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We Hunt the Flame
(Sands of Arawiya #1)
by
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 displ ...more
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 displ ...more
Hardcover, 472 pages
Published
May 14th 2019
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
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Hafsah Faizal
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Start your review of We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya, #1)
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find other reviews on my blog
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I thought of various ways to preface this review; I was even tempted to embroider, to sugarcoat, to essentially reinvent, but now it seems, in the interests of candidness, most expedient to come to the point: I really did not like this book. And none is more stricken by this than me.
The spell We Hunt the Flame tries to cast does not land. My memory of the story vanished as quickly as a breath blown over cold glass. My indifference was such a palpable thing th ...more
I thought of various ways to preface this review; I was even tempted to embroider, to sugarcoat, to essentially reinvent, but now it seems, in the interests of candidness, most expedient to come to the point: I really did not like this book. And none is more stricken by this than me.
The spell We Hunt the Flame tries to cast does not land. My memory of the story vanished as quickly as a breath blown over cold glass. My indifference was such a palpable thing th ...more
UPDATE: if you're in need of a glossary and pronunciation guide, look no further!
_______
The first ever "review" for my book. The story of my heart. The characters who tormented me for four years until their plight reached the written page. I can't wait to share this story of a girl, a prince, a general, elves, and a world worth fighting for.
Thank you to every soul who adds this, reads this, and cherishes this. ♥ ...more
_______
The first ever "review" for my book. The story of my heart. The characters who tormented me for four years until their plight reached the written page. I can't wait to share this story of a girl, a prince, a general, elves, and a world worth fighting for.
Thank you to every soul who adds this, reads this, and cherishes this. ♥ ...more
Nov 10, 2017
♛ may
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
ded,
400-pgs,
fantasy,
look-at-that-beauty,
my-heart,
asian-authors,
duology,
i-will-go-down-with-this-ship,
arab,
hilarious
full review posted
i cant even begin to explain how much this book means to me (but im going to tryand fail with this review) i'm just so happy to see a middle eastern inspired fantasy get so much hype and recognition, I could weep
but we aint here to cry (yet) we’re here to scream until our voice gets hoarse (BC IT WAS SO BLOODY GOOD)
Writing/word building:
the arabian world that Hafsah built felt so vibrant and concrete to me. the descriptions, the imagery, the eloquence of the language ...more
i cant even begin to explain how much this book means to me (but im going to try
but we aint here to cry (yet) we’re here to scream until our voice gets hoarse (BC IT WAS SO BLOODY GOOD)
Writing/word building:
the arabian world that Hafsah built felt so vibrant and concrete to me. the descriptions, the imagery, the eloquence of the language ...more
Jan 09, 2019
Melanie
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Melanie by:
Mariam ☀️
Shelves:
poc,
fantasy,
quarantine-reads,
romance,
book-subscription-box,
magic,
buddy-reads,
read-in-2021,
young-adult
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
“ People lived because she killed.
People died because he lived.”
Disclaimer: ARCs provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review!
🌟 I have been waiting patiently for this book since it was in the writing stages and was recommended to me! I mean a fantasy with Arabian Settinng written by a Muslim Author? I couldn’t ask for more!
🌟 Now the book had a solid start, the first two chapters have ...more
“ People lived because she killed.
People died because he lived.”
Disclaimer: ARCs provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review!
🌟 I have been waiting patiently for this book since it was in the writing stages and was recommended to me! I mean a fantasy with Arabian Settinng written by a Muslim Author? I couldn’t ask for more!
🌟 Now the book had a solid start, the first two chapters have ...more
Let’s talk about expectations.
As a longtime follower of Hafsah Faizal, I was initially excited for the release of We Hunt the Flame. But by the time it was due to release, my long-standing interest in YA had waned. I was resoundingly tired of it. So I went into this with a sort of resignation, which was the same way I approached most YA reads in 2019. Having said that, I made an effort not to let my personal reader fatigue colour my opinion of this book. After all, it’s not up to Hafsah Faizal t ...more
‘we hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.’
wow. i am pleasantly surprised by this! i think it helped that i didnt have any expectations going in and that i was totally in the mood for some exotic ancient arabian magic. so this is just what i needed!
the main thing carrying this story is definitely the arabic representation. it just gives the story a lush and cultural feel that is much needed in the book world. had you taken that away, would this still be wort ...more
wow. i am pleasantly surprised by this! i think it helped that i didnt have any expectations going in and that i was totally in the mood for some exotic ancient arabian magic. so this is just what i needed!
