songmingi's Reviews (199)

I really wanted to love this book but I found myself a little disappointed. While the author definitely captured the vibe of scary stories told in Pakistani households, I feel like a lot of the stories bulit up to very lackluste  reveals.  Especially the shorter stories, they felt more like ideas than rough drafts. I however enjoyed both the longer stories in the book however and I think the author should allow herself to expand her stories to her hearts content. My other issue is a lot of the stories become inaccessible to a non-urdu speaking audience during to the copious amount of romanised urdu used without translation. I think these stories should be available to a wider audience and hence in future translation should be provided or the amount of romanised urdu reduced. Overall an entertaining read, just has potential to be better. 

This was a really interesting read. Overall I found the conversation occurring in it quite interesting, especially being Pakistani myself. Reading this is Lahore where I encounter the wealth disparity and classicism daily in person definitely added to the reading experience. The writing style was engaging and each character had their own distinct voice. It made the storytelling very compelling and showcases the authors character writing capability. The characters being named after historical figures was so intriguing, I'm unfortunately unfamiliar with mughal history so I think I missed out on some of the nuance and meaning. However this novel did intrigue me to learn more about Pakistan's history so I think I'll definitely revisit it.  This book misses out on a five star however because I think in a way you do have to have some knowledge of Pakistan and Pakistan society to extract the full depth of value of this book. It's not that you can't enjoy this book without that knowledge it's just believe it's a really honest look into Pakistani society and if you live within it, this book really packs a punch. 

Incredibly vivid and heartfelt writing just felt so intimate, I enjoyed reading this thoroughly. 

A unique story, I liked reading it but I fail to see the wow factor many others do. It may just be my taste as I don't gravitate towards books with fae folk, however, I still found the concept of this book interesting. The commitment to water imagery was well done, it really makes you evaluate the sea as a symbol. I also liked how each chapter opened with an extract of some sort, it gave it that dark academic feel. I didn't completely like Effy's character I found her a little insufferable and childish at times, I understand she apologises and grows but her earlier behaviour towards Prestion left a bad impression on me that did not go away. Nonetheless, its worth the read, especially if you enjoy water imagery and reading about evil fae. 

Natural Beauty was an interesting read, there was so much creativity in the writing. I enjoyed how we learned the narrator's full story..who she was and what informed her decisions. Of note is her grappling with her cultural identity throughout her life, as this is something I could relate to  I also appreciated all the themes the book explored, especially around belonging and most evidently beauty and health culture. While there are some predictable factors, overall the story writing is unique, especially all the strange and somewhat sickening procedures and products at Holistick. 

My biggest issue is the themes towards the end such as that of eugenics were a bit haphazardly discussed, I think the book could have changed its pace a bit. There were a few elements of the story that felt a bit underdeveloped. I think the book could benefit from these heavier themes being discussed a bit earlier or if the book perhaps 100 pages longer so they could be better developed. It felt towards the end that things happened too fast, when the pace at the beginning was slower like a pot simmering threatening to boil over. This took away from my enjoyment of the book a bit, as I feel the author was definitely capable of giving more. 

Overall, though definitely worth the read but its just annoying as this could potentially be a five-star read if the heavier themes were developed more. 

Maybe I'm being too kind in giving this book five stars but I enjoyed reading it a lot, and hence atleast in terms of fulfillment it's a five star read.

This is book is so magical and fairytale like, the writing is vivid and expressive. It gave me the feeling of reading a fairytale when I was a child, without feeling childish or oversimplified. I know it is in part a re-telling of a myth and you can definitely tell as the storytelling has the feel of an old myth without feeling dated. 

It was so easy to read, yet the plot was compelling and engaging. I could never predict what could happen next so I was always on my toes. I also don't gravitate towards romance however the romantic elements were so sweet and touching, and importantly for me they don't take away from the main plotline of the book. 

I think this is good lighthearted fantasy read for those who still want to go on an interesting adventure without a lot of angst. It a fun enchanting read.

