Equality and Power

Something I have really been thinking about lately is that a lot of YA (and adult) books market both romance interests as being equal just because they could kill each other. In a lot of very popular books, ones I have enjoyed myself, the power balance is supposedly equal between the fmc and the mmc because they could kill each other. No matter if this is unrealistic, often one of them has had an incredibly in depth amount of training and the other one is still dabbling their toes in their pool of power. That is one of the basics that I really enjoy in two of my favourite couples, Sam and Celaena from Throne of Glass, and Paedyn and Kai from Powerless (the later is complex tho with a few other factors like that he has a much higher social standing than her and more resources so its not equal, it just a step towards it)

However being able to kill each other and being equals both in the relationship and in power are very different things. If the fmc is young, has only just inherited her kingdom, is struggling with the grief of losing her parents/sibilings/mentor, has a war brewing on her borders, is insecure in her own grasp of her countries economic and millitary powers and does not have the support of the people and nobility then she is NOT equal to a secure king whom has been ruling for several years, is excepted and stable in his rule and knows the ins and outs of his kingdom. Of course, it is a little bit murkier than that in most books, especially as they tend to give the fmc a shedload of unpredictable power that somehow makes her the chosen one and often make the mmc the key to securing her kingdoms survival but the basics remain.

They are not equals if they do not share the same emotional and social support (often main characters can be quite alone in their stories without parents/mentors or even friends they can rely on. this means that they latch onto the love interest as the only person they can trust, but they often cant quite trust them because plot reasons. By social support I mean social standing, the prince/princess falls in love with the commoner story is very very common in its different iterations, but is that a balanced and equal relationship if one has the power to completely destroy the others life/family if they dont do what they want?

They are not equals if she relies on him for something – in the book i am reading now she literally relies on him to prove her innocent otherwise she will hang! This does not make an equal power dynamic and for the rest of the relationship there is always going to be the thing is she only staying with him because of some kind of unspoken expectations?

I am so tired of reading books where the characters are constantly described as being eachothers equals, but in reality one (to be honest usually the mmc but I have read it the other way around and it is equally toxic) is incredibly more powerful than the other one in social standing or money or power or just experience. It is one of the reasons I always steer clear of any books marketed as boss/employee or age gap because that is the most obvious power inequality in the fiction world. Its not just in strict Romance too, in fantasy romance and in paranormal romance and in genres that dont even have romance as a big thing in it! At some point in practically every YA book I have read they end up in an unequal power dymanic.

Lets take a genre – paranormal. I admit I havent read many truly exceptional books in paranormal yet because I have only just started reading it so any recs would be great! But back to the genre. Vampires/werewolves/fae are a complex and interesting (and usually) immortal races but some how they so often end up dating the young school or college aged girl. This is a classic example of how power dynamics can be skewed towards one of the characters almost as a genre defining milestone. But it doesnt have to be why cant vampires date other vampires? or other immortals? why has this power dynamic become such a staple of the genre when it isnt even really want the genre is.

Sometimes I even really like the couple! sometimes i am rooting for them to get together! When the book is so strong in other areas it can be overlooked I do but it is still there.

Secrets – especially identity secrets – also can end up really mismatching the power dynamic of a couple. If the reader knows that one of the characters did something that is completely unforgivable to the morals of their love interest, or that their secret is going to make them view them completely differently then it is really hard not just to hate that trope. Secrets/miscommunication can be so so good if got right, really interesting points in relationships when they open up (and I am talking platonic relationships too) or highlight a stress area that is always going to be between the characters then its perfect! it works so well and gives their relationship weight and complexity. But if it tips over into one character is keeping a secret which gives them huge power over the other then that is really not equality.

The thing about reading a novel book is that no book (at least that I have read) has completely no problems. They all have small things, and I can pass over those, usually little things here and there don’t bother me. But the power inequality between especially romantic interests has been driving me up the wall lately because it is just so rampant. I have to say that is what I enjoy in middle grade and books that arent based on romance and it only comes in much much later.

