Girl, Serpent, Thorn

Wow what a start from the moment I turned the first page (well swiped as I have a kindle) I was hooked, mesmerised, and spellbound. The characters were full of life and there was a lot of menace. The story felt at once familiar and yet strangely exoctic it felt like sleeping beauty meets 10001 nights. Just marvellous from beginning to end. The only slight hitch is that there were a few spelling mistakes not sure if that was due to the download to kindle format and some of the page numbers were in the print (very interesting just got a bit confusing at times).

🖤 She had read enough stories to know that the princess and the monster were never the same. She had been alone long enough to know which one she was 🖤

This sumptuous fairytale was inspired by Persian folklore and you can sense the vast myth and legend that must have been drawn on to create this rich and luscious world. I was quickly drawn into the mythical kingdom of Atashar.

The lead, Soraya, a cursed princess who fears herself more than any monster she could ever dream of was an interesting and complex character. Some of the choices she made were darker than I would have expected and I very much enjoyed that! This story took me so many places I never expected it to go and it honestly had me guessing until the very end.

Considering this world was built in just one book, I felt like I could really see and feel it and this was thanks to the beautiful, intricate and descriptive language through the story. I would love to read another instalment of this.

A Persian-inspired, fairytale retelling with a bisexual MC and a plot that will keep surprising you. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next, the author destroys your expectations.

With this beautiful cover, who doesn't want to read the book? I clicked on it just for the cover and I'm not ashamed! Mostly because it was a really good story. It's a Persian fairytale about a cursed princess who is poisonous to touch. It's not that kind of fairytale where the prince comes to rescue the princess. It has demons, it has blood and it has dark secrets.

The world building captivated me, I wished to be in that forest too. The characters are well defined with unique personalities. The story gives some retellings vibes but you will find out why at the end of the story (evil smile). The idea of the book is new for me so I really enjoyed my first book by Melissa Bashardoust.

Thank you NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful Persian story based on a cursed princess, who dreams of being normal and free and how her choices could threaten everyone and everything she holds dear.

The character development of the main character Soraya from start to finish was intriguing, her struggles of her isolated youth and her dark side were reflected well and the reader does feel sympathetic to her plight and invested in her journey. Even the villain of the story was interesting and complex enough.
The Romance of the novel was not the main theme but a subplot (this worked well for the story).
The world building illustrated Persian culture and magic pretty smoothly. I enjoyed this book a lot more than i thought i would.

Checklist:
Fantasy ✔
Romance ✔
Plot Twists ✔
LGBTQ Representation ✔
Beautiful Cover ✔

Title: Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Rating: 4.5/5
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fairytale retelling, Stand-alone, LGBTQ
Date Read: 25/03/20- 29/03/20
Review:

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust I received as an ARC from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. The book is due to be released on the 12th of May 2020. It is a stand-alone fantasy book inspired by a multitude of fairytales, mostly from the Persian culture.

The synopsis is as follows:

“A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse...

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster. ” - Goodreads

The plot I found at the beginning I was a little unconcerned about, I typically don’t like the fantasy trope of “deadly to the touch”, however, as the story progressed I found myself wishing Soraya would use her power and her strength against the people in her life.

I really enjoyed the process in which Soraya discovered and unfolded the mystery of her curse, enjoying that those around her would lie, as people naturally do in the world.

I liked the main twist of the book, as I was reading this book at the beginning I predicted I’d probably give the book a 3-star review but then I think the unexpected turn this book took was one of the reasons it went from a 3 to a 4.5-star review. The turn and the plot beyond it are definitely what turned this book around for me. I definitely believe that this is one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year.

Soraya was a very well written character, I cared for her which I find sometimes I lack care for many main characters in books. She felt real, she wasn’t perfect and she had flaws. What’s even better is she acknowledged her flaws and mistakes throughout the book, expressing feelings of compassion and guilt towards the bad guy was the icing on the cake for me.

She was incredibly thought out and likable for me. It was really nice to read from a Bisexual characters POV, which was really refreshing, though I am not a part of the LGBTQ community, I’m really happy that books are being more inclusive for the community and that they can find characters in which they can identify with themselves.

The writing in by Melissa Bashardoust was beautiful and in parts almost poetic. She had me empathizing with every character from good to bad, the details in which she wrote the complex relationships and the emotions of not just the main character was very realistic. When the characters expressed their feelings I understood where each and every one of them was coming from.

The Persian influences within the book were incredible, I loved it. Within the copy, I read there was an included section at the back explaining the inspiration of the book. Melissa Bashardoust explains the Persian language she included whether she used modern and archaic spellings and the Persian fairytales she crossed over with Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. This section I found very informative and I found I really appreciated learning about the original Persian folktales.

So in conclusion, I adored this book.

And I repeat this book comes out on the 12th of May 2020 and I 100% recommend you preorder it if you love fantasy books that have an alternative inspiration to just the classic Grimms Fairytales.

Courtney (ANerdyBookBirdy)

xx

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a gorgeously written, lush fantasy about a princess whose very skin is poisonous to the touch. As such, she is kept isolated apart from her family. But her brother is getting married, and a confluence of events brings Soraya’s greatest desire into touching distance (pun not intended).

You know that feeling when you find a book that brings together all of your favourite aspects wrapped up in brilliant writing and worldbuilding, hands it to you on a plate, and then makes it sapphic? Nothing like it, and that’s what Girl, Serpent, Thorn does so well. It takes a trope that’s alright as a het trope and makes it gay.

(The trope I mean is human girl falls for someone supernatural. Yes, it is better when it’s sapphic, I won’t be taking any questions.)

So obviously that the book revolves around this trope is the best part of it. How many times have I read a het trope like that and thought it okay but would be better when it’s sapphic? Too many. It’s about time we got it for ourselves. (Side note: I can never go back to reading it in a het context now, I’ve been ruined for it.)

I didn’t actually make any notes while reading this book, so a lot of this review is just winging it (hence the obsessing over the trope so far). And that’s because I was just too absorbed by reading to actually write anything down. It’s been so long since I read a book like that, to be honest, one that I genuinely did not want to stop reading even for the second it took to write maybe ten words. It just wasn’t happening. So that’s how you know this book is amazing.

If there were any tiny (tiny) gripes I had, it’s honestly that Soraya doesn’t have nearly enough scenes with her love interest. I mean, that’s most of what I’m here for, and yet! But really that comes back to the trope thing - I’m so enamoured by it I want to see more, and more, and yet more. Secondly, the plot does kind of drop off a little it felt like around the halfway mark. I was still absorbed and couldn’t put it down, but it felt like a noticeable difference between the third quarter of the book compared to the first half and final quarter.

But anyway. The conclusion of the book alone was more than enough for me to rate this the whole 5 stars.

What a brilliant and rich fairy tale. Such beautiful and original world creation. Oh it was glorious to read and explore the wonder that is Girl, Serpent, Thorn.
How do I begin to explain this book? I suppose I can say that it seems I have been waiting my whole life for a tale such as this.
A poisonous princess, betrayal and dark brooding villains.... yup sign me up you got me hook line and sinker. Especially when you throw in areas of Persian mythology.
It was just so well crafted, each character was neither good nor bad, they were all the heroes in their own tales. But never really knowing that they could be the villain in another.
No one was fully good nor bad, their choices and their paths all came down to experiences and influences.
This isn’t your cozy twee princess gets saved by the prince... instead it demonstrates strong misunderstood women.
Women who make mistakes and must attone. Women who do give into rage and desperation. Who do rise up out of ashes.
It truly is an incredible read.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn was a thoroughly entertaining read with wonderfully written characters and an immensely interesting plot. The story never went the way one would expect it to go, and readers won't be mad about it.

Recently, I have been struggling to find a book I really LOVE, but this was it. Girl, serpent, thorn was simply perfect.
Initially I was worried it would lack originality, as the storyline appeared to mirror Melinda Salisbury's Sin Eaters Daughter, which is about a young girl trapped in a palace who also has poisonous skin, but my concerns were completely unfounded.
The book combines fairytale magic, Persian mythology and the all important moral of self acceptance alongside stunning imagery and an enthralling pace. The result is quite an impressive read.
It was incredibly refreshing to see a main character who wasn't heteronormative or white and Soraya is a worthy protagonist in a story full of beautiful and powerful women. Azad makes a wonderfully nuanced and engaging antagonist, elevating the book from simply 'another YA fantasy' to something much more.
I also really applaud the (perhaps unconscious, who knows) choice to use a fantasy novel as a base to discuss overcoming an abusive and manipulative relationship. Soraya's internal conflict over her feelings for Azad, wanting to see the boy but knowing he can be a monster, is an obvious but also very powerful image.
The conclusion was thorough and satisfying. In fact, I was sorry to reach the end, so hopefully I get to see more from Melissa Bashardoust soon!

I'd heard soooo much about this and was definitely not disappointed. It was as captivating and well written as I expected. I'm usually not into fantasy but this was perfect.

What a joy this was to read. A blend of fairytales that cans to life on the page. A heroine poisonous to the touch must overcome her fear, her anger at her life, and learn to trust and believe in herself in this amazing story that really packed a punch. The writing was fluid and the characters fully developed. This fantasy story has it all, magic, battles, love, and plenty of action to keep me turning the pages. Thoroughly enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more from this author..