My Dark Vanessa was an incredibly difficult but worthwhile read. The writing is so vivid that it made my skin crawl, hence I had to pace myself a lot when reading it. Nonetheless, I think it provides a well-needed perspective on surviving sexual assault and grooming, I think this book has a lot of uncomfortable truths in it. How we as a society have a certain understanding of what it means to be a victim and how victims should behave,  and when this expectations are not met we usually become suspicious. There is no such thing as a perfect victim and My Dark Vanessa makes this clear.
As well as that My Dark Vanessa highlight exactly how destructive grooming is, and how its effects last a lifetime, it also shows that no two victims are the same. Therefore I think this can be a beneficial book to read to understand and tackle these heavy themes. I will advise however is child sexual assault, grooming or victim blaming are triggering topic for you, it maybe better for you to steer clear, as everything in the book is described in excruciating detail. 

Jade Legacy is the thrilling conclusion to the treasure that is the Green Bone saga. I enjoyed every second of my time reading this book and have thought about it continuously upon finishing.  My review will be for the series as a whole as well as for Jade Legacy as a stand-alone

Firstly, the worldbuilding in this series is the best I have ever read, while it at times slowed the overall pace of the book, the payoff you receive in terms of plot is so worth it. Every single element of the setting is so well defined and distinct, that the cars the characters drive even have realistic names. By the time you read Jade Legacy, as a reader you have built a real connection to the world of the Green Bone saga and hence the changes that occur have an impact. In reading Jade Legacy I found I have built a real attachment to the island of Kekon and the people that exist there. 

The changes that come over time to the world of the Green Bone saga make logical sense, the issues faced by Kekon mirror the reality faced by many modern Asian nations. In her writing, Fonda Lee highlights her understanding of politics whether it be within a family or between nations. Jade Legacy showcases in particular how with technology, modernisation and the passage of time politics and ideals must also evolve. I appreciated how comprehensive the plot is, everything connects so well together, and even details which feel mundane end up playing their part in the overall picture being painted. The plot was in no way predictable, I honestly had no idea what to expect when I started, and the surprises kept coming up until the end. Not one dull moment. 

The Green Bone Saga also has some of the best characters I have read, each is complex with their own unique motivations, viewpoints and strengths. While there has been some criticism of Fonda Lee's writing of more male characters than female, I don't think the concern holds much stock since the female characters of the Green Bone Saga are so well-written and diverse. Kaul Shae, Maik Wen and Ayt Mada are all powerful in their positions and capabilities but they are nothing alike in personality and even in motivation. In Jade Legacy we see the main characters we are well acquainted with evolve, however, their evolution makes complete sense with their changing world scape. I really can't compliment it enough, as time passes so do the characters. This once again makes the book so immersive and allows the reader to feel like they are in a way growing with each character. I adored the Kaul family and their evolution was so fun to read. Kaul Hilo is such a wonderful main character he is so multi-faceted and while not all of these facets are great, he is so well developed that once it makes sense of him. Do I stand by all of his actions? Absolutely not! but I most definitely understand why he took them. His connection to his family is something I adore some of his lines about them brought tears to my eyes. Similarly, his rival Ayt Mada, is equally strong, ruthless, cunning and unrelenting she is exactly what you would want in an antagonist. She is exactly who you think she is and she will remind you if you forget. I could continue talking about every single character in detail in honesty but for the sake of time, I will stop. 

Overall, Jade Legacy gave me everything and more as a finale to what is now one of my favourite fantasy series ever. It's thrilling, its emotional, its breath-taking, its a masterclass in fantasy. I can't recommend it enough. 

Amal Unbound was a heartfelt book. Since it's intended for a younger audience than myself I can forgive the simplicity in which it tackles the topic of indentured servitude and the feudalistic systems many small villages in Pakistan find themselves trapped in. 

While nothing groundbreaking it was a sweet story of strength and I hope it uplifts many young people and brings attention to the the issue of indentured servitud  which is prevalent not only in Pakistan but worldwide.