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ira_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warning: Ableist language, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Verbal abuse, Child abuse and neglect, Blood and gore depiction, Physical injuries, Dead bodies, Grief depiction, Death of a mother, Death of a father, Death of a child, Death of a friend, Death of a cousin, Murder and attempted murder, Torture, Imprisonment and captivity, Blackmail, Kidnapping, War themes discussed, Animal death, Hunting
Overall Rating: 50000000/5
World: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.”
What I loved:
There’s not one thing in this series that I didn’t love but I guess I can list some stuff out if you want.
- Altair
- Nasir
- Zafira
- Every single protagonist in this freaking book
- Enemies to lovers but it’s not toxic
- Amazing, tragic backstories
- Beautiful, descriptive, emotional writing.
- Did I say Altair already?
“Men are like fish,” Kifah said, the break in her voice giving away her unease.
“Shiny, and of little brain?” Zafira replied.”
Synopsis:
Zafira is a peasant living in a village in Demenhur, a land filled with snow and poverty. To provide for her village, she disguises herself as a man and hunts from the Arz, a deadly forest filled with mysterious creatures.
Nasir, on the other hand, is the prince of Death, an assassin for his father, the Sultan.
Both are sent to the Arz, Zafira to hunt for the prized possession that could bring magic to the Arawiya again, and Nasir to assassinate Zafira as soon as she finds it.
“If you want me obedient, prince, kill me and carry my corpse.”
World-building:
This book is set in a fictional land called Arawiya which is both complex, but easy to understand atthe same time. Each kingdom makes sense, and isn’t just there to make the book look more fancy. If anything’s complicated, it’s the history behind these lands, not the lands themselves. There is a ton of worldbuilding and storytelling in the first ⅓ of We Hunt the Flame, but it’s so worth it.
“He was a mess of scars like the sky was a mess of stars.”
Characters:
These books’ found family is elite. Elite, I tell you. Kifah, Benyamin, Altair, Nasir, Zafira, and so many others all crawl their way up into your heart. And in a dangerous journey like theirs, I found myself fearing for every single one of them.
What I loved a lot was how Altair and Nasir were complete opposites. One, was a tortured, abused, Prince of Death, whose values and morals had been twisted by his father. Altair was a carefree, funny character that starkly contrasted Nasir. Being a duo in both books, they’re differences and similarities become more and more obvious especially in the second book and it’s fascinating to see them grow together.
Zafira’s character development in this series was very admirable. Her development was a rollercoaster, it fluctuated and it followed a realistic timeline. She didn’t become the hero that she was meant to be by the end of the first book. She had ups and downs, and went through many struggles before she was confident in herself.
“He didn't live. He existed. And no one understood the difference between the two until they ceased to live.”
Plot:
I don’t know how to describe the plot in a way that it deserves. The plot of these two books was so well thought out, it was intricate, it was complicated, it was everything you would expect from a high fantasy. The magic system was so simple but complicated, and I was constantly waiting for the next big thing to happen. Sometimes some fantasy books get so lost in the characters’ stories and the world that they’re building that they completely forget to make a substantial plot. This results in a very methodical, formulaic, boring plot. The Sands of Arawiya duology managed to make a plot of great substance and connected the world, character stories, and the plot.
“If I hurt her, I will bring every weapon at my disposal and lay them at your feet for you to do to me what you will. If I hurt her, I will no sooner carve out my own heart then dare draw breath again.”
Final thoughts:
This series made me cry because of how beautiful and emotional the writing was. Everything about this book was beautiful and amazing and I will recommend this series to anyone who can stand the initial worldbuilding. The romance, the found family, the world, the magic system, everything was absolutely perfect and now I have to decide if this or Six of Crows is my favorite high fantasy. This was one of the books that I was sad to end because I didn’t want to be taken away from the characters’ stories. There’s something for everyone in this series. Found family, romance, intricate world, intricate plot, amazing side characters, character development, the list goes on and one. This was an unforgettable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Gore, Grief, Death of parent, Child abuse, Bullying, and Animal death
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, and Death
leahsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m typically the kind of reader who devours books in a ridiculously short period of time. But I just couldn’t do that with this book. It demanded to be slowly savored, rolling each word, sentence, paragraph around on my tongue like the most expensive chocolate. And by the time I finished, I was absolutely floored by Hafsah Faizal’s immense gift with words. This book is absolutely magical, and there wasn’t a single thing that I didn’t love about it. So let me count the ways I love thee:
The writing is so beautiful. Hafsah is like a miragi herself, weaving words together to create the most vivid pictures. I could visualize every single step the zumra took, and I loved reading every single word.
“Like a veil from a crown, the sheerest silver gossamer fell over the low and ample bed, another arch at its fore, recessed and ornate. The sheets were made of starlight and dreams, darkness plentiful despite the fold of the afternoon stretching shapely rays through the decadent mashrabiya.”
The found family trope. This is one of my favorite tropes when it’s done well, and this was *chef’s kiss.* Like, peak found family trope. Most of the zumra didn’t know each other before setting out on their journey, but in this book, they’re absolutely amazing. Each member brings their own strengths and weaknesses, and they complement each other perfectly. The interactions between them were hilarious at times, and I loved seeing different sides of them.
“Sharr had bound them in a way not unlike her bond with the Jawarat: They were tethered more tightly than even family and lifelong friends could be. Circumstances had brought them together, and the wounds of the island still haunted them, clutching them in an iron fist.”
The slow-burn romance between Zafira and Nasir had me all up in my emotions. I loved how they engaged with each other, with each one filling the gaps the other had. Zafira was learning how to become softer and rely on others, and Nasir was learning how to manage emotions at all, after so many years of abuse and not having the luxury of experiencing emotions. But I absolutely loved this interaction:
“‘It’s beautiful,’ she murmured, and standing here beside her, he agreed. The moon crowned her in starlight and cloaked her in magic. The stars faded in envy of her radiance. There truly was nothing—no one—more beautiful.”
There was so. much. action. I had no idea what was going to happen next, and there were so many plot twists that I never saw coming. I was on the edge of my seat for literally the entire time that I was reading the book, with the crew trying to use the hearts to restore magic, fight against the Lion, rescue Altair, control their abilities, manage emotions, and navigate their new circumstances. In addition, old characters come back into the picture and Zafira has to fight against the influence of the Jawarat. In short, there was so much going on that I was always on the edge of my seat. This is one of those rare books that has no boring parts.
“Lana didn’t know about the Jawarat’s vision and the force of Zafira’s newfound rage. About how it seemed to be draining the good out of her, leaving only the vilest paths to follow.”
If you haven’t read this series, you are certainly missing out. Because this is amazing and Hafsah Faizal is one of the most talented authors I’ve ever read. Her ability to incorporate her culture into the story was wonderful, and I finished this series feeling as though I learned so much in addition to being entertained and taken on an incredible journey. I can’t wait to get my hands on her next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Confinement, Gore, and Torture
megthepoet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Torture
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
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