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A review by cemeterygay
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I adored this book so much for both the beautiful world it builds and the cast of characters we meet. The main plot is relatively simple but not to the book's detriment, if anything it allows both the world and characters to shine. There is a mild pacing issue in the beginning of the book.
For me, the main POV characters can make or break a book. Zafira and Nasir are amazing characters to read through their perspectives. You very quickly get a basic understanding of each character's motivations, personality, and challenges. The ability to so quickly empathize and understand each character really helps you root for each character and want them to succeed and just be okay. Even when Nasir or Zafira make choices that aren't the best, you can understand why these choices were made and The supporting cast of characters are also great and distinct. Altair in particular was a character I absolutely adored. He initially starts as more of a just humorous character but as you get to learn more about him, you understand just how deeply caring and impressive he is. Kifah and Benyamin were also great additions to the cast who had very different personalities which made reading the sections where they are on the island a lot easier to navigate. I also was very invested in the wellbeing of Zafira's family and friends and understood the loss both Benyamin and Nasir were experiencing throughout the novel.
I will say while the villain is definitely menacing, he just doesn't quite have the depth needed quite yet for me to rave about him.
The romance only was just starting to build but it was very fascinating watching the enemies to lovers arc. You can clearly tell that these are two people who have been forced into really terrible circumstances that lead to them ending up enemies when their goals are often times compatible and are just two people who want to do the best they can. So many scenes between them are either quite emotional or intense and I adored reading them.
I could not sing enough praise for both the world and the writing style. The two are not separable as if even one was poorer, the other would suffer. The rich descriptions and storytelling allow for the world which is incredibly well-designed to shine. I loved learning about the different affinities, the history of the world, and the culture of each caliphate. The history and knowledge are little intense in the beginning but I was very quickly able to adjust. The knowledge you receive either is incredibly relevant to the characters/plot or really helped to flesh out the world.
The pacing was just a bit too slow between Zafira receiving the quest and her then heading out to Sharr but beyond that I didn't have significant problems with the pacing.
Overall, I really adored this book and would absolutely recommend it.
For me, the main POV characters can make or break a book. Zafira and Nasir are amazing characters to read through their perspectives. You very quickly get a basic understanding of each character's motivations, personality, and challenges. The ability to so quickly empathize and understand each character really helps you root for each character and want them to succeed and just be okay. Even when Nasir or Zafira make choices that aren't the best, you can understand why these choices were made and The supporting cast of characters are also great and distinct. Altair in particular was a character I absolutely adored. He initially starts as more of a just humorous character but as you get to learn more about him, you understand just how deeply caring and impressive he is. Kifah and Benyamin were also great additions to the cast who had very different personalities which made reading the sections where they are on the island a lot easier to navigate. I also was very invested in the wellbeing of Zafira's family and friends and understood the loss both Benyamin and Nasir were experiencing throughout the novel.
I will say while the villain is definitely menacing, he just doesn't quite have the depth needed quite yet for me to rave about him.
The romance only was just starting to build but it was very fascinating watching the enemies to lovers arc. You can clearly tell that these are two people who have been forced into really terrible circumstances that lead to them ending up enemies when their goals are often times compatible and are just two people who want to do the best they can. So many scenes between them are either quite emotional or intense and I adored reading them.
I could not sing enough praise for both the world and the writing style. The two are not separable as if even one was poorer, the other would suffer. The rich descriptions and storytelling allow for the world which is incredibly well-designed to shine. I loved learning about the different affinities, the history of the world, and the culture of each caliphate. The history and knowledge are little intense in the beginning but I was very quickly able to adjust. The knowledge you receive either is incredibly relevant to the characters/plot or really helped to flesh out the world.
The pacing was just a bit too slow between Zafira receiving the quest and her then heading out to Sharr but beyond that I didn't have significant problems with the pacing.
Overall, I really adored this book and would absolutely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Gore, Animal death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Child death
CW: Ableist language, blackmail, death of a friend, death of a cousin, death of a mother, death of a father, death of a child (past), imprisonment/captivity, hunting, child neglect, attempted murder, dead bodies