Melissa Bashardoust’s Girl, Serpent, Thorn is “an alluring feminist fairy tale” (Kirkus) 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 … 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.
more
Beautifully layered story bringing to life Persian fairy tales. I loved the way Bashardoust paced out the elements in the title and spent the final third trying to guess how “thorn” would appear and how it would change the trajectory of the story.
If you’re here for character arcs, there’s stunning parallels throughout the book—which really resonate upon finishing. The romance is a small subplot, but sweet (and sapphic).
This was a great retelling of Rappaccini’s Daughter! I fell in love with the cover, then the story, it’s characters, and world. The boy doesn’t always save the princess and sometimes they’re both monsters in the end.
Soraya has been cursed since birth- she has poison running through her veins and her touch is lethal. She’s a pariah and wishes for a cure. She’s lonely until a boy seems to not be afraid of her and she’s desperate more than ever to get answers. She soon learns that people aren’t who they say they are, people have lied to her her whole life, and all of her actions have consequences.
I loved the Persian influence and LGBT representation even though I was hoping for more FF. This retelling has a darker atmosphere and more twists than most and I had a hard time putting it down. Melissa did an amazing job with the world building, back stories, and character development! I enjoyed the secret tunnels and the dungeon, the descriptions of the divs, and the internal and external conflict. It was a thrilling and emotional journey watching Soraya uncover the secrets of her curse, the difficult decisions she had to make, discovering self-love, and her growing from it all.
Nikki’s narration was realistic and luring! She brought Soraya and Parvenah to life along with the other characters. Her voice captivated me from the start and her diction and pace fitted the story and it’s atmosphere well. I look forward to her narrating more stories in the future!
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request from Netgalley and have voluntarily left this review.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn I love the cover that’s what really made me persuade to read this story, it is fantasy, drama, love and so many mistakes that will make the heroine finally grow and become the characters she should be or supposed to be.
Soraya made so many wrong decisions during the story, I was just rolling my eyes, but at the same time, I believe and feel it was part of her process and also part of growing.
Many of the secondary characters were so crucial for Soraya growth, I really liked how much depth they add to the story and Soraya’s character, helping her in some way or another to understand.
Overall it was a good story but I rated 3 stars because I had a very hard time getting into the story, the narrations were too weak for my taste and that really ruined the whole story and book for me.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy but I do recommend the paperback version instead of the audio.
Monstrously beautiful and enchanting, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a fairytale for anyone who has ever feared the poison in their own heart. I loved this queer, subversive, lyrical and deeply affirming book.
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.
Last night, I talked about Girl, Serpent, Thorn book for over 45 minutes with my husband. I also had two conversations with my son about the book – once when I was about halfway through the story, and again after I finished it. I found I had a lot to say, and even after I read three unrelated books (all enjoyable reads), I kept thinking about the characters, the world, and the poignant and thought-provoking concepts within Girl, Serpent, Thorn.
The story follows Soraya, the shah’s reclusive sister, whose touch is deadly because of a div, or demon, curse. Hidden away, the only refuge the roses she meticulously curates, Soraya resembles one of the heroines in the fairy tales she is so fond of. Unfortunately, she sees herself as the monster in her stories.
When she meets Azad, everything changes. He makes her feel alive. Instead of the disappointment and resentment that plague her, especially when she thinks about her ever-distant family, Azad offers her hope. And when she learns of an imprisoned div that might know about breaking her curse, Soraya, with Azad’s encouragement, starts down a path that she soon regrets. Regretful of her impulsivity, Soraya works to fix what she broke no matter the cost.
It’s fitting that the original title for this story was She Was and She Was Not, since much of Girl, Serpent, Thorn focuses on dualities, especially concerning the characters. There were many times in the story where I questioned who was good and who was bad. I liked the characters that I wanted to hate, and I disliked others who were considered honorable and good. And then, in an instant, my views on everyone changed. The story blurs the lines between right and wrong as well as truth and lies and suggests a moral grayness that is fascinating to explore. There is an amazing amount of depth and complexity in the characters. All are flawed, all have made mistakes, and all show instances of kindness.
Soraya, for example, epitomizes the “she was and she was not” duality. She is a hero and a monster. She is selfish and selfless. She is wise, and she is naive. She is flawed, just like everyone else, and she needs to learn to love herself, flaws and all. This proves difficult, as she’s felt rejected and abandoned for most of her life and still lives in isolation and fear.
Unsure about everything, including herself, her feelings, and her place in the world, Soraya must look within before she can solve the problems she created. This is a coming-of-age story that skillfully explores the impact of abandonment as well as the power and gratification of self-acceptance.
Soraya has difficulty realizing people’s true motives. Everyone in the story has an agenda, and not all of their motives are sincere. Lies, betrayal, and secrets permeate the story and create a complex web of characters and events. The surprise twists and unraveling of secrets added to the suspense and the complexity of the characters.
Another aspect of the story that I adored is the love story. It’s fantastic! Soraya has never had a romantic relationship, but she craves connection. This desire, and her naivete, lead her down an interesting romantic path. She experiences more than one romantic relationship in the story, and they are both fascinating for different reasons. The love stories are an interesting juxtaposition – the relationship that starts with unfounded trust ends disastrously, and the one that begins with complete distrust continues beautifully. And I have to say, the slow-building bond that she develops with one of her love interests is sweet and true.
The world-building is as dynamically developed as the characters. A magical kingdom filled with divs, powers, curses, and more, it is vivid and fascinating without being overbearing in its descriptions. Stylistically, the writing is strong and feels almost poetic – alluring and flowing in a way that immerses the reader into the story.
With a masterful and fascinating blend of fairy tale, Persian folklore, and stylistically beautiful writing, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an enchanting story that I absolutely adored! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I was so excited to get to read a Persian-inspired fantasy book, and it did not disappoint!
There are so many twists and so much suspense right from the start, and I could hardly put this book down.
And I love the fact that we have a protagonist who is attracted to both women and men throughout the course of this book.
This has been the dark fairytale I’ve been looking for.
I just love that the inspiration has been taken from ancient Persian mythology (even if it was a little confusing to begin with).
Soraya was an easy character to connect with, I found the opening scenes highlighted her utter loneliness and had me wishing for her happy ending only 4 pages in!
This is a story based upon lies, betrayal and a thirst for power that almost consumes Soraya. There were a few times where I WANTED her to descend into the perfectly molded villain. There were also times when I was so frustrated with her, especially to always feel the need to lessen other people’s guilt.
I wouldn’t say this is your typical romance, it’s certainly your typical self discovery YA – but the chemistry between both potential love interests was fun to read.
Until towards the end, I really wasn’t sure who I wanted her to be with, as both were dark and neither thought of her curse as a curse. Both felt like she deserved more and both fought in their own ways to ensure she became who she needed to be!
The conclusion was so satisfying. It could only end one way and I’m glad this story gave me closure.
Things I loved:
A bisexual MC without the cliche that usually comes attached with them. The chemistry felt genuine and was just so refreshing to read!
The Author’s Note at the end help clarify the choice of names with the explanation of using Old, Middle and Modern Persian.
The cover!
Wish list:
The first half of the book is full of Soraya quite literally moping about in the shadows feeling sorry for herself. Initially I too felt sorry for her. I then started to worry that she was ANOTHER damsel heroine. Soraya needed a back bone when speaking with her mother.
I feel like the world building could have been mapped out a little better. Even now, I’m still a little fuzzy on the details.
The beginning was over complicated without really telling me anything that would have an impact on the story.
Would I recommend?
Yes, if you enjoy self discovery YA stories with a dark fairytale twist.