Heavy with Irish folklore, the Princess Knight is everything for those who love medieval stories and proving men wrong.

From the start, Clía is shown to be a multi faceted character and misunderstood by those around her. She has such immense depth to her character that it hurts to see how others treat her as someone frivolous and like an air head. She’s princess of Álainndore and even if she wasn’t, why the fuck would it be ok to make judgements based off appearances?? Definitely the last time anyone will underestimate my princess fr. She literally SLAYED and I wish we had focused more on how badass she became. Of course the jewel was a wonderful assist but she had mastered the basics in training and was able to fend herself off without the jewel to General Kordislaen AND O’Connor. That’s my girl (me and Ronan shouting at the same time), I really enjoyed her ARC and how she realized how truly she was fighting for her kingdom (from marrying to keep it protected to being able to physically fight for it).

Ah Ronan - a prodigy and a great example of an honorable man. He may do some foolish things and is a little stubborn, but is so thoughtful and kind towards Clía and Domnhall. I loved his friendship and that he was always willing to help Clía, even without Kordislaen suggesting it. He and Clía had such wonderful chemistry and I loved that he represented those with chronic pain. He was still a formidable warrior, soldier, strategist, and kind person with chronic pain, but it didn’t deter him. I did find it refusing how he didn’t listen to his body, but that was somewhat resolved at the end of the book and his own internalized ableism been addressed separately by Cait.

Domnhall is such an idiot (affectionately). I’ve never seen royalty trip over their own words as much as this prince does and frankly, if I was in his shoes, I wouldn’t be much better. He’s not TOO much of a bonehead, but I’d definitely love to see more character development from him and maybe even a chapter or two from his POV. He struggles to communicate and is also young and inexperienced so a peek into his mind and the brain behind our beloved prince would be very much welcome.

O’Connor’s betrayal really stung and I totally saw it coming🥲 between him and Kordislaen. If we kept true to the Legally Blonde inspired medieval AU, we would know that someone would be betraying Clía and that it would reinforce her insecurities of being a good knight/warrior/soldier. O’Connor’s was definitely more of a surprise, the name didn’t even register until we got to Clía’s chapter in rescuing Ronan, to which I was yelling at like “excuse me what?!” 10/10 the princess saving the knight trope is a micro trope but one that deserves a spotlight ok???

I loved the Irish folklore and am requesting a pronunciation guide so I may give google a break from me asking for proper pronunciations. Irish folklore is so interesting to me and definitely adds a lovely touch in the world building.

Gifts of the Treibh Anam - now this was definitely one of my favorite things in this debut and something I’d LOVE to read more about in Cait’s next books (if any). The flower, the tree, the harp, the net, and the jewel. Could Cait’s next stories focus on the gifts and their corresponding characters? Clearly Clía is the jewel, and if rumors are the Niamh’s story could be next so I wonder which gift would be applicable to her? These are just theories of course but I absolutely adored this world building and it added such depth to an already interesting new fantasy world.

This book is also queer normative which I appreciated as it didn’t take away the focus from the plot or characters, but just flowed with the story. It wasn’t the centers of the story because being queer was normal and it wasn’t a groundbreaking idea in this fantasy world and I just love that it was completely normalized. More books should be queer normative and inclusive and The Princess Knight handled it beautifully.

I strongly believe this is not the end to Clía and Ronan’s story, but just the beginning. While they caught the spies, war is still brewing and their kingdoms are ill prepared for what is to come. I am looking forward to seeing what Cait writes next and hopeful that it’s something within this new world

Thank you Avon team and HarperCollins for this digital galley in exchange for my honest review. I’m very excited for this release and cannot wait to see what others think and theories for the (hopefully) next book!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Welcome to The Princess Knight, where Legally Blonde meets medieval fantasy. After discovering she will not be wed to her prince, she enters a prestigious military school, determined to win him back. I loved the character growth throughout this story. The world building was incredible, I appreciated how backstory and history were added without being confusing or overwhelming.

I was obsessed with the FMC, she was constantly growing and changing throughout the story. I loved watching her go from a naive princess solely playing the roles her family expects, to a strong independent woman. Each character in this story was very well developed, and had clear motivations behind their actions.

