We Hunt the Flame is a feminist, anti-tyranny story wrapped in the strappings of Arabian folklore with humans who have magical affinities, ifrit, and elf-like safin making moves on the chessboard of Arawiya in order to bring magic back to their land, defeat an encroaching darkness, and save their people from an evil sultan–maybe even save the sultan himself from the spreading dark.
From the very beginning I was taken in by Zafira’s strength and non-conformity–especially in the face of her caliphate’s laws that are restrictive of women’s rights. Furthermore, her supporting characters never try to rein her in and always support her choices, despite the danger she faces and the overall outlook on women by other people around them.
As for Nasir, everyone loves a bad-boy with a tragic backstory and compassion he suppresses in the shadows–figuratively and literally! But it’s his obnoxious frenemy Altair who ends up stealing the show, and I’m sure they’re both fine with that!
Set against a backdrop of pawns, politicians, and witches racing to achieve the same goal, but for different purposes, We Hunt the Flame read to me like a character study of a reluctant alliance of five warriors who come to find they all have more in common than they thought. I had a lot of fun with Lana’s banter, Altair’s ego, and Zafira and Nasir’s budding romance. Benyamin plays the role of knowledgeable elder–because what is a merry, magic-seeking band without their Gandalf-like figure? Though the group begins as individuals each on their own quest, they end up as companions and brothers and sisters in arms, scraping by to win a battle in a larger war that I’m about to dive into in We Free the Stars! I cannot wait to see what happens in the conclusion to this story as these characters have carved little places in my heart and I’m worried they may not make it out unscathed!
Five stars for this book for sure!
From the very beginning I was taken in by Zafira’s strength and non-conformity–especially in the face of her caliphate’s laws that are restrictive of women’s rights. Furthermore, her supporting characters never try to rein her in and always support her choices, despite the danger she faces and the overall outlook on women by other people around them.
As for Nasir, everyone loves a bad-boy with a tragic backstory and compassion he suppresses in the shadows–figuratively and literally! But it’s his obnoxious frenemy Altair who ends up stealing the show, and I’m sure they’re both fine with that!
Set against a backdrop of pawns, politicians, and witches racing to achieve the same goal, but for different purposes, We Hunt the Flame read to me like a character study of a reluctant alliance of five warriors who come to find they all have more in common than they thought. I had a lot of fun with Lana’s banter, Altair’s ego, and Zafira and Nasir’s budding romance. Benyamin plays the role of knowledgeable elder–because what is a merry, magic-seeking band without their Gandalf-like figure? Though the group begins as individuals each on their own quest, they end up as companions and brothers and sisters in arms, scraping by to win a battle in a larger war that I’m about to dive into in We Free the Stars! I cannot wait to see what happens in the conclusion to this story as these characters have carved little places in my heart and I’m worried they may not make it out unscathed!
Five stars for this book for sure!