There was and there was not, a princess who was hidden away from the world. Girl, Serpent, Thorn tells the tale of Soraya: a girl cursed to poison and kill anyone she touches. When an enemy is captured, Soraya tries to discover how she can break her curse and why she was cursed to begin with. In her search for answers, Soraya is forced to decide how far she will go for freedom and must face the consequence of her choices. This book features Persian mythology, F/F romance, a descent-into-villany arc, and the storytelling was simply gorgeous.

I absolutely loved this book!! It is one of my new favorites; I was so eager to unravel the intricate plot that I literally couldn’t put this book down. However, I had to stop and marvel at the craft that went into shaping a sentence, the perfectly expressed sentiment, and the way a line of prose would resonate deeply. Girl, Serpent, Thorn is inspired by elements from Persian mythology and Sleeping Beauty, but remains original and inventive. It is refreshingly free of overused romantic cliches and homophobia. The story contains plenty of plot twists, heartfelt dialogue, and morally grey characters. The fierce and magical women who fill these pages are such fantastic characters!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is for anyone who seeks imaginative retellings, smart heroines, excellent romance, and complex storytelling. This book hauntingly explores what it truly means to be a monster and how the choices we make determine whether we are cast as the villain or heroine in our stories. I felt utterly spell-bound as Soraya journeys to discover who she truly is and grows to understand the power she holds: thorns and all.

I highly recommend this book and encourage everyone to pick it up when it releases on July 7, 2020! Thank you so much to Melissa Bashardoust, Flatiron Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.