Tag: book review

Non Fiction

Book Review: Muslim Girl

by ZaheerahLeave a Comment on Book Review: Muslim Girl

review_muslimgirl

Rating: ★★★★

* I received an uncorrected proof of this book from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

“I hope she knows my pain is genuine, I thought. I hope she doesn’t doubt that a Muslim American can be impacted by 9/11, too. The truth is that 9/11 never ended for us.”

Muslim Girl is Amani’s memoir about growing up in a post-9/11 world and how her experiences in life, including moving back to her father’s homeland of Jordan, helped shape her voice as a Muslim woman which later aided her in the creation of MuslimGirl.com. Muslim Girl is a personal account of one of many voices. Amani’s voice is so necessary, so honest and so damn important

Simply put, I loved this. Amani’s journey and story is an important one, one that many Muslims in Western countries could relate to. I know I did. One moment I really enjoyed was how she was introduced to self-realised interpretations of Islam. While I’m across the ocean, my experience mirrored hers so perfectly, just a couple of years down the line and on a new form of social media. I loved that Muslim Girl is about no longer depending on the attention of mainstream media. A Coming of Age shows Amani turning inwards and throwing herself into the centre. She created an identity by seeing the sparse area in our mainstream news which rarely focuses on us positively. We follow her story of how she creates her own platform so Muslim women can talk back.

MuslimGirl.com is changing the way Islam is portrayed all over the world. Amani and this book is part of a new generation of Muslim women who are committed to combating stereotypical views. This book is merely a dip into the power and strength Amani has as she and the others alongside her are creating their own path as Muslim women living in today’s modern society. It’s been a year since I found MG.com and I love everything that Amani and the others alongside her have done to achieve to get where they all are now. Watch out for this October 18th

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GOODREADS | AMAZON | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | BARNES & NOBLE
Books, Contemporary, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult/ Teen

Book Review: We Awaken

by Zaheerah1 Comment on Book Review: We Awaken

review_weawaken

Rating: ★★★★☆

We Awaken is a very quiet story compared to the very dramatic book description. Since her father died in a car accident and her brother in a coma from the same accident, Victoria Dinham lives only for dance and is holding on to being accepted into the Manhattan Dance Conservatory. Until one night, in her dreams, she counters a girl who holds a message from her brother. Higher stakes and a fuller plot would’ve definitely given this five stars.

We Awaken is sweet and happy. And that’s what I loved about it. Lynn creates this romance that is so cute and adorable between Victoria and Ashlinn. We Awaken is a mix of fantasy and magic in the real world. While I thought the beginning was a bit off once I hit the halfway mark, I was hooked and rooting for Victoria for the rest of the way. It’s much more character-driven so I can tell some people may be disappointed with the lack of explanation of the magic in this but the journey of these two girls is so magical and amazing. They help each other in so many ways. Ashlinn helps Victoria understand her sexuality, who later comes out as Asexual. The representation the book gives which allows younger readers to understand more about it within the comforts of a book makes this book even more important. Victoria learns that nobody but her can decide who she is, and she doesn’t need to explain her choices to anyone.

We Awaken is the kind of book that you easily read in one sitting. And in that one sitting, you read a novel that is dreamlike and enjoyable.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | BARNES & NOBLE
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

Books, Contemporary

Book Review: Stained

by Zaheerah2 Comments on Book Review: Stained

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* I received an ARC of this book from the author.  This in no way affected my opinion of the book. Also, TW: Mentions of rape and abuse.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Stained is an upcoming debut novel by Abda Khan that follows Selina, a British-born Pakistani young woman who is raped by her close, well-respected family friend. Selina is eager to do well in school so she can get into University, but her grades in Economics are the only thing that’s stopping her from achieving her future.It is then when a trusted family friend offers to tutor her but he preys upon Selina’s trusting nature and sexually assault her. Not wanting to bring dishonour on her family and deceased father’s name, we follow Selina go to extreme length to avoid the imminent scandal.

I really appreciated this story. I loved the character of Selina and her story. Despite facing such awful adversity and horrible trauma, she remained strong. She did her best to keep moving forward and learning to find herself despite all she’s faced. And how everything leads to her not reporting the assault is all too realistic and extremely upsetting. There’s so much to like about this book. Khan’s writing style allows us to fully understand Selina’s action and her situation. I had some issues with the speech sometimes since it felt quite stiff and didn’t read well but that issue is quite minor compared to how much I enjoyed the rest of the novel. The ending is a happy one, well as happy as it could be, considering what happened. It showed great growth in Selina and how she survived everything ordeal. She was given the opportunity to love again, while she doesn’t outright decline it, she simply takes a step back to focus on herself rather than what everyone else thinks. And I enjoyed that.

As relevant this book is, I would be very specific in who I recommend it to. There are so many triggering topics that are brought up: rape, miscarriage, murder etc. It’s important to the mentality of the reader that you’re aware. Stained is short but in that time Khan has created a novel that is so important and addressed such an important issue. I am so grateful that I have been given a chance to read this.

you can find the books at:
GoodReads | Author’s website | Amazon |