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Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
101 posts | 88 read | 4 reading | 92 to read
A captivating and utterly original fairy tale 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, its not just a story. As the day of her twin brothers wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if shes 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 isnt 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.
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review
booklover3258
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/fQcSbKZRV7I

Enjoy!

37 likes1 stack add
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she.hearts.horror
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

Fairytales will never get old and I‘ll never be too old for a beautiful fairytale. 👧🏾 🐍 🥀

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Word_Dragon
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust

The price of humanity is vulnerability.

6 likes1 stack add
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Kenyazero
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

I read this because it was one of the books picked for the September #RainbowCrate. It was a fun read. I absolutely loved the fairytale feel of this story about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and enjoyed all of the various twists and transformations throughout. It was also a ton of fun reading about the author's Persian inspiration in the back of the book. I wish that had been at the front! #LGBTQ #Fairytale

21 likes2 stack adds
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BooksNBowls
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Bailedbailed

I wanted more. 😭 Great concept, but it took entirely too long to get there. It wasn‘t for me, unfortunately.

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lirahlu
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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So far I'm enjoying this book. It's a little predictable but it's a nice passive listen.

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BooksNBowls
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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📚 To anyone else, they aren‘t organized, but for me they are. It‘s a chaotic organization 😂
📚 Everywhere- bookshelf, nightstand, kitchen table, hall closet, wherever there‘s room! 😅
📚 ALLLLL THE BOOKS!! I don‘t discriminate! 😁

#ThoughtfulThursday

review
TheHungryBookworms
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Mehso-so

This book....I don't know how I feel about it yet. Part of me liked it and part of me hated it. It took me longer than expected to read. It didn't kept me interested enough. It felt more like a chore to read it than anything. It had its good parts, and I enjoyed the character growth but i don't know what is it about it, it was simply meh for me

rainbowsandblackink Weirdly, I felt *exactly* the same! I‘m glad to see I‘m not alone in these feelings. 😆 (edited) 2y
TheHungryBookworms Like I really wanted to love it but it came short. Idk. Lol.🤣 2y
11 likes2 comments
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kera_11
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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loosely based on an old Persian myth, Soraya is the princess and she may also be the monster. her skin is poisonous to the touch and she‘s been hidden away her whole life because of it. until someone shows her the way out. but why do they want her powers gone? and once they are, why does she feel empty without the poison in her veins? honestly the ending left some to be desired, just wrapped up too quickly but this was throughly entertaining

8 likes1 stack add
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Bookish_Gal
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Mehso-so

This story is Loosely associated with Zoroastrian, Persian epic. I did enjoy the story, with all its deceptions. Better duology. Soraya could‘ve done more, I felt, if she had more time to grow. Her development didn‘t feel true to herself. I wanted more of her growing with her poison. I was stuck on the morally ambiguous questions; so many lies. Good story overall

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Bookish_Gal
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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This was the moment that had me hooked. Soraya cannot be touched, her skin is poison. She grew up being hidden away from the world, and here‘s this Div (demon) telling her the opposite.

9 likes1 stack add
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MallenNC
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

I don‘t read much fantasy but this one, which is based on a Persian fairy tale, kept my attention. The tag line on the cover “sometimes the princess is the monster” grabbed my attention! I‘d read more of this author.

39 likes2 stack adds
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MallenNC
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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I checked this book out last year and had to let it go back before I could finish. I was reminded of it today and checked it out again. Libby‘s estimate on my finish date makes me LOL.

GondorGirl 😂😂😂 I'll stop back in a few years for your review! 2y
MallenNC @GondorGirl Maybe I should review at the halfway point in five years. 2y
Karisa 🤣🤣🤣 2y
34 likes3 comments
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HOTPock3tt
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Mehso-so

#NewYearWhoDis from @Clare-Dragonfly list
A world where demons exists closely with humans. I think what didn‘t sit well with me is the main character had shades of frozen‘s Elsa and there were a few beauty and the beast references. I adore those stories! But wanted a bit more originality I guess 😕 although I was surprised at the villain reveal. It was ok! Maybe just not as memorable for me.

