To Amy Georgopoulos and Jenny Ethington, the librarians who were my pathway to the world of publishing. Thank you for helping teen-me out of her shell and for introducing her to the magic of book blogging.
To Catherine Gnoffo, mentor and friend, gone too soon. To my grandfather, whom I miss every day, who pressed crisp dollar bills into my palms so I could buy that new Harry Potter book at the fair. I wish you were both here to hold this book in your hands.
And last but not least: My deepest gratitude goes to you, dear reader. For picking up this book, devouring my words, and supporting a dream. None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you for being a part of Zafira’s journey, Nasir’s quest, and my adventure. Shukrun.
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR
We Hunt the Flame
“Beautiful storytelling, mesmerizing settings, and fiery characters— We Hunt the Flame is danger, magic, and hope all wrapped into one, and it is intoxicating.”
—EVELYN SKYE,
New York Times–bestselling author of the Crown’s Game series
“Hafsah Faizal’s voice is not one that simply speaks but sings across the page. We Hunt the Flame is a spellbinding tale filled with deception, political intrigue, and atmosphere that lives and breathes. I am obsessed with this story.”
—KERRI MANISCALCO,
#1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series
“Fresh, bold storytelling populated with vibrant characters marks Hafsah Faizal as an explosive new voice in fantasy. Charged with adrenaline and romance, We Hunt the Flame held me enthralled and desperate for more!”
—JESSICA KHOURY,
author of the Corpus trilogy and The Forbidden Wish
“I adore Hafsah’s writing; she has such a beautiful way with words.”
—BETH REVIS,
New York Times–bestselling author of A World Without You
“With bold prose, Faizal stitches together darkly intriguing magic, a rich cast of characters (including, of course, our favorite kind of self-loathing prince), and a refreshingly nonexoticized Arabian-inspired setting.”
—ALLISON SENECAL,
bookseller at Old Firehouse Books
“In this thrilling new addition to the fantasy genre, Arabian mythology mixes with action, humor, romance, and identity as a diverse cast of characters quests to save not only their home but also themselves. From freezing snow to burning sand, Faizal draws readers in with sumptuous writing. Magic and mystery keep the pages turning until the very end.”
—MADELINE DORMAN,
bookseller at Blue Willow Bookshop
“Classic fantasy elements get a fresh take in this expertly crafted, Arabian-inspired world that is dark, romantic, and entirely enchanting. With complex characters that tug on your heartstrings and a story that is lush in both its beauty and prose, Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame is not to be missed!”
—KATIE STUTZ,
bookseller at Anderson’s Bookshop
“We Hunt the Flame is a lush and vibrant epic fantasy immersed in ancient Arabian culture that will leave you wanting more. Perfect for fans of Roshani Chokshi and Renée Ahdieh.”
—MELISSA LEE,
bookseller at Blue Bunny Books
“In her incredible debut, Hafsah Faizal has crafted a whirlwind Arabian-inspired fantasy, filled with heart-stopping twists; powerful friendships; a steamy, well-developed romance; and lyrical prose that left me breathless. Fans of The City of Brass or Children of Blood and Bone will devour this tale that left me with my jaw on the floor, distressed that the story was over.”
—SHAUNA SINYARD,
bookseller at Park Road Books
“Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame is a gorgeously written, exquisitely built world that you will want to stay in forever. Nasir and Zafira are epic protagonists, and the entwining of their stories results in one of the most stunning pieces of YA fantasy literature.”
—RACHEL STROLLE,
librarian at Glenside Public Library District
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hafsah Faizal is an American Muslim and brand designer. She’s the founder of IceyDesigns, where she creates websites for authors and beauteous goodies for everyone else. When she’s not writing, she can be found dreaming up her next design, deciding between Assassin’s Creed and Skyrim, or traversing the world. Born in Florida and raised in California, she now resides in Texas with her family and a library of books waiting to be devoured. WE HUNT THE FLAME is her first novel. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraph
Map
Act I. Silver as A Crescent Moon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Act II. A Long Way from Home
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Act III. The Lies We Eat
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Advance Praise for We Hunt the Flame
About the Author
Copyright
Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
Text copyright © 2019 Hafsah Faizal
All rights reserved
<
br /> First hardcover edition, 2019
eBook edition, May 2019
fiercereads.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Faizal, Hafsah, author.
Title: We hunt the flame / Hafsah Faizal.
Description: First edition. | New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019.| Summary: In a world inspired by ancient Arabia, seventeen-year-old huntress Zafira must disguise herself as a man to seek a lost artifact that could return magic to her cursed world.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018035775 | ISBN 9780374311544 (hardcover)
Subjects: CYAC: Fantasy. | Magic—Fiction. | Blessing and cursing—Fiction. | Impersonation—Fiction. | Middle East—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.F347 We 2019 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018035775
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by email at [email protected].
eISBN 9780374311568
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraph
Map
Act I. Silver as A Crescent Moon
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Act II. A Long Way from Home
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Act III. The Lies We Eat
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Advance Praise for We Hunt the Flame
About the Author
Newsletter Sign-up
Copyright
We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya) Page 40