We Free the Stars

November 15, 2020
Reeling after the battle on Sharr, the zumra must find a way to retrieve their captive ally, the lost heart of a Sister of Old, and prepare Arawiya for the return of the Lion of the Night and the war to come. Altair's capture creates confusion for Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah, who are torn between a rescue attempt and following his plans, but without all five hearts they cannot restore magic to Arawiya. The zumra and their allies must also prepare for the Lion's coming attack and the traps of the sultan, Nasir's father, who is under the Lion's control. Through an accidental blood pact, Zafira is bound to the Jawarat, a magical tome of the Sisters' memories, whose presence in her innermost thoughts suggests terrible power and destruction. When the Lion steals the Jawarat, Zafira must risk using blood magic to set things to right, unaware of the seeds of doubt the Lion has already planted in Altair. Getting off to a slow start with minimal recap of the events of We Hunt the Flame (2019), this Sands of Arawiya duology closer will not disappoint readers with its plot twists, banter, tormented romance, and multiple betrayals and reveals. While at times overly ornate, Faizal's prose truly shines in creating effective action scenes and dialogue. Characters from various regions and races--human, elflike safin, and ifrit--have skin tones ranging from pale to dark brown. Kifah is cued as asexual and aromantic. A satisfying conclusion. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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February 26, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Determined to finish their quest to return magic to Arawiya, Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah head to the island of Sharr. But the Lion of the Night has returned and he holds Altair and the final heart captive. The stakes are high as the heroes attempt to gather allies and strength while fighting their own battles: Nasir learning to wield his new magical abilities and Zafira fighting to maintain autonomy within her bond with the Jawarat. If at times the pacing feels off and the language a bit stilted or too flowery for the moment, both are forgiven in the strength of Faizal's characters and the expanse of the glorious world she has built. The characters shine as they did in We Hunt the Flame, and fans of the growing affection between Zafira and Nasir will not be disappointed. VERDICT An action-packed conclusion. Purchase where the first book was loved.-India Winslow, formerly at Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2020
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Following their treacherous journey in 2019's We Hunt the Flame, Zafira and Nasir must finally return the hearts of the ancient Sisters to the kingdom's minarets in order to restore magic to Arawiya--but their time is cut short by the return of the Lion of the Night, striking fear across the land. In this phenomenal conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology, the once-tentative allies of the zumra--led by Zafira and Nasir after being thrown together in pursuit of a common goal--have their new bond put to the test by shocking betrayals and difficult sacrifices. Faizal explores the relationships within the group by pushing each member to the brink with guilt and grief, and before finally facing the Lion, Zafira and Nasir must face the inner turmoil within themselves. In the end, each achingly raw character arc is fully realized, delivering a satisfying close to the zumra's story. Faizal's craft continues to evolve as she demonstrates a facility with language and literary technique, drawing readers into a fantasy world and into the lives of characters that feel impressively real. Moments of humor and edge-of-your-seat action easily balance the book's dark, tragic depths, creating a memorable story at the height of the fantasy genre.

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