Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust: A Book Review
Genre: Fantasy
Bashardoust certainly showed her love for fairytales and mythology in Girl, Serpent, Thorn and as a lover of both myself – she did a brilliant job. Weaving a story as classic as fairytales themselves, Bashardoust created something unique while still showing respect to those stories we tell again and again. Hearing the story of who I know as Rapunzel brought a smile to my face as well as hearing new stories from Persia, made me want to sit down as revisit some of stories of my childhood. It also made me want to pour through my collection of world mythology and fairytales to hear full versions of the stories Bashardoust was talking about.
Even more impressive, Girl, Serpent, Thorn had almost no plot holes, story errors, word errors, etc. meaning that Bashardoust’s editor was on point. There was only one point in the story where I go confused because I thought something was off (the setting seemed to different in props and character locations). On rereading and continued reading, it seemed that everything was only wrong in my head (aka the picture I was forming with the words) and that I had placed things incoorectly.
Finally, I can only say how impressed I am of the ending. It wasn’t one that was exactly unexpected, but it was one that was needed. It also seemed to be entirely original which was actually a relief. I was almost afraid towards the end that it was going to end the same as all fairytales do – and they all lived happily ever after. Of course, I’m not saying that they don’t live happily ever after. What was relieving was that each character grew and was allowed to realize their potential with the option of being happy.
Who would most enjoy the work and who should stay clear (if necessary):
Fans of fairytales, those that like mythology, and those into Middle East mythology and stories would enjoy this story.
Other books like the one reviewed:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armetrout
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
| Plot: | 10/ 10 |
| Characters: | 10/ 10 |
| Writing: | 10/ 10 |
| Editor: | 10/ 10 |
| Total | 40/ 40 |
Title: Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Edition: First US; Hardcover
Published: 2020
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250196149
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
Rosey Reviews 