HOTPock3tt I wanted more romance between the MC‘s especially more bisexual girl power/interaction!! I know that wasn‘t really the focus, but I wish we could have more of it in these mainstream books 2y
Clare-Dragonfly Huh. I guess I haven‘t seen all of Frozen so I didn‘t catch that! 2y
47 likes2 comments
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Victoriahoperose
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

This is definitely not my normal genre. Fantasy normally doesn‘t capture my interest, but I‘m glad I read this one. It has a really interesting storyline that in some ways made me think of a modern fairy tale. I liked the strong female main character and the way the story came together in the end. Kept my interest all the way through.

39 likes1 stack add
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Bookfan1414
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Mehso-so

Is it possible for a book to have the feeling of a cheesy high school romance novel, without cheese, or a high school in it? It was good. Not great. But good. Meh. 🤔

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HOTPock3tt
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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#NewYearWhoDis list by @Clare-Dragonfly !!
I‘ve already read(and adored!) Red White and Royal blue… so I‘ll start with Girl, Serpent, Thorn! ♥️ And try out Piranesi which seems to be on a lot of peoples‘ fave list. Also I must‘ve looked up winterkeep a million times. Every time I see the cover it reminds me I need to stop borrowing Graceling from the library and actually read it. Maybe it‘ll happen this year 😇

magyklyXdelish Girl serpent thorn is one of my faves I‘ve read this year, by far! And Piranesi was strange but wonderful and that one I say go in as blind as you can ♥️ 2y
magyklyXdelish Also Burn Our Bodies Down I lived as well!! Wonderful list!! 2y
Clare-Dragonfly I agree with everything @magyklyXdelish said! 😁 And yes, definitely read Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue before Winterkeep. They‘re all so good! Also if you want to read Burn Our Bodies down but are concerned about any triggers, let me know and I can help you out with that. 2y
41 likes3 comments
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SilverShanica
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 243.
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

5 likes1 stack add
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Johanna414
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

This was sort of between a Pick and So-so for me… I didn‘t like it as well as the author‘s first book. I did like that the characters were all sort of morally ambiguous and I liked the idea of a poisonous girl - definitely a reference to Rappaccini‘s Daughter. But there was never a point where I felt fully invested in the story.

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Ash.on.the.line
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Mehso-so

This is between a pick and a so-so. I think the story was fresh, I just had heard such amazing things about the story and was underwhelmed. It wasn‘t bad just not what I was expecting. I may revisit later on and try to appreciate it more. Has some queer rep which was awesome! #bookspinbingo

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Queen-of-roses
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

Absolutely amazing. 110% would read again. Unlike some of the other lesbian fantasies I enjoy reading this one has a content, happy and peaceful ending. With the two girls both inhuman together find their calling. Soraya's family rule the kingdom and she takes over as leader of the div‘s. Soraya finds her powers to be her friend turned into the controller of her poison and the thorns her friends. Over all would recommend for all teens, great book.

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JaqyLantern
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
Mehso-so

This book is a series of 'liar revealed' tropes. It was a very easy read but unfortunately you could tell what was going to happen as it came up. Biggest issue are the characters of the royal family, honestly.
I rated it 3/5 cause it was ok, just nothing intense. I do love the concept of a poisonous girl.
Wish it had been longer to develop characters and plot more.

