Coming this Tuesday, July 7th!

Melissa Bashardoust wrote one of my favorite books of 2017, Girls Made of Snow and Glass (an awesome Snow White retelling), so when I saw Girl, Serpent, Thorn, I knew I had to pick it up. Plus I mean — LOOK AT THAT COVER.

Soraya has been cursed since she was a baby. Any living creature she touches dies almost instantly. Because of this, she has remained essentially a prisoner of her family’s palace, never interacting with people, only tending to her garden and reading to pass the time.

But when her family comes to stay for the season, they have brought along a demon they captured on their journey — and it happens to be the same kind of demon that could offer answers to Soraya about her curse — and if it’s possible to break free of it.

With the help of a new friend, Soraya has much to learn about who is telling the truth in her life, but more importantly, about what power she holds within herself. There’s so much to this story that I can’t even get into without spoiling it for you, so you’ll just have to read and see for yourself!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a super fun fantasy with twists and turns, secrets to unfold, and a love that Soraya thought she’d never have the chance to find. A deliciously poisonous read, you won’t be able to put it down without finding out what happens next!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Purchase the book here!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Links in post are affiliate links whose proceeds go toward the maintenance of this blog.

I have been waiting for this book to come out for months. The premise seemed incredibly intriguing--the sister of a shah who has a poison touch? Based on Persian myths and the Zoroastrian religion? The promise of F/F romance? Yes, please!

While I ultimately enjoyed the world-building and the personal growth and journey of Soraya, the main character, the rest of the book fell a little flat to me. There were a lot of side characters that weren't fleshed out, and the pacing felt rushed; Bashardoust glossed over some scenes that seemed instrumental or could have used more detail. The F/F romance that the summary alluded to was also negligible, which was a shame.

Melissa Bashardoust is a magical storyteller — Girl, Serpent, Thorn is wildly fascinating and unique!

This YA fantasy standalone offers so much: an intriguing premise, captivating writing, and an interesting world. With inspiration from Persian culture and the Zoroastrian faith, the story is transportive and I was totally immersed as I read.

If you’re a fan of morally grey characters, you should enjoy this one! Girl, Serpent, Thorn has a fantastic cast of characters with a queer, cursed, antiheroic MC — Soraya — leading the way. I also really liked (as in loved to hate) the villain — the Shahmar!

The poisonous princess plot brought me to this book, but a lot more kept me reading. There are some original aspects and twists to the story that made it hard to put down. Although I really loved this book as a whole, I think it would have benefited from a bit more fleshing out in certain areas, particularly the romance. I would/could have fully supported this as a duology.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed Girl, Serpent, Thorn and definitely recommend it! I am 2 for 2 with books by Melissa Bashardoust! To say the least, I am a fan and look forward to what will come from her next!

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.

3/5 (I would recommend!!)
I'm giving it a 3/5 stars (which is a good rating for me) meaning I mostly enjoyed it and would still recommend it, but I recommend it with some caveats below. Generally for my reviews I present some things I didn't like - these are not reasons not to read the book, but if they're things that bother you in books, this may not be for you. I also present some things I liked to give you an indication of what worked really well, in case any of those elements are things you are a fan of.

This is a tricky one to rate. I read a review by Heathur that captured a lot of my thoughts on the marketing for this book. After I made my "How Book Marketing Shapes Reader Expectations" video I got a lot of great feedback of others sharing their experiences with poor book marketing - and I think sadly how this book has been pitched might harm its reception.

I think this book was hyped up for the f/f romance because I definetly had the perception going into it that that was a big part to this story (and I was super excited). I have NO idea where I got that perception, because the synopsis gives no indication, but I think I shared the same idea as many others. I want to make one thing super clear though - this is NOT the story of a f/f romance. This is NOT the story of a bi/pan mc coming to understand her sexuality. This IS the story of a young woman coming into her own, learning to accept her flaws, and paving her own path in life. She happens to be bi or pan, and there is a light f/f romance yeah, but it's not the dominant part of the storyline. So just keep that in mind if you're going to read this.

Despite some of the dissonance between what I expected and what I got, I still mostly enjoyed this book. It's not fair for me to knock it in rating for the marketing. I just think it is important for readers to keep in mind some of the aspects of this story and their relevance and frequency.

