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Reading Recap 2025!

January 3, 2026January 2, 2026by Zaheerah1 Comment

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful end to 2025 and a lovely new year! I’ve read a lot in 2025, reaching 101 books! Which, according to Goodreads, is actually one of my highest reading years ever! The last time I actually read this many books in a year was back in 2018 – which I was my first year of university!

I don’t usually set goals for myself in the new year (aside from reading ones) but after dabbling in different hobbies in 2025, it made me realise I want to set myself some creative goals for 2026.

Continue working with watercolour paints!
- I picked up watercolour paints as an activity to do during the Summer Hours at work. (which is working extra hours in the week to have Friday afternoon off). I began painting the covers of the books I read and I ended the year having only painted 8 covers. I used a rather small sketchbook which made the painting process less daunting. I too was sucked in by those TikTok ads to buy acrylic marker pens and they’ve surprisingly come in handy for this! It was such a fun and relaxing way to unwind from all the screens I’m looking at constantly during the day for work and also for streaming.

Return to blogging (FOR REAL THIS TIME I SWEAR)
- On the blog, I’ve only been posting my month rewinds for the last year or so. And it’s made me feel pretty guilty. 2025 was a bit lacking in the creative department. And this blog is where a lot of my creative endeavours first began. I do talk about the books I read on stream (twitch.tv/zaheerah) but I haven’t written a full review in sooo long. I swear my Netgalley TBR will be dealt with this year!

I’m not a goal setter as I find that I don’t end up following them so these two goals seem open enough that I will commit to them rather than abandoning them in the future.

My reading pattern for this year has been pretty consistent! I’ve found that I am much more picky with the books I read since I have less time to do so which means I didn’t dislike many of the books I read this year! (Don’t get me wrong, there was a few books I really, really hated but I don’t want to highlight them ahah) I’ve read a ton of fun books this year, especially webtoons!

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Reading Recap 2024

February 2, 2025February 3, 2025by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

Is this post a whole month late? Yes, yes, it is.

So 2024’s reading recap is going to be a little bit different. I actually streamed my reading recap over on Twitch! VODs don’t last for long on Twitch so I condensed the hour and a half stream into a more watchable state. Editing is a bit iffy because I’m not used to editing my streams and I ended up rambling a lot during the stream! I’m also NOT used to talking so much on stream like this. (I usually stream gameplays where the focus is on the game more than me.) And on top of that, I hate hearing the sound of my own voice – so editing was PAINFUL.

Here’s to a better reading year in 2025!

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Review: The Stardust Thief

June 27, 2024June 17, 2024by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book. (Requested back in 2022 – I am currently working through my backlog of reviews.

A young merchant specialising in selling illegal magic captures the sultan’s attention and is coerced into a perilous journey that no one has yet to conquer. With the aid of her jinn bodyguard, Loulie al-Nazari, also known as the Midnight Merchant, is forced to traverse the desolate deserts in search of an ancient lamp that can restore the lands, but at the cost of sacrificing all jinn. With no alternative but to comply, she embarks on this treacherous mission with the sultan’s eldest son and guard, who harbour their secrets, to survive ghouls, vengeful ghosts, and a killer from Loulie’s past. The jinn and their magic are a treacherous mirage, and it’s up to Loulie to weather the storm or risk losing everything she holds dear.

This book was probably one of my most anticipated reads for 2022, and I’m annoyed at myself for finally taking so long to read it. Loulie al-Nazari is a street-smart businesswoman who collects magic-infused items and sells them to the highest bidder. Her patrons are unaware she uses the help of Qadir, a jinn who found himself led to Loulie at a young age, not long after her village was massacred. Since then, they have made themselves a great pair, using Qadir’s help to make money by selling items most adventurers dream of discovering. But her skills have not gone unnoticed, and the Sultan calls upon her to search for an item that has led many to their deaths. Mazen, son of the legendary storyteller and the Sultan’s youngest, finds himself in a predicament when his oldest brother, Omar, catches him sneaking out of their guarded palace to listen to the local storytellers. When his father sends Omar to accompany Loulie, Mazen, who is wearing magic jewellery, hides his true identity. He joins her instead, guarded by one of Omar’s Forty thieves, Aisha. Thus begins the journey with four polarising people who can only hope they don’t kill each other before the jinns can.

