Where No Shadow Stays

In her YA debut, Hashem delivers an engaging, cohesive, genre-blending novel, executing the concept of a monster that weaponizes isolation with clarity and mounting suspense and seamlessly incorporating Egyptian Arabic and other culturally rooted details. Mina and Jesse’s developing relationship is grounded in mutual vulnerability, bringing a warmth and romantic intimacy that effectively strikes an equilibrium with the horror elements. Mina’s struggle to belong, to understand her family’s past, and to reconcile the parts of herself shaped by two worlds gives the novel a lingering emotional depth. A gripping, atmospheric blend of supernatural terror and the aching work of reclaiming agency.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

[P]acked with witty dialogue, thrilling action scenes, gross gore, and a swoonworthy bad-boy romance. . . . The prose is snappy yet smooth, with a consistent pace full of excitement and mystery that will keep readers turning the page. This is an action- and adventure-filled horror perfect for reluctant readers and ideal for fans of Sabaa Tahir.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Hashem mixes this chilling supernatural mystery with a satisfying, slow-burn romance that adds additional stakes to Mina’s fight to survive, while developing Mina into an emotionally complex protagonist readers will genuinely fear for. The structure of the story moves through different time periods, settings, and viewpoints to slowly reveal the terrifying entity behind this generational curse. A well-earned but heartbreaking conclusion sets this tale apart from its peers.
—Booklist (starred review)

Hashem (The Jasad Heir) gifts readers a high-stakes, genuinely scary YA thriller and a delightful love story in one.
—Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Mina’s strong narrative voice is imbued with witty sarcasm and introspection, and Jesse is more than her match in clever banter. They’ve got a sparking chemistry that is sure to make romance fans swoon. . . .
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Part teen drama, part paranormal thriller and wholly entertaining, Where No Shadow Stays is a book that readers won’t be able to put down—and it might continue to creep them out after the last page has been turned.
—BookPage