This Princess Kills Monsters

“Madcap, monster-packed, and swoon-worthy, This Princess Kills Monsters is a romp through deftly reimagined fairy-tale terrain. Melilot is a princess with humor and heart amid a cast of characters who are likewise uproarious and sparkling, yet grounded in real emotion.”—Julia Seales, nationally bestselling author of A Most Agreeable Murder

“Queer readers and fairytale anarchists, this one’s your anthem. A must-read for fans of Gideon the Ninth meets Sleeping Beauty if she woke up swinging.”—Fully Booked, “These New Fantasy Books Are Making Waves This Summer”

“A satire of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale The Twelve Huntsmen, this novel follows a princess as she, well, kills monsters. The book features queer and trans characters and will surely appeal to fans of queer fairytale reimaginings.”—Autostraddle, “Our Most Anticipated Queer Books for June 2025”

“I laughed so much while reading this book. Such a fun and adventurous story of a retelling of a Grimm fairy tale . . . an absolute wild ride with hilarity, romance, and adventure!”—The Nonbinary Librarian

“This Princess Kills Monsters shines because of its scrappy, snarky heroine, its openly queer vibes, and its subversive treatment of the idea of telling stories in the first place. Hilarious and fun.”—Paste

“The stakes were medium, the humor was endless, and the fairy-tale vibes were perfection.”—Hits 96

“Hilarity and swoons ensue in this feminist Grimm retelling. One of the best if you like a wonderfully narrated audiobook you’ll laugh along with while listening.”—In Between Drafts

“The Princess Bride meets Shrek in this delightfully feminist fairy tale full of thrilling quests, quirky characters, and lots of laughs.”—Susie Dumond, author of Queerly Beloved

“This Princess Kills Monsters is exactly the sort of queer fairy tale for grown-ups that I have yearned to read. Ry Herman’s story is thrilling, irreverent, wondrous—yet unswervingly true to the hearts of those too wise to be honest and too wounded to believe.”—Ryka Aoki, author of Light from Uncommon Stars

“Equal parts loving adaptation and wry satire of fairy tales both familiar and lesser known, This Princess Kills Monsters will charm readers from its first page to its final. Herman’s characters are eminently memorable, their prose witty and their world vivid—a playful, thoughtful, and deeply unique book.”—KT Hoffman, author of The Prospects

“[A] charming, comic take on the Brothers Grimm [that] takes readers on an irreverent tour of fairy tale tropes through the eyes of a wonderfully snarky princess.”—Publishers Weekly

“Herman’s (Bleeding Hearts) delightful secondary characters and humorous tone bring this subversive, queer fairy tale retelling to life.”—Library Journal