The Princess and the Blade, Book 1: A Slow-Burn YA Princess-and-Knight Romantasy Novel

by aitommylove

Charlotte never imagined she would have a blade drawn to her throat—inside her very own castle.

Peridotia is a peaceful kingdom protected by an enchanted forest and royal green magic. For the past five years, Princess Charlotte has ruled the realm in place of her missing parents. Burdened by the weight of a borrowed crown, she hides her unstable magic and loneliness behind a perfect smile.

One day, she comes face-to-face with a mysterious knight’s dagger in the dusty armory. His name is Hoche, a scarred young man with deep ocean-blue eyes devoid of emotion. He speaks little, reveals even less, and never smiles. Despite the shocking encounter, Charlotte cannot resist her growing curiosity toward this stranger, who obeys every command like a soulless puppet wielded by another's hand.

When the enigmatic knight is assigned as the princess's personal guard, their fates become entwined. Will he be the sword meant to protect her, or the one that cuts deepest into her heart? The princess and the blade—two paths that should never have crossed—now walk side by side.

The Princess and the Blade is an illustrated YA romantasy trilogy featuring the author’s own artwork with a slow-burning romance between two wounded souls. This story is perfect for readers who love the nostalgic charm of classic princess movies and aching coming-of-age stories.
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Note on
Illustrations in the ebook are limited.
The paperback edition is a fully illustrated version, designed to immerse readers in the story through both art and words.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 1, 2026

About the author

aitommylove (AiTommy / Ai Tomioka) is a digital artist and writer from Japan.

She writes her stories and illustrates the character artwork herself, creating whimsical worlds through both visual art and words.

Find her illustrations, animations, and creative process on her website or social media.

✦　✦　✦　✦

Ai no Uta Official Website
YouTube

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this it was such a great read!

I appreciated the details on how all the characters felt throughout this book it felt like I was poking through their minds. I adore the budding relationship between Charlotte and Hoche. And Zack I’m so very curious about learning more about him as well as Hoche’s backstories. I’d say this was a very good start for a series!

Also, the found family vibes with the cast are so warm fuzzy as well. I love how the kingdom’s people all support Charlotte through her pain. It was very comforting to read and I love how Hoche was gradually warming up overtime.

I appreciated how easy of a read this was. I am quite a fast reader so sometimes I have to reread pages if it’s more written more complicated I’d say, but this one I’d say it’s great for a YA novel!

And now I must say the art was absolutely gorgeous! Since I actually discovered this book not too long ago I actually wasn’t completely sure if there would be illustrations so I was blown away when I saw them. The artwork is beautiful and knowing that it was written and illustrated by the author just is so cool to me. You can really feel the passion for their work here and I think that’s what makes me love it even more. There is nothing more amazingly beautiful than an author who is passionate about their own craft. It’s very inspirational to me.

I’d say if you like a good clean romance, great art, some mystery especially towards the end, and a fun cast I recommend giving this one a go.

Admittedly, I was craving something like this story lately so this certainly scratched an itch. I just absolutely adore a good Royal fantasy romance that is clean. I can actually see myself buying the print release for this book when it’s out cause I quite enjoyed it enough to want a physical copy on my shelf. I eagerly await how this one continues.

Last of all, I’d like to say my thanks as I am honor to be an ARC Reader for this particular title.

[hei.lammas · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PRINCESS AND THE BLADE — A FAIRY TALE FIT FOR EVERY FLOCK

"I used to hear a simple song. That was until you came along. Now in it's place is something new, I hear it when I look at you" Is the perfect way to describe this book.

AiTommyLove spins a spellbindingly beautiful take on classic fairy tales everyone has grown and loved throughout their lives. Her writing is vibrant, lush and full of life that simply seeps through the pages as you continue reading, with gorgeous illustrations accompanying it. The story has many wonderful characters in it's cast, but the protagonists Princess Charlotte and her brooding knight Hoche certainly take the cake.

