Sanam Asif's Blog

For a long time, I had been putting off reading Darling Venom by Parker S. Huntington, since its release in 2021. I had heard many great things about it, but I was scared of what I might find within its pages. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to handle the raw emotions and pain that it held. But this Monday, I finally took the plunge and started reading it. 

From the very first page, I was hooked. I read this book in three days (had to take breaks to breathe), and when I finished, I felt like someone had taken my heart out of my chest and squeezed it. 

The story starts with Charlie (Charlotte) as a teenager, and how one night she meets Kellan on the roof of their school. Under any other circumstances, these two would not have even spoken to each other, but that night, they did. They made a promise to each other, and both of them held on to that promise for three years. But in the fourth year, Kellan breaks his promise and leaves Charlie alone, leaving her to deal with the consequences and wonder what happened.

One day, Charlie meets Kellan’s older brother, Tate, and she begins to find some of the answers she has been searching for. This book was a roller coaster of emotions, and I loved it. It gave me hope, it showed me young love, then it shattered me, then it built my hopes again and shattered them yet again. I had to take breaks while reading just to calm myself down.

I can relate to Darling Venom in so many ways. In the past I have struggled with depression and self harm and could somewhat relate to Kellen but seeing how it made Charlie and Tate feel, I understood what others around the depressed person go through.

Darling Venom, is a book about best friends, enemies to lovers, and slow burn love. It’s a story of family, addiction, redemption, forgiveness, grief, and strength. It’s a story that is both dark and heavy, yet so full of emotion that it penetrated my soul. The is full of darkness and pain, but also has hope, love, and forgiveness. It was both heart-wrenching and heartwarming, and it left me with a sense of peace.

I can guarantee that once you read Darling Venom, it will leave an imprint on your heart.

For a long time, I had been putting off reading Darling Venom by Parker S. Huntington, since its release in 2021. I had heard many great things about it, but I was scared of what I might find within its pages. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to handle the raw emotions and pain that it held. But this Monday, I finally took the plunge and started reading it.

From the very first page, I was hooked. I read this book in three days (had to take breaks to breathe), and when I finished, I felt like someone had taken my heart out of my chest and squeezed it.

The story starts with Charlie (Charlotte) as a teenager, and how one night she meets Kellan on the roof of their school. Under any other circumstances, these two would not have even spoken to each other, but that night, they did. They made a promise to each other, and both of them held on to that promise for three years. But in the fourth year, Kellan breaks his promise and leaves Charlie alone, leaving her to deal with the consequences and wonder what happened.

One day, Charlie meets Kellan’s older brother, Tate, and she begins to find some of the answers she has been searching for. This book was a roller coaster of emotions, and I loved it. It gave me hope, it showed me young love, then it shattered me, then it built my hopes again and shattered them yet again. I had to take breaks while reading just to calm myself down.

I can relate to Darling Venom in so many ways. In the past I have struggled with depression and self harm and could somewhat relate to Kellen but seeing how it made Charlie and Tate feel, I understood what others around the depressed person go through.

Darling Venom, is a book about best friends, enemies to lovers, and slow burn love. It’s a story of family, addiction, redemption, forgiveness, grief, and strength. It’s a story that is both dark and heavy, yet so full of emotion that it penetrated my soul. The is full of darkness and pain, but also has hope, love, and forgiveness. It was both heart-wrenching and heartwarming, and it left me with a sense of peace.

I can guarantee that once you read Darling Venom, it will leave an imprint on your heart.

The post Book Review: Darling Venom by Parker S. Huntington first appeared on Sanam Asif.

I read this book 2 nights ago and can say for sure this book is ONLY for people with strong stomachs and a deviant streak. Definitely not for the faint of heart. If you can’t stomach cruelty, non-consent, and the depravity of the human condition, we implore you to move on.

The plot follows a young woman named Morgana, who is lured and then kidnapped by Julian and taken to the Chateau Dahlia, his sick and twisted home where he lives with his family. Morgana is forced to participate in Julian’s sadistic games that she never imagined. The author does a great job of showing how warped and depraved Julian is and how much he brings out the inner deviant in Morgana.

However, there are times when she seems to be losing control and getting sucked into his world. This book also shows how easily someone can get wrapped up in something they shouldn’t be involved in and how easy it is to lose yourself when you’re involved with someone with no boundaries or moral compass. When I say no moral compass. I mean it… Julian is batshit crazy!

