Girl, Serpent, Thorn - Melissa Bashardoust.

 

Title: Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication date: July 7, 2020
336 Pages
4/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

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.

Review

I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. Yeah, I know that's might sound lame, but I have read many amazing books all because of a pretty cover. This book was no different. The cover is beautiful, the title intrigued me, and when I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book! I'm a sucker for fairy tales, magic, curses, and monsters! 

This book was a 4 Star read for me! I really enjoyed the story. 

Soraya is a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. She has very few friends, and her mother and her twin brother aren't around much. Soraya stays pretty much hidden at the palace - staying mostly in her bedroom and her walled garden. She is very lonely, feeling like she can't become close with anyone because of her curse. Still, she is always trying to do the right thing, and to make her family proud. She makes herself smaller, trying to protect herself and others. 

It's not until her mother and brother return to the palace with her childhood friend (who is marrying her brother) that things began to change. Because her brother brings with him a demon who holds answers she seeks, and a young man who isn't afraid of her. Soraya begins to question the tale her mother has always told her - of how she was cursed - and who she really is. 

I loved the "stories" that Soraya grew up hearing, and her growth in the story. I think it's important for girls to read stories about girls not becoming smaller to please other people, but really embracing who they are - with all their flaws and strengths.