Book Review: We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

 

Short Description

The struggle on Sharr is over, the zumra possesses a majority of the hearts needed to return magic to Arawiya and they are determined to make that happen. With a heavy heart, they travel to Sultan's Keep to restore the hearts to the minarets. Altair's absence weighs on their minds as Arawiya faces the truth of the Lion's return. The Arz is gone, yet darkness remains for Nasir who must learn to hone his destructive abilities, and for Zafira whose bond with the Jawarat is not as simple as once believed. Altair too deals with the darkness in his heart and his growing confusion about his captor. Sharr may have been conquered, but more dangerous foes follow them wherever they go. The Lion is on the move, and Arawiya as they know it may cease to exist if they fail to stop him. Low on allies and resources alike the zumra must band together and overcome betrayal and doubt before the lion overcomes everything.

(Read the official synopsis on Amazon or Goodreads)

Review

It's been a while since I reviewed We Hunt The Flame, so if you haven't read that review or you'd like to refresh your memory you can check it out here. I'm so glad I can finally share my review for the sequel We Free the Stars, I hope you enjoy reading.

First Thoughts

My first thought when starting this book was that I hoped it would be better than the first one. Not that I didn't like the first one, but because how a story ends is a huge contributor to how I feel about the story as a whole. I didn't need to worry. I loved this book, and the ending is one of my favorites.

Plot

A truly emotional and exciting read.  We Free the Stars is a magnificent end to a fantastic tale. I read the first book, We Hunt The Flame, a while ago, and though I liked it there were a few things I didn't like. We Free The Stars was a great improvement in my opinion. I loved the pacing, it didn't seem as drawn out and slow-paced. We follow Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah as they attempt to restore the sisters' hearts and bring magic back to Arawiya. In addition, they also need to save Altair, defeat the Lion, and free the sultan. An epic and challenging quest indeed. There was never a dull moment, and I found myself turning page after page, forgetting about the time. Every character left an impression on me and often reduced me to tears. 

This was a splendid tale of betrayal, magic, family, adventure, friendship, trauma, grief, and inner strength. I mentioned how much I loved the lore in the first book and this book just cemented my love for it. This book expanded on the lore very well. It gives the readers a deeper more sympathetic look into other species like the Ifrit and the Safi, previously believed to be otherworldly or evil. There is a lot of introspection in this book and self-discovery. Away from the horrors of Sharr, our characters have even graver concerns to grapple with. There was a greater focus on politics in this book compared to the first, with the sultan and the Lion to deal with. I never felt that something should have been different, which was a thought I sometimes had in the first book. 

I was obsessed with Zafira and Nasir's relationship in this book. With so many dangers and uncertainties the way they were able to be there for each other was heartwarming. The romance was still more of a slow burn, but every moment felt magical and meaningful. I love how Altair was a driving force in this book, I wish I could say more, but I don't want to spoil the story. As with all conclusions, I often felt anxious because even if the story was wonderful the ending could make or break it for me. I was afraid the ending would feel incomplete, but I was relieved. I was in awe of how spectacular the ending was, and pretty unexpected too,  but I'll stop there, I don't want to give it away. I am glad I read this duology, and the Arabia-inspired world has forever found a place in my heart.

Characters

Zafira - I liked Zafira in We Hunt the Flame, she was everything I would have expected from a huntress, brave, stubborn, and very skilled. In this book, the Arz is gone, so the need for the hunter has also vanished. I loved how the author chose to expound on Zafira's emotions, her doubts about her capabilities, and her anxiety about the future. Having lived as the hunter for so long, and having her identity tied to that profession was very expertly handled by Hafsah Faizal. Throw in an enchanted book that whispers strange ideas into her mind, and this book provides challenge after challenge for Zafira to overcome to feel like herself again.

Nasir - One of my favorite characters in this duology. This book gave us a deeper look into Nasir's fears, hopes, and dreams. Away from the dangers of Sharr, Nasir has to come to terms with his impending future and what that means for his relationship. He was still one of the sweetest characters in this book, willing to do anything to protect Zafira and his newfound family. Nasir's character development was my favorite, he went from a cold-blooded assassin to a sweet, compassionate, hesitant, and thoughtful young man. I also love his desperation to find Altair and his unwavering admiration for his brother. Nasir had a lot to live up to in this book and he did so wonderfully.

Kifah - If you've read my review of We Hunt the Flame you'll remember that I didn't feel a strong connection to Kifah when she was first introduced. This book made me change my mind entirely. We finally get to know her more, to understand her motivations, and to witness her strength. She is brave, loyal, sassy, witty, trusting, and a wonderful friend. I'm so glad this book gave her the attention she deserved.

Lana - I love that we got to know Lana so much more in this book. In We Hunt The Flame we knew very little about her other than the fact that she was Zafira's little sister. In this book we got a deeper look into her thoughts, opinions, dreams, and sparkling personality. She was different than what I had previously believed, and she quickly became one of my favorite characters. Zafira was often concerned about her sister in the first book, but this book made her see her sister for who she is. I loved every minute of it.

The Lion - We get a more emotional look at the villain in this book. I'm not going to say too much about him, but there is a lot more to him than meets the eye. There were even times when I found myself sympathizing with him. Imagine that!

Altair - Altair was my favorite character. We finally get a look into his thoughts, emotions, and the many secrets he's carried throughout his life. I love that we get Altair's P.OV. in this book, which is new and very appreciated. In addition to the humorous banter, we also see the emotions the man has bottled up for years while diligently working to make positive changes to Arawiya. Altair is one of the characters in this book who has to make the most difficult decisions, and watching everything unfold is amazing. I finished the first book hoping for more Altair, and in this book, I got what I wanted.

Things I Didn't Like

Firstly, I feel that certain events are really hyped up, but the actual event doesn't live up to expectations. Especially in the case of events surrounding Yasmine.

Secondly, I've felt this way since the first book, but some deaths seem unnecessary and don't add much to the story. Sure they give the other characters trauma, but it seems excessive at times. I'm not even saying the characters meant a lot to me. Most of the time it was characters I didn't see too much of, yet their deaths just made me angry because I couldn't see the point.

In Summation

I loved this book more than the first. The book truly exceeded any expectations I had of it. The ending will evoke happiness for a long time for me. If you loved We Hunt the Flame you will surely love We Free the Stars even more. I was never much of a desert fantasy reader, in fact, I try to stay away from them, but I was obsessed with this duology. So if you feel that desert fantasies aren't your thing, try this one out, maybe you'll change your mind. I do have to say that though the pace was much better in this book, it's not a fast-paced book. So if you are looking for a quick read, maybe this isn't the book you should pick up. However, if you love complex and compelling characters, wonderful Arabian atmospheres, heartwarming slow-burn romance, and found family this should be the next book you choose. After reading the first book of course!

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

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Thanks for reading! I hope you liked my review. If you did, then follow my blog for more.

If you haven't read my review of The Day I Died by C.M. Francis, you can do so here.

I'll see you on Tuesday for the next Top Ten Tuesday. The next topic is the oldest books on my TBR.