If you still wanna read this book, then I applaud your bravery! You’re in for an intense ride that will bring you to tears, make you squirm in your seat, and leave you wondering how anyone could be so cruel to another person.

This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this beautifully messed-up book had me gripped right till the very end!

The post Malice by Natalie Bennett: A Dark Twisted Romance first appeared on Sanam Asif.

I’ve always been a fan of the horror genre. I grew up watching scary movies with my siblings, and now I have a weekly tradition of watching horror movies with my kids on weekends. But recently I’ve been so disappointed by the run-of-the-mill slasher films that have come out; they seem to just be following the same formula and rehashing the same tired storylines over and over again. Take the example of Evil Dead, 2013 and the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I decided to wath these two, in the hopes that these movies would scare me enought to give me nightmares but no! I WAS BORED!

Since, I love the Conjuring, I was really excited when I got a chance to watch Malignant.

Malignant is directed by James Wan, who also directed Insidious, The Conjuring, and even Aquaman! He is my second favorite director, first being the genius Guillermo del Toro. 

The movie is about a woman named Madison who is pregnant and lives with her deadbeat husband. We learn that Madison and her husband have been trying to have childern for quiet some time but all of Madison’s pregnancies lead to miscarriages. One fine day husband and wife have a fight and the same night the husband is murdered brutally, while the attacker pushes Madison and she loses her unborn child.

After Madison returns home, strange things begin to happen around Madison. She starts to see a man in black, killing people. The visions she has are shocking.. But she can’t tell anyone.. Who would believe her? But things get complicated when she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities. In trying to discover the reality of the man in black, Madison learns a shocking and horrifying truth about her past.

Honestly, I could see the shock coming because I have read about Edward Mordake (Please if you don’t know about him, read about him after watching the movie, otherwise the fun will be ruined)

The movie looks great: the scenes are well-lit, there are lots of jump scares (which make it easy to hold your breath), and good use of lighting makes everything seem very real. The acting isn’t bad either: although most characters aren’t given much backstory or motivation (at least not until later), they still come across as believable people who could exist in real life—and who would probably be terrified if they saw some of the things we see here!

So friends, if you’re looking for a quick, fun horror fix, Malignant is the movie for you. It’s not going to scare the pants off anyone, but it will certainly make you jump once or twice. The story holds its own in this genre and has some genuinely creepy moments. If nothing else, it’s worth watching just to see if Madison (Annabelle Wallis) can escape with her life intact after that one twist at the end.

Checkout the trailer here.

The post Malignant: A Bloodfest by James Wan first appeared on Sanam Asif.

Okay, so I am an author too.. I have also have a heart… OKAY! I ALSO WANT TO INHERIT A MANSION. I also want to be STALKED BY ZADE! Bloody Henry Cavill in a hoodie! Come for me already!

So, now that the rant is over, here is the review.

I really enjoyed Haunting Adeline. It’s a dark romance with a gripping plot, and the hints of paranormal elements add to the suspense. I fell in love with Adeline and her stalker. And every time I thought that the story was going to end, it continued, and I just wanted more of it.

Zade, Zade, oh Zade! I thought Christian Allister ruined men for me, and then you came waltzing in the story! How dare you steal my heart from the first page? The teratophile in me wanted to kiss your scars and stare into your odd eyes! But, oh, Zade, I so wish you were real.

I loved him all throughout the book. He was so protective of Adeline, and he made her feel safe and secure in his arms. I loved reading about him!! (Why wasn’t I Adeline?)

The EXPLOSIVE chemistry of Addie and her stalker was palpable.

Okay, did I tell you this is a dark romance? Okay, I did.. but it’s a dark romance wrapped in a murder mystery. There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t have time to catch my breath. There were moments when I was on the edge of my seat and others when my mouth was hanging.

Things I wanted to see:

I really wanted Addie to resist Zade. (I understand Henry Cavill wearing a hood is irresistible, but she could have tried a bit).

Some grovel, maybe? Just maybe. It would have been fun.

Plot Summary:

So, I’m guessing you want to know what it’s about, huh? Well, how about I give you the short of the long and tell you that the book is about an author who moves into her Grandmothers house where she finds out that a man is stalking her. To make matters interesting, she finds some diaries belonging to her great grandmother, and guess what? She was also being stalked when she wrote those entries. So it’s like history is repeating itself!