Soraya, our MC, is cursed as a baby to be untouchable - her skin is poisonous to other living things.Soraya is a member of the royal family but has been secluded her whole life out of fear that her secret will ruin her brother's ability to rule. This book is set in a world inspired by Ancient Persia (the author's note on the worldbuilding is a MUST READ, and I hope it is printed in the final version of the book). I could explain a much more complicated version of the plot, but I honestly feel like the synopsis does a decent job.

Things I liked:
-Soraya as a character - she is morally ambiguous. She has the ability to become a villain so many times and all of her choices teeter between her own selfish desires and what she perceives to be "right." I think a lot of people who read this are going to fall in love with her.
-The world-building/ Persian mythology. I loved it while reading, and then i read the author's note! It was so interesting to see how Bashardoust adapted traditional stories and merged them to fit her own unique tale.
-Character growth. Soraya coming to terms with herself and what she wants out of the world!
-The nods to classic fairy tales - the author's note confirmed that this was in part inspired by Sleeping Beauty. Not a retelling, but I liked some of the nods to the story.

Things I didn't like:
-The pacing was just a bit off. This is a standalone so the author was trying to accomplish a lot. I think she did a decent job with world-building but because she had to start and end a story in a relatively short pagespan, a lot of scenes and moments felt unrealistically quick or rush. And there were a number of moments where things tied into a bow more for the timing of finishing the novel than for the plot. I think in terms of constantly stayng on your toes, the pacing keeps you interested, but for what you get in interest, you take away from the ability to really flesh out the side characters and the world.
-The writing in it's best moments was lyrically beautiful which was about 80% of the times (so that's a plus). But the other 20% of the time it was rather simplistic - I wish there had been a little more consistency of style.

A modern and richly imagined fairy tale based on a Persian epic that parallels "Rapunzel" and draws inspiration from other classics such as "Sleeping Beauty" and Nathaniel Hawthorne's “Rappaccini’s Daughter”?

YES, please.

With my affinity for retellings, I was immediately interested to read something completely different that sounded wonderfully foreign and exciting upon learning of this novel. If you enjoy dark, fantastical vibes with demons, fairies, and a female protagonist that learns of her own powers hidden within to rise above evil, then you don't want to miss out on this compelling YA fantasy.

There was and there was not…

Soroya only dreams of living free in the large kingdom of Atashar. The 18-year old princess is forced to live secluded, stowed away from the rest of her family, and the public view since she was cursed after birth, with a touch of death. Anything she touches will wither and die. Never has she felt another's comforting embrace or a kiss. Never was she able to play like the other children, free and uninhibited of worry. Instead, she has been locked away in her private chambers and gardens, with servants and the occasional visit by her mother.

"You stole something of mine, "he said to the girl in a low growl. "And so now I will steal something of yours."
The girl thought he would take her life, but instead, the div cursed her firstborn daughter, making her poisonous, so that anyone who touched her would die."

Out on the rooftops of Golvahar, Soraya enjoys the simple luxury of seeing the gardens in the front of the palace and far beyond the gates to the edge of Atashar. On the day of the large family procession for her twin brother Sorush, the shah of Atashar, she sees him for the first time - the dashing soldier Azad - and he sees her too.

Fate and circumstance allow them to meet, and despite Soroya's warnings inside, his pretense turns out to be conflicting. During times of political unrest and the quest to lift her curse, Soroya has the opportunity to speak to the div, a captured demon who may hold the answers she seeks, but the price she has to pay to succeed could be consequential of life and death. As she navigates dangerous paths, she painfully learns who she can't trust and the secrets of her family's past.

There was and there was not…

The Creator and the Destroyer.

Who will Soroya be after all is said and done? Monster or Princess?

***

What a whirlwind of a novel. It just flowed like a braid, all twisty with one blow after another. The chain of events just kept on adding while good vs evil changed hands again and again. A really exciting read for YA fans.

What I enjoyed about this novel were the foreign aspects of it but I was also intrigued by the staggering plot twists. In the Afterword, Bashardoust describes how she drew inspiration from Zoroastrianian beliefs to create this fantastically fictionalized cosmology based in particular from the obsolete, heretical version of Zoroastrianism from the Sasanian period. This exotic backdrop added a new and welcoming flavor to the genre.

If you enjoy a bit of folklore, ill omens, and spiritual demons, give this one a try.

