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The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly
by
Kit Sweetly slays sexism, bad bosses, and bad luck to become a knight at a medieval-themed restaurant.
Working as a wench―i.e. waitress―at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can help her ...more
Working as a wench―i.e. waitress―at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can help her ...more
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384 pages
Published
May 5th 2020
by Page Street Kids
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Jan 01, 2020
emma
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
arc,
couldn-t-wait-to-read,
unpopular-opinion,
contemporary,
ya,
reviewed,
from-publisher-author,
owned,
diverse,
eh
This is the most unpopular opinion in the history of the world.
This opinion is so unpopular that even I’m like “wow, this must be wrong,” and it’s MY opinion.
In fact, I strongly advise you to stop reading now, because it’s clear that I am incorrect, and me myself and I will stay over here in the dunce corner and write a review just for ourselves.
Sound good?
...
Okay, now that everyone’s gone.
I often have the same issue with feminist young adult books, where I feel like everything in the book that ...more
This opinion is so unpopular that even I’m like “wow, this must be wrong,” and it’s MY opinion.
In fact, I strongly advise you to stop reading now, because it’s clear that I am incorrect, and me myself and I will stay over here in the dunce corner and write a review just for ourselves.
Sound good?
...
Okay, now that everyone’s gone.
I often have the same issue with feminist young adult books, where I feel like everything in the book that ...more

this could have been a cute story i adored whole-heartedly if it wasnt the poster child for my biggest pet-peeve of all time - which is the onslaught of pop culture references in fiction. i swear my eye was twitching by the twentieth mention of game of thrones. every reference (and there are sooo many of them) took me out of the story and ensured an eye-roll. i know pop culture references arent a problem for most readers but, for me, its a deal breaker.
which is a shame because i did enjoy the m ...more
which is a shame because i did enjoy the m ...more

4.5 stars!!
It was sweet, funny, eye-opening and I loved it. The end!! 😉

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
It was sweet, funny, eye-opening and I loved it. The end!! 😉

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

Cute, wholesome and slightly overdramatic - just how I like my Netflix romcoms.
The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly is a very cute and lighthearted contemporary. This is not to say that it's all smiles and hugs - it deals with poverty, parental neglect, sexism and drug abuse - but it's almost all smiles and hugs. It's a super fun concept: a medieval theme restaurant with knights on horses fighting tournaments. (I mean, I wanna go!! Make it happen!) The problem: only men are allowed to be ...more
The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly is a very cute and lighthearted contemporary. This is not to say that it's all smiles and hugs - it deals with poverty, parental neglect, sexism and drug abuse - but it's almost all smiles and hugs. It's a super fun concept: a medieval theme restaurant with knights on horses fighting tournaments. (I mean, I wanna go!! Make it happen!) The problem: only men are allowed to be ...more

This book was cute and fun, but not quite what I was hoping it would be. It had a lot of good discussion about archaic gender roles and great representation of what it is like to grow up in a house where you're living paycheck to paycheck, but the rest of the book honestly felt a little.. boring? The writing was pretty average and the plot didn't do anything especially fun or risky so everything just kind of fell a little flat. I feel like this book had an amazing premise but the book as whole d
...more

3.5 stars
You gotta fight for your right...to be a knight. Or so it goes in The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly .
Kit is a “serving wench” at The Castle, a medieval restaurant, but what she really wants is to be a knight. Her older brother, Chris, is a knight, and she knows all of his routines really well. But company policy for the entire Castle franchise states that only guys can be knights, Game of Thrones be damned.
One night when Chris gets hurt and can’t perform, Kit puts on his ...more
You gotta fight for your right...to be a knight. Or so it goes in The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly .
Kit is a “serving wench” at The Castle, a medieval restaurant, but what she really wants is to be a knight. Her older brother, Chris, is a knight, and she knows all of his routines really well. But company policy for the entire Castle franchise states that only guys can be knights, Game of Thrones be damned.
One night when Chris gets hurt and can’t perform, Kit puts on his ...more

I received an ARC of this book for free as part of The Fantastic Flying Book Club’s Instagram tour for this book. Since I received an ARC, my quotes from the book are tentative.
This was such a fun feminist YA debut!
I liked how inclusive and diverse this book was. Kit’s best friend Layla is bisexual. One of the characters, Penny, is a transgender Serving Wench at the restaurant. There is also Alex who also works at the restaurant and goes by the pronoun, “they.” Kit’s love interest, Jett, is hal ...more
This was such a fun feminist YA debut!
I liked how inclusive and diverse this book was. Kit’s best friend Layla is bisexual. One of the characters, Penny, is a transgender Serving Wench at the restaurant. There is also Alex who also works at the restaurant and goes by the pronoun, “they.” Kit’s love interest, Jett, is hal ...more