The first half of the book: 💖⚔️🌸🥰🎀
The second half: 💀⚰️😭🩸

I’ve been looking forward to this since Cait first announced it, and I feel SO blessed to have gotten my hands on an ARC. Legally Blonde is one of my favorite chick flicks (RIP Medievally Blonde, you will be missed), so a story that goes from Harvard Law to knighthood? Truly inspired take. Add in the Irish mythology and I couldn’t put it down! (Speaking of, Cait - how would someone get their hands on a Murphy plush? Asking for a friend)

Love, love, loved that female friendships were such a strong part of the story. An unfortunate side effect of some retellings is forgetting the other relationships to focus on making the romance as steamy as possible, and while Ronan and Clía’s relationship was EVERYTHING, her bonds with Sarait and Niamh were also essential to the story and her character. Remembering that platonic relationships are just as, if not more than, important as romantic ones is the key to fostering strong ties between characters in-book as well as the readers.

That said, I absolutely have to speak on the romance in the story, because WOW. Clía and Ronan’s relationship is an attention-grabber from their first meeting. The quiet yearning, the stolen kisses, that training scene…woof. The way Ronan always thinks how pretty Clía’s hair is every time he sees her bc the light makes it look like his favorite flower. Clía’s fear of getting too close with Ronan because he knows too much of her, and his rejection would break her completely. This I felt was especially well done, because these kind of books often separate the characters with a flimsy miscommunication trope that infuriates readers and characters alike just so we have to wait for the couple to get together. Clía’s is a rational fear based on past experiences, and Ronan understands enough to give her space without letting her retreat wholly away from him. The payoff in the end becomes so much sweeter for them working through their respective obstacles.

A fantastic book steeped in Irish folklore and the soft embrace of a queernormative world, The Princess Knight has certainly put Cait Jacobs on my must-watch list.

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️

Huge thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and Harper Collins Voyager for the e-ARC!

I cannot recommend this book enough!! The Princess Knight has shot up into possibly one of my favorite stories of all time!

Prepare yourself for Legally Blonde meets Fourth Wing. Except the MFC is going to warrior school, not law school aaaand there are no dragons 😂

Cait Jacobs perfected her ability to slowly build this story upon itself, brick by brick About halfway through the book, every facet of the story deepens. The characters slowly become complex and well thought-out in a way that feels like natural growth. Each minor character was fleshed out and had their own stories continuing even if they were out of view. It is a story that is rich in politics, but trickles the knowledge at the reader in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming. Okay, maybe some of the names are a bit hard to pronounce, but don’t let that deter you!

The dual POV provided a feet-kicking level of romance that slowly grew into something absolutely earth shattering. Ronan and Clia really feel like unique outliers in the romantasy world. Their chemistry is unmatched, and I loved them every step of the way!!

I highly recommend The Princess Knight and will definitely have to order this. It just HAS to live on my shelf!! Bravo Cait Jacobs!! 👏

Should you compare this to Legally Blonde? I’d argue not to. It’s a cute and clever idea, but it only fit that storyline in the beginning, and it felt a bit clunky. I think Clía is a likable main character, but she doesn’t remind me of Elle.

Overall my feelings after just finishing are that it was neither bad writing, nor fun reading. It took me two full weeks to finish, which is a very long time for me, because every time I picked it up I got sleepy. It was slow in pace.

The romance was lacking in the chemistry department. That was a bit disappointing because the cover art is gorgeous! However, I appreciate that it is LGBT inclusive. I did like some of the friendships developed too, especially with Niamh. I also enjoyed adding Murphy as the pet, brought some real folklore with the dobhar-chú into the mix, which I definitely google image searched.

Overall it did read to me as YA. I could guess twists or plot points easily, so there wasn’t much excitement. The best parts were fights, battles, and occasional banter.

Thank you NetGalley for the free eARC!

This was an entertaining fantasy adventure with a dash of romance. I was excited for the premise of it being Legally Blonde but knights and it was fun to find the little nods to the movie within the story.

That being said, I found it to be a touch predictable and at times a little cheesy.

