Week 16 Review: Girl, Serpent, Thorn

From Goodreads:

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.

My Review:
Oh I really enjoyed reading this book! It sounded really great, with a princess who is poisonous to the touch, and the journey that she goes on! I felt so badly for her, that she is regulated to the shadows, and while she makes some questionable decisions, she is in a very bad position! 

I loved the surrounding background details of this world, of the Persian culture that was woven in, the tales that Soraya has been told. That she fears becoming evil, just like the guy that her ancestor dethroned. It was so captivating to learn! 

That moment when she found out that one big truth, and all the others that unfolded from there, about the true story of why she was cursed...yeah, that was shocking! And if just a little bit more had been told to her, most of this could've been avoided, which is pretty frustrating.

When Soraya knows the truth, with the events and relationships that have developed in this book up to that point, well, I loved how things went from there! There had been some mentions that had me thinking that she was romantically interested in girls, and I loved seeing that play out! 

This was a fantastic read, and I can't wait to read more by Melissa Bashardoust! 

Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Read: April 17th, 2023
Source: Library 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2023 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, SAC 2023 Book, Sophomore Challenge Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Published: July 7th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars