This is a solid 3 stars for me. I liked it, but it was not love. I had a lot of trouble with the language in the beginning - often words were used that had zero context, so I was left to assume. By about halfway in I noticed that there was more translation. The word would show up, and then in italics the character would think the translation. It was strange. There was also a lot of detail that seemed to be left out. For example, at the end, [when Benyamin whistled for the kaftar to come help in the battle against the Lion, I didn't see where the text actually said they showed up. But then later, when the fighting stopped for a moment, they were mentioned as stopping as well.

The story itself was interesting. We get a different perspective with this Middle Eastern-like setting. There was a bit of a culture adjustment for me, because I couldn't figure out why there was so much emphasis on men going shirtless until I realized that Zafira was uncomfortable around men who were revealing so much skin, not that she was romanticizing their gigantic muscles. There are a lot of twists and turns, which weren't wholly surprising. I could see where things were going well ahead of Zafira, who always seemed to be two steps behind. The adventure was similar to most other fantasy adventures, where someone is "the chosen" to go and retrieve something valuable, meets up with a troupe of people who don't trust each other, they eventually become friends, yadda yadda. The stereotypical handsome joker, the brooding but gorgeous prince, the chattering elf (who didn't chatter as much as you'd expect, but who still seemed to have all the answers), and the random warrior woman all join in with our self-conscious and unsure heroine. That is to say, there was a lot of trope, just in a new setting. But it was at least a good read.

I think that one of my major problems with the book overall is that Deen and Kulsum only existed to provide the possibility that Zafira and Nasir wouldn't fall in love (of course, both of those characters are expendable, and of course Zafira and Nasir fall in love but are way too stubborn to actually embrace it). These two characters are absolutely unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. Deen and Kulsum have no character development, provide no real impetus for anything, and serve only to provide an excuse for Zafira and Nasir to feel pain. It feels like more should have been done with them to provide them with better character arcs, make them actually have an impact on the story beyond passive actors.

Also, there was a lot of wandering in the desert of Sharr with no direction and no destination in sight. They are literally just wandering, following Zafira, looking for a book, and fighting ifrit and other dangerous characters who pop up now and then. Most of their trip seems uneventful. All they do is argue, wonder whether they can trust each other, will-they-won't-they, etc. Yes, we're building relationships here, but I think that comes a bit at the cost of the story.

So overall, a solid 3/5 stars. I enjoyed it enough to keep reading. I wanted to know what happened to everyone, I wanted to know if Zafira and Nasir would actually admit to loving each other, and whether they would succeed in finding the book and setting things right. We're left with a nice epilogue which sets up well for the next book. I hate cliff hangers and this one was far from it. I was glad that the sultan's plan to destroy the village after Zafira left was addressed instead of just leaving the mention there and not talking about it again. Overall I'm glad that there will be a second book instead of trying to fit everything into this one, because after 91 chapters I was pretty spent. If given the chance, I would be interested in picking up book two when it's released to see how the story ends. If it ends up bleeding into more books, I probably will not keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was very much not for me, unfortunately. I think it was a combination of over-hyping and personal expectations; the writing was pretty but grew tedious, and the characterization felt too forced to me. There were some good parts, but it didn't really make up for the fact that I had to force myself to finish this book. But again, this was for me personally! Everyone's tastes are different.

This book was really interesting and I'm excited to see where the series will go next! The writing was incredible, the author is an incredible writer and her sentence structure was amazing but the plot was a little slow at points. I wanted more action and a little more investment in the characters. I felt a little thrown around following the two povs but I still enjoyed reading both stories.

Zafira has gained respect amongst her community for being the only person brave enough to dare the forest of a the Arz – a rapidly growing magical forest from which most who enter don’t return. She’s known as the Hunter. However, all respect Zafira has gained would be lost if folks were to find out that she was a girl. Nasir has a name of his own: Prince of Death. He assassinates all who cross his autocratic, despotic father, no matter how he feels on the subject. As the Arz grows and resources get more scare, both Zafira and Nasir find themselves on a journey to find a magical relic long buried on a dangerous island long presumed lost.

