Ismahane's Corner

my corner of bookish and nerdy musings! ✌🏼

[ismahanescorner]

Rose in Chains | Book Review

Author: Julie Soto

Series: Evermore Trilogy

Genre: Adult Romantasy

Publisher: Forever, Hachette

Release Date: 08/07/2025

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead.

Captured as her castle is overrun by the enemy, the world as Briony Rosewood knows it is changed forever. Evil has won, and her people face imminent servitude, imprisonment, or death.

Stripped of her Magic and her freedom, Briony and the other survivors are quickly sold off to the highest bidders in an auction—and as Evermore's princess, she fetches the highest price. After a fierce bidding war, she’s sold to none other than Toven Hearst, scion of a family known for their cruelty.

Yet despite the horrors of her new world and the role she must learn to play within it, all is not lost. Help—and hope—may yet arise in the most unlikely of places…

Review:

tw//: slavery, sexual violence, war, forced abortion.

i quite liked this book and i think even if you’re not a dramione reader you’d enjoy it too. however, if you’re the type of reader who loves a good world-building like myself, you may find this one is a bit wonky, so heed my advice.

i hope the sequel will offer a much needed in-depth world expansion that will let this story stand out from its fic-origins.

[ismahanescorner]

November Wrapped - 2025

Books:

Every Spiral of Fate: 4/5

The Raven Scholar: 5/5 🌟

How to Get that Maid: 2/5

The Dream Thieves: 3/5

The Count of Monte Cristo: 4/5

The Book of Three: 3.5/5

The Jasad Crown: 4/5

Isla and the Happily Ever After: 3.25/5

Shows:

Maxton Hall (S2): watching

Heated Rivalry: watching

Dear X: watching

Movies:

Tell Me Not to Love You: 4/10

The Tutor Trap: 6/10

Enemies with Benefits: 6/10

Cyber Daddy Boss: 4/10

The Turning Point of Love: 3/10

Bound to the Rebel Wolf: 5/10

Conclave: 7/10

Sidelined 2: 5/10

The Price of Loving You: 3/10

november was much the same as as september and october tbh. but, hey, i read my fave book of the year *so far* this month. i will endeavour to finish the year on a better and hopeful note.

[ismahanescorner]

Superman | Movie Review

Platform: Cinema // HBO Max

Release Date: 11/07/2025

Rating: 8/10

Review:

tw//: war, violence, murder, death.

i watched the movie on release day, bright and early. it was actually the first movie that i went outta my way to watch in cinemas in two years. turns out, that was a wise decision on my part, cuz this movie was fantastic. i’ve rewatched it a couple of times on HBO max now and it’s still just as great.

david corenswet is the perfect clark kent/superman as is rachel brosnahan for lois lane. their interview scene at the start of the movie held me captive. nick hoult is magnificent as lex luthor, and i would dare say he is definitely the best live action lex we’ve ever had. ma and pa kent’s scene with clark after he escapes the prison had me silently weeping in the cinema.

i love this movie’s message of hope, camaraderie, kindness, and believing in the good in people!!

[ismahanescorner]

October Wrapped - 2025

Books:

Two Twisted Crowns: 4.5/5

Get a Life, Chloe Brown: 3.5/5

Emergency Skin: 4.5/5

Cinderella Is Dead: 2/5

Discretion: 5/5 🌟

Court of Lions: 2.5/5

Immortal Dark: 4.5/5

Love, Theoretically: 4.5/5

The Book of Witching: 5/5

A Psalm of Storms and Silence: 4/5

On Wings of Blood: 2/5

Assata: 4/5

Shows:

I didn’t watch any shows this month.