Enjoy :)

I received a digital copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

Excellent story. The characters were interesting. I didn't love the ending but it wrapped up nicely.

I went into this book a little nervously because I’d read some mediocre reviews, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The font on my ARC was also super small, so I worried that reading it might give me a headache.

Mainly I say all that to let you know that when I feel like I zipped through the book super quick and found it completely engrossing, you get the kind of obstacles it was up against. Ha.

First, the characters. I loved Soraya and her mom and the complicated relationship between them. The women in the cast absolutely shine, from Parvaneh and the sisterhood of pariks (winged demons) to Soraya and her mom, they were all complex and fascinating.

As far as the story, I enjoyed the story world, which is based on Persian mythology. Some of the titles are a little unfamiliar and confusing, but there is some explanation about them in the back of the book. I think a glossary would have been helpful, too. All in all, though, I as I got into the story, I was able to keep my bearings just fine.

The plot is very twisty. Less in terms of surprises (though every story has its share of surprises) and more in terms of the way things sort of loop back around, where the past connects to the present. I liked that a lot, and it gave the story a layered feel to it that I enjoyed.

One of the things that will stick with me, I think, is the way Soraya talked about making herself smaller early in the story– trying to keep others safe by shrinking herself as small as she could. I felt like that created this incredible picture of who she was at the beginning and showed such a contrast with who she became and how her courage changed her.

I feel like there are areas in our lives (especially as women) where we sometimes do that– make ourselves smaller to avoid conflict or hurt, even when it hurts us. So I loved reading this story about a young woman who comes into her own, learns to take up her space and be bold. It was both validating and freeing.

I think readers who enjoyed FOREST OF SOULS by Lori M. Lee or FORBIDDEN WISH by Jessica Khoury will enjoy this one.

*𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌*
Girl, Serpent, Thorn
By Melissa Bashardoust
4 / 5 🌟

Do you enjoy fairy tales? Or ancient folklore that intertwines myths and religion with history? Melissa Bashardoust has written a fascinating novel that was influenced by her love of a Persian epic. She envelopes you into a mystical world where sorcery is alive and well, where demons (“divs”) and other creatures roam the earth. In the palace, a princess is hidden away believed to be a cursed monster of the royal family. But there are lies more wicked that may destroy them all.

Soraya and Sorush were twins born into the royal house of Atashar. When their father died Sorush became shah under the watchful eye of their mother. Soraya, the princess, has been hidden away, for she is cursed. She has poison running through her veins - anything she touches will die.
Her brother’s throne must not be tarnished; his subjects must not know his sister belongs to the Destroyer.

Soraya learns that her twin brother, the shah, is getting married. The entire land will be celebrating. Now may be her opportunity to come out from her hiding place. She runs into a guard, Azad, who does not seem to be afraid of who or what she is, instead he appears almost captivated by her.

After an attack on the city, Soraya learns that a demon has been captured alive and is in the dungeon below. How she longs for answers of how to break this poisonous curse that is in her veins. Soraya’s mother demands that she doesn’t speak to the creature claiming they are liars, but her brother allows it. The “div” fills Soraya with doubt and more questions. The lies everyone speaks begin to slither and swirl around Soraya’s mind. Soon she doesn’t know who is telling the truth. She will have to make her own choices and decide who or what she truly is.

**Make sure you check out the author’s notes, she provides a wealth of information on the mythology and culture behind this story.

Thank you to @flatiron_books and @netgalley for this advanced copy for review.

This book will be available on July 7, 2020!

This was an interesting tale of a girl, dangerous to her people, locked away with a curse on her.

Soraya is hidden away in the palace, only really knowing the company of her queen mother, her twin brother and a couple of other people from her childhood. Sick of being locked away, she begins the journey to find not only the cure to the curse on her, but the truth as to how it fell upon her. The stories her mother always told her may not be true.

Amidst her search for the truth, she meets a creature in a dungeon cave who knows the secrets that have alluded Soraya all her life. She also comes to know a handsome man who comes to her rescue. But not everyone is who they claim to be. While some help her, others feed her more lies and allow her, in her blind search for the truth, to set things into motion that she never wanted.

