A review by rabbitjaguar
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

3.0

This book has a lot of potential that I can't help feeling it didn't really live up to. The premise of an Arabic-inspired fantasy is intriguing, but it falls short due to lack of worldbuilding. The first two chapters are perhaps the best in the entire book in that regard. The plot itself isn't really anything new, either, and I found most of the characters somewhat bland. Altair steals the show, and is somehow more likable than both of the main characters combined.

As for the romance, it was probably the best part of the book (I'm a sucker for a good enemies to lovers), but it felt rather... tropey?

Spoiler

And Zafira continuously crying about Dean while simultaneously thirsting for his possible killer was a strange choice. Either get over it or don't, but I didn't care much for the waffling in between.

The climax also felt really... I dunno, emotionless? I didn't really feel anything from the peril, or the multiple revelations throughout the book. There was a bit near the end where

Spoiler

the Lion had Nasir suspended above the ground, but didn't seem actually intent on killing him. Zafira gets a pang of suspicion about this, and then... nothing comes of that? I thought it was going to lead to something like the Lion actually being incapable of killing him, which would explain why he didn't kill Nasir when he came to rescue Zafira earlier as well. Obviously there's a second book, so maybe it's explained in there, but it seems like a weird thing to hint at and then just brush aside.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but not as much as I wish I did.