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


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First thing first: I absolutely LOVED the representation in this novel. It was so incredibly authentic, which really shouldn’t be a surprise considering the author herself is a Muslim woman of color. I loved how seamlessly Sade’s religion and ethnicity fit into the novel, and the careless attitude that the authorities (the school and the police) had towards Elizabeth’s disappearance–all because she was a visible minority who happened to be a scholarship student instead of a wealthy donor’s child.

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The searing critique of elitism in this novel–and that too against the backdrop of an elite boarding school for only the wealthiest people–was incredibly well done. And the greatest tragedy is that such power dynamics are still very much in place in institutions all over the world; the privileged ones are always protected while the most vulnerable are made to suffer.

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We see this blatantly in Where Sleeping Girls Lie as school authorities and the local police show an alarming disinterest in thoroughly investigating what really happened to Elizabeth.

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Which is what prompts Sade to take matters into her own hand–not only because the rest of the student body become interested in her, but also because she seems to have ghosts of her own past too. It is very much clear from the very beginning of the novel that Sade has her own dark secrets, and they follow her all the way to Alfred Noble Academy.

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None of that stops Sade from trying to find Elizabeth–not even the mysterious and threatening messages she starts receiving the more she dives into her investigation. One of the reasons why Sade is such an amazing main character is that despite having a shy, soft and sweet personality, Sade also possesses a quiet strength and bravery. The entire time that I was reading the novel, I was completely in awe of her, and couldn’t help but root for her at every turn of the page.

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Sade is not the only amazing character in the story though. At the core of it, Where Sleeping Girls Lie is ultimately about the painful truth of rape culture and misogyny, but Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé takes it further by creating complex, morally grey (as well as completely corrupt) characters whose stories add depth and layers to the novel.

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Add to that the gloomy, tense, and dark atmosphere of the novel, and you have a masterpiece of a dark academia story that is both hauntingly beautiful and terrifyingly intriguing.

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There is some slight queer romance in the story as well, but it is woven naturally into the plot and doesn’t take away from the heart of the novel: which is about girls trying to survive their adolescence in a world that normalizes making them the prey.

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And perhaps the thing that really makes Where Sleeping Girls Lie so unforgettable by the end of the book is that although it is purely a work of fiction, it is still a reality for so many young girls all over the world. Even the aftermath of the novel is rooted in reality–while the ending might be considered somewhat of a happy ending, there is no real justice made…because no real justice is ever given to victims in this society where the abusers get to walk free.

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Whether or not young adult or dark academia is your type, Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is a must-read novel. It is perhaps one of the most important books in young adult literature, just like The Female Of The Species and The River Has Teeth. If you still haven’t read it, you really should get to it soon. I highly recommend it.”
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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. 

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Book Corner, Contemporary, Diverse Books, Home, Own Voices, Reviews, Young Adult

Book Review: Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad

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.

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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.

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The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Book Corner, Historical Fiction, Home, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult

Book Review: The Gilded Wolves By Roshani Chokshi

This might be my first book review of The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi, but it is the second time I am reading the story. And once again, I find myself absolutely in love with the glamorous, dangerous world that Roshani Chokshi has created. 

Set in the 1890’s, during France’s Beautiful Era, The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi is a thrilling, fantasy heist story that deeply explores the gruesome exploitation of Western colonization and systematic racism. 

Book Review: The Gilded Wolves By Roshani Chokshi
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The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco
Book Corner, Home, Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Thriller, Young Adult

Book Review: The Sacrifice By Rin Chupeco

Having read Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch trilogy, I knew I was in for a treat. Let it be known that my expectations for this book were VERY high, and Rin Chupeco surpassed them all!

Book Review: The Sacrifice By Rin Chupeco

Spine-tingling, creepy, and ominous, The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco is a terrifying horror story about a mysterious boy trying to guide a team from Hollywood as they try to film real footage of a cursed island in the Philippines, one where they say a powerful god sleeps, awaiting eight sacrifices that would wake him so he can remake the world.

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Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
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Book Review: Belladonna By Adalyn Grace

This has to be hands-down one of my favorite Young Adult fantasy novels of the year! A dark, intriguing YA Gothic Fantasy about a girl who can see ghosts but cannot die, and her strange connection with Death himself–Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is equal parts coming-of-age romance and murder mystery combined in one.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
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The Girl From The Well By Rin Chupeco
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Review: The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco

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.

The Girl From The Well By Rin Chupeco

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

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.

Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin

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 treesDauntless 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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Interview With Sara Michaels, Author Of The Glass Stone

If you are like me, and you have a love of fairytale retellings, then you must check out this new Cinderella retelling: The Glass Stone by Sara Michaels. A magical tale of hope and love, The Glass Stone is the third book in The Jeweled Fairytale Retellings series, and today, I am super excited to share my interview with author Sara Michaels about her story (along with an exclusive sneak peek into the book below).

Interview With Sara Michaels, Author Of The Glass Stone
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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Young Adult

Review: Hana Khan Carries On By Uzma Jalaluddin [Exclusive International Giveaway]

Review: Hana Khan Carries On By Uzma Jalaluddin [Exclusive International Giveaway]

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.

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Blog Tour: Battle Of The Bullies By Fenix Blue [Excerpt + Giveaway]

A story about three sisters in high school who are trying to survive bullying and overcoming their personal trauma? It’s not easy to explore such sensitive and important issues, but Fenix Blue does it masterfully in her novel Battle Of The Bullies. I am only half-way through my copy of the book, and I am absolutely in love with the Robertson sisters who have been through so much pain and still refuse to give in.

Blog Tour: Battle Of The Bullies By Fenix Blue

Thank you Rockstar Book Tours for choosing me as a tour host for this book. I can’t wait to share my full review once I am done reading. In the meantime, check out an exclusive sneak peak for Battle Of The Bullies by Fenix Blue below, and enter an exclusive international giveaway.

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