A review by monetp
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

4.0

4.5 stars


"The moon was a sliver tonight, but the embers of the fire on the roof still burned, giving the normally vivid and varied colors of her garden the same orange hue. The grass was cold, wet, and prickly against her bare feet as she padded across the garden to the door in the wall. She felt like a sleepwalker, taking one step and then the next as if compelled by something outside herself. She didn’t care that it was the middle of the night. She didn’t care that she was in her nightdress, her feet bare. All she cared about was the monster waiting for her in the dungeon beneath the palace." ~ [b:Girl, Serpent, Thorn|51182650|Girl, Serpent, Thorn|Melissa Bashardoust|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596558892l/51182650._SY75_.jpg|57956968]





I love this book too much. You know a book is good when you finish it and then want to read it again right away! I started this book, got 100 pages in, and was about to call it a night. The book was off to a slow start but just then it started to get good. Long story short: I stayed up until 2 am and read 240 pages without stopping. I regret nothing!


This novel deserves ALL THE HYPE. It's a gorgeous fantasy standalone novel about what it means to be a poisonous princess. Soraya has had the most sheltered upbringing until she meets Azad...and the story snowballs from there. Soraya goes on an incredible adventure where she learns the truth of her family's history, more about the mythical creatures of the land, and what it means to love someone. Soraya reminds me a lot of Elsa from "Frozen" even though she's based on "Sleeping Beauty" and "Rapunzel" fairytales. Similar to Elsa, Soraya is hidden from her kingdom and can't touch anyone without the fear of hurting them. Both have a strained relationship with a sibling and possess a unique ability of sorts. I love how Soraya isn't a typical hero princess; she's a stubborn antihero and I love it.





The only aspect of this novel that bothered me was the slow start. There's barely rising action in the plot, it just goes from zero to a hundred so fast. When Soraya went to search for the magic feather, I expected the book to have moved more quickly at that point. The following chapter is so fast-paced that I couldn't stop reading; that's where the plot really picks up. For anyone who has started to read this book and finds the first few chapters boring, trust me, it gets SO GOOD!


If you love bad boy villains, this book has one! I feel a great deal of sympathy for Azad. I actually really loved his backstory and his relationship with Soraya. Don't get me wrong, he's not perfect by any standard, but he's such a compelling character. I think Soraya believed in him; believed he really had the capacity to change. While their relationship wasn't healthy, it added to a great deal of Soraya's development. In a strange way, I can't imagine them apart. I would've loved Soraya's relationship with Parvaneh if they had more time together. Everyone raves about the gay love story in this novel, and it's not that I didn't #ship them, but I needed more scenes with them to understand their relationship. Overall I was won over by the lyrical prose, enigmatic characters, and unpredictable plot. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020!





Favorite Quotes:

"In their glowing smiles, she saw the truth: that she always would have lost them, because they were meant to know joy. And no matter how much she wanted to deny it, Soraya knew that a part of her would always resent them for that joy, for having even the possibility of it."

"'Do you see now why I recognized you? You’re my favorite story. I feel like I’ve known you for a long time.' Soraya drew in a breath, unable to speak. For the first time, she saw herself as Azad had imagined her—the heroine of a story, not the monster."

"I like the person I am when I’m with you. And I’d like to help you be whoever you want to be."

"Very well, then. Be angry. Be violent. But not for his sake. Not to do as he commands. Be angry for yourself. Use that rage to fight him."
Accept and close

By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies.
We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience.

Find out more