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mattiedancer's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Writing: 5⭐️/5
The writing is strong throughout the book. A few moments that lacked ease and clarity were outshone by the brilliance expertly demonstrated throughout the rest of the novel. The poetic nature of the work fit nicely within its prose format. Arnold also demonstrates great control over the voice throughout the story. Tremendously done.
Characters: 5⭐️/5
The characters were both hyperbolic and realistic in the best balance between the two. Arnold does a tremendous job creating motivated characters whose stories and origins. This is most fantastically demonstrated with the Prince/King, whose perspective we begin with, whose story we understand, whose side we are almost on until the story slowly unfolds in front of us.
Plot: 5⭐️/5
The plot is fantastically paced and thoroughly enjoyable to read. I personally love the focus on a deep and unforgiving feminine rage that is both necessary and welcomed. So much of this story is exactly what I wanted to read, while also being precisely what I needed to read.
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
I will be recommending this to so many people.
Who Should Read This?
- Women looking for a feminist fairy tale
- Those who love fairy tale reconstructions
- Those who want all that plus dragons and castles
Final Rating: 5⭐️/5
CW: Blood, injury, suicide, sexual assault, sexual content, rape, toxic relationships, misogyny, sexism, emotional abuse, violence, domestic abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, animal cruelty, animal death, death, death of parent, eating disorder, classism, pregnancy, kidnapping
CW: Blood, injury, suicide, sexual assault, sexual content, rape, toxic relationships, misogyny, sexism, emotional abuse, violence, domestic abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, animal cruelty, animal death, death, death of parent, eating disorder, classism, pregnancy, kidnapping
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Classism, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Self harm, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Kidnapping
mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Nothing will ever scar me as much as this book did. It will live rent free, on a loop, in my brain for the rest of my life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Bullying, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Violence
jonie_rich's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
morsa's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
THIS WAS SOBAD.
Firstly, the plot was weak and predictable
Ama was the dragon?? I couldn't have guessed... I wasn't expecting it at all /s. You know what I didn't guess? Emory's third weapon. I was SPEECHLESS and not in a good way.
None of the characters were likable. Ama was the only one I felt a little sympathetic for. But she was still poorly written. And some of her actions didn't really make sense. I hate "girlboss" moments that don't make sense and they're just there for the sake of being "girl power" moments. And guess what this book has? Exactly, girlboss moments that don't make sense.
The pacing didn't make sense at all. To be honest, the only thing I liked about this book was the short chapters.
Also, how many times does the author have to mention Ama's breasts and Emory's dick? Weird.
That's one of the many reasons this book shouldn't be YA.
Also there should've been TWs before starting the book bc I was absolutely shocked.
TW: Sexual Assault, Rape, Suicide, Abuse, Blood, Self harm
Firstly, the plot was weak and predictable
None of the characters were likable. Ama was the only one I felt a little sympathetic for. But she was still poorly written. And some of her actions didn't really make sense. I hate "girlboss" moments that don't make sense and they're just there for the sake of being "girl power" moments. And guess what this book has? Exactly, girlboss moments that don't make sense.
The pacing didn't make sense at all. To be honest, the only thing I liked about this book was the short chapters.
Also, how many times does the author have to mention Ama's breasts and Emory's dick? Weird.
That's one of the many reasons this book shouldn't be YA.
Also there should've been TWs before starting the book bc I was absolutely shocked.
TW: Sexual Assault, Rape, Suicide, Abuse, Blood, Self harm
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Suicide, Violence, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
finch_sturgis's review against another edition
I was about 30 pages in when i guessed the twist, and i was like "i really hope this isn't the twist. that would really suck" but i couldn't stop thinking about it so i looked it up and i was correct. the twist is the prince stabbed the dragon in the armpit and he had sex with the wound which turned her into a human girl. this is so disturbing. I'm very upset this was the the twist, the concept was so good and if it had been better executed it could have been amazing but instead we have this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
booksthatburn's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
DAMSEL is a fable of a prince, a dragon, a princess, and her Sorrow. It is languid, methodical, and unsubtle in its metaphors in a way that wraps all the way around to making it difficult to discuss without spoiling the plot.