3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

I never realized how badly I needed a princess who felt like me until I read The Princess Knight.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this title, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Think Legally Blonde, but make it medieval war college for royals with banter, Queer and non-binary rep, chronic illness and disability rep, and neurodivergent characters that made my heart ache in the best way.

Growing up, I adored princess stories. But the princesses were always perfect. Always proper. I think the closest I ever felt to represented was Caleigh from Quest for Camelot—and this book gives those same rebellious, kind-hearted, I don’t fit your mold but I’m still magic vibes.

If you're looking for a cozy, empowering read that gently reclaims the princess archetype: weird, brilliant, fierce and soft. I cannot recommend this enough.

3.75/5
Totally recommend this book to anyone who is looking for closed door YA fantasy with romance. Although, I found myself having a rough time keeping my interest, I still enjoyed it. I did see the aspects of legally blonde put throughout the book with her not taking no for an answer and proving herself. I love love love Ronan’s character, he is such a sweetheart putting everyone before himself but not being afraid to stand up for what he believes is right and not afraid to tell people they are wrong. Overall I loved the ending and how it wrapped up. I do hope there is more to come with these characters.

This is a medieval fantasy romance book with dual POV, inspired by Legally Blonde (the musical) and Irish folklore. This book has a little bit of everything and something for everyone.

Here’s some of the highlights you can expect:

-A pampered princess thrown off her high horse on the eve of her presumed betrothal
-A handsome yet brooding guard who’s BFFs with her would-be fiancé
-Disability & Queer representation at the forefront of the story
-Worldbuilding based on ancient Irish lore
-Lovable and diverse friends at an elite college for war
-A journey of self confidence and of course, love.

About our protagonists:

Clía is truly a breath of fresh air as a female protagonist. Throughout her journey in this story, she’s brave & strong in a way that doesn’t shy away from her affinity for typical femininity. She’s nurturing, empathetic, and compassionate, all of which serve her in still finding strength and confidence to lead her country with war on the horizon.

Ronan is as gifted as he is hard working. He’s as fierce on the field as he is familiar with the flora and fauna. He’s brooding, yet caring and see’s the potential in Clía that others and even herself dismisses. His pain doesn’t define him, he triumphs through it to protect all he cares for.

Overall:

I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to those who enjoy some solid YA low fantasy with a decent romantic plot. This felt very much like a self contained story with a decent resolution at the end but it did leave a door open for more. If this was the first in a series or duology I am eager for more. If it is a true standalone I would be disappointed we won’t get to see more of this world or the characters. This book’s biggest strength was in its worldbuilding and romance. Something I would have loved to see developed more was its larger cast of characters felt more set dressing than an actual band of individuals I could connect enough to care about. It didn’t feel as earned when they became friends as it felt like all the bonding and friendship development happened outside of the main POVs. With the exception of a few characters closer to our main protagonists from the start of the story, I could barely tell the college crew from each other until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC for this review! :)

rip medievally blonde 💔 the name might have changed, but this was still an utter delight and i now need to read every thing cait jacobs has ever written because i’ve found a new auto buy author!! 🤭 i loved this to pieces

I liked this! I haven’t seen legally blonde in a while, so maybe I’m just forgetting what happens in that movie, but the comp to it didn’t much make sense to me other than they both like pink and fashion. Regardless, I had a lot of fun with this one and I did enjoy Clia’s growth from “set dressing daughter” to “war hero”. Her journey and training was realistic, and the time period being over many months rather than a couple weeks was refreshing after all the romantasy I’ve read lately. I think I hated Dom more than anyone in the book did though. He kind of made up for it in the end but I didn’t see his kindness as a kid so to me he was just kind of an ass.

I also actually enjoyed the journey and the political action more than the romance. The romance was cute of course, but it felt comfortable in the background of the book.

I can’t wait to see what Cait does next!

This was a really great story! I love how determined she is and while she's got a goal going on, watching everything change as she goes was great.

My thanks to Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC! This doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book. Out on October 14, 2025 🤍

First off, I would just like to compliment the beautifully-illustrated cover for this gorgeous book. Legally Blonde meets Celtic fantasy in this military medieval standalone! The Princess Knight is a tale of a princess who enters a prestigious and rigorous knight academy to get her betrothed back but soon realizes she will walk out with more than what she bargained for.

