The Princess Knight was such a fun debut about feeling like you have to prove yourself. It’s about thinking we aren’t good enough and what we would do to become stronger. Keep reading this book review of The Princess Knight for my full thoughts.
Summary
Domhnall and Clía are an ideal match—or so everyone says. They are prince and princess of neighboring kingdoms. An alliance the gods will smile on. Until Domhnall ruins everything by refusing to propose.
Heartbroken but determined, Clía makes the perfect plan: Follow Domhnall to Caisleán Cósta, the military academy he’s attending. Show she can protect her kingdom. Secure the betrothal. Sure, the castle has a brutal reputation. But how hard can dueling really be?
Warrior Ronan promised himself he’d never lose his focus. He fought and sacrificed for his place at Caisleán Cósta, and he has no time for blonde princesses who waltz intro arenas like they’re attending a ball. Even if she and her otter-like pet are…well, cute.
He doesn’t want to be intrigued by Clía. But her hunger to prove herself is something he understands. He tells himself there’s no harm training her. Even if his heart does race around her. Even if Domhnall is his best friend.
But as they say, love is a battlefield—and unfortunately for them all, a very real war is looming on the horizon. It’s a fight that will threaten all their kingdoms…and test all their hearts.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Princess Knight is an ode to Legally Blonde, to the eternal quest of feeling like we have to prove ourselves, to change to be accepted. It’s about knowing that we need to do things our way, to stay true to ourselves, and only then can we succeed. We can work so hard to be someone else’s version of ourselves and realize we will always come up short. No matter what they say, the goal posts keep moving, the bar crashes down on our head. Only when we try to be ourselves will we be able to be the best version. The Princess Knight has political scheming, training sequences, and the ultimate underdog.
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Being able to see from both Ronan and Clía’s POVs make it a well rounded story about not letting ourselves be tied to who we were. When we want to evolve, we cannot carry the past shells of ourselves everywhere we go. And if we surround ourselves with people who are married to this idea of who we were, how will we ever be able to change? The Princess Knight asks about brain versus brawn, about acting smarter not harder, and about questioning what we are told. The world can try to force us to make power moves and betrayal, but who do we want to be? The Princess Knight is a solid debut with romance hanging in the balance of our allegiance.
Find The Princess Knight on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.