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Her Pretty Knight

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An addictive forbidden romance between a fake princess and her bodyguard…

After losing everything ten years ago, Sir Galeon has dedicated her life to serving her kingdom as a knight. When the prince entrusts her with guarding his soon-to-be bride in his arranged marriage, Galeon does not expect to have her heart captured by the confounding princess.

Della has more than one deadly secret. Not only is she pretending to be Princess Cordelia, but she is also a witch in a world where magic is as dangerous as it is illegal. Her ability to manipulate death is the reason she is here, and her only way out. The last thing she wants is an overly loyal knight following her everywhere.
Della knows that Galeon can never learn her secrets. And Galeon knows the prince’s bride is entirely off-limits.

As reluctant proximity turns to tentative trust, initial attraction becomes burning desire. What should have been simple becomes terribly complicated.

Yet nothing will stop Della from fulfilling the bargain she made to save her sister. Not even an inconveniently timed baby phoenix or rumors of false identity. Not even murdered corpses in the library or a jealous prince.

Not even a pretty knight.

The first in a series of stand-alone stories set in the same world, this slow burn steamy queer romantasy is inspired by classic fairy tales and Arthurian legend, where the shining knight is a scarred woman, the princess is also the witch, and the prince is anything but charming.

This story contains grief, violence, explicit language, and a guaranteed HEA.

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2024

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About the author

Mariah Rae Birch

5 books101 followers
Mariah Rae quit her corporate job in 2022 and wrote a book. And she never stopped.
While her earliest works of fiction and art were plastered boldly to the kitchen walls in her childhood home, it took her another twenty years to gather her courage to share her stories again. Now she writes sapphic tales full of romance and magic.
An artist of many kinds, writing fills Mariah Rae’s creative well to the brim. She lives near the mountains with her spouse and furry children. When not writing, she bakes, lurks in nature, and plays games with her small circle of heart family.

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5 stars
520 (36%)
4 stars
506 (35%)
3 stars
315 (22%)
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59 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
Profile Image for mscoolcat.
61 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2025
how this book managed to lose me when it stars a tall pretty lesbian knight is beyond me
Profile Image for Lady Olenna.
918 reviews70 followers
April 3, 2025
4 Stars

Her Pretty Knight by Mariah Rae Birch was an enthralling read. Lady Knights and haughty princesses are always fun to devour.

The main character’s magical ability was different from the regular witchy abilities I’ve read before which gave the story more edge imo. It was very cool (for lack of more imaginative description). The main character could probably be a necromancer? Maybe? I dunno. But it’s a very cool power to wield.

I like how the author started the story. She dropped the reader in an active scene and the plot was laid out from there.

Let’s discuss characters that intrigued me. Princess Della piqued my interest from the beginning. She wasn’t the typical meek noble, instead she was feisty combative and unyielding. However, I feel there’s still insufficientw character background like history of their magic, how did the sisters survive after tragedy struck, how did she know how to act like a perfectly haughty princess with a drop of a hat? I have lots of questions! But I still really enjoyed Della’s character.

Anyway, the prince. The prince was perfectly annoying and I appreciated how the author unfurled his true factory setting during the tournament. His grandstanding and pettiness was very on brand for a prince.

In summary, Her Pretty Knight was an enjoyable read. The tension from living a lie and forbidden attraction kept the story lively and interesting.
Profile Image for Sanaa.
112 reviews28 followers
October 18, 2025
I would say overall, I got everything I expected from this novel.

It definitely hit the spot of a forbidden Knight and Princess romance. The writing was smooth and easy to follow and the pacing was simple if not feeling quite rushed closer to the end.

As we follow Della and her journey through this story as an independent character, I just couldn't help but yearn for a larger understanding of the magic system contained within this novel. I had so many questions about the way it worked, what the consequences were, how you could control it, and how it became such a heavily hated part of society. I think adding this would have definitely allowed for more complexity within Dellas' character, her sister Annet, as well as the romance.

Galeon was also lacking when it came to three-dimensionality. With her growth about her biases towards witches and her complicated feelings towards her prince all being handed startlingly fast and never allowing it to do her justice.