Movies:

Trapped and Redeemed by Lover: 6/10

Claimed by My Ex’s Alpha Brother: 5/10

Fantastic 4 (First Steps): 7/10

My Sexy Devil: 5/10

Allergic to All, Addicted to Her: 5/10

The Day You Came Back: 5/10

Gold Digger, Lucky Charm: 4/10

One Night Altitude: 2/10

Spoil Me Please: 2/10

Beloved in My Palm: 6/10

Our Fault: 4/10

One of them Days: 6/10

Lost Heiress to Princess: 4/10

Cheer Up Baby: 6/10

october was a trying month, but at least, i really enjoyed most of the books and films i watched this month.

[ismahanescorner]

September Wrapped - 2025

Books:

To Kill A Kingdom: 3.25/5

Disfigured: 5/5

The Rose Bargain: 4.5/5

The Bakery Dragon: 5/5

All This Twisted Glory: 5/5

Katabasis: 3.75/5

The Jasad Heir: 4/5

Wayne Family Adventures (Vol. 4): 3/5

Disability Visibility: 4/5

The Winner’s Kiss: 3/5

Demystifying Disability: 3/5

Alchemised: 5/5

Series:

The Summer I Turned Pretty (S3): 8/10

Movies:

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens: 7/10

Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi: 6/10

Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker: 5/10

Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace: 4/10

Loving My Brother’s Best Friend: 5/10

America’s Favourite Ex-Husband: 3/10

in the face of great strife, i strive to persevere. that’s basically all i can say about what happened in september. hoping for a better October! 🤍 ✌🏼

[ismahanescorner]

The Summer I Turned Pretty (S2) | Series Review

Platform: Prime Video

Release Date: 13/08/2023

Rating: 7/10

Review:

tw//: parent death, cheating.

this season really didn’t make much sense to me tbh. so this will be more of a rant about stuff that bothered me than a critical review. first, the acting was on par with season one so no improvement there. however, the characters were doing so many idiotic things that i was just like “huh?” half the time.

before watching this season, i thought that belly wasn’t up to par and let conrad down while he grieved his mother. but that’s not the case, she begged him multiple times to open up to her so she can help him out, she tried her best but he kept shutting her out at every turn! so i see no reason why everyone babies him in this case!

jeremiah was really upstanding this season, helping his mum, doing his best to ensure the house didn’t sell, celebrating the small wins, and even giving conrad a second chance with belly. however, he still very much is a naive rich boy who can’t look past his second son syndrome and his desire for his father’s approval and love.

belly was prolly the worst outta the three leads! making a scene at susannah’s funeral, lying to her parents, and worst of all, thinking she had a right at a chance of love with jeremiah!!! who in their right mind, would want to date their ex’s younger brother? whom they kissed and lead on for a couple of weeks then ditched him for his older brother? mind you, they’re also close family friends!!! like wtf!!!!

adam is a complete human trash this season per usual. laurel was all over the place. she wasn’t parenting either belly or steven cuz she was busy with the boys in boston but also didn’t do anything to secure the beach house for the boys?!? like what was she even doing? as for julia, bitch, get over yourself, your dad was an ass and so was your sister but these boys never did you wrong, so why are you exacerbating their pain and grief!

finally, as i claimed in my review of the last season, susannah is honestly still the worst. i truly hope she’s rotting in hell. she was a shitty mother, sister, and friend! cuz which dying person leaves so much shit outta order for others to figure out after they die? well susannah obviously!

skye, taylor, steven, and cam camron were the saving grace!

[ismahanescorner]

August Wrapped - 2025

Books:

Rose in Chains: 4/5

White Tears/Brown Scars: 4.5/5

Prince Snow White Taken by the Queen: 2/5

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy: 5/5

Watchmen: 4/5

Wonder Woman - Earth One (Vol. 1): 2.75/5

Being Autistic: 2.75/5

Ace: 4/5

Demon in the Wood: 4/5

Shows:

The Summer I Turned Pretty (S1): 6/10

The Summer I Turned Pretty (S2): 7/10

Movies:

My Oxford Year: 4/10

Daddy Dom Good Girl: 3/10

Mafia King’s Missing Wife: 3/10

Ex-Convict Nanny: 5/10

that’s all for this month folks, here’s hoping september is a more prosperous month! ✌🏼😊

[ismahanescorner]

The Summer I Turned Pretty (S1) | Series Review

Platform: Prime Video

Release Date: 16/06/2022

Rating: 6/10

Review:

tw//: cancer, cheating, bullying.

since season three kicked off a month or so ago, my fyp has been flooded with tiktoks from mainly #teamconrad gushing over the yearning and pinning. thus, i decided to finally give the show a chance!

the plot isn’t all that innovative or interesting tbf and it’s quite toxic when you sit and give it a good critical look.

the acting from the whole cast isn’t something to wax poetics about. then again, this is a silly summer teen show, that’s supposed to be overdramatic and fun and this season delivers on those two promises!

now, on to team jeremiah and team conrad! prior to watching the show, i’ve seen many people say that jeremiah is childish and manipulative; and many others say conrad is an asshole and is the “miscommunication trope” personified. after watching the show, i can see that both points are valid. frankly, i’m neither team, but if i had to choose i’d say i’m team “susannah is a shitty mother”

the moment her cancer came back, and she decided not to go with the trials, she should’ve sat the boys down and told them. then, got the whole family some much needed therapy and grief counselling. this would’ve helped the boys cope with the fact that they’re going to lose their mother in the near future. also, therapy would’ve helped jeremiah deal with his inferiority complex and living in his “perfect” brother’s shadow. thus, stopping him from the shady ways he went about separating belly and conrad. the therapy would’ve also helped conrad immensely, especially with his panic attacks. as well as, provided him with tools to better communicate his feelings rather than just bottling everything up and eroding his mental health.

but, noooooo!!! we couldn’t have that, cuz susannah wanted one last normal summer and to see her little girl in a white gown. and now, laurel is gonna be left with the broken pieces that are susannah’s boys next season to deal with after her own daughter exacerbates the feisure that’s growing ever larger between the fisher brothers.

anyways, with all that ranting done. i’m probably gonna continue on to watching season two and catch up on three before it ends next month!

[ismahanescorner]

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy | Book Review

Author: Brigitte Knightley

Series: Dearly Beloathed Duet

Genre: Adult Romantasy

Publisher: Orbit UK.

Release Date: 08/07/2025

Rating: 5/5 🌟

Synopsis:

Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally – such is the grim comedy of fate – the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.

Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick – so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for.

A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne’s disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.

Review:

tw//: murder, violence, sexual content, child death.

i loved this book. duh, obviously! you saw the five star rating above! but, i’m reiterating it loudly cuz i actually did. as a dramione reader, since this book was announced, i knew i was gonna like it and give it probably a three+ star rating! i didn’t know that i was gonna love it this much tho!

aurienne is a type A lovable firecracker and osric is a self absorbed jokester with questionable morals. and somehow they banter their way from strangers serving in opposing Orders to reluctant doctor/patient to begrudging co-workers to somewhat friendly acquaintances with an annoying persistant *crush* (it’s actually love not a crush) on each other … wow, they didn’t become lovers!!? yes, dear reader! this book actually *did the thing* and followed on its tagline of “a slow-burn enemies to lovers” meaning the enemies are going through the different stages before reaching the lovers destination!

as an english major who sat for a whole semester listening to lecturer drone on and on about the “ye olden” kingdoms of the british isles, i’m quite delighted that the author chose an alternate version of that U.K. as the setting for this novel. the adventures our protagonists go on throughout the land were very reminiscent of the astérix et obélix cartoon adventures which i remember liking as a child. and the magic system reminded me so much of fairy tail which i adore!!!

the plot essentially is: in a world, where magic (seith) exists, eight orders formed over the years to teach a select few how to use it for a variety of purposes. some orders are good (bright paths) and some are bad-really bad- (dusken paths). an assassin (osric) that belong to an order where they execute their weak, finds out he’s loosing his seith due to a recent combat injury (shit!💀). now he has to beseech with one of the healing order’s top healers to dig up an old paper she presented at a conference years ago, which hypothesise that there is a way to reverse “seith rot” via the “ye olden ways” of using magic! this top healer (aurienne) refuses immediately on principle but acquiesces when osric offers to fund the healan order’s efforts to develop a vaccine against the pox virus that’s reeking havoc on vagrant children. from then on, their adventures begin and all seems hopeless for a while there for osric’s sake. then, the haelan order HQ gets attacked and kingdom higher-ups start asking around about who is this generous anonymous donor!! oooh, something is amiss!

yeah, this novel was fun, funny, and adventurous. and i enjoyed it immensely. i can’t wait for its sequel! also, i listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a phenomenal work, so you definitely need to check it out!

ps. bear in mind, this novel is just part one, and it ends on a cliffhanger in the middle of some exciting events!

[ismahanescorner]

July Wrapped - 2025:

Books:

Merry-go-Round: 2.75/5

Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: 4/5

First-Time Caller: 4/5

I Hope This Finds You Well: 2/5

How To Be Ace: 2.5/5

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You: 4.25/5

Stars in Their Eyes: 4.75/5

The Girl from the Sea: 4.5/5

One Dark Window: 4.25/5

Ain’t I A Woman: 4/5

Problematic Summer Romance: 3.75/5

Shows:

The Apothecary Diaries (S2): 8/10

The Summer I Turned Pretty: watching

Movies:

K-Pop Demon Hunters: 7/10

Enola Holmes: 7/10

Enola Holmes 2: 7/10

Thunderbolts: 6/10

The Amazing Spider-Man: 6/10

Charmed by Twin Billionaires: 5/10

Superman (‘25): 8/10

finally some good book reading!! also, i adored the new superman movie!! aaaahhh!!!

see y’all next month! 🫶🏼

[ismahanescorner]

Mid-Year Freak Out!! Tag | 2025

hi friends!! i’m back with a bookish tag to explore some of the books i’ve read so far. good news: i’ve managed to achieve my reading goal for the year by reading 25 books across different genres!

anyways, these are my answers:

Best Book of the Year (so far!):

I have not read any new five star reads this year unfortunately, but The Broken Ring (Vol. 5) by Cheong-gwa, Chokam, Chacha Kim earned a 4.75 stars from me due to its spectacular ending cliffhanger.

Best Sequel (so far!):

again it’s The Broken Ring (Vol. 5) by Cheong-gwa, Chokam, Chacha Kim because i was taken by that ending. i can’t wait for season three to start!

Biggest Disappointment:

unfortunately, one of my most anticipated read of the year; Ireland by Sylvia Day is the biggest disappointment for me so far. i really was hoping to see the growth of Gideon and Eva and their happy family after twelve years of marriage just to be hit with stagnant redundancy.

Biggest Surprise:

while i had a feeling that i most likely will like This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi when i picked it up, i had no idea that i’ll get so invested in the world so easily!

New Release You Want to Read:

obviously it’s Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.

Most Anticipated Release of the Second-half:

it’s all about dramione from here on out baby!! i can’t wait to have my hands on Alchamised by SenLinYu, Rose in Chains by Julie Soto, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley.

New Favourite Author:

it has to be Chacha Kim, i’ve completely been consumed by The Broken Ring storyline and world.

Newest Fictional Crush:

i have two actually: Carcel Escalante & Ines Valeztena! i live for a hot power couple!

Newest Favourite Character:

it’s definitely Cyrus of Nara, i’m a sucker for a bad royal with a heart of gold (?)!

Book that Made You Cry:

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood; Scarlett’s struggles with mental block and anxiety hit a bit too close to home for me! 🥲

Book that Made You Happy:

The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming was such a wonderful picture book!!

