Author: Zakiya N. Jamal

Zakiya N. Jamal was born in Queens, raised in Long Island, and currently resides in Brooklyn. In other words, she’s a New Yorker through and through. She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and a MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School. She has been published in Romper, BuzzFeed, People.com, Thought Catalog, and more. Her non-fiction essay about her "Cuban Impostor Syndrome" can be found in the Latinx anthology, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed. You can find her on Twitter at @ZakiyaNJamal.

Woman Crush Wednesday: Katy Swartz

Posted on June 24, 2015June 23, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

I was rereading the Lux series this week and it reminded me of one of my favorite characters, Katy Swartz. Now if I’m being honest I wasn’t a big fan of Katy at first. I found her incessant overthinking of everything in her life (mainly her feelings for Daemon, the love interest) annoying. Additionally her obsession with books and her blog, although something I should’ve found relatable, I instead found irritating.

That being said Katy grew on me and allowed me to become obsessed with the Lux series and finish it in a very short span of time.

What took me a while to realize about Katy is she has high standards and she’s dedicated to them. The whole reason she has issues accepting Daemon has feelings for her and she has feelings for Daemon is because she has this idea of what a perfect relationship should be: the relationship between her parents. Katy doesn’t want to settle for love; she wants the whole fairytale. Once I got that I respected her a little more.

I also respected her loyalty and her refusal to be shut out from big decisions and big fights. She hates being underestimated but also uses that to her advantage. She’s strong and handles a lot of stuff much better than I probably ever would have.

Therefore, I had to make Katy my crush this week.

“Me and Katy look adorkable in extraterrestrial
highway shirts. You would just look stupid. You can thank me later.” – Daemon Black, Origin

Book Review: Allegiant

Posted on June 23, 2015June 22, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

I went into this novel with very low expectations because almost everyone I know didn’t like this book. That being said I actually didn’t hate it. I understand why people were upset about the ending but I just didn’t hate it. That being said I still wasn’t a big fan.

As many scenes as there were that made me smile the book just seemed so thrown together. I tried to understand Veronica Roth’s plans and intent for the novel but honestly it seemed like she didn’t know how the series was going to end before hand so when the time came to end it she threw something together.

If you haven’t read the first two Divergent books beware because here comes some spoilers.

Insurgent ended with the ultra secret video finally being released, showing one of Tris’ ancestors explaining how it was the Divergent’s job to live Chicago and do their job or something like that. It was pretty vague to be honest. Either way this turns out not to even be the whole truth so it doesn’t really even matter what the video said.

What I really didn’t like about Allegiant was Roth’s explanation for everything. The way she explained why there were factions and the purpose of the Divergent just seemed so ridiculous. I was so mad. All of this violence and people dying just for this? Really? It was nonsense.

Besides that lackluster reveal there were parts of the book I truly did enjoy. Tobias and Tris’ relationship being one of them (and that’s all I’ll say about it – no spoilers!). Despite what a lot of people said I thought the ending was fitting and I appreciated the realness of it and the message Roth was putting forward. Do I think she could’ve gave the same message differently? Sure. Did I hate the ending? No.

All in all, not my favorite book but not too bad.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. Not a book I’d reread.

Favorite Line:

I fell in love with him. But I don’t just stay with him by default as if there’s no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me.

Stars:

Other Reviews

The Book Smugglers

Cuddlebuggery

Book. Blog. Bake.

Man Crush Monday: Cole Stewart

Posted on June 22, 2015June 22, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

If someone asked me the best thing to come from The Darkest Minds trilogy I’d say the Stewart Brothers hands down. Besides the fact that they’re both hot with a southern charm that’s just to die for, they’re both great people even though they handle things very differently.

I won’t discuss Liam here because he already had his Monday. Today’s all about Cole. Cole has this bad boy/tough guy exterior but he truly only cares about two things: keeping his little brother safe and finding a cure for IAAN, the disease that gave kids powers.

This post is going to be spoiler free so I won’t go into all the wonderful things Cole does in the trilogy and just how amazing he is but I will say that at first I was weary of Cole. I wasn’t sure if we could trust him or not mostly because he was such a wild card. Even so, one can tell from his actions that he has the best intentions and just wants to do what he believes is right, any way he can.

Also, side note, did anyone else, just for a second, kind of like him with Ruby. Just for a second! No, just me? Okay that’s fine. Anyway, Cole is awesome and I might dare say my favorite Stewart (although Liam comes in a very very close second). His sass and smirk are great and he has a heart of gold. I’d reread the trilogy just for him (well, the last two books anyway).

“You gotta stand up and walk, Gem. You have to walk out of here. Not just for them, but for yourself. Come on. You have to walk out of here on your own two feet. – Cole Stewart, In the Afterlight

POLL: Do you have to finish every book?

