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zee_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
heatherlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
More like 3.5
*content warning for: rape/sexual assault, abuse, animal harm, suicide, & self harm.*
What an interesting, disturbing, yet oddly satisfying little book. It wasn't until the end that I actually started to somewhat enjoy this book....though enjoy isn't the right word. This is such an interesting take on the damsel in distress story with a weird take on feminism woven throughout.
I think I need to let this one sit for a bit before I determine if I want to keep it on my bookshelf.
*content warning for: rape/sexual assault, abuse, animal harm, suicide, & self harm.*
What an interesting, disturbing, yet oddly satisfying little book. It wasn't until the end that I actually started to somewhat enjoy this book....though enjoy isn't the right word. This is such an interesting take on the damsel in distress story with a weird take on feminism woven throughout.
I think I need to let this one sit for a bit before I determine if I want to keep it on my bookshelf.
nerdydreamer107's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
arianaisakson13's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
willyzita's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The struggles of the main character are meant to be reminiscent of a woman who lives in a men's world and as she grows she internalizes misoginy, but something deep inside of her tells her that she is a creature far more powerful that this world lets her see.
This book is very hard to read, mostly because a lot of what happens is heart-wrenching, infuriating and just overall unfair.
This book is very hard to read, mostly because a lot of what happens is heart-wrenching, infuriating and just overall unfair.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexism
synfje's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mayaharp's review against another edition
4.0
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold is a fantastic, dark, twisted, feminist book. It reads like a dark fairytale and there is always an undercurrent of dread and foreboding. Arnold's writing is superb and truly conveys what the protagonist is going through and feeling. The story itself is very unique and not at all what I first expected. Considering I was expecting a romance and not the opposite of that lol.
The ending itself is super satisfying, although a bit predictable and slightly rushed.
Overall though "Damsel" is a great book with amazing writing that is filled to the brim with symbolism and will definitely leave you thinking about the book and its meaning for the longest time.
Also huge trigger warnings for blood, animal cruelty, SA, self-harm, and abuse.
The ending itself is super satisfying, although a bit predictable and slightly rushed.
Overall though "Damsel" is a great book with amazing writing that is filled to the brim with symbolism and will definitely leave you thinking about the book and its meaning for the longest time.
Also huge trigger warnings for blood, animal cruelty, SA, self-harm, and abuse.
optimisticbooknerd's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars.
I liked the concept of how it's a fantasy standalone playing the 'damsel in distress and her knight in shining armor' troupe but I had a lot of problems with this one unfortunately.
Tw: Animal abuse, sexual assult, sexual abuse, grey area cheating, gaslighting, toxicity, self-harm, suicide.
If any of you have watched Game of Thrones, Emory who's on his journey to become king in the beginning of the novel literally reminds me so much of Joffery and I got annoyed by how similar they are.
Ama, the damsel in distress was an interesting character and I wish there was more depth about her and her Lynx Sorrow/Fury (I loved her sm)
I wish the story had more depth too it, maybe more world is building and more dragon content and less toxicity from Emory I would've bumped it up a couple of stars.
Beautiful cover though!
I liked the concept of how it's a fantasy standalone playing the 'damsel in distress and her knight in shining armor' troupe but I had a lot of problems with this one unfortunately.
Tw: Animal abuse, sexual assult, sexual abuse, grey area cheating, gaslighting, toxicity, self-harm, suicide.
If any of you have watched Game of Thrones, Emory who's on his journey to become king in the beginning of the novel literally reminds me so much of Joffery and I got annoyed by how similar they are.
Ama, the damsel in distress was an interesting character and I wish there was more depth about her and her Lynx Sorrow/Fury (I loved her sm)
I wish the story had more depth too it, maybe more world is building and more dragon content and less toxicity from Emory I would've bumped it up a couple of stars.
Beautiful cover though!
13_dear_reader_13's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
antitheticaldreamgirl13's review against another edition
4.0
Ama had the prickly sensation of having walked into someone else’s story—a story in which everyone but she knew their role and their lines.
OMG!!! This story was amazing! It was reminiscent of the beautiful fairy tales that I loved to read as a child—and...err...still do. The writing was gripping and it pulled you in until you are at the end in its prickly thorns!
SPOILER ALERT
From the moment King Douchebag (or Emory) gutted the lynx mother, I was hoping with everything in me that he would meet the same grisly demise—and preferably by Ama. And oh boy! Did I get my wish!
PS I now want a baby lynx. Do you think they sell them on Amazon?
OMG!!! This story was amazing! It was reminiscent of the beautiful fairy tales that I loved to read as a child—and...err...still do. The writing was gripping and it pulled you in until you are at the end in its prickly thorns!
SPOILER ALERT
From the moment King Douchebag (or Emory) gutted the lynx mother, I was hoping with everything in me that he would meet the same grisly demise—and preferably by Ama. And oh boy! Did I get my wish!
PS I now want a baby lynx. Do you think they sell them on Amazon?