Lady’s Knight

Gr 7 Up–In a medieval-inspired kingdom bound by rigid social rules, Gwen, the daughter of a blacksmith, longs to become a knight. She has learned the blacksmith trade from her father, although she will never be recognized for her skill because she is a girl. While hiding her same-sex attraction, Gwen disguises herself as Sir Gawain to compete among knights in the prestigious Tournament of Dragonslayers. As she navigates the dangerous trials, Gwen also forms a deep and meaningful bond with Lady Isobelle, a noblewoman who understands—from a very different perspective—the constraints placed on women. Living a double life, Gwen moves between the expectations of nobility alongside Isobelle and the physical and moral challenges of the tournament. The tension of maintaining her disguise drives the narrative, raising the central question of whether courage and integrity will be enough to overcome tradition and deception. While marketed as fantasy, the novel reads more like historical fiction with a modern sensibility. Aside from the presence of a dragon, fantastical elements are minimal, and readers expecting dragons to play a central role may find this aspect underdeveloped, as its late introduction feels abrupt rather than fully woven into the story’s world. The heart of the novel lies in its characters: Gwen and Lady Isobelle are well-developed, likable, and empowering, and their relationship, marked by trust, loyalty, and affection. The book’s explorations of gender roles and different forms of strength give the story depth and relevance for contemporary readers. Isobelle has blonde hair and blue eyes; Gwen has green eyes, fair skin, and black hair.