Another nearly impossible to write description! The worldbuilding in this thing is complex, and its really hard to give a short summary of the plot outside of “awesome” girl and scary-but-hot boy go on a quest for a magical object. While I do love complex worldbuilding, it bogged down the story for the first 40% of the book, and I kept getting confused by which peoples had what characteristics if they weren’t the peoples of our main two protagonists. Speaking of our two main protagonists, they were the least interesting characters in the story. Zafira is your standard strong-but-still-insecure-attracted-to-the-bad-boy YA fantasy protagonist, and Nasir kills people for no reason. The author tries to describe it away (his girlfriend will be brutally tortured), but this guy kills hundreds of people to (maybe) spare the lives of a few. Utilitarian he is not.

Anyway, after a lot of labored worldbuilding, we finally get to the island and team up with some other folks on the same quest. After this, the book is a lot of fun for about 30%. The characters have great chemistry, and the new ones are all dynamic and interesting people (beings) who we learn about slowly through the switching perspectives of our main characters. There’s a heist vibe and some great chemistry between friends and enemies alike . If that section had been the whole book, you would be reading a very different review. However, unfortunately, the book then focuses on a romance between our two leads, and I never found it to be convincing or compelling.

TLDR: This book was so close to being a really fun read, but a forced romance between two largely un-compelling leads overcame my love of the supporting characters, their chemistry, and some really fun worldbuilding elements.

I think folks who liked The Gilded Wolves or the Throne of Glass series will find things to like here. For this reader, it was mostly a miss. 2 stars – it was ok.

Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Netgalley for the eARC which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. We Hunt the Flame will be available for purchase on 14 May, but you can put your copy on hold today!

There are plenty of classic winning elements to this book: the Strong Heroine who is Doing It All for Those She Loves, the Tortured Hero with a Secret Heart of Gold, the wisecracking sidekick, a big adventure, found family... Still, I couldn't quite find purchase in the story - I felt like it dragged significantly and had trouble focusing on it, despite some twists and writing that flowed relatively well - but I think it will draw comparison to Renée Ahdieh's work and appeal to her readers, and will certainly find its fans.

I love a good cry. This book is absolutely breathtaking. From the description of the horses 🐎 from the start to the side characters shining as much as the main characters to the stunning world building. Needless to say I was hooked!

This book is Ember and the Ashes meet Grishaverse. So many twists and turns this book is a must read!

Title: We Hunt the Flame

Author: Hafsah Faizal

Series: Sands of Arawiya

Rating: 4/5 stars

Likes
This book is honestly one of my most hyped of 2019! I've been a fan of Hafsah's since she started IceyDesigns and I was so excited to hear she was writing a book. I didn't know what to expect going into it but I liked it more than I could've imagined! First, the world-building in this book is insane. I felt like I was in the story along with Zafira and her comrades and that is what I want from a fantasy. I want to be wrapped up in the world and forget about where I even am when I'm reading it. This hit that mark! I appreciated all of the Arabian-inspired elements to this book because I don't really know much about that culture. I am always interested in books that can teach me about a culture--from an own voices standpoint, too--and this satisfied that for me as well. Zafira was by far my favorite character in this novel. She is such a badass female character and I loved her! She reminded me that I regret not learning how to do archery because it sounds SO. COOL. Her character arc throughout the novel is also impressive! My second favorite character was Altair. He was so sarcastic and funny, I couldn't get enough of him. He was definitely the entertaining factor in this story and I thought he was just wonderful. I felt like the progression of the story felt natural and there were twists and turns, especially towards the end, that completely threw me for a loop. I cannot wait to read the sequel to this one. We Hunt the Flame is a unique story that everyone should read!
Dislikes
My only real dislike about this book was the pacing. I felt like it was pretty slow the first half and quickly picked up in the second half. I was invested enough in the characters to push through the slow parts and it really paid off.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to everyone! But especially fans of authors like Renee Ahdieh and Sabaa Tahir.

The imagery is beautiful and poetic; it brings the land to life. (Almost literally through personification.) Unfortunately, many words were unfamiliar to me. I don't know if a glossary will be included in the final edition, but it would help to have one.

The adventure is also slow to start. It wasn't until almost 30% into the novel that the hunt started. Some of the scenes that take place beforehand weren't necessary for the plot. In fact, they resolved some of Zafira's internal conflicts soon after they were introduced. This resulted in a decrease of tension just when it was needed to build up hype for the adventure.

The characters weren't compelling. While I love the large role that family plays in both Zafira and Nasir's lives (albeit, some far less positively than others), I didn't feel invested in the stakes. Part of this may be the large amount of tell compared to show. For example, Zafira repeats to herself, "It's for their survival," instead of expressing her emotions. Part of it may be that the stakes don't feel high enough, at least not within the first quarter or so of the novel. That said, I did like what I saw of Altair's character, and it looks like he'll be given a chance to play an important role in this book.

Note: for the most part, the story is told in dual third-person narration by Zafira and Nasir. I did skim to the end, however, and Yasmine and Altair are given a voice (in brief scenes). I'm not sure who else may narrate or for how long.

DNFed @ 29%

Macmillan Children's Publish Group,

Thank you so much for an eARC of this novel. Unfortunately, I have decided to not finish this novel at this time. I read around 15 percent of the book and at this point I am not quite hooked by the characters and beginning of the plot. This plot is too slow of a start for me right now and it is making me not enjoy the story. I love some of the discussion being posed in regard to gender oppression and roles. However, other than that I do not find myself enjoying these characters much. The characters seem a little flat most of the time here in the beginning. I do look forward to seeing great success for this debut novel. I love that this own voices novel has been published by you, and I truly wish it all the best! I may try to pick up the audiobook after it releases and see if that reading experience is better for me, but for now I am going to leave this unfinished and unreviewed.

Kind regards,

Brittney

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

Wow.

Wow wow wow wow wow wow wow...

"We Hunt the Flame" is a fascinating, thrilling, tantalizing tale of adventure, magic, and forging your own destiny.

Zafira is known as the Hunter, keeping her town alive by braving the mysterious Arz and bringing back meat to eat in the unforgiving snowy terrain. Her father went mad and died because of the forest that only she can navigate. She can never be revealed as a woman. If she did, she would lose everything. Before she leaves, her mother tells her one thing: "Avenge his death, Zafira. Avenge your father and destroy that forest."

Nasir is the crown-prince... and the kingdom's deadliest assassin. Forced to do his father's bidding while simultaneously suffering the Sultan's ridicule and cruelty, Nasir tries to channel his inner Elsa at all times: Conceal, don't feel. "His mother used to say that a person without hope was a body without a soul." Unfortunately, Nasir has stopped having hope. Being the Prince of Darkness is hard.

Despite their notoriety, Zafira and Nasir should never meet. Until they are both sent on the same quest--Zaifra by the mysterious Silver Witch, and Nasir by the Sultan--to go to the island of Sharr that resides within the Arz and retrieve the Jawarat, a lost book that could restore magic to the kingdoms. Zafira plans to bring the book back, restore magic, and prove once and for all that she is worthy of her title and respect. And Nasir... Plans to kill the mysterious Hunter. Who, apparently, is the Huntress. And if he can get away with murdering his annoying companion, General Altair... well, then that's just a bonus.

A deliciously dark adventure, full of snarky dialogue, jaw-dropping plot twists, and a cast of characters you can't help but adore, "We Hunt the Flame" is a fabulous debut from Hafsah Faizal and I am eagerly awaiting the forthcoming conclusion.

My only complaint is that my ARC came without a map of Arawiya, so when I re-read in preparation for the sequel next year I will definitely get my hands on a hardcover with that beautiful map I keep seeing posted from the author's Twitter account.

We Hunt the Flame is a richly written debut novel full of beautiful world building and engaging characters. The narrative moves steadily throughout the novel, undoubtedly setting up the sequel's plot and character arcs. Readers are treated to alternate perspectives that work to marry character and plot. We Hunt the Flame feels slower, more intentional -- it is a novel that commands your attention and begs for each word to be savored.

