and how she was feeling, which made her easy to connect with. She was also hilarious. The fourth-wall-breaking moments could have felt out of place in another book, but here, they totally fit the vibe.

Read this if you want to laugh, smile, and feel a little lighter by the end.

This book was an absolute delight, like a fairytale fever dream in the best way. It’s clever, chaotic, and so full of heart, with just the right mix of satire, sweetness, and snark. Melilot is the most relatable mess of a princess, and the fairytale mashup vibes gave me major Shrek-meets-Ella-Enchanted energy. I laughed, I cheered, I may have teared up. Pure cozy fantasy joy.

THIS BOOK IS SO FREAKING CUTE!!! It's Shrek meets Ella Enchanted meets Long Live Evil meets The Princess Bride and somehow is the most perfect little adventure ever? I loved it. The humor is spot on, the romance is cute, and the family tugs on the ol' heart strings.

This was a fun read! It was lighthearted and whimsical, very different than what I typically read. There's action and adventure, but also romance too. The incorporation of the various fairytales added a nice flair, making it a story within a story. Though it didn't leave the biggest impact on me, it was still a fun ride. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy!

Melilot is the middle child whose stepmother just so happens to be an evil sorceress queen. She constantly sets her three daughters impossible quests, like sow a field with teeth, catch the shadow of a flame, or any number of other preposterous fairy tale tasks. With both sisters happily married, the queen has decided that it is now Melilot’s turn, and sends her to the kingdom of Tailliz to marry the new king.

Melilot isn’t pleased, but at the same time, she is also reluctant to say no to her stepmother and so she agrees. Besides, she might like her new husband. Maybe they’ll get along, have some nice conversations, and end up being friends. Instead, in her pumpkin coach, Melilot is attacked by something that’s not quite a wolf, and not quite a spider, but is certainly not a wolf spider. For one, it’s much bigger; much, much bigger. Meiliot is rescued by a group of six men clad in green whose faces are masked and who each look quite a bit like one another. They’re all of a height and a build, and have astonishing powers.

When the six men ask her if she’s the princess — in a most hostile manner — Melilot does what any sensible person would do and lies. Of course she’s not a princess, she’s a maid! A maid with a name. Um … Clover, yes. A maid named Clover. And they believe her. Well, for the most part, and then it’s off to the castle where Meililot realizes two things: One, someone very much wants to kill the new princess, and two, the castle is being besieged by monsters.

And three (maybe, because she’s trying hard to not realize it), she is falling in love with one of the huntsmen. Sam, who is charming, witty, kind, and attentive. Sam, whose friendship she finds herself leaning on more and more as she tries to uncover what on earth is going on in the Kingdom of Tailliz.

This is a book with a very dry sense of humor, and a love of stories. Woven in between all of the goings-on — and there are many — are stories about the Twelve Huntsmen, Rapunzel, Snow White, The Swineherd, and maybe some others I’m not familiar with. But it’s also a story with characters well aware of how stories work, how foolish they can be, and how clever a person needs to be to defeat them. If you’ve read any of these stories, you’ll be able to guess some of the twists, and this review will contain some spoilers for some relationships at the end of the book.

“Where on earth did you find the shadow of a candle flame, though?”

“It turns out fire is less dense than the surrounding air,” I explained, “which gives it a lower refractive index. So if you shine an even brighter light source on it, you’ll see a dark region—”

“That’s a lot less poetic than I would have expected.”

“Trust me, it only takes one or two impossible quests before you become a firm advocate of victory by pragmatic technicality.”

Melilot doesn’t exactly know what she wants. She doesn’t want to be a sorceress, like her stepmother, but she wishes she had more powerful magic. She doesn’t want to marry, but she does want to fall in love. She hates obeying her mother, but willingly goes down from the mountains to marry a stranger because she was told to. In part, because it’s easier being angry at something familiar, something safe, to feel like this boulder in the road is something you can’t conquer — and thus can’t be blamed for failing to conquer — than to make the choice to walk around it and face what’s on the other side; something new, something that may be harder … or may not.

