Title: Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Series: N/A
Pages: 311 pages
HB or PB: Hardback 
Genre: YA, Romance, Fantasy
Publication Date: May 2020
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
How did I get this book: Bought (Fairyloot) 
Format (e- or p-): Physical
Purchase Book: Book Depository
Synopsis

SOMETIMES THE PRINCESS IS THE MONSTER From the author of Girls Made of Snow and Glass, this captivating and utterly original Persian-inspired fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch is perfect for fans of Natasha Ngan and Naomi Novik. 

'Monstrously beautiful and enchanting' Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand 

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 from everyone, 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

This book was found in Fairyloot's May Book Box and I had just noticed the readathon on bookstagram. I started about 2 days late but oh wow, Finished this book in about 3 days. This book is also a standalone book from what I gathered but I would be very interested to see a follow up if there ever was.

Starting off with the language, I noticed straight off the bat with characters names, places and creatures were not your typical english tongue. Actually I found it interesting to read a book like this, From what i read at the back of the book Melissa the author used mixes of the Persian language to navigate through the book for use of all aspects.

I split the book into four (5) parts reading six (6) chapters each time and writing down notes of anything that interested me.

The beginning of the story starts off with a tale or a girl who was cursed, and we slowly realise that the mother reading this story to her daughter Soraya was indeed the girl who was cursed. in the first couple of chapters 1-6, we get an understanding of where she is from, what curse she has been given and how she hides away in a secret area in the palace, hiding in the shadows she also gets noticed by a guy named Azad.

Following through chapters 7-12, the story expands quickly as Azad becomes aquainted with Soraya and they get to know one another and helps her sneak into places to help her with breaking the curse brought upon her. in just 12 chapters, I was surprised how quickly the storyline was beautifully written but also her curse gets lifted with the help of a parik and Azad. 

The rest of the story then evolves into a thrilling storyline, one I could not stop reading. Love interests, weddings and Soraya's family history and getting to know the actual truth behind her curse and why it was made. 

Overall, this book was an exciting read. I may have not expected to like it so much but the monster inside of Soraya is what I loved the most. How a girl was so deadly and even with a curse eventually broken becomes a thrilling monster who is capable of defying the one person who did the exact same to her.


StefyTalks Rating
Girl, Serpent, Thorn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️