The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly

by Jamie Pacton and Jess Nahikian

Working as a wench-i.e. waitress-at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can help her mom pay the mortgage and hold a spot at her dream college.

Company policy allows only guys to be knights. So when Kit takes her brother's place and reveals her identity at the end of the show, she rockets into internet fame and a whole lot of trouble with the management. But the Girl Knight won't go down without a fight. As other wenches join her quest, a protest forms. In a joust before Castle executives, they'll prove that gender restrictions should stay medieval-if they don't get fired first.

• ISBN10: 1624149529
• ISBN13: 9781624149528
• Publish Date: 17 June 2020 (first published 5 May 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 11 July 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Page Street Publishing Co.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I'm having a difficult time starting this review, but lets start with... I liked it. I did! This book isn't perfect, but it's quirky and enjoyable and I'm always here for a story where characters are taking on a flaw in a greater institution. There were some aspect this this one that were a little tropey (best friends to lovers romance, anyone?) but there were also some unique moments.

I liked the raw reality shown of Kit's environment - her family is very poor, and Pacton shows it. I think my absolute favorite part was the easy inclusivity of the entire cast. It's something I've never seen before, and it's something that should be a no-brainer. We are made in all styles, and fiction should reflect that. And the characters are flawed. Kit, for example, is not a passionate feminist so much as she sees a flaw in the world that is bullshit, and wants to address it. For selfish reasons. And non-selfish reasons. It goes both ways.

The plot had me hooked at the beginning, but fizzled out at the end with the speed and ease of resolution. For a book that had previously done so well at letting its world feel messy and real, the ending was more of a fairytale (in my opinion) and so lost some major points with me.

STILL.

THE LIFE AND (MEDIEVAL) TIMES OF KIT SWEETLY is a great, quick read with characters who are interesting, a world that mostly feels tangible, and a quest that feels all too relatable in so many ways. It was good as a whole, and I recommend it!

For a more in-depth review on this and other books, and for more bookish content, please visit The Literary Phoenix.

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Kit's family has always struggled to get by, and now, she hoped to go to college, which would require even more money. She loved working at the Castle, but wanted to move into a role, where she would be able to make more money. A role, such as that of a knight. Though she could competently be a knight, she would never be considered for the job, because of strict gender requirements at the Castle. This Girl Knight found the policy unfair, and was ready to fight for equality. Ready or not, Castle corporate, here she comes!

I will admit, the primary reason I wanted to read this book was the setting. A theme restaurant sounded like a place with so many fun possibilities, and I was not disappointed there. Pacton let us spend quite a bit of time in and around the Castle, even taking us behind the curtain, and I enjoyed it. She captured the energy and chaos, and really showed us the ups and downs of "the business".

I also loved all the characters. There was the star, Kit, who was an immediate hit with me. She was amusing, and her love of history put her on the right side of nerdy (as far as I'm concerned). I actually enjoyed, when she would drop some historical knowledge on me, and found it quite interesting. I admired her passion, perseverance, and the way she took up the fight for equality. She never gave up, even when the cards were stacked against her.

Kit also recruited some fantastic members of her Castle family to help fight the good fight with her. This group was interesting and diverse, and each person brought something to the table. Some of my favorite parts of this book were when they were all on page together. I not only enjoyed watching them practice their fighting skills, but I liked their interactions in general. They were definitely the found-family type of friends, who were willing to go that extra mile for each other, and that is always the best sort of friend.

I am ever down for an uprising to effect change, and don't we all want endless possibilities regardless of our gender identity? Though the book went a little darker than I anticipated, I really enjoyed the focus on family, friendship, and the fight for equality.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[katie]

LOVE LOVE LOVE
❤❤❤
Full review to come closer to publication date at kaitplusbooks.com!