Princess Charlotte de Peridotia is a graceful and kind princess that anyone would dream of being. But though she is an elegant and poised royal for her subjects, behind closed doors she hides a lot of pain deep within her heart. It's lovely to see such a femininely beautiful, soft yet deeply written character as a protagonist.

Hoche, Charlotte's blade and attentive knight is a brooding male lead that makes you want to know more about his tragic past and how he came to be the crown princess' personal knight in the first place. He's silent and calm yet he holds many painful memories and secrets from his past that are both terrifying yet intriguing to discover. Together him and Charlotte slowly form a connection that is filled with sugar, spice and of course everything nice.

Opposites do attract after all, and that dynamic certainly attracts the reader to dive in deeper.

It also can't be overlooked how the book also includes magnificent illustrations to further immerse you into it's whimsical world. Also considering the fact that they are drawn by the author themselves, it makes the reading experience and book overall outstanding as well as one of a kind.

10/10.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

•As a person who reads Mangas, Manwhas and Manhuas I love this so much because it reminds me of them, I just love the exquisite art scattered all throughout the book.

•Fast read, started at 11 was halfway through by 12

•Very edible, very easy to digest and immediately grasp what's going on in the story.

•Lighthearted, no smut, no swearing unless you count "Damn" as one.

•If I were to choose a romance book to give to girlies or guys that are new to romantasy, I would recommend them this, enough for you to feel, and not too much for you to be overwhelmed.

[Sydney]

I signed up for the ARC of this book and I’m so excited to read from one of my favorite artists/soon to be authors! :D

[Helen Cunha · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Princess And The Blade” By AiTommyLove, is an absolute 5 out of 5, and if Goodreads gave the option I would give it 6 stars. I loved this book for so many reasons! The well-built characters, the setting, the balance between description and dialogue, the feel good vibes, the absolutely gorgeous illustrations, the beautiful world, the relationships between characters, the tension, the action, and the beautiful light blossoming slow burn romance. 


Now in more detail I want to talk about the two main characters which are princess Charlotte and her knight Hoche. Which are both crafted so beautifully because they're not perfect, they have flaws, and yet they're relatable and funny. I also really love how different they are and how they complement each other. An example being that Charlotte is more of an extrovert and sunshine character, while Hoche is more introverted and a moonlight character.


I also want to mention just another way that not just the main characters, but every character in this book is written, and that's that they don't sound like the same person. They are so unique in their personalities that just looking at a piece of dialogue you'd be able to identify them because they are all super different in the way they talk and act. Which is really awesome to see and read.


Plus, the intrigue and mystery of these characters' backstory are revealed as the book progresses and as they develop. Which makes things feel so much more rewarding! 


Next, is the world building which I think was done really well. It was all spaced, being very clear and adding to the plot. Now, you could say that there was one info dump of swords where it was explaining the past of the Kingdom, but it's done in such a way that it doesn't feel heavy. Actually, it feels like a fairy tale-like story you're being told. 


Moving on, as I mentioned before, there are illustrations in the book! In the ebook specifically, I believe there's over 10 to 20, but in the paperback edition that is coming out on March 20th there's going to be over 100! They're very pretty, and I think they give the story just that extra pop that most books don't have. 


Another thing that I think sets the book apart from others in its genre is its feel good vibes! While other books make you feel like you're drowning, this one makes you feel seen. For comparison another book that made me feel this way is Spy x Family. I say this because they both have funny lighthearted scenes that help balance out the more serious ones! 


So yes! If you like Spy x Family I think you will like this too since they both have silly moments, light romance scenes, action-packed moments, tension, mysterious backstories, and once again those amazing feel good vibes! 


Also, I feel like it is necessary to mention that this is a trilogy and that this is only the first book so it does sort of end off on a cliffhanger, it's bearable though. I say this because we see a good amount of character development between the two main characters for it to feel satisfying, but there is enough tension to make you want to wait for the next book with a crazy plot twist at the end. So very good!!! 


