«I read enough stories to know that the princess and the monster were never the same. She had been alone long enough to know which one she was.»
-Melissa Bashardoust
Plot
A girl with a fate sealed even before she was born. A curse that makes it poisonous to anyone who dares to touch her. Soraya lives a life that is not life, locked up in a room, and forced to hide from everything and everyone. She wants freedom, but she wouldn’t do anything to get it.. Or maybe?
Book
A delicate novel with many small thorns in the course of reading. I admit that, before I came across this book, I was looking for something different than usual, without the same heart-pounding plots and as soon as I started reading it, I was expecting a bland story, a little too tight and with little emotion.
Well, I was wrong.
I have always liked to glimpse into the psychology of the characters and this time, I wondered how the protagonist was coping with all of this mentally, so I was pleasantly surprised not only by the content but also by the excellent storytelling by the author.
Synopses are always concise, they give you an idea of the content, but in this case, it was one plot twist after another. For the entire length of the book, I felt exactly like the protagonist: afflicted with great pain, confused and not ready for the consequences of every little action. And that is why I could not stop reading it.
The dynamics between the characters, complex and shrouded in mystery, are amusing as everyone has something to tell or reveal.
There were so many twists, to the point that I wondered if there was a sequel to cover it all, but the author managed to slim it down to just 300 pages, leaving nothing unfinished.
This story is a journey of self-discovery and control of one’s emotions.
Background
This novel revolves around Persian myths and legends, the author’s culture of origin.
In particular, she was inspired by the epic poem “Shah-Nameh” (or “Book of Kings”) a long report of the Persian Empire’s history, which delves into myths and historical facts.
In fact, at the end of the book, you can find all the sources that have been drawn upon, but also a detailed explanation of some words used throughout the pages, useful for those who have never approached this culture and would like to know more.
Ratings & Recommendations
★★★★★
I recommend this book to those who still want to dream, those who have not found themselves yet, and those who live a quiet life and want to break the mould with an exciting read.
Author – Denise Ledda
The Iris Tales 