Description
Product description
Review
Every passage is a fine cut gem, each facet brilliantly rendered to create a stunningly crafted fairytale about a girl and monsters and a girl who is also a monster. I truly loved this book. – Emily Duncan, author of Wicked Saints
This is a gorgeously written book set in a beautiful and dangerous world. I loved the vividness of the story, and the way Bashardoust makes stories matter in this book. I was captivated from the beginning, and absolutely thrilled with the end. Watching Soraya come into her own as a character was a delight – Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a tale a rose might tell, lushly perfumed and lined with thorns in all the right places. With complex women, Persian demons, a gorgeously twisting narrative, and the age-old question of what it means to be a monster, it had me eagerly flipping pages until the very end. I only wish there were more! – Shveta Thakrar, author of Star Daughter
Like a jeweled fairy tale, Girl, Serpent, Thorn glitters with twisty revelations, curses and dangerous transformations, magic and monsters and love – and at its heart, a girl who can kill with a touch. A thrilling, moving story of what it means to come into one’s own power, this book is utterly captivating – Gita Trelease, author of Enchantee
Review
Every passage is a fine cut gem, each facet brilliantly rendered to create a stunningly crafted fairytale about a girl and monsters and a girl who is also a monster. I truly loved this book. – Emily Duncan, author of Wicked Saints
This is a gorgeously written book set in a beautiful and dangerous world. I loved the vividness of the story, and the way Bashardoust makes stories matter in this book. I was captivated from the beginning, and absolutely thrilled with the end. Watching Soraya come into her own as a character was a delight – Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a tale a rose might tell, lushly perfumed and lined with thorns in all the right places. With complex women, Persian demons, a gorgeously twisting narrative, and the age-old question of what it means to be a monster, it had me eagerly flipping pages until the very end. I only wish there were more! – Shveta Thakrar, author of Star Daughter
Like a jeweled fairy tale, Girl, Serpent, Thorn glitters with twisty revelations, curses and dangerous transformations, magic and monsters and love – and at its heart, a girl who can kill with a touch. A thrilling, moving story of what it means to come into one’s own power, this book is utterly captivating – Gita Trelease, author of Enchantee
Book Description
From the Publisher
About the Author
From the author of Girls Made of Snow and Glass, this captivating and utterly original Persian-inspired fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch is perfect for fans of Natasha Ngan and Naomi Novik.
‘Monstrously beautiful and enchanting’ Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand
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 from everyone, 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.
Stephaine –
I didn’t give it 5 stars because it took a while for me to get into it, after a few chapters I was hooked. I couldn’t see the plot twists coming and I loved the storyline.I didn’t mind how the book ended either, I was happy with her finally decision. Best part was the ended being “beautiful but deadly”, I would highly recommend. I know we can’t have a book 2 but I’m always wanting to know more about the happy ever after😂 just me?
Amazon Customer –
This book started a little slow for me. For the first third or so, I wasn’t sure I liked where the story was heading (ugh Azad), nor did I particularly like Soraya… but then! There was a neat little twist or two, and the story really got going. Soraya definitely started to improve on me as a character, though she still isn’t my favourite in the book, and the dynamics of her relationship with Azad became really interesting. I really enjoyed the character of Parvaneh and how she was developed, particularly given who she is and what she had done in the past. I’d describe this as a mash up of a few different fairy-tales, but given a nice modern twist. I’ve seen a few reviewers say they’d have liked if the book was a series instead of a standalone so the author could have filled out the story more, particularly the world of the book, and I tend to agree with this. Some of the really interesting character dynamics might have been much more richly drawn with more books. Still, If you like fairy tale re-tellings I think you’ll really enjoy this. I did!
Bookbookowl –
Firstly, I need to mention this cover. Is this not one of the most beautiful covers ever? I absolutely love it!Soraya has lived with the knowledge she is poisonous all her life. Her mother was cursed by a Div years before she was born, dooming her first born daughter to the fate. Even the lightest touch of her skin, by any living being, spells death. When a Div is captured and imprisoned in the dungeons, she is willing to risk whatever she must, to ask the demon if they know of a cure.Together with a boy who doesn’t shy away from the poisonous green veins under her skin, Soraya sets out to undo the curse. However, things are not as simple as they seems and more than one person is keeping her in the dark with important secrets.Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a Persian inspired fantasy, beautifully written and with a clever meeting of both ancient folklore and fairytale vibes. Soraya’s inner struggles with her curse, and outer struggles with her brother’s seemingly much easier life, lent a more modern feel to the medieval tone of the story. What started as a fairly straight forward tale that seemed to be going to follow a well worn path, turned into something quite different about half way through. This is one of those reviews where I really don’t want to say too much, because I didn’t see the many twists coming and enjoyed every one of them, and I’d like to let other readers do the same!
