Name: We Hunt the Flame
Rating: 3.95497311827957 (744 reviews)
ISBN: 9780374311544

Hafsah Faizal

In a world inspired by ancient Arabia, seventeen-year-old huntress Zafira must disguise herself as a man to seek a lost artifact that could return  magic to her cursed world.

We Hunt the Flame

An Ignyte Award Winner 2020 A TIME Magazine Top 100 Fantasy Book of All Time A BuzzFeed Pick for "YA Books You Absolutely Must Read This Spring" A Bustle's Most Anticipated 2019 YA Release A Paste Magazine's Top 10 Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2019 A Paste Magazine Best YA Book of 2019 A PopSugar Best YA Book of 2019 A TeenVogue Book Club Pick for 2019 A Barnes & Noble Teen Book Club Pick for 2019 "Lyrical and spellbinding" —Marieke Njikamp, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, Hafsah Faizal's We Hunt the Flame—first in the Sands of Arawiya duology—is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands. People lived because she killed. People died because he lived. Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be. War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

The slow burn sure was taking its time but I was EATING it up

They really said “you have a relative! And YOU have a relative! AND you have a relative!” at the end 

Looooove the assassin as a love interest trope

sophie <3

The slow burn sure was taking its time but I was EATING it up

They really said “you have a relative! And YOU have a relative! AND you have a relative!” at the end 

Looooove the assassin as a love interest trope

I am in awe. Firstly, Hafsah Faizal's writing was so beautiful. The world-building was so impressive. Although the start was a bit slow, just like what usually expected in fantasy books, you would not mind because you would get curious and engrossed with the details and how things were described. It was magical and Arabian culture seems so fascinating. Secondly, I love how the author did not rushed the things between Zafira and Nasir. They don't always have each other's throat just for the sake of being enemies and their interactions wasn't forced. And the tension??? And Lastly, the turning point of each structures of the story was just on the right pace and I think that's what made this a perfect book.

i absolutely loved the book and everything about it, the characters are top notch! Everyone has a unique, well written personality I loved them and there interactions ! world building and plot is really good as well there is nothing to hate about this book. But the reason I didn’t give it a 5 star is because I couldn’t help cringing at the use of arabic words randomly as a middle eastern Arab 😭 for ex Nasir yelling qif to zafira. No one says that, he’s calling after a girl it should be qifi or something like that, it felt like he was a stop sign (idk if that makes sense). Also a “dallah pot” that means the same thing it is like saying pot pot. I guess that was there to help non arabs understand but it just bugged me ALOT.  Especially in the beginning I almost dropped the book glad I got over it and didn’t drop it cause I reallly like it ! (Can’t wait for book 2! ) 

I think my favorite character is Altair and I feel like we might get his POV in the 2nd, if that’s true I’m really looking forward to it 

amna

i absolutely loved the book and everything about it, the characters are top notch! Everyone has a unique, well written personality I loved them and there interactions ! world building and plot is really good as well there is nothing to hate about this book. But the reason I didn’t give it a 5 star is because I couldn’t help cringing at the use of arabic words randomly as a middle eastern Arab 😭 for ex Nasir yelling qif to zafira. No one says that, he’s calling after a girl it should be qifi or something like that, it felt like he was a stop sign (idk if that makes sense). Also a “dallah pot” that means the same thing it is like saying pot pot. I guess that was there to help non arabs understand but it just bugged me ALOT.  Especially in the beginning I almost dropped the book glad I got over it and didn’t drop it cause I reallly like it ! (Can’t wait for book 2! ) 

I think my favorite character is Altair and I feel like we might get his POV in the 2nd, if that’s true I’m really looking forward to it 



sani

“fair gazelle,” he whispered. his touch seared her, and she relished the delicious chafe of her legs against his as she slid closer.

i don't know where to start. this was my most anticipated read and it did not disappoint at all. in the beginning, i was a tad bit annoyed because 35% in and zafira and nasir hadn't met yet. although later on, i realized that it was very important to show their own personalities, aside from the love factor. 

zafiranasir served in a way very few fantasy couples do. LIKE I MEAN, the tension? the chemistry? god, that's how you write a good ship.

Ellie M.

This is an fantastical story of retribution and vengeance built upon the stories of ancient Arabian Mythology. I loved the culturally rich world, bursting of vibrance, picturesque imagery, and incredible prose. Zafira is irrefutably one of the strongest female characters I’ve met out there, with equal parts a remorseful daughter, loving sister, all balanced out making her the powerful Huntress of Demehur. Nasir’s character is just as interesting and multifaceted, and he was written extraordinarily well for the Prince of Death. This is without a doubt one of those enemies to lovers stories with lots of tension and angst, their longing fueled by proximity and circumstance. All of the persons found in this book live up to their names with their personas, fun found family banter, and hilarious dynamics. For everyone complaining that they couldn’t follow a single thing in this book, it’s understandably so that you’re used to eurocentric world-building and have never ventured into a story written by a POC author. It’s not an excuse to treat this book like it’s the worst thing you’ve ever read because there’s Google, and language no matter of what origin is not gibberish. Moreso, my familiarity with the Arabic language helped ease me into the world of Arawiya, and I’m excited to know where the story goes next.

❓ #QOTD What was the last epic fantasy you read? ❓

🦇 People lived because she killed. People died because he lived. Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya--but neither wants to be.

🦇 War is brewing and the Arz sweeps closer, engulfing the land in shadow. To save her family, Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic and stop the Arz. Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds--and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine. Will they make it out alive, or find something more than the prize they were sent to find?

💜 Mashallah! I'm going to try and HORRIBLY fail to convey my love for this book (you can totally tell I'm a writer some days, can't you?). We Hunt the Flame is everything you romantasy lovers could ever ask for with an eloquent grasp of language most writers could only hope to achieve. Hafsah Faizal's Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy transcends pen and page. Her characters are brutally flawed, aching with familial pressures, loss, and pain, clinging to thin threads of hope for more; each with unique voices, motivations, and quirks that bring them off the page and into our homes (and hearts). Your feet will crunch over the ice of Demenhur, traverse the Sharr's forestry, tiptoe across glossy tiled floors of Sultan's Keep. With every breath, you'll smell kibbeh garnished with mint or the zest of Kifah's rich spices over rabbit, taste the tang of zataar or rich qahwa against your tongue. You know I love when stories make a character's culture relatable through food, but reading We Hunt the Flame had me craving ma'amoul and katayef in the worst way. Okay, getting side-tracked.

💜 If the vivid imagery and powerful prose don't capture you, the characters will. Zafira is burdened with responsibility yet forced to hide her identity as a woman under a hook and cloak, presenting her accomplishments as those of a man. She feeds her entire village, expecting and receiving nothing in return. Her heart is heavy with grief and guilt--much as Nasir's is. That parallel creates a foundation for their slow-burn romance, their chemistry undeniable but their sense of duty, guilt, and heavy hearts getting in the way. Oh, and Nasir was sent to kill Zafira, so that's an issue, too. (Sneaking back into this review after reading We Free the Stars: khara, it gets SO MUCH MORE INTENSE!!!). They're snippy and bitter with one another, those quick barbs adding to the tension between them, and yet there's a spark of mutual respect and understanding they've never found in anyone else. If you love an "I hate everyone but you" kind of romance, this is it! 

💜 Speaking of snipe, Altair. Sweet baby boy, his sass is EVERYTHING. Altair and Nasir's bromance (*coughs*) is an enemies to besties mess in the making. Alongside our other side characters, Benyamin and Kifah, these five create a found family "zumra" you'll absolutely adore. 

💙 My only issue was the pacing, slowed due to the amount of introspection. Zafira and Nasir aren't the type of characters to talk out their feelings with others; of COURSE they're going to internalize everything. While I recognize that this was the only way the story would work, it did cause the story to drag at certain points. I also guessed at a few things, but Faizal sprinkled the breadcrumbs of her story with care, creating an intricate tapestry that unites the zumra and their individual threads into a singular epic. 

🦇 Recommended for all romantasy fans, namely fans of Ember in the Ashes, Rebel of the Sands, The Wrath & the Dawn, Spice Road, and The City of Brass.

