Book Review: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

 

Short Description

The darkness is approaching, and the hunter is the only one who can safely navigate its depths. 

Zafira is the hunter or, rather, the huntress, hiding her identity lest all her accomplishments be erased because she is a woman. Living in a land where women are thought of as nuisances, Zafira's disguise is her shield and she intends to keep it. Her plans change when she receives a mysterious silver letter inviting her to a quest; and not just any quest, but one to restore decades-lost-magic to the entire continent of Arawiya. It's a death wish, but one that Zafia cannot and will not refuse. 

Nasir is the prince of death. Darkness and murder are all he knows as he tries to follow the orders of his father, the sultan. After completing his recent assassination he is given a new task; to journey to Sharr where magic has been trapped for almost a century, claim a powerful magic artifact, and kill the hunter sent to retrieve it. However, things may not go as smoothly as his previous kills.

(Read the official synopsis on Amazon or Goodreads)

Review

First Thoughts

I liked this book. I don't usually read desert fantasies, but this was a lot of fun. The story was well thought out, the characters were compelling, and the action was exhilarating. I love the cover too, it's gorgeous and fits the story so well.

Plot

The plot was interesting. The world-building was amazing in my opinion and the lore was intriguing. The focus on politics and regional issues was well done and set the tone of the book very well from the beginning, although some problems seemed to have been forgotten as the story wore on (I'll share more in the section about things I didn't like). However, the ability to weave together such an atmospheric and emotional story needs to be admired. I could feel the sand on my skin, the chill of the Arz, and the sweetness of the ice cream Zafira spooned into her mouth. 

The writing could be a little description-heavy at times, but I liked that. The history of the sisters of old, the lion, and the mysterious prison island of Sharr was relayed perfectly and I was focused on remembering every part of it. Each time the lore was expanded on, my love for the story grew. The plot itself did have some cliché elements, but there were plenty of shocking developments and plot twists too. The Arabian setting was different for me, probably the first time I had read it, and I found myself looking forward to the sprinkling of Arabic culture, delicacies, and architecture as I continued this epic journey. 

I am a huge fan of quests and trials so this was right up my alley. 

Characters

I liked a lot of the characters, the writing for each character was unique and gave such deep insights into their lives and traumas that I felt drawn to them, and could sympathize with their feelings and actions. 

Zafira was one of my favorites. She is stubborn, brave, strong, and falling apart. You can feel her pain and you can understand her sorrow. Her feelings of guilt towards her sister and mother as well as her yearning for honor and change made her seem human. She wasn't perfect, but she was trying her best for her family and her community. Her friendship with Yasmine and Deen was so beautifully written that I could feel its warmth and the irreplaceable place they held in Zafira's heart. Her sense of responsibility towards the people suffering in Demenhur, although misplaced, was commendable and you could feel the weight of the world on her shoulders. I loved her confidence in her abilities, and being honored as the Demenhune hunter by the people who her kills nourished I wasn't sure whether Zafira could live up to the hype of her hunting skills but she did so wonderfully.

Nasir was also a character I was immediately drawn to, I mean who wouldn't be? Propped up as the incarnation of Satan (I exaggerate), the heartless, bloodthirsty prince, Nasir was none of the above. He was perhaps the most vulnerable and broken character in this whole book. His scars from his childhood and his longing for his father's love and approval made me feel for him. I was nearly in tears at times, all because of him. He is such a departure from the usual confident and powerful lead character and that's what made him charming. His hesitance, his deep introspection, and his confusion at catching feelings for the huntress he was sent to kill were some of the most memorable parts of this tale. His growing attachment to others was heartwarming to read about.

Altair is another character I must highlight because I love him. He is confident, witty, and devoted to annoying Nasir. The sultan's prized general but also so much more. His amicability was so great that one could say he was the glue holding the rag-tag group together. Even Nasir became begrudgingly fond of Altair and his nonchalance. You can tell that Altair's confidence is a front for something, but that will probably come to light in the second book. Altair is mysterious, a part of every conversation, but his motives are hidden in the shadows. I can't wait to learn more about him.

Kifah and Benyamin however were a little less interesting to me, I liked them, but mostly I liked how the others; Zafira, Nasir, and Altair, interacted with them. I hope the next book reveals more about their characters. Although, Kifa sharing her snacks with Zafira is one of my favorite parts of their journey together.

Things I Didn't Like

Firstly, Sharr was hyped up as the home of all monstrous and demonic beings. Monsters vast enough to fill several tomes were said to reside on the island. Even stepping foot on Sharr was a death sentence, but when we got there, it was a little lackluster. There were fewer attacks than I expected from the place where the darkness threatening their futures emerged, but maybe I'm being picky. Even when they were crossing the Baransea, I was expecting horrors, but Nasir and Altair just happened upon one monster, and that was it. Zafira, meanwhile, didn't have any issues crossing that ancient sea, which I found odd.

Secondly, I don't know if it's just me, but I didn't feel as attached to some characters, like Kifah and Benyamin. I liked them, but strangely didn't feel as strongly for them as I did for Zafira, Nasir, and Altair. I could tell the author was trying her best to give depth to both characters, but maybe because they were unexpected additions, I found it hard to feel drawn to them.

Thirdly, the quest started amazingly. I could feel the exhilaration and fear, but that soon fizzled out, and the journey felt like it was taking forever. The pacing was a bit of a mess, and there were plenty of chapters where I was waiting for something exciting to happen, but it never did. 

Fourthly, A major part of the plot was that Zafira was afraid that her achievements would be belittled if it were revealed that she was a woman. At the start, this was conveyed very well. As the story went on, however, the impact of this point seemed to fade and I could hardly believe it was a part of the same story. I am not saying that this book should have been a haven of feminism or overthrowing the patriarchy, but that plot point was a little too easy to forget. 

In Summation

I liked this book and would recommend it if you love desert settings and Arabian-inspired stories. If you like fast-paced stories this may not be the best fit. However, if you love rich world-building, endearing characters, a slow-burn romance, and a quest for glory, well, look no further. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book. This series is a duology too, so I hope the conclusion is amazing. 

Rating: 4/5 🌟

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I'm going to be doing something different for my next post. I'll be participating in That Artsy Reader Girl's Top Ten Tuesday, so I'll see you on Tuesday 😊.