emm99's review against another edition
2.0
Non so come spiegarlo ma questo libro e' una confusione unica. La protagonista è insopportabile a metà libro per tutte le scelte che decide o che non decide di fare. Non capisco perché magicamente il disastro che ha combinato si risolve in pochi capitoli per dare al lettore l'happy ending. Poi non ho capito perché inserire l'elemento LGBT quando non è stato fatto neanche bene (sembra buttato lì a caso). Non vedevo l'ora di arrivare alla fine per finirlo.
catpanda1's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
recyclops229's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, I really enjoyed Girl, Serpent, Thorn. I thought the story was pretty unique and the love triangle had an unexpected twist that helped set it apart from other YA books. My only gripe was the lie the mother told - that part of the story felt kind of weak - but overall, an enjoyable read.
celilily's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
allisonnruff's review against another edition
4.0
So unique in the plot, the characters and especially the language. I loved the Persian fairytale vibes because i’ve never read anything like it and this was a great start. the characters were all original and the magic system was sooo interesting so these two combined made for some great story telling. I do think it dragged a little bit toward the end but i get why with the whole being comfortable with herself ending. overall so great i really really enjoyed it
annuminas's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
bookishcarli's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, so I enjoyed the last half of this book immensly more than i did the first half, which I'm not sure it's the books fault though. I read this after finishing the amazing Cursebreakers series, which put me in a bit of a hangover because that series is so amazing. I couldn't really focus on this book much, but now that I'm mostly out of the slump, I actually liked it a lot more. It's also the reason this book me so long to read. I read half of it in 10 days and the other half in 2. Buttttt that also could be because I was liking Soraya's character a lot more in the last parts of it. Her character annoyed me like crazy before that. She was so indecisive and selfish and just really annoying. All the other characters were pretty flat. The plot was great though! And I absolutely loved the writing. The romance was okay, but like I got the feeling SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Parvaneh was like older, so it kinda seemed weird. Like ik shes like a demon and has lived so long, but like when she met she didnt seem 16 or however old Soraya was. Like, I love Malec from Shadowhunters because Magnus seems like hes like 18, imo. The same age as Alec. Parvaneh just kinda struck me as a bit older, like maybe mid twenties. Which isnt that different, but still. Not to mention that Soraya didnt seem 16 or however old she was. She honestly acted more like 15, which makes the romance weirder imo. But the writing was absolutely beautiful, and the plot was great too! Has some Shatter Me vibes except the characters and romance were not nearly as good.
sarag19's review against another edition
3.0
Well shoot. The book sells itself as captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl with a cursed touch. Utterly original it most certainly is not but it was a fun read with a Persian mythology based story that didn’t fully deliver.
Soraya is the hidden twin sister of Shah (King) living in one of their many castles cursed to poison anything that she touches. This has resulted in her living a lonely and reserved existence, seeing her family only a few months of the year. She seems to have almost no interaction with the staff, meals delivered three times a day to her, the fact that she is as emotionally balanced as she is was kind of a surprise. Her mothers act of kindness is the reason Soraya is cursed but there is more to the story that Soraya has been lead to believe.
Outside of Soraya and maybe Azad, there is very little character development for the secondary character. They mostly treat Soraya as less than trash so their responses to Soraya’s ultimate action made me roll my eyes. While I understand their actions it just didn’t work for the story because none of them seem to care at all about Soraya, they push her away into the corner and then forget her for months. Even her own mothers actions a skeptical, I don’t believe that she cares for her. Its even worse when Soraya has the truth revealed to her because all her interactions are now viewed in a different light and I don’t for one second think that her mother made the right and brave choice as the book tries to sell at the end.
I think I found myself loving the story that could have been then the story that actually was. I wish that instead of Soraya being fed a lie about her entire life, she had been told the truth. We could have seen Soraya struggle with her fear of hurting others with her abilities but also with wanting to embrace what she had been given. It would have allowed the book to break free of the cliché of YA books and evolve into something that was original.
