My Review: I’ve felt a beautifully unique sort of magic after reading Melissa Bashardoust’s novels. I fell in love with her writing after her first novel Girls Made of Snow and Glass. So naturally my extreme fangirl feels for Girl, Serpent, Thorn were through the roof. I can super confidently say it delivered more then I could’ve hoped for.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a story of young Soraya destined for a life of seclusion, and loneliness. Why? Well you see, poison runs through her veins, and a single touch means death for whoever dares.

It’s a story of Persian culture, mythology and fairy tales. It’s written in third person with so much detail, and writing that truly captures the atmosphere, the characters, and the overall world building.

The cover of this novel is one of if not THE most beautiful I have ever seen, and I hoped the inside reflected it’s beauty. You may think based on the synopsis, you’ve got a romance novel in your hands, and you’re not wrong, but it’s so much more. It’s discovery of inner strength and perseverance, of an amazing bisexual heroine!

This story will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, and will fill you with ALL the feels.

My Verdict: With touches, and similarities to some of my favorite fave tales, this novel became one of my favorites of the year. I love when an author can take some aspects of classic tales and make it a complete fantasy masterpiece. I am so excited for any future titles from Melissa Bashadoust. I’m a devoted reader for always. I truly recommend this novel, if you’re looking for something different, unexpected, and wonderful all at the same time.

If you’re at all interested in this book I highly recommend reading on.

I am already anticipating this being on many people’s most disappointing books of 2020. And not because the book is bad, but yet again marketing/publishing did a book dirty.

If you’re like me, you heard this pitched as a “Persian fantasy with monster girlfriends” and although that is not exactly wrong, it’s not at all the central part of the book.

I would describe the book as a bi/pan MC discovering herself and her power and she interacts with a hot serpent villain dude and a mysterious moth chick. And that’s heavy on the interactions with hot serpent villain. The endgame relationship IS sapphic, but we only get 3-4 explicitly romantic scenes between them, TOPS. Its much more a focus on the parallels between our villain and our MC.

So does this mean the book isn’t worth your time?? Absolutely not.

The journey of self love & acceptance our MC makes is incredible and I loved reading about it. She had me invested in her story from the start and even made me emotional on multiple occasions. This is a beautiful story about power, strength, acceptance, and love WITHIN YOURSELF.

The use of mythology in this is also incredible. It felt like a fairytale while reading and I had a blast learning about this world.

Am I disappointed the f/f relationship didn’t play a bigger role? Sure. But I’m also not going to turn down a *very lowkey* love triangle between three monsters (this is a stretch but I feel it’s warranted).

Overall, I would still highly recommend this if you go into the book shifting your expectations a bit. I’m already bracing myself for the inevitable defending I will be doing for this book and I’m okay with that role because this was a beautiful read.

This story is beautifully written, and will intrigue you long after you finish the last page. Melissa Bashardoust has certainly woven some magic here, with charmingly frustrating characters, some serious romantic tension, and so much danger.

The Persian mythology this is based off of is something I’m not very familiar with, but it was fascinating to read/learn about. It was a quick book and it did kind of leave me wanting something more, but at the same time I could enjoy it for what it was. This story was certainly thrilling, but also deeply mysterious. I am desperate to find out what’s going to happen next, especially because we were left on such a cliffhanger! Add this to your TBR, because if you love magical stories with a historical fantasy vibe to it, then this is definitely one that you won’t soon forget....

Honestly, there’s nothing that I didn’t like about this story. It’s beautifully written, and each character has their own memorable personality. This would be a great book for younger fantasy readers or people just starting to dip their toes into fantasy.

eBook provided for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Since birth Soraya has been kept apart and hidden away, safe in her gardens of the royal palace. Because all is not right in the kingdom of Golvarah; their princess is cursed -- poisonous to the touch. When the opportunity comes to save herself from the curse, Soraya must decide for herself who she is. And who she is not.