0

Changeling by Molly Harper

13+

I can honestly say this book took me by surprise. From the title Changeling I was expecting quite a rustic fae story that would be closer to a classic fantasy mixed with a fairytale but Changeling combines several genres in an intriguing world that we only just start to explore. The world is a delightfully classic dystopian world mixed with witchy academia and it is set in England!! Most dystopian novels, Hunger Games, Red Queen, Divergent are set in North America but this one is set in North England which is just a little world thing I love!

Sarah is a Snipe – a powerless human whom works as a servant in the house of the Winters, a powerful witch family. In return for her and her entire family’s servitude they are protected from some of their vulnerability of being magic-less in a rigid society where magic determines your social class. The Winters and the rest of their social peers are called Guardians but it is clear to the reader this is rigid oppression despite the fact that this is apparently to protect the Snipes. This is the system we are introduced to at the beginning, which Sarah doesn’t even dream of questioning. It is quite a classic dystopian class system, people divided by powerful and not, but one of the most interesting things is how Sarah being given power is approached.

A lot of books when a girl/boy from the lower classes is suddenly given a noble power they are swept up to the noble class immediately as soon as they and anyone else finds out. However Sarah has actually had her magic muffled and oppressed her whole life hence her sickly weak stature which is one of the first things that gets mentioned. Her physical appearance as she gets healthy is a classic physical example of her power growing but back to the magic oppression! It is really interesting because it is more realistic. Of course someone would have figured it out and the natural reaction to something that would shake the roots of a world that you are already surviving in (and I suspect by Snipe standards their family would argue they were thriving. all of their children were literate and worked a good stable job with a Guardian family and they were able to live off site which is something that is prized) but they are still very oppressed and Sarah’s mother can acknowledge that enough to do something about her daughters power.

While its a complex moral issue from the reader – should you truly oppress a child’s power to the point of them being extremely weak and fragile just so they dont rock the boat? To the Snipes it would be a black and white issue, and the Winters reaction is certainly more balanced that some Guardian’s reactions would have be.

I wont give any more details because then they lean into spoilers! But this mix of classic dystopian and the popular witchy academia with a lean into the classism within classes and the desperation within politics is such a memorable read!

World – 5/5 stars – i have gushed about it the whole of my review

Characters – 3.5/5 – they are quite classic characters and Sarah isnt an unusual Chosen One but i did enjoy them even if some of the female characters leaned a little into archetypes. Also I loved that Sarah struggled so realistically with the new subjects except the one she had come across in her previous life. Harper really managed to show how much information is imparted to children even before they are technically ‘taught’ magic just in the political expectations and world knowledge

Romance – Soft Romance – 4/5 for what is done, it is very mild and not even a proper subplot but there is an interesting representation of a one sided toxic relationship that developed from an innocent crush into something that really derailed that characters life.

Plot – 4/5 – it is quite a simple plot line up until the end, but I enjoyed it and it held up through the reread!

Things to be aware of: there is some bullying but that is very common in academia books. There is some fantasy violence, but in quite small doses and nothing to add that B. I would say that you could read it a little earlier if you wanted it just depends on when you would enjoy it the most. There is some betrayal, and mentions of necromancy but it isnt very violent which is why it hasnt got a B.

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Page by Tamora Pierce (Book 2 of the Protecter Quartet)

13+

I love this book so much, Tamora honestly never disapoints and i have read this book over and over and yet it is always so fresh and distinct. While the first book covers her one year of probation, this book covers her next three years as a page and shows some more of the challenges of being the first known female knight for centuries. While Alanna avoided all of this sexism and glass ceilings and tradition until she was much older, Keladry is dealing with it much younger but with a refreshingly mature outlook. While the sassy – and usually immature – girl is a very common trope, Keladry has a very different attitude which suits her particular challenges and tests as she is becoming more concious of the political situation around her becoming a page.

I adore Owen of Jesslaw, he is such a vibrant character and his ethusiasm is truely catching. The rest of Keladry’s friends play a slightly smaller role in this book, but I still enjoyed all the scenes with them. With the introduction of Gower (Keladry’s servant)’s niece, Lalassa, we get a glimpse into the cruelty of society in a different way to a girl who doesnt have the protection of a noble house.