Over the past couple of years, I've been noticing that among the books I enjoy most are the ones that are based on mythology and fairy tales. Having a gem like Girl, Serpent, Thorn be based on myth from a culture that is all too rarely represented in YA fantasy is refreshing and made me love the book from the beginning - before reading this, I had never considered that 'Once upon a time...' is a Western concept, and of course stories based in other cultures would follow different rhetorical conventions. I had simply not interrogated the customs of storytelling - which is silly, given that I have done multiple university degrees in literature, history and related subjects - and I now want to go back and read as much traditional storytelling in a form as close to the oral tales as possible, because I am curious about how these customs of storytelling differ between cultures. So what I mean to say is that Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an amazing book, and has already affected me in ways I haven't thought possible for a single book. Or maybe quarantine is doing funny things to my brain.
Anyway, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is full of beautiful, lavish prose, evoking a world of mystery and betrayal. It is compulsively readable, and the pacing works well. The plot is twisty and not what you expect - there is no rescuing the princess in this book! Soraya makes for a great main character. Over the course of the story, she undergoes character growth, and develops from a mostly weak and scared princess into a complex, morally gray character to be reckoned with. She is also obviously bi - and I'm all here for that rep! She also forces her way into so much agency, something which is all too often sorely lacking in YA fantasy. Not only does she make mistakes, she owns them, she lives with them, and she actively tries to do better. We need more characters like her. The romance is slow-burning and seductive, which is wonderful too, but I don't want to say too much about it because I don't want to spoil anything...
This is it. We need more books like Girl, Serpent, Thorn. Publishers, listen up, and commission them, please!

I absolutely adored Girl, Serpent, Thorn. I read it in a day, I just found it so addicting.

I felt all of the emotions whilst reading it. Empathy, fear, shock (I mean I didn’t see THAT plot twist coming), love and anger. I felt them all, and I feel it’s quite rare to get all of those emotions packed in one book. A credit to the author.

It is a beautifully written book that I think will appeal to many. I personally love Persian themed book, the author clearly did her research, writing Persian folklore into the pages.

It has love, loss, resentment, a queer love story.

[this review will be posted on my blog, acquadimore.wordpress.com, on May 6, 2020]

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a standalone YA fantasy novel inspired by ancient Persia, its folklore, and Zoroastrian beliefs. It follows Soraya, the shah’s reclusive sister, whose touch is deadly because of a div curse.

It’s the kind of fantasy story I prefer not to say a lot about, one I’d recommend going into without knowing much at all, because it’s really short and it’s hard to talk about it without spoiling it, as it’s true for most books that rely on not quite being what they seemed. It makes so much sense that the original title of this was She Was and She Was Not, as so much of Girl, Serpent, Thorn relies on shifts of the main character’s perspective on the world and herself. It’s intricate in an elegant way (as the cover is); a little game of characters-as-mirrors that comes together in a wonderful story about the inherent power of self-acceptance.
The new title is just as appropriate, for spoilery reasons I hope you’ll decide to discover for yourself.

I could continue by praising the atmosphere for paragraphs, or Melissa Bashardoust’s effective, light writing, but I want to say that a big part of the reason I loved this book is that I, too, would fall in love with the moth girl. (And I did, of course I did, it’s Parvaneh.) The F/F romance isn’t even that prominent, but it stole my heart in a few scenes. This book is so short, and yet it doesn’t feel like it, and I mean that in the best way.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an atmospheric, almost fairytale-like story about growing up unloved, and the vulnerabilities that kind of experience opens; at the beginning of the story, Soraya can’t see other people, much less herself, clearly. (This also has one of the most chillingly realistic portrayals of lovebombing I’ve ever seen.)
It’s full of twists, betrayal, and trust, be it misplaced or not; it has as much beauty as it has thorns – and it has a lot of thorns, as the best stories featuring plant magic do. It also happens to have one of the best endings I’ve read in YA fantasy in a long time.

Ever since this book was released as an eARC everyone has been talking about it, I was go glad to finally read it and see what everyone was talking about.

I will be honest I thought in the first 25% I was going to get bored of it and it was going to have a predictable story line and they would all love happily ever after.

How wrong I was, this book took a major turn as the plot grew, and became a book I have been looking for were the female MC actually saves herself. The love interest wasnt how i thought it would be and refreshingly so.

Over all this book is in my top 5 books of this year and would recommend everyone to read it

Let's just start with the cover, which is exactly what I want from a YA cover and is just beautiful to look at. I will definitely be purchasing this in book format once it is released.

This book was so unexpected. What I was expecting for a fairly typical YA romance along the lines of Rapunzel,
who is cursed to be poisonous to the touch and is locked away from friends and family. While some of this still stands, what we actually get is an incredibly complex heroine who takes command of her own life. Queer representation abounds (bisexuality) in the form of sea monsters. Diversity in its fairy tale inspired by ancient Persian mythology. The writing is phenomenal. Excellent all round.

This is an incredible story inspired by Persian mythology. It is the first book I have ever read like this and it was a very interesting and captivating story. I was so impressed to see that at the end of the book the author discusses more the inspiration behind the story and she gives further reading if you want to find out more about the original story. This is an awesome idea and I could see all the work behind the story.

Going back to the story, in the first 10 - 20% of the book I had the feeling there will be a typical romance in the book. I am not such a big fan of romance in general and there are a couple of tropes I am not big fan of, but this book surprised me in a positive way. The twist was so unexpected for me and quite unique. I really enjoyed where the story took me in the end when it comes to the romance.

Soraya, the main character, is a very interesting person. I loved how her internal struggles were presented and how everything felt very real and well thought of. I cannot say she is a good or bad person and I totally enjoyed this. She is just complex and that is an awesome thing. She is also not just your typical hero of the story, which is another thing I enjoyed. She is complex, she is struggling, she feels very real.

I cannot recommend this book enough, it is awesome.

This book was a brilliant blend of Persian inspired mythology, rich world-building and engaging characters. Soraya's development from the shy, timid girl we meet at the beginning of the book, to the powerhouse we finish with was incredible. Seeing a well-represented bisexual female main character, who enters into a female/female romance, with the added bonus of the villainous love interest was nothing short of brilliant and kept me on my toes throughout the story, constantly waiting to see who would betray who and who would end up with the upper-hand. The beauty of Soraya's battle from seeing herself as this poisonous monster who couldn't risk getting close to anyone, to allowing herself to grow into, acknowledge and accept herself and her power presents and incredibly strong message of self-love and acceptance.

I read Girls Made of Snow and Glass in 2017 and... didn't like it. Seeing all the hype surrounding the author's new book, I really wanted to give her books another chance. And I'm SO glad I did, because this was... absolutely exquisite. I'm honestly thinking I should reread Girls Made of Snow and Glass as well, because I'm starting to doubt my own judgment (or like, sometimes things just hit different when you give them a second chance a few years later).

Like I said, the only word I can really use to describe Girl Serpent Thorn is exquisite. The writing, the morally grey main character that you can't help but love, the setting (which actually had the same sort of feel as Girls Made of Snow and Glass), the slow but steady unraveling of the plot, it was all just perfection.

Even though I don't read them very often, because it can be hard to find good ones, I really love books with morally grey main characters, because it's amazing to see their development. Here, the main character starts off so likeable, and throughout the book I found myself rooting for her despite some of her choices.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved Forest of a Thousand Lanterns.

This book was SO MUCH more than what I was expecting, I figured it would be another YA fairy-tale retelling, but I was wrong, and thank God. Girl, Serpent, Thorn is inspired by Persian mythology and the opening story was delightful.
I'll be honest, when I first started reading this book I was struggling to connect with anything as I found it a bit too slow but once it gets going I found it to be a really enjoyable read. Sorry for the cop out but I can't say tooo much without spoiling it! This is definitely a story you can go into without knowing much because whatever your expectations are this book will knock them on their head. 

The world building is incredible, it wasn't overwhelming and easy enough to digest which is always a bonus in my eyes. I struggled with the characters at first but once I gave them a chance they grew on me, I also appreciated the LGBTQ representation. They were intriguing, full of angst and longing. Bashardoust did a really great job of describing loneliness and everything that comes from extreme loneliness.

The twists, the turns, the betrayals, urgh this book has it all. We have morally grey characters, angst, sexual tension, a "meet-cute" in a prison, f/f romance (that has some really sweet moments), a poisonous touch, we even have a MC who uses her power because she wants to even though she knows the consequences of what happens and doesn't immediately shirk away from what shes done. 

If you enjoy fantasy, Persian mythology, morally grey characters, representation, rich world building and a beautiful romance chances are you'll love this story.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn asks: What if? in a lot of different ways.
What if the girl is the monster?
What if accepting yourself is more important than slaying the bad guy?
What if the enemy isn't the enemy? But what if he should be?

Soraya is poison: everyone who touches her bare skin will die. Hidden away by her family, she lives in the palace's shadows as her twin brother and her mother rule the kingdom. scared of her own power. But when she meets Azad, a royal soldier, he is not afraid of her--he admires her strength, and makes her see herself in a different light. Together, they search for a way to lift Soraya's curse, But when that search leads to horrifying consequences, Soraya needs to decide what she wants--and where her loyalties lie.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is such an interesting book! It completely flips your expectations upside down, looks at YA and fantasy clicheès and asks: what would happen if we did the exact opposite?
Initially, the plot feels familiar, almost Sleeping-Beauty-like: "Who could learn to love a beast?" But as the plot moves on, the focus shifts from Soraya's search of approval from others, and towards her own acceptance of herself. It was such a fantastic plot point, and such a great spin on the familiar story. I could talk about the finer plot points for a long time, but as this book is full of twists and turns, it is very hard to talk about them without spoiling some of the plot twists. So I will just say: This book almost never does what you expect it to, and manages to catch you by surprise a lot!