World building is both hit and miss. I did like the div and wish that would could have spent more time learning about them. What we learn is almost glossed over as the plot moves quickly onto the next point. The concept of the creator vs the destroyer was really interesting, the concept of good and bad and how it would have played into Soraya’s story and her struggle to both embrace and push away her curse. I think this would have played out better in the end when Soraya chooses to get her abilities back and had that final conflict because Soraya would have long ago embraced who she was instead of it making it feel forced to protect a family that we haven’t seen Soraya have any emotional attachment to up until that point.
There is a romance that is tacked on and as much as I love seeing representation with a f/f romance it felt forced to me. Soraya has a connection to Azad, it doesn’t need to be romantic and you don’t need a counter romance to balance that out. It could just be part of Soraya’s internal struggle with the destroyer vs creator, good vs bad and allowed her to truly be the anti-hero the book seemed to want to sell her as.
Soraya is the hidden twin sister of Shah (King) living in one of their many castles cursed to poison anything that she touches. This has resulted in her living a lonely and reserved existence, seeing her family only a few months of the year. She seems to have almost no interaction with the staff, meals delivered three times a day to her, the fact that she is as emotionally balanced as she is was kind of a surprise. Her mothers act of kindness is the reason Soraya is cursed but there is more to the story that Soraya has been lead to believe.
Outside of Soraya and maybe Azad, there is very little character development for the secondary character. They mostly treat Soraya as less than trash so their responses to Soraya’s ultimate action made me roll my eyes. While I understand their actions it just didn’t work for the story because none of them seem to care at all about Soraya, they push her away into the corner and then forget her for months. Even her own mothers actions a skeptical, I don’t believe that she cares for her. Its even worse when Soraya has the truth revealed to her because all her interactions are now viewed in a different light and I don’t for one second think that her mother made the right and brave choice as the book tries to sell at the end.
I think I found myself loving the story that could have been then the story that actually was. I wish that instead of Soraya being fed a lie about her entire life, she had been told the truth. We could have seen Soraya struggle with her fear of hurting others with her abilities but also with wanting to embrace what she had been given. It would have allowed the book to break free of the cliché of YA books and evolve into something that was original.
World building is both hit and miss. I did like the div and wish that would could have spent more time learning about them. What we learn is almost glossed over as the plot moves quickly onto the next point. The concept of the creator vs the destroyer was really interesting, the concept of good and bad and how it would have played into Soraya’s story and her struggle to both embrace and push away her curse. I think this would have played out better in the end when Soraya chooses to get her abilities back and had that final conflict because Soraya would have long ago embraced who she was instead of it making it feel forced to protect a family that we haven’t seen Soraya have any emotional attachment to up until that point.
There is a romance that is tacked on and as much as I love seeing representation with a f/f romance it felt forced to me. Soraya has a connection to Azad, it doesn’t need to be romantic and you don’t need a counter romance to balance that out. It could just be part of Soraya’s internal struggle with the destroyer vs creator, good vs bad and allowed her to truly be the anti-hero the book seemed to want to sell her as.
magicseaweed's review against another edition
5.0
I accidentally ordered this book from amazon. Thought it was a sequel to another book I read. Quickly realized it is clearly not a sequel to anything. I’ve misunderstood what a book is about many times and straight up ordered everything from anatomy text books to erotica. My lack of attention to detail while buying books online has lead me on some very interesting journeys. This is no exception.
Not the book I wanted but it was fantastic anyway!
The beginning of this book seems like a middle eastern version of Rappaccini’s Daughter since the main character is poisonous and isolated in a similar way. Hang the hell on because it diverges into some damn unexpected romance and adventure. Loved the magic in this world!
Not the book I wanted but it was fantastic anyway!
The beginning of this book seems like a middle eastern version of Rappaccini’s Daughter since the main character is poisonous and isolated in a similar way. Hang the hell on because it diverges into some damn unexpected romance and adventure. Loved the magic in this world!