And then she meets Sam.

“I’m not following,” Sam said.

“Not following what?”

“Why Mililot?”

“It’s another word for sweet clover. Like how some people say garbanzo bean, but other people call it a chickpea.”

“You were named after the medicine your mother took when she was pregnant?”

“Listen, I was lucky. If she’d had a cold, I might have been named Sneezewort.”

“Or Bastard Toadflax,” Sam suggested, “Or Wormwood. Or Rapunzel.”

“Bastard toadflax is badass. but rapunzel is basically an anemic parsnip. Awful.”

“Agreed.”

It’s not fireworks, hearts, and harps, but it’s friendship and attraction. They share a sense of humor, an enjoyment of ridiculous stories and making fun of siblings. Sam is someone safe to flirt with because Melilot’s engaged, and thus can’t act on it … until she realizes she’s falling in love with him, and he’s falling in love with her, too. But when facing the reality, when having to deal with the king as Princess Melilot and not “Clover,” the maid, she can’t let Sam go because she loves him. Even when she knows her stepmother may disapprove, may be angry at her for it, in the end Melilot chooses Sam.

While there are several blatant conflicts — between Melilot and the huntsmen, Melilot and the evil sorcerer, Melilot and the monsters, Melilot and her fiance’s ex-fiance — the story seems to mostly use those for decoration while the true focus is Melilot on herself, her sisters, and her relationship with her stepmother. Melilot’s sisters, both older and younger, are the queen’s biological children and gifted with powerful magic. Where Melilot struggles, they flourish; where she questions, they believe; where they blossom, she wilts. She loves them, and they love her, but she sees herself as living in their shadow, never as good, never as clever, never as lovely or charmed or as … princess-y as they are. And I think it says something about their bond that when she is truly in pain and suffering, it’s her sisters Melilot calls out to for help … and her stepmother.

It’s interesting how little Melilot seems to understand of her stepmother — who worked hard to give both of her daughters happy marriages, whose kingdom is at peace, who seems to want to be seen as a mother by Melilot so badly — and also frustrating. At the beginning of the book, the queen says to Melilot, “I see a thousand futures where you go [to Tailliz] and a thousand futures where you do not. To speak of the one I desire most is to well-nigh guarantee it will never come to pass.” I’m not saying the woman is a good parent, but she’s trying, and it’s only at the very end of the book that Melilot herself seems to come to the realization that the queen was trying, in her own way.

This is not a book about a wicked stepmother, but instead about two people, Melilot and the queen, who don’t understand one another. The queen wants to be her parent, wants to be loved and trusted and respected, but her ways of going about this are almost alien to Melilot. The constant tasks, each more challenging than the last, the rituals between them, self-inflicted by one or both, the constant tension and push and pull … I wasn’t certain who I felt more sorry for when Melilot asked for a bowl of soup; the queen, for giving her one, or Melilot for throwing it in her face. However, it’s a hopeful ending, as Melilot now has Sam at her side, has confidence in her own powers, and has — with difficulty — come to understand her stepmother better. They will never have that mother/child bond, but they’re closer to having an understanding today than they were yesterday, and there’s hope that by tomorrow, they’ll be one step closer.

If you love fairy tales, a woman coming into her own power, found family, and fearsome fights with monsters, where a monster snake can be conquered by a mongoose, and where you sometimes have to be a goose when the person you love turns into a lake … then this is the book for you. It’s whimsical, full of wonder, and well worth the read.

I absolutely adored this book!

Princess Melilot is no heroine—she has experience with trolls, monsters, and witches but when she's in a pinch, it's her sisters who inevitably save the day. In yet another directive from her stepmother, she's charged with marrying the prince of a nearby kingdom (an arrangement she soon finds no one else wants any more than she does). The marriage is meant to be the kingdom's saving grace from the mashup of monsters in its surrounding forest. Unfortunately for everyone, she's only a minor sorceress and her primary talent (stress-growing her hair) is no real defense against the treat. Can she finally find the power to conquer that was in her all along? (Obviously—this is a fairytale, after all.)

This Princess Kills Monsters made me believe in fantasy again. (I guess I don't hate the genre?) It's clever and laugh-out-loud funny while still being so damned heartwarming you might cry. I loved the world that Herman created (kind of like Shrek in its mashup of fairytales, but still very much its own thing). There's also really great, casual trans and gay representation that is discussed in the narrative but doesn't become a major conflict (always a welcome trait!). The only thing I would change is a slight adjustment to the ending. I think there was some growth in the relationship between Melilot and her stepmother, but I would have loved more reconciliation between the two. If we are dispensing with other fairytale tropes, let's be done with the evil stepmother as well, who was really trying her best to help Melilot grow. Justice for evil stepmothers!

I highly recommend this to everyone, but especially anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy like Tress of the Emerald Sea.

This book was an utter delight. I can imagine that there is a kind of reader that will not find this to their liking, but I was enchanted by the fresh plot, fun characters, and snarky writing. I had honestly never heard of the tale of the 12 huntsmen, but Herman was kind enough to bring readers up to speed first thing, and it really sets the tone for the book. Whenever I recommend this book at work I say that it reminds me of T. Kingfisher and her tongue in cheek writing style for her fantasy work, so if that doesn't work for you this isn't the right book for you, but if it does you're in the right place. The characters were also wonderful. Despite the fact that there were over a dozen of them that were fairly important to the story, each one was unique enough that they sparkled in their own way, and all of the characters, from the main ones to the supporting ones, were so much fun. The plot was wonderful as well, mashing up a handful of lesser known fairy tales. But along with that it delt with more relatable things, like family relationships and growing to understand yourself more. What really shone for me though was the writing. Again, not everyone is going to click with it, but I loved the snarky elements, and honestly it felt almost satire-ish in it's deconstruction of the common fairy tale tropes. As a whole I was very much enchanted by this book, so much so that I ordered a handful of copies in for my store and talk it up to whomever I can. I also plan on writing a shelf-talker for it when I get the time. I'm definitely planning on adding this one to my physical library, and I hope that it gets the recognition it deserves, although I won't hold my breath. I'll certainly be checking out whatever Herman comes up with next, because this one blew me away.

Thank you, NetGalley, Dial Press, and Ry Herman for providing me with an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This was a great time!

A cozy fantasy where the stakes were medium and the humor was endless.

While, This Princess Kills Monsters is a retelling of the Grimm brothers' The 12 Huntsmen, Herman managed to weave in so many other Fairytale references beautifully. I would personally say that it is like watching a movie marathon of all the Shrek movies, The Princess Bride, and Ella Enchanted. It's unserious (it does have serious topics) and laugh-out-loud, funny.

I genuinely believe that this would make a great animated movie. It has fun characters and villains (relatable, yet flawed), magic creatures (a dragon for one), and a happy beginning.

"It didn't feel like I was walking into happily ever after. Not exactly. Those are reserved for the ends of stories and this was just the beginning."

Bonus... it's perfectly queer. We get princesses marrying other princesses, and a transgender love interest. Personally, I kind of want novels for Calla and Jonquil (Mellilot's, our bad ass princess/sorceress FMC, lovable meddling sisters who are equally bad ass)

What an absolute delight. This is a retelling of a Grimm’s fairy tale that was wholly unfamiliar to me- The Twelve Huntsmen- but it also ties in countless other tales while managing to be wholly unique and original.

This book was genuinely funny and clever throughout, with richly developed characters and settings. 10/10 no notes.

One of the most entertaining debuts I've read this year, with worldbuilding that seems effortlessly intertwined through its main story and a lead you can't help but fall in love with. I really enjoyed Herman's take on so many of the classic fairytales through this new interpretation, and while I did crave a little more romance overall, this book had me hooked from the very first chapter and kept me constantly reaching for it until it was over. Cozy, hilarious, feminist, queer, and compelling from start to finish.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't quite what I got. Based off the cover you think that you are going to get really magical fantasy vibes, and I mean the title of the book would have you thinking that as well. However, I really wanted more. More fantasy, more magical creatures, and maybe more creativity thrown into the story. Don't get me wrong, this was fine. It just didn't blow me away.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for my early e-arc.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Publisher's Description: A princess with a mostly useless magical talent takes on horrible monsters, a dozen identical masked heroes, and a talking lion in a quest to save a kingdom—and herself—in this affectionate, feminist fairy tale satire.


Sometimes, I like my reads and my characters not to take themselves too seriously. At times, ridiculous events occurred, but I loved the irony and humour. If you like fairy tales where the main female protagonist knows how to play the game and turns our perceptions on their heads, you're going to love This Princess Kills Monsters.






#ThisPrincessKillsMonsters #NetGalley.
Publication Date 17/06/25
Goodreads review published 29/06/25

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

It's been a minute since I've read a book that was this much fun!

I loved Melilot as a protagonist, her humorous narration and references to various famous fairytales she has been involved in made this book a highly entertaining experience.

I loved the wacky fantastical worldbuilding, with the wide array of settings and magical creatures. Most of this book takes place in the kingdom Melilot travels to, but we still get to experience other places and stories from the stories told by the characters.

Stepmothers and stepsisters get villainised a lot in fairytales, so I was glad to see how this book approaches Melilot's relationships with them with nuance. In Cinderella, it's Cinderella against her two stepsisters who are fully related to each other, but here, Melilot and her stepsisters are all stepsisters to each other. In spite of that, they have a good relationship to each other, although Melilot struggles with feeling inferior to them.

The relationship between Melilot and her stepmother is where it gets interesting. Her stepmother is a classic Evil Queen™️, except that she's... sort of good? Her stepmother is a good and fair ruler, who ensures the safety and prosperity of the kingdom, and is an alright mother to her other two daughters. However, she is not a very good mother to Melilot. She makes decisions that she thinks are best for Melilot, but goes about it in a way that at times can be abusive. I was worried about how this would get resolved, but I think their relationship was treated with the nuance it deserves.

I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles, because I find that it's always pretty obviously which person the main character is going to choose, and that is definitely the case here. Regardless, I LOVED the romance! No spoilers, but it's easy to see why Melilot ends up with the person she ends up with. They have an easy chemistry from the moment they meet, and the way their relationship developed felt natural.

One thing that bugged me big time was how the antagonist was depicted. This book subverts and satirises fairytales and handles all these different relationships with nuance, yet somehow the villain was really one dimensional. I feel like the villain should have been more fleshed out, rather than just being like "I'm evil and power hungry rahhhh".

Overall, a really fun and enjoyable read!

Princess Melilot is used to danger. Her domineering sorceress stepmother constantly sends her on absurd, perilous quests. Her magical talent? Mostly useless—she can grow her hair really fast. On the journey, she’s attacked by monstrous spider-wolves and rescued by twelve identical masked huntsmen. As Melilot navigates assassination attempts, magical riddles, and royal expectations, she finds herself falling for not just one of the huntsmen, but also her fiancé’s alluring sister. To save herself—and maybe the kingdom—Melilot must stop playing the fairy tale role she’s been assigned and write her own ending.

Such a fun read! Thank you NetGalley and The Dial Press for this Arc!

This book was so much fun! I was smiling by the second paragraph and giggling by the second page. I loved all of the characters (even the villains) and thought the plot was a wonderful retelling of an underrated fairy tale that added just enough of its own elements. The overall feel of the story is incredibly charming and atmospheric. It reads like someone recounting their pear-shaped road trip (while maybe going on tangents related to their origin story) while still packing the emotional punch of hearing a fairy tale and absorbing all of its life lessons. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings, or anyone who is looking for a light, fast read with lovable characters and plenty of support all around (whether friends, family, or found family).

Rating: 2.5

Everything about this was just ok at best. It was sort of interesting in the beginning. But the more it went on, the less I cared. I didn't care about the romance,.the humor was not for me, and the plot felt all over the place.

I’m a bit confused why this was labeled lesbian anywhere, but this was delightful queer book! Fundamentally a novel about finding your voice and steeling yourself against your own self doubt, this was whimsical, hilarious, and charming. LOVED IT

rep: queer characters, trans man LI, disability rep

spice: none

I enjoyed reading this book. What stood out to me was how interwoven various well known fairytale stories kept showing up in the story. The familiarity of various fairytale stories and how they were span into Merillot's story felt more like a cocktail something familiar more than a retelling.

Melilot was a joy to hanging out with, what I would have like is to explore more of her relationship with her stepmom. Throughout the story Melliot shares her grievances has about her relationship with her stepmom. However when she reunited with her stepmom, it felt short for me. I would have appreciated their reunion to be explored more. Since, Melliot does share a couple of times throughout the story, how her stepmom has influenced her life and who she is as a person.

Merlilot Stepmom was my favourite. In the few moments that she shows up in the story I wanted to know more of her. Who she is a person, how she rules her kingdom, how did she end up on the throne.

The reason why the villain did what they did, at first I was like "seriously, you did all that to get this". They did feel like an archetypal villain and the more I let the story meld after I had finished reading it, I appreciated them for just being evil. Even though they never saw what they did as being villainous. (Kinda remind me of being focused on your mission that you might end up not being aware of other atrocities you might cause for accomplishing your goal).

I would recommend this book if someone is in the mood of a story with low stakes, soft romance, hints of mummy issues and a collage of familiar fairytales.

Rating: 3.5

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for the ARC. And thank you Netgalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the arc of This Princess Kills Monsters. This was hilariously unserious and fun to read. A new take on fairytales with LGBTQ+ representation and the hint of the Brothers Grimm’s darkness.

⭐️3.75

First off, I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group-Random House| Dial Press Trade Paperback and author Ry Herman for allowing me to read this book, This Princess Kills Monsters, via Netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

Before really getting into the nitty gritty of this review, I would like to preface it by saying this novel is SATIRE. If readers go into it with a mindset that this is going to be a "normal" fairytale, they will be SORELY disappointed. This novel satirically mocks EVERY generalization about fairytales. Now, with that out of the way....

This fairytale begins with a prologue setting up the premise of the story to come. It explains the premise of the original fairytale and then explains how the whole story isn't known, and now someone from the inside is going to tell their story as one of the main characters.

The fairytale's main character is the narrator, Melilot. She is a princess and amateur sorceress who is being commanded to wed King Gervase by her stepmother, the Queen of Skalla. Melilot is not your average princess, though. On her journey to the Kingdom of Taillaz, her enchanted carriage falls to ruins, and she is attacked by monsters who look to be half-spider and half-wolf. She is saved by a group of masked huntsmen, who are all identical, but each seems to have a different power. They don't trust her, but they still accompany her to the castle. On the way, she gets to know a huntsman named Sam and develops an attraction to him. Knowing she can not act on the attraction, though, she attempts to bury her feelings.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, King Gervase is confused because prior to his engagement to Melilot, he was betrothed to his one true love, Jacqueline. However, he promised his father, on his father's deathbed, that he would marry Melilot to protect their kingdom, as they had been suffering from attacks that killed both his older brothers, and eventually his father. Knowing Skalla to have magic, that was the only way he could think to protect Taillaz.

What could go wrong (or right) in this contemporary fairytale?