the main thing carrying this story is definitely the arabic representation. it just gives the story a lush and cultural feel that is much needed in the book world. had you taken that away, would this still be wort ...more
i had an opportunity to read this early and i'm pretty jealous of myself :) this book is INCREDIBLE and i'm pretty sure i've found my book husband.
official blurb:
Hafsah Faizal’s voice is not one that simply speaks, but sings across the page. WE HUNT THE FLAME is a spellbinding tale filled with deception, political intrigue, and atmosphere that lives and breathes—I am obsessed with this story. ...more
official blurb:
Hafsah Faizal’s voice is not one that simply speaks, but sings across the page. WE HUNT THE FLAME is a spellbinding tale filled with deception, political intrigue, and atmosphere that lives and breathes—I am obsessed with this story. ...more
May Owlcrate Box! Click on the link below my picture to see all of the goodies!
THE GOODIES
I hate when I don’t like books with freaking awesome covers!!! 🤬
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
THE GOODIES
I hate when I don’t like books with freaking awesome covers!!! 🤬
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
Jan 09, 2019
Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell
marked it as wishlist
Book: I'm a cross-dressing fantasy epic with stolen artifacts and Middle Eastern influences
Me: Cool, that sounds amazing.
Book: Also, there's going to be an enemies to lovers romance where the prince is probably going to try to kill her at some point.
Me: SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MOTHERFUCKING MONEY ...more
Me: Cool, that sounds amazing.
Book: Also, there's going to be an enemies to lovers romance where the prince is probably going to try to kill her at some point.
Me: SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MOTHERFUCKING MONEY ...more
~ 3 stars ~
A really solid book. There were of course things that weren't my favorite, but I do think that this was enjoyable for the most part, if nothing else, there is that.
Zafira bint Iskandar a huntress, known as The Hunter, as she keeps her identity a secret due to the prejudices against women in her caliphate, is the only person able to navigate the Arz, the evil forest surrounding the land, and hunt for food for her people, who would otherwise starve due to the climate of that area. But ...more
A really solid book. There were of course things that weren't my favorite, but I do think that this was enjoyable for the most part, if nothing else, there is that.
Zafira bint Iskandar a huntress, known as The Hunter, as she keeps her identity a secret due to the prejudices against women in her caliphate, is the only person able to navigate the Arz, the evil forest surrounding the land, and hunt for food for her people, who would otherwise starve due to the climate of that area. But ...more
“Be as victorious as the name I have given you, and bring the desert to its knees.”
⭐️⭐️ angry stars.
Instagram | rant on youtube
I know, I read this book a week ago and I'm only writing this review just now. I KNOW I SUCK. And now I don't remember 70% of the book because it's that forgettable and it's been a week.
Anyway, do I even need to present We Hunt The Flame? It's been all over booktwitter (and I'm not even on it) and everyone keeps talking about it. It hit the NYT Bestseller list alrea ...more
⭐️⭐️ angry stars.
Instagram | rant on youtube
I know, I read this book a week ago and I'm only writing this review just now. I KNOW I SUCK. And now I don't remember 70% of the book because it's that forgettable and it's been a week.
Anyway, do I even need to present We Hunt The Flame? It's been all over booktwitter (and I'm not even on it) and everyone keeps talking about it. It hit the NYT Bestseller list alrea ...more
Oh here we go again! Sorry but not sorry, I didn’t fall in love or fall out love with this book so I’m giving my three full stars and getting out of here!
Another Switzerland book put me in the middle which normally I don’t like grey areas in my life but now I know how Christian Grey feels! (Or not! I’m not sexy sociopath! I’m regular kind of absurd, crazy redhead!) I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it, too. Singing why don’t you just wait me in the middle, losing my mind just a little (I’m actu ...more
Another Switzerland book put me in the middle which normally I don’t like grey areas in my life but now I know how Christian Grey feels! (Or not! I’m not sexy sociopath! I’m regular kind of absurd, crazy redhead!) I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it, too. Singing why don’t you just wait me in the middle, losing my mind just a little (I’m actu ...more
“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.”
Zafira is a huntress who disguises herself as a man, also known as the Hunter of Demenhune to help feed her starving village.
Decades ago when magic disappeared a curse fell on each of the caliphates of Arawiya and a dark and dangerous forest known as the Arz is slowly taking over the land.
When a mysterious Silver Witch appears with the opportunity for Zafira to free magic, she knows that it is her lifes calling to ...more
Zafira is a huntress who disguises herself as a man, also known as the Hunter of Demenhune to help feed her starving village.