"Is and is not" is a fitting motif Girl, Serpent, Thorn. Bashardoust takes on the traditional dichotomies of fairytales and turns them into something that is and is not what we think. Soraya is and is not a princess. She is and is not a monster. Azad is and is not a knight. The Shahmar is and is not a div. He is and is not the villain.

It's this structure alongside the beautiful world that Bashardoust builds that kept me reading. There are some pacing problems but ultimately wanting to know who Soraya decides she is drove me to the end.

Add GST to your TBR list this summer. You won't be disappointed.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a tale that takes influences from Persian mythology and Zoroastrianism and turns around and provides a fairy tale–like journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, monsters that seem all too human, and even sneaks in an adorable sapphic romance. Bashardoust enthralled me right from the first page, and I didn’t want her to release me upon the end.

Soraya is a princess with poison that runs through her veins (and even turns them green). Locked and kept away from her family, friends, and court, Soraya despises her curse and yearns to be a true member among her family. When Soraya learns of a div (demon) captured and imprisoned in the dungeons, she believes she has finally found a path that will help her lift her curse. But those around her aren’t as they seem, and when Soraya accidentally unleashes destruction upon her kingdom, she must decide what she truly values and seek power in her flaws.

The strength of Girl, Serpent, Thorn comes from its deceit. As the book first unfurls, the tale appears to pass quickly, Soraya finally able to grasp hope in a different future for herself with a handsome guard now by her side. But as the halfway point approaches, twists and monsters are unleashed, completely changing the direction of the plot. The novel doesn’t shy away from the threads of darkness that run through its pages.

Bashardoust’s tale is simultaneously refreshing in its originality and nostalgic in its whimsical and mystical atmosphere. Soraya is also a relatable and realistic protagonist; she desires to be accepted in her community, she lets herself be selfish, and she hates herself for her flaws. Despite the fantastical adorning, the novel’s dilemmas are relatable to all types of readers.

My only complaint is that Girl, Serpent, Thorn gifted us with a world that could have been further explored and a tale that easily could have been expanded upon. But then again, a captivating story always leaves you wanting more, does it not?

I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys YA, fairy tale retellings, and monsters. This book is a shining reminder why fairy tales (and their retellings) never tire, and that there are always new ones to be told.

Trigger Warnings: imprisonment, murder, scarring from torture (torture scenes not actually in the book), battling, strained familial relationships

I was looking forward to reading Melissa Bashardoust's new novel, "Girl, Serpent, Thorn," but unfortunately I was disappointed. The prologue and the first few chapters were entertaining, but I found the pacing was a little all over the place, and I couldn't connect with the main character at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sending me an Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“There was and there was not, she reminds herself. It’s just a story. The daughter wants to crawl onto her mother’s lap and lay her head against her mother’s chest, but she doesn’t. She never does. it’s not just a story.”

Soraya is no ordinary girl.

After her mother had a particular encounter with a div, a demon, her first daughter had to pay the consequences for her actions.

Soraya can’t touch anything with a life, not a person nor an animal, if she does they will die immediately. She’s cursed with a deadly touch.

For years, princess Soraya has been isolated from her family, and from her people. Growing locked away without any friends or family visits, except the short ones with her mother.

Always looking for something more to her life, she finds it after her brother returns to the city with news of a div being detained in the dungeons.

If a div was able to create her curse, they could also know how to revert it.

CHARACTERS

Soraya has lived her whole life in the shadows, knowing she could kill anyone she touches. Hidden from the world, she spends her time through the palace’s hidden passages and her rose garden. The only living thing she can touch without any consequences.

"You could kill me with a single touch. Why should you ever be afraid of anyone?"

Parvaneh is a div who got captured after trying to kill the Shah of Atashar, Soraya’s brother. She knows how to break Soraya’s curse but first she needs to be freed.

Azad, a commoner that has become a royal guard after saving the Shah, is captivated by Soraya. He has grown up hearing stories about the mysterious Atashar’s princess. After quickly connecting with Soraya, he pledges to help Soraya find a way to break her curse.

THOUGHTS

I really liked how Melissa developed Soraya's character. She taught us how to love ourselves exactly the way we are.

