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A review by xavia
The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad
3.0
It took me a long time to read this book. Almost two months. Twice, I almost put it down altogether and resigned it to my DNF list. But, through a series of circumstances that culminated in me having no other books on hand, I kept coming back to it.
The beginning of this book is... long. And while the descriptive imagery is beautiful and immersive, that will only take you so far. It truly felt to me like I kept turning pages and nothing was happening. It wasn't until Fatima became Fatima Ghazala that the book started to get interesting.
Now, having managed to strong arm my way through the book, I can say that the writing is just as beautiful as it's cover, and I think we can all agree that there is some serious cover love with this book, but in terms of plot, the book is only half as strong. I think if the book had focused only on Fatima Ghazala and Zulfikar, the book would have been stronger. The interactions between them, the slow falling in love, was fantastic. I ate those moments up.
The other moments, and other characters? I was less invested in them.
I actually spent the first half of the book with a great dislike of Sunaina and Bhavya. While they did eventually grow on me, I think I would have preferred companion stories about the two of them, where they could really grow and come into their own, instead of muddying up what already felt like a book overstuffed with characters and plotlines. The book is not overly long, only about 350 pages, but man, it sure does feel a lot longer. While Sunaina and Bhavya both play a part story, I can't help but feel that that could have been explored from the perspectives of Zulfikar and Fatima Ghazala, further strengthening their story.
Not to say I wouldn't want a story of Sunaina and Bhavya, I think companion novels for them would be very interesting, I just think here they caused the story to feel bloated.
The Alifs were a treasure. Everytime even one of them was present the book felt much more lively. They were a welcome relief from the doom and gloom of the main plotline. Aruna was also wonderful, and I think she is deserving of a companion novel as well. One that could delve deeper into the politics that almost destroyed Qirat.
In fact, now that I think of it, I think I would have had three companion novels. With Zulfikar and Fatima Ghazala exploring the Djinn and Human relations and what their coupling means for the future (basically this plot but more focused on the Djinn with the human politics in the background). Sunaina in her own novel, following her travels and her growing renown as a cosmetics chemist. (she can fall in love I suppose, but I actually like the idea of her coming into her own without any man). And the final being focused on Aruna and Bhavya working together to uncover the plot against Aarush and working together to stop it (this book but focused almost exclusively on the politics).
Anyway. The book as it is is alright. I thought it was very beautifully written, but man. A whole lot of nothing happens and then a whole lot of something happens all at once in the last sixty pages, and then it's over. I think it is a fine novel, and I'd be willing to give another book by this author a chance but I don't know if I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their books to move quickly.
The beginning of this book is... long. And while the descriptive imagery is beautiful and immersive, that will only take you so far. It truly felt to me like I kept turning pages and nothing was happening. It wasn't until Fatima became Fatima Ghazala that the book started to get interesting.
Now, having managed to strong arm my way through the book, I can say that the writing is just as beautiful as it's cover, and I think we can all agree that there is some serious cover love with this book, but in terms of plot, the book is only half as strong. I think if the book had focused only on Fatima Ghazala and Zulfikar, the book would have been stronger. The interactions between them, the slow falling in love, was fantastic. I ate those moments up.
The other moments, and other characters? I was less invested in them.
I actually spent the first half of the book with a great dislike of Sunaina and Bhavya. While they did eventually grow on me, I think I would have preferred companion stories about the two of them, where they could really grow and come into their own, instead of muddying up what already felt like a book overstuffed with characters and plotlines. The book is not overly long, only about 350 pages, but man, it sure does feel a lot longer. While Sunaina and Bhavya both play a part story, I can't help but feel that that could have been explored from the perspectives of Zulfikar and Fatima Ghazala, further strengthening their story.
Not to say I wouldn't want a story of Sunaina and Bhavya, I think companion novels for them would be very interesting, I just think here they caused the story to feel bloated.
The Alifs were a treasure. Everytime even one of them was present the book felt much more lively. They were a welcome relief from the doom and gloom of the main plotline. Aruna was also wonderful, and I think she is deserving of a companion novel as well. One that could delve deeper into the politics that almost destroyed Qirat.
In fact, now that I think of it, I think I would have had three companion novels. With Zulfikar and Fatima Ghazala exploring the Djinn and Human relations and what their coupling means for the future (basically this plot but more focused on the Djinn with the human politics in the background). Sunaina in her own novel, following her travels and her growing renown as a cosmetics chemist. (she can fall in love I suppose, but I actually like the idea of her coming into her own without any man). And the final being focused on Aruna and Bhavya working together to uncover the plot against Aarush and working together to stop it (this book but focused almost exclusively on the politics).
Anyway. The book as it is is alright. I thought it was very beautifully written, but man. A whole lot of nothing happens and then a whole lot of something happens all at once in the last sixty pages, and then it's over. I think it is a fine novel, and I'd be willing to give another book by this author a chance but I don't know if I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their books to move quickly.