Though the romance was desperately yearningful, I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed that even though both Della and Galeon were very surface-level characters on their own, their love for each other felt clear and understandable. The setting around them was just enough to add tension and the sweet moments we got with them were incredibly tender. Again though, I think every aspect of failing in this book can be attributed to the lack of world-building.


I think as most reviews have already stated the book suffers from being too short and too simplistic in its approach to fantasy, but if you're looking for self-indulgent romance between a lady knight and the princess she is sworn to protect then you will definitely get this here.

3.75 stars 🌟 🌟🌟💫✨️
Profile Image for pears ✧ ☽ ☼ ଳ.
292 reviews27 followers
September 10, 2025
⭐️4.5⭐️
Listennnn I lowkey ate this up. The world building and and magic system definitely could’ve been more in depth, but the romance between these two was 🙂‍↕️
Profile Image for Brend.
829 reviews1,799 followers
March 10, 2026
POV: you're impersonating a princess with small feet and the second you step out of your room in a foreign castle your assigned lady knight gives you this look
description
Profile Image for Sam’s Sapphic Reads.
161 reviews182 followers
May 11, 2026
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I’m a sucker for a woman in metal armor. This was such a cool way to tie in a witch and a knight, and the storyline felt pretty original.

Della is a witch that was caught with her sister and put behind iron bars. A princess that Della had had a run in with before needed her help to escape an unwanted marriage. Felt like an easy choice, pretend to be a princess and “die” or refuse and actually die.

Galeon is a loyal knight that’s the private guard for the prince, Della’s soon to be husband. With the arrival of the prince’s soon to be “wife”, Galeon is moved to now protect and be Della’s personal guard.

Obviously, you can see where this goes. I liked the connection the two characters had, it felt like there was enough of a build up as well as real romance. There were some things that were left up in the air, unanswered though.

The way witches die is made to seem like it was inevitable. The magic is a curse, takes them over, and makes them practically rabid. Della’s magic was getting worse and worse and it kind of felt like she was going down that path. The ending gave an answer technically, but it felt half-ass at best.

Galeon was a guard to the prince for TEN YEARS, it feels like of crazy to leave that service for a woman that’s admitted to lying multiple times. But, love is love haha.

I think this story could’ve been even better with a little extra details throughout the whole thing. I just wanted a bit more depth to it, but still a solid sapphic knight read!
Profile Image for cloverxheart.
241 reviews17 followers
January 26, 2026
2.5⭐
I wanted to love this, I really did.
It started off strong but went downhill rather quickly.
My biggest issue with this book were the characters.
Galeon was fine but rather boring, but I sadly didn't like Della whatsoever.
I wasn't convinced by the romance either - they were attracted to each other but that was it.
They didn't know anything about each other and I didn't get the impression that they liked each other romantically at all.
The ending was also rather disappointing, way too simplistic and lackluster.
Also, quite a few things related to the plot were mentioned and then never brought up again - infuriating.
Profile Image for Aunt Missa.
327 reviews44 followers
February 1, 2025
What a cute romance. The writing is easy going and a nice smooth read for me. I wish there was a little bit more world building and details that give more insight on the magic part of the world. Sir Galeon is such a golden retriever and she is such a puppy dog. Della is clever and fun and not scared of anything.

It’s low spice and low angst and an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for cass.
13 reviews13 followers
December 27, 2025
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sir Galeon and Princess Della have SUCH good romance and chemistry in my opinion! While it wasn't very heavy with fantasy or in depth world building, I still found the plot and characters made it a lovable book. Della isn't your typical princess and can be quite feisty, and Sir Galeon does the perfect amount of pining after her.
Profile Image for Jay Scott.
19 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2025
3 Stars

This is a really short romantasy and I don't think short books necessarily gel with the kind of world-building the author was trying to do. Wasn't completely sold on the chemistry or the ending either.
Profile Image for kylie morgan ✰.
1 review1 follower
July 9, 2025
this book got me out of my reading slump! sooo good exactly what I needed, yearning, lesbian, fantasy 🙂‍↕️
Profile Image for handy.hannahbookishrecs.
230 reviews279 followers
December 31, 2025
I wanted a book with a lady knight and I got it.

