Ok so I was so excited for this but I had a really hard time with the prose. The style just didn't work for me? It all felt kind of on the nose, not very subtle or sophisticated writing, and also moved too fast. Like the pacing felt way off.
This may just be me, I didn't read far enough to talk too much about the story because the writing didn't pull me in unfortunately. But maybe this could still work for other readers.

I have been super into YA fantasy this year...I guess as an escape from 2020. This book, however, just didn't resonate with me. I wanted to love it, but I was just never super invested with the characters. The story lagged in places and I thought about giving it up several times. I did end up pushing through, but it just wasn't one of my favorites.

I didn't know I needed a Persian retelling of Sleeping Beauty until I read this book. It was the perfect mix of magical aspects, family dynamics, and romance.

What I loved about this book:

1. I find a book to be a lot more entertaining when there is great character growth and this book definitely didn't let me down when it came to Soraya. I felt this book was mainly about Soraya's character's evolution as she discovers her own strengths and learns from her mistakes.

2. I love a good fairytale retelling and this one was done really well. It was a fresh take on a well know classic with the infusion of the Persian culture that I don't read about often.

3. This one had the perfect amount of magical elements woven throughout the story.

Overall I found this to be a quick, enjoyable read that I highly recommend to all retelling fans and lovers of magical stories.

I was so excited for this book and I’m so sad that I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. The writing style just wasn’t for me and I found the pacing to be super slow

I LOVE books that feature twins, so this one was immediately on my list. It didn't hurt that the cover was absolutely beautiful. This was very enjoyable and I loved that it drew from cultures that we don't see often in fantasy works. Highly recommend this book!

Girl Serpent Thorn
Melissa Bashardoust

A Persian inspired mythology that is a fantastic read as is magical and captivating that I loved. Bashardoust captured and told a story that is needed for young adults of any age – with a heroine that is bisexual and colored, this book is a must read.
The story is centered on Princess Soraya who is cursed and is poisonous to the touch. She learns that a demon in the dungeon may save her from this awful curse. This amazing fairytale story, YA fantasy and romance, and queer fiction is such an enjoyable read that was written so beautifully.
I highly recommend this amazing book.

I received a complimentary copy of Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust from Flatiron Books through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Girl, Serpent, Thorn came out in July 2020!
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Princess Soraya has been hidden away her whole life. Cursed to be poisonous to the touch, she has always been kept separate from her family and the outside world. As her brother's wedding approaches, Soraya learns there is a demon in the dungeons who might know how to cure her curse. She knows seeking her freedom might come at a high cost, but she could never foresee how far the consequences can reach.
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A queer fairytale inspired by Persian mythology is undeniably a concept I couldn't resist. I haven't read anything inspired by Persian myths before even though I adore mythology-based books, so I was ecstatic to get a chance to read this one! Like any good fairytale, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is dark and full of choices with terrible consequences. Soraya is a complex character and a compelling heroine because she's morally grey and doesn't always do the right thing. I LOVE a good dark heroine! I only wish that some of the other characters and aspects of the story were fleshed out more, but overall this book was fantastic! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique dark fairytale!

I finished the audiobook of Girl, Serpent, Thorn and I really loved this YA fantasy world. Melissa Bashardoust captures a fairytale tone, while also exploring multifaceted girls who yearn for more, make bad choices, face those consequences, and strive to make things right. Soraya lives in the shadows due to her curse and her touch being poison, but she wants more and I think this is a great commentary for girls about breaking free of the place society has told them to stay in. The world was so lush and interesting. I haven’t been reading a lot of YA fantasy recently but this gorgeous book kept me hooked. It’s also queer and I really enjoyed the relationship development. I am so excited to dive into Bashardoust’s first book Girls Made of Snow and Glass, which is another fantasy fairytale retelling.

It is no small fact that I absolutely adored Bashardoust’s debut novel, Girls Made of Snow and Glass. It was one of my favourite books of that year and I still love and recommend it to this day. So to say I was excited for Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an understatement. And then when I was invited to be on the blog tour? Massive blogging moment for me!

