Damsel
Elodie never dreamed of a lavish palace or a handsome prince. Growing up in the famine-stricken realm of Inophe, her deepest wish was to help her people survive each winter. So when a representative from a rich, reclusive kingdom offers her family enough wealth to save Inophe in exchange for Elodie’s hand in marriage, she accepts without hesitation. Swept away to the glistening kingdom of Aurea, Elodie is quickly taken in by the beauty of the realm—and of her betrothed, Prince Henry.
But as Elodie undertakes the rituals to become an Aurean princess, doubts prick at her mind as cracks in the kingdom’s perfect veneer begin to show: A young woman who appears and vanishes from the castle tower. A parade of torches weaving through the mountains. Markings left behind in a mysterious “V.” Too late, she discovers that Aurea’s prosperity has been purchased at a heavy cost—each harvest season, the kingdom sacrifices its princesses to a hungry dragon. And Elodie is the next sacrifice.
This ancient arrangement has persisted for centuries, leading hundreds of women to their deaths. But the women who came before Elodie did not go quietly. Their blood pulses with power and memory, and their experiences hold the key to Elodie’s survival. Forced to fight for her life, this damsel must use her wits to defeat a dragon, uncover Aurea’s past, and save not only herself, but the future of her new kingdom as well.
A damsel in distress takes on the dragon herself in this epic twist on classic fantasy—based on a screenplay by Dan Mazeau comes a groundbreaking collaboration between New York Times bestselling author Evelyn Skye and the team behind the upcoming Netflix film Damsel, starring Millie Bobby Brown.
Praise for Damsel
“With deft prose and intricate invention, Damsel brings the perfect spin to a fantasy fairy tale.”
—Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
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“Elegant and explosive, Damsel has all the fantasy, beauty, dragons, and intrigue of I, elevated by a feminist lens and a powerful heroine—a long line of heroines—determined to do right by the world and by her fellow women.”
—Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma and The Violence
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“All the nuts and bolts in place with some razor wire added to spice things up, this is a tale well told.”
—Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of the Shannara Series
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“A must-read novel by a must-read author, this brilliant story sparkles with adventure, unexpected love, and stunning twists expertly crafted. Block off an entire day—you’re not going to want to put Damsel down.”
—Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Give the Dark My Love and Night of the Witch
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“Skye’s luscious, action-packed adventure will keep you breathless and rooting for Princess Elodie as she battles for her life, her family, and her land.”
—Tess Sharpe, author of The Girls I’ve Been
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“A gripping and subversive fantasy rich with stunning detail Damsel is a tale of survival and sisterhood you won’t forget. Dragons and princesses will never be the same.”
—C.B. Lee, author of A Clash of Steel
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“Come for the fairytale turned on its head, stay for a clever story of survival and sisterhood that spans centuries.”
—Emily Skrutskie, author of Bonds of Brass
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“A jeweled egg of a novel with a yolk of molten gold. In the sumptuous tradition of immersive fantasy worlds, Skye has brought her own stunning creation.”
—Meg Elison, author of Number One Fan
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“A fierce, beautiful fairy tale, full of danger,magic, and heart.”
—Jessica Day George, New York Times bestselling author of the Tuesdays at the Castle Series and the Twelve Dancing Princesses Series