Zafira hunts to save her friends and neighbors from starvation, but in a caliphate where women have little power, she conceals her identity and masquerades as "The Hunter" in order to survive. When the Hunter is called upon to join a dangerous quest, Zafira chooses to show the world she is the Huntress -- and will sacrifice everything in order to restore magic to the world. Nasir is a hunter of men, commanded by his cruel father, the Sultan. Nasir believes his path will always lie with death and his life will always be one of suffering. When Zafira and Nasir's destinies collide, they will need to decide who they want to be and if they can really change and trust.

What a ride! I've been following this author on social media for a while and was glad to see her book get published. I really enjoyed this book and what the next one ASAP. I love the world, it was so atmospheric, and the characters were all wonderful. The beginning is a bit slow with all of the world building and explanations but it does pick up from there.

Zafira is the Demenhune Hunter. Dressed as a man, she safely enters the Arz, the forbidding evil woods encroaching on the lands, to kill game and bring back the meat to feed the starving people in her caliphate. 

Nasir is the son of the corrupt sultan. He is used by his father as an assassin to kill of any political enemies that might try to undermine his power over the five caliphates in his land. 

The books starts with a mission for each character that enables the reader to learn about the characters' rich, yet devastating backgrounds and special, intricate abilities. Both come from families that have suffered loss and are finding ways to grieve. They are troubled young people and only through a quest of sorts will they find a sometimes respite and a path for growth... The Silver Witch has come to Zafira offering an opportunity to bring back magic to the world. She must travel to the desert island of Sharr and find a powerful talisman to "end the magic drought." Nasir has also been tasked to travel to the island, but his goal is to steal book for his father. There are so many hidden motivations to sift through. The book really heats up when they get to the island!

There are three things I really liked about this one. The author changes the lengths of the chapters in different situations. Some are contemplative and a good deal with each character. Some are focused on fight scenes and are quick to shift the perspective back and forth between Zafira and Nasir. I felt like the dream sequences were done well. Zafira is especially affected by the magic on the island and sees visions of the monsters they encounter in the real world and in her mind. The diverse crew that joins up on the island is filled with characters that all bring particular gifts to the quest. 

While the explanation of the world building is in this one is necessary, it made for a bit of a rough beginning. We get the political makeup of world as well as the class structure, but it was heavy at times. It might have helped to spread it out over several chapters. In reference to what I said earlier about chapter length, the first several were a longer and more dense. 

Overall, We Hunt The Flame is a vibrant tale of growth and depth populated by monsters and friends, human and otherwise.

I loved this book more than I thought I would. It started slow and I couldn't tell where it was going, but when it picked up, I was hooked. I liked that the relationships were given time to develop and didn't feel forced. This book left a hole in my heart when I finished it and I couldn't read anything else for a few days. I cannot wait for the next one!

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

This book took me a hot minute to get into but once I did it was a wonderful time. Faizal has added so much into this world breathing life into it without leaving me confused in the dust. There were quite often moments where I was confused by a certain word and yet Faizal was there in the next paragraph easily explaining what that word meant without making the explanation seem out of place. I am just stunned by how beautifully written this book was. The story itself gave some great turns that I did not see coming and yet seemed to also somehow fit. I highly suggest this book to anyone who loves fantasy and wants to fall in love with a new world.

Oh, holy hell, This book. Never in my life did I think that I'd read a book so bleak, and so maddening, and love it so damn much. I don't know know what kind of magic Hafsah Faizal wove to create this story, but it worked. Oh, it worked.

This isn't a happy story. Sure, there are portions of it that are lighthearted. There are moments of light in the darkness. However, this is a story about war. We Rule The Night is a lightning fast read. There isn't a moment to breathe really, from the second you read that first sentence. I know it's kind of cliche to say things like "ALL THE FEELINGS." but that basically sums up this book better than anything else I could say to you. This story is full of intense emotions. It's bleak, it's frustrating at times, but it's beautiful too. The women in this story are stronger than I could ever be, and I loved them for that. I can't thank Hafsah enough for writing a book that doesn't try to make her female characters badass assassins, but just takes women who are already amazing and makes them even more impressive as they grow. I felt like I knew these women intimately by the end, and that's why this book stole my heart. Read this. I'm sure that you'll love it too.