🧭 "I came to kill you but fell for you"

🌙 A TIME Magazine Top 100 Fantasy Book of All Time

🌙 A Barnes & Noble Teen Book Club Pick

❝ "A life with magic means nothing to me if you aren’t in it." ❞

❝ A thousand leagues and a thousand sands. For you, a thousand times I would defy the sun. ❞

❝ We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves. ❞

❝ Everyone has a turning point. A breaking point, too. ❞

❝ A life without purpose may be no life, but a life without love is nothing but an existence. ❞

❝ His voice was a caress. It lilted across the length of her name, tasting it. Teasing it. She wanted him to say it again. And again and again. She wanted him to do to her what he had done to her name. ❞

❝ 'All right’ is when you’re bleeding black but it’s not as bad as bleeding red. When the world crashes but you’re not alone when it does. When the darkness is absolute but you hunt down the smallest flame and coax it brighter. When you carve the good out of every bad and claim it a victory. ❞

Jazelle H

🦇 We Hunt the Flame Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD What was the last epic fantasy you read? ❓
 
🦇 People lived because she killed. People died because he lived. Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya--but neither wants to be.

🦇 War is brewing and the Arz sweeps closer, engulfing the land in shadow. To save her family, Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic and stop the Arz. Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds--and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine. Will they make it out alive, or find something more than the prize they were sent to find?

💜 Mashallah! I'm going to try and HORRIBLY fail to convey my love for this book (you can totally tell I'm a writer some days, can't you?). We Hunt the Flame is everything you romantasy lovers could ever ask for with an eloquent grasp of language most writers could only hope to achieve. Hafsah Faizal's Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy transcends pen and page. Her characters are brutally flawed, aching with familial pressures, loss, and pain, clinging to thin threads of hope for more; each with unique voices, motivations, and quirks that bring them off the page and into our homes (and hearts). Your feet will crunch over the ice of Demenhur, traverse the Sharr's forestry, tiptoe across glossy tiled floors of Sultan's Keep. With every breath, you'll smell kibbeh garnished with mint or the zest of Kifah's rich spices over rabbit, taste the tang of zataar or rich qahwa against your tongue. You know I love when stories make a character's culture relatable through food, but reading We Hunt the Flame had me craving ma'amoul and katayef in the worst way. Okay, getting side-tracked.

💜 If the vivid imagery and powerful prose don't capture you, the characters will. Zafira is burdened with responsibility yet forced to hide her identity as a woman under a hook and cloak, presenting her accomplishments as those of a man. She feeds her entire village, expecting and receiving nothing in return. Her heart is heavy with grief and guilt--much as Nasir's is. That parallel creates a foundation for their slow-burn romance, their chemistry undeniable but their sense of duty, guilt, and heavy hearts getting in the way. Oh, and Nasir was sent to kill Zafira, so that's an issue, too. (Sneaking back into this review after reading We Free the Stars: khara, it gets SO MUCH MORE INTENSE!!!). They're snippy and bitter with one another, those quick barbs adding to the tension between them, and yet there's a spark of mutual respect and understanding they've never found in anyone else. If you love an "I hate everyone but you" kind of romance, this is it! 

💜 Speaking of snipe, Altair. Sweet baby boy, his sass is EVERYTHING. Altair and Nasir's bromance (*coughs*) is an enemies to besties mess in the making. Alongside our other side characters, Benyamin and Kifah, these five create a found family "zumra" you'll absolutely adore. 

💙 My only issue was the pacing, slowed due to the amount of introspection. Zafira and Nasir aren't the type of characters to talk out their feelings with others; of COURSE they're going to internalize everything. While I recognize that this was the only way the story would work, it did cause the story to drag at certain points. I also guessed at a few things, but Faizal sprinkled the breadcrumbs of her story with care, creating an intricate tapestry that unites the zumra and their individual threads into a singular epic. 

🦇 Recommended for all romantasy fans, namely fans of Ember in the Ashes, Rebel of the Sands, The Wrath & the Dawn, Spice Road, and The City of Brass.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🌙 Young Adult Epic Fantasy
🏹 Sands of Arawiya Duology
🌙 Magic
🧭 Assassin/Huntress Enemies to Lovers
🌙 Lyrical and Spellbinding
🏹 Arab & Muslim Inspired/Writer
🌙 Dual POV
🧭 "I came to kill you but fell for you"
🌙 Slow Burn & Super Angsty

✨ Acclaim ✨
🌙 An Ignyte Award Winner
🌙 A TIME Magazine Top 100 Fantasy Book of All Time
🌙 A Paste Magazine Best YA Book
🌙 A PopSugar Best YA Book
🌙 A TeenVogue Book Club Pick
🌙 A Barnes & Noble Teen Book Club Pick

