Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Written by Melissa Bashardoust
Narrated by Nikki Massoud
4/5
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About this audiobook
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is “an alluring feminist fairy tale” (Kirkus Reviews) 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.
A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books
"With crystalline, sometimes sensuous prose, [Bashardoust] digs into her characters' motivations and manipulations, deftly keeping readers on the hook until the final, stunning turn." -- Booklist, starred review
Editor's Note
Steeped in Persian folklore…
This queer fairy tale steeped in Persian folklore is one of the most anticipated YA releases of 2020. It stars a princess who’s poisonous to the touch trying to break free of this painful curse by fighting demons, inside and out.
Melissa Bashardoust
Melissa Bashardoust received her degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley, where she rediscovered her love for creative writing, children’s literature, and fairy tales and their retellings. She currently lives in Southern California with a cat named Alice and more copies of Jane Eyre than she probably needs. Girls Made of Snow and Glass is her first novel.
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Reviews for Girl, Serpent, Thorn
293 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I find that the witld-building was very interesting, the pace kept me intrigued, and the writing flowed easily but I didn't connect with any of the characters and I felt that it was more tell than show with the big bad guy and the ending was a bit too convenient.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a stunning story! I loved the way Soraya was grey around the edges and through tribulations and hard choices she makes one mistake after the other until she finds herself exactly like the title suggests. I particularly enjoyed her chemistry with... (I won't say name to not spoil the fun) and the plot being full of unexpected turnarounds. Bravissimo to the author! Now I desire to further explore Persian mythology!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Awesome story! Way better than I was expecting! Totally worth it!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The best part of this book is the Persian mythology. It left me wanting for more. And it kept me going as it was really interesting. While I wasn't the biggest fan of Soraya I didn't hate her either. But I did like the other characters since they weren't just black&white. I appreciated how deep they were.
However, the plot kept having so many unbelievable convenient turns and solutions. Which pissed me a lot. Like Soraya would be looking for something and the first idea/theory she has happens to be the answer. And the end was a bit meh. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My first book inspired by Persian mythology and legends. Beautifully written and fresh. The fairy tale is spellbinding and keeps you hooked. Strong characters and a rich storyline make it worthwhile
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved it. It’s so nice seeing representation! I really enjoyed the characters shrewdness!