Cait Jacobs

author of The Princess Knight

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1p61bFEQdWZSCgeZljb4Ih?si=ZRJzfkfpT2CLKVtzyO14tQ

About The Princess Knight

A princess desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart follows him to his kingdom’s prestigious military academy—and in doing so, falls in love, saves the realm, and continues to look fabulous, in this delightful debut fantasy.

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 into 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

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs follows a young princess as her world falls apart around her. Clía has always done what she is told. Now, she expects her soon-to-be fiancé to do the same. Only, he doesn’t. He chooses to go off to a military school instead of marrying her. His reason: her kingdom is weak. His reasoning is dumb. Clía has been fighting her whole life to prove how capable she is. This princess becomes the knight despite disability and how “weak” she appears. The princes’ best friend is there to experience becoming who Clía is first hand. He doesn’t think she is weak.

The story is fun and well put together. The world building is good (although I had a hell of a time with the names…I suck at names, lol). The characters have a sense of self to them that not all debut novelists manage. The only thing that knocks this book down a bit for me is, I’m not that young anymore. I don’t relate as easily to decisions made by 20-somethings. This really isn’t a failing in the book, I’m just not the target audience.

I don’t know if the characters and their impulsiveness is what made the book feel slow at times, but it took me a while to really get into the story.

It is such a fun idea and the romance is cute. Check it out if you enjoy Fourth Wing or Sarah J. Maas.