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Damsel

A twisted fairy tale of dragons and destiny

Elana K Arnold author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers Inc

Published:20th Feb '20

Should be back in stock very soon

Damsel cover

In Damsel, a young woman awakens to find herself rescued by a prince, only to discover that her fairy tale may be hiding darker truths.

In Damsel, Elana K. Arnold weaves a dark and captivating fairy tale that challenges the traditional narrative of heroism and romance. The story begins with a time-honored rite: when a king dies, his son, the prince, must embark on a perilous journey to slay a dragon and rescue a damsel, who will become his bride. This rite has been followed for generations, a seemingly straightforward path to glory and love. However, the tale takes a twist with the character of Ama, who awakens in the arms of Prince Emory, unaware of her past and the trials she has endured.

As Ama learns the story of her rescue, she is drawn into a world that appears to be a fairy tale come to life. Yet, as she travels with Emory to the kingdom of Harding, she begins to question the reality of her situation. The idyllic narrative she has been told starts to unravel, revealing darker truths about the legends surrounding dragons and damsels. Ama's journey transforms from one of simple acceptance to a quest for understanding her own identity and the nature of her fate.

Through Damsel, Arnold explores themes of autonomy and the complexities of love, as Ama confronts the challenges that lie ahead. The story invites readers to reconsider the roles of both the prince and the damsel, ultimately leading to a gripping conclusion that will linger long after the last page is turned.

“This incisively written allegory rips into a familiar story and sets it aflame.” — School Library Journal (starred review) “Arnold’s pitch-black fairy tale isn’t subtle, but this isn’t a tale that requires subtlety. For teens learning to transform sadness and fear into active, productive fury, it’s an essential allegory. Eat your heart out, Sleeping Beauty: this brutal, devastating, powerful novel won’t soon be forgotten.” — Booklist (starred review) “Exquisitely written and unflinchingly, furiously feminist, Damsel is a gorgeous inferno of a fairy tale and my new obsession. Searing and audacious, with an ending that will leave you howling at the moon. A must for every collection.” — Claire Legrand, author of Furyborn “Damsel is a lush, sweeping, gorgeous fantasy, tied up tight with an inexorable and winding dread. This is the best sort of novel—part journey, part discovery, abundant with beauty and truth and rage. It is sharp and quick and cuts like a blade. Keep your eyes open. Be ready. — Kelly Barnhill, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories “Brutal and unflinching, Damsel is a gorgeously twisted fairy tale that lures you in with pretty words and then shows you its thorns.” — Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation “A meditation on the smothering uselessness of weaponized kindness, Damsel will have you reaching for the narrative with scale and claw and tooth.” — E. K. Johnston, New York Times bestselling author of Spindle “Arnold is a master of writing the struggles of young women and the violence they endure. In Damsel, she gives us a suitably masterful, darkly gorgeous modern fairy tale of a young woman passing through fire to protect what is hers. You will not be able to look away.” — Jeff Zentner, William C. Morris Award–winning author of The Serpent King “Not unlike the original fairy tales, Damsel isn’t meant for the faint of heart. This unflinchingly feminist story is beautiful in its gruesomeness.” — Amanda Lovelace, bestselling author of The Princess Saves Herself In This One “In this timely, riveting fantasy novel, Elana K. Arnold forges meaningful parallels between Ama’s plight and that of all women belittled, objectified and controlled by patriarchal culture.” — Chicago Tribune “With haunting prose and lush descriptions, Arnold weaves a terrifying tale that explores contemporary conversations about rape culture, misogyny, male entitlement, female agency, and the need for consent. The message is as timely as it is vital.” — Publishers Weekly

  • Winner of Michael L. Printz Honor Book (United States).

ISBN: 9780062742339

Dimensions: 203mm x 135mm x 19mm

Weight: 256g

336 pages