This was such a fun, fantastical read with some great fairy tale vibes. I loved how the curse upon becomes something almost of a comfort to her as she grows and learns about herself. I also love the beautiful relationship that buds from a very unexpected place.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn opens up with a story within a story. The story told as the opener is actually a true story that a mother tells her firstborn daughter, Soraya. Cursed, Soraya harbors a poisonous touch that kills any living being and thus is isolated in the shadows from others. The royal family is preparing for the wedding of the young shah next month. The shah is actually Soraya's twin brother, Sorush. As twins, Sorush is known as the Creator, one born of hope, and Soraya is known as the Destroyer, one born of doubt.

As Sorush gets ready to marry childhood friend Laleh, Soraya feels even more abandoned. Soraya is desperate to find more about her curse. However, the only being she thinks can help her is someone who was captured and is held as a prisoner in the palace. Melissa Bashardoust introduces readers to a world where not only Soraya's secret is hidden behind walls but Soraya finds love with someone unexpected. With a guard's help, Soraya is able to blend within the people and is able to navigate the world.

The world-building opens up new frames of mind. There are new places among Atashar to explore and new beings to meet. The characters we meet in the Girl, Serpent, Thorn are characters you want to get to know better. Some of them, you would like to befriend. While each character may have different intentions, many want to help Soraya. However, when Soraya finds a way to extinguish her curse, she will need to decide whether it's worth it to risk others' lives. Throughout the novel, Soraya learns self-acceptance and self-worth. Things may not seem as they appear and many characters possess secrets that can be deadly. Join the journey of family, loyalty, and betrayal. Immerse yourself in a world where the divs and humans hold secrets that can literally kill.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a captivating character-driven novel where there are many unexpected twists and turns. The novel is a wonderful, unique fairytale woven with Persian elements and Zoroastrian beliefs where love interests and character's paths are not so obvious. As Soraya battles between good and evil, she paves her own path and it's up to her to decide whether to be a princess or the monster that some people see her as. She becomes somewhat of an anti-heroine in her own story. Soraya is a strong woman. She is curious. She is headstrong. And she seeks knowledge. She has a weapon that wields such power but what type of woman does Soraya want to be? Will she betray her own family so she can lift the curse? To read more about Soraya's story, pick up Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a new YA novel inspired by ancient Persian mythology, Zoroastrianism, and it's got an f/f romance! This is Melissa Bashardoust's second book and it blew my mind! I've got to get a physical copy when it releases.

A quarter of the way through the book and it felt like it had been really heavy on the information dumping. I still liked the information as it contributed to the story, but it felt heavy at the beginning. Around the 25% mark the story really started to pick up. Whatever qualms I had in the beginning, they were completely gone by about 1/4 of the way into the book. Seriously, it got really, really good.

There is a lot of imagery and some vocabulary the reader will need to learn, but that's typical for a fantasy book. As Shadow and Bone has a quasi-Russian setting, and City of Brass has a quasi-Persian setting, both with mythical creatures, Girl, Serpent, Thorn has a similar setting with the power structure being a Shah with patrilineal inheritance and the main antagonists being divs, who are magical beings created by the Destroyer. In this world, the Creator gave human life and the Destroyer created divs, who were intended to destroy humans. The world is intricate and interesting and I had a wonderful time learning all about the world of Atashar.

Of course, Saraya is the main character and I was so happy to read a book that follows one person, rather than switching between characters every chapter. I've read so many of those and it's really in vogue right now, but man was I tired of it. This books works much better as a singular point of view and kudos to the author for this! Other characters include Saraya's brother, a few divs who make up the antagonism, and of course a big, bad villain who wants to take over Atashar and dethrone the shah. There is romance in this book, but it isn't overt or pushed on the reader, rather it is threaded just underneath the surface of the narrative and I had a great appreciation for it! I don't want to say much more because I'll get into spoiler territory, but trust me that this is a great book!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Girl, Serpent, Thorn and would encourage readers of YA who are fans of Leigh Bardugo, S. A. Chakraborty, Sabaa Tahir, Holly Black, Sarah J. Maas, and others to read this book!

This YA fantasy is a unique fairy tale surrounding Soraya, a reclusive princess who hides from the world because she has been cursed to have skin that is deadly to touch. She hides in her gardens and longs to find a way to experience the touch of another human, when a demon is captured, a demon who may have the answers that can either break Soraya’s curse and end her life of lonely exile, or reveal that she is truly the monster she thinks she is.