Even though the ending was rushed, I enjoyed this Persian retelling.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn will grasp you from the beginning. Even though it has persian words, you will catch up on them really fast.
At the end of the book, Melissa wrote an author’s note explaining her inspirations for writing Girl, Serpent, Thorn and she also gives us recommendations to learn the Persian mythology a bit more.

Overall, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a Persian inspired story that captivates you from beginning to end.

Cursed before she was born, Soraya has spent her whole life within the confines of her room, private garden, and in between the secret crawl spaces between the walls of her families castle. She lives in constant fear since everything that touches her skin dies.
After sneaking into the dungeons, Soraya meets a demon much like the one who cursed her mother's first born daughter (Soraya) so many years ago, she is told that her 'cursing' may not have come about the way she has been told, or even be a curse at all.
There was and there was not, as all stories begin, reigns true for our heroine. All her life she has been told exactly who she is and what made her that way, but was it or was it not all a lie.
As her twin brothers wedding approaches, Soraya must decide wether to remain within the shadows or step into the the light and be seen for the first time, in order to find out who and what she really is.
Princess or Monster.

4.5 Stars

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is as much a character study as it is a fantasy novel. Soraya has spent her entire life uncomfortable in her own skin. Yet she’s given some respite, she feels empty. And the decisions she must make along the way are heart-wrenching. Soraya’s choices are motivated by a mixture of fear, shame, love, loyalty and selfishness. Her choices are what make her human. They’re what make her real. And they’re what make her a sympathetic character.

Contrast that with the tale’s villain. He, too, was once motivated by the very same things as Soraya, but his choices take him down a much different path. These complexities make this a much more enjoyable read.

As much as I loved this study, the more fantastical elements also serve a purpose. Melissa Bashardoust has created a world that is rich in colors and textures. The creatures she brings to life are bold, beautiful and terrifying.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an engrossing read. There were a few twists that I guessed prior to coming about, but there were plenty that remained a surprise. This is one novel I didn’t want to put down.

"I am both the Sleeping Beauty and the enchanted castle; the princess drowses in the castle of her flesh."
-Angela Carter, Vampirella

As someone who is new to Melissa Bashardoust's novels, I can't really say how this novel compares to her previous one, but what I can say is that Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a delightful breath of fresh air in the YA fantasy genre. I'm always on the search for fairytale retellings that incorporate non-Western stories, and this Persian inspired spin on "the poisonous girl in the garden" was truly incredible.

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It's really hard to touch on the plot, aside from what is shared in the synopsis, because there were many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting across the length of the book. Let's just say that secrets abound and characters can't always be trusted. Your emotions will be tested, not only by the (sort of) love triangle, but by Soraya's inner battles with the affliction that holds her. I cannot imagine not being able to touch or be touched by another soul, and I was intrigued by the physical and mental consequences that this brought on our main character. I think I'm going to stop here, and leave it up to you to decide if you'd like to read this story for yourself, but I'm really glad to have read this one, and I'm very interested in going back and picking up Girls Made of Snow and Glass while waiting for whatever she decides to write next.

This was a truly unique story. I really enjoy reading books that explore mythologies of various cultures. Between the world building and the writing style, I was all for this story.

Soraya is one of the most relatable characters I've read about in a while. She was very much human, she struggled with her emotions and we can all relate to what she was feeling. I love how the reasons behind her curse unfolded over time. The villain of the story was a beautiful example of how human beings can slowly over time grow into monsters. Extremely impressed by the author's examination of what makes a monster.

