Book Review

Damsel

December 4, 2020 /

This Post is Spoiler Free!

Hey! I just finished my first book of December. What book? Damsel by Elana K. Arnold! Let me start out by saying that this book is apparently marketed as a YA… That is so wrong. This book is incredible, but it is NOT for a YA audience. The themes in it are very adult, the descriptions are very adult, the emotions are very adult. Do I think the odd teen will read this and possibly appreciate it for what it is? Sure. Do I think teens should read this book? No… Early twenties, yes. Teens, no.  

I didn’t buy Damsel thinking it was a YA book. Though, I don’t know why, because I’m sure I found it in the YA section… but going into it I wasn’t expecting YA. I was expecting Grimm-level Fairytale, which is exactly what this is! It requires, in my opinion, a certain level of emotional maturity and balance. It takes our current, typical fairytale—A Handsome Prince Slaying a Dragon, Rescuing a Damsel in Distress, Marrying Her, and Living Happily Ever After—and twists it inside out. 

Yes, the prince is handsome and strong and everything you think a soon-to-be king should be. But behind closed doors, he is manipulative and abusive. The Damsel herself is definitely not what anyone would expect her to be, and the Happily Ever After is twisted around as well, though I’d still classify it as a happy ending.

All in all, I genuinely liked the story. It was dark, but good. I also liked the writing style. It managed to be both easy to read AND poetic! Truly beautiful all the way around.

I will admit, though, I was not fully satisfied with two things: the big reveal and the ending. It’s hard to get into without revealing spoilers, so I won’t say much about it, but a part of the big reveal just didn’t sit right with me, particularly plot/action-wise. The ending just felt rushed and not fully fleshed-out. All of this (both things I disliked) happened in the last 4 pages of a 309 paged book… Perhaps with a little more focus on consequences and descending action, I might have enjoyed the ending a little better.

But, that’s not the way it was written, so I shan’t complain any longer! It’s still an incredible book, and I genuinely liked how a lot of things were portrayed. This book didn’t make light of any of the dark themes included, but treated them as they really were—dark. Damsel, despite the 4 pages I wasn’t so fond of, will be going on my reread shelf! Have you read Damsel? If not, what is your favorite book that plays with classic fairytale themes?

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

0062742337
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My Next Read:

One Way or Another by Kara McDowell

1338654543
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