Posted on June 19, 2015June 18, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

There are two kinds of book lovers in the world: those who have to finish a book they start and those who refuse to read books they don’t like. Where do you stand? If you start a book do you have to finish it or are you willing to stop reading a book if you don’t like it? I used to be Team “I Won’t Stop Reading ‘Til This Book Is Done” but then I read a book I hated and stopped probably a third of the way through.

Cast your vote in the poll below and sound off in the comments why you have to finish every book you read or why you don’t.

Results of last week’s poll:

Twilight or Fifty Shades?

In a surprising twist (honestly I was expecting neither to be the winner) Twilight came out on top with 60% of the votes. I guess after all these years the Twihards still show out when it counts.

Book Review: Something True

Posted on June 18, 2015June 17, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Will the love of her life distract True from reuniting with…the love of her life? Find out in the third book in Kieran Scott’s delightful series that blends ancient mythology with contemporary romance.

True Olympia is in the home stretch. After being banished to Earth without her powers as punishment for falling in love with a mortal, True was tasked with matching three couples before she could return home. Now, with two couples fully in love, she is ready for her time in New Jersey to come to an end.

But as easy as it should be to match one more couple, things are complicated by her immortal love Orion (who also appeared on Earth, just without the memory of their love). He’s dating another girl, but can’t seem to avoid spending time with True. Something about her finally seems familiar to him. But if True wants to get back with Orion for real, she needs to focus. Just one more couple, one more couple…

After not being very impressed with Complete Nothing I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed this book. As the last book in the True Love trilogy this book tied up every lose end in a really nice way. I’m not saying this was the next great American novel or anything but it was a nice fun read, especially after just finishing Gone Girl.

Following the same outline as the last two books, Something True follows True trying to match her last couple. One small difference, however, was rather than show True and the two people she’s trying to set up point of views this novel showed True, Orion, and Darla, Orion’s girlfriend’s, point of views. This set up makes sense for the story since these are really the three main characters of this book but it is worth pointing out that this book went a little off script.

The appearance of Orion in True’s mortal world is definitely both a positive and negative for True. Add in Artemis and Apollo as mortals and True finds herself in some very sticky situations. Having to juggle her love for Orion while watching him date another girl and try to make sure her last couple gets together before it’s too late is a lot for one goddess to handle.

But that’s what makes this book so fun. There was so much drama, so much love, and so many moments that made my heart swoon. It was a cheesy, fun, romantic novel that I will probably reread when I want to believe in love again. A great end to a trilogy.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! This may seem strange after I said to just borrow Complete Nothing because who buys one book in a trilogy? However, I stand by both of my choices and honestly I think you can read these books as stand alone’s so you don’t really need all three. And this one is definitely my favorite of the trilogy.

Favorite Line:

This was it. This was where I was supposed to be.

Stars:

Woman Crush Wednesday: Allison “Allie” Sekemoto

Posted on June 17, 2015June 16, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Allie is my girl. She’s a boss from start to finish (okay I haven’t read the last book yet but I believe she’ll be a boss until the very end).

Allie Sekemoto starts The Immortal Rules trilogy as a human that refuses to give herself over to the vampires as a “blood slave” and runs with a human gang just to stay alive. She’s brave and probably too fearless for her own good but that’s what makes her great.

She’s also fiercely loyal and will go above and beyond to protect her friends. What I love most about Allie is her morals. When she becomes a vampire (seriously this isn’t a spoiler, relax) she works extra hard not to become a monster. She resists killing people and hates having to drink blood from people. She’s kind of like Edward Cullen but way less self righteous and much more likable.

As far as vamps go Allie is definitely one of my top three in any vampire series I’ve ever read (and I’ve read plenty). She’s definitely a crush worth having.

I was a monster who killed and preyed on human life; I could never escape that, but at least I could choose what kind of lives I took. – The Eternity Cure

Book Review: Gone Girl

Posted on June 16, 2015June 15, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Gillian-Flynn.com:

Marriage can be a real killer. One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn, takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. As The Washington Post proclaimed, her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit with deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Employing her trademark razor-sharp writing and assured psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

This book was crazier than I expected it to be, which is saying a lot because I thought it was going to be crazy. I heard from multiple people that I needed to read this book and that I “wasn’t ready.” They were all right. I was not prepared for this.

I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone because this is a book that just shouldn’t be spoiled. What I will say is both Nick and his wife Amy are very interesting characters. I liked the use of both of their point of views and how the book was split into three different parts.

Gillian Flynn did an excellent job of keeping the suspense throughout the whole book. I wasn’t sure who to believe or who to trust. I wasn’t sure if Amy was dead, if Nick had killed her, or if something entirely different was happening. I’ve read a few mysteries/suspense novels in the past and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that caught me as off guard as this book did. I wasn’t expecting any of the twists and certainly was not expecting the ending.

