3.5 Stars.

I was super excited to pick this book up, as I love stories based on fairy tales, especially ones from other cultures (in this case Persian). Plus this has one of the most beautiful front covers I've seen in a while.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, however there were some gripes I had with the story and characters.

The characters had the potential to be really interesting, especially our main character Soraya, however I found many of them one-dimensional and a bit dull. Soraya was by no means my least favourite main character, she just made some decisions that seemed so selfish that I found it hard to relate to her. Overall I was rooting for her to succeed, since she did have moments of fierceness and grit, and I definitely preferred her in the second half of the book.
Parvaneh could have been such an interesting character as she had such an incredible backstory, however I felt like we never really got to see enough of her, and so she remained pretty undeveloped as a character throughout. The LGBTQ+ romance was really sweet and I would have loved to have seen more of it. However I did also feel it was a little rushed and slightly too “insta-love” for me.
Azad was easily my favourite character, and I thought he was so interesting and the only multi-dimensional character in the story. Hearing about his past and the choices he’d made was intriguing, and the way he interacted with Soraya was both creepy and fascinating.
Many of the side characters were decently written, but ultimately forgettable. I would have liked to see more of Ramin, since his character motivations were interesting and clear.

The plot itself was decent, and I loved the idea of Soraya being unable to touch any living thing due to her curse. There were some moments that seemed totally unbelievable, for example Soraya would find out that someone was keeping secrets from her but instead of pushing for answers, she’d just act on impulse and her actions would make everything worse.
The elements taken from Persian mythology were so interesting, and I really enjoyed them. It’s a relatively short book, but the pacing was good and fast throughout. Much of the plot and characters felt like it could be further developed, as there really were some gems in there and some really cool new ideas. There were also some times where I felt it lacked a real element of danger, I don’t know if this is maybe because it’s aimed at slightly younger readers?
Overall, I did race through it, because I was keen to know how everything would turn out at the end. I would probably recommend this to teens, as I think they’d get lots of enjoyment out of reading it, plus would potentially be more able to relate to the themes of loneliness and isolation that are present throughout.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

though not a genre that I normally read i found the writing in this book beautiful. it was such an interesting topic to have a girl that is poisonous to people to touch. it definitely gave me rogue vibes from x men, and that's not a bad thing. The deeper story about loneliness was especially potent when reading it in the current economic climate, and they world as it is with the current pandemic.

I think I went into this with different expectations than what were actually delivered and sadly what I thought was probably better than this.

Don't get me wrong I found it okay, I just think I maybe wanted something a little bit darker maybe?

<b>Trigger Warnings:</b> War, Conflict.

<b>Favourite Character:</b> Azad. Probably the only character who held my interest throughout the whole book.

<b>Memorable quote: </b> <i> “You’re my favourite story” </i> -Azad, Page 37.

<b>THE REVIEW</B>

<b>Summary(TL:DR): </b> A book with great potential and some really great lore behind the main plot, but lacklustre characters, an LGBT romance that felt forced, and a plot that was easily predictable let it down.
Goodreads Score: 3/5
CAWPILE: 6/10

<b> Characters: </b>

Overall, there were some gems within the coal, but I found too many of the main/primary supporting cast just didn’t live up to the potential they had and that left me somewhat disappointed.

Soraya, our main character, had moments of strength and grit, but I found her whining about her situation becoming very grating shortly after I started reading.

Parvaneh, our second female lead, was a little more interesting. She had a complex background and had made decisions that led to being imprisoned and rejected by her family.

Azad was by far the best of the three main characters. Charismatic, smooth, with plenty of mystery and secrets to keep me on my toes. His infatuation-bordering-posession of Soraya was something very unhealthy, yes, and yet, I wanted more. He was light and dark, a character that intrigued me.

I felt a lot of the relationships were good, but I had major issues with the main romance. Considering it was LGBT rep, I was very excited to start, but I just felt let down. The biggest ‘romance’ felt rushed, forced,and worst of all, unbelievable. I think because for the first quarter of the book, Soraya is building a relationship with someone else and just as I began to route for them, there’s a complete shift to a new romance and it was too ‘love at first sight’ for me to truly get behind. It was a shame as I really wanted to divulge into the LGBT literary world.

