"Appealing to those who love feminist fantasy, this retelling of the myth of George and the Dragon sees three women turning on the centuries old tradition of sacrificing a maiden to the Great Dragon."
Slow-burning and character-driven this simply told fantasy focuses on three women, different time frames, court politics, and a country that sacrifices young women to a dragon. Returning to the same lands as her lovely debut Spellbound which was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, here we see a feminist recreation of the George and the Dragon myth.
The maiden sacrifice to the Great Dragon has continued for centuries however no-one has questioned its necessity. Cressyda and Alinore come of age within this story, from young girls to young adults they navigate the politics of court from a privileged yet precarious position. Maylie’s story sits separately, slowly building focus as it steps back and forth in time.
Each of the three women have a distinct voice as you hear from their point of view and I felt as though they became known to me as the novel progressed. If you are looking for action then it does start to unfold nearer the end, and if you are desperate for dragons to appear again you will need to be patient.
In the main this is about woman’s survival in a world made by men. Recommended to those who love a folk or fairy tale retelling, with female leads and courtly intrigue, Maiden champions three women in their quest to find themselves.
| Primary Genre | Fantasy |
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THIS PRINCESS IS GOING TO SAVE HERSELFDiscover a world of forbidden magic, court politics and sacrifice in this enchanting new myth retelling from the Sunday Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik.The Kingdom of Calestra was built on blood. Every spring, when the snow melts in the mountains, one young woman is chosen by lot to be sacrificed to the Great Dragon.As the Maiden Sacrifice draws near once more, three women stand at the heart of its brutal ritual: Cressyda, desperate and trapped, Alinore, torn between duty and rebellion and Maylie, whose secrets burn hotter than dragonfire.
Maiden features in the following genres: Audiobooks of the Month, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Fantasy, Fairy and Folk tales / Fairy tale retellings, Narrative theme: Coming of age
Paperback, Hardback, Audiobook. Available from Audiobooks.com.
Maiden was written by Georgia Leighton and published by Transworld Digital
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