noun [kee-smash] a random string of letters and symbols typed out on a keyboard or touchscreen, used to signal intense emotion in written communication:
An absolutely jaw-dropping and riveting novel that perfectly tackles all the ugliness of systematic racism, Ace of Spades is a terrifying and addictive story about two talented Black kids trying to survive in a world that is hell-bent on bringing them down.
Continue reading “Review: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé”An absolutely bewitching tale of a witch on the run, an unwilling muscle for hire who refuses violence, and an adorable corgi, The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones is a fast-paced and enchanting YA fantasy heist story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Continue reading “Review: The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones”With three incredibly well-written books in the series, A Sky Beyond The Storm, I knew that the final book of the Ember Quarter by Sabaa Tahir had to be phenomenal. What I didn’t know what how Sabaa Tahir would exceed all of my high expectations with this epic finale.
Continue reading “Review: A Sky Beyond The Storm by Sabaa Tahir (Ember Quartet #4)”After the epic cliffhanger in A Torch Against The Night, my expectations for A Reaper At The Gates by Sabaa Tahir were pretty high. Fast-paced, and with a much better world-building and character development, this third book was definitely unforgettable. Here’s my quick review below.
Continue reading “Review: A Reaper At The Gates by Sabaa Tahir (Ember Quartet #3)”What an absolutely fantastic story! Dark, whimsical, and with just the right amount of humor and vitriol, Violet Made Of Thorns by Gina Chen is an epic fantasy that takes all the typical tropes of fairy tales and throws them out the window.
Continue reading “Review: Violet Made Of Thorns By Gina Chen”With a charming premise, a stunning cover design, and praises from top publications in the industry, The Keeper Of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan promises an enchanting tale of love and healing. But does the story live up to its praises?
In my opinion, that would be a BIG NO. Here’s my review of The Keeper Of Lost Things; I forced my way through all 336 pages of this disappointing novel so that you don’t have to.
Continue reading “Review: The Keeper Of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan”The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters has been on my most anticipated July release list, and I am so happy that I got the chance to finally dive into this amazing, sapphic horror fantasy last month. It was everything the blurb promised: full of magic, a heaping of gothic horror, and an irresistible thriller/mystery to bind it all together.
This is the first time I am sitting down to review Sabaa Tahir’s A Torch Against The Night, the second book of her debut series, An Ember In The Ashes. However, I have read this book a thousand times before, and with every re-read, the story just gets better.
Continue reading “Review: A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir (Ember Quartet #2)”Becoming Brooklyn by Amanda Deich follows the story of a superhero teenage girl, who in her quest for wanting to know more about her heroic father, agrees to join an elite military that will do anything to fight terrorism at home and abroad. What follows is just the beginning of Brooklyn’s heroic journey as the terrorists find out about her super powers and decides to bring the war to her.
Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for having me as a tour host for this book. My review of this post is at the end of this post, where you can win a chance to enter an international giveaway too!
Continue reading “Blog Tour: Becoming Brooklyn [International Giveaway + Review]”![Review: Hana Khan Carries On By Uzma Jalaluddin [Exclusive International Giveaway]](https://thekeysmashblog.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/blog-banner.png?w=825 "Review: Hana Khan Carries On By Uzma Jalaluddin [Exclusive International Giveaway] - The Keysmash Blog")
As a South Asian Muslim woman myself, I was beyond excited to get my hands on Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin, a delightful love story featuring a bold, brilliant and ambitious young Muslim protagonist, two competing rival halal restaurants, and a diverse cast of colored characters. I have to admit, this is definitely going to be one of the best book of 2021. Hana Khan Carries On takes all the things you love in a romantic-comedy and gives it a refreshing new twist.
Thank you so much Colored Pages Tour for having me as a tour host for this amazing book, and to Atlantic Books for sending me a review copy. Read on below for my full review (or get the TL;DR version here) & participate in an exclusive giveaway to win ONE FINISHED COPY OF Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin.
Continue reading “Review: Hana Khan Carries On By Uzma Jalaluddin [Exclusive International Giveaway]”