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Clare-Dragonfly
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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#bookspinbingo achieved with both my #bookspin and my #doublespin read! 🙌🏻 I knocked a lot of books off my list this month… that includes 2 DNFs, but getting them off the list is the main thing, right @TheAromaofBooks ? 😂

#PennyPerPage: $11.60

Hestapleton What did you think of Girl Serpent Thorn? On my list for June. 3y
Clare-Dragonfly @Hestapleton I loved it!! Highly recommended, especially for the bisexual rep. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Yes!! Great month & sometimes getting those DNFs out of the way is a great feeling. 3y
23 likes3 comments
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Clare-Dragonfly
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

YES… I LOVED this book!!! So many amazing twists, and such a strong, relatable, powerful main character. I loved and understood her anger and her loyalty. I appreciated the complexity of the characters around her, especially her mother and Parvaneh. And this might be my favorite depiction of a bisexual main character in all of YA fantasy!

magyklyXdelish Agghhhhhh my thoughts exactly! As a Bi woman I felt so seen!! This is by far one of my faves in such a long time! 3y
Clare-Dragonfly @TheAromaofBooks THIS is my #bookspin… not The Flatshare. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! And no worries on claiming the wrong BookSpin 😂 3y
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HOTPock3tt I received your list for NewYEarWhoDIS and I‘m really looking forward to this book! As a Bi woman myself I feel like positive representation of us can be rare 😅 @Clare-Dragonfly 2y
Clare-Dragonfly @HOTPock3tt YESSSSSS! I totally agree! OK we are definitely a good match 😁😁😁 I hope you love this book. I actually got it from @AbigailJaneBlog ‘s #newyearwhodis list last year! 2y
HOTPock3tt I got that vibe too! That it‘s definitely a good match!!! 😀 and thank you! ♥️ Im pretty sure this will be the first one I read, although I‘m checking out a few more!😎 @Clare-Dragonfly (edited) 2y
AbigailJaneBlog @HOTPock3tt @Clare-Dragonfly Yesss I love that this is catching on! I'm also bi and I squealed when I realised that she was as well 😅💕 2y
30 likes7 comments
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Clare-Dragonfly
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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“But tonight she had learned… how much effort it took to be good. To be small. They were the same thing for her, weren‘t they?”

I am loving this book! So glad @AbigailJaneBlog put it on her #newyearwhodis list.

AbigailJaneBlog YAAS glad you're enjoying it! 3y
23 likes1 comment
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magyklyXdelish
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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🌻 Yes but I‘m extremely picky with them. I find YA has way too many series and I just refuse to invest my time in a series unless it‘s really amazing. So usually I make sure it‘s standalone.

🌻 Girl, Serpent, Thorn was absolutely perfect. One of the best books I‘ve read in a while.

🌻 Teen or under drinking age characters with plots that never get *too* dark. Some toe the line but few cross it.

@ozma.of.oz

#SundayFunday

Eggs Thanks for the tag 🥰 3y
BookmarkTavern There do seem to be a lot of series in YA. Thanks for posting! 3y
18 likes2 comments
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rachelsbrittain
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Book haul!

Freespirit Pretty books💕 3y
64 likes1 comment
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KelsiTaylor
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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“If you touch me, you‘ll die...am I still your favorite story now?”
“You‘re better than any story.”

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magyklyXdelish
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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🌻I loved ‘Girl, Serpent, Thorn‘ so much. I‘m still in a book hangover from it 🥴

🌻I‘m not a big outdoors person, so I would say inside.

🌻Just #BookSpin and the ongoing #Booked2021

Thanks for the tag @hannah-leeloo

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Moonprismpower have you done this yet?

Moonprismpower Woohoo! I haven‘t I will post today! ❤️🌸❤️🌺😁 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m not an outdoorsy person either!! 3y
18 likes2 comments
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magyklyXdelish
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

Wow to say I loved this is a massive understatement. This truly felt like a brand new fairytale but one that doesn‘t blame the princess for trusting the wrong people, but instead places the blame on those who broke their trust. I loved Soraya and her quest to free herself from feeling like a monster. Also I love the queer romance but have to say as a Bi woman I felt totally seen. I loved that it normalized her attraction to a man and a woman. ⬇️⬇️

magyklyXdelish I have so so so much more I could say about this book but I‘ll end this by saying it‘s probably my favorite YA/Fantasy I‘ve read in such a long time. I know I‘ll be reading this again in the future. 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great review and such a beautiful cover!! 3y
See All 6 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m going to stack it if it‘s this good!! 💗 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
magyklyXdelish @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks yes it‘s so so soooooo good! 3y
19 likes1 stack add6 comments
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magyklyXdelish
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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My results for the #20in4 readathon. My goal was to finish 2 books. I finished 3 and got a solid chunk of the way through a 4th so even though I didn‘t get the full 20 hours in, I would say this was successful!