“Bold, brave, saucy, and spirited.” I think Kit herself said it best here, as this book was all of those things and more. The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly is a feminist take on A Knight’s Tale that challenges gender roles and the idea that women can’t be warriors too.
Kit’s dream is to upgrade from serving wench to become a knight at the Castle, a restaurant that puts on medieval tournaments. Kit is spunky, driven and determined and I love her for it.
This story has strong family dyn ...more
Kit’s dream is to upgrade from serving wench to become a knight at the Castle, a restaurant that puts on medieval tournaments. Kit is spunky, driven and determined and I love her for it.
This story has strong family dyn ...more

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 Stars
Full review HERE
I enjoyed reading about the main storyline of this book, which is Kit trying to fight against the company policy of her workplace. The Medieval-themed restaurant where she works won't let girls fight as knights and she's had enough of this absurdity and she's ready to put up a fight.
My issue was that apart from this storyline the others were very few and sounded a bit w ...more
3.5/5 Stars
Full review HERE
I enjoyed reading about the main storyline of this book, which is Kit trying to fight against the company policy of her workplace. The Medieval-themed restaurant where she works won't let girls fight as knights and she's had enough of this absurdity and she's ready to put up a fight.
My issue was that apart from this storyline the others were very few and sounded a bit w ...more
![laurel [the suspected bibliophile]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1546974316p2/7494844.jpg)
Trigger Warning: drug abuse, emotional abuse
Kit Sweetly is a Wench who wants to be a Knight—if only the patriarchal hegemony ruling The Castle Corporation would give her a chance to succeed. When a chance opportunity to take over for her brother leads to her revealing herself as The Girl Knight and a video of her "I am no man!" speech goes viral, Kit seizes the opportunity to allow herself—and a group of non cis male knight wannabes—her chance in the tournament grounds once and for all.
This was ...more
Kit Sweetly is a Wench who wants to be a Knight—if only the patriarchal hegemony ruling The Castle Corporation would give her a chance to succeed. When a chance opportunity to take over for her brother leads to her revealing herself as The Girl Knight and a video of her "I am no man!" speech goes viral, Kit seizes the opportunity to allow herself—and a group of non cis male knight wannabes—her chance in the tournament grounds once and for all.
This was ...more

hi hello did someone mention A Knight's Tale???
...more


My brain is like "yeah, it was cute and all but no more than 3 or 4 stars" but my heart is like "knights that aren't cis guys! medieval restaurant! cute romance! feminist af!" and I can't really argue with that.
...more

Charmed the hose right off me!
Kit works at what is basically Medieval Times, where she is trying to bring some gender equality to the world of knights, squires, and wenches. Added to that is the stress of having too little money, and so many big dreams, for herself and her mom and brother as well as her friends. I was very stressed for pretty much the second half of this book, as things really seemed to escalate, and I do wish that there had been a bit more justice served (this isn't a spoiler a ...more
Kit works at what is basically Medieval Times, where she is trying to bring some gender equality to the world of knights, squires, and wenches. Added to that is the stress of having too little money, and so many big dreams, for herself and her mom and brother as well as her friends. I was very stressed for pretty much the second half of this book, as things really seemed to escalate, and I do wish that there had been a bit more justice served (this isn't a spoiler a ...more

funny, sweet, & full of heart! intersectional feminism is such a refreshing look. definitely more friendship + kit centric than a romance, although you'll definitely see touches of best friends to lovers (three cheers for The Best Trope)!
...more

Feb 11, 2021
Kat
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
no-kindle-version-available,
library-2
Wow, this is the book for pretty much every girl who’s ever been to a medieval roleplay restaurant, wondered why all the knights and falconers and people having all the fun were dudes, and loved that line in LOTR where Eowyn rips off her helmet after defeating the Wraith King and declares “I am no man.” (our MC so goes there!!)
In this one, we have Kit from a family experiencing financial insecurity (as in the electricity gets turned off, she has to take toilet paper from gas station bathrooms a ...more
In this one, we have Kit from a family experiencing financial insecurity (as in the electricity gets turned off, she has to take toilet paper from gas station bathrooms a ...more

May 11, 2020
Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
releases-2020
Okay so I felt myself getting frustrated A LOT but sexism, a wanker of an uncle, double standards, deadbeat dads, people using religion as a scapegoat, and atrociously expensive post-secondary does that to a bitch (me. I am bitch).
I loved the characters. The ending was sweet. The setting was fun until you had to...interact with the staff. I have so much respect for people who grow up in that level of poverty and still manage to survive.
I loved the characters. The ending was sweet. The setting was fun until you had to...interact with the staff. I have so much respect for people who grow up in that level of poverty and still manage to survive.