This is an extended, decently layered metaphor for a bunch of things related to sexism, misogyny, and ideas of cis women in relation to cis men. Given the particulars of the Ama's characterization, it feels like she's someone who isn't a cis woman but is being forced to behave as though she is. That is literally what's happening, in one sense, but I can't tell whether the book is engaging with ideas of queerness or if this very long metaphor for a woman's role in relation to men is missing ideas of queerness entirely. In one very important sense, Ama is not a woman, is not attracted to men (or at least is not attracted to Emory), and is being made to behave as if she is a woman who likes men. She must fulfill her role in order to support Emory in his role, where that someone does what she is told to do is essential, but the very fact of her being the one to do it is completely irrelevant. Her station matters but her personhood does not, as far as everyone around her is concerned.
In order to save her wildcat's life from her king's wrath, Ama must tame her, removing those qualities which make Sorrorow (the wildcat) so fierce and vibrant. The more Ama learns what is and will be required of her, the more she tries to find a way out, some other option which will let her be happy.
I like the audiobook narrator, this was a good performance which helped the story flow easily. My favorite part is Ama's project towards the end of the story.
There are some pretty explicit discussions of sex but they use antiquated terms for everything, in keeping with the vaguely medieval setting. I was able to guess the ending reveal ahead of time. Part of that is the way it's coy but not subtle. At the end my reaction is kind of meh. I liked it, but its bluntness meant I wasn't waiting to find out happened. Instead I was waiting for it to get where I already knew it was going. That can be fun, but I thought it would have more to it in the end.
This is an extended, decently layered metaphor for a bunch of things related to sexism, misogyny, and ideas of cis women in relation to cis men. Given the particulars of the Ama's characterization, it feels like she's someone who isn't a cis woman but is being forced to behave as though she is. That is literally what's happening, in one sense, but I can't tell whether the book is engaging with ideas of queerness or if this very long metaphor for a woman's role in relation to men is missing ideas of queerness entirely. In one very important sense, Ama is not a woman, is not attracted to men (or at least is not attracted to Emory), and is being made to behave as if she is a woman who likes men. She must fulfill her role in order to support Emory in his role, where that someone does what she is told to do is essential, but the very fact of her being the one to do it is completely irrelevant. Her station matters but her personhood does not, as far as everyone around her is concerned.
In order to save her wildcat's life from her king's wrath, Ama must tame her, removing those qualities which make Sorrorow (the wildcat) so fierce and vibrant. The more Ama learns what is and will be required of her, the more she tries to find a way out, some other option which will let her be happy.
I like the audiobook narrator, this was a good performance which helped the story flow easily. My favorite part is Ama's project towards the end of the story.
There are some pretty explicit discussions of sex but they use antiquated terms for everything, in keeping with the vaguely medieval setting. I was able to guess the ending reveal ahead of time. Part of that is the way it's coy but not subtle. At the end my reaction is kind of meh. I liked it, but its bluntness meant I wasn't waiting to find out happened. Instead I was waiting for it to get where I already knew it was going. That can be fun, but I thought it would have more to it in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Violence
ka_ke's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Damsel is darker than I was expecting. MUCH DARKER. There is a lot to unpack in this novel, but also a satisfying ending? Prince Emory and all the men in this book gave me the creeps, which I suppose was intended. It definitely made me glad we have feminism today!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
heidi1213's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong, but lacking in subtlety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment
destiel74's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read this book for one or two years and didn't know what to make of it. I don't love it but I don't hate it either and I do think it's an important story. The book is a unique, fresher take on the feminist reimagining of fairytales other than other books within that category. It inspired quite a few ideas of mine. The story is far from a love story than what the summary would have you believe. Men surrounding the protagonist Ama especially Prince Emory subject her to many horrors that can be found in our world. The ending is satisfying. However if one is uncomfortable reading about topics about sexual assault and domestic abuse you probably should sit this one out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
camilla_p's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
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
3.25
This story is much darker than I had originally expected it to be, and because of that it was pretty hard to read. I found myself having to put the book down multiple times because I could not process what was happening in it. Putting aside the thematic weight of the story, the story telling was very slow and I couldn’t help but feel like there was more that could’ve been added to the story to make Ama’s ending better. even though we know that she finds freedom in the end, it feels incomplete because of everything she had to suffer through for the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Gore