This book is a delightful spin on a Persian tale that also brings in other elements of Persian culture that enrich the story. The author is able to capture the lavish palaces and gardens of the Middle East, resplendent with lush scenery that transports the readers to the beauty of an ancient time.

The characters have such complexities that the reader is truly unsure of their true selves and motivations, making the story magnificently mysterious. This keeps the reader guessing throughout the entire novel and makes for a wonderful read.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an opulent tapestry of demons, treachery, self discovery, and ultimately love, that is highly addicting. I found myself reading long into the night, caught in the intrigues and heart wrenching relationships of this distinctive new fantasy.

My Review: I’ve felt a beautifully unique sort of magic after reading Melissa Bashardoust’s novels. I fell in love with her writing after her first novel Girls Made of Snow and Glass. So naturally my extreme fangirl feels for Girl, Serpent, Thorn were through the roof. I can super confidently say it delivered more then I could’ve hoped for.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a story of young Soraya destined for a life of seclusion, and loneliness. Why? Well you see, poison runs through her veins, and a single touch means death for whoever dares.

It’s a story of Persian culture, mythology and fairy tales. It’s written in third person with so much detail, and writing that truly captures the atmosphere, the characters, and the overall world building.

The cover of this novel is one of if not THE most beautiful I have ever seen, and I hoped the inside reflected it’s beauty. You may think based on the synopsis, you’ve got a romance novel in your hands, and you’re not wrong, but it’s so much more. It’s discovery of inner strength and perseverance, of an amazing bisexual heroine!

This story will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, and will fill you with ALL the feels.

My Verdict: With touches, and similarities to some of my favorite fave tales, this novel became one of my favorites of the year. I love when an author can take some aspects of classic tales and make it a complete fantasy masterpiece. I am so excited for any future titles from Melissa Bashadoust. I’m a devoted reader for always. I truly recommend this novel, if you’re looking for something different, unexpected, and wonderful all at the same time.

If you’re at all interested in this book I highly recommend reading on.

I am already anticipating this being on many people’s most disappointing books of 2020. And not because the book is bad, but yet again marketing/publishing did a book dirty.

If you’re like me, you heard this pitched as a “Persian fantasy with monster girlfriends” and although that is not exactly wrong, it’s not at all the central part of the book.

I would describe the book as a bi/pan MC discovering herself and her power and she interacts with a hot serpent villain dude and a mysterious moth chick. And that’s heavy on the interactions with hot serpent villain. The endgame relationship IS sapphic, but we only get 3-4 explicitly romantic scenes between them, TOPS. Its much more a focus on the parallels between our villain and our MC.

So does this mean the book isn’t worth your time?? Absolutely not.

The journey of self love & acceptance our MC makes is incredible and I loved reading about it. She had me invested in her story from the start and even made me emotional on multiple occasions. This is a beautiful story about power, strength, acceptance, and love WITHIN YOURSELF.

The use of mythology in this is also incredible. It felt like a fairytale while reading and I had a blast learning about this world.

Am I disappointed the f/f relationship didn’t play a bigger role? Sure. But I’m also not going to turn down a *very lowkey* love triangle between three monsters (this is a stretch but I feel it’s warranted).

Overall, I would still highly recommend this if you go into the book shifting your expectations a bit. I’m already bracing myself for the inevitable defending I will be doing for this book and I’m okay with that role because this was a beautiful read.

This story is beautifully written, and will intrigue you long after you finish the last page. Melissa Bashardoust has certainly woven some magic here, with charmingly frustrating characters, some serious romantic tension, and so much danger.

The Persian mythology this is based off of is something I’m not very familiar with, but it was fascinating to read/learn about. It was a quick book and it did kind of leave me wanting something more, but at the same time I could enjoy it for what it was. This story was certainly thrilling, but also deeply mysterious. I am desperate to find out what’s going to happen next, especially because we were left on such a cliffhanger! Add this to your TBR, because if you love magical stories with a historical fantasy vibe to it, then this is definitely one that you won’t soon forget....

Honestly, there’s nothing that I didn’t like about this story. It’s beautifully written, and each character has their own memorable personality. This would be a great book for younger fantasy readers or people just starting to dip their toes into fantasy.

eBook provided for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Since birth Soraya has been kept apart and hidden away, safe in her gardens of the royal palace. Because all is not right in the kingdom of Golvarah; their princess is cursed -- poisonous to the touch. When the opportunity comes to save herself from the curse, Soraya must decide for herself who she is. And who she is not.

