Books - The Keysmash Blog

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

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023 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.

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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

The First 5 Books I Reviewed

May 2, 2023May 6, 2023 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!

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Book Corner, Bookish News & Releases, Home, Other Bookish Stuff

Most Anticipated Book Releases Of Fall 2022

September 2, 2022September 4, 2022 tanazmasaba

Fall in Bangladesh is one of the most beautiful seasons–with sporadic rainstorms, cerulean blue skies dotted with cotton candy clouds, and snowy white blooms of kashful as far as the eye can see.

In other words, this is the perfect time to cozy up near the window with a good book while enjoying the beautiful, sunny views of autumn in Bangladesh. Here are my most anticipated book releases of Fall 2022.

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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Top 5 Books With Crowns On The Cover

August 9, 2022August 9, 2022 tanazmasaba

Happy Tuesday again friends! This week’s Top 5 Tuesday prompt is one fit for royalty. Today, I am going to share my top 5 books with crowns on the cover!

For those who don’t know, Top 5 Tuesday is a bookish meme created by the Bionic Bookworm and now currently being hosted by Meeghan from Meeghan Reads. Meeghan is always coming up with cool fun ideas for Top 5 Tuesday, so make sure to head over to her site and check out her posts too!

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Book Corner, Home, Reviews, Thriller, Young Adult

Review: The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco

August 5, 2022September 4, 2022 tanazmasaba

Riveting and full of suspense, The Girl From The Well is an amazing YA horror novel by Rin Chupeco. The creepy narration style combined with incredibly well-developed characters, The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco is quite an intriguing story, and unique in the way the story is told from the lens of a dead girl.

That’s right, our main character, Okiku, has been dead for several long years now. And she is the one who tells us a horror story about a cursed young boy named Tarquin, who has demons trapped beneath his skin, and a secret family history involving eerie doll rituals and exorcisms that follow ancient Japanese rituals.

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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Books Set In Places I’d Love to Visit

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022 tanazmasaba

Usually, when I am reading any book, I find myself wanting to live in the fictional, fantasy worlds they are set in. But once in a while, I’ll come across books set in beautiful places in the real world, and my inner wanderlust would be instantly triggered!

Unfortunately, I am too broke to travel to all of the beautiful places I read about in books, and even if I could afford it–being a brown girl means I have family restrictions when it comes to traveling solo. Sigh.

~ Top 10 Books Set In Beautiful Places ~

A girl can still dream though, and this week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is one that definitely has me dreaming. Today, I am going to share my favorite, top 10 books set in beautiful places, places that I’d love to visit someday.

For those who don’t know, Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme originally created by The Broke And The Bookish and now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

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Book Corner, Bookish News & Releases, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Reviews, Romance, sci-fi, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult

Blog Tour: Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin [Review + Exclusive Giveaway]

August 1, 2022August 2, 2022 tanazmasaba

As a big fan of all things science-fiction and fantasy, I was super excited to get my hands on Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin–an upcoming, Filipino-inspired, young adult fantasy novel about an orphaned teenage girl who must step up to bring peace to a war-torn world.

Set in a lush, vibrant tropical world–one where dangerous beasts roam the earth and humans are forced to build entire villages and cities amidst giant spreading trees—Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin follows a young girl named Seri, who is hired as an assistant for Eshai, a battle-hardened legendary commander whose life is dedicated to protecting humans against the attack of beasts.

However, Seri’s world quickly turns upside down when she runs into Tsana, a mysterious girl who can communicate with these wild beasts and seems to be in league with them.

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Home, Book Corner, Other Bookish Stuff, Top 10 Tuesday

Review: Someone In Time by Jonathan Strahan

June 17, 2022July 2, 2022 tanazmasaba

The older I grow, the more fondness I seem to have for romance novels. And the love stories that resonate with me the most are usually the ones where two people need to overcome impossible challenges to find their way back to each other.

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Home, Book Corner, Bookish News & Releases, Other Bookish Stuff

The Makings Of A Great Anthology: Guest Post By ‘Someone In Time’ Editor Jonathan Strahan

May 17, 2022July 2, 2022 tanazmasaba

Hi friends! I am thrilled to have the editor of one of the most anticipated, upcoming romance anthologies of this summer with us today. Introducing Jonathan Strahan, editor of ‘Someone In Time’, an incredible collection of time-travel romances brought to you by award-winning authors such as Nina Allan, Carrie Vaughn, and Seanan McGuire.

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