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A review by lebishop13
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I really expected to like this book more than I did. The setting was incredible. I loved the details inspired by the Middle East and the world building surrounding the caliphates and the culture. I thought that Nasir was a particularly compelling character, and I enjoyed the emphasis on women's capabilities and leadership.
I struggled with the magic system and the many magic creatures introduced. It felt overly contrived and convoluted. I finished the book feeling like I didn't understand what I read, and it got in the way of my enjoyment of the story. The storyline felt a bit rushed and I really lost the thread there at the end. Lastly, I love a good quest story, but, again, this felt a bit contrived and stereotypical. I got big Hunger Games squad takes the Capitol vibes. Each character has its trope to play in the incredibly young, overly talented, traumatic backstories squad that just has tons of witty repartee back and forth.
Will I read the second one? Probably. But I'm not sure that this will be a favorite. I don't think that it transcends its YA genre to be universally appealing to all readers. Which is totally fine.
I struggled with the magic system and the many magic creatures introduced. It felt overly contrived and convoluted. I finished the book feeling like I didn't understand what I read, and it got in the way of my enjoyment of the story. The storyline felt a bit rushed and I really lost the thread there at the end. Lastly, I love a good quest story, but, again, this felt a bit contrived and stereotypical. I got big Hunger Games squad takes the Capitol vibes. Each character has its trope to play in the incredibly young, overly talented, traumatic backstories squad that just has tons of witty repartee back and forth.
Will I read the second one? Probably. But I'm not sure that this will be a favorite. I don't think that it transcends its YA genre to be universally appealing to all readers. Which is totally fine.