I finished All That Is Ours by Naadhira Zahari in December 2025 and honestly? It left me speechless. The story is set in a dystopian society that survived a war which demolished most of the world. We are on a ride with Aeni, Nihal, Faye, and Indra when one crazy thing happens without warning, sending them on a mission to save their loved ones.
- The world building doesn’t rely on an extravagant concept, but the author reveals the country to us in stages. With a very strict set of rules and regulations (geography, transportation, clothes, food rations, the academy, workforce), I already had visions of the intense atmosphere by page 6 and I didn't feel good about it! I loved how the author mentioned local delicacies, though... it made me so hungry! 🤭
- The characters are typical YA, I must say. They stubbornly bicker most of the time over minor and major issues. At some points, I felt like shutting them up with plasters! 🤣 However, deep down I thought, 'Well, at least there is communication and they know exactly what each other feels and thinks!' I loved seeing them use trial and error with their bonds, giving in when they needed to, and moving on. Their growth is what mattered most to me.
All in all, I feel that the title All That Is Ours really fits the storyline. Throughout the journey, Aeni and her friends discover their country in ways they never have before. It makes you think on the characters' behalf like, we’re teens now, but what about our future? How much of our belongings do we actually own, and what do we even inherit from the work we’ve put into this land?