Monday, 20 October 2025

The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs

✦ BLURB ✦

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 romantic debut fantasy.

Prince Domhnall and Princess Clia are a perfect royal match - or so everyone says. Until Domhnall ruins everything by refusing to propose.

Heartbroken but determined, Clia makes the perfect plan: Follow Domhnall to Caislean Costa, 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 Caislean Costa, 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 Clia. 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.

✶ PRE-READING ✶

PRE-READING THOUGHTS

I’ll be honest: when I cracked this open, the Irish-inspired names caught me off guard. The book doesn’t actually draw from Irish history or myth (beyond, maybe, the faintest echo of Scáthach’s training academy), as far as I can tell, so it felt like a stylistic choice more than cultural grounding. Once my eyes adjusted, though, the story pulled me right in.

A princess disguising her heartbreak behind determination, a military academy with dueling arenas, and a potential love triangle involving loyalty, betrayal, and fierce attraction? Yes please.

POST-READING

As I thought…

  • The academy setting is a perfect backdrop for high-stakes training, simmering romance, and proving one’s worth.

  • Clia as a protagonist really shines—she’s stubborn, determined, and a little dramatic, but in a way that makes her easy to root for.

  • The romance absolutely delivered: angsty, slow-burn, and full of moments where I wanted to shout “just kiss already!”

It surprised me by…

  • The war plot being far more developed than I expected. This isn’t just romance with swords; there are real stakes for kingdoms on the brink.

  • Ronan’s depth. He could have been written as just “broody warrior with a sword,” but his backstory and loyalty to Domhnall gave the triangle genuine tension.

  • The otter-like pet. Whimsical animal companion? Always a win.

MUSIC PAIRING

🎵 Featured Song: Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine – full of release, power, and a sense of transformation.

🎶 Vibe Album: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1 soundtrack – a mix of anthemic rebellion and softer, emotional tracks.

🎧 Artist Recommendation: Hozier. The drama, the romance, the “let’s save the world while also making your heart ache” vibe. Perfect.

VIBE CHECK

  • Colour Palette: Jewel tones and steel grey.

  • Soundtrack: Battle drums with strings swelling under a love confession.

  • Season: Late autumn, when the air turns sharp and the first frost threatens.

  • Mood: Determined glamour.

  • Scent: Steel tempered by wildflowers.

TAROT PULL

🔥 The Chariot (Tarot Draconis) – drawn by dragons, the driver hurtles straight toward us, daring anyone to stand in her way. This card mirrors Clia’s relentless drive: her refusal to sit quietly in a tower, her willingness to face danger head-on, and her insistence on carving out her own destiny - even if it scorches tradition in the process.


FOR FANS OF…

  • Book: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross – for the blend of romance, war, and determination.

  • TV Show: The Witcher – for the grit, training sequences, and brooding-but-charming warriors.

The Princess Knight publishes on the 23rd of October, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.


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