Decades ago when magic disappeared a curse fell on each of the caliphates of Arawiya and a dark and dangerous forest known as the Arz is slowly taking over the land.
When a mysterious Silver Witch appears with the opportunity for Zafira to free magic, she knows that it is her lifes calling to ...more
It took three months and a literal quarantine from a literal world plague to (force me to) finish this book. But that aside, I am hereby coining a sub-sub genre of YA Fantasy, namely Your Standard POC Romantasy and this book was the camel that broke my back, my dudes. That's not how the saying goes, idc.
So let me help save you the time and money. If you have read any one of these books, any single one, or anything written by their respective authors:
Candle and the Flame
Girls of Paper and Fire
Fla ...more
So let me help save you the time and money. If you have read any one of these books, any single one, or anything written by their respective authors:
Candle and the Flame
Girls of Paper and Fire
Fla ...more
THE REVIEW IS POSTED
I dived into this book ecstatically because it sounded so good and intriguing and honestly I thought that I would love this book after reading it. well, the book was indeed good but I have to admit that I didn't love it. I wanted to love the book but I couldn't. I liked this book though and I did not regret spending my free time by reading this book.
The writing style in this book was pretty and I liked it and I also loved that this book made me open dictionary a lot because ...more
I dived into this book ecstatically because it sounded so good and intriguing and honestly I thought that I would love this book after reading it. well, the book was indeed good but I have to admit that I didn't love it. I wanted to love the book but I couldn't. I liked this book though and I did not regret spending my free time by reading this book.
The writing style in this book was pretty and I liked it and I also loved that this book made me open dictionary a lot because ...more
Sep 22, 2020
Brittany
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-in-my-library,
2020-reads
ugh I already wrote my review but idk where it went. Will revisit this (the review) later
Nasir Ghameq entering your life:
DISCLAIMER: THE PRINCE OF DEATH IS MINE AND I WILL FIGHT ANYONE WHO TRIES TO CLAIM HIM
...more
DISCLAIMER: THE PRINCE OF DEATH IS MINE AND I WILL FIGHT ANYONE WHO TRIES TO CLAIM HIM
...more
Buckle up, because it's story time.
I first joined the online community as a YA book blogger. I remember absolutely loving the bookish people I met, both via blogs on Twitter, but also feeling isolated. Because there was no one like me in the community.
Until I stumbled onto a little blog called Icey Books, run by Hafsah Faizal.
I watched Hafsah grow her blog into one of the most popular sites, start a kickass design business, and create the most beautiful of author websites. She's always been s ...more
I first joined the online community as a YA book blogger. I remember absolutely loving the bookish people I met, both via blogs on Twitter, but also feeling isolated. Because there was no one like me in the community.
Until I stumbled onto a little blog called Icey Books, run by Hafsah Faizal.
I watched Hafsah grow her blog into one of the most popular sites, start a kickass design business, and create the most beautiful of author websites. She's always been s ...more
We Hunt the Flame was the stuff of vapid angst and painfully dull epiphanies and oh-gods-not-this-bullshit-again.
Or to be straight to the point, it was the stuff of tropes. Not that there's anything wrong in writing tropes. The problem is how they're written.
First off, I should point out the protagonists are literal cutouts of tropes, like, literal flat, paper-thin, person-shaped cut-outs. And put together, the two of them have all the personality of dead tumbleweed.
The problem was, there was ...more
Or to be straight to the point, it was the stuff of tropes. Not that there's anything wrong in writing tropes. The problem is how they're written.
First off, I should point out the protagonists are literal cutouts of tropes, like, literal flat, paper-thin, person-shaped cut-outs. And put together, the two of them have all the personality of dead tumbleweed.
The problem was, there was ...more
Check out this review (and more) over on my blog!
Quick Stats:
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review in a Nutshell: We Hunt the Flame is a stunning debut. This book is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. You do not want to miss out on this one of a kind read.
“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.”
// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Torture, Suicide Mention, Child Abuse, Animal ...more
Quick Stats:
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review in a Nutshell: We Hunt the Flame is a stunning debut. This book is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. You do not want to miss out on this one of a kind read.
“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.”
// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Torture, Suicide Mention, Child Abuse, Animal ...more
May 01, 2019
Fanna
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Fanna by:
Rameela (Star)
October 30, 2020: We Hunt The Flame burns brightly in passion and fierceness to prove, to live, and to save those you love—including oneself—from the dangers seeping in through oppression and tyranny at the hands of a ruler, at the hands of a father, at the hands of a cursed cold choking one's house.
