A review by gabriellabuba
The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

5.0

I adored this book, the setting was so real you could see smell taste and hear the city of noor bustling around you. I honestly loved Fatima so much, really connected with her in a way I haven't been able to mesh with a YA heroine in a while. I loved how she refused to be cowed by anything or anyone. I loved how important her faith was to her in a way that felt very intimate and real without seeming too evangelical? Wrong word Christian word but the book doesn't try to convert you its a beautiful window into the lives of others and thier world views. I also adored the love interest?? I'd try to spell his name but confession I listened to the audiobook and don't know how!! The emir was the brooding YA hero we all wish we had, I live for strong capable men who have tiny internal meltdowns when they make social gaffes, who have stress nausea and have to not eat before important social engagement so they can't puke. The romance was so absolutely positively darling, it was every trope I love handed to me on a silver platter sprinkled with gold dust. I cackled with glee during the proposal scene. I was living my best life when he had to then go get her father's blessing. I really really loved how everyone took thier social responsibility to protect Fatima miles over making any concessions to the emir. Like yes give me more strong family/found family units who look at dude whose come to take you away and are like, but will you cherish her?? And all the amazing women characters who loved each other through disagreements and disaster and were friends and family anyway? So many women who were friends and were also amazing independent people doing great cool things with thier lives?!??? I want more of it. I also adored the magic in this it was beautiful and I really enjoyed the tidy ending all the many threads tied into a very neat. This book told a lovely story it may not have thrown in any crazy wild twists but honestly??? I was so glad! It told me a beautiful tale and I was jumping up and down in excitement waiting to see the characters react to each reveal and honestly that's better than a shocking twist. This book was a treat from beginning to end as lovely as all the delicious deserts Fatima and the emir are always eating and I'm so happy to have read it