YA Review: WE HUNT THE FLAME by Hafsah Faizal

We Hunt the Flame

by Hafsah Faizal

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

 May 14, 2019

472 pages

Plot: 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 king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. 

Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine. (2020, Goodreads.com)

Review:  On a quest to save her people from the Arz, a magical forest that is slowly taking over the land, Zafira journeys to the dangerous island of Sharr in order to find the missing Jarawat, a book believed to be able to stop the Arz from spreading.  But, Zafira is not the only one looking for the book.  

Also known as the Prince of Death, Nasir is on a never-ending mission to please his father, the King.  He has done and will do the unthinkable in order to fulfill his father's orders.  But, finding out the Hunter is a woman makes Nasir second guess his orders, and after spending time with Zafira he starts to question whether or not he deserves a second chance to be the leader his kingdom desperately needs.

I really enjoyed We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal.  The writing is excellent and really draws you into the story.  I usually don't like slow-start stories, but this one just hooks you anyway!  The writing is that good!  Faizal does a great job with the character development of Zafira, Nasir, and Altair.  The grit and perseverance of Zafira, the internal conflicts of Nasir, and the mystery and humor of Altair help the reader to connect with these characters.

Lots of plot twists, especially in Act III.  Overall, a great read and I absolutely cannot wait until book two!  If you enjoy great character development, slow but satisfying world-building, and enemy's to lovers romance than We Hunt the Flame is a must-read! Great for fans of The Wrath and the Dawn duology and The Star-Touched Queen series.  Recommended for 14 and up!

Book Two: We Free the Stars (July 2020)

Rating:  5 Hearts!

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