Amazon Customer –
Poor history/background given for the mother and little given for the main character’s ‘curse’. The love story wasn’t believable either. The characters showed very little complexity and I just wasn’t feeling the connection between the protagonist or the two love interests. Let down.
Jasmin Lang –
No enough
I’m extremely influenceable when it comes to books. I get easily swayed by pretty covers, praise or recommendations by friends. Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust pretty much fits in all of these categories for me. The cover is – in my opinion – gorgeous and I’d probably would’ve bought this no matter what. But I’ve also read some amazing reviews for the story and saw it recommended by several friends and other people I follow.The story follows Soraya, a princess who is cursed from birth to be poisonous. She can’t touch living beings (with the exceptions of plants) without her skin being covered and lives in the shadows of the palace, unknown to most of the world. To be honest, I almost feared that a romance would unfold in which her counterpart was the only person able to touch her – however that might have been possible. But luckily that was not the case and there are no exceptions from the curse. But before I talk about the romance (which does happen), I’d like to take a moment and talk about Soraya as a character. I did take some kind of liking to her, but I wished that she would’ve chosen a different path throughout the book. She clearly had the means to become a antiheroine or villain and is seen several times to have darker thoughts. It would have been amazing to see her descend into villainhood and become the monster she always feared to be. But well, I sadly didn’t get that story. Still, I could see the motivations of Soraya and can’t say that I would’ve acted differently if in the same position.Talking about villainhood, I am not sure what to do with the actual villain of the book. While I did love the villain-aspect (complete with the arc and the backgroundstory of it), I disliked the character itself immensely. Right from the introduction I was wary and didn’t really grew close to them, having several supicious moments which turned out to to be true. Concerning this, I also saw a realtively big twist in about the middle of the book coming, or at least supsected it and wasn’t surpised when it happened. Still, the ambitions of the villain made my heart swell (because I do have a twisted love for villains and especially the dynamic that is featured here) and I wished that the character itself would’ve been different. That way I might have enjoyed the book even more.As I already said there was romance in Girl, Serpent, Thorn – actually there were two main relationships happening, which both didn’t really grip me. The first one just didn’t sit right with me and I wasn’t really invested in it (besides later when said realtionship turned one-sided and I imagined what could have been instead. THAT would have been a ride.) The second relationship turned out to be f/f, something I actually love, was more down my alley but sadly I didn’t get enough of it. In my opinion it would have needed more time to develop, so I could be more invested in it. Still, it felt more natural than the first one, though I still have my issues with it.What I actually did love (like a lot) was the mythology / lore / culture incorporated into the worldbuilding. There are influences of Persian culture and mythology but also a subtle nod to Sleeping Beauty. Bashardoust took all of those elements to form her own world to set her story in and I loved that. I’d also advise you to take a look at the Author’s Notes, in which she explains some aspects of the book and her inspiration about it. I loved that this was included and I am tempted to take a look at the resources she mentioned to learn more about Persian culture and mythology.TLDR:I enjoyed the story enough to finish the book (mostly because of the mythology and the cultural influences), but I wished that the story would’ve taken a darker path and that the villainous aspects would have been stronger.
Isabella Juarez Luna –
Entrw
Entretenido de principio a fin!!!
Kristel Greer –
A great premise but the storytelling left the plots and character development a little flat.
Stories have been told of evil deeds, cursed princesses and kingdoms keeping secrets for ages past but for Soraya, these aren’t just stories, they are her reality. She was cursed at birth with a poisonous touch that kills instantly while her twin brother was spared this faith. She has lived a life of loneliness and isolation without any human touch and few visits from friends or family. Meanwhile, her brother has lived a life of freedom, service and purpose and is soon to be married. Soraya’s absence from the wedding emphasises a lack of love and hope for her future.When temptation beckons, Soraya ventures out of her secluded garden and discovers two important things. A demon in the palace dungeons claims to have answers to why she was cursed and how to undo it but all good things come with a price and Soraya’s price might reveal secrets of her family’s past that could destroy her body and soul.The other thing Soraya finds is a young man who isn’t afraid of her ability to kill with a single touch. He embraces her and tries to show her the power within herself and the joyous life she could have if she only reached for it. But as he has shown up out of the blue and sought her out, is he a true ally or could he have an ulterior motive for coaxing Soraya away from the life she knows?When Soraya makes decisions that affect her, her family and the entire kingdom she starts to question whether the curse was put in place to punish her or to protect everyone else from her? Is she as innocent and as human as she always thought?🌟🌟🌟.5 I was intrigued by the premise of this book and the characters with their complex and fascinating backstories but was disappointed by how it all played out. It started well and had me hooked with the unsettling yet captivating curse surrounding Soraya but as the plot developed the story lacked pace and I lost interest in many of the characters. Overall, I found the book had a great idea to it but the storytelling left the plots and character development a little flat.
Jessica Krol –
Great read!
