shahdhazem's reviews
190 reviews

Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon

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adventurous challenging dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The synopsis of this was really interesting but the content not too much. It was really really slow paced and the characters were just really flat and I couldn't connect with any of them. The plot was non-existent to say the least and the teeny tiny bit of action there was very predictable. There was also an attempt at romance which failed miserably cause as I said the characters are very flat and plain so I just wasn't interested at all. The story had potential I liked the idea but the execution was very poor. This is a duology but I have no intent of the second book cause I don't think I can go on woth the characters anymore there's nothing I'm interested in in the world.
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Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

One of my favourite reads this year not only is it one of the best muslim romances out there but it tackled lots of huge problems really well like islamophobia, multiple sclerosis and death of  loved ones. I related so much to Zayneb in many ways and I loved her her sense of not wanting to sit still and having to stand in front of the many injustices in this world. Loved the idea of the marvels and oddities I'll even make a journal myself and the author managed it so well along with the multiple povs. Also loved the family dynamics so much it made my heart warm. In conclusion this is an excellent book and I can't wait to read more of Adam and Zayneb.
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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This started off really good I was invested in the case and the author kept uncovering evidence in a very fast pace I was really enjoying it but after approximately the first 100 pages all this fell down she just crammed everything in the beginning that the rest of the book was so boring all I was thinking that I just want to know who did it and get it over with. Also I found the author really extreme in describing who andie was like how could someone be THAT bad like it was too much. Also it was a very bad idea to Involve romance in the main plot it erased the mystery vibe completely this all felt like some cheap teen drama show. The reveal of who did it at the end wasn't shocking to me I won't say I was expecting it I wasn't but still my reaction was like "okay that sucks let's move" so yeah this wasn't a good experience for me definitely an overhyped book like so much more books out there it's really getting frustrating by now how much people hype bad books.
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Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

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challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was such an easy quick read for me I got in literally knowing nothing at all so I was expecting more action and fantasy you know but it was just a normal contemporary it was fun to read tho and I loved the idea that they both were these really famous people online but in real life they're just desperate teens. I think the author managed the topics of suicide and anxiety really well but what made me lower the rating is that I couldn't feel for the characters I really don't know how to explain it but I couldn't sympathise with Eliza or Wallace or even swoon for the romance I don't know if this is a problem with the writing or the characters themselves I have no idea. I'm not "not recommending" it I guess it's a decent book and I understand why people would love it but it's certainly not the best for me. 
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A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Easily one of my favourite books this year I loved it so much and I enjoyed it to the max! I love retelling and I was honestly getting in with high hopes and it didn't disappoint at all. I loved the story it read like an anime this could easily be a ghibli movie I'd loveee to see it with all the magical creatures and the setting and the sneaky villain. Miuko's development was so so good I loved her character and I enjoyed seeing her adapt and come into herself. Also the band of side characters was so funny and well done. Also loved the writing style and the conversation between miuko and tujiyazai I literally lived for their arguments. And on the mention of tujuyazai you guys he's one of the best written villains and I'm not exaggerating he became one of my favourites instantly from his first appearance I don't even know if we should call him a villian or is he morally grey and that's the cleverness in it like personally I'd say he's morally grey but other people might agree that he's just evil. I'm sure you're wondering why after all this raving I gave it a 4 it's because I wanted a tragic ending if I'm honest with you it would've been so much better for me and it'd have made the book stay with me but nevertheless it was amazing and I certainly recommend it if you're an otaku specifically or just like Asian myth retellings you'd enjoy it too.
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This started off as really bad for me as I went through I was getting more and more disappointed about certain characters and the whole plot of the book but the last bit of the book was such a nice surprise. I was honestly thinking of giving it a 3 star because at the start it was very plain no story literally got no new info about nikolai and ravka than what I already knew from shadow and bone but I adore nikolai very much so I was just pushing on for him. Also I want to mention that I hate leigh for messing up Nina's character like that she's soo different from what she was in six of crows and I know some will say because of a certain tragic event but I honestly don't think that this event should've changed her completely no on the contrary. Also her chapters lacked any connection to nikolai's and zoya's chapters which was irritating. Last thing I'll come to the bit I liked which was the plot twists in the end that were literally mind blowing for me they were really well enacted and I gave a whole star for that and I have kind of some high hopes for rule of the wolves.
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Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

This is a very tricky book to rate since there are alot of stories and you might like some and hate some but I decided on a 2 star since the stories  I didn't like were alot more than those I liked. Almost all the stories were an open end and this annoyed me so much especially since some of them had to have a conclusion not to be left like this. Also what I was looking for when I got into for the stories to make me feel something whether it's fluffiness. Sadness anything but what I only felt was disgust really the topics were so bad. So I guess this wasn't for maybe some people like this way of writing and all but I couldn't digest it at all.
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Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Honestly I got into this expecting heartbreak everyone seemed to rave about how sad it is but in my case nothing happened at all and if you know me I cry from the littlest things literally but I haven't shed a single tear in this. 
The story was pretty average for a romance I didn't find anything special about it and it didn't give me what I usually seek in a romance. There were parts were it was really cheesy and not even the kind of cheesy I like and other parts were cringey for me. Usually I don't mention this in my reviews but this had lots of smut which didn't go well with the story and it made it really unrealistic. You could read it as a plain romance but don't be expecting anything like I did and I personally think there are better things out there.
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10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was the only book that interested me from Elif's work the idea looked really interesting for me but the execution wasn't that good. First of all this story is really dark so please read the trigger warnings of you're gonna read it because I went it having no idea it was like this and was shook thankfully I don't get triggered but I would've liked a heads up. Let's dive in the book then to be honest the story as a whole was good I just had a problem with how the author chose to tell it also this a kind of a philosophical book and I had a huge problem with the author's beliefs which contradicted mine in many ways which I won't be venturing into right now at all. But if we put aside these which I can because they didn't offense me we can find that this was well written and it drew me in and u kinda understand why many people would like it in my case alot of factors affected my opinion. I won't be reading for her again in the future I wasn't even planning on reading this I read it for a bookclub.
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A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

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adventurous challenging tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Thank you for netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc of this and here's my honest review. 
This book started well I was liking the vibes and getting to know our main character but as I got through I found that the story was so predictable just the average fantasy without any new things and as an avid fantasy reader I didn't like this at all. This book didn't have anything you look for in a fantasy at all the characters didn't have any depth at all I honestly didn't care about any of them at all even the main characters,the romance was so plain and ridiculous at times, the plot was predictable as I said and didn't give me any twists and lastly the writing style which was really simple for a fantasy. So in conclusion this could be good for an amateur reader but if you wanna reach higher audience the author needs alot to work on.
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