The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly

by Jamie Pacton and Jess Nahikian

[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!

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