The Stardust Thief is delightful and compelling and an all-around chaotic story. My expectations were indeed high for this. With vivid prose at an exhilarating pace, Abdullah takes the entire cast on a journey almost akin to hell and back. The changing perspectives are opposites but equally entertaining. I nearly felt bad for Mazen’s chapters because I thought Loulie’s POV would be the more substantial chapters, but the inept prince holds his own, considering his travelling partners include a jinn, a merchant and a member of the Forty Thieves. Aisha, our thief, as mentioned earlier, is an exciting addition whose perspective I found to be some of the best chapters in the book.

The main issue I had with the story is that it spends so much time developing the characters and the world around them that by the time the plot has to take precedence, the end result feels rushed. The story feels like it ended much earlier than it should. At almost 500 pages, it felt like a huge disservice to the book to wrap up the ending so quickly.

In all, The Stardust Thief is a love letter to oral storytelling. It is a rich and gripping story that unfolds into an exhilarating adventure that closes its final chapter in an almost disappointing way, but nonetheless, I will be avidly waiting for the rest of Loulie’s story with anticipation.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR

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Review: Northern Boy

June 24, 2024June 9, 2024by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

*I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

In 1981, in Blackburn, young Rafi dreams of the big screen, just like the Bollywood stars he grew up watching. As factory closure threatens his father’s job, Rafi dreads the day he must move to the school down the road, where his musically gifted talents make him a target to the school bullies. Twenty years later, all the way from Australia, Rafi is summoned back home for his best friend’s wedding. For years, he has almost forgotten Blackburn, but as he makes his way back home, the memories and expectations he left behind come flooding back.

Northern Boy is a deeply moving coming-of-age story that vividly portrays the cultural and societal challenges faced by a young Pakistani boy growing up in the 1980s, a time and place deeply marked by societal changes with the rise of Thatcherism. As Rafi grapples with his traditional upbringing, he becomes acutely aware of the whispers in the neighbourhood, the rumours of lost jobs and the rise in racial harassment. His creative outlets, once a source of joy, are suddenly a burden, and at a young age, he is faced with the growing expectations that he must become the man his family wants him to be. But when the opportunity of a lifetime appears, a chance to sing alongside ABBA, Rafi’s determination not to let his dream pass is palpable.

Northern Boy is written from a dual perspective: Rafi in his youth and Rafi as an adult making the journey to Blackburn, much of which is the plane ride from Australia. For me, this was an example of a book in which the dual perspective did not work in favour of this book. Hussain does well in differentiating the tone between Rafi in different life stages; one moment stuck out to me when Rafi’s childhood innocence did not pick up the situation of his teacher, and then in the later chapters, he looks back on his experience in hindsight. However, for the most part, the narrative feels very skewered. As I read, I found myself really enjoying Young Rafi’s chapter, but whenever it switched over to the present time, older Rafi’s chapters lacked any real progression; those chapters felt like we were just in a waiting game for the Young Rafi chapters to be over before the Present Rafi could finally move on. While the dual perspective approach was not as effective as it could have been, and the timeline became somewhat unclear towards the end, these issues did not significantly detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

In all, Northern Boy is heartfelt and poignant. Hussain’s ability to vividly portray the struggles and triumphs of Rafi’s youth was fantastic to read. Despite my shortcomings with the dual perspective and the adult chapters, the story is still rich in character development, and poignant storytelling shines through. Rafi’s journey and quest for identity resonate deeply, making Northern Boy still a worthwhile read.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR

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Review: The Borrow a Boyfriend Club

June 20, 2024June 7, 2024by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

*I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

Note: This review was partially written back in January 2024. I am currently working through my backlog of reviews that need to be written.