P.S. Medievally Blonde is still better!

What I liked about this book is how realistically the female main character was written. Her perspectives were purely from that of a privileged girl and we see this change throughout the novel. Readers will see her unfaltering determination, but also her struggles to fit in a world outside of the imperial bubble she was raised in. Moreover, I liked the queer representation in this novel! The characters are either revealed to be gay, bisexual, or nonbinary and it was appealing to me to read about how the representation felt as normal as breathing. Not only that but the disability rep was on point! Ronan’s battle with chronic pain was well-written because it didn’t defy his strength but rather shaped his character’s perspective on battle and persistence. I also liked the animal companion! It is one of my favorite things to see in fantasy novels and this one didn’t fail me.

This book discusses court politics, war strategies, combat, and is action-filled to the very last page. However, I do feel that the execution of the entire story could’ve been more polished. Some parts of the book felt entirely slow at times, and Ronan and Clía's yearning felt less than lovers but more than friends (I don’t know if this is maybe what the author is going for?) because I kind of ended up focusing on a different ship than the main ones… nevertheless, I do recommend this standalone.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!

i am pleasantly surprised at such a strong debut from a popular bookstagrammer! and ok, i know that sounds pretentious, but there are many booktubers/stagrammers/tokers that have written books that are alarmingly bad copy and pasted versions of other popular books…

the princess knight is NOT that! i truly enjoyed clía’s character development, especially the way we see her become a confident young woman who knows how to fight and lead warriors with a heart of gold.

i also really enjoyed the friendship between clía and ronan before the eventual romance — which was a fantastic slow burn with NO SMUT! believe me, i enjoy a smutty romantasy, but the genre is too oversaturated. it’s extremely refreshing to read a romantasy that is plot focused rather than smut focused.

that being said, i will eagerly await cait jacobs’ upcoming books!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the digital advanced copy of The Princess Knight by Cail Jacobs. The review below reflects my own opinions.

The Princess Knight was a surprisingly fun and layered read that exceeded my expectations. The story follows Princess Clíodhna of the kingdom of Álainndore and Ronan, the personal guard of Prince Domhnall from the neighboring kingdom of Scáilca. When Domhnall unexpectedly breaks off his betrothal to Clía, she’s left grappling with feelings of failure—not just personally, but in terms of what it could mean for her kingdom. With tensions rising across the five kingdoms of Inismian and the threat of war looming, Clía decides to enroll at Caisleán Cósta, a fortress academy where elite warriors are trained. Her hope is to prove herself worthy, win back Domhnall, and secure her kingdom’s alliance with Scáilca. Meanwhile, Ronan—who lives with chronic pain—is driven by his gratitude to the general at Caisleán Cósta and a deep sense of duty. As both characters train and prepare for conflict, it becomes clear that war may be inevitable—but can they do anything to stop it?

From the beginning, I found this book immensely enjoyable. The official blurb honestly doesn’t do justice to the emotional depth and character nuance that Cail Jacobs brings to the table. One of the standout aspects for me was the natural, respectful representation of LGBTQ+ identities. The use of various pronouns, Ronan’s mention of a past relationship with a man, and Clía’s openness to being betrothed to a queen—all of it felt refreshingly effortless, woven seamlessly into the narrative the way sexuality exists in real life. It wasn’t a plot point; it was just part of who these characters were.

Another element that struck a chord with me was the portrayal of chronic pain. As someone who lives with chronic migraines, I deeply related to Ronan’s quiet perseverance. His experience wasn’t dramatized or romanticized—it was just real. His mantra of not letting pain define or limit him is something I personally live by, and seeing that reflected in a fantasy setting felt surprisingly validating.

And without giving away spoilers, I’ll just say: the moment of Clía’s true growth at the end? No gimmicks. Just a powerful, well-earned evolution that made me genuinely respect her character.

That said, there were a couple of elements that held this back from being a five-star read for me. The subplot involving divine gifts felt underdeveloped—almost like an afterthought. If that thread had been removed entirely, the core of the story wouldn’t have changed much. I also struggled a bit with understanding the larger political landscape. The motivations of the villains weren’t fully clear, and the dynamics between the five kingdoms remained somewhat muddy, especially considering the stakes of war.

