📘 Damsel
Words by Elana K. Arnold
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Genre/Category: This book fulfills the National Book Honor requirement.
Target Age Group: Ages 14 and up (HOWEVER, I DISAGREE)
Format Read: Audiobook
🌀 Plot Summary (1–2 Sentences)
In a seemingly classic fairy-tale setup, Prince Emory rescues Ama from a dragon’s lair. With no memory of who she is, Ama is told she will be queen, but as she begins to uncover the truth, she realizes the story she’s been given is far from the full picture.
✅ Why I Chose This Book
I chose Damsel for a few reasons. While browsing the National Book Award list, the title immediately stood out, I’m a huge Disney princess fan, so I was excited by the idea of a twist on the traditional “damsel in distress” narrative. I imagined a fierce feminist retelling, and the cover (featuring a dragon’s tail and flaming text) looked magical and bold. Since this book fulfilled the requirement for a National Book Award honoree, I figured it was a perfect fit.
🔍 Evaluation
1. Format
I quickly discovered that audiobooks aren’t for me. While many of my coworkers love listening to books while multitasking, I found it difficult to concentrate. The audiobook was just under 8 hours, but it took me over 16 hours to finish because I kept rewinding sections I missed. That said, the narrator did a great job delivering the tone and emotion of the story, far better than I could have read it aloud myself.
2. Pace
The pacing felt slow and uneven. It took about six chapters just for Emory to “rescue” Ama, and once that happened, the story still felt like it dragged. While I appreciate vivid descriptions, sometimes they halted the momentum. I also guessed a major twist (that Ama was the dragon) pretty early on, so it felt like I was just waiting for the story to catch up to what I already suspected.
3. Character
Ama’s character felt inconsistent. At times she was brave, assertive, and defiant, but other times, she came across as naïve or passive, which felt frustrating. I understand she was grappling with memory loss and trauma, but the swings in her behavior made it harder for me to connect with her emotionally.
4. Content
This book really surprised me, and not in a good way. It’s labeled as YA, but in my opinion, it contains very mature and disturbing content that should place it in the older teen or even adult category. There are scenes involving non-consensual sexual acts, animal cruelty, and graphic violence. One moment in particular completely shocked me: when Emory describes how he “defeated” the dragon, he reveals he stabbed it and then violated the wound with his “yard” (a euphemism used in the book). That’s how the dragon became Ama. It was one of the most disturbing things I’ve read in any book, let alone one marketed for teens.
While I appreciate stories that subvert fairy-tale tropes, I wouldn’t recommend Damsel. It taught me a valuable lesson: beautiful covers can be deceiving, and not every book with a fantasy look is going to align with your expectations.
📚 Reference
Arnold, E. K. (2018). Damsel. Balzer + Bray.
Arnold, E. K. (2018). Damsel. Balzer + Bray.