In the end, this book for me is 100% a 10 out of 10! I absolutely fell in love with this world and the characters! I will definitely be recommending it to everyone I know! So if you want a happy light-hearted romance, with giggly moments which will have you squealing, with the bonus of some gorgeous artwork by the author. This book is most definitely for you! 


Lastly, AiTommyLove, I can't wait for the next installment!!!

[Federica Usai · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋅⊰∙∘☽ The Princess and The Blade - Book 1 ☾∘∙⊱⋅

4.5★

"Can a heart forged to obey know how to love?"

The plot follows Princess Charlotte, the graceful ruler of Peridotia, who is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her parents. Her world shifts when she meets Hoche, a quiet, "too perfect" knight assigned as her personal guard. As their fates collide, the story poses a haunting question: is he her protector, or the source of a deeper heartbreak?


Some books you read; others you feel. This story was an infinitely sweet breath of fresh air that pulled me in from the very first page. It is deeply introspective, peeling back the layers of the protagonists' hearts until you feel entirely entwined with their journey.

Moreover, it's rare to find a novel where the author provides their own art. The illustrations make the experience incredibly immersive, bringing the world of Peridotia to life in a way words alone cannot!

I’m so captivated that I’m already planning to buy the paperback edition just to see all those beautiful drawings in print (with 100+ illustrations)!

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

More about the book:
-Clean YA fantasy (no spice)
-Slow burn bodyguard romance
-Sunshine Princess x Stone-faced Knight
-Touch her and you die

⟡ Thanks to AiTommy for providing the ARC in exchange of an honest review; all opinions are my own.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is the first book I have read from this author and I think it’s a debut.

This was a cute cozy young adult read for all of those who love shoujo manga/anime with the slowest of slow burns (it’s a tiny tiny flame flick at the moment). It’s has illustrations throughout the book which I LOVED. Also the found family in the book was very very good. It’s the first book in a series and a lot of mysteries are not solved, this book feels more introductory and while it doesn’t end in a cliff hanger it leaves plots unfinished.

Anyways let’s talk about the story:
The book starts strong with out mmc (Hoche) literally dying. We can feel his despair and the acceptance of his fate. He is found by a mysterious knight who heals him and takes him to the fmc’s kingdom.
Here we meet Charlotte (our fmc) our young princess whose parents went missing in a sandstorm 4-5 years ago and is in charge of her kingdom (with a lot of help from family and the people who love her). All the royals of this kingdom are blessed with plant magic that helps with the crops and flowers and also will defend the kingdoms from outside attacks. Since her parents went missing her plant magic is wonky, she is still grieving and doesn’t accept that there is a chance they won’t come back. But the moon blossom ceremony (where the moon blossoms bloom under a full moon every 5 years) is getting closer and her blessing and magic are necessary, let’s say our princess feels she is inadequate for the job and wishes her parents were back.
One day the commander Jack assigns Hoche (our mmc) on guard duty to protect the princess while on walks outside the castle. Jack was the person who healed Hoche and makes a deal with him to stay at Peridotia for 3 months. But Hoche has some secrets on his past, some sort of trauma and pain and let’s say this makes him untrusting and not very good with social interactions. He wears a mask of indifference as protection.
The story kind of starts here, with the interactions of Charlottes and Hoche and how little by little they start healing each other. As I said it’s very slow and very cozy. The only thing that I didn’t like and it’s the reason it’s 4 stars it’s that they keep saying the mmc is like a puppet and it gets repeated way too many times, but his POV chapters show he does have feelings and I would have loved to see more like him slipping his mask of indifference (he does feel like a robot sometimes but he is getting better trust me).

[TheGreatMillz33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Princess and the Blade Book 1: A must read for shoujo fans!

