#pakistani author

[maihonhassan]

Life update:

"Haal ye hai ki apni haalat par, ghaur karne se bach raha hun main."

- Jaun Eliya

[littlecakeclub]

An Ember in the ashes - Between War and Resistance

I picked up An Ember in the Ashes without knowing what to expect—and ended up devouring it. While some readers call it slow, I found it immersive, intense, and surprisingly relevant. Here’s what worked for me, what didn’t, and why I’m reaching for the sequel next.

I absolutely flew through An Ember in the Ashes and really enjoyed it! I’ve seen mixed reviews—some say it’s too slow and boring—but for me, the book was action-packed and plot-driven from the very beginning. Sabaa Tahir’s writing is incredibly vivid, making it feel like watching an intense, fast-paced movie. Since the action drives the story, the worldbuilding unfolds through it, which I personally liked.

The alternating points of view keep the narrative engaging. I didn’t feel a strong attachment to Laia—her entire personality seemed centered around her trauma and grief, which makes sense, but I wanted more depth from her. That being said, I still enjoyed her perspective because it moved the plot forward the most. Elias, on the other hand, was by far my favorite. His backstory, inner conflicts, and moral dilemmas made him such an interesting character—he’s a tortured giant, and I love him for that. Helene and Keenan, though? I didn’t care much for them. And while I’m not a fan of love triangles (let alone two), I was relieved that romance wasn’t the main focus of the story. 

I do wish some of the side characters—like Tristas, Faris, Demetrius, Sana, and Mazen—had been more fleshed out. They had potential, but the book’s fast-paced nature left little room for deeper exploration.

Despite its flaws, this book was so immersive and enjoyable. I really appreciated the Middle Eastern/South Asian influences in the world and magic system, as well as the themes of war, resistance, and the devastating impact of militarization on youth. I read that Sabaa Tahir was inspired by the disappearance of Kashmiri boys. While reading, I couldn’t help but think of Palestine. I like a book that can be a mirror for real life events. The story feels deeply relevant, and I see so much potential for where it’s headed.

The cliffhanger ending has me eager to pick up the next book, and overall, this was the perfect read to get out of a reading slump! 

✦ My rating: 4/5 stars ✦

(Photos by Олег Мороз, Nikolay Hristov, Mike Yukhtenko, Philippe Oursel. All on Unsplash)

[softromanticwanderer]

Instagram: alaswrites

[maihonhassan]

These lines from Parizaad Drama wrote by Hashim Nadeem:

“Jis ne paya us ne paa kar mitti kar diya, Aur jis ne nahi paya woh khud mitti hogaya.”

And what could be more accurate than this?

[maihonhassan]

When Farhat Ehsas wrote:

Meri dil ki tabahi ki shikayat par kaha us ne , tum apne ghar ki chizon ki hifazat kyun nahin karte

And Jaun Eliya Replied:

Kaun is ghar ki dekh bhaal kare, roz ek cheez toot jaati hai

[maihonhassan]

Sometimes, you just can't hold it inside:

"Aaj sadmay balaa ke thay, warna dil ki adat nahin ke aaah kare."

- Arslan Abbas

[paulpingminho]

[obdrox1]

Sonakshi Sinha to play protagonist in Bollywood adaptation of “Karachi, You’re Killing Me!”

Sonakshi Sinha to play protagonist in Bollywood adaptation of “Karachi, You’re Killing Me!”

Sonakshi Sinha’s raised eyebrow in the poster for her upcoming film ‘Noor’ received praise from Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz on whose book the film is based.

.@sonakshisinha is in the adaptation of Karachi, You’re Killing Me! and her journo face raised eyebrow IS ON POINT. 😏https://t.co/B1fez1yptH

— Saba Imtiaz (@SabaImtiaz) June 1, 2016

‘Noor’, a comedy-crime thriller, is based on Imtiaz’s…

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