This book is a dark, deep fairy tale about Prince Charming (and his kingdom) grooming his damsel-in-distress for abuse.

After rescuing Ama from a dragon as is the traditional rite for a king in this land, Prince Emory and his entire kingdom begin slowly and methodically training her to be an abused non-person fit only to be a sex toy and an incubator of the next king. This book has literal speeches about how a woman/damsel is nothing but a vessel, a vase to hold the king’s seed/glory.

This book is beautifully written, poignant, and terrible. Lovely, but insidious, Arnold weaves a tale that readers know is going to go terribly wrong, and yet we still find ourselves surprised at how deep a hole Ama/the reader ends up in.

Definitely recommended, but only for older audiences.

Contains: rape, sexual and emotional abuse, violence, animal abuse