"But now, in his hand, the tulip danced gently in the breeze. And when he looked up, so did the princess’s bow—same hue, but it didn’t hurt to look at.

On her, red meant warmth. Laughter. Trust offered without demand."

If you're a fan of shoujo series like Snow White with the Red Hair, Yona of the Dawn, or Sugar Apple Fairy Tale, this is a title I definitely recommend! I've been a fan of anime and manga for a majority of my life so I am very happy I was able to read an ARC of this wonderful story. Many thanks to AiTommyLove for providing it!

The story takes places in a medieval fantasy kingdom named Peridotia, a kingdom located by a forest with ancient magic that the royal bloodline is blessed by. Charlotte is the princess of this kingdom who is currently leading it as her parents, the king and queen, have gone missing 5 years ago. Ever since their disappearance, Charlotte has been struggling to keep her magic under control. Along with that, a mysterious man named Hoche is brought in and appointed as her personal guard. He is quiet, pragmatic, and closed off to others, and his personality brings about unease amongst many people.

I had an absolutely wonderful time with this book! Charlotte is someone burdened by self doubt because of the responsibilities of ruling her kingdom and unstable magic, but she has an inner strength that I always love to see in a female lead. Hoche complements her very well with his incredibly stoic nature, and the story focuses a lot on how they slowly come to understand and lean on each other. Both of them are individuals who are emotionally hurting in some way and the story explores how they slowly heal from it. I genuinely appreciate how the romance between them isn't treated as the "solution" to their issues. Along with the budding romance between them, there is a big focus on found family and Commander Jack (the leader of the Peridotia knights) is one of my favorite characters because of this. He's like a father/uncle figure to both Charlotte and Hoche and it's incredibly endearing.

I very much look forward to seeing more of this series when the next book comes out!

[Karolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a flower take root in stone

This is a story about Princess Charlotte who after the disappearance of her parents has to rule the kingdom of Peridotia. As the Moonblossom ceremony approaches, her magic is more and more unstable. When the pressure becomes unbearable, she meets a new knight, Hoche. At first his expressionless face and stony manners vexes her but maybe he is the solution to her problems.

Charlotte is a very likeable character. She is caring, kindhearted and cheerful. She clings to hope that her parents will be found and feels like a failure when her magic goes wild. She never gives up, her people's wellbeing is the most important to her.

Hoche is a mystery, a stranger from another country with unknown past. He follows the rules and obeys orders, but no more than that. Such behavior makes him a pariah among people in the castle. But as he spends more time with Charlotte something changes.

I really liked them both. I liked that we also got chapters from Hoche's POV. It helped to understand him better. It was very heartwarming how the other characters took care of both Charlotte and Hoche.

The world building and the mystery was well done. The ending promises even more interesting plot twists in the future.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable read. It is more suited for the younger audience but everybody who love romance, magic and mystery will love it. I will definitely read more of this author.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Katie Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dnfed at chapter 21 which is 54% of the book. I really wanted to give this book a fair chance and while I found some elements and characters enjoyable this title just ended up not being for me. It does read as a decent low stakes kind of cozy fantasy romance and the illustrations included are absolutely beautiful. I however just wasn’t interested in many of the side characters and there is quite a lot of them to keep track of along with all their titles. I liked both Charlotte and Hoshe, they had potential but I feel the story is a little too slow moving and when things did happen I wasn’t too invested. On their own both of them are decent characters but I wasn’t really getting a good romance vibe from either of them. It was also a bit repetitive to hear nearly every character complain at least once or twice per chapter about Hoshes position as Charlottes bodyguard. Overall it was an okay kind of young adult fantasy but mostly just wasn’t for me. Thank you to the publisher for my complimentary copy.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I begin I want to say thank you for providing this ARC, it was a privilege to be chosen.

