Damselle in Distress

"Damselle in Distress" turns the typical "damsel in distress" story on its head, weaving elements of folk tales, fairy tales, and mythology along the way. Saladin Ahmed, author of "Throne of the Crescent Moon," calls "Damselle in Distress" a "delightful, fairy-tale skewering comedy."

Damselle has spent her sixteen years terrorized by magical creatures and evil villains. Now she's done waiting for the next bad thing to happen or for the arrogant knights in the local order to come to her rescue. And she's really tired of being shunned as if her bad luck is contagious. But after a plummet down a wishing well, Damselle is granted one wish: To learn why distress shadows her every step.

The answer? Her name, "Damselle," marks her forever a "damsel in distress." To change her name - and her life - Damselle must find three items of vast magical power.

Though she is aided by several new friends, Damselle's journey through the woods may be more distressing than even she dreamed. Because, in The Willowwax, a hydrophobic witch and a Society of Evil Stepmothers are the least of her concerns. And of course she'll have to rescue the incompetent but persistent Sir Leal. (Who ever heard of a damsel saving a knight, anyway?)

To make matters worse, Damselle can't rid herself of the strange feeling she knows exactly where to go, despite never having been in the woods before...