Lovely writing, easy to get lost inWanted more of the background info before I began to read it. Other wise, very enjoyable
Apoorva –
Refreshing and thrilling YA LGBTQ+ Fantasy Read
“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.”Rating: 4.8By far one of the best YA LGBTQ+ fantasy novel I have ever read. This book had me by the hook. I thoroughly enjoyed every single part of it. It is gracefully written, the quotes are enchanting, the characters are authentic and the character development and world-building is incredible.It is set in a Persian – inspired setting. The reader along with the protagonist, Soraya is in this perplexing state of dilemma, with not only their own but the integrity of the other characters in question. Soraya is a reliable narrator but not necessarily “the knight in the shining armour, God-blessed sort of hero.” And that is just one of the grasping points about this novel. Along the course of the novel, Soraya unravels the deep-buried lies and secrets which have shaped the lives of her family, kingdom, acquaintances and hers.It has betrayal, war, gory rites, hidden heists, treacherous characters and would utterly bewitch and invigorate you!!!Recommended to all the fantasy lovers seeking an LGBTQ read with a new and fresh narrative. This book definitely wouldn’t disappoint you.Now my loves and hard to loves (spoilers sorry!!)[Loves1. The characters were so authentic like damn I fell for Azad and the moment he turned into Shahmar… didn’t see that coming a bit. Although I was suspicious about his too perfect nature, it was still unexpected.2.Tahmineh: there were moments where I was furious at her, but in the end, I really sympathised with her. Her mistakes and past actions were understandable.3.The passageways of the castle(Golvahar)….these were nothing short of enchanting.4.The anthropomorphism with the roses and thorns in the Golestan.5.The divs being creatures with their own brains and not some dumb destroyers6. The emphasis on the balance between the concepts of “Creation ” and “Destruction.”7.The fact the author gives acknowledgement and mention to her inspirations from the Persian Culture in the Author’s note section.8.Literally flawless writing9.The LGBTQ+ representation. It was written real well and one could really differentiate between the toxic Azad and the angelic Parvaneh, it made me really emotional.10.The empathy one feels towards Azad/Shahmar on some occasions owing to his treatment as an outcast and the subsequent troubles, but yes he was a terrible person, although it was his family that made him the monster he wasTrust me I could go on listing the entirety of this book, and this review wouldn’t end, but since time is precious, if you wanna talk about this and hype with me of its awesomeness, drop in a comment below or you can dm me on Instagram.Hard to loves…….I really can’t think of any, I just……*sighs* I really loved this book too much.Thanks for sticking till the end folks!!!
Kathleen Lightfoot –
There Was & There Was Not…
“The daughter wants to crawl onto her mother’s lap and lay her head against her mother’s chest, but she doesn’t. She never does.It’s not just a story.”~I can’t say enough fantastic things about this book.I read Bashardoust’s debut a couple years ago, and thought it was fabulous. Her writing style is just — it’s gorgeous, y’all. I aspire to craft sentences as beautiful, as lyrical and poetic, as hers. As in Girls Made of Snow and Glass, in Girl, Serpent, Thorn, Bashardoust reinvents folklore. In this case, she’s borrowed from Persian mythology to create an absolutely entrancing universe full of magical birds, shape-shifting demons, evil sorcerers, and cursed princesses.Soraya, our heroine, has lived a life of isolation. Despite being the twin sister of Atashar’s shah, she has been hidden away from the world due to a curse she was given at birth — there is poison beneath her skin, and she can kill anyone, human or div (demon) alike, with a single touch. Desperate to be rid of her curse, she seeks the help of an imprisoned div, and soon learns that the price of her freedom may be more than she’s willing to pay.This is the first new-release fantasy novel to wow me in ages. All of the major characters are fully realized. None of them feel like they were created solely to fill cookie-cutter fairy tale tropes. They each have their own agendas, and even if I disagreed with their actions, Bashardoust made me understand their motivations and, a lot of times, sympathize with them.The story, though slightly predictable at times, kept me engaged. For the last 150 pages or so, I genuinely couldn’t put it down. I tried to space out my reading, because I didn’t want it to end — but the cliffhangers! Bashardoust really knows how to write good cliffhangers. There were also a few twists that really floored me.Another thing she excels at is fleshing out familial relationships. It was something I loved about her debut, and I loved it here, too. Just as fascinating to me as Soraya’s relationships with Azad and Parvaneh were her relationships with family members, particularly with her mother. Sometimes it feels as though fairy tale retellings focus too much on the romance of a story, but at the heart of so many classic tales are conflicts within families. Bashardoust understands that, and more than does justice to that theme in her works.Thank you so much to Flatiron Books for sending me an advanced reader copy through a Goodreads giveaway. This book was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and I was so excited to get the chance to read and review it prior to its release. I loved it so much, in fact, that I went ahead and ordered a copy, too. I highly, highly recommend this book.