Tag: book reviews

Where Sleeping Girls Lie Book Review
Book Corner, Contemporary, Diverse Books, Home, Mystery & Thriller, Own Voices, Reviews, Young Adult

Book Review: Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

tanazmasaba

I became a die-hard fan of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé ever since I picked up her debut novel, Ace of Spades a couple years ago and absolutely fell in love with the way she tells the story of queer, colored teens in the YA thriller/mystery genre. When I heard about her new book Where Sleeping Girls Lie earlier this year, I knew it would be a masterpiece just like her last novel.

And as it is in most cases, I was 100% right. 

Where Sleeping Girls Lie Book Review

Flawlessly intriguing, intense and riveting, Where Sleeping Girls Lie is not just another dark academia mystery–it’s a hauntingly beautiful story about girlhood and survival. 

Continue reading “Book Review: Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé” →
A Tempest Of Tea
Book Corner, Home, Reviews, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult

Book Review: A Tempest Of Tea (Blood and Tea#1) by Hafsah Faizal

tanazmasaba

One of my favorite things about fantasy novels is how it can serve as a medium to look closely at stories of colonization, and the impact of its damage that can be still felt today even after generations have passed. So of course when I heard about Hafsa Faizal’s A Tempest of Tea, I had it on my list of most anticipated books to read in 2024. 

Banner for A Tempest of Tea book review

I mean, it’s got everything that I absolutely adore. Fantasy heist? Check. A scathing criticism of colonization and white privilege? Check. Ragtag group of misfits who become each other’s found family? Check. A badass gunslinger? Check. Hot, artistic vampires? Also, check.

With all that said, you’d think I’d be in love by now, right? Unfortunately, even though A Tempest of Tea was a fun, fast-paced novel with an intriguing plot, it just missed the mark for me, and I blame it mostly on the story being rushed too quickly. Here’s my full review.

Continue reading “Book Review: A Tempest Of Tea (Blood and Tea#1) by Hafsah Faizal” →
Between Two Moons Blog Banner
Book Corner, Contemporary, Diverse Books, Home, Own Voices, Reviews, Young Adult

Book Review: Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad

tanazmasaba

To be honest, I don’t know where to begin with this book. It’s one of my favorite books of 2023, but I feel like no matter how succinct I try to be with my review, I will not be able to do it justice.

I’ve had Aisha Abdel Gawad’s debut novel, Between Two Moons, on my most anticipated summer releases list last year and finally got the chance to pick it up from the library a couple months ago. As someone who loves coming-of-age stories, I was super excited to see a book that featured not only Muslim main characters but an entire novel full of Muslim people and the Muslim community at large.

And I knew this book would break my heart, simply after reading the blurb. And yet, I couldn’t stop the tears when I reached the end of the story.

Between Two Moons Blog Banner

A gorgeous, and truly authentic story about what it means to grow up as Muslim teenagers struggling with identity and faith in a country where Islamophobia runs rampant, Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad is a shockingly realistic novel about family, girlhood, and the immigrant experience.

Continue reading “Book Review: Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad” →
The Modern Girl's Guide To Magic
Adult, Book Corner, Contemporary, Home, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Book Review: The Modern Girl’s Guide To Magic By Linsey Hall

tanazmasaba

I might be a big fan of high fantasy, but every once in a while, I get an itch to read a fun supernatural story–usually featuring vampires or witches. Which is why I knew I would love Modern Girl’s Guide To Magic by Linsey Hall when I first picked it up, and I was right.

The Modern Girl's Guide To Magic

A light and charming story about a witch with wonky powers trying to prove herself, The Modern Girl’s Guide To Magic by Linsey Hall is a fun cozy read with just the right sprinkling of magic and romance.

