Zaheerah

Monthly Rewind: August 2018

September 1, 2018September 2, 2018by Zaheerah2 Comments

B O O K S

monthlyrewind_august_2018_Books

Mirage by Somaiya Daud (4/5) – Mirage was a solid debut which kicked off Daud’s duology with a bang. In a world of magic and constant danger, Amani is forced to become a princess’s body double and to survive the threat that is the Vathek Courts.

That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger (3/5) – Six school shooting survivors recall the day their lives changed forever and realise that not everything was as black and white as they thought.

Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth by Warsan Shire (5/5) – There’s a haunting quality to Shire’s work that I really enjoy. The beauty of her work leaves you stunned with every word.

No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark. I’ve been carrying the old anthem in my mouth for so long that there’s no space for another song, another tongue or another language

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Books, Other

Review: Mirage

August 19, 2018August 16, 2018by Zaheerah2 Comments

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
* I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

Mirage is a Moroccan inspired tale about eighteen-year-old Amani’s dream of travelling the world almost comes true when the Vathek empire kidnaps her. She discovers she looks virtually identical to the half Vathek Princess. A princess so hated by the public that Amani is forced to become her body double, should someone take aim. Amani’s life is on the line as she must mirror the princess to perfection.

Where most would have failed to bring to life these characters, Daud flourishes. Each and every single one had such a strong and exciting presence. Amani and her reluctant friendship with Maram. Amani adjusting to her new role and lifestyle. The entire world and its system are so genuinely amazing. I dived into this thinking it was just a fantasy, but I was utterly surprised away by the sci-fi elements. It is absolutely fantastic. I truly enjoyed Maram, our stone cold princess whom Amani must mirror, the most. Perhaps this is the first time I’m genuinely captivated the villain. Don’t get me wrong, I hated her, but she is so exciting. The relationship dynamic between the two girls were so compelling and fascinating.

This book amazingly showcases the topic of family, culture and tradition. It addresses colonialism and the erasure of cultures and religions via oppression. It is a bit slower than what you’d expect for a fantasy, focusing on exploring the relationships as Amani has to decide whom she can trust but its character interactions and court politics scenes were some of the best in the book.

The books biggest downfall, but wasn’t as weak as it could’ve been, is the romance. Where most books fail is where Daud succeeded was making sure the romance wasn’t the be all and end all of this entire book. Everything else in is this book was so good that the romance, for me, was merely eclipsed that everything else that was good. It still worked in a way that didn’t overpower the narrative. But Amani and Idris can still tug at one’s heartstrings. Hell, even my cons of this book aren’t honestly cons.

Overall, Mirage is a solid debut which kicked off the duology with a strong narrative in a world of magic and danger. The danger and adventure Amani faces in this court that holds her prisoner makes Mirage an utterly captivating read.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR SITE

Content warning: kidnapping, physical abuse, war themes, death, murder, forced body alterations, oppression. (If you’ve read Mirage and felt like I’ve missed something out, tell me!)

Books, Contemporary

Review: That’s Not What Happened

August 17, 2018August 14, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

*I received an e-arc from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion

Three years after the Virgil County High School Massacre. Three years since Lee’s best friend Sarah was killed in a bathroom stall. A story that gripped the nation. Sarah died proclaiming her faith. Spoke to the killer when no one else did. Except she didn’t. And three years later, only two people know the truth. Lee didn’t say anything then, and now even more people are going to get hurt. This is Lee’s final chance to set the record straight on everything.

School shooting survivor Lee begins to collect the stories of what happened that day. Letters by the very people who suffered. And slowly she realises that what everyone thought happened that day didn’t. Each new letter reveals something new, telling what the headlines didn’t show. And the survivors must come to terms with what they did or didn’t do.

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Books, Other, Poetry, Romance

Review: The Poet X

August 15, 2018August 15, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Xiomara is the titular The Poet X who learns to find her voice in the pages of her journal, hidden from the world. Her passion and frustration grows in the pages of her notebook, reciting stories that must never leave the pages the ink drys on. But when she’s invited to her school’s slam poetry club, Xiomara decides to speak up in a world that doesn’t want to hear from her.

The Poet X follows Xiomara’s life as she tackles a world that works not in her favour. A world that doesn’t want to hear from her. The story tackles and addresses so many important topics. One of the main issues is sexual harassment and how victims of it are affected, especially from a young age like Xiomara. Another is how Xiomara grapples with living in a conservative household with religious parents. We follow Xiomara as she handles the shame, fear and confusion as she tries to fit in the boxes life had already decided for her.

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Lifestyle, Monthly Rewind

Monthly Rewind: July 2018

August 1, 2018August 1, 2018by Zaheerah5 Comments

This is a very rushed Monthly Rewind post. I am so sick at the moment but I really, really wanted to post this. I didn’t read as much as I wanted to read this month because my sister was getting married so the last two week of July was just wedding mayhem. All I remember is running around and then falling off the stage! (Luckily the camera was on my sister the entire time.)

welcoming him to the family (via instagram)

B O O K S

monthlyrewind_july2018_books

M U S I C

monthlyrewind_july2018

That’s it for this month! Tell me what went on in YOUR life this month! What sort of things was important for you this month? New obsessions? New TV shows? Or book? Any new song recs (I’m always open to new music!)? Best books you read this month?

Books, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult/ Teen

Review: Honor Among Thieves

July 30, 2018July 19, 2018by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

After getting into trouble, Zara Cole is surprising recruited into the Honors, a space program in which humans are carefully selected by a mysterious alien race who are formed like ships to explore the universe above and beyond humanity has ever gone. Zara takes the only chance that could save her life, but questions soon arise out of her presence on the elite program. And she quickly learns that space holds darker secrets than the ones back on earth.

I feel like this story grew on me. It took a while but certainly towards the end, it was much more enjoyable and exciting. There’s quite a lot of action as we watch Zara adapt to life in space and experience working with others. She’s used to watching her every step, not trusting the few she knows, now she’s trapped in space, relying on the help of her alien companion, Nadim, and human partner, Bea. I won’t say much about the central relation…ship. I’m not sure what is the best way to describe it, but it is very intense. These three has such a fantastic dynamic and were really engaging to watch them get to know each other. Bea is such an interesting secondary lead that I absolutely loved.

The cover and book description appeared to be a little different than what I actually read. It came across as having a Hunger Games vibe, especially in the beginnings, with how Zara is plucked from the ragtag areas of her city and propelled to Honor stardom felt like Katniss entering the Capitol.

Despite the slow start, there’s a lot of action in this series, and for the first in the series, I would say I’m interested in seeing how it will all play through. The world (or space) the authors have built is quite intriguing and appealing to read about. There’s a lot of questions I have to ask, but the ending definitely had me hooked. I think 3 stars suits the best for how I feel about the book at the moment but I do believe this series has the potential to thrive in future books.

GOODREADS |BOOK DEPOSITORY | AUTHOR SITE

Content warning: child abuse, violence, mass murder. (If you’ve read the series and felt like I’ve missed something out, please tell me!)

Author: Zaheerah

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