ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

1.5 but I can't even round up. Which sucks.

As much as it pains me to give a book with prominent transmasc rep a rating so low, I just can't get over a bunch of things about it.

Predominantly, it doesn't even feel like a YA book pretending to be an Adult book, which is a common critique these days. No, this book reads as a Middle Grade book pretending to be an Adult book.

The prose is stilted and seems very sure of itself being charming and funny, which it's generally none of. It also refuses to engage with itself seriously for more than a few pages at a time which I find insufferable. If even you won't engage with your book and the world within it earnestly, how can I? I keep seeing this compared to the Princess Bride, and as somebody who considers that their favorite movie, I'm sorry but I don't see it at all. The Princess Bride is silly and campy but it also has so much heart. It's also legitimately funny which, again, this book isn't— but it thinks it is.

If your book is largely based off of finding yourself funny at the expense of earnest care for your world, it should probably actually be funny. The humor is largely an ungodly mix of lawl random xD and millenialisms that would make a tumblr user cringe. It's a lot of making references to fairytales and going OMG ISN'T THAT SO SILLY YOU GUYS?

I can't help but feel let down, maybe because this was my first ARC since getting back into reading seriously. Maybe it's because I'm fresh off of devouring T Kingfisher's fantasy romance series, which engages with itself earnestly even when it knows it's being absurdist and ridiculous. I don't know. I'm sure this book is for somebody, but it certainly isn't for me when everything I read just makes me think of how irony-poisoned we are now. Everything is tongue in cheek. It makes me sad.

To transition to individual aspects of the book that make it a frustrating read: the way stronger/rural accents in this book are treated makes me sad and angry. Maybe it's because I just was talking about how Gaelic cultures are demolished by fantasy authors with little respect, with a particular demonization and jester-fication of Scottish and Irish coded characters prominent. There's a character whose accent being so strong nobody can understand them is their ENTIRE character, and in the year 2025 that accent is written out on the page in excruciating detail every time. It's weird and embarrassing.

The romance is... boring. I suppose? They set up a love triangle that doesn't go anywhere because the book isn't long enough and doesn't develop either love interest or dynamic nearly enough to stand on their own, much less pitted against each other. I want to like Sam as a trans man, and I think in another story he could've been the star of the show. But in this one? He's wasted.

To be honest, the only thing I can really appreciate is the guts it takes to publish a book with such prominent trans rep in the current political climate, especially a love interest.

So, sorry to be the first one to tank the rating of this book. I think there are people out here who will like it but not me, and unfortunately I would not rec this to any of my friends. This might find a home in the BookTok crowd, but who knows.

From the very first page, this novel had me laughing out loud. I seriously don’t think I have read a book as funny as this one. What initially interested me about this novel (apart from the gorgeous cover) was the premise of a fairytale world with queer characters. I can happily say that this novel is just that!

Plot:

This Princess Kills Monsters retells the classic Grimm Brothers’ story The Twelve Huntsmen. Princess Melilot is sent to a faraway land to marry a king. Although not her ideal marital situation, she knows better than to disobey the sorceress queen, a.k.a, her stepmother. Before Melilot arrives at her new home, she is attacked by a herd of monsters. With her guard dead and no weapons to defend herself, she is forced to trust the strange, identical men who come to her rescue. Thanks to these huntsmen, Melilot is brought safely to her new kingdom. Unfortunately, she quickly discovers this kingdom is a bit behind; the women have very few rights and are forced to stay in their own section of the castle. To make things even worse, Melilot begins to suspect someone is trying to kill her.

What I liked:

Like I mentioned above, I found this book to be very funny and satirical. There were multiple times I had to pause my reading to show my partner a witty line.

Another aspect of this novel I liked is the worldbuilding. This fairytale world felt unique yet familiar. Herman did a wonderful job of taking aspects of famous fairy tales and twisting them ever so slightly to fit Melilot’s worlds.