Most Beautiful Book You Got this Year:

it’s definitely All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi. such a gorgeous cover!!

Favourite Page-to-Screen Adaptation:

My Fault - London! the movie that got me through the month of february!!

Book(s) You Want to Read Before the End of the Year:

i will definitely be reading: Falling Kingdoms, The Count of Monte Cristo, Discretion, To Kill A Kingdom, The Jasad Hier, Iron Widow, Bable!

[ismahanescorner]

June Warpped - 2025

Books:

Deep End: 4/5

Hood Feminism: 3/5

The Ribbon Skirt: 3.75/5

The Leaf Thief: 3/5

The Broken Ring (Vol. 4): 3.5/5

A Tyranny of Petticoats: 3/5

These Infinite Threads: 4/5

Legends & Lattes: 2.75/5

The Broken Ring (Vol. 5): 4.75/5

The Apothecary Diaries (Vol. 13): 3.75/5

Shows:

Sahipsizler: watching

Eşref Rüya: watching

Heirs of the Night: watching

Overcompensating: DNF-ed (Ep 5)

The Apothecary Diaries: watching

Movies:

Situationship with my Billionaire Friend: 3/10

Deeply Trapped: 3/10

heya! so this month i finally finished with the thesis work which freed me up to read for leisure as much as i want! i’ve completed my goodreads reading challenge a few days ago; and i’m halfway done with my “25 for 2025” storygraph challenge.

i binge watched the apothecary diaries episodes i had missed the past couple of months and i’m happy to see that the mystery about jinshi’s identity is about to be revealed! i’ll most likely pick up the light novel soon since the manga/anime are about over.

i didn’t watch that many trashy shows or movies this month which is a plus i guess! 💀

see y’all next month! 🫶🏼

[ismahanescorner]

May Wrapped - 2025

Books:

The Broken Ring (Vol 1): 3.5/5

The Broken Ring (Vol 2): 4/5

The Broken Ring (Vol 3): 3.5/5

A Nordic King: 2.5/5

Shows:

Sahipsizler: watching

Eşref Rüya: watching

The King Eternal Monarch: watching

Heirs of the Night: watching

Overcompensating: watching

Movies:

Mafia’s Tender Torture: 5/10

Tied to My Dangerous Mafia Husband: 3/10

Boardroom Attraction: dnf-ed

All I Want (for Valentine) Is You: 4/10

Twin Matchmakers: 4/10

The Getaway Heiress Returns: 2/10

A Second Chance for Luna: 6/10

Summer of 69: 7/10

Perfect Landing into Your Arms: 5/10

How to Train Your CEO Good Boy: 3/10

The Blue Lagoon (The Awakening): 5/10

The Cursed Alpha’s Mate: 4/10

Boss Please Behave: 4/10

Playing Pretend: 5/10

Royalteen: 5/10

so yeah, still working on the thesis! i managed to squeeze in a couple of eps and a few reads here and there throughout the month while binge watching trash vertical reel movies.

here’s hoping next month’s update has more reads!

[taylorswift]

You belong with me. 💚💛💜❤️🩵🖤

Letter on my site :)

[ismahanescorner]

🖤💚

[ismahanescorner]

April Wrapped - 2025

Books:

Ireland: 3/5

Shows:

Julie and the Phantoms: rewatch

The Apothecary Diaries: watching

The Vampire Diaries: rewatching

Eşref Rüya: watching

Sahipsizler: watching

Movies:

Ask Me What You Want: 6/10

Uncle William, Please Say I do: 5/10

Falling Into My Magnate Ex: 4/10

My World Ends With You: 4/10

The Life List: 6/10

Marked Men (Rule + Shaw): 3/10

Her Desired Alphas: 3/10

Say You Remember, Say You Love: 5/10

A Trade of Hearts: 4/10

Drowning in Love: 4/10

Do Me, My Sexy Male Stripper: 4/10

Love Across Time: 6/10

sooo, i’m back in uni to finish up my thesis! hence, i’ve practically done no reading whatsoever and only been binge watching trash movies as a coping mechanism in my down time.

also, my stress and anxiety kinda drove me to watch edits of my past fave turkish dramas which in turn landed new (currently airing) dramas on my fyp. and now, i’ve binged eşref rüya and sahipsizler and i’m literally addicted!!! aaaaah ya rabbim benim canim azdev/eşissan!!!

as for ireland, i think i’ll post a full review when i’m free!

