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niclantsov's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Two words: Nasir Ghameq
Where should I start? Honestly I couldn't put my words into it.
The sequel was by far better than the first one, the story progressively getting interesting and the characters really do have a special place in my heart. I always love a founding family trope and this one nailed it perfectly, you've got the banter, the romance, the emotional impact (parfait *chef's kiss), and everything you could've hoped for in a founding family book.
The characters flaws and fears really showcased in this book, and it was really moving to read. Especially Nasir, for he was still haunted by his father's shadow. And of course Zafira and the uncertainty of her future, she no longer become the huntress because the whimsical forest that made her her is gone. So, throughout the book we follow their characters complexity. Then ending was what I would hope for and better.
"Did the stars fall from the sky to adorn you in their luster? No–liquid silver. You are the well that forged every blade in the world"
It has been so long since I felt this way, I thought romance's dead, but it rekindled when I read this. You see, after reading Romantasy (and the rise of the Romantasy wave)I feel that I never would experience a fantasy book with just having romance as a subplot again, and for a moment I forgot why I fell in love with fantasy genre in the first place. It's like after reading tons of Romantasy it just overwhelms you, you know, and it somehow made my reading experience lessen (especially in fantasy genre). Hence I seek the oldest book on my TBR, and this was it, and I fell in love with fantasy again. This has a minute (my-NOOT) romance element but in an old fashion slow burn way, and that made it really good.
This has the slowest of the slowest slow burn, I mean the angst and the yearning was so so good. And also I love the fact that this is not as a forced proximity as the first book, it came naturally. I lost count on how many times Nasir Bloody Ghameq made me blush, I felt like an idiot.
It's is also beautifully, lyrically, poetically written. Well done Hafsah Faizal, can't wait to read Tempest of Tea now!!
Where should I start? Honestly I couldn't put my words into it.
The sequel was by far better than the first one, the story progressively getting interesting and the characters really do have a special place in my heart. I always love a founding family trope and this one nailed it perfectly, you've got the banter, the romance, the emotional impact (parfait *chef's kiss), and everything you could've hoped for in a founding family book.
The characters flaws and fears really showcased in this book, and it was really moving to read. Especially Nasir, for he was still haunted by his father's shadow. And of course Zafira and the uncertainty of her future, she no longer become the huntress because the whimsical forest that made her her is gone. So, throughout the book we follow their characters complexity. Then ending was what I would hope for and better.
"Did the stars fall from the sky to adorn you in their luster? No–liquid silver. You are the well that forged every blade in the world"
It has been so long since I felt this way, I thought romance's dead, but it rekindled when I read this. You see, after reading Romantasy (and the rise of the Romantasy wave)I feel that I never would experience a fantasy book with just having romance as a subplot again, and for a moment I forgot why I fell in love with fantasy genre in the first place. It's like after reading tons of Romantasy it just overwhelms you, you know, and it somehow made my reading experience lessen (especially in fantasy genre). Hence I seek the oldest book on my TBR, and this was it, and I fell in love with fantasy again. This has a minute (my-NOOT) romance element but in an old fashion slow burn way, and that made it really good.
This has the slowest of the slowest slow burn, I mean the angst and the yearning was so so good. And also I love the fact that this is not as a forced proximity as the first book, it came naturally. I lost count on how many times Nasir Bloody Ghameq made me blush, I felt like an idiot.
It's is also beautifully, lyrically, poetically written. Well done Hafsah Faizal, can't wait to read Tempest of Tea now!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
camiclarkbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Exquisitely written book, Hafsah Faizal has true talent.
On an unrelated note, there were a lot of instances where a character gave a two finger salute and jogged backwards. Which seems very specific to me.
On an unrelated note, there were a lot of instances where a character gave a two finger salute and jogged backwards. Which seems very specific to me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content, Blood, Abandonment, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
aas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Torture, Medical content, War, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
slow-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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, blood, oppression of women, death of a parent, abuse (physical and emotional), death
We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal is book two in the Sands of Arawiya duology. Lately, I've been disappointed by the second book of a duology, but not with this one! I will say it was a bit long and slow paced, but it was worth it for the ending our zumra got. Warning for potential We Hunt the Flame spoilers.
We follow up with the zumra after their escape from Sharr with the hearts only to realize they left Altair and one of the hearts behind. We see the consequences and struggle of Zafira after unwittingly binding herself to the Jawarat, a semi sentient magical book. The Jawarat is all chaos, darkness, and violence from it's time on Sharr, and tries controlling Zafira. A good chunk of this story is Zafira having an identity crisis, since without the Arz, she is no longer needed as the Hunter.
Nasir gets so much character growth! My grumpy, dark, abused boy is learning to feel his feelings and learning to let the zumra love him. I love his dynamic with Altair. They truly are two sides of a coin, darkness and light. We finally get povs from Altair! This guy would be fantastic at chess. He is ten steps ahead of everyone, which makes him seem like he's not always on the zumra's side. I love the twist between him and the Lion of the Night. Such layers. We even learn a bit of the Lion's backstory which gives us insight to why he seems revenge. It doesn't soften him as a villain, but does give motivation.
Lana, Zafira's little sister becomes a little healing badass, and we learn that Kifah is aroace! I do wish we had gotten to see more of the magic of the people and not just the Lion of the Night's. We do learn more about ifritkind, and we get messages about how oppression can make villains of the best of us. Nasir learns that he doesn't always have to kill to succeed.
As I said before, I do wish it hadn't been so slow at the beginning, but like book one, it really picks up in the last third. The ending was very satisfying, so I could finally stop yelling "just kiss already!" At Zafira and Nasir. Faizal's writing is so beautiful. Definitely worth the read.
We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal is book two in the Sands of Arawiya duology. Lately, I've been disappointed by the second book of a duology, but not with this one! I will say it was a bit long and slow paced, but it was worth it for the ending our zumra got. Warning for potential We Hunt the Flame spoilers.
We follow up with the zumra after their escape from Sharr with the hearts only to realize they left Altair and one of the hearts behind. We see the consequences and struggle of Zafira after unwittingly binding herself to the Jawarat, a semi sentient magical book. The Jawarat is all chaos, darkness, and violence from it's time on Sharr, and tries controlling Zafira. A good chunk of this story is Zafira having an identity crisis, since without the Arz, she is no longer needed as the Hunter.
Nasir gets so much character growth! My grumpy, dark, abused boy is learning to feel his feelings and learning to let the zumra love him. I love his dynamic with Altair. They truly are two sides of a coin, darkness and light. We finally get povs from Altair! This guy would be fantastic at chess. He is ten steps ahead of everyone, which makes him seem like he's not always on the zumra's side. I love the twist between him and the Lion of the Night. Such layers. We even learn a bit of the Lion's backstory which gives us insight to why he seems revenge. It doesn't soften him as a villain, but does give motivation.
Lana, Zafira's little sister becomes a little healing badass, and we learn that Kifah is aroace! I do wish we had gotten to see more of the magic of the people and not just the Lion of the Night's. We do learn more about ifritkind, and we get messages about how oppression can make villains of the best of us. Nasir learns that he doesn't always have to kill to succeed.
As I said before, I do wish it hadn't been so slow at the beginning, but like book one, it really picks up in the last third. The ending was very satisfying, so I could finally stop yelling "just kiss already!" At Zafira and Nasir. Faizal's writing is so beautiful. Definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Misogyny, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
julierambaeck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
I feel like this was 5 books in one. So much happened, and at times I got extremely confused.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Torture and Fire/Fire injury
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
I liked this, wished that I loved it. I think that the characters were very lovable, I really like the core romance and the friendships from the first book. The descriptions still were great, drop you right into the world.
But, this was very slow, it meanders for the better part of the first half. The second half redeems the book for me, at least, in terms of actually getting on with the plot.
If you want a good slow burn fantasy-romance with cool world building based on Arabian legends, this duology would be a good one to try!
But, this was very slow, it meanders for the better part of the first half. The second half redeems the book for me, at least, in terms of actually getting on with the plot.
If you want a good slow burn fantasy-romance with cool world building based on Arabian legends, this duology would be a good one to try!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
sammuraichan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, and Sexism
Minor: War and Xenophobia
joensign's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Confinement, Sexism, and Misogyny
tinysierra's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hafsah Faizal said, “here, you can have pain and suffering at every corner.” She took us for a ride with this one.
Did someone order slow burn?
It’s not my favorite trope personally, but there was no denying it was really well done.
Faizal writes such strong romantic and platonic bonds between characters. The way she writes about love… Whew. So many quotable moments. Also… casual aromantic representation in fantasy? Yes, please.
Again, I love all the characters. The zurma. Altair truly is the embodiment of sunshine. I laughed out loud so much at all their banter.
I think to truly appreciate this book in full, I’ll need to reread it after I’ve processed all that happened. It was good. I’m glad it was a duology instead of a trilogy.
Did someone order slow burn?
It’s not my favorite trope personally, but there was no denying it was really well done.
Faizal writes such strong romantic and platonic bonds between characters. The way she writes about love… Whew. So many quotable moments. Also… casual aromantic representation in fantasy? Yes, please.
Again, I love all the characters. The zurma. Altair truly is the embodiment of sunshine. I laughed out loud so much at all their banter.
I think to truly appreciate this book in full, I’ll need to reread it after I’ve processed all that happened. It was good. I’m glad it was a duology instead of a trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, War, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Misogyny
aklovekorn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence