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A review by ladytiara
The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton
4.0
The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly is so much fun and just what I needed while I'm stuck at home during the current pandemic. It's cute and entertaining, and while it's a light read, it also deals with sexism, poverty, and some tough choices.
Kit works at a cheesy, medieval-themed restaurant, where she's stuck as a serving wench (that's what they call the waitresses). She wants to be a knight because it pays better and also because she has a knight obsession, but women aren't allowed to play that role. One night, she takes her brother's place as a knight and she can't resist revealing her identity (stating "I am no man" from Lord of the Rings). The "girl knight" quickly goes viral, and Kit tries to push for a change in the company's sexist policy, forming a band of people who want to change to rules.
Kit is in a tough place. She wants to shake things up, but she also desperately needs her job because she and her family are the working poor. Her dad left after stealing the money her mother had saved for the kids' college funds, and he doesn't pay child support. Her mother never finished high school and works two jobs to try to keep up with the mortgage. Kit's older brother also works two jobs and goes to community college. Kit has a plan to get ahead, but she needs money for college and her path out of town is starting to look impossible. The author does an excellent job showing how tough Kit's choices are and how grinding poverty can be.
Kit is a likeable, imperfect heroine. She doesn't always make the best choices, but her mistakes make sense in the context of the story. She's a tough feminist who's been dealt a rough hand in life, but she's doing her best to make things better. This is a very fun book with an important message. It's also pretty diverse: Kit's love interest is half Indian, her best friend is African-American and bi, and one her co-workers is nonbinary.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
Kit works at a cheesy, medieval-themed restaurant, where she's stuck as a serving wench (that's what they call the waitresses). She wants to be a knight because it pays better and also because she has a knight obsession, but women aren't allowed to play that role. One night, she takes her brother's place as a knight and she can't resist revealing her identity (stating "I am no man" from Lord of the Rings). The "girl knight" quickly goes viral, and Kit tries to push for a change in the company's sexist policy, forming a band of people who want to change to rules.
Kit is in a tough place. She wants to shake things up, but she also desperately needs her job because she and her family are the working poor. Her dad left after stealing the money her mother had saved for the kids' college funds, and he doesn't pay child support. Her mother never finished high school and works two jobs to try to keep up with the mortgage. Kit's older brother also works two jobs and goes to community college. Kit has a plan to get ahead, but she needs money for college and her path out of town is starting to look impossible. The author does an excellent job showing how tough Kit's choices are and how grinding poverty can be.
Kit is a likeable, imperfect heroine. She doesn't always make the best choices, but her mistakes make sense in the context of the story. She's a tough feminist who's been dealt a rough hand in life, but she's doing her best to make things better. This is a very fun book with an important message. It's also pretty diverse: Kit's love interest is half Indian, her best friend is African-American and bi, and one her co-workers is nonbinary.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.