Abstract

Reviewed by: Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust Natalie Berglind Bashardoust, Melissa Girl, Serpent, Thorn. Flatiron, 2020 [336p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-250-19614-9 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-250-19615-6 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 7-10 Soraya is the seclusive twin sister of the future shah of Ashatar; ever since she was little, she’s been told that people will die at her touch because a div (demon) made [End Page 388] her poisonous. Soraya would do anything to be a normal eighteen-year-old, and when her family captures a div, she finally has her chance to ask for the cure to her curse, whereupon the div ruler, Shahmar, rises again and deposes the royal family, with intentions of making Soraya his bride. Soraya encounters betrayals, power plays, and a romance with the fairy-like div who assists her as she seeks to restore her family and their lands to their former glory. This novel, based on ancient Persian mythology, is a sweeping tale of epic proportions with all the staples of a classic battle between good and evil. Bashardoust evokes numerous elements of Persian culture, providing readers with a lush setting that’s a change from European fantasies. Additionally, Soraya’s attractions to men and women make this an excellent source of LGBT representation, with Soraya and the div Parvaneh becoming a couple and working toward maintaining peace between divs and humans. An author’s note includes information on mythological and cultural influences (notably, the Persian epic Shahnameh and Sleeping Beauty). Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

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