Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Girl, Serpent, Thorn
A cursed Persian princess is locked away because her touch brings death to all who touch her. When she escapes, she discovers a hidden world where her curse is both weapon and prison. She must learn to wield her power before those hunting her close in.
Everything You Need to Know About Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Soraya has been hidden in a tower her entire life, her touch is poison, a curse she can't escape. When she finally breaks free, she stumbles into a world she doesn't understand, discovers her curse can be weaponized, and falls for Nasrin, a warrior princess trapped in her own cage. What unfolds is a slow-burn sapphic fantasy about reclaiming agency when you've been treated as a weapon your whole life.
Bashardoust takes the poisoned-girl trope seriously. Soraya's isolation isn't quirky; it's traumatic and shapes every relationship. The Persian mythology is built through without exposition dumps. The queer romance is gentle and intimate, physical and emotional at once. Nasrin is a fully realized character with her own arc, not just the love interest. The magic system (tied to Soraya's curse) has real costs.
Parental neglect and emotional abuse. Isolation and confinement. Self-harm references. Violence. One character is sexually assaulted (off-page).
Soraya's curse isn't a curse, it's her mother's attempt to weaponize her against enemies of the kingdom. By the end, she chooses to keep the poison, not as a tool of destruction but as a boundary. She and Nasrin leave together, choosing each other over duty. It's not a traditional happy ending; it's freedom, which is better.
Readers who loved Sorcery of Thorns for the found-family vibe and the sapphic rep. Also for anyone who likes character-driven fantasy where emotional growth matters more than plot twists. If you want a thoughtful exploration of trauma and healing, this lands it. Not for: readers seeking fast-paced action or high stakes conflict.
Standalone. Bashardoust has written other YA fantasy (Given to the Sea) but this exists independently.
Reader Reviews
No reader reviews yet. Be the first!