Now to the review. The light novel reads as a slice of life romance with low stakes in a fantasy world. The illustrations included are absolutely gorgeous and bring life to the story. There are an abundance of side characters so I felt a bit overwhelmed in trying to remember each of their titles however when it came to both main characters I really enjoyed Charlotte’s interactions and reactions. This volume felt like a prologue onto what’s to come and although I did finish the book it did take longer than expected. I was not on the edge of my seat, reading until dawn or needing to know what happens next. I do believe however this has the potential to grow into more and I can’t wait to read how the world, characters and authors writings improve with the next volume. I will be buying the physical and digital as a way to support this author. The potential is there.

[Maxx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you AiTommy for the ARC!

This was such an amazing book!

I loved the characters so much. Not just Hoche and Charlotte, but the others around them as well. Everyone was well written and all had their distinct personalities to them! The prose reads very much like a shojo manga/ Ln but with just the right amount of whimsical fairytale like prose that doesn't overstay its welcome. The world feels really lived in. Its not just the Kingdom of Peridotia, its a place where our charters live in, interact with the people that live in it and see the people within it. Everyone loves Charlotte, but in her own bubble of burdens, sometimes she cant see just how much everyone loves and wishes her well.

I loved the self healing that the characters went through, and I honestly can't wait for the next book to see just how much we get to see more of the world and the characters!

[Elisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely captivating and riveting! AITommyLove skillfully creates a fantastical world that is feels so real and authentic that is easy to become immersed and lost in. This novel brings up so many different ideas such as the conflict between duty and ones desire and the struggle of self discovery and identity, and blends it all into an amazing story with beautiful artwork to create one of the best novels I've read in a really long time. The deeper themes are topped off with action and that romance that we all crave, leading to characters and plot that are engaging and very real. AITommyLove tells a classic fantasy with their own unique and well-rounded characters making The Princess and the Blade such a special story that hooks you imediately. I'm very happy that I was given the chance to read this as a pre-release because I just could not put it down!

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars! (rounded up for Netgalley)
Thank you to Ai no Uta Publishing, AiTommyLove and Netgalley for the ARC!!
I originally saw this book through Insta, and it caught my eye! Once I saw it on Netgalley I had to request it!!
The story for the book was very sweet, it had a happier feel and was a very light and fun read
There was some darker elements that appeared, but they didn’t get overly explained yet - just a taste of what it could possibly be
I like secrets being hidden sometimes, but I was hoping they would reveal something more about the darker motives we don’t see yet
And I liked the two main characters, Charlotte and Hoche, but I really wasn’t getting any romantic vibes from them. it felt like they could really get along as close friends, but I don’t really spot any chemistry between the two
Overall, it was a fun story i’d be interested in reading the next book!

[Galatée · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book.
I read the ARC e-book from NetGalley. Thank you for your trust in exchange for an honest review.
The concept has great potential. Nevertheless there is too few illustrations in the e-book. Maybe the paperback would have felt more complete.
The story is a little cliché and has the structure we expect for a manga or an anime.
As a novel, the plot was too simple, the (too many) characters lacked depth. The writing style is not mature enough.
It needs editing as it is. But it could become a great novel after this.

[Momobinty]

The story is amazing. I love every bit of it.
I like the illustrations and how the author describes the scenes. It makes me able to visualize the scenes in my head.

Every chapter is beautifully written. I didn't get bored when I read it. The side characters are interesting and refreshing to me. My favorite side characters are Marius, Philippe, and Aunt Marge.

SPOILER (a line from the book)











As an answer to the authors request, my favorite line is “That is one reason . . . but not the only one. I am here to protect you. You are someone who cannot be replaced.” by Hoche

[Fedy Tsubasa]

Thank you to the author for providing the ARC!

Unfortunately, very early on I understood this was not my cup of tea, as I feel the writing is a bit too juvenile for my taste, so I'm DNFing at 13%.

The art inside is absolutely beautiful though, and I'm sure this is the kind of read someone else would enjoy.

As this is a matter of personal taste and I'm not finishing the book, I'm not giving it a rating. I'm posting this only because a review was promised when I signed for the ARC.

