A Reader's Guide to Books and Reviews

Title: Damsel
Author: Elana K. Arnold
Format: Epub
Rating: 2.5/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: May 11, 2018 to May 16, 2018
Book Summary: The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: when the prince-who-will-be-king comes of age, he must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been.

When Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory, however, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what came before she was captured by the dragon, or what horrors she has faced in its lair. She knows only this handsome prince, the story he tells of her rescue, and her destiny to sit on the throne beside him. Ama comes with Emory back to the kingdom of Harding, hailed as the new princess, welcomed to the court.

However, as soon as her first night falls, she begins to realize that not all is as it seems, that there is more to the legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows–and that the greatest threats to her life may not be behind her, but here, in front of her.
Book Review: I would like to thank edelwiss and the publisher for giving me a chance to read this book prior to it's release.

This story opens with a young Prince out to save a maiden from a dragon. When the dragon is slayed, the prince takes the maiden back to his kingdom where he will be crowned King and she his Queen. Unfortunately our maiden has no memory of her real name or even how the dragon got ahold of her. As the young maiden tries to come to terms of her future with the Prince as her husband, she also wants answers of her past.

If you are looking for some sweet, disney-esque where the Prince-saves-damsal-from-dragon and they live happily ever after, then this book definitely won't be for you. There is scenes of rape, discussions of a man's size, and a woman's gentials used as an insult.

Okay how is this book listed as a young adult when the themes are really meant for new adult? The idea that this book is geared toward younger adults doesn't fit quite right with me. I don't think even my sister would have allowed her daughter this book if it had came out while she was in junior high. The idea that there is rape scenes (or near rape) made me cringe and normally I can handle these scenes. I mean I have read them in other books but this one just made me cringe all together.

I will admit the world building was rather interesting and how this story really is not meant to be quite the "happily ever after" that we have grown up with but more of an ugly version of it. So I do see the reason behind the rape scenes, the discussions of a man's size, etc because this is not Disney, this is what life would have been liked outside of these fairytales.

Although the blurb was my cup of tea, the story, however, was not. I will recommend it to those over the age this book is intended for and I believe that many out there would enjoy the story for what it is worth.