Still, I would absolutely recommend The Princess Knight. It has heart, representation, and characters that stay with you. I really hope there’s a sequel, because it feels like Cail Jacobs has only begun to scratch the surface of this world and its stories.

Spice:0/5 (closed door)
Romance: 3/5
"Enemies" to lovers
One love interest
Dark hair MMC
RATING 3.5 out of 5

This was marketed as adult but it definitely read and felt very young adult. The main characters are all around the age of 18 and they all feel very teen. I guess that's on me for assuming they would be in their twenties and would act like they were in their twenties.
I went into this book expecting a light and fun read considering it's marketed as Legally Blonde for the fantasy girlies but it had more depth behind it than I was expecting. Which for me personally is the downfall of this book. I didn't feel like the book found its setting, you are pushed into different vibes each couple of chapters. There are times where it's light and Legally Blonde-ish and then times where it feels like a full fantasy.
The romance between Clia and Ronan was okay, it didn't have any yearning or growth.
Overall, this was a good read, just not a great one.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC

Decent read.

This was a decent, tropey romantasy that did its job. I think I went in expecting more from the fantasy side of things, which might've set me up for a bit of disappointment. That one's on me.

The romance was good. It wasn't mind blowing, but it was enjoyable enough to keep me turning the pages. I liked the inclusivity, the feminist undertones, and how the story subverted some typical damsel-in-distress tropes. The side characters were fine, they did their part. The main issue is that the twist was predictable. The fantasy elements in general felt very familiar, like every other romantasy book so, I saw the twist coming.

Also, I don't know if I am being nitpicky but the story felt so...small? I expected so much more from the world building because of how much information we were given in the start but the actual plot felt very contained. It’s like the world had the potential to be big, but the story never really let it stretch its legs.

But again, it's a romantasy and on that front, it delivers what it promises. It's not bad by any means, just nothing especially memorable either. A solid, light read (I know it's 512 pages long but it didn't really feel like that ngl) if you’re in the mood for a cute little romantasy.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC, and best of luck to the author for the release!

I will admit that I didn't read the back of the book until 33% in and I soon realized I was rooting for the wrong love interest but otherwise the book was okay.

This book was just a blast to read. The the world is easy to sink into, and Clía is a charming, determined main character who brings a lot of energy to the story. The combination of romance, action, and humor makes it hard to put down, and I really enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book.

The military academy setting adds a nice level of tension and stakes, and the dynamic between Clía and Ronan is engaging from the start. There’s a great mix of training scenes, duels, and quieter emotional moments. Also Clia is just nice. Which I love. Princesses can be fierce and nice.

That said, I was genuinely surprised to find out the love interest is nineteen. It completely shifted how I saw the book and made it feel much more like YA, even though the tone and writing don’t start off that way. It took me out of the story for a moment, but overall it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. The romance is very soft, with the intimate scene very streamlined.

If you’re looking for a fun fantasy with romance, action, and a strong heroine, this is a great pick.

The Princess Knight
By Cait Jacobs

Princess Clia has been betrothed to Prince Domhnall since birth. With their engagement drawing near, she’s full of nerves, forever seen as just a pretty face, she hopes that this union might finally bring her a sense of purpose and stability. But everything changes when Prince Domhnall arrives and declares that he cannot marry her. With war looming, he claims he must wed a warrior princess—someone strong enough to help lead his kingdom.

Ronan, the captain of Prince Domhnall’s guard, has always had one goal: to be the best warrior. He pushes his body beyond its limits, never letting pain or weakness hold him back. When Prince Domhnall announces they’ll be training at Caisleán Costa to forge true warriors, Ronan never expects to see Princess Clia there, let alone training to become the very warrior Domhnall rejected her for. As Ronan helps her grow stronger, he fights a new kind of battle, keeping his distance, even as he begins to fall for her.

I absolutely enjoyed every second of The Princess Knight. The pacing was spot on, the characters were compelling, and even the side characters added rich depth to the story. I especially loved Clia’s transformation from uncertain princess to fierce warrior. My only wish? That the title had remained Medievally Blonde—it had such a unique ring to it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this empowering and romantic adventure!