[ismahanescorner]

March Wrapped - 2025

Books:

The Holy Quran 🤍

The Desert King: reread

Assassination Classroom: 1.5/5

Punk 57: reread

This Woven Kingdom: 4.5/5

Shows:

The Apothecary Diaries: watching

The Vampire Diaries: rewatching

Movies:

Breaking Dawn Part One: rewatch

Breaking Dawn Part Two: rewatch

Anora: did not finish

Claimed by the Alpha I hate: 5/10

Mommy Don’t Cry, Daddy is Sorry: 3/10

The Ex-Wife’s Comeback Strategy: 3/10

Love Me After My Death: 6/10

Free My Heart, Mr. CEO: 7/10

Desires Die Hard: 7/10

Lycan Princess Won’t Be Your Luna:4/10

Bound to The Tyrant’s Heart: 8/10

Boardroom Attraction: 6/10

Broken: 4/10

Like Me Like You Do: did not finish

[ismahanescorner]

This Woven Kingdom | Book Review

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Genre: YA Fantasy, Romance, Islamic/Persian Mythology.

Publisher: Farshore

Release Date: 01/02/2022

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️

Synopsis:

To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight. The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.

Review:

TW//: violence, self-harm, suicide.

So, a few weeks ago, the cover for book four of this series was revealed and my social feeds were pretty much flooded with excited readers anticipating a grand wedding. i innocently liked many of these posts which led to fan art and commissioned illustrations of the characters ending up on my feeds. and if you know anything about me, you know that the main thing that will always get me to read a fantasy series that i was previously unaware of or uninterested in is the fan art!!! and so, once again, the fan art agenda wins me over!

this novel starts with an epigraph from the shahnameh (which is an epic poem about the old history of greater persia) and that alone had me excited since i quite enjoy stories inspired by this poem. also finally, i’m reading a tahereh mafi book inspired by her persian heritage/roots! the story is also rooted in islamic teachings about the jinn and the devil/iblees!

anyway, the story is about a jinn girl named alizeh trying to make ends meet -and not cause any ruckus in the mean time since her parents’ untimely deaths- in a clay ruled kingdom/world. however, iblees being iblees, he got other plans for her, as he wants her to assume her titled role so he can rule again! on the other end of this story, is kamran, the crown prince of the fore-mentioned kingdom, who instantly becomes boy-obsessed with alizeh upon their not-so-cute “meet cute”! and from then on the story unfolds.

i quite enjoyed the novel (i mean duh, i gave it 4.5 ☆) and while some people may find the 1st third tedious with its info dumpy world building, i did not, cuz i’m very familiar with islamic teachings about the jinn and enjoy them quite a bit! however, the 2nd third did drag a bit too long for my liking with the author running in circles trying to save all the action for the last third of the novel. now, the last third, that was my favourite part. i breezed through those chapters. they had intrigue, magic, action, romance, and most importantly lovers banter!!! oh and, a massive revelation and cliffhanger!!

i read this book physically while simultaneously listening to the audiobook and i really enjoyed the narrator as she did a good job and pronounced all the words correctly. just a heads up tho, the major character introduced at the end of the book, their name is pronounced so funkily it had me in fits of laughter the whole time!

anyway, i loved this book and i recommend y’all pick it up if you’re interested in a YA romantasy. now, i’ll be off to read the sequel!! 😁