We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal is a rich young adult fantasy filled with magic, danger, secrets, ancient legends, political intrigue, and enemies forced to work together.

The story follows Zafira and Nasir.

Zafira is known as the Hunter.

Nasir is known as the Prince of Death.

Both are feared for what they can do.

Neither is truly free.

About We Hunt the Flame

We Hunt the Flame is the first book in the Sands of Arawiya duology.

The story takes place in Arawiya, a fantasy world inspired by ancient Arabia.

Magic has disappeared.

The land is suffering.

And something dangerous is growing in the shadows.

Zafira enters the cursed forest of the Arz to hunt for food.

She disguises herself as a man because her society would reject her accomplishments if her true identity became known.

Nasir has a different burden.

He is the son of the sultan.

He is also his father’s assassin.

Meet Zafira

Zafira is known as the Hunter.

She enters the dangerous Arz when others are too afraid to go.

Her skill helps feed her people.

But she hides the fact that she is a young woman.

That secret becomes part of her struggle.

Zafira wants to be recognized for what she can do.

She also wants to protect the people she loves.

Meet Nasir

Nasir is the Prince of Death.

He carries out assassinations for his father.

People fear him.

But the person they see is not the entire truth.

Nasir has compassion.

He simply cannot safely show it.

His father controls him through fear.

That makes Nasir one of the most emotionally complicated characters in the novel.

7 Powerful Reasons to Read We Hunt the Flame

1. A Rich Arabian-Inspired Fantasy World

The world of Arawiya is one of the biggest strengths of We Hunt the Flame.

The story includes deserts.

Forests.

Ancient ruins.

Magic.

Legends.

Palaces.

And dangerous creatures.

The setting gives the novel a distinctive atmosphere.

2. Strong Dual Protagonists

Zafira and Nasir are very different.

She hunts to keep people alive.

He kills because his father commands him.

Their paths eventually cross.

That creates tension from the beginning.

3. Enemies-to-Lovers Energy

Zafira and Nasir do not begin as allies.

They have different goals.

Different loyalties.

And many reasons not to trust one another.

Their changing relationship adds romantic tension without taking over the entire fantasy plot.

4. A Dangerous Quest

Zafira is sent on a mission that could change Arawiya.

She must seek an ancient artifact connected to the return of magic.

Nasir is sent after her.

Their objectives collide.

The journey quickly becomes more dangerous than either expected.

5. Found Family

The characters eventually form an unlikely group.

They do not trust each other immediately.

Some have secrets.

Some have hidden motives.

But shared danger slowly creates connection.

This found-family element adds warmth to the darker parts of the story.

6. Identity Is a Major Theme

Both Zafira and Nasir are forced to hide important parts of themselves.

Zafira hides her gender.

Nasir hides his compassion.

Both have public identities that do not completely match who they are inside.

The novel asks what happens when people begin choosing their own identities.

7. Magic and Mystery

Magic has disappeared from Arawiya.

The search for its return drives much of the story.

Ancient powers begin to surface.

Old legends become important.

And the characters slowly realize that the truth is more complicated than they expected.

The Arz

The Arz is a cursed forest.

It is dangerous.

Dark.

And full of mystery.

Most people fear entering it.

Zafira does not.

Her ability to navigate the forest makes her valuable to her people.

It also connects her to the larger mystery surrounding magic.

The Quest for Magic

Arawiya is suffering without magic.

The land is becoming harsher.

People are struggling.

Zafira is given the opportunity to help restore what was lost.

But the mission is dangerous.

And she is not the only person searching for the same power.

Nasir’s Mission

Nasir is sent by the sultan.

His job puts him directly in Zafira’s path.

At first, duty controls him.

But the journey begins changing the way he sees himself.

For the first time, he has to consider whether obedience is the same as loyalty.

Arawiya

Arawiya is divided into different regions.

Each has its own culture and atmosphere.

The world feels large.

History influences politics.

Old magic influences the present.

The setting is not simply a background.

It shapes the characters and their choices.

Fear and Courage

Fear appears throughout We Hunt the Flame.

Zafira is afraid of being exposed.

Nasir is afraid of his father.

Others fear magic.

The Arz.

Death.

Failure.

The novel does not treat courage as the absence of fear.

Instead, courage often means acting even when fear remains.

Power and Control

Power is another major theme.

The sultan controls through fear.

Magic has been lost.

The characters are trying to regain control of their own lives.

That makes the story partly about political power.

But it is also about personal freedom.

Friendship

The quest brings together characters with very different personalities.

At first, trust is limited.

Everyone has secrets.

Over time, friendships begin to form.

These relationships become increasingly important.

The group starts to feel like something more than temporary allies.

Romance

Romance develops gradually.

The connection between Zafira and Nasir is built through tension.

Suspicion.

Shared danger.

And moments of understanding.

Readers who enjoy slow-burn romance may especially appreciate their dynamic.

The Sands of Arawiya Reading Order

Read the duology in this order:

1. We Hunt the Flame
2. We Free the Stars

Hafsah Faizal confirms We Hunt the Flame released first, with We Free the Stars serving as the sequel and finale.

Who Should Read This Book?

We Hunt the Flame is ideal for readers who enjoy YA fantasy, enemies-to-lovers tension, magical quests, found family, strong heroines, morally complicated heroes, and richly imagined worlds.

Fans of Shadow and Bone or other character-driven fantasy adventures may also enjoy it.

It is especially suitable for readers who want fantasy inspired by Arabian culture and folklore.

About Hafsah Faizal

Hafsah Faizal is a bestselling author known for We Hunt the Flame, We Free the Stars, A Tempest of Tea, and A Steeping of Blood.

Her official site confirms that We Hunt the Flame was published in 2019 and is followed by We Free the Stars.

Readers can learn more through the official Hafsah Faizal website.

Product Details

Title: We Hunt the Flame

Author: Hafsah Faizal

Series: Sands of Arawiya

Series Number: 1

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Adventure / Romance

Language: English

Age Range: 14–18

Common Square Fish Paperback Edition

Publisher: Square Fish / Macmillan

ISBN-13: 9781250250797

Format: Paperback

Pages: 480

Publication Date: December 1, 2020

Macmillan confirms these specifications for the paperback edition.

Important Edition Note

There are multiple editions of We Hunt the Flame.

The original 2019 edition and later UK editions can have different ISBNs and page counts.

For example, Google Books lists a 2019 edition at 384 pages.

A later UK Pan Macmillan edition is listed at 512 pages.

Always check the barcode printed on your physical copy before entering final WooCommerce details.

Explore More Fantasy Books

We Hunt the Flame begins with two people trapped by identities they did not fully choose.

Zafira is the Hunter.

Nasir is the Prince of Death.

Their paths collide during a dangerous search for lost magic.

The journey forces them to question fear, loyalty, identity, and what they truly want.

Readers can explore more Fantasy Books at Bargain Books.

You can also explore Children & Young Adult Books at Bargain Books.

For readers who enjoy magical quests, enemies-to-lovers tension, found family, Arabian-inspired fantasy, and strong character development, We Hunt the Flame is a powerful start to the Sands of Arawiya duology.