<b>Atmosphere:</b>

This was a mixed bag for me. On one hand, the love between the members of the family, the emotions of Azad, and Soraya’s own pain over her curse were all believable and had me sympathising with them. But, and it’s a big bit, things go too far. Soraya becomes pathetic in her self-pity and comes across as a petulant five-year-old. It was moments like that I became apathetic and lost a lot of the feelings I had.

I found I just couldn’t care enough about the characters and plot to truly get into the emotions. I had a couple of moments of sniggering, and one moment towards the final chapter where I found I was hoping for things to go well, but other than that, this book didn’t compel me and didn’t make me sigh, swoon, or sob,

<b> Writing and Plot: </b>

The writing was mostly clear and easy to both read and understand. My biggest issue was in the opening chapters as we are introduced to a number of terms in a very short space of time (shah, Golvahar, azatan for example) and I found myself having to flick back and forth to remind myself who was who, and what was what.

I really enjoyed that the book started with the mother telling a story of her own, introducing us early to some of the background and mythology behind the main tale.

<i>There was and there was not. </i> - Page 1.

I love that idea, that things are and also aren’t, and the message is to always question the things around you and not accept things for what they are as nothing is always as it seems.

That being said, I did have some issues with the books as a whole. Some logic is missing from this book, mostly in the character actions. Soraya is so confusing for me. Her family are clearly hiding secrets yet she barely pushes for answers. She chooses actions that have enormous ramifications, then blames everyone but herself, yet she is also shown as being a very deep and reflective individual. Her actions, and the actions within the plot do not support this.

I enjoyed how unique the story was though I did feel like it began to twist and get less engaging toward the end (70% mark)
I wish it had been able to maintain the magic the whole way through, though it was still an engaging and fun read!

The reading started off really well. I liked it a lot while hoping that Soraya would move in one direction. Direction that, unfortunately for me, it has not taken.
Indeed, after the first third, I gradually became disillusioned and much less appreciated the intrigue while it was starting more and more but the angle chosen unfortunately did not convince me at all.
I still wanted to continue reading but when I was halfway I felt a total disinterest to the point of ending up stopping my reading without finishing it.

My thanks to Flatiron Books for providing me with a digital copy of the novel in return for an honest review.

This book has been all over Twitter and Booktube recently, and I have heard so many good things about it, that I couldn’t wait to get reading!

I really enjoyed this novel. It is a fairytale inspired by Persian fairytales and culture, telling the story of Soraya, a princess who is cursed to be poisonous to anyone she touches. When a demon is captured and imprisoned in the palace dungeons she wonders if this demon holds the answers to breaking her curse.

I had heard that the f\f romance in this book is incredible, and I was so hyped! It is good, but it doesn’t actually take up much of the book at all, and I really wish there was more of it, because we did get was so soft and good! This is probably my only criticism of the book overall, and it was mostly due to my expectations!

Other than that this novel definitely delivered! It has so many twists and turns, and it really kept me guessing for large parts of it.

I also really liked the character of Soraya a lot, she was naive from having been hidden away and having to distance herself from people her whole life, but she still hoped to see the best in everyone. The scenes where she pines for the touch of a human, or another living thing were so heartbreaking and moving, and the author wrote them so beautifully.

I loved loved the mythical creatures and folklore that this novel contains and drew upon. The author note at the end of the novel gave such a great description of the novel and the context from where the creatures came from, and the inspiration she drew from different sources.

Overall I really enjoyed this Persian inspired YA fantasy, and I would highly recommend it!

An ARC of this book was provided by Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Soraya has spent her life hidden away, terrified of the curse that makes her fatal to anyone who brushes her skin. Torn between her desire to break the curse and the sacrifices necessary to do so, Soraya must decide if she truly is the monster she fears she will become.

Bashardoust's fairytale tackles themes of self discovery, morality, self acceptance, trust, loyalty and family. She does this in an effective way, letting them play out through the main character of Soraya, Princess and sister to the shah. At the start of the book, Soraya is accustomed to making herself small for fear of hurting others, but under the influence of the mysterious div, she braves leaving the safety of her secret passages within the palace in attempt to break her curse.

