Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - We Hunt the Flame

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

120 reviews

yamooz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Okay, I had high expectations from this book but I was let down. I'm not sure whether it's because I'm In a reading slump or something but the book wasn't extraordinary in any way whatsoever. I understand that YA books have repeated tropes but reading this book made me think of Hunger games or it made me think of it after my sister pointed it out to me. While I read this book, I kept on thinking "Have I seen this before somewhere" and "This feels so familiar"

After it was pointed out that the books characters are quite similar to hunger games one's, I got kinda tired of the plot...

There wasn't much connection with the characters, the characters weren't THAT well written, definitely there's room for improvement. I honestly didn't like zafira and Nasir that much. As main characters, one would expect them to be very well written but they just weren't... I couldn't connect to them at all, especially Nasir. Yes he's hot, Yes he's traumatized, He's sad and all but the connection! It just wasn't there. I honestly connected more with Dean ( who had so little screen time in the book) and Altair more than the main leads. Benyamin and kifa( I'm not use if the spelling is correct) weren't that bad but again, hardly any connection. They were badass for sure but what's the point if I don't feel anything towards the characters. While we are at connections, there wasn't much connection and chemistry with the characters too, I honestly didn't feel much chemistry between Nasir and Zafira, it felt... forced? Idk ig I ship them but it didn't feel like they were meant to be...

These are things that I didn't like about the book but it's not all bad.
The language is beautiful, I loved the books settings. Loved the detailed description, I felt like I was In the book, right there with them.The plot twists were great, loved them.

This book wasn't something I read in one sitting, the first half was pretty slow, it could be that I'm in a reading slump, that's why I didn't read it in one sitting but still, the book definitely lacked a few things.It's a book I wouldn't recommend to people who are looking for past paced one.

Over all, the book wasn't bad, just devoid of things... here and there ( does this make sense, lol 😂), I'm still gonna read part 2 of this book though. Much love to faizal, hopefully you improve ❤

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kbairbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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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takarakei's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

Title of review: get the audiobook!

I listened to only the audiobook for the first ~25% and then finished the rest in one day by doing a combo of audiobook + reading a physical copy (the first time I've done that which I did enjoy). That first 25% was pretty slow going only on audiobook, and I definitely made use of the author/book's website to look up the map and the terminology/characters many many times as I was quite confused with what words meant (wish these were in the physical book for easy reference, idk how people get through without it).

The narrators (one for each MC POV) were fantastic - and I definitely think it added to the drama and action/pacing of the latter part of the book. I especially love how the narrator does Altair's voice, it's just perfect and def made him my fav character. The beginning is very slow and not even just because of world building, just like...nothing happens? for a while. Once the quest actually begins the story does pick up and then probably the final half of the book things really get more interesting with the introduction of additional characters, and their interplay/relationships/camaraderie building. By the end I didn't want to put it down, but the ending did feel a bit abrupt. And for that reason I feel like I have to continue reading the series because nothing is resolved at all.

Some romance: enemies to lovers, pretty slow burn (it's YA) 0-1/5 spice

only a kiss

. This is not the main focus of the plot.

I did find the history of the world (the 6 sisters, how magic works) a bit confusing, but I think it's intentionally done

since so much is revealed about who characters are and their relationships as the story progresses.

I likely wouldn't have rated it at 4 stars if I hadn't done the audiobook, but kudos to the publisher for getting great narrators! I'll definitely be doing book 2 on audio also.

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skyllarduncan's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

3.75

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maeverose's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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nightfell's review against another edition

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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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saoreads'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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