Characters – 5/5 stars – They honestly feel like real people that I can hate and love and laugh at and with.

World – 4.5/5 stars – Tortall is a 1000000/5 but this book deals with just the palace and two outside locations so we dont get to really see the varied world that Pierce has created. (tiny little spoiler – we do get to see A LOT more in Squire, the next book in the series)

Romance – NA

Plot  – 5/5 stars – LOVE love love – i know the ending but it still shocks me everytime i read it.

Things to be aware of: there are a few off the page mentions that Lalassa was abused when she was a child by her family, and a couple of mentions of how she is vunerable to the men around her, especially the noble ones before she is given the protection of Keladry’s house. There is one on the page scene where she gets attacked by a squire but Keladry hears them and scares him off with the threat of a dual.

0

Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu

12+

I have read this book several times over the last few years and every time the vivid world and courage of Zahrah has returned it instantly to my reread pile.

In general, I dont read a lot of sci-fi, but this one stands out from everything I have read both in that genre and in general because of the world of Ginen and the kingdom of Ooni. It is vivid and detailed and in places very similar to earth (and they mention earth as a ‘legend’ which might be one of the best and memorable worldbuilding details I have read yet) but with a sense of otherness that really defines the sci-fi genre. All the technology in Ooni is made using plants which I love! Even the library is made up of a giant plant. Even the computers grow with the child, as they are plants, and their leafboards grow to perfectly fit the child they are growing for. I love all these tiny little details that make the world so vivid.

Zahrah has dada – vines growing in her hair – which sets her apart from her peers at school and causes her to be bullied in the beginning. As the story progresses, we learn there are more to the dada than just vines as Zahrah grows up and matures. It is a classic character arc, but one that is portrayed beautifully and believably and freshly. One of the things that can be difficult with a story that is focused on a physical Quest is that the characters become stagnant or do not have any character development past their acceptance of the quest. However, this book neatly avoids all the pitfalls and allows Zahrah to grow alongside and separately from her quest in the greeny jungle to find an egg to save her friend who is in a coma despite the fact that no nobody goes deep into the forest and there are horrific stories of people who even go on the outskirts.

Characters – 5/5 stars – They are all rounded and realistic and everyone around Zahrah has their own stories that dont rely on hers (especially the frog! I love a good talking animal and the pink frog is the best)

World – 1000/5 stars – I have gushed about it enough, but honestly this world is so refreshing to read as it isnt based on a pseudo-european medieval land but instead Nigerian myths.

Romance – NA

Plot  – 5/5 stars – its perfect. just perfect.

This is honestly one of the books I think everyone should read between the ages of 10 – 13. Go read it!

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Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao

14+

Set against a breathtaking landscape of snow and ice, this fully fledged and developed world that is reminiscent of pre-revolutionary Russia pulls me in and the added variable of magic? I have no words.
The premise of the novel is a princess chased from her palace and furs because she has been wrongfully accused of killing her father and she is searching for the man she witnessed poison him. However, she has her own reasons for revenge against the alchemist. She is an Affinity – basically a person with a specific power, like wind or fire or mind. However, she is the only recorded Blood Affinity, which means she can control blood. Because the Affinities are considered lesser and ‘deimhov’ in the eyes of the empire, her father allowed the alchemist to try and torture her affinity out of her when it violently appeared when she was a child and killed several people. Years later, the legend of the Blood Witch has never been connected with the sickly princess and Ana is able to pretend to be a flesh Affinity, something much less rare but with a similar effect.
I also adore the way that Ana slowly starts to realise that the empire she saw as a child princess was an extremely angelised one covering up the mistreatment of the Affinities as she is exposed to more and more of the harsh realities of her empire. The Affinities are lured into the empire with promises of work, but enslaved when they arrive and forced as children to sign contracts they cannot read. I cant say any more without spoilers, but the world is an stunningly harsh and yet beautiful in places mix of historical and fantasy elements in a Russianestc monarchy.
The side characters are all fully fledged, but even the villians have their reasons for what they do – reasons created by the empire and the system they live in. Ramson Quicktongue is the possible love interest/crime lord she rescues from a prison to help her hunt down the alchemist, and his backstory is shockingly bittersweet and offers a small glimpse into a life that in some ways is close to Anas, and in other ways the complete opposite.