I really liked the characters in this book: all of them many-layered and three-dimensional, and develop so much over the course of the book! Especially Soraya had such an interesting character ark, and I really felt along with her, wanting her to succeed!

This book is perfect for fans of Wicked Saints or A Curse So Dark and Lonely, or for anyone who would like to see a different spin on the traditional fantasy and fairy tale tropes!

Be still my heart!
I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t holding out much hope after reading the first chapter as the various titles (satraps, shah, divs etc..) took me awhile to grasp but I’m so happy I continued!
Soraya Is a princess who has lived her life hidden away. Cursed with a poisonous touch as a child she’s lonely and the story begins as her family returns to the palace with news of her twin brothers wedding.
I really enjoyed the writing styles and fell in love with the main characters. I like how the story came together and the ending was perfect 👌
I’d Love a second book!

“There was and there was not”

… a girl who was cursed. Soraya lives her life in the shadows, knowing she is poison to everyone around her, including her mother, Tahmineh, and her twin brother, Sorush, the shah of Atashar.

“She had read enough stories to know that the princess and the monster were never the same. She had been alone long enough to know which one she was.”

Hidden from the world, Soraya spends most of her time in her golestan (a walled rose garden) or navigating the passages hidden within the palace walls. She longs to belong but can only catch distant glimpses of the life that could have been hers. She would do anything to break her curse.

Soraya wasn’t as easy for me to love as Mina and Lynet from ‘Girls Made of Snow and Glass’. This seemed fitting to me as it can sometimes feel like we’re approaching a caged animal when someone is hurting like Soraya is. We tend to push people away when we see ourselves as unloveable, making it difficult to accept (or even recognise) when someone is trying to reach out to us.

When we feel like we exude poison into the world we either burrow deep inside of ourselves or lash out at others, opposites with the same intent. Hurt them before they hurt you. Don’t allow yourself to get too close to them because they’ll leave you in the end anyway. Don’t get your hopes up for someone to love you for who you truly are because, frankly, who in their right mind would?!

“Anger and shame fought for control within her, and so she forced her body into the position of shame, because it was safer.”

As I spent more time with Soraya I began to love her because of, not despite, her pain. The pain of not belonging is amplified when it’s your own family that declares you an outcast, through their actions if not their words. I yearned for Soraya to find acceptance.

I grew to love Parvaneh, a parik, almost as much as I adore her name, which is Persian for “moth or butterfly”. I wish I could have gotten to know the other pariks better and wanted the opportunity to learn more about their history and culture. I also wanted to find out more about the other divs, the drujes and the kastars; I don’t know nearly enough about them.

I loved the way Persian mythology was woven into the story, and I particularly appreciated the ‘Author’s Note’ at the end of the book where the ways various elements in this story line up with and also diverge from their origins were explained.

I’ve seen parts of myself in all of Melissa’s girls so far and I quickly become immersed in the worlds she creates. I can’t wait to see what world she’ll invite me to explore next.

“It’s time for you to become who you were meant to be.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.

I loved this book!

This book tells the story of Soraya, a girl poisonous to the touch. She’s hidden away by her family, feared, isolated and lonely. She finds herself wondering what her life would have been like without the curse inflicted upon her as an infant.. and if the curse can be broken so she can live freely.

This story is a fast paced, captivating Persian inspired fantasy story reminiscent of a fairytale retelling. The premise was extremely appealing to me and I honestly couldn’t put this book down! I was hooked from the beginning. There are so many twists and turns in this story that I couldn’t predict what was going to happen next.

I felt really connected to the main character; I felt she was relatable and likeable. I also thought all of the characters were very distinctive and fleshed out and I enjoyed the exploration of gray morality. The world building was seamlessly woven into the plot and I really liked the writing style from this author. We also have bisexuality representation and a f/f romance which was great. Overall, I highly recommend this young adult fantasy book. It was dark, exciting and fantastical.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me this ARC. Definitely check it out when it comes out in July!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is going to be one of the top books of 2020.

The story follows Soraya, a beautiful young female who has been cursed and cannot touch any being. From years of loneliness, she dares to trust a new friend to help her get to the bottom of why she was cursed and not her twin brother.

Through heartbreak, betrayal and uncertain passageways Soraya finds that she has the power to make everything right once again - but will everything work out in time?

Melissa Bashardoust has written such a compelling and unique story, entwined with old fairytales and seemingly inspired by the likes of Angela Carter, this novel is one to be devoured in a long afternoon. It's a fantasy coming of age story that people of all ages will adore.

*Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the eArc to review*

I adored this story!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn follows Soraya, a princess who has been cursed with poison in her veins, making her poisonous to the touch. Her brother's wedding is approaching, and Soraya makes a decision whether to hide in the shadows, or make her way into the crowds, and this decision changes everything. Below the castle in which she lives, a demon has been captured, one that might have the answers on how to bring peace to her life.

If I'm honest, the start of this book was a little slow for me. I found that the terminology used to describe everyone's social status confused me, and I spent the first 20-30 pages stumbling through the story, wondering where it was possibly going to go.

I'm so glad that I did decide to persevere because what followed was a beautiful story of what it means to be human, the worth of family, and making decisions that could cost your life or others. I didn't really see way the ending happened coming, which I always appreciate in fantasy, and it bumped the story up from a 4 star to a 5 star.

This is one I'll be recommending for a long time to come.

I really enjoyed this book. Fair tail mixed with perisan culture and magical elements. She doesn't want the power and use it to curse others. This a very original book like nothing I've read before. I found myself second guessing at the characters who I like and whom I didn't. Alot if suspense.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust is a lush Persian inspired fantasy and a strong contender for my favourite book of the year.
As twin sister of the Shah, Soraya should have lived a life of luxury and privilege at the heart of her brother's court, instead she is hidden away deep in the palace, with only her beloved rose garden and her library to comfort her. Cursed at birth with a touch that kills , she has lived a life of isolation, loneliness and absolute self control. Since even an accidental touch could kill, she cannot risk friendship and cannot even dream of romance. When she hears a rumour that a captured demon hidden in the palace dungeon may know how to lift the curse she has carried for so long, she is tempted out of the safety of her gardens for the first time in years, but the conversation she has with the demon raises more questions than it answers, and leaves Soraya conflicted about what to do and who to trust. Eventually she must make a choice, and the consequences will change her world forever.
There were so many things to love about this book, from its powerful characters and beautifully lyrical writing, to its plot that kept me guess and on edge, and even its beautiful and eye catching cover. I was so engrossed by Soraya's story that I read the book in a single sitting, I was simply unable to put it down. From reading the afterword I understand the author incorporated a lot of folklore into the story, and I loved it, it really made the world the book was set in even more vivid and real, Soraya's journey over the course of the book was complex, from feeling like a monster rather than a princess to deciding to fight for herself and free herself and then to realising she must deal with the consequences of her actions, no matter how difficult. I also loved the portrayal of the relationship between Soraya and her mother, with all of its secrets on one side, and the longing for love and acceptance on the other. While there is a beautiful f/f romance in the book, it is not the focus of the book and I think the book is all the stronger for that , it really is all about Soraya and her growth.
As I said earlier, the author does include a section about the Persian mythology that inspired the book and the aspects of Zoroastrianism that were incorporated into the story and I found this fascinating, It is clear that this is a book that is close to the author's heart, a real work of love and I felt that on every page.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I love Fairy Tales especially Fairy Tale retelling. This book is based on Persian Fary Tale and is a loose Rapunzel retelling it follows Sorya twin sister of the ruler of her country Sorya was cursed with poison as a baby so anything she touches person or buttery dies when she touches it then she finds out and meets Div who has been captured who could tell her more and she meets Azad with a secret of his own. I loves the writing the twists and turns I wanted to keep reading and not put the novel down I shipped Sorya and Azad up to the point when we find out who he really is I love twists and then the relationship between Soyra and Parvneh had me emotional at points . This book deserves all the hype a great read deffiantly recomend to read this year. The Author is now on my list of Authors I want to read from. Thankyou so much to Netgalley The Publisher and the Author for accepting me to read this wonderful breathtaling and emotional fairy tale with all the twists and turns deffiantly one to add to your TBR 5 out of 5

I was so excited to get approved for an e-ARC of Girl, Serpent, Thorn, so thank you Netgalley for letting me review this book.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is set to be one of my favourite books of the year. Although I was excited about this book and story I was a little panicked at the thought that we might be on track for another Shatter Me experience and I just wasn’t up for that. Well what we got instead was a beautifully written story full of culture and beautiful characters, believable romance and a young girl finding out what it means to be yourself. I think the way this book presented itself meant that the pacing was brilliantly done and I loved the drama and the conflict. I think overall the best thing about this book was just how natural it all felt and nothing felt forced. It was really well done.