I’ve read Melissa Bashardoust’s previous novel Girls Made of Snow and Glass and while I didn’t love everything about it, it showed a lot of potential and made me want to seek out whatever book came next. If I hadn’t known before, I would have thought this was her first novel and Girls Made of Snow and Glass her second one because so many first novel problems were present in Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

This is the story of Soraya, sister to the shah, and cursed with poison running through her veins. Everything she touches dies, so her family keep her locked away and nobody can touch her. Soraya fills her time with stories and gardening. Until her brother the shah returns home with a div prisoner who might know more about Soraya’s curse. I’m sure most people will agree that this is a pretty cool premise. The implications of a young girl, isolated from other people, unable to touch anyone without killing them – that alone already makes for a highly interesting story. What would such a girl’s life be like? How would she deal with being so alone, especially at an age when her one friend is falling in love?
Unfortunately, I may have gone into this book with very wrong expectations. This is not a character exploration, nor even a particularly well done F/F romance. It’s about an unbearably stupid girl fighting an unbearably stupid villain. And all because every single character in this book is too dumb to just communicate and talk normally with each other. Seriously, the entire plot hinges on forced misunderstandings, characters making illogical decisions that no sane person would make, and a romance that exists because the author tells us, not because the characters actually get to grow close to each other.

The writing in Bashardoust’s first novel was competent and the characters were interesting and not easily classified as good or evil. Somehow, in this second book of hers, the writing got way worse. Everything lacks a certain subtlety. Pauses in the characters’ speech, for example, are always explained. Actually, everything is always explained. There are moments that would have had much more impact if Bashardoust had let the readers understand them for themselves. And I’m not talking about super difficult-to-interpret things either. Everything is fairly obvious, but I was all the more annoyed at having everything spelled out even though there’s really no reason for it. If you don’t trust your readers to be intelligent enough to get it, that’s just not very flattering.

Let’s talk romance. This is marketed as an F/F romance but apparently, the love triangle is also making a comeback. Because this starts with not quite insta-love (but sort of) and only some of it can be explained. Soraya has been lonely for a long time, so it’s only natural and understandable that she yearns for human contact and that she’d seek out the attention of a handsome young man. Why said young man is immediately infatuated with her, however, is unclear and should at least raise some alarm bells for Soraya!
And while her attraction can be understood, the immediate exclamations of deep emotions cannot. Sure, spill all your lifelong secrets to the guy you just met, even though you’ve been keeping them your entire life… How am I supposed to root for a heroine who behaves that stupidly and puts her trust in a complete stranger just because he tells her she’s pretty? Maybe I’m just too old for this kind of story but I just kept shaking my head and rolling my eyes for the entire first half of the book.

And it’s not just Soraya either. The villain – who has a great back story and could be so incredibly interesting! – is just as gullible and idiotic as Soraya. I also never understood why he’s evil. There’s no shades of grey here, he just does bad stuff because reasons. It’s just not fun to root for a dumb protagonist who’s fighting against an equally dumb villain, although at least the odds are somewhat evened out by the fact they neither of them seems to be using their brain. I won’t tell you exactly what happens because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone, but let me give you a few vague examples.
Soraya immediately puts all her trust (something she hasn’t done ever!) in the guy she just met because he deeply loves her and thus is obviously trustworthy. Not only does she tell him about her curse but she also spills some other family secrets that are vital to keep her family safe!
Later in the book, Soraya tries to trick the villain by agreeing with him. It’s the most obvious, unbelievable trick in the universe and any villain worth his salt would not fall for it. Except here, he does.
And let’s not forget Soraya’s most glorious moment of stupidity when she accidentally lets someone know another secret by misspeaking. Girl, take half a second to think before you speak!! Seriously!

If the characters had otherwise been interesting, I might have overlooked those glaring problems. But they are all flat. Cardboard flat. Everyone gets one characteristic, one problem they’re dealing with and that’s it. The characters’ emotional response to anything that happens is just way overdone. Soraya holds back angry tears when telling a story that she’s heard and told over and over for many years? If we’re supposed to understand that she’s angry about it, make it less melodramatic, please. The same goes for the romantic moments. Everything felt just sooooo over the top. One smouldering look and Soraya’s skin prickles, it just felt completely ridiculous. There were several of these instances and I kept getting the feeling that this is the author trying to make her readers emotional. It doesn’t work that way! You make us like and care about your characters and then bad or romantic or exciting things happen to them and we feel things. Don’t just tell us Soraya cried and expect us to feel sad along with her when we have no basis to understand her.