Continue reading “Book Review: The Modern Girl’s Guide To Magic By Linsey Hall” →
Book Review of Orchard of Skeletons by Eli Wilde
Home, Book Corner, Dystopia, Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Reviews, Young Adult

Review: Orchard Of Skeletons by Eli Wilde

tanazmasaba

It’s been a while since the last time I picked up a dystopian horror, but even then, I did not expect Orchard of Skeletons by Eli Wilde to be such an unforgettable and incredible survival story! Centered around two teenagers on the run for freedom, Orchard of Skeletons is a dark and gruesome story set in a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity have died to a pandemic while the rest that are alive would do anything to survive, even if it means resorting to nightmarish violence.

Continue reading “Review: Orchard Of Skeletons by Eli Wilde” →
Daughter Of The Moon Goddess
Book Corner, Diverse Books, Home, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult

Review: Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

tanazmasaba

I am the problem, it’s me.

For real though. Highly appropriate Taylor Swift references aside, Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is hit-or-miss; you’ll either love it or you won’t. And I…am not quite fond of it. That’s not an issue with the book itself, it’s just a very personal preference.

Sounds ambiguous? Here’s my explanation for those who care to read.

Continue reading “Review: Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan” →
The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann
Book Corner, Adult, Diverse Books, Historical Fiction, Home, Mental Health, Reviews

Review: The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye

tanazmasaba

While I have sort of stopped reading historical fiction as I grew older, there have been a few rare gems that I do come across now and then. The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye is one such amazing book. A love letter to readers, writers, and librarians, The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann is an inspiring story about a woman who chooses to defy patriarchy with her written stories.

Continue reading “Review: The Literary Undoing Of Victoria Swann by Virginia Pye” →
Review The Dos And Donuts Of Love
Book Corner, Contemporary, Diverse Books, Home, Own Voices, Reviews, Romance, Young Adult

Review: The Dos And Donuts Of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar

tanazmasaba

As a Bangladeshi woman who has never really seen her culture represented accurately in media or literature, I was beyond thrilled for the release of The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar! It was in fact, number one on my list of most anticipated summer book releases of 2023. The story follows Shireen Malik, a Bangladeshi teenager being raised in Ireland, who gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in a reality TV baking show.

Continue reading “Review: The Dos And Donuts Of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar” →
Book Review Song Of The Mango And Other New Myths by Vida Cruz-Borja
Book Corner, Adult, Diverse Books, Home, Own Voices, Retellings, Reviews, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Book Review: Song Of The Mango And Other New Myths by Vida Cruz-Borja

tanazmasaba

If you have been here for a while, then you must know about my love for fairy tales, folklore and fantasy. When I picked up Song of the Mango And Other New Myths, I was expecting a collection of fantastical, whimsical stories rooted in Filipino folklore and mythology, that would sweep me off my feet and take me to places that could only exist in my imagination.

Book Cover Song Of The Mango And Other New Myths by Vida Cruz Borja

I got all of that and so. Much. More. 

At times enchanting and captivating, at times unnerving, Song of the Mango by Vida Cruz-Borja is an anthology like no other. With stories that openly and joyfully celebrate Filipino culture and heritage, Song of the Mango And Other New Myths is an epic collection of fantastical stories written with great, vivid imagery, along with elements of Filipino folklore as well as modern and contemporary themes. 

Continue reading “Book Review: Song Of The Mango And Other New Myths by Vida Cruz-Borja” →
First 5 Books I Reviewed
Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

The First 5 Books I Reviewed

tanazmasaba

Lately, I have been re-reading the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi from the beginning again, and each time I finished a book from the series, I went to Goodreads and re-read my original reviews waaaayyyyy back from almost five or six years ago…and oh my god friends, it was pure joy!

I’ll be the first to admit that my reviewing style was super immature back then, but was it entertaining?

ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY YES!

In fact, I had so much fun re-reading the thoughts of younger little me, that I decided to write a post on the first 5 books I have ever reviewed. That’s right friends, today, we are gonna take a trip down memory lane where I’ll be re-reading the first 5 books I reviewed on this blog and sharing my thoughts about each of them. Let’s get to it!

First 5 Books I Reviewed
Continue reading “The First 5 Books I Reviewed” →