I was grateful to get an ARC from NetGalley for this highly-anticipated debut. I had been looking forward to the release for months, and I was psyched, because it's impossible not to judge this book by its gorgeous cover. The deep indigo sky, silvery crescent moon, and wind-whipped assassin all bring to mind the Arabian Nights, and I was ready for caliphate politics, palace intrigue, deceit, and daring. That it touted itself as an enemies-to-lovers romance was just an added bonus, a Middle Eastern "Romeo & Juliet" that was sure to thrill and tantalize.

But it didn't.

Clearly Ms. Faizal is a talented writer - her description is lavish and as boundless as sand in the desert. Her characters are likable, especially lovelorn Deen and loyal Yasmine, and I appreciated the feminist overtones. I loved the way she interspersed colloquialisms throughout the novel - even though I didn't know what all the words meant ("Yalla", "Shukrun", etc.), it wasn't hard to look them up. Perhaps in the finished version there can be a glossary earlier on or footnotes for readers who aren't as experienced with Middle Eastern nomenclature and mannerisms.

Additionally, while I enjoyed the world-building, there were parts where the Arz felt like Naomi Novik's sinister Wood from "Uprooted", but I even liked the similarity and felt the Arz was a kindred reinterpretation, rather than a blatant rip-off.

However, strangely enough, it is the secondary characters that felt fully fleshed out and worth commiserating with, whereas I felt that I never really fully got to know Zafira or Nasir. Other reviewers have commented that the protagonists felt 1-d, and I have to agree, because it was almost like Kristen Stewart in "Twilight" - 1 emotion, 1 thought process, 1 mode throughout the novel. Prince Nasir had this Zuko-from-Avatar feel going for him that I wished had been more developed, because I loved the idea of his neediness and quest for redemption. Zafira was admirable in her quest to avenge Baba and feed her village, but I didn't buy the immediate chemistry between her and Nasir, and I found parts of the sultan's plot confusing and too labyrinthine to follow.

The first third of this book is snail-paced, and I almost DNF'd after nearly a hundred pages of lengthy exposition. I get that the author was painstakingly trying to lay the foundation, but I also think it will make it difficult for other readers to get invested.

For a debut novel, it was enjoyable, if clunky. I firmly believe Ms. Faizal can hone her considerable skills and take the less-is-more approach with the sequel. Again, I thank NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to pre-read!

This is an epic book. The world building is rich and colorful and the characters are fascinating. I can't wait for it to release so I can recommend it to the fantasy readers at our library!

In a failing land that is eroding after losing its magic, Zafira hunts to provide food for her people while knowing that she cannot reveal her identity as a Huntress, rather than a Hunter. At a breaking point she is offered a lucrative deal - travel to a dangerous land and discover a hidden artifact, and return magic to her people. Never mind that the person who offers her this deal is shady and obviously dangerous, the reward is worth the risk. Across the world, others are plotting their own pieces of the puzzle in hunting down magic, or taking advantage of a land without it.

Part post-apocalyptic adventure and part fairy-tale, "We Hunt the Flame" is an engaging story with the best of everything. The Eastern setting is beautiful and lush, home no matter where the reader is from. Our main character isn't perfect, but it's that's half the adventure. The obvious smoldering teen romance is offset by characterization - most importantly, the fact that there are many characters, all of whom are worthy of having an adventure worth reading about.

Hafsah's blessing is also her curse. The author has a way words. You can almost feel the work that was placed in her word choices and the way a scene is deliberately described. I truly appreciate that the effort in attempting to create a setting that while foreign in nature, carries an impact for the reader. But this level of detail to description, can weigh down a plot that has little action. The careful descriptions, and the (at times) excessive metaphors had me wondering what she was trying to say.

I found that I was always waiting for something to happen and when it did, it was anticlimactic.

Cheers for the female protagonist who I hope will grow into a more rounded, active character as the story progresses. Cheers for the detailed descriptions of the Muslim culture.