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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
Inspired by modern Egyptian history, IZDIHAR follows two women, Nehal and Georgina, from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds, their everyday struggles for women’s rights, and their fight to use forbidden elemental magic to earn their freedom.
I adore the different ways the MCs use their magic/power/leverage to fight for their rights. As part 1 of a duology, IZDIHAR moves slower in the first half but picks up pace toward the end. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out and see where this story with magic, messy relationships, and unhinged women will take me.
Merged review:
Inspired by modern Egyptian history, IZDIHAR follows two women, Nehal and Georgina, from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds, their everyday struggles for women’s rights, and their fight to use forbidden elemental magic to earn their freedom.
I adore the different ways the MCs use their magic/power/leverage to fight for their rights. As part 1 of a duology, IZDIHAR moves slower in the first half but picks up pace toward the end. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out and see where this story with magic, messy relationships, and unhinged women will take me.
I adore the different ways the MCs use their magic/power/leverage to fight for their rights. As part 1 of a duology, IZDIHAR moves slower in the first half but picks up pace toward the end. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out and see where this story with magic, messy relationships, and unhinged women will take me.
Merged review:
Inspired by modern Egyptian history, IZDIHAR follows two women, Nehal and Georgina, from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds, their everyday struggles for women’s rights, and their fight to use forbidden elemental magic to earn their freedom.
I adore the different ways the MCs use their magic/power/leverage to fight for their rights. As part 1 of a duology, IZDIHAR moves slower in the first half but picks up pace toward the end. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out and see where this story with magic, messy relationships, and unhinged women will take me.
Thanks to Berkley for the gifted copy
When Cherokee archeologist Syd Walker gets a call from her boss in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) about her Oklahoma hometown, Syd knows it's nothing good. Syd is asked to return home to investigate a mysterious skull; even worse, her sister, Emma Lou, has gone missing. Syd refuses to let Emma Lou's disappearance or the remains ignored—even if not everyone is glad to have Syd home.
BLOOD SISTERS is a fast-paced and unputdownable thriller/mystery with the full package—the plot is captivating, the characters are well-developed, and the topics of missing indigenous girls/women are deeply examined.
I appreciate Lillie's exploration of the many injustices indigenous communities face. From stealing land, overexploiting the environment, health disparities, drug addiction, gentrification, corruption within the BIA, to missing women & two-spirit individuals, Lillie brilliantly weaves a story that covers various aspects while preserving the tension with mind-blowing twists!
From the ending, it sounds like there will be a sequel to BLOOD SISTERS, and I'm beyond excited to see where Syd's work & life take her next. For fans of Angeline Boulley, BLOOD SISTERS is the perfect read for you
When Cherokee archeologist Syd Walker gets a call from her boss in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) about her Oklahoma hometown, Syd knows it's nothing good. Syd is asked to return home to investigate a mysterious skull; even worse, her sister, Emma Lou, has gone missing. Syd refuses to let Emma Lou's disappearance or the remains ignored—even if not everyone is glad to have Syd home.
BLOOD SISTERS is a fast-paced and unputdownable thriller/mystery with the full package—the plot is captivating, the characters are well-developed, and the topics of missing indigenous girls/women are deeply examined.
I appreciate Lillie's exploration of the many injustices indigenous communities face. From stealing land, overexploiting the environment, health disparities, drug addiction, gentrification, corruption within the BIA, to missing women & two-spirit individuals, Lillie brilliantly weaves a story that covers various aspects while preserving the tension with mind-blowing twists!
From the ending, it sounds like there will be a sequel to BLOOD SISTERS, and I'm beyond excited to see where Syd's work & life take her next. For fans of Angeline Boulley, BLOOD SISTERS is the perfect read for you
Thank you to partner bibliophilelifestyle and Harpervia Books for the gifted copy & NetGalley for the eARC
After getting pregnant, sixteen-year-old Karuna finds herself trapped in her mother's Melbourne public housing apartment for a hundred days, awaiting the birth of her child. To fill the endless hours, Karuna writes to her unborn child, determined to tell the truth—of her dreams, independence, lust, and defiance. As the birth approaches, Karuna finds her mother's overprotection verging on control. Can mother and daughter find their way back to love?
I was cautious going into yet another book about complex immigrant mother-daughter relationships, but I was pleasantly surprised by ONE HUNDRED DAYS. I appreciate Pung's exploration of how love manifests, sometimes through food, overprotection, and other times via controlling behaviors verging on inappropriate.
While ONE HUNDRED DAYS explores similar tropes of racism, poverty, and generational differences, I love that it also examines Karuna's desires by giving her a distinct voice. Her musings on friendship, love, and literature somehow give Karuna a precocious feel, and ONE HUNDRED DAYS doesn't read as YA as I was expecting it to be for a 16-year-old MC.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this lit-fic set in Australia. If you've read HOLDING PATTERN (Jenny Xie) and wanted more resolution, consider picking up ONE HUNDRED DAYS.
After getting pregnant, sixteen-year-old Karuna finds herself trapped in her mother's Melbourne public housing apartment for a hundred days, awaiting the birth of her child. To fill the endless hours, Karuna writes to her unborn child, determined to tell the truth—of her dreams, independence, lust, and defiance. As the birth approaches, Karuna finds her mother's overprotection verging on control. Can mother and daughter find their way back to love?
I was cautious going into yet another book about complex immigrant mother-daughter relationships, but I was pleasantly surprised by ONE HUNDRED DAYS. I appreciate Pung's exploration of how love manifests, sometimes through food, overprotection, and other times via controlling behaviors verging on inappropriate.