I admit I started reading this book when I was also reading Deeplight by Frances Hardinge and the difference in writing style and sheer skill became all the more apparent. I don’t know if I would have liked this better if I hadn’t been reading one of the best YA books ever at the same time but I’m pretty sure my reaction to the writing would have been mostly the same. I don’t like stupid characters without any nuance to them, no matter how interesting the setting may be.

Ah, let’s take a moment to discuss setting and world-building. There has been a high demand for fantasy set outside the tropey medieval Europe stuff that used to be everywhere, and I am more than happy that publishing is doing pretty great when it comes to that. We get all sorts of stories set in places all over the world – real and fictional – inspired by underrepresented mythologies, fairy tales, histories, and people. So of course I was excited to read a Persian-inspired fairy tale retelling. But it takes more to build a fictional place than just throwing in some fancy words or making your characters wear certain clothes. That’s only skin-deep and I have come to expect more of YA!
At no point did I really feel like I was in a specific setting. The palace may go by a Persion-inspired name but the way it’s described, it could have been any old castle. Other than that, we get a mountain and a forest setting. So fine, if the actual place and the climate don’t feature in the book very much, that’s okay. Then at least show us where we are through politics. Again, Soraya’s brother Sorush may have been called shah instead of king but essentially, that’s how he is presented. Politics are never even really mentioned and while that wasn’t super necessary for Soraya’s personal story, there are hints of div politics. The divs are just described as this supernatural species of beings who attack and kill humans. We don’t know exactly why humans and divs are at war. We do learn that divs aren’t all alike, that there are factions among them and they they don’t necessarily get along. Which would have been a cool addition to a really thin plot. But by the end of the book, we know exactly as much as we do at the beginning. So definitely don’t expect anything like City of Brass level political intrigue.

I don’t know the reasons behind the choices made with this novel. Is it a misguided belief that deeper world-building will put off readers? Do authors and/or publishers think kids wouldn’t get it? Was it just laziness because for an immersive world that feels real, you’d have to do a lot of research, hire sensitivity readers (especially when writing about a culture not your own), and put in a lot of work? From the afterwork I gathered that the author did some research but other than names, we don’t get to see the fruit of that labor. In the end, I honestly don’t care why the world building is so thin. If the end product remains shallow, that’s the version the publisher decided was going to go out into the world and that’s all we readers get. And I’m not particularly happy with what I got here.

Now that the most glaring problems are out of the way, let’s look at the actual story. Because, boy, does it have problems of its own. The first half of the book – and I’m pretty sure it’s almost exactly in the middle – reads like a first draft. The entire first half is basically the set up for the real plot. And I don’t mean the part that you read in the synopsis – that’s the set up for the set up. Soraya’s skin is poisonous and anything she touches, she kills. So her royal family has hidden her away. She moves through secret corridors, rarely interacts with humans other than her mother, and yearns for friendship and love and human touch. So far, so intriguing. Then that whole insta-love-but-not-really-thing happens followed by a series of super dumb decisions,and bad writing.
In the second half of the book, however, the story finally finds its footing and becomes interesting. I’m not saying it’s great but at least by that point, I actually wanted to get back to the book to see what would happen next. Until Soraya’s next act of supreme stupidity at least.

I’ve already ranted about the characters but I want to say that they are not all bad. The most interesting ones just aren’t the protagonist. Soraya’s mother, for example, would have made one hell of a heroine. Parvaneh, the imprisoned parik (a type of div) Soraya wants to question about her curse, also turns out to be more than first meets the eye. It’s a shame that Soraya herself is so flat. Her only defining quality is that she’s cursed, wants to get uncursed and thinks of herself as a monster. It’s a good premise. I like characters who are torn, who have to find their place in the world, but if that’s their only thing and they behave stupidly most of the time, then that’s just not enough.

