Damsel, by Elana K. Arnold
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold My rating: 5 of 5 stars There’s a dragon in the land, and the prince needs to vanquish it in order to free the fair maiden. They triumphantly return, marry, and live happily ever after. I’ve never really questioned the scenario or really thought about it. With “ Damsel ” by Elana K. Arnold , this changed: The dragon’s lair is actually beautiful. Our damsel, Ama, isn’t all that much in distress - at least until the arrogant, self-serving prick of a prince, Emory, picks her up. As the story proceeded, I grew increasingly uncomfortable about how Ama is treated not only by the prince, but by everyone around her. All of her needs and wishes are dismissed at best, punished at worst. Ama is treated like a vessel; she has no “value” as a person but as a means to an end. (If you’re living in the US right now, Emory, under another name, is your king.) Ama is literally and metaphorically hurt by this, but never broken. In a furious, angry finale, she transcends the conf...