Lady's Knight by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

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✦ BLURB ✦

Gwen is sick of hiding—hiding the fact that she’s taken over her father’s blacksmithing duties, hiding her attraction to girls, hiding her yearning for glory as a knight.

Meanwhile, Lady Isobelle of Avington, queen bee of the castle, has never once considered hiding who she is—until now. She’s been chosen as the grand prize in the Tournament of Dragonslayers, to be given to whichever knight can claim her hand. And for the first time in her life, she can’t talk her way out of trouble.

When Isobelle discovers Gwen’s knightly ambitions, they hatch a scheme together—Gwen will joust in the tournament, disguised as Sir Gawain. Winning means freedom for Isobelle, and glory for Gwen. Losing means… well, let’s not go there.

One thing’s for sure: falling in love was never the plan.

But the best laid plans…are often trampled all over by dragons.

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✶ PRE-READING ✶

I was expecting a medieval She’s the Man with dragons and queer yearning - basically, a feminist fairytale with armor, secrets, and a romance you can root for. I was especially excited for the dual POV and the tension between public image and private rebellion.

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✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought... This was exactly the kind of swoony, subversive fantasy I hoped for. Gwen’s grit and Isobelle’s glitter made for a fantastic contrast, and their chemistry had just the right balance of banter and vulnerability. The setting was richly built without being heavy, and the dragon scenes? Absolute perfection.

It surprised me by... …being more emotionally layered than expected. It’s easy to play the “girl disguises as knight” trope for laughs, but this book leaned into the cost of secrets - what it means to deny yourself, and what freedom really looks like when it’s on the line. The romantic tension was great, but the themes of self-worth, legacy, and choosing your path really shone. It ends on not exactly a cliffhanger, but there's definite threads leading to the next novel - which I will be first in line for!

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

📚 Book: The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
Queer, gender-flipped fairy tale with sword-swinging heroines, cursed royalty, and smouldering sapphic chemistry.

📺 TV: Nimona (Netflix)
For the chaotic heart of rebellion, the glitter and grit combo, and a heroine who isn’t afraid to burn it all down for the people she loves.

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

A colour palette: Midnight blue, silver, and rose gold

A soundtrack: “Glory and Gore” by Lorde + “You Don’t Even Know Me” by Faouzia

A season: Spring turning to summer - everything just on the cusp

A mood: Daring, defiant, romantic

A scent: Leather, rosewater, and dragon smoke

★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

The Lovers – from the Velouria’s Tarot
This card speaks to choice, connection, and the power of love to change everything. It’s not just about the romance - it’s about choosing the truth of who you are, even when the world tells you not to. From the richly emotional Velouria’s Tarot, this card captures Gwen and Isobelle’s journey: two paths converging into one unstoppable force.

Lady's Knight publishes on the 19th of June, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.