Characters – 4.5/5 stars
World – 10000/5 stars – I’ve gushed about it enough in my review but – I LOVE this world.
Romance – 3/5 stars –Soft Romance– I honestly dont particularly like Ramson as her love interest, but that might change as I read the rest of the trilogy and that’s just a personal dislike even though as a character he is magnificently well rounded.
Plot  – 4/5 stars – we are just really warming up to the overarching plot, but so far I have enjoyed it thoroughly.

Things to be aware of: The Affinities are basically taking the places of the serfs and slaves which is one of the things that has bumped the rating up to a 14+. Child abuse (non sexual) and Torture.

1

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J Maas

14+

This collection of novellas is where Celaena’s story starts and it is definitely my favourite book in the series.

There are several different novellas within, and they all outline the day to day things Celaena experienced during the last year or so of her life as Ardalans Assassin. We get to really experience the varied and detailed world that Celaena has travelled so widely, and her relationship with Sam as it grows and develops.

Each Novella builds on the one before and sets up the devastating stage for Throne of Glass – the first full length novel in the series. I cant say much more without spoilers, but this is honestly a great read that creates every emotion as we are swept into a fantasy land where even if Celaena is one of the most feared things in it, danger and intrigue is everywhere in a land where the players are constantly changing, and the rules are changed before you know they exist.

Characters – 5/5 stars – I LOVE THEM – also if you like morally grey main characters then well, the two main characters for most of the novellas are assassins so…

World – 5/5 stars – Its perfect, this entire world has been so well thought out and in this novella collection we really get to see just how diverse and complex her world is.

Romance – 1000/5 stars- Suggestive Romance – Sam and Celaena are the ultimate couple I love them so much

Plot  – 5/5 stars – Its complex, and each novella has its own plot as well as an over arching plot of the book and then the huge plot of the entire series. I love series that are multi-faceted and where while everything means something, so much you dont understand or notice until later on.

Things to be aware of: It is quite dark in places, especially at the end, but that is to be expected in a 14+. Personally I read this when I was 13, and adored it so it all depends on what your comfort levels are on violence.

Also on a side note, this book and the rest of the series are all on Borrowbox, so if you are willing to wait a few months then you can read it on there.

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Terrier (Beka Cooper Book 1) by Tamora Pierce

14+B
This book is another hit from Tamora, and I love how different Beka is from Alanna, Kennedy, Daine, and Aly. Unlike those series which are all set within a thirty-year time frame, this series is set hundreds of years before and stars Beka Cooper (yes she is George Cooper’s great great many greats relative) who is working as a Puppy. This is a trainee ‘Dog’ which is essentially Tortalls version of a police. Beka is a tough lead – I might even go as far as to say that she is one of the toughest heroines that i have ever read in the first book.
While this returns to the Tortall I love, Beka’s world is very very different from Alanna’s and Kennedy’s especially. It focuses on the Lower City and the crime within and the morally grey lines between being a ‘Dog’ and a criminal. Beka is older (16) than the other heroines have been in their first books, so she suits this darker representation of Tortall.
Characters – 5/5 stars – They are incredibly lifelike even though I would say that Beka isnt the most morally complex – i LOVE morally complex characters – which leaves room for the supporting cast to show the lack of set morals in the Lower City.
World – 4.5/5 stars – Tortall is amazing, but in this book, we only focus on a very small corner of it unlike some of the other books where we get to see different countries and customs.
Romance – NA – not present but there are sexual undertones to some of it.
Plot  – 1000/5 stars – It is complex it is twisty and it took a second read to see the clues to the criminal.
Things to be aware of: This was a tricky one to put an age rating on – but I had to add the B because it is pretty dark and there are a few sexual innuendos. As always the age ratings are just a guide so you can read it whenever you want as long as you are comfortable with a bit more violence than some of my recommendations.