Ahh, I cannot wait to tell you how much I loved the characters in Girl, Serpent, Thorn. The best character was definitely Soraya, watching this young girl work out who she was and face the world alone was impressive, I don’t usually enjoy characters who are angsty but with her, it felt natural. I think it had a great set up with the story and watching her struggle with natural urges and wanting to touch and be touched but not sure how to deal with everything that comes along with that. It was beautifully done and one of my favourite parts of the story. My other favourite character would have to be Parvenah and the part that she had to play in the entire drama and I just loved her as a character. It was an interesting dynamic to watch and I thought that the romance that she is involved in developed so well and was so well written.

I don’t even know if I can condense my best bits of Girl, Serpent, Thorn down. This book surprised me. I knew it was something I would like, hence requesting it but boy did it blow me away in a way that I never expected. The world that this is based in is so beautifully written and the culture is stunning. I loved not only seeing all the characters grow and develop I also loved watching and learning about the mythology and the various mythical creatures. It was such a well-constructed book, and I don’t think I can pinpoint the best bits without spoiling the actual plot. But the arc in this book was so well done, and I was so pleased with how this all ended.

No worst bits for me. Nothing, absolutely nothing. I adored this book from start to finish and I can’t believe how enthralled it had me.

Recommending Girl, Serpent, Thorn to everyone! This book was phenomenal and I loved reading it and learning about everyone and the culture and the loves of everyone. I kinda wish that this was a series so I could love on it for a little longer.

I loved this book so much! Devoured it in a day! So well written, and i enjoyed reading about the Persian references at the end too.
One of those books where you think you know what will happen, but you're wrong! I couldn't put it down. So glad I have the fairyloot edition coming, so I can keep this on my favourites shelf!

This is, and is not, a fairy tale retelling. Drawing inspiration from the myths and legend of Bashardoust's culture (yet forming an compelling and original story), this story was as twisting as that snake on the cover, full of complex characters in a highly atmospheric setting recalling ancient Persia.

As the synopsis suggests, terrible mistakes are made, with suitably terrible consequences. These catastrophic errors are not only those of Soraya, our protagonist - almost everyone in this novel is blundering around, entangling themselves ever deeper into nets of their own chaos and regret. There were plenty of unexpected revelations... Everyone is trapped in their own way, but impressively they all retain their agency. This made for a whole host of incredibly complex characters, particularly Soraya and the villain, and I absolutely loved the will-she-won't-she dynamic as Soraya teeters on the needle of her moral compass. Soraya's mother, Tahmineh, is especially fascinating, as is her relationship to her daughter. We already know from the very beginning that Tahmineh is a pivotal figure.

All the female bonds in this book were great to read - not least the sapphic romance. I wasn't even expecting to, but I shipped it so much; it was just so tenderly written yet no less intense for it, and I loved how it developed. There was and there was not a love triangle. For fear of spoilers, that's all I'm going to say about that - just know that as someone who hates love triangles with a passion, the dilemma in this novel was pretty understandable. (Strong Darklina vibes at times.) I also enjoyed the lack of girl-on-girl hate! It would have been so easy to fall into that, but it didn't happen and I'm thankful. Bashardoust's characterisation and narrative is too layered to make drama out of something so superficial!

The world of this novel, Atashar, is full of magic, tradition, deities and demons - my first encounter with Persian mythology! I highly recommend taking the time to read the Author's Notes at the back. Of course, I didn't need the extra information to understand the story, as Bashardoust's skill with exposition and use of context meant the world took form around me almost seamlessly, without the need for info-dumping. Whenever explanations were given to Soraya, it's believable that she doesn't know this, so it didn't come across as spoon-fed information. Needless to say that after reading 'Girl, Serpent, Thorn, the archaeologist in me is dying to learn more about Persian history! I'm certainly going to check out Bashardoust's other novel as well, 'Girls Made of Snow and Glass'.

'Because isn't that what you do, shahzadeh? Aren't you made for death?

This cover and synopsis is absolutely beautiful and the story did not disappoint. I loved the relationship between Soraya and Parvaneh. They are so cute together. I also love that Soraya is bisexual and that that gets represented in the book. The story is just so rich. The characters and world building is done phenomenally well.

This is a very fairytalesque read but in no way does that take away from the fantasy element in this book. Melissa combines the two flawlessly.

The thing I loved most about this book apart from the relationship between Soraya and Parvaneh was the story inside a story aspect. Everything about this book is beautiful.

'She was a monster.'

Excellent story that had me hooked. I read this in a day and found it reminiscent of Naomi Novik's Uprooted. This story is based loosely on Perisan folklore and mythology and there is a fascinating little section at the end which gives some information on the author's influences and inspiration.

A glittering, vibrant rose of a book which left me breathless and wanting more.

This was literally my perfect fantasy book; A character who fights with her inner morality, A setting of medieval fantasy- but thankfully out of stuffy Europe for a change and into ancient Persia where magic and monsters roam free, And last but certainly not least the bisexual representation in fantasy we all wanted and needed.

This is my first Bashardoust book- and I can very happily say I am not expecting it to be my last.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is the perfect book that I am wholly satisfied with it being a standalone, but also the kind of read that I wouldn't mind spending my money on if it happened to have a few more instalments.

In the beginning quarter, I found it a bit difficult to push any further, and ended up rereading it to try and give this book a chance. And I am so glad I did. Because the character relationships and actions of our beautiful, strong Soraya were those of a girl who was a shadow of the woman she becomes at the end of the book. Everything I may have stumbled on in the beginning, became second nature and familiar in the end.

All in all, I freaking loved Girl, Serpent, Thorn, and I genuinely hope that by the end of this year it has a few awards to recognise the pure unending beauty, humanity and storyelling inside of this amazing novel.

If I could give it 10 stars I would!

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows the main character Soraya as she tries to cure herself of the curse she's endured her whole life: she is poisonous to the touch. It draws from Persian myth and legend to create a unique fairy tale setting with complex characters and a plot full of twists and turns.
What I Liked:
Characters. Soraya is a strong, brave, loyal and complex protagonist. I really enjoyed her introspection as she grappled with repercussions of her actions. She had such an interesting journey from blaming herself for everything that went wrong to realising that everyone shared the responsibility for events that took place. Similarly both the other 2 main characters were complex and helped Melissa Bashardoust to explore the shades of grey in mortality and how each individual is neither black or white. I also appreciated the exploration of gaslighting and the psychological effects it has on people.
Atmosphere. The writing in this book was beautiful, Melissa Bashardoust managed to weave together a magical and rich fair talesque world. It was transportive and consuming and she really bought the world to life.
Plot. I'm so impressed that the author was able to fit so much complex character exploration and gripping and intriguing plot lines into one 330 page book. Every conversation and plot thread had a purpose and I was impressed with the amount of foreshadowing she included.
Overall this was a spellbinding and captivating read that was truly exceptional. There really is no review that could do it justice, just trust me if you want a great read pick it up.

4.5
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a lush Persian inspired fantasy, with all the charm of a fairytale. It’s steeped in ancient folklore, but Bashardoust has woven her own totally unique story from her inspiration. It feels both age old and modern at the same time, and her characterisation is so beautiful and nuanced. I could just gush about this book all day!

Unusually for a YA fantasy, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a standalone, and honestly, it works so well as a single book, even though it’s only 300 pages. There isn’t loads of world building, but it’s so deeply rooted in fairytale which allows it to thrive one its own because we’re not starting from scratch. We’re starting with a magical persian-inspired world and creatures that feel vaguely familiar, and a magic system that is so strange and ethereal that it doesn’t feel as though it needs strict rules. However, Bashardoust still manages to make her story feel completely unique and self-contained within those 300 pages. Nothing felt lacking in the length or development of this novel.

The characterisation in this book felt like a constant push and pull of morality, from dark to light, full of self-discovery and personal growth. There was a sense of brutality about Parvaneh, in how dedicated she was to her family and cause, yet a lightness in her relationship with Soraya. Soraya’s journey was beautiful – I want to keep this spoiler free, so I won’t go into detail, but we meet Soraya as a young woman full of fear and uncertainity. Her veins are full of poison that she cannot control, and she lives in isolation, yet by the end of the book we’ve seen a shift in confidence and self-worth.

Our villain figure is an incredibly fascinating character, again with those same pushes and pulls of morality. We flip flop between hatred and understanding of his actions, and his backstory puts explanation and motivation behind everything he does. Again, remember this is a 300 page book!? So many authors can’t flesh out a villain that way in 500 pages.

The imagery of this book is where it really excelled for me. I don’t think I’ve ever had such clear pictures of characters in my head, especially as many of our characters have mythical elements to their appearance – take Parvaneh, for example. She’s described as having moth’s wings and the markings of those wings carried all over her body and face. THIS IS INCREDIBLE! I want Parvaneh’s face tattooed on my face. It was just such beautiful and creative physical character design, absolutely flawless and unlike anything I’ve ever read. This book is worth reading purely for the lush description; it really is a world you can fall into and become fully absorbed in.

Overall, this is a fantastic new addition to the YA fantasy line up. I am so excited to read more from Melissa Bashardoust, and I encourage you to pick this one up from 7th July!

A princess cursed to be poisonous to touch. Isolated and hidden away from the world, Soraya's constantly accompanied only by her loneliness. In a quest to find the truth about her curse she unleashes a series of events that only she can put an end to. Can a girl who's been protected and hidden away her entire life find it in herself to face both the world and her own flaws? Can she forgive those who have harmed her and most importantly can she accept herself for who she is?

