Cursed at birth to be poisonous to the touch, Soraya considers herself the shameful secret of the royal family. That is, until a fortuitous series of events leads her down a path that will irrevocably change her family and her country. As she attempts to come to terms with her actions, she learns that not everything is black and white. I truly appreciate how Bashardoust casts Soraya in a morally gray light in which she is not the hero, nor the villain, and not simply a damsel in distress either. She is fully aware of her reach and her actions. This story beautifully blends Persian fairytale, historical drama, and epic poetry.