Finally, my favourite part of this book has to be the queer inclusivity. Melilot is a bi woman who falls for a trans huntsman and the king's sister. Additionally, Melilot’s older sister is in a sapphic relationship. Not only are these identities beautifully represented in this novel, but ideas of gender and identity are also explored.

What I disliked:

Although I didn’t explicitly dislike anything about the novel, there were some aspects that I felt a little let down about. To begin with, I was expecting a bit more romance. Although I found the romantic relationship in the novel to be quite sweet, I wish we got to see more of it. Additionally, going off of the description of the book, I assumed there would be a love triangle between the huntsman and the king’s sister. In reality, Melilot notices them both but only pursues a relationship with one of them. I feel like the introduction of both love interests may have been to show that Melilot is bi more than anything.

These next two points are more of a personal preference, but I thought I would mention them in case anyone feels similar. The second half of this book was very action-packed. I didn’t dislike this but I wish there would have been a bit more character development instead of battle scenes. I was really hoping that Melilot’s relationship with her sisters and stepmother would be explored more, but by the time the battles were over the book was basically finished.

Finally, the dialogue of one of the huntsmen was written in a Scottish accent. I know a lot of people enjoy this, however, I struggled to understand what they were saying.

Final Thoughts:

With all that said, I really enjoyed this book! I will definitely be grabbing a physical copy once it’s published because I’d love to read it again (and let’s be real, the cover is too stunning not to display).

Although I chose to DNF this book, I can absolutely see its charm. It offers a fresh and unique spin on the fairy tale genre, blending elements that captivate adult readers while still evoking a sense of nostalgia.

There seems to be a subgenre of fantasy that’s fairytale retellings told in a quippy, modern voice. This definitely fell into that enjoyable genre. This book has genuine stakes while simultaneously feeling cozy, making for a really fun, quick read. The narrative voice — funny, a little tongue in cheek — was definitely a strong point for me along with worldbuilding that brought a fresh spin to familiar fairytales.

This story is a clever and unique take on the fairytale fantasy genre.

The world-building is imaginative and vivid, with creatures and environments that feel both magical and haunting, it almost feels a little nostalgic to the fairy tales we read and watched growing up. The monsters the princess faces are more than just physical challenges; they represent the internal battles she must fight, making the story an exploration of identity. r.

That said, while the story itself is inventive and touches a few emotional points with the nostalgic elements introduced, I have to admit that I wasn’t entirely sold on the writing style. The narrative leans heavily into the classic "once upon a time" fairytale structure, which makes sense given the themes and the tone of the story. For me personally, it felt a bit too traditional and distant at times, and it just wasn't the kind of writing style I usually gravitate to. The writing, while charming in its own way, didn’t fully draw me in. There’s a certain level of formality to the language that kept me from connecting with the story on a deeper level.

I know that this approach is deliberate, and it does suit the themes in the book, but it just didn’t resonate with me as much as it might with others who enjoy more classic storytelling styles.

Overall, The Princess Kills Monsters is a creative, and nostalgic story with a strong message about finding strength in vulnerability. While I personally didn’t connect with the writing style, I can still appreciate the story’s depth and the way it challenges conventional notions of what a "princess" should be. If you’re a fan of traditional fairytale structures with a darker twist, this book will likely hit the mark.

I read this book not realizing that it was lbtq. I am not interested in this type, but I love Fantasy and Fairy tales. So that was right up my alley. Over all it was a good retelling of a classic Fairy tale that everyone has read. Or hopefully has read. There were some very funny moments in this book also. I do recommend it if you love happy endings.

Wow wow wow wow!!! This is one of my new favourite authors and books. I was blown away from the start. It’s jam-packed with hilarity and adventure - and it’s SO CREATIVE!!!
I love all of the characters - all so richly wonderfully weird and unique - and all the little details that make the story so fantastic. It’s a middle-finger-love-letter to fairytales, an ode to the women who tell them and the side characters forgotten.
I laughed sooo hard and also cried. And loved all the gender defying aspects.
I would read anything this author publishes.

