Monthly Rewind

Monthly Rewind: September 2016

by Zaheerah3 Comments on Monthly Rewind: September 2016

whathappenedthismonth

  • Last month, I mentioned College. I managed to get back in but it only lasted three days after the College administration realised that they had made an error and weren’t supposed to let me back in. So, yeah, that was fun. (Not.) So now I’m retaking independently. (If only the exams office can actually reply to my damn emails….)
  • I found out that my offical Patronus is a Black Mamba, which is a snake endemic to Africa. How fitting considering I’m a Slytherin.
  • Preparing for NaNoWriMo 2016 – I will definitely be writing for November. Once they’ve updated the website, I’ll share my name and novel. If anyone else is doing it this year, I would love to share a cabin!
  • I made my first ever tag! The Great British Bake Off book tag! And geniunely thought no one was going to complete the tag but people did! Still can’t believe it! Here are some of them!!

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I read 9 books this month!

inthebloggingcommunity

  • It’s Canon: School Stories Featuring M/M Relationships – A response to the Cursed Child’s missed opportuntiy for LGTB+ representation by listing other books/comics where there’s a M/M relationship set in a school environment. This article caught my eye because I saw Check, please! but now I’ve found a couple of new books to add to my TBR!!
  • Blogging while drowning under school work: A Guide – Could have definitely used this two years ago when I started this blog and college at the same time! I’m retaking my A2 exams but not returning to college but nonetheless this is useful!

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

Cultural, Historical Fiction

Book Review: A Golden Age

by Zaheerah2 Comments on Book Review: A Golden Age

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Rating: ★★★★☆

While I was looking for non-fiction novels about the history of Bangladesh, I came across this. It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for but, nonetheless, I enjoyed it just as much. A Golden Age tells the story of the Haque family’s experiences during the war from the perspective of Rehana. A Golden Age begins with a newly widowed Rehana who had been declared unfit by a judge and has had her children taken away. By the second chapter, 20 or s0 years have passed. It’s now 1971 and her children have returned, but the shame of what she had to do stays with her all these years. The novel follows Rehana’s life during Bangladesh’s war for independence. As her children become politically involved, Rehana finds herself drawn into the war as well. While her children are motivated politically, Rehana’s desire for her children’s safety drives her through the entire novel.

Through A Golden Age, Rehana is more of a witness than an active member, unlike her children. We never witness the full atrocities that the people suffered but we do encounter the result of them through her eyes as we follow her from her home to refugee camps. And not knowing fully what the Pakistan army was doing, we’re thrown into the same tense situation is Rehana in. We learn the real costs of war through the lives of this semi-real family. (I believe Rehana was based on Anam’s grandmother and her experiences) I loved the way she described Bangladesh, the culture, the food, the landscape. My favourite part was beginning of the novel and how Anam introduced the land and country. It was, at most times, so calming and beautiful before everything goes terribly wrong.

No one should really think of this as an actual account of what happened but an introduction that can incite further research. A Golden Age is more personal and human, and I felt plenty of emotion while reading Rehana’s story. 

you can find the book at:
GoodReads | Author bio | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

books, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1)

by Zaheerah2 Comments on Book Review: Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1)

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Rating: ★★★★☆

* I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

Labyrinth Lost follows Alex, born and raised in Brooklyn, in a family that’s not like many others. Alex descends from a long line of brujas or witches. Unlike her sisters, she doesn’t want to embrace her powers and all that comes with it. So she plans to stop it. On her Deathday, she attempts to eradicate it but ends up banishing her entire family to another realm – known as Los Lagos, a limbo-like dimension to save her family before it’s too late.

Labyrinth Lost has one of the best and most intriguing premises I’ve read this year. It was so fun to read! Cordova drew from Latin-American culture and created such a rich and imaginative world. The mysticism and the way the mythology was interwoven which was brilliant to read.  The magic system is also so interesting. From what I understand is that everyone has their own special abilities but there’s a recoil every time you use it. For example, one of Alex’s sister has healing capabilities but everything she uses it, it harms her. It’s that kind of balance that really adds to the story.

Overall, Labyrinth Lost was a great read. There’s amazing magical elements, creepy scenes, and characters I know loads of people will love. I definitely recommend this if you want a magical adventure in a pretty magical universe.

you can find the book at:
GoodReads | Author’s site | Amazon | BookDepository

books, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: The Novice

by Zaheerah2 Comments on Book Review: The Novice

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Rating: ★★★★☆

Well, I actually quite liked The Novice. A lot. Considering I started this series with not the highest expectations possible. Recently I’ve taken a step back from YA high fantasy but since reading The Novice, I definitely want to come back in.

The Novice follows young blacksmith apprentice Fletcher when he learns how to summon demons and finds himself joining, by chance, the Adept Military Academy. At the academy, those with the gift to summon are trained in the art of summoning and become a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs.

The Novice was an exciting high fantasy novel that was really enjoyable! This series is basically a mix of LotR, GoT and HP, which felt more aimed towards the younger side of the YA book spectrum. I had so much fun reading this novel and its concept was so cool. It has politics, war, clashes between the commoners and nobles with orcs and elves. While the pacing slowed for me in the middle, the rest of the flow was great. All the characters were so wonderfully likeable. Ignatius was basically a mini-Toothless from HTTYD. All the demons just came across as adorable, even the large dangerous ones. It also has a great cast of characters, my favourite being Gen or Sylva.

The world-building is one of my favourite parts of this series. I was so hooked on learning about spells, demons and the Ether from which they originate from. There is so much creativity to it which made is so much more enjoyable. But that ending though… What a cliffhanger. It’s a promising start to a series I know I want to continue.

you can find the book at:
GoodReads | Official site | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

book tags, books, Other

The Great British Bake Off Book Tag!

by Zaheerah30 Comments on The Great British Bake Off Book Tag!

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Everyone is probably most likely well aware of the British programme Great British Bake Off. If you’re not, The Great British Bake Off, often referred to as Bake Off or GBBO, is a television baking competition which selects from amongst its contestants the best amateur baker. And it’s one of the best things that have graced our screen here in the UK. This is my first attempt at a book tag. During my initial search, I hadn’t found a GBBO book tag and, therefore, created this one. But with a little more digging (well for me, clicking google page 2) I found out that ReadingWithJack on YouTube had already made one. I considered not to post my one but then I saw his and realised his ones are actually really different to mine. (And I didn’t want to let the graphics go to waste….)

Rules:

  • Link back to my blog is appreciated but optional. Feel free to use my graphics. TBH it is horrendous so I wouldn’t expect anyone to use them
  • Tag people, don’t tag people, whatever. Just have fun.
  • Ready, get set, Bake! (or tag)

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Continue reading “The Great British Bake Off Book Tag!” →

blog tour, books

Blog Tour: Song of Princes by Janell Rhiannon

by Zaheerah2 Comments on Blog Tour: Song of Princes by Janell Rhiannon

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Goodreads | Amazon |
Rating: ★★★★☆

The Song of Princes follows the myth of the Iliad, the fate of well-known characters such as Paris, Helen, Achilles and the Greek gods which all leads up to the battle of Troy The Song of Princes is book one of three which will chronicle the entire war and well into the adventure of Odysseus after. The Princes mentioned which the story follows are Paris, Hektor, Achilles and Odysseus, while I believe book one focuses more on Paris/Hekor.

Continue reading “Blog Tour: Song of Princes by Janell Rhiannon” →