My Thoughts: We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

We Free the Stars
(Sands of Arawiya #2)
by Hafsah Faizal

Publication Date: January 19th 2021
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 592
ISBN: 9780374311575
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

The battle on Sharr is over. The dark forest has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah are bound for Sultan’s Keep, determined to finish the plan he set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, and finally returning magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Night’s return.

As the zumra plots to overthrow the kingdom’s darkest threat, Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood. He must learn to hone his power into a weapon, to wield not only against the Lion but against his father, trapped under the Lion’s control. Zafira battles a very different darkness festering in her through her bond with the Jawarat—a darkness that hums with voices, pushing her to the brink of her sanity and to the edge of a chaos she dare not unleash. In spite of the darkness enclosing ever faster, Nasir and Zafira find themselves falling into a love they can’t stand to lose…but time is running out to achieve their ends, and if order is to be restored, drastic sacrifices will have to be made.

Lush and striking, hopeful and devastating, We Free the Stars is the masterful conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology by New York Times–bestselling author Hafsah Faizal. (Goodreads)

We Free the Stars, the much-anticipated sequel to We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, was very high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2021, and I am beyond thrilled, and a little sad, to have finally read the book! It was well worth the wait.

If you’ve read my review for We Hunt the Flame, then you probably know that the book and I got off to an … interesting start. I tried four separate times to read the book, but couldn’t get into it the first three. (It was definitely an *it’s me, not the book* situation.) I was determined that my fourth try was going to be my last, and I don’t what happened, but SOMETHING CLICKED, and I devoured the book! It quickly became one of my favorite reads of 2019, and is also on my favorite series list as well.

Before starting We Free the Stars, I decided to read We Hunt the Flame again to refresh the story in my brain. I am so glad that I did! I loved the story even more the second time around, and I had somehow forgotten, (or blocked, lol), the ending of the book. HOW could I have forgotten it?? (I’m so sorry, Altair!) I’m very glad that I decided to re-read.

We Free the Stars picks up right where We Hunt the Flame leaves off, and takes you on another great adventure that will have you hooked as you turn the pages. I don’t want to say too much about the story here, because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, but WOW. What a story! I loved it so much, and all the characters as well. They are all so great! Especially Zafira. She’s so awesome!

This series really is such a great read, and I am so sad to see it end. If I had any complaint about the books, it would be that this is just a duology and not a trilogy. I would love more! I’m not at all ready to let these characters and this story go. Sigh.

I also want to add that while I have finished copies of the books, I decided to listen to the audiobooks for them, and they are fantastic! The narrators, Fiona Hardingham and Steve West are two of my most favorite narrators, and I loved listening to them in yet another series!

Overall; I really, really enjoyed We Free the Stars SO much! It was a great ending to a fantastic series. This will definitely be a series that I read again and again in the future, and I already can’t wait to start the story over. I'm also excited to check out more books by Hafsah in the future, including her upcoming series, A Tempest of Tea, which is expected to release sometime in 2022! If you haven't already checked out the Sands of Arawiya series, I highly recommend it! And the audiobooks as well!

Waiting on Wednesday: A Vow So Bold and Deadly & We Free the Stars

A Vow So Bold and Deadly
(Cursebreakers #3)
by Brigid Kemmerer
(website)

Release Date: January 26th 2021
by Bloomsbury YA

Face your fears, fight the battle.
Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyone—even Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace.

Fight the battle, save the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and magical scraver by her side. As Grey's deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs.

As two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series.

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We Free the Stars
(Sands of Arawiya #2)
by Hafsah Faizal
(website)

Release Date: January 19th 2021
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

The sequel to the New York Times–bestselling We Hunt the Flame, Zafira and Nasir must conquer the darkness around—and inside of—them.

The battle on Sharr is over. The dark forest has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah are bound for Sultan’s Keep, determined to finish the plan he set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, and finally returning magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Night’s return.

As the zumra plots to overthrow the kingdom’s darkest threat, Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood. He must learn to hone his power into a weapon, to wield not only against the Lion but against his father, trapped under the Lion’s control. Zafira battles a very different darkness festering in her through her bond with the Jawarat—a darkness that hums with voices, pushing her to the brink of her sanity and to the edge of a chaos she dare not unleash. In spite of the darkness enclosing ever faster, Nasir and Zafira find themselves falling into a love they can’t stand to lose…but time is running out to achieve their ends, and if order is to be restored, drastic sacrifices will have to be made.

Lush and striking, hopeful and devastating, We Free the Stars is the masterful conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology by New York Times–bestselling author Hafsah Faizal.

Add to Goodreads

•     •     •

2021 is already looking great with these two upcoming January releases that I am SO excited for! I feel like I've been waiting for both books for FOREVER, and I'm thrilled that I will soon have them in my hands. But first, I have to do re-reads of the first books! Yay!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

My Thoughts: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

We Hunt the Flame
(Sands of Arawiya #1)
by Hafsah Faizal
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 14th 2019
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 472
ISBN: 9780374311544
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Review Copy / Own

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

People lived because she killed.
People died because he lived.

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.

Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands. (Goodreads)

To be completely honest, I tried multiple times over the last half of 2019 to read We Hunt the Flame, and for some reason I never could quite click with the book. I was very disappointed by this, as I had heard SO many great things about how much everyone wanted to love the book, and I really wanted to read it so I could form my own opinion.

LUCKILY FOR ME… I was determined to give the book One More Try before the year ended, and the best thing happened… THE BOOK and I TOTALLY CLICKED! I don’t know how, or why, but I started the book, and I DEVOURED it. And, it was so great!

What did I like about this book, you ask? Everything. The characters were awesome. I loved Zafira, and Nasir, and the whole crew that we meet along the way. They were all so great, and I really enjoyed watching the relationships between them all grow.

What else did I like? The storyline. It was a pretty awesome journey that this random crew took over the course of the story, and I loved every minute of it. And yes, I even liked the cliffhanger ending, which will definitely keep me pining away until the next book, We Free the Stars, is released. (I can’t wait!)

Overall; I am SO glad that I decided to give We Hunt the Flame one more shot, as I ended up really, really enjoying the book! I can’t wait to get my hands on We Free the Stars, which is currently set to release in July of this year! (And I will definitely be re-reading this book again before the sequel is released!)

Waiting on Wednesday: Finale & We Hunt the Flame

Finale
(Caraval #3)
by Stephanie Garber
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250157669

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Available for Pre-Order:
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Welcome, welcome to Finale, the third and final book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series!

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...all games must come to an end.

It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has seen Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own. Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finaly, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win...and those who will lose everything. . . (Goodreads)

Whooo! Is anyone else super curious for this book?
I'm dying to know how the series is going to end.
I can't wait to get started on this!!

We Hunt the Flame
(Sands of Arawiya #1)
by Hafsah Faizal
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publisher: May 14th 2019
ISBN: 9780374311544

Add to Goodreads

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

People lived because she killed.
People died because he lived.

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.

Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands. (Goodreads)

Does this sound really awesome, or what??
I've heard nothing but good things from people who have read it so far,

and I absolutely can't wait to read it myself!
(And soon!)

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**