This was a fun, adventurous novel that gave a feminist voice to a classic fairytale. Very cozy and had a good mix of stakes, a light romance, and a coming of age narrative with a full cast of interesting characters. I liked the references to different fairytales throughout and that it didn't take itself too seriously. Some parts could use a little more development, like Melilot's relationship with her stepmother, but overall very whimsical with lots of queer rep.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC.

This retelling of the lesser-known Grimms Brothers tale, The Twelve Huntsman, from the perspective of the spurned fiancee, is a hilarious and clever tribute to the fairy tale genre. Princess Melilot is the stepdaughter of a powerful sorceress queen and the least powerful sorceress of her family. When she's sent to marry a king of another land, she arrives to find the kingdom under siege by strange monsters and protected by twelve curiously-similar huntsmen, along with a king rather reluctant to marry her and a gender essentialist talking lion. Melilot is determined to face this dilemma alone without the help of her meddling sisters or her terrifying stepmother--a choice she might soon come to regret.

Ryman's absurd plot is eclipsed only by a delightful cast of characters who take the queer subtext of The Twelve Huntsman and make it text. This book is fun, smart, and hooks the reader from start to finish. Fans of Tamsyn Muir's Floralinda and the Forty Flight Tower or Hannah Nicole Maehrer's Assistant to the Villain will love this fairy tale romp.

Unfortunately, this is a book I had to DNF. I spent weeks trying to get myself to power through it and finish it but I just could not make it through. I love the Idea and the details for the book, but I just was not the biggest fan of the writing style which made it extremely difficult for me to continue reading.

This Princess Kills Monsters contains an entire universe within its 416 pages. I felt as though I’d been dropped into a world ruled by fairytale logic, where history had already been made long before I arrived and would continue to unfold long after I left. I personally think that the book has an unconventional structure, which really enhances the sense of lifelike immersion. It's split into nine parts, and while each has a clear arc and is structurally sound, the format also helps derailing the story from hitting the expected plot points at the expected time frames, resulting in quite the atypical pacing. And though I was glad to finish the book (which I’ll explain later), I still felt a strange pang of loss when I finally put it down—a reaction that rarely happens to me.

The narration is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. Had me giggling! I also want to note that the humor remained tasteful in every situation, which can honestly be a challenging feat to pull off so kudos to the author.

Another element I adored is how inspired this book is. It cleverly mixes and matches pieces of fairy tales and legends to create its own perfectly rational worldbuilding. Every detail, from the quirky characters to the lush environments, feels lovingly put together. Masterfully crafted.

What also stood out to me, further strengthening the fairytale theme, was how every bit of backstory is given by having the characters recite legends (with varying degrees of reliability). This helped so much with moving the story along while alleviating the boredom of the usual “plot recap” and “motivational speech” tropes. I just found this approach brilliant.

Now, while I’m here gushing with praise, I do need to mention that the book feel long. In my opinion, the pacing remains even but also consistently lingers in every scene too long. I can’t point to a specific part and say, “this needs tightening” or “not needed, cut 50 pages here,” but I definitely felt the weight of those 416 pages like I was reading a War and Peace-length epic fantasy.

Overall, I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book if you, like me, enjoy fairytale retellings and political intrigue! The romance isn’t the book’s strongest point, but I also wouldn't want it to be/don't think it was supposed to be the book's focus. Go in for the well-crafter storyline, worldbuilding and the easy ha-has, enjoy the ride!

The style of writing irked me, this book did not feel finished in its feel and detracted me from being invested in the plot.

This Princess Kills Monsters is an absolute delight. It’s a modern fairy tale retelling that effortlessly mixes humor, magic, and adventure in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The tone is playful and irreverent, with plenty of clever fairy tale references that feel fresh and fun, rather than tired or predictable.

