Author: watchingthewatchman

Genre: Fantasy/Romance (sorta, I'll explain in a minute)

What I liked about this book:

Prism is not your average Rapunzel retelling. In this world princesses are kept behind obstacles not so they are protected like delicate flowers, but as a challenge to suitors that they control. When a princess finds one she likes, she can easily drop the ruse and let him (or her) past the dragon or tower or what-have-you. In fact, one man is so persistent in trying to climb the tower after not getting Rapunzel's hints that she calls him, and I quote, 'like a rash that simply refuses to heal'.

The problem is that Rapunzel doesn't seem to be into anyone, and with it comes discussion of other peoples' relationships. Rapunzel's caretakers are poly. Ellen and Moira are married, and Ellen is Ben's partner. This arrangement is seen as perfectly valid. In fact, it's not even blinked at. Rapunzel's friends regularly ask her if it's maybe women she's into. The friend herself eventually falls for one of the boys trying to get past her dragons.

The only thing that's NOT treated as valid is coercion. Love potions are considered a serious violation of trust and free will.

Her father is more...traditional, and honestly cast as kind of ridiculous. In the end, after Rapunzel's father sets up a new challenge for her suitors, it's won. By a woman. Who has no insistence on marrying Rapunzel or even dating her. But maybe they could be friends, without it needing to be more than that!

The point is it's more than just a fairytale retelling. Through the lens of this asexual princess, the author has built a wonderful discussion of all the different kinds of love--romantic and otherwise--and what they look like, while still maintaining that all of them are valid.

What I did NOT like about this book:

Honestly, not much, though I'd maybe like to see it as a novel.

Overall:

This is wonderful.

Rating:

10/10. You could probably submit this to an anthology if you haven't already.