Thank you @Andrew65 for hosting!!

Andrew65 Definitely successful. Fantastic 👏👏👏🙌🙌🍾🥂🍾🥂🥳🎉😊 3y
17 likes1 comment
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Ash.on.the.line
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Give me a bright cover with flowers add a snake and I‘m buying it 🤣 also a few authors I love said they loved this so I had to get it.
I‘m trying to reacquaint myself with my TBR while on a book buying ban for the month.
#marchinthetitle21 #animalinthetitle

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magyklyXdelish
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Continuing #20in4 with my #BookSpin

Y‘all this is one of the most beautiful covers 😍

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Airykah13
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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1) Treasures of the Twelve by Cindy Lin • Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust • An Echo in Bone by Diana Gabaldon

2) Aurora‘s End by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

3) uhhh too many 😂 — Lore, Six of Crows, and The Ex-Talk are a few

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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swynn
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

It's a YA fantasy, set in a world inspired by Persian folklore, about a girl whose touch is poison. And y'all, it is brilliant -- I loved the author's games with fairy tales and her thoughts on storytelling and truth-telling and the stories we owe one another (and ourselves). I hope author Bashardoust has more stories planned for this world because I will buy them.

(Amigurumi by my nephew who also is brilliant.)

rachelsbrittain I love this one so much! Just snagged a physical copy from Book Outlet, actually 3y
31 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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emmaturi
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

A fantasy, YA, LGBT and romance too! Soraya is a princess but if she touches anyone she would kill them as she is cursed with poison. On her twin brother's wedding she finds out a demon is in the dungeon who might know how to rid her of this curse. So starts a journey that will change everything. I didn't love this book, but it is an enjoyable read! #books

ElleSkel Gorgeous cover art! 3y
33 likes1 comment
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Endowarrior21
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust

So I realized I never put my review in the book so here it is @CareBear I give the book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Endowarrior21
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust

@CareBear can you please and thank you email me your address apparently my phone decided to delete it. My email is JessiNoel21@gmail.com.

CareBear Emailed! 3y
Endowarrior21 @CareBear Did you get your book sorry I just got home from working 28 hours straight. 3y
CareBear I did, thank you! 3y
15 likes5 comments
review
Endowarrior21
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
Pickpick

An atmospheric retelling of tales from Persian culture. Girl, Serpent, Thorn begins as many retellings do, with a neglected princess hidden away from the world. But the fact that Soraya‘s skin is poisonous to the touch gives the story a unique twist. As the princess begins to see her condition not as a curse but as a source of power, the story really becomes interesting.

Demons & a neglectful god; (cont. in comments)

Endowarrior21 hidden passageways & the forbidden place of the dead are all elements in this story. Bashardoust explores themes of good vs. evil, hidden evil, and what turns a person toward darkness.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn will appeal to fans of retellings and feminists who cheer for the princess to save both herself and those around her. @CareBear this will go with hubby tomorrow or Thursday
3y
LazyOwl Kind of reminds me of Rogue from Xmen. This definitely seems right up my alley. Stacked. 3y
19 likes1 stack add2 comments
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natalieebloom
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

I am NOT a fantasy person, but I LOVED this book! It‘s definitely got that YA feel, but it was unlike anything I‘ve ever read and I flew through it in two days.

6 likes1 stack add
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ladyshmelton
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Mehso-so

Soraya struggles with decisions and with self-acceptance. While the plot was good, I quickly grew tired of Soraya's internal self-deprecation and her fight for her place amongst her family. I wanted her to embrace her power! I also got The Darkling vibes from Azad and was disappointed (yet again) by the lack of romance between them. I wouldn't recommend this or read it again, but it wasn't bad.

