The plot and the Arabian influences make this such a unique read!
Rating ~ 4 / 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal because I loved the Arabian influences that were present throughout the novel. From their accents to clothing styles, to even food, you could tell the Arabian influences were a part of this novel and not just something that took a backseat.
The female main character, Zafira, hunts for food for her village by braving the cursed forest of the Arz every single night. She is well known throughout the land as the only person to enter the wicked forest and come out sane but what they don't know that Zafira isn't a "hunter", she is a "huntress." Our male main character is Nasir who is the prince and the heir to the kingdom of Arawiya. Though he might be a prince, he is called the "Prince of Death" as he is always out and about assassinating people under the name of the sultan.
Both of these characters are fantastic and I loved how the two different plotlines: Zafira hunting for food for her community and Nasir being an assassin, converged together in an expected but interesting way. With Nasir being sent to kill Zafira when she is able to find the solution to releasing magic back into the land. That being said, I was more interested in Nasir than Zafira. I found his character to be more intriguing because his background and what shaped him to become this Prince of Death isn't revealed at the beginning. Instead, there are small hints throughout the book which I looked forward to. Despite that, the romance that bloomed between these two was well-written and it didn't seem forced at all.
However, the person who stole the show is Altair. He is the sultan's general and he accompanies Nasir on his mission to kill the "Hunter" aka Zafira. The reason why I love his character because the moment he was first introduced, I knew that there was something more to him than just being the sultan's general and who Nasir considered to a be pain in the butt. Altair always made me laugh and I always looked forward to reading more about him. He had the best comebacks and I loved the banter between Altair and Nasir. He is my favorite character and the ending totally cemented that thought.
I don't know where to start but the ending was just spectacular mixed in with sorrow. I'd probably spoil it if I try to describe how I felt but the only thing I will say is that Altair deserves so much more than what he got in the end. He deserves happiness and love and if he doesn't get that in the second book, I'm going to boycott reading!
I really enjoyed reading We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal because I loved the Arabian influences that were present throughout the novel. From their accents to clothing styles, to even food, you could tell the Arabian influences were a part of this novel and not just something that took a backseat.
The female main character, Zafira, hunts for food for her village by braving the cursed forest of the Arz every single night. She is well known throughout the land as the only person to enter the wicked forest and come out sane but what they don't know that Zafira isn't a "hunter", she is a "huntress." Our male main character is Nasir who is the prince and the heir to the kingdom of Arawiya. Though he might be a prince, he is called the "Prince of Death" as he is always out and about assassinating people under the name of the sultan.
Both of these characters are fantastic and I loved how the two different plotlines: Zafira hunting for food for her community and Nasir being an assassin, converged together in an expected but interesting way. With Nasir being sent to kill Zafira when she is able to find the solution to releasing magic back into the land. That being said, I was more interested in Nasir than Zafira. I found his character to be more intriguing because his background and what shaped him to become this Prince of Death isn't revealed at the beginning. Instead, there are small hints throughout the book which I looked forward to. Despite that, the romance that bloomed between these two was well-written and it didn't seem forced at all.
However, the person who stole the show is Altair. He is the sultan's general and he accompanies Nasir on his mission to kill the "Hunter" aka Zafira. The reason why I love his character because the moment he was first introduced, I knew that there was something more to him than just being the sultan's general and who Nasir considered to a be pain in the butt. Altair always made me laugh and I always looked forward to reading more about him. He had the best comebacks and I loved the banter between Altair and Nasir. He is my favorite character and the ending totally cemented that thought.
I don't know where to start but the ending was just spectacular mixed in with sorrow. I'd probably spoil it if I try to describe how I felt but the only thing I will say is that Altair deserves so much more than what he got in the end. He deserves happiness and love and if he doesn't get that in the second book, I'm going to boycott reading!