✹ read this review on my blog! ✹
A young woman disguised as a man dips her hands into the icy forest for food and survival, a young man whose loyalties as an assassin lies with the king is on his toe ...more
✹ read this review on my blog! ✹
A young woman disguised as a man dips her hands into the icy forest for food and survival, a young man whose loyalties as an assassin lies with the king is on his toe ...more
So like...I forgot I owned this book. To be fair, I only bought the book for shallow reasons. It was 85% for the hype, 12% for the cover, and 3% for the premise. And to be honest, a lot of hype, and a pretty cover, and a somewhat interesting premise is all this book has going for it.
This is a story that you've read before. You've already met these characters. They are enemies turned lovers who start off on opposite sides and share different ideals that will be discarded/ ignored as they fall in ...more
This is a story that you've read before. You've already met these characters. They are enemies turned lovers who start off on opposite sides and share different ideals that will be discarded/ ignored as they fall in ...more
May 30, 2019
may ➹
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
read-2019,
pov-male,
rep-bipoc-author,
pretty-cover,
rep-bipoc-asian,
rep-bipoc,
young-adult,
4-star,
my-heart,
pov-female
this book did a complete 180, and instead of falling asleep reading it, I have fallen in love with it
// buddy read with picasso (tag later)
“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.”
This book was an incredible blend of world-building, romance, intrigue and mystery, and YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK NOW. Do you like enemies to lovers? Banter? Plot twists? The character A helps character B when they’re wounded trope? THEN WHY HAVEN’T YOU READ THIS BOOK??
Also thank you to Sea for being this book’s biggest hype woman and convincing me to read it!
⇢The Plot
I have a lot of thoughts about the plot a ...more
this is the first fantasy book i’ve read in a while and i loved it! had to pull out that glossary though bc i was confused asf 😭 anyways, great character arc’s and a nice slow burn to wash it all down! i liked this book a lot! 4/5 stars hopefully i like the second book more! but as of now i will say that NASIR IS MY BABYYYYY and zafira is a badass female protagonist and y’all know how i love my female protagonists!
“A thousand leagues and a thousand sands. For you, a thousand times I would defy the sun.”
OH this book disappointed me so badly, in the end, I barely want to spend any time reviewing it.
The only thing I have to say I enjoyed was the atmosphere, the setting, and the different creatures in the world. The rest was a slog to get through, boring characters, a boring plot in which nothing happens. All they do is talk around the desert, randomly get attacked by things for a chapter, then walk arou ...more
I was so fortunate to read this early! Richly imagined, intricately woven, cinematically told. It’s Hunger Games meets An Ember in the Ashes.
My official blurb:
“Fresh, bold storytelling populated with vibrant characters marks Hafsah Faizal as an explosive new voice in fantasy. Charged with adrenaline and romance, WE HUNT THE FLAME held me enthralled and desperate for more!”
My official blurb:
“Fresh, bold storytelling populated with vibrant characters marks Hafsah Faizal as an explosive new voice in fantasy. Charged with adrenaline and romance, WE HUNT THE FLAME held me enthralled and desperate for more!”
I LOVE THIS BOOK. ALL THE CHARACTERS ARE PRECIOUS CINNAMON BUNS AND I SHALL WAIT UNTIL AN OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS IS REVEALED BEFORE I SAY MORE. It's basically like Assassin's Creed meets Lord of the Rings meets the Hunger Games in an alt-Arabia.
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Bestie's Boo...: April 2022 BOTM #2—We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal | 9 | 44 | Apr 19, 2022 05:07AM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya #1) by Hafsah Faizal - GBR - Starting April 1st 2022 | 4 | 20 | Apr 17, 2022 06:01AM | |
| Booktok Bookclub: April BOTM | 1 | 14 | Apr 12, 2022 07:14PM | |
Young Muslim's Bo...:
We Hunt the Flame - January BOTM [2022]
|
10 | 25 | Feb 20, 2022 01:12AM | |
| ❀The Never-ending...: We Hunt the Flame- Starting September 25th | 181 | 47 | Jan 20, 2022 04:00AM |
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Hafsah Faizal is the New York Times bestselling author of WE HUNT THE FLAME and WE FREE THE STARS. She’s the founder of IceyDesigns, where she creates websites for authors and beauteous goodies for everyone else. When she’s not writing, she can be found dreaming up her next design, deciding between Assassin’s Creed and Skyrim, or traversing the world. Born in Florida and raised in California, she
...more
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Sands of Arawiya
(2 books)
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“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.”
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“Heart of my heart. Moon of my soul.”
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