0

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

15+

When I opened this book I was expecting the normal staples of a boarding school/magic school fantasy, but this book utterly flipped them on there head. Instead of a relatively safe on the surface this was blatantly dangerous, and all throughout there was a layer of threat made even more serious by the fact that everyone in the book was so accepting of it.

The Scholmance is a secondary school at least in its basics. The school is located in a void – which may be one of the most terrifying locations I have read yet – and is isolated from the outside world completely. Inside the school it isn’t safe, with monsters creeping out of pipes and the constant threat of death. However, outside is even worse, and the only way to survive when you graduate is to learn enough from the school – and I mean the school its self as there are no adults or teachers inside the school –.

The world is so complex of its self, and all the characters are opposites. The exploration of the difference in privileges between the enclave kids and the indie kids is intriguing and touches on an aspect that I always love finding in books. The enclave kids have so much more power and community than the indie kids who are basically sitting ducks for the creatures who roam the halls.

Characters – 4/5 stars – the focus isn’t on the characters for the first half of the book, it is on the world and how to survive in an environment that is ever-changing.

World – 100000000/5 stars  – I have gushed about this in my review but I have to say it again the world is amazing.

Romance – 4/5 stars – Soft Romance – the romance isn’t really prevalent in this story, but the little bit there is sets up delightfully for the next book in the series which I cant wait to read!

Plot  – 5/5 stars – it is beautiful in its simplicity, and then the shocking twist at the end. El the main character knows what her goal is and that is survival, even if her plans to survive may be counterintuitive.

Things to be aware of: It deals with constant threat, and is therefore a darker read than my usual picks, but it is worth it for the intriguing world. Its not the biggest book but it is quite description heavy in the beginning, which reflects how El is on her own and only talking to herself.

2

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

14+B

First – the dedication – “for every girl who has ever felt powerless”. That dedication is the first thing you read, and it tells you the one of the most important and nuanced parts of the book, the push and pull between being given power by your birth and gaining power by hard work.

Paedyn has earnt her power, as she is an ‘Ordinary’ without any of the superpowers of the Elites. It means that she will be killed instantly and painfully if she is caught. However, she pretends to be a Psychic and is able to fake it by constant practice and hyperfocus on the tiniest details. Kai on the other hand is almost ridiculously overpowered, but by his own work (and the cruelty of his father) he is deadlier than his birth power would have normally made him.

The juxtaposition of the two fathers in the story shows the power of parents. Pae’s father Adam who taught her how to become powerful even through she was born without the superhuman abilities of her peers and the King, who took his two sons and made them into the perfect molds of what he wished them to become; Kai into a weapon by torture and constant forcing past limits until he kills for the crown, Kitt into the next king.

The romance is out of this world. Kai and Pae have the perfect banter and the iconic lines of the best couples. Usually enemies to lovers isnt my favourite trope, but here it works perfectly. The most delicate thing between them is the power balance, which I am very invested in. Kai Azer is a prince and he can take the ability of any Elite in the vincity, he is essentially a powerhouse assassin, and yet Paedyn holds her own despite being in some of the most deadly trials I have ever read about.

Characters – 5/5 stars

World – 4.5/5 stars  – it isnt an uncommon premise, a split society between people with powers and those without, but it is executed beautifully.

Romance – 100000/5 stars –Suggestive Romance – I love love love Paedyn and Kai

Plot – 4.5/5 stars – it is well done and it supports the characters perfectly. The plot develops in the later half of the book much more than the first, and that means that the characters are already so established that you are really rooting for them.

Things to be aware of: It is quite violent, and there is a lot of on page brutality and medium graphic description, probably a 4/5 which gives it the B. The romance is a 14+ because of the enemies to lovers trope throughout the book. They regularly kiss, and sleep next to each other a few times, but it is non romantic and mostly to offer emotional support around the deaths of other characters.

4

Romance Rating Guide

Hi and welcome! Most of the Damsel recommendations are non/low spice but the romances maturity does fluctuate and evolve over the ratings, so here is a quick guide to what you can expect from a book that has a tag including the word “romance”.

At the bottom of this page1 is also my new addition of specific romance heat levels which come in for later reads.