💬 Quotes 
❝ "A life with magic means nothing to me if you aren’t in it." ❞
❝ A thousand leagues and a thousand sands. For you, a thousand times I would defy the sun. ❞
❝ We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves. ❞
❝ Everyone has a turning point. A breaking point, too. ❞
❝ A life without purpose may be no life, but a life without love is nothing but an existence. ❞
❝ His voice was a caress. It lilted across the length of her name, tasting it. Teasing it. She wanted him to say it again. And again and again. She wanted him to do to her what he had done to her name. ❞
❝ 'All right’ is when you’re bleeding black but it’s not as bad as bleeding red. When the world crashes but you’re not alone when it does. When the darkness is absolute but you hunt down the smallest flame and coax it brighter. When you carve the good out of every bad and claim it a victory. ❞

Initially, I wanted to write my review without spoilers, but after really thinking about it, there were some things I wanted to talk about in more depth.

Overall, I did enjoy the read! Firstly, as someone who is middle eastern, I really enjoyed seeing Arabic phrases being exchanged between characters and experiencing the nostalgia when they eat middle eastern dishes and desserts. I genuinely valued the middle eastern representation, even if it was in small displays, because they are relatable in some ways! In addition, while the book was told in third person, the author created a dual POV with Zafira and Nasir, which I enjoyed. The beginning can be a bit slow since it involves worldbuilding and setting the scene for the main characters' backgrounds, but it starts to pick up after that. In addition, the author does a great job of describing various settings and the exchanges between characters. I could really visualize the scenes and build a mental picture of the area around the characters.

Aside from descriptive settings, the zumra was so loveable. Altair was definitely one of my favorite characters with his comedic and witty comments. The banter that went on between Nasir and him was always so entertaining and lightened the mood. I also wished we could have learned more about Benyamin because he had such a complex past that his personality could've shined more. He was a very knowledgeable character that valued trust above all else, which in some ways, was admirable. Kifah was also such a badass character that I hope to read more about her in We Free the Stars!

Furthermore, I might be a bit biased in loving Nasir because some of his mannerisms remind me of Kieran White from the Webtoon Purple Hyacinth, another character I love dearly. I honestly wanted to take a moment to talk about the black feather Nasir places on the bodies of those who passed because it is such a powerful action. After researching, I discovered that a black feather could symbolize death and mourning. Also, when a black feather is buried with someone, it can be so that the person's spirit can find its way to the afterlife. Honestly, I could be reading too much into the black feather, and the author's use may not be that intentional. However, I thought back to Benyamin's death, and Nasir placed a black feather on his body and told him to "be at peace." Benyamin's death had impacted him just as it had the rest of the group. Nasir wanted to mourn his sacrifice and hope his spirit would be at peace after the tragic event. I understand that the black feather was also a symbol to say that "The Prince of Death was here," but I believe that the more profound meaning of why Nasir uses the black feather is to mourn for the person's life in some way. Nasir never wanted to harm or murder anyone, but he was placed in a tight position where he had to in order to protect the lives of those closest to him. That said, I genuinely think the symbol of the black feather really adds to his character and brings an important aspect of his personality that could have been neglected if a reader didn't consider the possible hidden meaning.

However, I gave this book a 3-star rating for the lack of plot building toward three major plot twists. The plot twists did leave me excited to finish the rest of the book, but I found it strange that such large plot twists were given to us one after the other and toward the end of the book. It felt like such abrupt announcements that I wish the execution had been done a bit better by building the plot to lead up to the plot twists. I hope these plot twists will be explained in more detail in We Free the Stars since I can envision a lot of character development from these revelations. In addition to revelations, I hope we learn more about Altair's history in We Free the Stars. As I was reading, I found it extremely mysterious how Altair already knew he was brothers with Nasir, the Silver Witch was his mother, and the Lion of the Night was his father!? There is definitely something about him that the readers don't know about, and I hope I can find the answers to my suspicions in the next book!

Ultimately, I would have given the book a higher rating had there been better plot development leading up to the plot twists. But I still found the book enjoyable, and I plan to read the next book soon!

Initially, I wanted to write my review without spoilers, but after really thinking about it, there were some things I wanted to talk about in more depth.