You will not be surprised that I didn’t really like this book. During the second half, we at least get some interesting scenes and a few moments of excitement. Although that is quenched pretty quickly by Soraya being dumb, the villain being dumb, or the plot being super convenient. The ending left me feeling annoyed and asking myself what the hell I’d been reading and WHY. If the whole point of the story is for Soraya to accept her otherness and to live with who she is, that’s great but please wrap it in a good story.
I spent almost all of the time reading this book rolling my eyes, waiting for something thrilling to happen, and asking myself when the actual romance part would start. Sadly, this was super disappointing. For the little spark of good ideas (villain backstory, hinted at div politics, great mother character) I’m giving this book a few brownie points. But if this hadn’t been a review copy, I would have DNFd it long before the 50% mark.

This book was not what I expected going into it, and it was a pleasant surprise. I was anticipating something like Frozen or Rapunzel, but the story was much darker and the heroine takes it upon herself to save herself. I also liked that the main character was a strong bisexual main character who teeters on the edge of villainy. The world-building was really good, the story was highly suspenseful and the characters were highly engaging.
Beautiful cover art also!

I had a lot of trouble getting into this one. It took more than 1/4 of the book to see any real conflict, instead relying so much on Soraya's constant inner monologue of "I'm a monster oh no no one loves me"

Another issue I had was that our three main characters are all essentially the same person who made a different decision when given the same problem. It felt like a way to get out of actual character development when they're all so similar. Plus, by isolating them from other characters, you never get to see balance or reaction apart from how they view reach other.

Also the whole book was basically: inner monologue; X betrays Y, inner monologue, Y learns that Z betrayed X and therefore Y can no longer trust Z, inner monologue, Y tricks Z, X lies to Y, inner monologue, Y betrays X. When there are only three players who like to lie to each other, it starts to feel repetitive.

I always love the theme of a girl who becomes a monster, but Soraya was so pitiable throughout the book that it just didn't ring true to me. But one spoke of the love triangle was a f/f relationship, so that pretty much kept me going.

Wow, this book was quite something. First off, I loved that the characters and plot were based off Persian mythology. I love reading fantasy books that mix in mythology from various cultures, it is so fascinating, and I absolutely loved learning about divs, and the differences between the Creator and Destroyer. I enjoyed the first half of the book pretty thoroughly with the touches of magic, learning the background of Soraya, and the fairytale elements. The moral dilemma that Soraya constantly had to face between good and evil was also so interesting to watch unfold and see her battle. I think that made her a relatable and human character. There were some moments that I questioned her judgement, but I’m sure it was so that the story could play out as it did. The second half of the book was still interesting and I did like it enough, but was leaning towards the lackluster side. I wish the author had done a better job evoking more feeling because even though I did find the plot intriguing, I wanted the characters to be more memorable. I feel that over time this book is something that will be forgettable. Overall, I still do recommend this book because of the angle at which it approached the mixture of fairytales and mythology. Hopefully you guys will enjoy it as well when it comes out in July, so keep an eye out for it!

Writing: 7/10
Characters: 7/10
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 6/10
Originality: 10/10
Overall: 37/50
Cover: 7/10

There is a lot to like about this book. I read it in one sitting, and it goes quickly from the very first page. It has the familiar feel of many old fairy tales, but is also new and original. The characters are all very likable, in some ways, even the villain. The "damsel" saves herself, with the help of some of her friends, and there are LGBTQIA+ characters without that being the focus of the story, just a nice inclusion in the plot and character development.There have been a lot of fairy tale retellings on the market lately, but I think this one is well worth the read.

Honestly, when I first saw this gorgeous cover I didn’t really even care what the book was about. I knew I had to read it! ⁣
After staring at the cover for a while, I realized the book is a YA fantasy novel. I rarely read books of this genre, but the synopsis was so captivating.⁣
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Girl, Serpent, Thorn took me to a magical place. Based on Persian mythology and folklore, this story is filled with adventure, mystery, and romance. I loved the many strong females in this book and applaud Melissa Bashardoust for including a bisexual character, an identity we see far too little of in most genres. ⁣
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This book is progressive and captivating. I highly recommend it!