3.5 ⭐️ Quick and easy little read with a Lady knight tasked to protect the princess(not really a princess but really a witch in disguise for the real princess) love a good sapphic romantasy I had a good time.
Profile Image for sapphicliteratureirl.
97 reviews29 followers
April 6, 2026
This is my first Lady Knight read! And I want more!

This is a slow-burn sapphic fantasy that delivers exactly the kind of escapism I was hoping for. It’s a relatively short novel, but if you’re in the mood for a witch, a lady knight, and a touch of murder mystery, it’s a fun and enjoyable read ✨️📚

Set in a medieval-inspired fantasy world, the story unfolds through the dual perspectives of Della and Galeon. Della is a witch posing as a princess, betrothed to a prince she has little reason to trust (but she owed the real princess a favour and she supports women so 💁‍♀️)

Galeon, meanwhile, is the honourable and fiercely protective lady knight assigned as Della's bodyguard while she's in the castle in the run-up to the wedding.

Galeon finds herself drawn to Della in ways she never expected. What follows is a tender, yearning slow-burn romance built on stolen moments, growing trust, and undeniable chemistry. The forbidden nature of their attraction adds a delicious tension to the story, especially as secrets and deception threaten to unravel everything.

Galeon quickly became my favourite character — loyal, protective, and utterly deserving of the world ⚔️ At times I found myself wishing Della would be more forthcoming with her, simply because Galeon deserves that honesty.

Alongside the romance, there’s a thread of intrigue involving a dangerous prince and a murder mystery that adds momentum to the plot. While the fantasy world itself isn’t deeply developed, it works well for the story’s scope and keeps the focus on the central relationship.

Ultimately, this is a charming, romantic fantasy that’s perfect when you’re craving a bit of adventure, sapphic longing, and escapism. If the idea of a witch and her devoted lady knight falling in love appeals to you, this one is well worth picking up 📚🏳️‍🌈✨
Profile Image for Iris.
477 reviews53 followers
October 16, 2025
Okay, here we go. I opened this book because I wanted a gallant knight and her lady love--and that is exactly what it gave me. The world building is minimal, which is a shame, because the author's take on magic, Kingdoms and crimes is truly fresh. She hints at subtle magic throughout, and teases grand magic with a wink and a nod, but we never really get to see it. The story focuses on the developing relationship between the two POV characters Della and Sir Galeon; a Princess and her Royal Guard. The plot and intrigue that thrusts them together at the start and surrounds them throughout is happening largely in the background, with only one of the two truly aware of the plot, but all of that delicious subterfuge is sacrificed to give us the story that we opened the book for in the first place: a gallant knight and her lady love.

So why do I feel so disappointed? BECAUSE THE WORLD IS SO GOOD! It's so fresh and cool and if we were allowed to actually participate in the political intrigue of scheming monarchs, deceitful lovers, and wistful witches, we would be truly enraptured in and with a world that's so worth building. Instead we get what one Goodreads reviewer called a "wattpad ass book," and I have to agree. There was no true interest in these characters and their world other than the HEA fairytales promise.

I don't mean to sound too harsh, because it does deliver what its premise promised: a sapphic love story. For what it is, it's cute. If your expectations are where they should be, this book will not disappoint. A light Romantasy for readers who only care about the girl getting the girl. If you want an epic tale, look elsewhere.

4/5

Song: The fate of Ophelia, Taylor Swift

10/12/2025
Na, look at me and say less, bitch. SOLD. Can't wait to crack this bitch open. Be still my heart. (Please don't disappoint me...)
Profile Image for J.A. Gaudio.
Author 4 books7 followers
March 18, 2025
Loved this story! Well-written and the characters, especially Galeon, were so authentic that I felt like they leapt off the page.

Wish it would’ve been longer, more in depth. Could’ve stayed in their little world forever, happily.
Profile Image for emily.
343 reviews56 followers
January 19, 2026
every knight/witch book worms itself into my mind it’s so serious to me. the ending definitely wasn’t fleshed out enough, but Galeon😛😛
Profile Image for river ♥.
134 reviews70 followers
March 3, 2026
definitely not the best writing or storyline, but fun & quick! super helpful since i've been struggling to read lately 😭
Profile Image for Venuss.
90 reviews30 followers
April 1, 2025
3.50

I’m going to make this very short bulletin points, as this read doesn’t have much to go over!

