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”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”![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]”
Release Date: 12th May 2020
A collection of phenomenal, beautifully composed poems, We Were All Someone Else Yesterday by Omar Holmon is a heart wrenching, emotional poetry book about grief, love, identity and healing. At its core, this poetry book is about Holmon’s family–it’s a tribute to his mother, it’s a heartbreaking cross-examination into his relationship with his father, it’s a reminder of how bittersweet love can be and a beautiful ode to his roots, his culture and his heritage.
Continue reading “ARC Review: We Were All Someone Else Yesterday By Omar Holmon”I have read many amazing YA fantasy books, but it’s not often that I read a YA fantasy that leaves me breathless with excitement and anticipation with every page, and keeps me up all night even when I have a midterm early morning the next day.
With a simple, yet captivating narration style, immensely likable protagonists, well-developed characters, and a uniquely diverse plot that explores Islamic/Pakistani cultures and myths, An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is a book that I recommend to everyone to read, especially to those who are looking for a bit of diversity in their reading.
Continue reading “Review: An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (Ember Quartet #1)”