At first, I doubted how easily Soraya is able to trust others and it didn't seem realistic to me. However, on reflection, for a young woman who has been left behind by her family and kept hidden from her country, starved of all contact, I think that the ease at which she welcomes people into her life is understandable. It also leads nicely into the events that follow in the story, where she learns the consequences of her own naivety. Learning these lessons contributes to Soraya's character development as she learns who she is able to trust, and how to manipulate as well as the div.

For a relatively short book, the story has a lot of layers to it and a lot of past events that influence the present situation, however these events and additional details are released slowly in an enticing way, and at the right pace, just enough to keep me engaged to find out more. It was also really cool to see bits of other fairytales creep into the book, and I love the Persian language and stories that are woven throughout. (Bashardoust provides further info and sources on the languages and stories in the authors note which was an interesting read too.) My only criticism is that I think the book could have been longer, maybe even stretched to two books. Purely because I want to know more about the world and the creatures, and to feel more depth to the characters. There's so much there to explore and I felt I would have enjoyed it even more if the story was spread out and delved into further.

The best thing about including characters who are not human, is that quite often with the extended lifespan comes a huge sense of moral ambiguity which makes these characters so interesting and mysterious, and it is difficult to predict their motive. This is no different in Girl, Serpent, Thorn. Again, I wish we could have spent more time learning about the div and the different types! I love that they are flawed and multi-faceted. It is interesting to see Soraya attempt figure out how she feels about them, and herself, and what action she should take. I definitely felt the twists and turns of the story, just like being in the dark passages Soraya frequents! The personal issues she must tackle contrast nicely with the bigger issues within the book.

Despite featuring tropes of the traditional fairy tale, Bashardoust manages to make Girl, Serpent, Thorn feel fresh and new. There is a huge sense of foreshadowing and on every page I felt like the unexpected could happen at any moment as so many of the key players are unpredictable.

Another aspect I liked is that the main focus of the book isn't on romance. The f/f relationship was done really well, it didn't feel overly obvious or overdone, but neither was it shyed away from, and it worked really nicely within the overall plot.

I would recommend this to you if you are interested in other books within the fantasy genre based on fairytale, such as Naomi Novik's Uprooted and Renee Ahdieh's The Wrath and the Dawn, and if you are after something a little different from the well known and often revisited stories.

I was accepted for this the day before it was archived, so I didn't even know I'd been accepted before I couldn't download it! Luckily I've recently bought a physical copy.

Soraya is the sister of the Shah, cursed from birth so that she is poisonous to the touch. In order to prevent embarrassment to her family, and to protect those around her, she is hidden away. Until the day she hears of a div in the dungeon who might know how to end her curse, triggering a series of events that lead her to change her whole world forever.

I really loved this story, the writing is so lush and involving, after a while reading I lost track of time and eventually realised I had read 75% of it I was so engrossed in the story and the world. I loved the exploration of what makes a monster versus a hero, and how isolation, fear and self-loathing can create one or the other. Soraya was a fascinating main character, her journey to accepting her curse and stepping into her power was enthralling and I genuinely didn't know which way she was going to go several times. Various supporting characters also explored elements of this conflict and the different ways different characters reacted to their own inner darkness was a really interesting perspective.

Along with this central theme there is a beautiful slow burn f/f romance which I would have loved to spend more time with. I would also have loved even more time developing Soraya's relationships with her family as the book progressed and her own self changed.

I would definitely recommend this YA novel and look forward to reading more from the author.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

•I’ve received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review•

Sometimes the villain is who you least expect, sometimes what people you trust tell you is not the truth.
If you’re looking for a story about betrayal, complex characters and a good dose of representation then Girl, Serpent, Thorn is the perfect choice.
This book is literally full of plot twists, every time I thought of a theory something came up unexpectedly.
Another thing I liked about this book is that there’s not a single character that’s entirely good or evil. Each one makes mistakes at some point, also the protagonist, Soraya.
I wasn’t expecting one of the love stories, but I’m glad it happened. Even though also in this one I’m a sucker for the villain, probably because the way he was written was amazing.
Overall I think that the main focus of Girl, Serpenth, Thorn is Soraya trying to discover her true self and accepting who she is and I believe that the writer achieved that.
The book is well written and I really loved Bashardoust’s style.
Also, if I’m not mistaken, it takes elements from Persian mythology, which is not very common and I think it’s a bonus; the story is very interesting and not as common as you think it might be.
One of the most unique books I’ve ever read!
So just give it a try and you won’t be disappointed!