I haven’t watched the movie just because I felt like I needed some time to recover from the book before I tried to actually watch this book come to life. Even so, I’m excited to watch it and see how they take the book to film because the way the book is set up I think it is crucial to the plot development.

If you haven’t had a chance to read this bestseller yet please make the time. You won’t regret it.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! Once you finish it you’ll want to go back and look for clues. The library already took my copy back and I’m upset. Don’t make my mistake.

Favorite Line:

There’s a difference between really loving someone and loving the idea of her.

Stars: 5 out of 5. The book was brilliant. The ending was perplexing but I still liked it.

Other Reviews

The Book Smugglers

Girl with her Head in a Book

Dear Author

Man Crush Monday: Ezekiel “Zeke” Crosse

Posted on June 15, 2015June 14, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Zeke is perhaps my favorite character in The Immortal Rules trilogy, which says a lot because I love most of the characters. What makes Zeke so loveable is his ability to see the best in people and have a heart of gold despite all the terrible things that are happening in his world.

Growing up in the midst of a vampire apocalypse, where humans are used as blood bags and any human that resists is left to die or survive on their own, Zeke somehow remains positive. He still believes in this place called Eden (yes, like the Garden of Eden but modernized) that will be a safe space for all humans despite everything that’s telling him no such place really exists.

Moreover, although Zeke has a positive outlook he’s not stupid or naive. He knows how to fight and take care of himself and the people he cares about. He doesn’t back down from a challenge and takes betrayal very seriously. Don’t mess with Zeke or his friends. Period.

Zeke is basically a tough guy trapped in a nice guy’s body and it works for him very well. He’s a swoon worthy character and I wish more people knew about him. If you haven’t read Julie Kagawa’s The Immortal Rules yet please do yourself a favor and add it to your “To-Be-Read” stack. You won’t regret it.

For the rest of my existence, if I lived to see the end of this world, there would never be another Ezekiel Crosse. There would never be another soul as bright as his. And that both terrified me and made me savagely – and maybe selfishly – determined to keep him. Zeke was mine now. Forever. – The Eternity Cure

POLL: Twilight or Fifty Shades?

Posted on June 12, 2015June 18, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Two of the most talked about and debated series of books are the Twilight series and the Fifty Shades trilogy. Some even argue Fifty Shades is just the Twilight for adults (i.e. an abusive boyfriend taken to adult circumstances). However, despite the incredible amount of backlash both series got they still sold amazing well and have an outpouring of fans, both teen and adult alike.

So if you had to choose which is actually better (yes I said better not worse). Consider this a “lesser of two evils” poll. Are you more of a Twihard or a Grey? Vote below.

Results of last weeks polls:

What’s the Best Vampire Series? Vampire Academy – 100%

Who’s the Best Dystopian Heroine? Katniss Everdeen – 33.33%

Where’s the best reading spot? Anywhere as long as there’s a book in my hand – 35.71%

TBT: The Private Series

Posted on June 11, 2015June 10, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

First book published (Private): July 1, 2006

Last book published (Vengeance): August 30, 2011

Written by: Kate Brian (Kieran Scott)

Total number of books: 14 plus two prequels and a spin off series

It feels like ages ago when I was obsessed with this series. Honestly, I don’t remember what drew me in specifically. Was it the idea of a secret society within this posh boarding school? Or the typical outsider trying to make her way into the inner circle aspect? Or maybe it was the murder mystery side of things? Most likely it was for all these reasons.

The series follows new girl, Reed Brennan, as she enters into the Billings house, an all girls house at the posh boarding school Reed now attends on scholarship. Thrown into a life of the rich and somewhat famous Reed is forced to go through initiation as she struggles to become a Billings girl. Of course, being a Billings girl comes with multiple challenges and rules that make Reed question if being a Billings girl is really worth it. Filled with girl drama, boy drama, love triangles, a lot of lies, and murder, this series will suck you in and refuse to spit you out until you’ve read every book.

Off the top of my head I can’t even say I truly remember how this series ended but I do know at some point in my life I owned every single one of these books, including the prequels and a good portion of the spin off (which I loved even more than the original series, to be honest). However, I do remember that although I felt the series went off the rails a little bit as it went on I did like how it all came to an end. I believe everyone got the ending they deserved and I was satisfied with it.

This series is definitely a throwback I’d love to revisit. Although I remember the main plot points there’s so much I’m kind of fuzzy on and would like to remember. Plus it’s always interesting to reread a mystery once you know the truth. And I first fell in love with Ms. Scott’s writing style with this series (although I didn’t know at the time it was Scott that wrote these novels).

The Private series is still one of my favorite series written and if you haven’t given them a chance yet you definitely should. They’re really short and easy reads and perfect for the beach. Enjoy!