10+ – doubt its present unless its a book that is mostly aimed at older ones but is also suitable in which case it will say in the review

10+ B – same as above

11+ – tiny tiny little amounts less than 0.5/5

11+B – usually this is if romance gets introduced later in the series (for example Anne of Green Gables is completely suitable throughout all seven books but there is a little romance in it)

12+ -tiny amounts of romance, hardly mentionable and rather insignificant over the plot of the book. These are likely to be sweet crushes or a slight blush and maybe a kiss.

12+B – a little more romance may be in the book, but in the end the B is focused on more the thematic content at a 12B than the romance. There may be a kiss or two if you look at the individual review, but in the end, romance wise the B doesnt matter much.

13+ – The romance gauge jumps up on a 13+. These are going to be developing relationships or established ones, and the romance will be slightly stronger and likely more influential in the plot. Kisses and hugs between love interests is to be expected unless stated otherwise.

13+B – If you are being careful about what romantic content is in your books, this is just going to be the bridge between a 13+ and a 14+. It is likely to be given a B for violence, so just check the individual review if you want to know more. Romance here may have a fade to black but usually with low heat!

14+ – By a 14+ we as the reader should expect the romance if present to be stronger and more mature. Kisses, hugging and sleeping next to each other should be expected. Around a 14+, the romances tend to get a little bit more complicated, and this is usually where an ‘enemies to lovers’ mentality will be introduced, if at all.

14+B – not much different from a 14 romance- wise, a few sexual inncendos may raise this or a love triangle if that is ever present in one of my reviews. Can have a Swoony A scene or a fade to black!

15+ – by a 15+ we are dealing with a romantic relationship that may directly mention sex, and even have it on page. Swoony A and B! Kisses and cuddling will be usually frequent.

15+B – same as any other B’s this just suggests a higher level of one or another of the content warnings/themes explored.

16+ – specifics in the review content warnings will always be present for any romantic/sexual things present. Usually, this is a step up from 15, containing content that is more sexually explicit and most Swoony C’s fall here purely for sexual content.

16+B – B’s are given for primarily violence in the lower age categories but these will be given now for sexual content more than previously.

17+ – another step up, this is where I will start adding in books classified as NA but there will always be a warning if they contain extreme graphic violence or sexual content.

17+B – check the content warnings, but it is practically Adult by this point.

Adult – by 18+ then the expectation that there will be sexual content that is higher than other recommendations, if you check the individual review it may be Adult just for content but also open door scenes are to be expected unless the individual review doesn’t say.

However, it is important to remember that there is more than just the romance that goes into my ratings of the books, and on some reviews they would be a 12 for romance but a 14 for violence and themes. It all depends, but my ratings are based on thematic subjects of the book, language, the platonic relationships (this may sound odd, but some YA novels deal with very acute betrayal and toxicity in platonic relationships so this is a consideration) and current/non current societal issues (slavery, racism, homophobia, sexism etc) as well as romantic relationships.

NA:– nothing is really present, it isn’t the focus or a subplot.

Soft: perhaps a closed mouth kiss or two, no detail.

Sweet: Kissing, cuddling, clothes on, mild innuendo.

Suggestive: The flirtation becomes more physical — making out, caresses, breathlessness, mostly clothed but doesn’t take it any further on the page, discussions of sex/sleeping with each other, can have some strong innuendo.

Smokey: Closed Door/Fade to Black: This can float between or slightly above Sweet and Suggestive but we don’t get any details beyond making out.

Swoony: This will have some sex on the page but it is going to be less than a paragraph – not some graphic sex scene. More and more YA seems to be having open door scenes now and sometimes the books are still ones I will recommend but I will definitely mention that they contain this content as always. By ‘low’ spice I mean it’s not going to be some detailed graphic scene and it will focus more on the emotional impact it has on the characters.

I am going to have Swoony A, B, C. A is less than a paragraph and euphemistic, B is less than a page with no graphic description at all, C is rarely used but means scenes of more than one page, with more explicit language and on page sex.

I am going to go back to my old reviews and add these in as much as I can but from now in the Romance star section I will include these so you can find exactly what you are looking for!

I will add these in addition to age ratings so you always know what you are going to be reading!

1

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