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A review by lailybibliography
The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad
4.0
Hmmm, it’s been a while since I’ve been so conflicted about a book. I’m torn between rating it a 3.5 and a 4.5, so I guess I’ll settle for a 4 stars now. Maybe I’ll change it later; I’m fickle like that.
The trouble with the rating wouldn’t have existed if The Candle and the Flame didn’t have some of the most gorgeous and intricate world-building I’ve seen across fantasy. Non-European and/or Eurocentric settings are already few and far between, not to mention exoticized and mystified for western audiences in the few that do exist (*cough* looking at you, The Alchemist*cough*), that finding where the author clearly cared for the world and built it accordingly, gives me great joy. It’s a world I wish I could’ve lived in, but history and time hasn’t been so kind.
The book’s greatest strength, however, comes from the brilliance of its female characters. It is without a doubt that this book centres primarily on several female-centric empowering narratives and it shines brighter and better for that. Every woman (and girl) in the book felt like a person I could know, with all the layers of complexity and motivations, trying to survive in a patriarchal world that won’t hesitate to cut them down. Nafiza Azad could’ve easily have reduced many of the women in the story to have clashed over petty issues, but instead chose to focus on their personal growth and journeys. Mad Respect. I’m 100% here for subversive stories about women unapologetically taking control of their destinies. And throwing useless men to the side. Some good fucking food, y’all.
Despite the strengths of the book, I will admit that it took quite some time for me to become emotionally invested in the lives of Fatima Ghazala, Bhavya, Zulfikar, and others. For all the beauty of Noor, much of the story, especially the first half, lacked the emotional intensity needed for readers to actually care. Several parts felt more like a history book, simply writing down the facts of the journey, than a fantasy novel. It felt like a scribe recording history, meant for studying by students, rather than passionate readers experiencing the ride.
Overall, if you prefer slow-moving plots, character development over plot movement, focus on women of colour in non-Eurocentric and pre-colonized settings, and classic slow-burn romances, this is it.
I still have a lot more to say but I’m tired of typing, so that’ll be it. At least for now.
The trouble with the rating wouldn’t have existed if The Candle and the Flame didn’t have some of the most gorgeous and intricate world-building I’ve seen across fantasy. Non-European and/or Eurocentric settings are already few and far between, not to mention exoticized and mystified for western audiences in the few that do exist (*cough* looking at you, The Alchemist*cough*), that finding where the author clearly cared for the world and built it accordingly, gives me great joy. It’s a world I wish I could’ve lived in, but history and time hasn’t been so kind.
The book’s greatest strength, however, comes from the brilliance of its female characters. It is without a doubt that this book centres primarily on several female-centric empowering narratives and it shines brighter and better for that. Every woman (and girl) in the book felt like a person I could know, with all the layers of complexity and motivations, trying to survive in a patriarchal world that won’t hesitate to cut them down. Nafiza Azad could’ve easily have reduced many of the women in the story to have clashed over petty issues, but instead chose to focus on their personal growth and journeys. Mad Respect. I’m 100% here for subversive stories about women unapologetically taking control of their destinies. And throwing useless men to the side.
Spoiler
Aaruv’s death was fucking satisfying. I’m tempted to give 5 stars just for the vindication of dying by the crown he desired and the sister he demeaned.Despite the strengths of the book, I will admit that it took quite some time for me to become emotionally invested in the lives of Fatima Ghazala, Bhavya, Zulfikar, and others. For all the beauty of Noor, much of the story, especially the first half, lacked the emotional intensity needed for readers to actually care. Several parts felt more like a history book, simply writing down the facts of the journey, than a fantasy novel. It felt like a scribe recording history, meant for studying by students, rather than passionate readers experiencing the ride.
Overall, if you prefer slow-moving plots, character development over plot movement, focus on women of colour in non-Eurocentric and pre-colonized settings, and classic slow-burn romances, this is it.
I still have a lot more to say but I’m tired of typing, so that’ll be it. At least for now.