While ONE HUNDRED DAYS explores similar tropes of racism, poverty, and generational differences, I love that it also examines Karuna's desires by giving her a distinct voice. Her musings on friendship, love, and literature somehow give Karuna a precocious feel, and ONE HUNDRED DAYS doesn't read as YA as I was expecting it to be for a 16-year-old MC.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this lit-fic set in Australia. If you've read HOLDING PATTERN (Jenny Xie) and wanted more resolution, consider picking up ONE HUNDRED DAYS.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the gifted audiobook
Beginning in the summer of 1949, a year after Nakba, a Palestinian woman was captured, sexually assaulted, and murdered. Decades later, a woman in Ramallah becomes infatuated with the minor details of this violent crime and travels through different parts of Israel to search for the forgotten history.
MINOR DETAIL was nominated for a National Book Award for translated literature in 2020, longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2021, and won the LiBeraturpreis in 2023. With that in mind, it'll help the readers ease into the writing style knowing it's very literary.
MINOR DETAIL comprises two parts, the first from the Israeli soldier's POV. There's A LOT of detail, almost to the extent of excruciating, and I find myself distracted constantly. But Shibli's brilliance becomes apparent in part two—told through the unnamed woman's perspective—where the minutiae of everyday life include going through checkpoints, witnessing bombardment, getting disoriented by the changing landscape, etc.
While the timelines between the two POVs differ, there are also plenty of parallels between the two—from the dog barks, gun fires to senseless violence. The ending is compelling, and I had to sit for a while to absorb its impact fully.
MINOR DETAIL is a harrowing and claustrophobic yet essential read to understand the past and present experiences of Palestinians. While decades separate parts 1 & 2, what changed and what remained?
Beginning in the summer of 1949, a year after Nakba, a Palestinian woman was captured, sexually assaulted, and murdered. Decades later, a woman in Ramallah becomes infatuated with the minor details of this violent crime and travels through different parts of Israel to search for the forgotten history.
MINOR DETAIL was nominated for a National Book Award for translated literature in 2020, longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2021, and won the LiBeraturpreis in 2023. With that in mind, it'll help the readers ease into the writing style knowing it's very literary.
MINOR DETAIL comprises two parts, the first from the Israeli soldier's POV. There's A LOT of detail, almost to the extent of excruciating, and I find myself distracted constantly. But Shibli's brilliance becomes apparent in part two—told through the unnamed woman's perspective—where the minutiae of everyday life include going through checkpoints, witnessing bombardment, getting disoriented by the changing landscape, etc.
While the timelines between the two POVs differ, there are also plenty of parallels between the two—from the dog barks, gun fires to senseless violence. The ending is compelling, and I had to sit for a while to absorb its impact fully.
MINOR DETAIL is a harrowing and claustrophobic yet essential read to understand the past and present experiences of Palestinians. While decades separate parts 1 & 2, what changed and what remained?
After a messy breakup and firing, Jessica Tran returns to Toronto to help with her family's nail salon. But when an ultra-glam chain salon opens across the street, followed by their landlord jacking up the rent, the Trans must do everything possible to save their family business.
SUNSHINE is a light-hearted story about gentrification in an immigrant community fighting for their livelihood against big corporations. I love that the story isn't too serious—with chaotic family vibes, friendship drama, and some good-old sabotage—yet still explores important issues about "white-washing" businesses traditionally run by Asian immigrants.
I do feel the white savior aspect is perhaps a bit too on the nose, and the racism tropes are a tad overwritten at this point among Asian immigrant literature
SUNSHINE is a light-hearted story about gentrification in an immigrant community fighting for their livelihood against big corporations. I love that the story isn't too serious—with chaotic family vibes, friendship drama, and some good-old sabotage—yet still explores important issues about "white-washing" businesses traditionally run by Asian immigrants.
I do feel the white savior aspect is perhaps a bit too on the nose, and the racism tropes are a tad overwritten at this point among Asian immigrant literature
Thanks to Grand Central for the gifted ARC & Libro.fm for the ALC
Following three Black expats in Singapore, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian's lives are inextricably intertwined when a charming yet mysterious British Nigerian lawyer enters the scene, threatening to steal Dara's long-awaited promotion to partnership, upending Amaka's relationship seemingly perfect relationship, and triggering painful memories from Lillian's past.
@busyblackbookworm has a more in-depth and critical review that everyone should read. From a non-own voice reader's perspective, I appreciate that SUN explores the Black-Asian dynamics in the workplace and romantic relationships. I also had fun reading about messy friendships and chaotic sisterhoods; Fadipex points out the difficulty of making friends as adults/professional women.
SUN covers a lot of topics—PTSD, microaggression, infertility, etc, and not every aspect is fully explored. Nonetheless, it's a light-hearted read that showcases Fadipex's craft, and I'd be interested in reading her future books
Following three Black expats in Singapore, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian's lives are inextricably intertwined when a charming yet mysterious British Nigerian lawyer enters the scene, threatening to steal Dara's long-awaited promotion to partnership, upending Amaka's relationship seemingly perfect relationship, and triggering painful memories from Lillian's past.
@busyblackbookworm has a more in-depth and critical review that everyone should read. From a non-own voice reader's perspective, I appreciate that SUN explores the Black-Asian dynamics in the workplace and romantic relationships. I also had fun reading about messy friendships and chaotic sisterhoods; Fadipex points out the difficulty of making friends as adults/professional women.
SUN covers a lot of topics—PTSD, microaggression, infertility, etc, and not every aspect is fully explored. Nonetheless, it's a light-hearted read that showcases Fadipex's craft, and I'd be interested in reading her future books