Overall, I did enjoy the read! Firstly, as someone who is middle eastern, I really enjoyed seeing Arabic phrases being exchanged between characters and experiencing the nostalgia when they eat middle eastern dishes and desserts. I genuinely valued the middle eastern representation, even if it was in small displays, because they are relatable in some ways! In addition, while the book was told in third person, the author created a dual POV with Zafira and Nasir, which I enjoyed. The beginning can be a bit slow since it involves worldbuilding and setting the scene for the main characters' backgrounds, but it starts to pick up after that. In addition, the author does a great job of describing various settings and the exchanges between characters. I could really visualize the scenes and build a mental picture of the area around the characters.

Aside from descriptive settings, the zumra was so loveable. Altair was definitely one of my favorite characters with his comedic and witty comments. The banter that went on between Nasir and him was always so entertaining and lightened the mood. I also wished we could have learned more about Benyamin because he had such a complex past that his personality could've shined more. He was a very knowledgeable character that valued trust above all else, which in some ways, was admirable. Kifah was also such a badass character that I hope to read more about her in We Free the Stars!

Furthermore, I might be a bit biased in loving Nasir because some of his mannerisms remind me of Kieran White from the Webtoon Purple Hyacinth, another character I love dearly. I honestly wanted to take a moment to talk about the black feather Nasir places on the bodies of those who passed because it is such a powerful action. After researching, I discovered that a black feather could symbolize death and mourning. Also, when a black feather is buried with someone, it can be so that the person's spirit can find its way to the afterlife. Honestly, I could be reading too much into the black feather, and the author's use may not be that intentional. However, I thought back to Benyamin's death, and Nasir placed a black feather on his body and told him to "be at peace." Benyamin's death had impacted him just as it had the rest of the group. Nasir wanted to mourn his sacrifice and hope his spirit would be at peace after the tragic event. I understand that the black feather was also a symbol to say that "The Prince of Death was here," but I believe that the more profound meaning of why Nasir uses the black feather is to mourn for the person's life in some way. Nasir never wanted to harm or murder anyone, but he was placed in a tight position where he had to in order to protect the lives of those closest to him. That said, I genuinely think the symbol of the black feather really adds to his character and brings an important aspect of his personality that could have been neglected if a reader didn't consider the possible hidden meaning.

However, I gave this book a 3-star rating for the lack of plot building toward three major plot twists. The plot twists did leave me excited to finish the rest of the book, but I found it strange that such large plot twists were given to us one after the other and toward the end of the book. It felt like such abrupt announcements that I wish the execution had been done a bit better by building the plot to lead up to the plot twists. I hope these plot twists will be explained in more detail in We Free the Stars since I can envision a lot of character development from these revelations. In addition to revelations, I hope we learn more about Altair's history in We Free the Stars. As I was reading, I found it extremely mysterious how Altair already knew he was brothers with Nasir, the Silver Witch was his mother, and the Lion of the Night was his father!? There is definitely something about him that the readers don't know about, and I hope I can find the answers to my suspicions in the next book!

Ultimately, I would have given the book a higher rating had there been better plot development leading up to the plot twists. But I still found the book enjoyable, and I plan to read the next book soon!

?? why did they start to love each other so fast 

Alex

Tatiana

We Hunt the Flame: 3/5

Ok, overall I found myself entertained throughout We Hunt the Flame. The beginning was great, and I really loved that Zafira is a badass feminist icon who doesn't need a man. I was SO INTO IT! 

Then came part two. We all know how I feel about journey stories so maybe it is just me being biased but if you asked me what happened in part two I honestly couldn't tell you. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did and finished the book, but looking back I honestly don't remember much even though I just read it today. I feel like everything that happened in the middle portion of the book was just for filler entertainment but didn't do much to further the plot. By the end, everything that happened in those middle 250 pages was forgotten and never spoken of again.

It started picking back up in part three. This is what really saved the book but I gotta say I am not super attached to the characters and was kind of unphased by the deaths. Anyway, I will still be picking up We Free The Stars in January and I am happy that I read this book since it's been on my TBR for a while now.

Overall, it's tough because although I ultimately liked this book, it is really similar to other books in the genre, like An Ember in the Ashes and even a bit of ACOTAR and TOG with the romance. Those books are so iconic it's hard to compete with them.

Betty

This book is amazing!! I really needed a good fantasy like this!

it just didn't capture my attention and fancy. 

fairuza hanun

Natalia Melike

Had me gasping and giggling. And the plot twists... 

We Hunt the Flame

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