Addie then finds out that there is more to her stalker than meets the eye, and he will take her to heights she never imagined existed.

Steam Rating: 5/5

Star Rating: 4 / 5 stars (1 star less cuz it ended on a cliffhanger, and I wanted some grovel)

Triggers: Stalking, Dark, Torture (Not on the heroine), Consensual Non-Con, Horror, Child Murder Scenes

The post Haunting Adeline: A Book Too Hot To Handle first appeared on Sanam Asif.

The imaginary friends sitting inside my head refuse to talk to me these days. Honestly, the little winter we get in Karachi makes me lazier than I actually am, and focusing on the four books I have to release in 2022 is becoming hard.

For any author with a lack of motivation and a dwindling level of productivity, it can be incredibly difficult to get back into the groove when the weather is so unfavorable, and considering I am a homebody, I am sure the lack of Vitamin D in my body is also playing a major role.

But I refuse to say “I can’t” to my story. Instead of giving up or trying too hard… I am taking a moderate approach.

Second, I am using a glitter pen to jot down ideas coming to my mind. I just like the feel of it on paper, and it makes me want to write.

I am trying to take a bath every other day and get into regular clothes, but I have been in PJ’s since 2020 March, and I do not like the feel, so I change into my worn-out T-shirt and Pajama after praying.

I am taking breaks… after writing every 500 words, I take a break and listen to some audiobook… these days, I am listening to “Tying the Scot” by Jennifer Trethewey cuz I am a sucker for historical romance and possessive heroes.

I have also installed the Live Transcribe app on my phone, and I just dictate when an idea comes to me.

Another thing I am doing is, trying to stay true to myself… I know my capacity and mood swings, so I am not forcing myself to work for a goal that would make me uncomfortable… Instead, I want to enjoy every minute of writing and creating vast fantasy worlds.

So folks, there you have it.. Some of things I am trying to get myself out the rut. It is working.. I think cuz I wrote this!

Tell me what do you guys do to overcome Writer’s block/ Procastination?

The post How I am Taming The Writer’s Block Beast This Winter or At Least Trying To first appeared on Sanam Asif.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the characters after the end of “The Exorcist”? Well, if you have, then this “The Exorcist Series” is definitely for you!

Forty-eight years ago, the cult horror classic “The Exorcist” was released. Perhaps the epitome of psychological horror, The Exorcist is considered a brilliant and well-written film. Steering clear of the clichéd use of jump-scares so prevalent in the genre, this film created an air of suspenseful terror by tapping into the audience’s deepest phobias and deepest religious beliefs. The result was a truly unsettling and convincing horror classic.

I was hesitant to embrace this series based on the reviews, but I’m glad I gave it a shot. The show is set nearly 40 years after the iconic film, and trust me; it will scare you senseless. In addition to greatness from Geena Davis and Alfonso Herrera, things get even creepier – and better – from there. The writing is tight – lines deliver, scenes move – and the set work is excellent. The director wove a powerful tapestry of a dark world bordered by a sea of wonders – a symphony of darkness and light reserved for those who can see it. Saying this, Ben Danials as Father Marcus Keane is the star of the show. His character kept me coming from more.

The story begins with a young priest, Father Ortega, the new face of the Catholic Church. Father Tomas Ortega is a progressive and compassionate priest from Mexico City and is assigned to a small parish in the suburbs of Chicago. Tomas runs a tight ship at his church, but when problems arise, he can go beyond the typical boundaries of religion to protect his flock from forces of evil while battling with his own.

We are introduced to another priest in the slums of Mexico, Father Marcus Keane, who is a complex soul. He’s a handsome man, but inside he’s a complete mess – an unfortunate combination of anguish and a strong desire to be good. He wants to do good and help, but it isn’t easy for him, with his demons following him around every step of the way.

How the paths of these two priests cross is perhaps the best part of the series.

