BOOK REVIEW: Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini

Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini

A book review by Mina

Sea Prayer is a short, illustrated story book in response to the current events regarding
refugee crises. It is written from a father to his son in the form of a letter before the beginning of
their journey. The boy’s father reflects on the journal that befalls them and describes Homs,
Syria, before the war into a deadly war zone. This story book is inspired by Alan Kurdi, a
three-year-old Syrian boy, whose body washes up on the beach in September 2015.

Sea Prayer is absolutely beautiful. The message and the impact of the story book
narrative is completely powerful and reminiscent, especially with recent current events. I’ve read
all of Khaled Hosseini’s books, and they’ve all been beautifully written, but I love the narrative
and the format Hosseini chose for Sea Prayer. This book is a different route that Hosseini
typically takes: it’s much shorter than his other publications and it’s illustrated. While short, this
book impactfully shows readers the evil of war, especially for young children who are innocents
within wars. Using a story book narrative makes it almost nostalgic for adults, especially when it
is marketed to adult readers, who grow up with picture books and seeing war illustrated makes
readers understand that war is not escapable for young children. Additionally, the watercolor
illustrations fit well with the narrative; it gives the book a dreamlike quality which contradicts
the horror of the message. While short, I found this to be one of my favorite reads for 2024. It
was short and simple but left a beautiful, lasting impression. It allows readers to truly reflect and
become sensitive to recent events.

Put Sea Prayer on hold today

Books similar to Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini:

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hossein

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New Digital Items-February 2025

Available on Libby or Sunflower elibrary!

After Life Gayle Forman, Gail Shalan, Jade Wheeler, et. al. Audiobook
The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting Natalie C. Parker, Jeremy Carlisle Parker Audiobook
Bemused Farrah Rochon, Joniece Abbot-Pratt Audiobook
Brewed with Love Shelly Page, Sandra Okuboyejo Audiobook
Honeysuckle and Bone Trisha Tobias, Laura Edwards Audiobook
I Am Not Jessica Chen Ann Liang, Katharine Chin Audiobook
It’s a Love/Skate Relationship Carli J. Corson, Gail Shalan Audiobook
The Kingmaker’s Daughter Philippa Gregory, Bianca Amato Audiobook
The Lady of the Rivers Philippa Gregory, Bianca Amato Audiobook
Lessons at the School by the Sea Jenny Colgan, Alex Tregear Audiobook
Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue Kate Pearsall, Julie Webster Audiobook
Mystery Royale Kaitlyn Cavalancia, James Babson, Emily O’Brien Audiobook
Of Mountains and Seas Emily Renk Hawthorne, Natalie Naudus Audiobook
The Queen’s Spade Sarah Raughley, Anniwaa Buachie Audiobook
The Red Queen: A Novel (unabridged) Philippa Gregory, Bianca Amato Audiobook
Welcome to the School by the Sea Jenny Colgan, Jilly Bond Audiobook
Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!: A Novel (unabridged) Fannie Flagg, Kate Reading Audiobook
The White Princess Philippa Gregory, Bianca Amato Audiobook
The White Queen Philippa Gregory, Susan Lyons Audiobook
About the Boy Leah Nicole Whitcomb eBook
After Life Gayle Forman eBook
The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting Natalie C. Parker eBook
Bemused Farrah Rochon eBook
Bingsu for Two Sujin Witherspoon eBook
Brewed with Love Shelly Page eBook
First Love Language Stefany Valentine eBook
Honeysuckle and Bone Trisha Tobias eBook
I Am Not Jessica Chen Ann Liang eBook
It’s a Love/Skate Relationship Carli J. Corson eBook
Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue Kate Pearsall eBook
Mystery Royale Kaitlyn Cavalancia eBook
Of Mountains and Seas Emily Renk Hawthorne eBook
The Queen’s Spade Sarah Raughley eBook
A Traitorous Heart Erin Cotter eBook
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BOOK REVIEW: Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

A book review by Mina

Ruthless Vows follows the events of the first book, Divine Rivals, and is the last book in
the Letters of Enchantment Duology. Two weeks have passed since Iris has returned home from
the front. Roman is missing and Oath, the city, continues to support Dacre in the war between
gods. When Iris and Attie are given the opportunity to spy on Dacre’s whereabouts, they both
take the opportunity, knowing the risks. Roman, on the other hand, wakes in Dacre’s realm with
memory loss. All he is told to do is to write articles for Dacre, but a letter arrives by wardrobe
door. Initially suspicious, he strikes up a response. As Roman and the other writer continue to
correspond, Roman has to make a choice on whether Dacre is the right side of the war.
Having waited a year for the second book to come out, I found that Ross did a great job
of reminding her readers where her book left off. I quickly picked up the plot, even though her
world-building is a tad intricate. Initially starting out as an academic-rivals-to-lovers, I found
Iris’s and Roman’s romance to be well-developed. Ross left it off at a good point in the first book
to be able to further develop their relationship without their romance moving too fast. The
romance was gradual and well-paced. I found their love to be tender and unwavering. Besides
the romance, I found the book to be pretty well-paced until the very end. The pacing is very even
and moved very gradually with the books being pretty action-packed. The world building was
amazing and simple; it didn’t need to be overcomplicated to be magical. The magical and fantasy
aspects were focused more on the second and the first, and I enjoyed that angle, especially since
the first book was a build-up to the second one. Additionally, I loved that this series was only
two books; it was the perfect amount for the plot and the necessary character development. My
only qualms with this book were towards the end, the plot was a little messy with a lot of luck. I
found the ending to be a little anticlimactic with some wasted potential. Overall, I found this
series to be an easy read with very lovely characters. I fell in love with world-building and found
it enjoyable to pick up the second book. I would recommend this book for readers who want
fantasy read with light world-building with a romance-centered read. This book is magical and
beautiful. This book reaches a wide variety of audiences!

Put Ruthless Vows on hold today!

Books similar to Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michell Hodkin

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