Princess Melilot is a standout character. She’s witty, relatable, and her voice is so distinct that it instantly pulls you into the story. Her character arc, as she learns to embrace her power and figure out what she wants in a world that keeps telling her what to do, is both satisfying and realistic. Plus, she navigates all the chaos around her with a sharp sense of humor that makes her incredibly likable.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its diverse and inclusive cast. From genderqueer huntsmen to a dragon-riding princess and her fairy wife, the characters are wonderfully varied and bring a lot of depth to the world. The LGBTQ+ representation feels natural and adds a layer of richness to the themes of breaking free from societal expectations and discovering your own path.

The only downside is that with so many characters, it can occasionally be hard to keep track of who’s who, especially during the action-packed scenes. But this is a minor issue, as the plot moves quickly and the world-building is creative enough to keep you engaged.

If you’re into fairy tale retellings that blend magic, humor, and personal growth, This Princess Kills Monsters is a must-read. It’s a fun, inclusive, and refreshing take on classic tales, with a protagonist you’ll root for and a story that’s both whimsical and heartfelt. Definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quirky, modern twist on a fairy tale adventure.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a fun satire of fairy tales (the Grimm kind) with plenty of action and fun characters. I will definitely be recommending this one to my patrons who love stories with happy endings.

I loved This Princess Kills Monsters! It was fun, clever, empowering, and hilarious. I will be buying it for myself, likely several copies so I can give it as a gift. I hope there is a prequel or two for Jonquil and Calla in the works! The found the writing style refreshing, and the modern language use in a medieval setting made it more accessible for casual readers. The matter-of-fact treatment of the LGBTQ characters was also a pleasant surprise, and something that is desperately lacking in other attempts at LGBTQ representation. I would love to read more stories of this world!

The Princess Bride meets Shrek in this delightfully feminist fairytale full of thrilling quests, quirky characters, and lots of laughs. This Princess Kills Monsters turns familiar stories on their heads and invites readers on a magical adventure they'll never want to end. Seeing the world of the Grimm Brothers through Princess Melilot's eyes is the most fun I've ever had.

This book has an intriguing premise with a strong mix of fantasy and self-discovery. While the action is vivid and the world-building imaginative, I found that emotional moments don’t always resonate, making it a fun but somewhat shallow read. Overall, it’s an enjoyable light fantasy but not entirely in my normal range of story.

As my review is more reflective of the gap in my enjoyment than the quality, I will not be posting the review on social media.

What a whimsical adventure! 

I didn’t know what to expect from this, but when the author basically painted the narrative circle in which the Prince’s former intended being in identical disguises coupled with the story, Sam tells, I was a woman possessed. I went from liking the story to being unable to put it down.

Seriously, this is the best modern fairytale/fairy retelling I’ve had the joy of reading for a long time. I’m so happy there was so much nuance to the story rather than relying on a bundle of tropes! (The exception is the hilarious “One Bed/Bed Sharing” one. 11/10)

The Ogres were delightful
Gnoflwhogir is so much fun
Liam is so mysterious, sweet, and very VERY Wise
Calla and Jonquil are the best
Sam is wonderful
And Melilot is charming, brilliant, and relatable 

All of the characters’ relationships with each other feel so realistic, especially the ones that nearly had me tearing my hair out! (They were all fun!) 

Also, I pretty much teared up any time Melilot was reflecting on her relationship with her Stepmother. It was so complex, but in the end, when Melilot evaluates Angelique to her Stepmother and hears the story Melilot tells Sam? It’s nowhere near perfect, but you can tell they really do love each other. 

It's a crazy good blend of lightheartedness and high-stakes action. (I also happy cried a lot.)

Loved it.

Fairytales are a hard genre to write. However, this book took the most known fables and dumped them on their head. I loved the twists I saw and was so impressed by the flow of weaving the stories into the main story. Beautiful. I loved the ending and the characters were just a delight.

Oh this was a fun read! Loved all the fairytale drama! Fantastic in every possible way and I do read a lot of fairytale retellings. Ooooh itching to read it again!