Elana K. Arnold grew up in Southern California, where she was lucky enough to have her own perfect pet — a gorgeous mare named Rainbow — and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She is the author of picture books, middle grade novels, and books for teens, including the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at www.elanakarnold.com.
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
Damsel (2018) has an absolutely gorgeous cover, one of the loveliest I’ve seen, with a glowing title wound about with vines, bleeding hearts and other flowers. But on closer examination there’s something just a little bit off about the cover image. An anatomically correct heart. A golden spur with a myriad of sharp points. A dragon’s pointed tail. It’s a bit disturbing. And it’s an apt metaphor for the contents of Elana K. Arnold’s book, where the fairy-tale details initially mask an allegorical story that is far,
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Thanks for the kind words, Ira! Much appreciated!
Fine review