3.7

I loved Girl, Serpent, Thorn and it drew me in from the moment I started reading by painting a world that I was fascinated with.

Soraya was cursed by a demon when she was a baby and so has spent her entire life unable to touch another living soul. As her twin brother's wedding approaches, she must decide if she is ready to step out of the shadows for the first time.

I loved this book because it kept surprising me, and the roles that I had assumed for many of the characters when I started reading were completely subverted. I particularly enjoyed Soraya's journey and her wrestling with the question of whether she was a demon or a human. Her bridging of those two worlds made me feel more sympathetic towards the antagonists - and meant that I was constantly questioning my own perspective of the events in the novel.

A really interesting and engaging ready - had me hooked throughout.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Hodder for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

First things first, I enjoyed it. It was a solid YA fantasy, possibly on the lower end of the young adult scale, but that’s not a big thing, it was an easy, light read. I enjoyed the twist, with Azad and the Shahmar. I did see it coming, but that doesn’t generally spoil things for me, so I was suitably ‘shocked’ when it happened. Soraya was a pretty good protagonist, I mean don’t get me wrong, she wasn’t a total badass with a strong conviction in her choices sorta heroine. However, I think that’s to be expected with her life until the beginning of the novel. What she thought, her actions and her struggles were entirely human and thus she was convincing to me.

The lore of the world and the Divs was super cool, definitely gave a sense of hopelessness as well for humanity that their numbers will never deplete. And all the nods for Parvaneh. She was the star. I really wanted Soraya to delve into a more morally grey character and I feel we got a small smattering of that with the Yatu in the Dakhmeh, but she pulls back. We do get her questioning herself to give into that other side of her but having her go darker would definitely have made an interesting plot line and I would have been more hooked had it gone that way. Who doesn’t want the hero to also be the villain?

Check out my full conversational review of ‘Girl, Serpent, Thorn’ on https://twwbookclub.co.uk/home

I very much enjoyed this book inspired by Persian fairytales, especially the way it was written. I found it beautiful. I also loved the way it shows that you should not be afraid of your own potential and try to diminish yourself just to please other people. and the slow burn f/f romance? yes, please.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn perfectly captures an inspiration from the Persian myths as a retelling of the popular legend of Shahnameh as it creates a world of humans and demons, at the centre of which is a cursed young woman who has poison flowing through her veins and a single touch of her can force all life out of a living being. An excellently beautiful writing that rides through saddening yet powerful curses, the trope of turning villainous, and complexities around identity as well familial or romantic relations. With surprising revelations and secrets shared, this fantasy not only gives a plot-driven story but also sets its roots on a culturally rich world. A definitive recommendations for those who love morally grey characters, growing through mistakes, and queerness in mythology-based retelling.

What I loved:
The queer rep had me soaring up above the clouds.
The cover is gorgeous.
The synopsis had me super intrigued.

What I disliked:
The writing style took me a lot of time to get used to.
I found myself bored quite a lot.
I also should stop reading fantasy when I know that I'm not really a fantasy reader anymore so full disclosure, that is on me.

So...definitely not for me but I would recommend it to anyone who's into fantasy with some more diverse rep!

Imaginative Persian-inspired YA fantasy novel with a compelling protagonist and LGBTQ+ representation. The writing was very vivid, especially around touch and sense. Will be looking out for more from this author.

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Girl, Serpent, Thorn’ by Melissa Bashardoust in exchange for an honest review. It was published on 7 July 2020.

This YA/Teen fantasy was inspired by ancient Persian mythology. Soraya is a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. She has lived her life hidden away in Golvahar, an old labyrinthine palace. Once a year her family arrives to stay for the spring, including her twin brother, Sorush, the young shah of Atashar. Soraya is upset to learn that Sorush is to marry Laleh, her childhood friend. Laleh and her brother, Ramin, are the only ones outside the royal family that knows of the nature of her curse. She knows that she should be happy for her friend and yet feels bitter.

As her brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya is feeling increasingly restless. When she learns that a demon with the knowledge of how to break her curse is being held in the palace’s dungeons she has an important choice before her.

In addition, in the royal party is a young man whose eyes linger upon her without fear. It is intoxicating for Soraya after so many years in the shadows. She begins to question whether she is human or demon - a princess or monster.

I will refrain from further details in order to avoid spoilers though I will say that Soraya’s desire for freedom from the curse leads her down a dark path.

This was a wonderful tale and while it contains the often encountered YA trope of a romantic triangle, I felt that Melissa Bashardoust presented it in an organic way as part of Soraya’s emotional and sexual awakening.

In her Author’s Note she writes: “Girl, Serpent, Thorn is the result of my lifelong love of fairy tales (particularly “Sleeping Beauty”), a fascination with the concept of a poisonous girl in a garden from “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” and my more recent desire to know more about the myths and legends of my own culture.”

She includes notes on her use of language and how “the novel’s cosmology is a fantastical, fictionalized, and truncated version of Zoroastrian beliefs from ancient times.” There is also a glossary of terms and beings depicted in the novel and suggestions for further reading. I am always interested in this kind of background material and so its inclusion was appreciated.

While intended for Teen/YA readers I feel that this is a novel that will be appreciated by lovers of fantasy and fairy tales of all ages.

Overall, I found this well written with rich descriptions and three dimensional characters that were brought vividly to life. I have already obtained Melissa Bashardoust’s first novel, ‘Girls Made of Snow and Glass’, and look forward to news of her future projects.

Highly recommended.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an Advanced Review Copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Soraya is princess in the royal family and was cursed as a baby. Her touch is poison and anyone (or anything) is killed slowly and painfully by her hand. She is careful to avoid touching even insects as she hates the thought of hurting anyone. She has been kept hidden away for her whole life, staying in her castle year round while her family travel to separate palaces each season. Her family have now returned, and also brought a demon back who is currently in the dungeon.

I really loved this book! It is beautifully written with a great story, and a lovely romance too. I felt like Girl, Serpent, Thorn had elements of Rapunzel as well as Sleeping Beauty, but while it felt inspired by other fairy stories, to me it was definitely its own entity. The author's note says that this was inspired by Persian mythology which is something I know nothing about but it has made me want to learn more! It was such a gripping and refreshing read!

The romance in this story was beautifully written. It was so sweet and touching, and just felt so natural. It was completely believable. I also really loved that there was an LGBT romance too!

The characters themselves are also brilliant and well-rounded. I even found myself feeling such sympathy and care for the 'bad' characters in the story, which I think is so hard to do. I liked it was so multi-faceted! Soraya herself is a really interesting character. I really like having grey morality from protagonists, it makes them so much more engaging and interesting (and relatable!). There is a lot of themes around her finding her voice and working out what she wants from her life.

The story had so many twists and turns! I was gripped throughout the story and the way it ended was definitely not what I expected! Just as you think 'oh, that's that then', suddenly new events are thrown in motion. In parts I was so angry for Soraya and in others I was so pleased for her. This is a beautiful book about the consequences of our actions and what makes a monster. If you enjoy reading twisted fairy tales then I definitely recommend this one!

There wasn't a single detail about this book that I didn't absolutely love.

Bashardoust's writing is, as expect, of a magnificent beauty. It was one of the reasons why I requested this book. The other reason being its sapphic contents.

Soraya is one of the best morally grey characters I've read about! Her internal fight between embracing her powers and being "bad" and then her trying to get rid of her curse because she wanted to be "good" and free. It was a phenomenal journey.

Also her being in love with both Azad and Parvaneh and having to choose a side? Amazing!

(I'll upload a review onto my channel in the following days!)