This is a fairy-tale retelling and a coming of age story.

It was a fabulous story with enough twists and turns to warrant a one-sitting read. It had a whimsical, traditional fairy-tale kind of a narration which I adored. The characters are memorable, the story is excellent and it is backed up with some solid writing.
The representations are great too -
* Bi-sexual representation,
* Representation of people with body-image issues,
* Pre-Islamic Persian cultural representation which frankly is quite under-represented.

The only thing I found lacking in this book was the description, especially when it came to matters of attire or appearance. Half of the time I was left wondering "How does she look?" or "What kind of dress was she wearing?". It was hard to imagine without some pointers from the Author on that front.

Other than that, I absolutely have no complaints about this book. It was near perfection. A story very well told.

The highlight of this book is the Author's note where she lists down the cultural inspirations for this story. I was fascinated by that. The Zurvanism/Zoroastrianism references have tickled my curiosity to check out more on the subject of ancient Persian mythology. The Author's note was as good as the story if not more.

Recommend this fairytale-esque novel. It won't disappoint you.

Characterization: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

#NetGalley #GirlSerpentThorn #MelissaBashardoust #YAFantasy #4.5StarReads #InvestGrade

I really enjoyed this story, it was full of twists and turns, and I couldn't predict what would happen next. The relationships throughout the book were extremely complex and I really enjoyed seeing certain relationships grow - particularly between Soraya and her love interest later in the book. The ending was extremely satisfying, it was everything I'd hoped for.

Enter a world of poison, lies and secrets, filled with morally grey characters who blur the lines between hero and villain. A fairytale where no one is what they seem, and victory might mean surrender.

This YA fantasy is phenomenal. It has a cinematic quality and would make a brilliant film.

The setting was stunning. I loved the secret passage ways, Soroya's garden and even the darker locations like the dakhmeh.

Soroya is a character who will stick with me. She teeters so close to darkness I was never sure whether this was going to be a villain narrative or a heroic one, which made Girl, Serpent, Thorn all the more exciting to read.

Over the course of the novel, Soroya becomes caught in a tangle of family secrets and regret, with hidden motivations and a plot fuelled by misunderstanding and manipulation. Tension runs high throughout and it is very hard to put this novel down!

At its heart, however, this novel also contains a beautiful, LGBTQ romance which will leave readers swooning. It also explores the dangers of toxic relationships and manipulation.

This is also a story about learning to accept yourself, to reach your full potential, and not being afraid to embrace your true character. It is about isolation and feeling as though you don't fit in, but also finding your place in your family, even if it's not the one you expect.

In short, this is a beautiful, thrilling fantasy I will be recommending to everyone!

Ever since I saw the cover I wanted to read this book. The description peaked my interest even more. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me an e ARC in exchange of an honest review.
It was an engaging read. It's about a girl Soraya, who was cursed as a child to have a poisonous touch. She has been hidden by her family. The only person who sees her for who she is and wants to help her get rid of the curse is Azad. He encourages her to do so and is not afraid of her.
Soraya was accepting of herself and took what she wanted instead of being a damsel in distress and waiting to be saved.
Soraya grows as a person despite her flaws and I couldn't help liking her. A true feminist fairytale.

The plot was beautiful and was woven with Persian Mythology and folklore. I didn't expect the twists and turns. The writing was culturally lush, lyrical and engrossing.
The world building was good. I liked the different representation too like the morally grey characters, the Bi representation, Sorayas complicated family. The power of self acceptance, touch starvation (yes its real) the portrayal of loneliness..
It had many Persian words (the mythology part) but it was all touched upon in the end. The last few pages explained the lore. Very fairytale-esque.
Bad decisions, betrayals, twists and turns makes it a page turner. It was simply brilliant. I can't recommend it enough. Get your copy, you won't be disappointed.

This book is one of my absolute favourite books that I have read for the longest time. There is so much depth to this YA fantasy novel. The plot is twisted between fantasy and fairytale. There are many different obstacles that are fought throughout this book, with much adventure. The plot details a girl who is poisonous to the touch, a concept I have personally not come across before! I would have loved to see more books in this world, but to my understanding this book is a standalone novel. There is aspects of powerful female roles in this book and I absolutely loved it, self rescue! That is something I haven;t read in a long time. The lead characters Soraya and her twin Sorush are fabulous, they cannot touch any other living creature without causing them to die. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hodderscape for this advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own.

An excellent fantasy book that kept me hooked till the last page.
I loved the unusual world building, the well thought characters and the plot that flows.
This is the first book by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I loved this book!
The dynamic between the characters are so delicious to read, the dialogues... Awesome!

This is a brilliant Persian Fairytale inspired fantasy full of magic, deception and secrets.

4.75 Stars

Synopsis: “There was and there was not.” Soraya is cursed, her touch is poisonous and she lives her life in the shadows. She is a princess unable to be with her own family but things are about to change. For the first time in her life she may be able to get the answer she so desperately wants – how to be free. But just how far is she willing to go, and what consequences will arise as a result of her choices? And what truly makes you a monster?

Girl, Serpent, Thorn, by Melissa Bashardoust is a brilliant and imaginative fairytale inspired story with dark and monstrous twists that are captivating and compelling. This book is beautifully written, the prose flows easily and the descriptions are gorgeously crafted. Each of the settings are vivid and come to life due to the immersive imagery and beautiful descriptions, the writing is evocative and emotive creating a strong atmosphere and empathy allowing a strong connection with the characters.

The narrative is strong and intriguing as we read from the perspective Soraya who has spent her life in the shadows due to her curse. Her perspective is interesting because it is limiting but also insightful – she craves human connection but even the slightest touch from her would kill them, she is fully aware of the consequences of her curse but why it was cast upon her is a mystery. Moreover, despite being royalty she doesn’t have much knowledge regarding the monsters that threaten their lands so as she finds out more information more mystery is built up. The limits of her perspective allows this story to be full of tension and mystery, all of which makes you want to keep reading.

Due to the narration we get a lot of insight into Soraya’s thoughts and feelings allowing us to understand her behaviour even when it seems rash or the decision seems poor because to her it is justified. Soraya deals with a lot of internal conflicts over the course of the story from feeling neglected to battling with whether or not she herself is or will be a monster – it ties in nicely with the themes of identity as Soraya is trying to figure out who she truly is as she tries to understand her curse. The realistic struggles of who she truly is combined with the physical struggles of those who begin to oppose her work extraordinarily well together in order to create a deep and dynamic story.

I will admit that initially this story seemed rather formulaic – very much fitting the fairytale narrative – but I was definitely proven wrong. While the story starts with some classic fairytale motifs it takes a drastic and captivating turn that truly turns this story into something much more original and unique. The plot twists and shocking turns in this book really makes it stand out and turns this fairytale into a delightfully monstrous but charming tale with a thrilling dark streak. I loved absolutely every minute of this story and thoroughly enjoyed the plot as Soraya is forced to make more difficult decisions and untrustworthy alliances in order to achieve what she wants most.

The story is very compelling, as it the worldbuilding and magic. The monsters and magic are very intriguing and make for a multi-layered world full of depth. I really loved the exploration of morality through the monsters and Soraya herself as we are challenged to see what truly makes someone a monster.

The characters in this story are brilliant, they are realistic because they have flaws, their desperation or ambitions actually lead them to make challenging decisions and their relationships are complex. (Representation: Bisexual MC) I loved all the characters in this story, and particularly Soraya’s story arc, but as a whole the entire cast is excellently written, the villains are compelling and cruel, morally grey characters and choices are challenged and the resolutions are unexpectedly satisfying.

The ending of the story was something I particularly loved for many reasons but specifically I like how it rounded off on the theme of self-identity and solved the conflict between human and monster. This story was truly outstanding and memorable, a fantastic read and the Persian Fairytale influences are prominent but unique.

I definitely recommend this to fairytale lovers, fantasy lovers and anyone looking for a thrilling dark fairytale read with excellent characters and an epic story.

*Thanks to #netgalley #Hodder&Stoughton #Flatironbooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review*

Bashardoust has such an evocative, beautiful style of writing that I never fail to get completely entranced by. It happened with her debut Girls Made of Snow and Glass and it happened again with this gorgeous tale inspired by Persian mythology. I love how her stories feel like legends of old, with this magic surrounding them. Also, the fact that they’re so enveloping in terms of plot and scale, yet are perfectly encapsulated as standalones really shows her skill. She really excels at reimagining and adapting fairy-tales through her own, utterly unique lens.

Here, she has woven such a lush, rich fantasy with an expansive mythology and intricately detailed world that I could easily envision. The mythology felt really fleshed out and enjoyable, showing how she had brought in elements of Persian mythology, but had tinkered with them just enough to create an intoxicating, original tale. Basically, Bashardoust has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me.

I really loved Soraya as a protagonist as she had such a strong voice and I really enjoyed spending time in her head. She’s no clear-cut Disney princess, instead she’s a morally grey, conflicted almost anti-heroine. Her whole life has been spent in isolation and fear of herself, stewing her emotions up in such a way that leads to a really believable pull between light and dark. This is fundamentally her story, the events unfold around her own journey of self-discovery and search for her identity. I also loved how dark she went at times, as often authors hold their protagonists back from truly awful acts but Soraya goes there in order to protect herself and her people.

