Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Melissa Bashardoust’s newest novel, Girl, Serpent, Thorn, is a captivating fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch and the power that can come from such a curse.
Soraya has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens. 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 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.
Bashardoust is an exceptional storyteller. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, she flipped it around and surprised me! I love how she kept me guessing until the end. Once I picked up the book, I couldn’t put it down.
Soraya’s journey of acceptance tugged at my heartstrings. Hidden from the world, she craves companionship. It leads to her making some not-so-stellar choices, but as she works to repair the damage she caused, she learns to accept every part of herself, that she doesn’t have to choose between being a princess or a monster. Not only that, but she finds people who accept her that way, including her family. It was wonderful to see how much her relationships with her mother and brother changed from the start of the book to the end.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn’s setting was also why I loved it so much. I haven’t read many books set in Persia. I learned a lot about the folklore, celebrations, and traditions while reading this book. I especially found the folktales and enchanted creatures from Persian culture interesting.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a spellbinding fairy tale that will take readers on a journey they won’t soon forget.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn Rating: ★★★★★
Soraya has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens. 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 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.
Bashardoust is an exceptional storyteller. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, she flipped it around and surprised me! I love how she kept me guessing until the end. Once I picked up the book, I couldn’t put it down.
Soraya’s journey of acceptance tugged at my heartstrings. Hidden from the world, she craves companionship. It leads to her making some not-so-stellar choices, but as she works to repair the damage she caused, she learns to accept every part of herself, that she doesn’t have to choose between being a princess or a monster. Not only that, but she finds people who accept her that way, including her family. It was wonderful to see how much her relationships with her mother and brother changed from the start of the book to the end.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn’s setting was also why I loved it so much. I haven’t read many books set in Persia. I learned a lot about the folklore, celebrations, and traditions while reading this book. I especially found the folktales and enchanted creatures from Persian culture interesting.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a spellbinding fairy tale that will take readers on a journey they won’t soon forget.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn Rating: ★★★★★