The main story revolves around the Rance family, who have recently been through tough times. The father, Henry Rance, had an accident that has affected his memory and her daughters, Casey and Katherine. In the first episode, we learn that Katherine had been in a car accident that took her best friend from her. Angela Rance, the family’s matriarch, tries her best to keep the family together and in high spirits. However, when she sees odd things happening in her home, she consults Father Ortega and Father Marcus.
Like Friedkin’s ‘Exorcist,’ this ‘Exorcist’ captures a sense of unease about transitions, a frequent theme in horror fare. It takes its time building up the characters and the tension and then unleashes everything at once.
The essence of the series is that evil comes in many forms. From the daily struggles of a wayward priest to a family’s shocking case of demonic possession, The Exorcist delivers a compelling narrative and a spine-chilling drama that explores the battle between good and evil.

The series is available on Prime Video.

The post Picking up where The Exorcist left off, this 2014 series delivers more chilling thrills! first appeared on Sanam Asif.

Today, women all across the globe celebrate International Women’s Day. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political.
For centuries, the voice of women has been silenced. Even though times have changed still there is need to empower women because not all women have freedom and support.
There was a time when female authors had to use male pseudonyms to get their books across, while it is a matter of choice now. However, fortunately, plenty of women writers raised their voices (pens) and made themselves heard. Their words were so powerful that they shook the patriarchal literary scene.
So, this Women’s day, I bring some of the most powerful feminist quotes from books to you.

Happy Women’s Day to all you amazing ladies!

Guest Post by Sawera Dedar Every parent has a hot button. Mine was whining. When my daughter turned two, she became a connoisseur of whining. She would whine when she didn’t get a muffin for breakfast. She would whine when she did get a muffin for breakfast because it wasn’t the right shade of brown. She would whine when she didn’t have a wand. She would whine when she did have a wand because, unlike Harry Potter, she couldn’t jinx […]

The post What To Do When Your Child Whines All The Time appeared first on Sanam Asif.

Tilly is a Y.A Fantasy author best known for her action-pack adventures and dynamic character development. She retired from U.S Army as a 25U. She enjoys collecting teapots, visiting antique shops, and eating sushi. She’s joined Author House Publishing team and is working towards publishing Crossed Trilogy- werewolf/ action book. She also mentors writers across the world. She hopes with her first book, Faction of Time, she’ll be recognized and continue to inspire the young and restless readers.

When a new kid comes to town with a grisly secret, everyone’s lives turn inside out. Well not everyone; to Grumbled it just feels like it. Grumbled’s best friend, Roue, decides to be his saviour adding one more thing to Grumble’s plate. Which leads them into an action pack adventure- battling trolls, skinwalkers, dragons, and the most dangerous of all, the demonic Genjuricky.

In the meantime, he’s also dead! Shut-in Hell’s fortress, seated at a bar televising his death to a couple of drunks. He’s faced with a fate he didn’t ask for and a prophecy he wasn’t born to fulfil. An impossible choice is asked of him. Grumbled’s life is about to get way more out of control.

The question is will he succeed because being dead is the least of his worries.

The post My Favorite Indie Authors: Tilly Tiason appeared first on Sanam Asif.

It is 2020, and aside from the plague, one thing we often see on our timelines is WOMEN EMPOWERMENT. So let’s talk about the topic we Pakistani women are still not ready to talk about: Female Orgasm.

For women, orgasm is thought of as taboo and many people don’t even think it is a real thing. But it is a fact that during orgasm, our brain is working overtime to produce many different hormones and neurochemicals. One of these is dopamine, a hormone that is responsible for feelings of pleasure, desire, and motivation. And fun fact: Dopamine as a medicine can help prevent depressive-like behaviours. In simple words, DOPAMINE MAKES US HAPPY. Studies show that female orgasm and sexual pleasure has a significant effect on self-esteem and a feeling of satisfaction. It has profound impacts on our physical and mental wellbeing.

The reason why we don’t talk about the female orgasm is that it is still a taboo. It means women are still not aware of the power their bodies hold. They are still afraid to talk about it. But it is time women demand this right from their partners because every time a woman feels good, is satisfied by sex, it means she is rising against patriarchy. Because for many people, women exist simply for men’s pleasure and reproduction purposes. A woman who knows what she wants, a woman who can tell her significant others what she likes is a woman who loves herself.

To read about how Islam gives women the right to a satisfying sex life read :

A Woman’s Right to Orgasm: Feminism in the Bedroom & Sexual Liberation Through Islam Not Despite It

The post Perplexity of Pleasure appeared first on Sanam Asif.