The rest of our characters are also really strong and well-crafted. Their appearances are often deceiving, with far more depth to them than meets the eye. They all have their own loyalties and secrets that gradually come to light. The villain in particular is a fascinating character, with their toxicity hiding in the background of their character with subtle hints leading up to the big reveal. Manipulation lies at the heart of the book, as well as a lot of discussion around our perceptions of ourselves and others. Also, the romance in the book feels very natural and builds gradually, rather than being insta-love. The progression is thought-out and believable, with the chemistry crackling beneath the whole time.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a gorgeous, sapphic fairy-tale that will cast a spell on you from a master of the form.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a rich, Persian-inspired feminist fairytale steeped in Iranian culture that sweeps you up within the first couple of pages and doesn't let you go until the conclusion. It is heavily influenced by the nineteenth-century short story Rappacini’s Daughter and follows semi-protagonist Soraya, the twin sister of the Shah, the ruler of the country, who has a peculiar condition; she is poisonous to the touch due to a curse bestowed upon her by a div (demon) meaning if she comes into contact with another person or living creature they die almost instantly. Cursed from birth, she hides away from the world behind the palace walls but hopes beyond hope that she can somehow attend her twin brother's upcoming nuptials. In her fight to free herself from her curse, she seeks out a demon who seemingly holds the answers she is looking for. When a captured div is brought to the palace she decides to talk with her and ask how to break free from the ties that bind her.

This is a richly imagined and spellbinding mix of Persian and Zoroastrian mythology which creates a intensely captivating and intriguing story with a series of unpredictable and well-executed twists in the tale. Soraya is what really makes this tale as riveting as it is; she's morally grey and conflicted on whether she is a monster or princess. This is a recurring theme throughout the book and raises the topics of fate, identity and belonging and the conflicts we often have within our own heads. Watching Soraya evolve and grow into her own was especially engrossing. There was also LGBTQ+ representation which fitted perfectly with the narrative and wasn't overdone. This is a lush and beautifully developed world and some of the most incredible worldbuilding I've encountered in a while. It is subversive, original, lyrical and asks the question: what does it mean to be a monster? Highly recommended. Many thanks to Flatiron Books for an ARC.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a magical Persian inspired fantasy, with notes of fairytales and epics. Also, it's sapphic! It's a truly wonderful story, like a layered pastry where each layer just makes it more and more delicious. There are so many elements at play here, from characters to plot to unexpected reveals to romance, and Melissa Bashardoust weaves everything together deftly and with confidence.

While the main reveal of the plot actually occurs fairly early on, the rest of the book still carries the high stakes and sharp turns that were set up by this reveal. Without going into spoiler-y detail, there's a pretty massive plot twist fairly close to the beginning, but in a way that makes you look back and think 'wow, there were so many hints to this, I can't believe I didn't realise' or alternatively 'yes, I was right! But I also really didn't want to be right'. It's with this twist that the stakes rise through the roof, with a kingdom and Soraya's family on the line.

A lot of the story is character driven, especially by Soraya, our main character. She's been living with a curse, never being able to touch a living being, not even the powerful div that threaten her country. She's a very complex character, who does a lot of thinking about how her curse affects her motivations, and whether having such power over others drives her ambition and can turn it dark. This is a really fascinating perspective to have, especially considering the lengths she feels she could go with it, as well as the lengths she goes to get rid of it. In a way, she's an immensely morally grey character because of her actions, and also because of the way she grapples with the reality of this curse. She's also not completely defined by her curse and her poison, because she's cultivated a certain set of skills and she is able to adapt to situations and think on her feet. Having a character like this as the main character was really awesome, and it made the book a really gripping read because of how versatile Soraya was as a character and because of the potential she had in so many ways.

The characters in general were well fleshed out and balance each other well, notably the antagonist. He was very much a parallel to Soraya, especially in terms of what makes a monster and the role that free will plays in deciding what to do with the expectations that people have of you, and how you can control or give into these expectations. There was a lot of nuance to his character but also a lot of finality to the idea that your actions have impact on others and choosing to harm is going to change you. Parvaneh was another complex character, though in a more subtle way. She also parallels Soraya and the antagonist, though in a more subversive way, and her layered backstory as well as the fact that she is a div weaves an interesting thread into the way the plot plays out. She's never just treated as a tool to change Soraya's perspective though, which I really appreciated.

Though the romance is fairly subtle, it's still really wonderful. There's a decent amount of pining and of tension, especially in terms of how it occurs alongside the plot, and there's really something quite tangibly satisfying about a good enemies to reluctant allies to lovers relationship. It's also something that's treated in much the same way as the straight potential romance, which was very enjoyable to see. Soraya's attraction to one or the other these two people is never invalidated solely because of her attraction to the other person, which I also really liked.

The prose is beautiful, captivating the reader in a way that adds depth to the experience of reading. The narration was particularly on-point, and everything felt like it added to the story. The pacing was also excellent, balancing the plot development needed in a single fantasy book while also taking the time to indulge in the world and the characters.

If fairytales or epic fantasy or stories examining what makes a monster and what doesn't, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is absolutely the book for you. It's layered and packed with little tidbits, and only gets better as it lingers in the edges of your mind post-finishing it, piecing together the hidden intricacies. I highly enjoyed it and I strongly encourage picking it up if anything in this review appealed to you.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Inspired by Persian mythology, well you had me there. I was going to love this from that alone and I really wasn’t disappointed. This story is beautifully written, the world building is fantastic and the characters are just perfect, three dimensional and well developed. It’s a wonderful fantasy world, with great representation, the romance subtle and not the main plot, this was about strong women, not perfect but real imperfect and flawed strength. I absolutely loved it. I really do recommend you read this, you won’t regret it.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC of this book!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a Persian inspired fairytale that centers around a princess who is poison to everyone she touches. In desperation, in a want so adeptly described I felt it too, Soraya (our poison girl) seeks out a demon to try and find the solution to her problems. When her choices lead to dire consequences to everyone and everything she knows and loves, she has to figure out who it is that she is and who it is that she wants to be.

This story was so rich with emotion. I swayed with Soraya. When she longed for her life with her family, so did I. When she longed to give in to the flame inside her, the anger and bitterness, I longed for it to. The love triangle isn't a triangle so much as it is a war Soraya has within herself over the two sides of the flame that burns inside her. The bi rep was well done and much appreciated, and though the romance in the book is important to the story and the way it plays out, it feels secondary overall and Soraya's journey from helpless to heroine

The story is filled with Persian mythology and culture, and the visuals provided by the author are all richly described, down to the clothing. I felt like a part of the story while I was reading, and really wish I could get a book two from this! I'd love to see where Soraya's journey goes.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fairytales, sweet Sapphic moments, and a burning desire to give into the dark.

From the moment I read the blurb, I knew I wanted to read this book. Girl, Serpent, Thorn is the story of a girl cursed from birth. Her skin is poisonous and if she touches someone, that person dies. Soraya lives hidden from the world, but as her brother’s wedding approaches, hope surfaces in the form of a demon trapped in the palace’s dungeon. So begins a journey as Soraya discovers how far she will go for freedom, and who she really is, girl or monster, in the process.

I read this book in a matter of hours. From the start, I was drawn in by Soraya’s character and the image the author evokes as we first meet her. As the story unfolds and we delve further into the world and the plot, I was even more captivated. It takes a lot of the usual expectations of the cursed princess story and subverts them. That the book is based on Persian culture, myths and fairytales, is also a refreshing step away from Western stories that fill up a lot of bookshop shelves.

While the core cast is very small, with only a few built up across numerous scenes, the secondary characters still come across strongly, as if they could step of the page. Even so, the weakest part of the book for me was the villain as I struggled to get under their skin and, despite taking up a large amount of page space, the impact they made on me was far less than some of the other characters, including one that only had about two lines!

Overall, I really loved reading this book. The writing was beautiful and the pacing was really well done, that is was easy to just keep turning the page. Girl, Serpent, Thorn a standalone which is both a blessing and a curse – I would have loved to see this story expanded on over multiple books, or even see Soraya’s story continue in a sequel, but there is something special about a fantasy book that works well on its own.

Soraya is the twin sister of the Shah, the king of her country. She should’ve grown up as a princess and member of court, but instead she was hidden away and most people don’t know that she exists. Soraya is poisonous to the touch, and anyone that she comes into contact with dies in seconds.

I loved this book!

Firstly, this book draws from Persian myths, which was an immediate plus before I’d even started to read! The world that Bashardoust built up was vivid, and I loved learning more about it. At the end of the book, Bashardoust includes an appendix of sorts, where she goes over what each element of the novel was based off of, and gives summaries of the original stories that went into the making of this book. I really appreciated that. It provided more context to what I’d just read, helped me understand what aspects had come from the myths and what aspects hadn’t, and also served as a pronunciation guide. I came away from this having learned something new!

I’ve been burned before by another book that had a similar premise to this one, there being a princess who’s poisonous to the touch, when it turned out that the princess in question was not in fact poisonous at all. This book follows through on its premise. Soraya is indeed poisonous. Any people or animals that touch her die within seconds. Following through on the premise is a very low bar, and it shouldn’t be notable that this book crosses it, but my relief when it did cross that bar was enough that I have to mention it.