⭐⭐⭐

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rachelsbrittain
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Sharing some Valentine's book recs over on Book Riot today

https://bookriot.com/queer-romances/

Laughterhp I was surprised how much I liked the tagged book! 3y
rachelsbrittain @Laughterhp it's a really good one! 3y
sarahbarnes Love this! 3y
42 likes3 comments
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emmaturi
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Stories always begin the same way: There was and there was not.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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Mariah30
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust

01/22/2021
Soraya had an agreement with the div where it asked for a Simorgh's feather and was hesitant to follow, but she was too late to go back. She finds herself in a temple that reminded her about a priest who knew about her curse and told her horrible things, like her belonging in a place with monsters, although he's one of the two people that knows where the feather is. She wonders where he is, and if he can help her to find the feather.

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Endowarrior21
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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#LMPBC #GroupF @Alfrazier21 it arrived today can't wait to start it. @suvata @CareBear @CaraTK

CaraTK Ohhh yay! I loved it! 3y
Alfrazier21 It was a great read!! 3y
Powered_By_Plants Such a pretty cover 😊 3y
See All 7 Comments
Endowarrior21 Okay girls was this January's read or February sorry I've been very busy at work. @CaraTK @CareBear @Alfrazier21 3y
CareBear February. Should be your last read because it‘s my book! 💕 3y
Endowarrior21 @CareBear okay lol I was so confused lol I am almost done and I truly love where the story is going right now 😅. 3y
Endowarrior21 @CareBear I am hoping to finish your book tonight and than I will give it to the hubby to drop off. 3y
30 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Kajohnson
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Bread baking and reading kind of day ❤️

Daisey Sounds perfect! 3y
Hazel2019 Aww I want some 😁 3y
10 likes2 comments
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ParkerFinn
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
Bailedbailed

I bailed on this book after I made it about halfway. It‘s not my cup of tea and it reminds me of other books that I‘ve read. So I couldn‘t do it.

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Alfrazier21
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

This book was so unexpected and fun. I really enjoyed this Persian inspired fantasy. This was a great pick for #LMPBC

@Endowarrior21 I got this in the mail for you yesterday!!

@suvata @CareBear

Endowarrior21 Okay I will be on the look out for it 3y
CareBear Those ears 😻 3y
Alfrazier21 @CareBear it‘s my bookmark! I found it in a bookstore in Wilmington, NC and fell in love haha. I bought a ton of cat ones. 3y
35 likes1 stack add3 comments
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CaraTK
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust
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Pickpick

I loved this book, and gained more appreciation of it after hearing the Author‘s Note about Persian mythology and lore. If you like Sabaa Tahir, you‘ll love this book. Thanks for choosing this gem @CareBear @Endowarrior21 @Alfrazier21 #GroupF #LMPBC

Alfrazier21 oh yay! I can‘t wait to read it!! 3y
Alfrazier21 I‘m not sure why it won‘t let me tag you in my post, but I finished this one and I really liked it!! 3y
Alfrazier21 I received Ash Princess today! 🙃🙂 3y
See All 6 Comments
CaraTK @Alfrazier21 oh my goodness that too so long! So sorry for the delay 3y
Alfrazier21 @CaraTK No worries!! The mail has been crazy bc of the winter storm last week. 3y
CaraTK @Alfrazier21 yes that‘s true, thanks for understanding and enjoy the read 💚 3y
21 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Mariah30
Girl, Serpent, Thorn | Melissa Bashardoust

11/19-11/20
The author uses terms that are descriptive, but detailed, although when the author describes a certain scenario. It's like you can feel and see through the words, like this part“the scalloped waves along her chin and jaw, whorls on her cheeks, stripes along her forehead, like a moth‘s wings were laid out over her skin.“and “the div‘s eyes were too bright, too piercing.“ You can portray the character's facial features and their actions.