I can happily say that I loved Girl, Serpent, Thorn. It did not disappoint me in the slightest, and I loved every word in this book. I am so happy that Bashardoust is revolutionising YA fairytale retellings to include queer girls because they have been missing out for far too long.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn follows Soraya, a bisexual girl of colour who is poisonous to the touch. Every living thing, except plant life, dies when she touches it. This curse of hers means that everyone, including her own family, leaves her alone. The decisions Soraya makes in the rest of the novel all stem from this lack of care and love. Even her own mother leaves Soraya alone for months on end and only talks about superficial gossip. It’s a hard and cruel life Soraya has lived so it’s no wonder she makes the choices she does in order to break the chains of the live she has been living.

There is somewhat of a love triangle in Girl, Serpent, Thorn and I must say that the execution was incredible. Even the way Soraya explains her feelings for both of her love interests is just beautiful. One is a fire, and one is a burning ember. I was of course rooting for the love interest who was ~better~ for Soraya, but I would be lying if I didn’t say there was a part of me that wanted Soraya and her darker, more twisted love interest to succeed just so I could see what would become of it.

The writing in Girl, Serpent, Thorn was absolutely divine, and what I have now come to expect from any novel Bashardoust writes in the future. Even though it is third person there is something so evocative in her writing that makes it connect in just about the same way as first person does. But on top of that it also has a storytelling, fairytale element to it that is completely its own and completely divine.

I could waffle on for quite a while about how much I enjoyed Girl, Serpent, Thorn and all the reasons why you should read it. But in the end it’s simple. You should read Girl, Serpent, Thorn because it is a bloody good book. If you like fairytale retellings, YA fantasy, sweeping romance, and queer fiction then you simply must read Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

© 2020, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

This cover is gorgeous! I liked that the characters had their flaws and all made mistakes. I was expecting a take on classic fairy tales, but was pleasantly surprised to find a book with a MC who wanted to save herself. It was hard to trust the characters, which made reading the book all the more exciting and fun.

This was a fun story. I liked the setting and I liked the main character. I think it was fun to see her being pulled two different ways and being deceived at every turn and not knowing who she can trust, and even if she can trust herself. I also appreciated how it was based on Sleepy Beauty but did not rely too heavily on that story. The mythology included was also interesting and I love how the author included references in the back so the reader to delve further into the source mythos. I wasn't blown away by the story or any of the characters but it was a fun read for sure.

Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Even amongst friends or family whom you should be able to be yourself? Like you had to hide, stay reserved, wear a mask… this wonderful fantasy, rooted in fairy tale lore, explores all of that and details a unique coming of age for a princess cursed with a poison touch.
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The story development flowed nicely for me, giving appropriate and timely back story throughout, never feeling out of place; lending to better character progression. I loved the fact so much of the story was influenced by Persian folklore and culture, adding to a more fantastical ambiance and world building within a stand alone book. At times there was a bit more internal conflict and wishy washiness to the MC and I’d loss a little focus, but there’s a method to all the madness; besides bottom line it’s a story of self discovery and acceptance, so there needs to be that back and forth. (Extra shout out to having LGBTQ+ characters)
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The creatures, or divs, stood out as a wonderfully thought through element since it plays such a huge role. I’d love to see all the unique possibilities on the big screen or an online series; it could be breath taking if done right; at least in my mind.
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Overall I loved the moral, which any fairy tale should have; you can’t expect anyone to love you fully until you love yourself combined with beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I was expecting to like this a bit more than I did. Don't get me wrong it was a good book, but I think I got dazzled by the pretty pink cover (I'm a sucker for a pretty cover) and the fact that I really like Girls Made of Snow and Glass. It just didn't fully hold for me, even though it touch on all the thoughts I use to have while reading fairy tales about cursed/outcasted children. But Soraya left a lot to be desired as a main character. She spend a lot of time blaming the divs for her problems when to be honest if her family had treated her better she never would have felt the need to do what she did. Then to just have the cruel treatment she received from her family just glossed over and Soyara made to feel bad because she did what anyone else would have done if they were in her shoes.
I will say one thing I love about the book the dress that was described in the end sounds devine, I should make that my inspiration for Halloween.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn follows Soraya, a princess struggling with her curse to be poisonous to the touch. Throughout the story she wrestles with the hold the curse has had on her life and whether it makes her any less human. . .

