Lady Knights Are Having a Moment
A spate of new novels featuring strong and sometimes sapphic women warriors could presage the next big thing in fantasy.
First, it was fairies, courtesy of Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. Then, dragons, thanks to Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing.
Now, more than a few fantasy enthusiasts on BookTok have declared 2025 the year of the lady knight.
Indeed, at least 10 different chivalric fantasies starring young women in armor have been published in as many months.
While not all lady knight novels have fantastical elements, their connection to the romantasy boom is evident to the editors who talked with PW about the trend.
Author summary: Lady knights rise in fantasy novels.