Soraya is bi and - mild spoiler but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - this book hetbaits. I’ve only read one book before that hetbaits and it’s honestly such a glorious and underused trope. The summary implies that the ‘young man who isn’t afraid of her’ is going to be the romantic interest. He’s not, and we love to see it.

Nobody was perfect in this book. Everybody made bad decisions at some point, or made an assumption about someone that wasn’t true, or something else along those lines. They were all people, and they all felt real. I have Opinions™ about certain characters’ actions, but I understand why each of them did what they did. That kind of complexity is exactly the kind of thing I look for in stories. Even the villain was understandable to a degree.

Something that I really liked was the exploration of emotional abuse, and the tactics that abusers use to manipulate, isolate, and control their victims. I can’t go into much more detail without spoiling a large amount of the book, but Bashardoust handled this extremely well. The Darkling wishes he had what Azad has. But if emotional abuse is a trigger for you, then be aware that it’s very present throughout this book.

Also, the true romantic relationship in this book was lovely! Soraya needed someone who accepted her for who she truly was, and it was great to see her give that acceptance right back. I love these two a lot and I hope they live a long and happy life together!

In case it wasn’t clear by now, I recommend this to everyone. It’s well written, you’ll probably learn something new, it’ll help you learn how to spot abusive behaviours, and the main relationship was a joy to read!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn was amazing fantasy based on Persian mythology that revolved around cursed princess and her efforts of trying to free herself from curse. It was about good vs evil, choices and its consequences, accepting flaws than fearing it, finding beauty in imperfections, family, loyalty, love, and betrayal.

Writing was flawless, compelling and magical. It was written in third person narrative told from Soraya’s perspective. There was fabulous world building, interesting and mysterious character and gradual character development with a little bit romance.

As soon as I started reading this book, I knew I’m going to like this. The beginning was fantastic. A mother telling her daughter a story about a girl how she was cursed by a demon and birthed a princess with poison in her blood, a curse, whoever she touch will die. But it was not just story but reality of Soraya. Approaching marriage of her brother, a demon imprisoned in dungeon who might help in finding answers about her curse, and a boy who was not afraid of her curse, ready to help and understood her more than her family, put her in situation she never imagined she would found herself in and couldn’t come out of it without putting her family in danger. Her one question started a untoward chain reaction. It was interesting find out who was that boy, if demon will help her or not, how she would free herself from curse and save her family.

I loved this concept of girl alone in her room and garden craving for touch and love, deceived by a demon and found help from another demon to right the wrong she did, and save her family. Cover and title was perfect and made more sense after reading the book.

Lot of things happened in first half that described world, Soraya’s story, about her family and Golvahar, lies she discovered and range of emotions she felt in trying to get rid of her curse. Some things I could see coming like- Demon in prison was mysterious, she was keeping some secrets but I could see spark of relationship between them which we don’t see igniting until second half of the book. And mainly I knew, that new boy looked too good to be true. Something was off about him, no matter how convenient he sounded, and I feared for Soraya. I knew she was putting her faith in wrong place but I was curious to see what that boy wanted and when he would show his true color. When he did, I must say I was surprised. I didn’t expect what was revealed and I was not sure what would happen next. Second half was all about Soraya’s development, her conflicts, knowing love for first time, and many twists and turns.

Soraya was great. Usually when heroine shows weakness and self-doubt in half of the book, I get frustrated but here it felt right and real. Even though she was most powerful in realm, most deadly person, she felt low and fearful. She didn’t see her curse as untouchable power but a poison, and she feared for herself, for her family and people who might come near her. Her fear made her weak, small, and yielding. But hope of getting rid of this poison, crave for human touch, companionship, happiness and her family’s love was too strong that made her want to change that about her. When she faced worst consequences of her wish and choices, we see how misguided she was. I felt for her at this point. I couldn’t help but put myself in her situation and from what she discovered, her actions made sense. Her intentions were selfish but felt genuine. I loved the way she learned her lessons, kept fighting for her family even though she heard worst things from them for her mistakes, and how she found a way to make things right. Her guilt, anger, self-doubt, determination, a new experience of touch and love, it was all written perfectly.

All secondary characters specially Azad and Parvaneh were interesting and mysterious. I couldn’t tell whom should I trust and whom should not until second half of the book. They were all keeping secrets, told lies and will betray to achieve what they wanted.

World was best part of the book. All elements were well explored. There were maze of secret passages of Golvahar palace and Soraya’s beautiful rose garden, Persian terminology, different types of demons, their appearance and power, legends and stories, mythical creature, and spellbinding forest and mountain of demons. It was fascinating to read how author created world inspired by ancient Persia and its folklore. It all made more sense in author’s note.

F/F relationship was lovely in second half. It was for a short while but worked as breather in this tense and fast paced plot. Trust issues along with tension to save family made it interesting to see how they will confess their feelings to each other and when that moment came, I couldn’t help but smile ear to ear.

Climax was brilliant. With a surprising discovery, an emotional twist, and tense situation that left me without any hope. Even one last effort by Soraya didn’t work but then that magical effect and all that happened till the end was amazingly thrilling and exhilarating. End was perfect. My only complaint was I didn’t want it to end. I want more stories in this world.

Overall, Girl, Serpent, Thorn was fast pace and fabulous #fantasy with magical world based on #PersianMythology, and mysterious and interesting characters.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a book that I have been intrigued by since hearing about it and after having my friends Emily (A Short Book Lover) and Eleanor (Cosy Book Corner) rave about it, I knew I had to get on it and finally read it, and well let me tell you I wasn’t disappointed!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a book that is rich in Persian mythology and culture, and this is something I had no prior knowledge of, before reading the book. We follow Soraya, a princess who has been cursed since she was born. Soraya is poisonous and anyone who touches her dies. Seeking answers to how she can be free of this curse, Soraya seeks out a demon who holds the answers, whilst also gaining the attention of a young soldier who doesn’t seem to be afraid of her. However, when her choices lead to devastating outcomes, she must learn who she is, a princess or a monster.

My first thought of Girl, Serpent, Thorn was WOW! From the prologue, it had my attention and I was immediately captivated by this unique, magical world rich in Persian mythology and fairytale. As someone who loves a good fairytale, I was in my element and just wanted to keep reading, which is how I finished it in only a few days. It is truly stunning and honestly one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read it a good while.

Plot-wise, I can’t fault it. Everything moved at the right pace and I found myself becoming highly invested in the story. There were twists and turns in every chapter and there were times when I found myself gasping in what could only be described as a major shock. Girl, Serpent, Thorn isn’t afraid to leave you stunned and this can be seen as the main reason I couldn’t stop reading. As this is a standalone fantasy (which is very rare to see!) you don’t get much in the way of world-building, but that is more than made up for with the exciting narrative and character development that starts from the very beginning. Come to the end I did find myself wanting more, but I’ll admit that the ending does tie everything up neatly and I finished the book feeling very satisfied.

Soraya..what a character! I was drawn to her from the moment she was introduced. She was strong-willed and feisty, which all in all made her a very powerful female protagonist. I must admit I did find myself wanting her to keep her poison, as not only did it make her stand out but it made her one of the most distinctive characters in YA Fantasy today. Her inner struggles throughout the book made her seem all that more realistic, as we all go through that at some point, don’t we? That being said, I was more than happy with the choices she made and come to the end she was a powerful, confident character. If you want to see an example of amazing character development, then look no further than Soraya.

I’m going to mention the romance within Girl, Serpent, Thorn ever so slightly as I don’t want to spoil anything for any of you wanting to read this. I went into it knowing it was going to be sapphic and it was wonderful. Melissa handled Soraya’s sexuality with care and sensitivity, and even though it wasn’t outrightly discussed it was portrayed with all due honesty, and I admire that.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn was an incredible read and is a contender for my best book of 2020. For a standalone fantasy, it exceeded all my expectations and I am excited to read more work by Melissa Bashardoust very soon.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a YA fantasy novel, and it's one of my favourite reads so far this year. I absolutely adored this book.

The main character, Soraya, is a princess, locked away in a palace because she has been cursed by a div to have a poisonous touch. The poison runs through her veins and everything that she touches dies. She has her garden and her flowers, but no friends or real human connections. Even her own mother can't touch her. When a captured div is brought to the palace, Soraya decides to talk to her, to see if she can tell her how to break her curse. The book has good pacing, and it didn't feel rushed or boring.

This book falls into the category of fairy tale retelling, drawing on Persian myths and fairy stories. The book itself begins with a fairy tale, and then stories and myths reoccur throughout the book. I found this particularly effective for this kind of story, where myths become reality within the pages of the book. And the mythology that Bashardoust draws from is so rich and wonderful. The world described in this book is beautiful, mystical and magical. Persian mythology is not something I've ever really learnt about but this book has sparked my interest in it.

I also loved the characters. Soraya has a journey from being shy and downtrodden, rejected by everyone around her, to realising her power, her anger and her strength. She is resourceful and determined, despite her circumstances, or perhaps because of them. And then there is Azad, a mysterious young soldier. After meeting him, Soraya is sucked into danger, discovering secrets and lies, betrayals and mistakes. When Azad was first introduced I assumed that he was going to be the love interest, in typical YA fashion, but damn, that twist! I won't give any spoilers, but this story was like a rollercoaster and I loved it! Speaking of love interests, Soraya is bi, and there are lots of lovely sapphic moments which I really enjoyed, involving my favourite character in the book (although I won't say more than that to avoid spoilers).