- Too many chapter break- POV switches and sharp transitions to next chapters.

- The love Galeon was feeling felt too soon and it wasn’t clear when or why such a strong feeling developed. But once love being felt got brought back up again at a later time during a better moment, I felt it fully.

- I wanted more about the magic of the world and what had happened regarding the murder in the castle. What happened with Cordelia and that Phoenix? I think provided with that, would’ve made some things not feel so stagnant.

Regardless. This was a cutesy read that was smooth and Galeon is just adorable! I love the female knight concept and found who witches are portrayed to be intriguing.
Profile Image for kiwi.
37 reviews
April 18, 2025
a sapphic read worth reading! i fully enjoyed this book and was enthralled by the characters. each chapter was better than the last, keeping me hooked all the way through. the ending felt a little rushed, but the story was fully executed. i wish there had been more structure to their world and how magic plays its role. i cannot wait to read the next book and be immersed in a new perspective of this world!
Profile Image for saisha.
198 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2025
Galeon is adorable, would reread
Profile Image for VIVI ★.
76 reviews17 followers
February 21, 2026
3.5

I was really looking forward to reading this because of the lesbian princess x knight dynamic. To start with, I loved that their relationship was a "slow burn" romance. I love the yearning too, from both sides.

The romance was nicely done for the most part, but I felt that when they finally got together it was a bit rushed, if not unsatisfying. I feel that if you commit to a slow burn, the ending has to be worthwhile for the waiting, so I felt a bit let down. As other reviewers have said, I also felt that the plot and the overall implications of what Della was doing was sacrificed in pro of their romance. I think that the world building, Della and her sister's past, could have been more expanded. I feel that even her lack of some sort of relationship with the Prince (bad or good) did not do the story any favors. It was a bit unrealistic that she was mostly on her own with Galeon, that they were never caught, in the numerous times they were doing something "inappropriate" for their position.

Besides that, I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, for something major to happen but it never came. It was largely without tension until the end, and even in the end there was almost no conflict, nothing to stop them from pulling such a move (running from the castle, the dead princess gone, the prince's knight gone, etc.)

Overall I will say that despite this I really enjoyed the beginning and middle, all because of their romance and developing relationship, I just wish that the ending was a bit more satisfying.

