Samra Habib is an Ahmadi Muslim who grew up in Pakistan. She highlights the struggles of child molestation, and Islamic terrorist threats before coming to Canada as Refugees with her family. While trying to connect with her queer identity, her faith and her self Samra has to deal with racism, bullies, an arranged marriage, and the threat of poverty.
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Being Canadian and reading about Samras struggles was one I have seen friends go through when coming here. This constant battle between finding a balance of their new western life and the one they left behind worlds away.
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I cannot hype this book enough! It is an absolute must read! It gives a bit of understanding into the intersectionality of life as a Refugee, a new Canadian, a queer Muslim and a woman. All of these pieces that can be marginalizing, and how important it is to push back and be your true self. The importance of family (chosen and not) and forgiveness are main themes in this captivating book.

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Sisters Tavia and Effie live in Portland, in a society that aims to keep them down. They are dealing with the struggles of being teenagers in a society filled with sexism and racism and a magical society that discriminates as well. Finding a voice, suppressing magic and juggling school, friends, family, love, hobbies and activism are just all a part of the routine for these two girls.
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Oh this book. The urban fantasy setting was so perfect. It paralleled the current world setting with the same issues and challenges Black women have to deal with, with a whole new layer of magical challenges.
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A+ for characters, story, world and magic. A++ for dealing with real world problems and social justice along side Mythos and magic. A+++ for making the Pisces in me squee with delight at all of the water!