[Ella]

Thanks Netgalley for the arc!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at 55%, it is a beautifully written book with stunning illustrations. I wanted to love this book but unfortunately it just slowed massively down in plot and felt sluggish and boring. I didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere and started not caring for either of the main characters. I am intrigued by certain aspects of the book but just not enough to keep me to finish it!

[Eir · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of soft , simple love stories about people finding their way into each other’s hearts , but unfortunately this one missed the mark for me .

The writing style was simple and easy , but not very engaging . Nothing in the way this story was written drew me into the world . Everything felt very flat , including the characters . I felt like the characters were more like props than people , even the leads .

I don’t think the plot was too slow or that there were too many characters , just that the writing couldn’t handle them well enough to make the story engaging .

I think this would work better marketed towards a younger audience than YA [ maybe like 10-14 ? ] with how simply it’s written . Any older than that and I think they’d have a hard time enjoying this .

The artwork is very pretty , and I would buy the paperback for that reason alone , but as a story I found it uninteresting .

[Kaitlyn Cotton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute YA fantasy! It was written with a shojo/manhwa-style plot for young readers & featured multiple beautiful illustrations throughout the text. No antagonist or big conflict in this volume, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters!

Thank you to Ai no Uta Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

[Emma Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it ..... it was amazing❤️
the characters opening up with each other ,it's so cute to see Charlotte trying to interact with hoche but him being a total shut in and saying a single word-- gave me a good laugh and I loved the art so much it's so pleasing to the eyes I hope I can buy the physical version when it comes out

[Yadira Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is really interesting, the writing is very nice, easy to read but with beautiful descriptions. The pacing of the story isn't too fast nor too slow, in my opinion it is just right. And the artwork is beautiful. So if you like a well written story about magic, royal life, growth and finding love, this book is for you. I definitely recommend it!

[Cheyanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Princess and the Blade was cozy and sweet. Perfect for readers looking for low-stakes, no-drama stories. I appreciated how easy this was to read. I am quite a fast reader, so sometimes I have to reread pages if it’s complicated, but this one, I’d say is great for a YA novel! I would've liked more illustrations, but the ones present were beautiful.

[Phan Hoang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd say the writing style is not really my cup of tea (personal opinion only), and the story has some cliches so I'd give it a 4 or 4.5 but this is one of my favourite tropes and the illustrations are complete eye-candy so it takes a special place in my bookshelf.

Fyi: Many novels I've read before barely have any illusts inside so this one is pretty cool

[Madiha · Rating 5 out of 5]

omgg i LOVED this book. i can’t believe its over! my favorite part was definitely when the aunt was teasing hoche. anyways a message to aitommy - you’re one of my favorite artists/authors and i look forward to the sequel of the princess and the blade!! <33

[Andrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

I read the first four chapters of this book on the authors website and i was not disappointed when I signed up for the Arc.

I love that although the main theme of this book is romance, it also focuses on the relationships between the characters.

[Harry Peachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very fun and i am now very invested in their story :). I think it is a nice unique concept and i really want to read more

[Maxine Sargento · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this was fun! If you love romance fantasies set in European-inspired settings, like I do, then this is right up your alley.

[Chloe Standifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a picky reader, and a Fantasy, and Romance lover, I fell in love when I found this book. I had been In a reading slump for almost a YEAR.
And when I saw the YouTube videos of the characters, I knew I found the perfect book to get me back into reading 💕 While it is a little slow paced, I love the depth and personalities of the main characters. And especially the father son vibes between Hoche and Jack.
Also, maybe it’s just me, but I feel that most fantasy or romance books I’ve come across seem to have a lot of spice. But I was very happy that this one is completely clean! :D
So for anyone else who is lookin for a clean Romantisy, or slow-burn book, this ones worth it, u should definitely give it a try!! :)

(Also note: I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)