I enjoyed Soraya's character throughout the book. It was interesting to see the impact being cursed had on her life before the start of the story and how it turned her into the girl she was: full of fear, anger and longing. But ultimately I felt like her growth and the confidence she finds in herself would've been more impactful if this was longer. . . or even split into a duology.

And this isn't just a problem I had with Soraya it was kind of the book as a whole. I really liked the world, it was full of interesting history and myths. And I found the characters to be very complex, none of them always made perfect decisions. So I would've enjoyed the story more if it had been more fleshed out, with more time to really get invested in the world building and how it impacted characters' development.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I love this author's style of retellings! I previously read Girls Made of Glass and Snow and loved it.! Girl, Serpent, Thorn was even better!

This book was completely unique. I love that it was filled with Persian mythology and culture. The main character was perfectly flawed and grew so much in this book. And there's nothing I like more than strong character growth.

I loved to watch her discover the truth of the past, why she is cursed, and the awakenings and longings that arise outside of the Palace that she is kept in.

Such a great standalone!

A princess poisonous to the touch and shunned by her family. What a premise!

It was so nice to read a stand alone fantasy book! I enjoyed the first half immensely. The second half was good as well, but not as strong for me. I would also describe this as more character-driven fantasy, but with plenty of action. The premise is strong and very compelling. I do think some plot points were predictable and once the main secret was found out, I lost some interest.

Overall solid read and would recommend to fantasy lovers.

It may sound superfluous, but the first thing I have to say about this book is that the cover is absolutely gorgeous. It's beautiful, it grabs your attention. If I saw this book in a book store I would immediately grab it and try to see what it is about from the cover alone.

That ability to hook you extends to the words as well, from the prologue I was invested and dying to read all of it. Know everything. The Fairy Tale vibe it sets with the prologue, the way it sets the curse that will be central to the book and development of the characters reminded me of all the things I love about Fairy Tales, but also made me understand immediately that this was not a damsel in distress situation, but the opposite. We follow the "princess" feelings, evolution and growth.

I was also captivated by Soraya, our protagonist, from the start and that's the reason why I wasn't able to put the book down until I had finished it. An amazing read.

This story is beautiful and atmospheric, the characters are three-dimensional and complex. This queer fairy-tale retelling is packaged neatly into just one book, rather than being unnecessarily stretched out into two or three like so many fantasies are.

This is such an interesting and diverse book. I could not put it down at all except for work, and even then, it was very grudgingly. You must read it!

Combining Persian mythology, Zoroastrianism, and using the framework of "Sleeping Beauty",
Bashardoust has created a feminist, queer fairy tale retelling of her own. For two centuries, the ancestors of the shah of Atashar have ruled under the protection of the legendary magical bird, the simorgh. The simorgh has not been seen for many years, the nobility is losing faith in the young shah, and attacks by monstrous divs are becoming ever more organized. Soraya, the shah’s twin sister, carries poison in her veins and lives, hidden in the shadows of the palace garden. Soraya's poison is lethal and with the slightest touch she can kill any living being. She longs for companionship and a normal life, but feels a growing urge to hurt and kill and has nightmares of transforming into a div. When a handsome young soldier named Azad captures a parik, a female demon who attacks the shah, Soraya finds herself increasingly attracted to both man and monster. The parik may hold Soraya's answer on how to lift her curse, but it will not be easy. Azad eagerly offers help, but can Soraya trust him and will she be willing to betray her family to free herself?
After a few chapters, I was quickly drawn to this story. I appreciated how the focus of the story is on Soraya's personal growth and her morally complex quest for identity, asking what she wants of herself rather than what society asks of her. Her character arc is exciting to witness and human. Soraya is flawed, insecure, and vulnerable but we can understand her position and the predicaments in which she finds herself. I also appreciated her support from strong female allies and secondary characters. Although the romance is present in the story, I wish Soraya's biromantic feelings were a bit more fleshed out. Readers picking this book up in wanting a good romance story might be disappointed as it is subdued. The ending is a bit stretched out, but satisfyingly complete. There were some predictable turns in the plot, but one that did take me by surprise. I could forgive these shortcomings as I was mesmerized by the Persian culture and the book's world building.