Title- Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Book of the Month Selection
Rating– 5/5
Genre- YA Fantasy
POV- Third person, past tense
Similar Books/Comps– Shatter Me (this is what google said, but I disagree that they’re similar since Shatter Me is so interior based and deep first person POV)
My emotions- LOVED every part of this book! I was fascinated, captivated, and completely consumed by this story. I’m so glad I bought a copy.
Plot/Blurb-
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.
Best part-
I thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns in this novel! I wasn’t ever 100% sure what would happen, which kept me intrigued. I also enjoyed the theme of questioning morals and ethics. The symbolism of the serpent and thorn were fantastic and created great imagery.
What I’d change-
My only criticism was that too much time was spent in a particular setting (won’t reveal due to spoilers) and wanted a more variety of locations.
Quote-
“She had read enough stories to know that the princess and the monster were never the same. She had been alone long enough to know which one she was.”
“To anyone who has ever felt poisonous or monstrous or bristling with thorns.”
Pacing- Perfect
Cassie Swindon 