✨Arc Review✨ Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust. Flatiron Books. Publication date: July 7, 2020. ⠀
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🥀Cursed to be poisonous to the touch, she has lived her life in hiding. Things are bout to change. 🥀⠀
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🥀Sometimes the Princess is the monster. 🥀⠀
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🥀Fairytales. Good. Evil. Betrayal. Secrets.🥀⠀
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🥀We all have moments when we feel untouchable, poisonous. We struggle to understand ourselves. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It invoked every emotion, with amazing Persian history throughout. 🥀⠀
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🥀You are who you choose to be🥀⠀
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🥀There was and there was not🥀⠀
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#netgalley #girlserpentthorn #melissabashardoust #flatironbooks #bookstagram #books #yabooks #ya #fantasy #yafantasy #bookshelf

I am sorry to say that I was bored by this book. It didn’t catch me and I didn’t feel invested in the characters. It had its interesting points but overall it doesn’t stand out.

Here was another book I requested based mostly on cover lust. But the description itself, particularly the original fairytale-ness of it all, was another sure a attraction. It's also yet another book that seems to feature siblings, though this one is only from Soraya's POV, which is a nice change of pace in my reading lately. The story took a few twists and turns that I wasn't expecting, but most of them turned out for the good, and I enjoyed this read!

Soraya is a forgotten princess. With a power that kills at her touch, she's spent her life sequestered in shadows, separated from her family, friends, and people. She's spent her life watching her brother pass all of the milestones that she herself has missed out on. And now it is coming to a head with his marriage to a lost friend from Soraya's childhood. In unexpected places she begins to find new allies and new pathways, opening doors that she never dreamed possible. Some of them lead into the light, and some further into the dark. Which will she choose?

I ended up really enjoying this book. It was an original fairytale, something I always love, and it took a few unexpected twists and turns as it was told. On top of all of that, it's a standalone novel. One small criticims there, however, was the story did feel like it had to distinctive arcs that may have been better suited to their own books, making the story into a duology. But even typing that feels wrong as I love standalone books so much and they're hard to find! It's kind of a mixed bag thing, here, I guess. The two storylines work well enough, and I don't feel like either was truly lacking much. Just that as a complete work, it did feel oddly balanced with the first half telling one tale and the second another.

I really liked Soraya herself. She had a great narrative voice, and she was easy to become immediately invested in. This was important as the book took a twist down an antihero path that I hadn't seen coming from the book description. Looking back now, yeah, it's kind of there. But it was another nice surprise for me when going through this book. It's always tough to sell a true antihero story, as often your main character is doing some pretty questionable things and walking a very narrow line. This made the likablity of Soraya's character incredibly important. It was easy to understand her struggles and even some of her more questionable decisions, especially in the context of the life she had lived prior to this story.

Another surprise for me was that Soraya was a bisexual and the main romance ends up being a f/f one. For the book itself and its story, I really enjoyed this romance. I've read a bunch of f/f/ stories recently, and really liked them! Just last week, I reviewed a book by Django Wexler who is known for almost always giving his heroine a female love interest. My problem with it being a surprise here isn't the book's fault. It's the marketing.

Looking over the book description, it's clear that it's intentionally deflecting away from using gendered pronouns in places, and then goes out of its way to place interest on the male love interest. The male love interest is a thing, so that's fine. But there should be mention, clearly, of the female option. I really dislike these type of marketing techniques. It seems clear that its done out of mistrust of one's audience, and that's never going to work. Either your reader is game for a f/f romance, in which case readers like me would like to know ahead of time what to expect without having to delve into Goodreads reviews to get basic information like this. Or your reader is not down and once it becomes clear that you tried to hoodwink them with your marketing, they'll put the book down. It's bad faith marketing, and we need to get past this.

Overall, I really liked this book. If you're looking for an original fairytale story with a morally grey main character, this is definitely the book for you!

Rating 8: A great standalone fantasy novel featuring an interesting anti-heroine!

(Link will go live July 15)