We Hunt the Flame: Sands of Arawiya, Book 1
By Carrie R. Wheadon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Intriguing, sometimes confusing fantasy with Arabian flare.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Report this review
Report this review
What's the Story?
In WE HUNT THE FLAME, Zafira is the only one in her starving village who can hunt in the Arz, a cursed forest that swallows up more land every day. She helps feed her people in secret, pretending to be a man, because being a woman with power is considered bad luck ever since six ruling sisters mysteriously disappeared with all the world's magic 90 years before. When a silver witch appears with a quest to look for the lost magic, Zafira can't pass up the chance. The quest will take her far beyond the Arz, across the Baransea, and to the Sharr, an island that imprisoned dark magic in the time of the six sisters. No one expects her to come back alive, least of all the Sultan to the north, who sends his son Nasir, a trained assassin, to find the famed hunter and bring the lost magic to him.
Is It Any Good?
There are so many cool flourishes to this debut author's ancient Arabia-inspired fantasy world that you can forgive the parts of the story that confuse or could use more polish. Magical elements, immortal beings, places, and the folklore of the Arawiya aren't always presented clearly for the reader -- you'll consult the map at the front of the book to center yourself far more than you normally would -- but this world will still draw you in. So will the main characters, Zafira and Nasir. When it's clear they'll be on the same quest, you'll be anxious for them to meet and for the arrows and knives -- and, eventually, sparks -- to fly.
The island and the forest can think and feel, which is cool-- they're possibly malevolent, but not entirely. The chilling landscape draws both the main characters in for very different reasons and all its shadowy features add to the tension. So do the shapeshifting ifrit that dredge up the characters' struggles with loss and longing. The climactic action will confuse readers again with some last-minute realizations about what they're looking for and how to acquire it, but the setup for the sequel is exactly what's needed to tease up a new fan base.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ancient Arabian influence in We Hunt the Flame. How is the clothing of the characters described? What else feels culturally distinctive? What feels familiar?
The forest is a common bad omen in fairy tales and folklore around the world. What does it represent here?
Will you read the next in the series? What character's storyline are you looking forward to most?
Book Details
- Author: Hafsah Faizal
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Ocean Creatures
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication date: May 14, 2019
- Number of pages: 480
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 13, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Romantic Fantasy Books for Teens
Thrilling Books for Teens Who Love Fantasy
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate