Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - We Hunt the Flame

This book gave me strong high fantasy vibes. I spent the first while confused because so many names, nicknames, words, and languages were thrown at me and although I got more used to it as the book went on even by the end I was still confused. That’s on me I’m sure as the reader but I also didn’t enjoy the romance (either of them) or the characters, or the fight scenes.. I dunno this was a dark high fantasy but I didn’t connect to any of it and the constant pov change and many tiny chapters felt exhausting to me.

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nightfell's review

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adventurous dark funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4.5

Reading this book made me feel like I was going to have a heart attack in the best possible way. It is so full of life, and culture and the writing was lovely.

I enjoyed the progression of Zafira and Nasir's relationship throughout, I thought it was well done and I ship. The scenes with them fighting and her tripping him up in front of everyone, and her tending to his burn were the best scenes of the book, I loved them sm.

This book has such slow pacing, but in an entertaining way, so I didn't really mind because of the short chapters. The amount of times Zafira fainted and ran away in this book became comical. Overall, I would highly recommend, I had so much fun reading.

I was quickly attached to all the main characters and they were all written well. However, I think there is a case to be made as to Nasir's characterisation and how in some ways was very much morally ambiguous - daddy issues - mummy issues - tragic backstory - grumpy Male love interest, but at this point I've accepted it as a part of the YA genre when it comes to romance. I loved Altair's lively banter throughout,

and I didn't realise how attached I'd been to him until he was separated from the group at the end. The last few pages of the epilogue was genuinely the saddest part of the book. When he described them leaving him, and the fact that they didn't look for him broke my heart. I love him. As I read the book, I made the discovery that both Zafira and Nasir were bisexual which I thought I had concrete evidence for. Zafira's reluctance and bitterness at Yasmine's marriage was too much to justify with 'their best friends', because the way she brought it up every few pages, even about halfway through the book when Zafira was on Sharr miles away, she still was so bitter about it and every time she thought of Yasmine she would talk of her 'ethereal, perfect beauty'. The evidence is there.
Also there was a moment when Zafira met with the Silver Witch toward the beginning of the book, and before she left she randomly decided to strangle Zafira, and ??? Like ok, choke her out for no reason? This can also be considered evidence for her bisexuality, In my opinion.
Nasir on the other hand, was a sick joke. From the beginning, Hafsah Faizal created such obvious romantic tension between Nasir and Altair istg, the banter was so flirtatious, and at one point Altair even challenged Nasir to kiss him or something similar?? I even tabbed all their gay moments because I was so into it. Only for it to be revealed that they're BROTHERS. Never would I have ever expected that, and now I have to deal with the fact that I was an incest shipper/supporter. Pack it up Cassandra Clare. I'm going to need to embark on a whole healing journey before I can read the second book because wtf. And the worst part is Faizal knew what she was doing. She wanted us to ship them ISTG. And Altair knew the entire time and still flirted with his brotherrrr. And also that reveal that his dad is the Lion of Night??? I can't begin to process that.

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stllyltc's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

I guess there were too many negative biases and notions I had before reading this duology, seeing book reviews of it specifically, which is a folly because it's a different story when you read it yourself to get the experience. The novel's high fantasy emergence did not scare you into thinking it was a bore; there was this kind of indulgence and mystique with the way the author weaved storytelling; it made readers patient, allowing it to unfold as it does, and waiting to see how it will come about. It flowed with realistic aspects in relationship dynamics which didn't follow a typical one. There were no words needed to express how true this was within the Arawiya lands. You waited for it and just as you thought, it's a relief both calm and sorrowful with how it ended out. I can't wait to read more about what happens when the Zumra journeys back away from Sharr, though it's a question if they really did in the next book.

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elthechameleon's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book has excellent world-building and is full of passages with stunning language and imagery - my favorites included the emaa scene and the interlude with Benyamin and Zafira. At other times, I felt that this book was hard to follow - not with vocabulary (the glossary made that easy), but in terms of the narrative flow. At times, I found myself unsure of how the characters got from one scene to the next and had to go back to read more carefully. These are, however, small things, and they feel very standard when considering this is this author's first book. There's so much promise that I can't wait to finish the next one.

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sadiefc's review

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adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

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bookishundercover's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really loved this book!! The first 160 pages was too slow!! Hard to get in to. But after that I forgot I was reading! It was hard to love Nasir character but after getting to know him and his background I started to like him. Loved Zafira!! Just....I love her!! And Altair is my comfort character.

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