A review by laiabrary
We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

5.0

I never ended up making the time for this review last year, oops. But better late than never, right?

RTC (I’m on vacation, let’s hope I don’t forget to write a review when I return.)

Four months have gone by since I closed the final pages of this book, yet its characters and their stories continue to occupy my mind every day. As someone of MENA descent, diving into this duology was an absolute delight. It was a pleasure to see glimpses of myself and my culture woven into the tapestry of Arawiya. Hafsah Faizal has truly captured the essence of the MENA world with finesse. Her creation of a diverse cast of characters, each flawed yet utterly lovable, is truly incredible. I will forever hold a special place in my heart for every member of the zumra.

"What color do you like most?"
"You"
"That—"
"Every color that makes you."

It took me a whole week to finish this book, deliberately slowing down my pace to prolong my stay in Arawiya. It's almost surreal to think that such phenomenal characters and world sprung from the mind of another person. But for my own comfort, I'll happily entertain the idea that the zumra lives on beyond the pages.

"I miss her, was what he wanted to say. He was alone without her, a soul-deep desolation. Drifting in a world where no one really saw him."

This duology has firmly secured a spot among my all-time favorite reads, and I can't wait to revisit it again and again.