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a wonderful queer fantasy novel that you should definitely read.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, and it went above and beyond my hopes for it! This book is a mixture of Zoroastrian and Persian mythology, which is woven together into a lush tapestry of imagery and worldbuilding to create something spectacular. It’s something so completely unique, and left me longing for more of the world, the story and the mythology!

Soraya as a main character is one of my new favourite female characters. She’s morally grey, and spends a lot of the book having conflicted feelings about her life and her actions. She has spent her whole life locked away and starved of touch, human connection and her family. She watches them from the shadows, never getting to be a part of the world she has been denied but it bound to. Obviously this leads to her feelings about herself, her life and her family being extremely complicated. She loves her family, but years of being ignored and apart from them is obviously going to build up a lot of hurt and resentment. There is also a lot of mistrust and suspicion, and it felt realistic because family can be such a complicated thing. I love that this was explored and not overlooked, as it was such an important part of Soraya’s character and journey! I really enjoyed seeing Soraya’s growth and progression as a character. She starts so timid, and really grows into herself, and realises who she is and who she is meant to be. Soraya is bisexual/pansexual (I’m not sure which), and so that makes the theme of self discovery even more important. It’s powerful and beautiful and I loved being inside her head.

Sorays’s relationships with other characters felt nuanced and were also complicated in other ways. There was a contrast between her family and the new influences in her life – Azad, a guard who notices her, and Parvaneh, the Div (demon) captive who seems to know so much about her. Soraya has been starved of love, touch and attention for her whole life, and because of this, the romance seemed really natural to me. It’s not ‘instalove’ (which I am never a fan of!) it’s a desire to be seen, to be touched, and to have someone care about her despite her curse. It was really well written, and didn’t feel forced. Everything in this book felt like it was there for a reason. There were callbacks to earlier moments, twists and turns, foreshadowing and important information. It all felt very deliberate, and the writing style was gripping and gorgeous. It captivated me from the moment I started it, and I couldn’t stop reading it.

The setting was beautiful. Though we don’t see much of the world, as Soraya is hidden away, everything we do see is full of rich detail. Of course the Persian inspired setting comes through and Bashardoust weaves together unfamiliar terms and phrases (for those of us new to Persian/Zoroastrian culture and mythology) into the text in a way that flows perfectly and never feels clunky. It made me want to read up more on the things mentioned, despite being given a basic enough understanding for the text which led to a whole evening reading up on dakhmeh, and another on divs and language. There’s even a section o0f influences and further reading at the back of the book which I can’t wait to start on!

Overall, I absolutely adored this book. It was beautiful, magical and everything I was hoping for and more. It’s definitely one of my favourite books so far this year, and Soraya is such an incredible character. The world is complex and rich, the romance is perfect and it has excellent bisexual rep! I can’t recommend it enough!

Characters
I will be completely honest and say that the first 30% of this book didn't have me hooked. I didn't believe the interactions between Azad and Soraya, but boy was I wrong. I'm really going to try to keep this one spoiler-free, but DAMN.

Soraya, Azad and Parvaneh are all so beautifully morally grey. Soraya is our main character, but both Azad and Parvaneh are equally fleshed out and the intricacies of their personalities are just amazing.

Azad and Soraya are the same in many aspects, and THAT is what makes this book so GOOD. They're my ideal her0/villain combo and I am thriving for it. I don't have the words to describe how layered and well-written this book is.

Atmosphere
I am a big fan of worldbuilding done by the characters interacting with the world, not through info dumps or unnecessary dialogue. This book just does it so well. It's truly like reading a fairytale. It is SO atmospheric and I was eating it all up. I felt like I was in the world and part of the world.

The stories and the lore are just...I don't have the words.

Writing
I read Melissa Bashardoust's debut novel, Girls Made of Snow and Glass at the beginning of the year and it was pretty mediocre. This book was way above that. You can clearly see how much Bashardoust grew in her writing and how much it improved. It's absolutely phenomenal.

I love how to the point her writing is, and yet it's so layered and perfect. I am here for it.

Plot
The plot is where I completely lose all of my shit. IT IS DONE SO WELL. Everything that's set up at the start of the book pays off, everything that's even just mentioned in passing pays off. The story is so well set up and I'm still reeling from it.

It is so intricate and the fairytale aspect plays so well into the overall story. I already spoke about Soraya being a morally grey character and her character arc is just so amazing. She really toes the line between what is perceived as good and bad. All of her reasons are so believable and I would have rooted for her no matter the choices she made.

Intrigue
I think it's safe to say that this book is intriguing. I'm honestly a little bit sad that I haven't seen more hype for it. A story doesn't have to be part of a seven-book series or feature mediocre faerie dick to be hyped up.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn has an intriguing plot, excellent writing, great characters and believable romance. It deserves more love.

Logic
The magic system and the entire world is inspired by Persian fairytales and it is so beautiful. The magic made sense and played such an important part in this story.

Honestly, I'll probably never stop gushing about this.

Enjoyment
Obviously it's very clear that I love this book a LOT. It needs more hype and I will forever stan it.

This book was received via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a Persian mythology based retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Soraya is the sister of the Shah and has been poisonous to the touch since she was born, cursed by a div. As a result, she lives shielded away in a palace, far away from her family, but when they return, they bring a new guard who seems to see Soraya for who she really is.

And what is this about the div in the palace dungeons?

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a brilliant retelling, entirely unique from the original fairy tale but still obviously inspired. Melissa Bashardoust crafts a interesting world, inspired by her own roots and family history. I enjoyed the details and it is clear the effort that went into its creating, from language to burial rights. All aspects work together to create a wonderfully immersive world that acts as a backdrop for this tale.

Soraya is an enjoyable character to read this story from the perspective of. She is a character kept isolated, who has feared and felt weak even in the face of her own terrible power. She is angry and jealous in a way that is completely human, even if she doesn’t want to be feeling those emotions. She takes an active role in her story, trying to fight for what she wants or needs, even if it doesn’t always work out. I also enjoyed her ending and the messaging of it - you may be thorny but you are allowed to be. I also enjoyed how her relationships developed and changed, both platonic and romantic.

(I won’t give too much away as it is connected to plot twists but I will confirm that this book has endgame girl love.)

The character of Shahmar, who acts as the main antagonist, is strangely interesting. He is complicated and twisted and yet obviously human through his demonic facade. Reading about how he became this person, how he was manipulated and had a form of destiny placed upon him, builds him as a enjoyable villain to the tale. His relationship with Soraya, wonderfully paralleling each other, also adds an extra layer to the story.

As mentioned above, I did enjoy the romance. At the beginning, there was some insta-love that I didn’t quite enjoy but, with the plot twist and Soraya’s situation at the beginning of the book, I can see how this trope has been turned into something else. The endgame romance is cute and fluffy and I did enjoy reading it.

Bashardoust’s writing style is poetic and easy. It reads a little like the fairy tale it was inspired by. I sped through the last 200 pages in a day because I was so eager to get to the end, to know what happens next, as tension built and built.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a unique twist on Sleeping Beauty, set in a world steeped in history that isn’t usually shared in YA, and has a decent message about self-acceptance - thorns and all. I look forward to seeing what Melissa Bashardoust writes next!

That I was going to love this book was never in question. Persian mythology, princesses and curses? Yes. All of it. And I did love it. So much so that once I actually started reading it, I could barely stop until suddenly it was over and I'd lost most of a day.
The first half reads like a fairytale. Initially I thought the pacing was a little off, but it really just had this dreamlike quality where one scene bled into the next, and the next, and so things just kept moving.
Similarly there were occasional moments where things seemed to happen too easily, or when information was needed and it really was as easy as just walking up to someone and asking, "hey, where are you keeping this secret magical artifact?" It was strange, but it also worked. I didn't really question it because the story just flowed so naturally, and in the quasi-mythological setting, it just made sense that secrets are just there for the asking.
And after the halfway point the whole plot starts to twist and turn in a way that I was definitely not anticipating when I first picked this up, but was no less delighted with for that. It picks up speed quickly, racing towards a deeply satisfying conclusion.
On a different note, Soraya has to be, hands down, one of my top characters of the year. She is just so heartbreakingly strong and genuine. It was easy to love her, and easy to hope with her. The growth and character arc especially are just so, so good. Words cannot describe.
I could ramble for pages if I let myself. The Hades and Persephone analogies especially had me gone like an absolute sucker. I'll certainly be throwing copies at my harried friends for at least the next year.

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.

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.

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!)

A princess locked away for safety. Not her own safety, but the safety of her people, thanks to her curse. A mysterious boy who sees her for who she is, not the title she holds. Sounds like your average fairytale right? You would be completely wrong.

What can I say about this book? I knew it was going to really enjoy it by the time I got to chapter six, and fell in love by chapter twelve. The storyline was intriguing and kept me wanting more. Soraya's character development was a breath of fresh air, not the typical 'boy saves princess and releases her from her curse so she has no personality' trope.

The book was welll paced, and I didn't feel overloaded with unnessecary informationthat you needed to hold on to for 10 chapters ahead. My only complaint is that the story had to end!