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A review by mezzythedragon
The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi
4.0
This is my first time doing audiobook, and I listened to this story in one sitting. The narration was a bit melodramatic at times, but I did swoon and cry over Samiullah’s POV.
This is not an easy book by any means. I know nothing about Afghan culture, nor the Pashtun and Hazara, so I had to stop myself from questioning the characters’ decisions, since I am not part of that culture. (Of course, abuse is never okay in any culture, and Fatima’s mother is reprehensible, not just to her but to all her children.) Also, religion is used to justify atrocities, and there were a lot here. Rashid was a hateful antagonist, and ultimately his overzealous beliefs brought him more suffering.
Still, it does follow the Romance format, but it’s an HFN. After everything that happened, that’s the best and most realistic you can hope for.
This is not an easy book by any means. I know nothing about Afghan culture, nor the Pashtun and Hazara, so I had to stop myself from questioning the characters’ decisions, since I am not part of that culture. (Of course, abuse is never okay in any culture, and Fatima’s mother is reprehensible, not just to her but to all her children.) Also, religion is used to justify atrocities, and there were a lot here. Rashid was a hateful antagonist, and ultimately his overzealous beliefs brought him more suffering.
Still, it does follow the Romance format, but it’s an HFN. After everything that happened, that’s the best and most realistic you can hope for.