Girl, Serpent, Thorn

So many of the books I read flinch from letting there be truly bad consequences to the protagonist’s actions, but this one is impressive in how little it pulls its punches.

When I picked it up, I wasn’t as familiar with the Persian folklore that inspired it as I am with other novels, but it made me want to go read the tales it’s based on. I also found the writing lovely, a cut above many of the novels I read. And for bonus points, it has queer representation, too!

Soraya is cursed to kill anything she touches. Except, what’s she always considered to be a curse is a lot more complicated than it appears on the surface.

Locked away by her family, Soraya has lived a life of insulation, one that she had resigned herself to, until things around her start to change. Seeing Soraya find her footing and release that wanting is not a dangerous thing, even if she just wants to be free is a powerful storyline.

If you’ve been stuck in a life that you no longer want to live, seeing someone else chose to be… show more.

I absolutely love this book.

I love the internal conflict Soraya has, and it’s woven so beautifully into her self-discovery. She makes mistakes and stumbles along the way, and that just makes her even more relatable as she steps into her own. Once she embraces her power and the cards that have been dealt to her, she’s a force.

I also love a good queer representation in books, and the fact that she’s bi and experiences attraction to both parties (no spoilers, here) really resonated with me as a queer author.