In an attempt to make a fresh start at school, trans teen Noah joins the elusive Borrow a Boyfriend Club, where members rent themselves out to their classmates for dates and relationship advice.

[cues the opening to Ouran High School Host Club]

Noah wants to be acknowledged as a boy amongst his peers. When he discovers that his new school’s club is masquerading as a rent-a-boyfriend service to him, it seems like the best chance to show everyone who he truly is. After he fails his interview, Noah strikes a deal with the club’s president, Asher. He’ll help out the club with its funding issues, and in exchange, Asher will allow Noah to prove his boyfriend skills in a series of tests that include romancing Asher himself. But when fake turns to real, Noah risks breaking apart the club for a chance at love.

Up front, this plot is going to sound absolutely ridiculous to a lot of readers. And in a way, it is. Luckily, I’ve read my fair share of webtoons with plots that make this seem relatively tame in comparison. The Borrow a Boyfriend Club is sweet, wholesome, and fun. It’s a definite cosy read – where the stakes aren’t so high, but the teen drama is there. It has all the hallmarks for a fun read to recommend to any younger reader.

Noah’s journey made me feel super emotional. He spends much of the book worrying about what people think of him, desperate to find a space to be himself. While his family is accepting, there is always something in the back of his mind, and while the plot might sound ridiculous when you’re sixteen, everything feels much bigger than it is. Powars has encapsulated the feeling of teen dread as Noah grows desperate to keep the new friends he has found amongst the club – members and patrons alike. But when he reaches that moment of clarity, he feels like he is enough – it was a scene I knew would be empowering for so many teen readers.

Overall, I recommend The Borrow a Boyfriend Club for any teen readers. While some may find the plot absurd, at its core, it is a fun queer coming-of-age story with a great deal of humour and a whole load of love. Powars has written something marvellous for younger readers.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR

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Review: Bookshops & Bonedust

June 17, 2024June 7, 2024by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

*I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

In this prequel to Legends & Lattes, young Viv’s journey with the mercenary company Rackam’s Raven is at a halt due to an injury, and she is forced to recuperate in the beach town of Murk. So far and so quiet from the life she’s always known that she worries if her company will ever return. But Murk isn’t as peaceful as it seems. Viv becomes acquainted with its local enforcement, a bookshop owner, and a baker. And while she might be far away from the battle, it appears that the action might not be far from the shores of Murk.

When I learnt the next in this series to be published was a prequel, I was almost disappointed. I was eager to see more of the future of the world that Baldree created in Legends & Latte. Still, after finishing Bookshop & Bonedust, I came to appreciate the decision of a prequel. Watching a younger, more tenacious Viv navigate her new life in Murk was a lot of fun! Again, despite her gruff nature, Viv can’t help but collect the most exciting group of friends possible. Viv isn’t a reader, or so she thinks when she becomes a budding bibliophile at the request of Fern, a rattkin bookseller who clearly does her job well. The story even shares excerpts from the book Viv is reading, which almost makes you sad that they aren’t fully published stories. As an appreciation for the books, Viv ends up helping Fern fix the dying bookstore to give it the new lease of life it sorely needs. In the same line as Legends, this quickly grows into another ragtag group of new and unexpected friends. Some readers might be disappointed as it can feel like a rehash of the first book. But Legends was much more low-key, while Bookshop leans more into the adventure and a lot more action than the first. Much higher stakes but still retains that cosy and mysterious vibe most readers of the first should be happy to see again here.

While a prequel, this can be read before or after Legends; you’ll either find the ending bittersweet, knowing Viv must leave these friends for her story to continue, or find yourself anticipating the next step in her journey. Regardless, Bookshop & Bonedust is a satisfying addition to a series that is growing to become a favourite of mine.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR

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