"Is and is not" is a fitting motif Girl, Serpent, Thorn. Bashardoust takes on the traditional dichotomies of fairytales and turns them into something that is and is not what we think. Soraya is and is not a princess. She is and is not a monster. Azad is and is not a knight. The Shahmar is and is not a div. He is and is not the villain.

It's this structure alongside the beautiful world that Bashardoust builds that kept me reading. There are some pacing problems but ultimately wanting to know who Soraya decides she is drove me to the end.

Add GST to your TBR list this summer. You won't be disappointed.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a tale that takes influences from Persian mythology and Zoroastrianism and turns around and provides a fairy tale–like journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, monsters that seem all too human, and even sneaks in an adorable sapphic romance. Bashardoust enthralled me right from the first page, and I didn’t want her to release me upon the end.

Soraya is a princess with poison that runs through her veins (and even turns them green). Locked and kept away from her family, friends, and court, Soraya despises her curse and yearns to be a true member among her family. When Soraya learns of a div (demon) captured and imprisoned in the dungeons, she believes she has finally found a path that will help her lift her curse. But those around her aren’t as they seem, and when Soraya accidentally unleashes destruction upon her kingdom, she must decide what she truly values and seek power in her flaws.

The strength of Girl, Serpent, Thorn comes from its deceit. As the book first unfurls, the tale appears to pass quickly, Soraya finally able to grasp hope in a different future for herself with a handsome guard now by her side. But as the halfway point approaches, twists and monsters are unleashed, completely changing the direction of the plot. The novel doesn’t shy away from the threads of darkness that run through its pages.

Bashardoust’s tale is simultaneously refreshing in its originality and nostalgic in its whimsical and mystical atmosphere. Soraya is also a relatable and realistic protagonist; she desires to be accepted in her community, she lets herself be selfish, and she hates herself for her flaws. Despite the fantastical adorning, the novel’s dilemmas are relatable to all types of readers.

My only complaint is that Girl, Serpent, Thorn gifted us with a world that could have been further explored and a tale that easily could have been expanded upon. But then again, a captivating story always leaves you wanting more, does it not?

I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys YA, fairy tale retellings, and monsters. This book is a shining reminder why fairy tales (and their retellings) never tire, and that there are always new ones to be told.

Trigger Warnings: imprisonment, murder, scarring from torture (torture scenes not actually in the book), battling, strained familial relationships

I was looking forward to reading Melissa Bashardoust's new novel, "Girl, Serpent, Thorn," but unfortunately I was disappointed. The prologue and the first few chapters were entertaining, but I found the pacing was a little all over the place, and I couldn't connect with the main character at all.

Cursed before she was born, Soraya has spent her whole life within the confines of her room, private garden, and in between the secret crawl spaces between the walls of her families castle. She lives in constant fear since everything that touches her skin dies.
After sneaking into the dungeons, Soraya meets a demon much like the one who cursed her mother's first born daughter (Soraya) so many years ago, she is told that her 'cursing' may not have come about the way she has been told, or even be a curse at all.
There was and there was not, as all stories begin, reigns true for our heroine. All her life she has been told exactly who she is and what made her that way, but was it or was it not all a lie.
As her twin brothers wedding approaches, Soraya must decide wether to remain within the shadows or step into the the light and be seen for the first time, in order to find out who and what she really is.
Princess or Monster.

4.5 Stars

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is as much a character study as it is a fantasy novel. Soraya has spent her entire life uncomfortable in her own skin. Yet she’s given some respite, she feels empty. And the decisions she must make along the way are heart-wrenching. Soraya’s choices are motivated by a mixture of fear, shame, love, loyalty and selfishness. Her choices are what make her human. They’re what make her real. And they’re what make her a sympathetic character.

Contrast that with the tale’s villain. He, too, was once motivated by the very same things as Soraya, but his choices take him down a much different path. These complexities make this a much more enjoyable read.

As much as I loved this study, the more fantastical elements also serve a purpose. Melissa Bashardoust has created a world that is rich in colors and textures. The creatures she brings to life are bold, beautiful and terrifying.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an engrossing read. There were a few twists that I guessed prior to coming about, but there were plenty that remained a surprise. This is one novel I didn’t want to put down.