May 19, 2020: Wow, I have taken almost a month to read this. This was definitely a predictable read but I mean, come on, surprises doesn't equal greatness. Definitely appreciated the feminism and unstable financial conditions that were highlighted in this one. Though, I wanted to know more about the side characters, especially Jett as a love interest and because he's half-Indian, hehe so definitely expected more but nonetheless, I'm happy about reading it. Full review to come!
April 26, 2020: Bud ...more
April 26, 2020: Bud ...more

Page Street Kids was kind enough to send me an ARC of this book, and I'm so glad they did! It is funny and fun and delightful and heartfelt and intersectional. It is somehow a cheery teen romcom romp and also a book about struggles with poverty and also about the romanticization of the Middle Ages and how that affects society. It is GREAT. Kit is a champion.
...more

I was lucky enough to read an early version of this and I couldn't put it down! Kit is full of so much heart and humor, this is such a great read!
...more

Great themes but left me wanting. I loved the idea of this story, a girl who wants to be a knight, in modern times. Um yes. But unfortunately while it did deliver on what was promised upon finishing i could help but feel... let down? Not sure but this didn't meet the expectations I had for this book.
While I didn't like the execution I loved the themes of this story and everything they represented. I loved the determination of not only the main character Kit but most of the other characters as w ...more
While I didn't like the execution I loved the themes of this story and everything they represented. I loved the determination of not only the main character Kit but most of the other characters as w ...more

review on my blog Kat from Minas Morgul
the good:
- feminist
- swords
- fun
- LOTR quotes
- pool noodles as swords
- swords
- medieval facts
- swords!!!!
- queer characters
- the sweetest romance
- so fun
- did I mention the LOTR quotes?
- and the swords?
- good portrayal of people being poor
- fighting sexism
- wonderful friendships
- SWORDS AND KNIGHTS
the bad:
- ? ...more
the good:
- feminist
- swords
- fun
- LOTR quotes
- pool noodles as swords
- swords
- medieval facts
- swords!!!!
- queer characters
- the sweetest romance
- so fun
- did I mention the LOTR quotes?
- and the swords?
- good portrayal of people being poor
- fighting sexism
- wonderful friendships
- SWORDS AND KNIGHTS
the bad:
- ? ...more

This book was so fun!! It was geeky and feminist and funny and honestly what more could I even ask for in a book??
Also, even though it should be the standard, I really appreciated that while this book was very much a story of a cis girl challenging the cis guys, it actually like . . . recognized that and admitted that there was more nuance to it than that, and like damn all books should do that but most just . . . don't. ...more
Also, even though it should be the standard, I really appreciated that while this book was very much a story of a cis girl challenging the cis guys, it actually like . . . recognized that and admitted that there was more nuance to it than that, and like damn all books should do that but most just . . . don't. ...more

This book was such a fun and sweet (pun intended) read! A contemporary story about a girl obsessed with all things medieval, this book delivers on the snark, the laughs, and the historical facts. Pacton brings to life a diverse cast of teens in a genuine and emotional story, and invites the reader to cheer them on as they fight the patriarchy. Long live the Girl Knight!

Nov 17, 2019
Sana
marked it as to-read-so-bad-it-hurts
THIS SOUND SO CUTE AND EMPOWERING

This was a super cute YA contemporary. Kit Sweetly works at Medieval Times-like restaurant/attraction called the Castle where she’s been a wench (server) for a few years, but really wants to be a knight like her older brother. Knights get to do fight, joust, and they make more money – something Kit is desperately in need of.
Content Warning: sexism and misogyny (always in a negative light), underage drinking and underage smoking (with little to no commentary), poverty, alcoholism, substance abuse ...more
Content Warning: sexism and misogyny (always in a negative light), underage drinking and underage smoking (with little to no commentary), poverty, alcoholism, substance abuse ...more

Three cheers for the Girl Knight! You’ll be cheering too, for Kit and all her friends, as they fight for their right to joust! The characters are not only endearing, but broadly diverse and reflective of real life. In addition, Kit feels incredibly authentic in her struggles and dreams, high moments and lows. But more than a fun read, I walked away feeling unexpectedly challenged, made more aware of my own privilege, and feeling more understanding of the struggle to get by on double shifts and a
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Challenge Corner: The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton -> Starting June 4th, 2020 | 16 | 4 | Jun 23, 2020 03:33PM |
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