There is no knight, but if you're looking for a sapphic romantic fantasy between a princess and a witch, with slow burn, character development and massive world building then: Malice and Misrule by Heather Walter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Reading Rainbow.
3 reviews
February 9, 2026
So cute!! A slice of life fairytale romantasy. I love that most of the focus is on their relationship vs deep world building. It feels like a slice of life love story. It leaves me with the same happy feeling I get from playing a good voltage inc game/ dating sim. Just too fun. Also as someone in their 30s I LOVE having MCs in their 30s. I loved book one so much, I will be reading the next books for sure!! The writing is so nice and easy to follow. I love the fairytale world they live in. It’s just such a fun and sweet read. I LOVE the authors style so much. It’s just so cute. love Galeon’s personality, I love their yearning and the slow buildup. Gonna go read the next book now 🙈
Profile Image for Rachel.
55 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2026
It was.... fine? Not bad but not amazing
Profile Image for Amelia.
101 reviews21 followers
February 11, 2025
THIS BOOK IS PERFECT!!! this book is actually everything to me I love it so so much, it’s a new favorite book of all time!
I loved the story, I was so gripped and genuinely interested in the story and the world, I can’t wait to learn more about the world, magic systems and politics in the next book.
I am also dramatically in love with Sir Galeon, her story with Lillian is so heartbreaking but it is also beautiful how she still loves her and Della is fully supportive and understanding of that. Sir Galeon is also just such a great character overall, I loved everything about her and I loved her growth and literally just everything about her is wonderful and beautiful.
Della is also such a good character, I grew to love her so much and I was rooting for her and Sir Galeon the whole time, I loved how she slowly revealed her secrets to Galeon, and don’t get me started on the shoes because that was the sweetest scene I have ever read in my life!!
Even the side character in this book were so so good, Della’s sister was also such an amazing character, I love their relationship and how much they love each other and how much Della protects her sister no matter what.
I loved everything about this book, I was laughing throughout at the little funny one liners dotted about, I wasn’t expecting them but they made the book so much more individual and engaging, it’s so perfect, I can’t wait to read the next book!!
Profile Image for Nicole.
457 reviews61 followers
January 5, 2025
Being a witch is a sickness punishable by death, and two sisters are captured, but a princess bargains with them to gain them all freedom. They just have to help her fake her death to avoid an arranged marriage. Della, a death witch, pretends to be the princess and dies the night before the wedding.
Things get complicated when Della falls for the prince's head of the royal guard, who has been assigned to keep her safe. 
Her Pretty Knight by Mariah Rae Birch is a quick and highly entertaining read. The witch magic is an original concept. At least I haven't read anything like it before, and I like the nuance. The main pairing is so good, with great slow-burn chemistry, and strong, vulnerable women, who are capable and passionate. The faux princess and her pretty knight have some lovely scenes, including one similar to A Knight's Tale, and also some spice.
This is a sweet sapphic romantasy with a happy ending and an epilogue to wrap things up. 
An engaging writing style, likable characters, a steady pace, and a bit of suspense near the end, make this one of my favorites.
#witches #princes #knight #romantasy #sapphic #butchfemme #magic #oppositesattract #princessandherguard #HEA 
I received this free ARC from BookSirens. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Anna Demosi.
141 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2026
okay, after rereading this i’m giving it a full 4 stars
i was still a little confused over the magic system, the author didn’t explain it very much, della being a witch just kinda, was, ya know?😂
BUT. i love me a forbidden sapphic romance especially in this era, and between a knight and fake princess 🤌🏼
galeon was so sweet and so loyal under the tough armor, the way she was so willing to do anything for della, and so protective over her. galeon talking to lillian about della melted my damn heart.
poor della, wanting so desperately to just be happy with this life and wanting her so badly, but knowing the promise she made to anett and that they will be free after, the sacrifices she’s had to make 😭
i loved the tension between galeon and della, you can just see how much they wanted each other but couldn’t act.
i’m so glad they got their happy ending 🥹
i am READY to continue the series now
Profile Image for Taea.
19 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2026
I genuinely enjoyed this one. The premise was so fun, and it was super fast-paced/digestible, so I flew through it. However, I have a few major qualms that stop me from giving it a higher rating.

First of all, I absolutely could not stand the love interest. In theory, I like a character with those traits (loyal, stoic, strong, brave etc. etc.), but in practice, it just did not work well at all. You lost me immediately at naming a knight "Galeon", I mean, come on. What's next, you gonna name the beautiful princess "Bella" too? Oh wait, no her name is Della, my bad. Corny names aside, the reason I couldn't stand Galeon was because she could not FOR A MOMENT figure out what she wanted. Are you loyal to the prince? Do you want to be with Della? You won't kiss her until we're 60% of the way into the book because it's "wrong", but you'll ask her to run away with you?? Don't get me wrong, I love conflicted characters with strong moral codes they struggle to break, I just don't think it was executed well in this case because we never even get a sliver of her thought process, despite the book being dual-perspective. All we get to see is her making the most frustrating decisions while there is quite literally nothing going on in there.

Okay, now I need to talk about the prince. I understand that he was supposed to be unlikable so as not to interfere with the actual love story, but I feel like the author couldn't decide what type of unlikable she wanted to make him. He is introduced as a sissy rich boy and then he becomes an abusive asshole so quickly I got whiplash. I literally had to go back and reread the part where he tried to hit Della because it was so quick I missed it, and then I was like huh??? Where did that even come from? The part where he cheated on her too was so overwhelmingly unnecessary. It's like WE GET IT, he's a bad guy and therefore it's okay that Della went behind his back and did all the things she did. And somehow, that's not even the worst part. I'm gonna hold your hand when I say this, HE LITERALLY CONFESSED TO MURDERING THE LAST PRINCESS AND COVERING IT UP!!! I was absolutely gagged when I read that part because actually where did that come from?? And then it was never brought up again afterwards?? That was when I knew I had to write this review, because that is the most insane plot point I've ever seen dropped and abandoned in a story. Absolute bonkers.

However, corniness and plot holes aside, I really did have fun with this one and might even revisit this author eventually.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews