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honeyroseleareads's review against another edition
4.0
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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
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spopqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Since she was an infant, Princess Soraya has been cursed with a fatal, poisonous touch. With the help of a demon, she begins to discover her true potential. Beautiful queer rep and wonderful prose!
I love Soraya she is such a sweet character🥺and the story itself reads like a beautiful, classy fairytale that you can just come back to over and over again.
I’ve seen criticism that Soraya keeps thinking she’s “monstrous” when she’s really not, but I’m pretty sure that’s the point of the book. It shows how our upbringing really shapes how we see ourselves. And her journey to realize that she isn’t and never was evil is an important part of that.
I love Soraya she is such a sweet character🥺and the story itself reads like a beautiful, classy fairytale that you can just come back to over and over again.
I’ve seen criticism that Soraya keeps thinking she’s “monstrous” when she’s really not, but I’m pretty sure that’s the point of the book. It shows how our upbringing really shapes how we see ourselves. And her journey to realize that she isn’t and never was evil is an important part of that.
sage01's review against another edition
2.0
A great setting in the hands of a writer who offers no specific visual detail. Interesting folklore presented without context. Characters who are never/barely described. A ton of telling at the expense of showing. The flimsiest of plots.
The end notes are more engaging than the novel, tbh...which pisses me off bc I love Persian/Iranian history and it deserves to inspire better fiction.
The end notes are more engaging than the novel, tbh...which pisses me off bc I love Persian/Iranian history and it deserves to inspire better fiction.
katiehwrites's review against another edition
3.0
There were good bits and disappointing bits about this novel. I loved the sense of place, the palaces and forests and hidden passageways. The fairytale elements were beautifull interwoven. But I never really felt what the characters were feeling - Bashardoust told us a lot, instead of showed us - that creative writing classic, which does make such a difference. The plot felt quite forced in a few places, too, and the metaphor of for being your 'true self' a little too obvious. But still an enjoyable read.
Spoiler
transforming into a beast,margarethobbs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
bubblegirl858's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sayahbayahboo's review against another edition
3.0
This was quite the book to read during the pandemic since the main character can't touch anyone. My empathy was definitely higher on that aspect given the state of the world right now. It actually reads as an exploration of mental health; when you've lacked close relationships and contact all your life, how do you react when you finally get this kind of attention, even if it's not from the best people? This wasn't my favorite book but it was one where you could actually see the characters grow and I liked getting introduced to Persian lore. Some of the characters needed more development, particularly the side characters like Paravaneh. This was also touted as a queer romance and while the romance is there, it's not as central to the story as I was expecting which was disappointing. Overall, it's got that teen figuring out who they are and their place in the world storyline that I think YA lit fans will like.
kellbees's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5