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Title: Damsel
Author: Elana K. Arnold
Sub-genre: Fantasy
How’s everyone doing? Hanging in? Staying sane? I imagine you, like me, are finding at least some solace in the world of books. I don’t know about you, but I am escaping as much as possible these days. I actually read Damsel before going into lockdown mode, but it’s actually a great escape read, should you be in the need.
In the kingdom of Harding, there is one tradition. When a prince comes of age, he sets off on a quest to slay a dragon. When said dragon has been thoroughly slain, the prince rescues the damsel being held by the dragon and brings her home to be his queen. Emory is the prince of Harding and when he brings home his damsel Ama, he ends up getting way more than he bargained for. Ama isn’t like the other damsels. She questions the traditions and the way the kingdom is run, and seeks answers from the castle’s other damsel, the queen. In the end, turns out nothing is what it appears to be.
This book is fabulous. I love a good spin on the classic tales, and this one delivers. It’s witty and clever and sharp, and Elana’s writing is so clean and clear and concise. Ama and Emory are both deeply drawn characters, but the way they are written is not at all overbearing or overworked. The plot twists are interesting and new, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, something happened that totally shocked me. I feel like YA is drowning in a lot of very similar fantasy novels these days, and this one was such a breath of fresh air. And on top of all that, there are some pretty stellar messages about patriarchy and society and doing what is expected of us. I gobbled the whole thing up in one day, and it’s one I will read again.
Overall Rating: 5 stars