Girl, Serpent, Thorn

By: Melissa Bashardoust

Narrated by: Nikki Massoud

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

©2020 Melissa Bashardoust (P)2020 Macmillan Young Listeners

Great book

This story truly comes to life. Many twists and turns are added that are truly unexpected that make for such a fun read

A beautiful fairytale

WOW. I absolutely adored this book, so much so that I dreamt of it. The story was so captivating, and I love to see main characters that have deeply rooted flaws and faults that are never wholly resolved. There's so much depth to the characters in this book. I wish I could listen to it over and over again and experience it for the first time.

Very Good

This was a really good book. I read it prior to listening and the performance was incredible. Experiencing a fairy tale from another ideology was quite different. The world the author creates is vibrant and exciting while the reader is the key to entering the world within.

This is great, but…

Calling this book “gay” and focusing on the main character’s sexuality does this book a HUGE disservice. Unlike many YA books, this story is not about romance. That’s a subplot at best. The author has clearly put a lot of time and thorough research into this book. She created deep characters with distinct flaws and personalities, and the least important or notable thing about the MC is who she’s attracted to. Shame on the other reviewers.

Anyone who doesn’t want to read this because they aren’t interested in a homosexual love story, don’t worry. This really isn’t.

This story was amazing. I agree with another review about there being “Elsa Vibes” or “Elsa Energy”, something like that. Our MC is not defined by others or romantic interests. She’s strong and brave. And I very much enjoyed her struggles and transformation. The pacing is good and creates the perfect amount of suspense and anticipation. I was gripped from the beginning. BUT I will say I saw the villain coming from a mile away. Maybe because I knew a villain just like them in my own life so I recognized the signs. But even though it was a touch predictable, it still had me hanging on just to see if I was right. Then I was hanging on in hopes of a redemption arc.

PLUS, the narration is one of the best. Nikki’s voice, oh my gosh, I want to listen to it forever. I appreciate her accent and pronunciations. She has a wide range so all the characters sound different. And, talent aside, her voice is soooo sexy. I’d listen to this book again just to hear her speak. Great job.

Don’t read this because the character is bisexual. Read this because it’s a great story and has a valuable message.

surprised

I normally don't like fantasies, however this was well written and performance was great. enjoy

Good interesting story line

dragged at times. didn't care for one of developing relationships. overall well narrated interesting story.

Monster girlfriends >>>>>>

I LOVED this book and this narrator. Probably my favorite narration I’ve listened to so far, and her pronunciation of the Persian words was so satisfying. Highly recommend

Excellent story with unexpected gay. 10/10

Persian mythology ✅
Bisexual protagonist ✅
Some real Elsa energy ✅
Heck yes! Check this out

It’s gay and it slaps

One of the best fairytales I’ve read in a long time. It’s so interesting to read a fantasy rooted in oral history and ancient facts. Couldn’t stop. Finished it in less than 2 days.

A Twist on Persian Mythology

I ran into this book recommended on TikTok as an LGBTQ read. What I found was some of that and more! As someone with Persian roots, I was delighted to hear characters with names I recognized as well as cultural things I recognized!

The lore and mythology in this book is inspired by actual Persian and Middle Eastern mythology, but with a twist. The demons were interesting, and I loved Parvaneh as a character. Soraya’s struggle was compelling and her feelings were complicated and real. I fully expected the point of the story to be breaking Soraya’s curse, but she struggled and ultimately found the beauty in her curse.

Basically, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is truly unlike any book I’ve ever read, and I felt represented reading it.