Reviews

Damsel by Evelyn Skye

semiprecious's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Listened after watching the movie. I appreciated the unique ending - although I'm not sure which I prefer. The book's version of how the dragon sacrifices all started was more nuanced, and I think the ending might have provided more hope. But with more deaths and bringing in more complicit characters it really shone a light on how much evil people are willing to overlook for their own happiness. Worth reading even if you've seen the film! Fun, quick YA book that's easy to follow.

vroni_a's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

charlene_roodt81's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

doremelodie's review

3.0

Multiple POV. 

Parallel timelines of how the continuous cycle of fear is overcome by bravery and selflessness.

pnwreader42's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

caitofthebook's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

kirbryan's review

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Damsel follows Elodie, a Dukes daughter from a poor, drought stricken land. He offers Elodie's hand in marriage to a Prince of a wealthy Kingdom in exchange for riches to help end their poverty. Elodie accepts this proposal, as she would do anything to help her people. When she arrives at the Kingdom, something feels off and after her marriage, she realises she is to be given as a sacrifice to the monster hidden in the heart of the mountain, a Dragon. Elodie must attempt to escape the caves before the Dragon devours her, but on her journey she discovers the truth behind the sacrifices made each harvest and stumbles upon help and knowledge provided by all of the Princesses that came before her.

This book was very YA, but once I excepted this, I enjoyed it for what is was. It's a book that I can imagine giving to my girls as their first introduction to fantasy fiction. It did drag slightly in the middle whilst Elodie was in the caves, which is to be expected from a book primarily set within one place 😅but I ended up enjoying the story as a whole. 

I watched the movie shortly after finishing the book and I must say I enjoyed the book a lot more as the movie seemed to almost completely change the reasoning behind the sacrifices of the princesses and the ending was different too. You also didn't get the different POVs from the other characters (which I think was important to the plot) and in the book you get more insight into Elodie's thoughts.

I would definitely recommended this if you're after an easy going princess fantasy book, where the FMC is more hero than damsel in distress. 

asparagusisreading's review

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

mad_bandersnatch's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Realy liked this book, was a nice fast paced adventure full of sisterhood and a mother's love in all kinds of forms.  
Felt they where a little heavy handed with Elenore deing willing to sacrifice everything for her people in the beginning.  Yes we get it she is dedicated, no need to repeat it a million times till there is suddenly a  dragon. 

But other wise liked Eleanor's character, and that the dragon wasn't just a one note beast. But a equil to the protagonists intelligence and cunning.

Really liked to ending but from what I've seen of the movie clips I think they have changed it which makes me a bit sad.

binzpr's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5