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A review by phidelia
Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
Don't read the ENTIRE synopsis of this book, it gives away too much to the reader.
It feels very hard to review this book because there are a huge number of ways to look at this story, and I've so many contradicting thoughts about it as well.
Characters (3.5/5)
✅ Authentic representation - I think it does do a good job of representing how helpless it can feel for such a young girl in the face of such overwhelming sexism and patriarchy.
⛔FMC sometimes feels like she's way too naïve and poorly drawn for her age, but if thought in a broad perspective, she does represent innocence of a young girl and a hope that things will get better.
❌Saif (our FMC's "hero") especially felt under-developed. He just wanted to be with the FMC. He served nothing but the purpose of being a medium to propagate the message of this book.
Content warnings: (view spoiler)
Plot & Premise (3/5)
✅ Fast-Paced (Short book & chapter length) - Given the premise of the book, I'd definitely appreciate a little more depth.
✅ So, so many feels (Utter despair, Rage, Acceptance, Faith, Happiness) - Not an easy book to read, surely.
✅ A lot of cultures, religions, & other ethnicities have very similar, sometimes worse customs, practices & beliefs - as mentioned in the author's note. The representation is appreciated, well-received & relatable, I think. It's the people and society (of which the parents are part of) to blame who do this to their children, not particularly the religion, ethnicity, culture, etc. is to blame.
✅ Love how the title could be seen from utterly two opposite perspectives
⛔ Typical, yet somehow meaningful - I wish the FMC fought harder, sometimes it feels like the FMC a weak character, resigned to her status until the hero swoops in to save her.
❌Ending- Underwhelming, rushed.
It feels very hard to review this book because there are a huge number of ways to look at this story, and I've so many contradicting thoughts about it as well.
Characters (3.5/5)
✅ Authentic representation - I think it does do a good job of representing how helpless it can feel for such a young girl in the face of such overwhelming sexism and patriarchy.
⛔FMC sometimes feels like she's way too naïve and poorly drawn for her age, but if thought in a broad perspective, she does represent innocence of a young girl and a hope that things will get better.
❌Saif (our FMC's "hero") especially felt under-developed. He just wanted to be with the FMC. He served nothing but the purpose of being a medium to propagate the message of this book.
Content warnings: (view spoiler)
Plot & Premise (3/5)
✅ Fast-Paced (Short book & chapter length) - Given the premise of the book, I'd definitely appreciate a little more depth.
✅ So, so many feels (Utter despair, Rage, Acceptance, Faith, Happiness) - Not an easy book to read, surely.
✅ A lot of cultures, religions, & other ethnicities have very similar, sometimes worse customs, practices & beliefs - as mentioned in the author's note. The representation is appreciated, well-received & relatable, I think. It's the people and society (of which the parents are part of) to blame who do this to their children, not particularly the religion, ethnicity, culture, etc. is to blame.
✅ Love how the title could be seen from utterly two opposite perspectives
⛔ Typical, yet somehow meaningful - I wish the FMC fought harder, sometimes it feels like the FMC a weak character, resigned to her status until the hero swoops in to save her.
❌Ending- Underwhelming, rushed.