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Sands of Arawiya #1-2
Sands of Arawiya Series 2 Books Collection Set By Hafsah Faizal
The Sands of Arawiya duology from Hafsah Faizal is a spellbinding epic set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia. This set includes both novels in beautiful hardcover We Hunt the Flame, and We Free the Stars.
Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
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About the author
Hafsah Faizal
12 books11.2k followersHafsah Faizal is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of WE HUNT THE FLAME, WE FREE THE STARS and A TEMPEST OF TEA, and the founder of IceyDesigns, where she creates websites for authors and beauteous goodies for everyone else. A Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, when she’s not writing, she can be found designing, playing Assassin’s Creed, or traversing the world. Born in Florida and raised in California, she now resides in Texas with a library of books waiting to be devoured.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 30, 2023
*3.5 stars, rounded up
We Hunt the Flame: 4 stars
We Free the Stars: 3 stars
We Hunt the Flame: 4 stars
We Free the Stars: 3 stars
September 17, 2023
For Zane exclusively: I really want you to read this. Would be happy to translate anything as you read it; I think you'd love the story too.
February 27, 2024
Soooo, I read this Jan/Dec and it was a decent read. I took some time to get into the whole story tbh, but I was then surprisingly fond of the first part. The second one- not so much, therefore 3/5.
What‘s refreshing is a Fantasy world resembling Arabia that‘s not actually the product of a white western mind. The author‘s heritage gave the novels authenticity, and I felt like I was really getting a look at a different culture that I haven‘t encountered in too many books (again- meaning authentically).
Was I deeply in love with Nasir? No. But I grew to like him a lot. Of course I preferred Altair though. Also, please, I really hoped that something would happen between Altair and the girl with the spear whose name I now can‘t remember. She gave me huge bi vibes, but unfortunately that seems to be just my interpretation.
However - no smut, very little kissing even, so if you‘re there for some action, you‘ll be disappointed.
The plottwists were nice, but especially Altair being a double-agent seemed foreseeable.
I‘m glad I read them because the setting, the culture and the language were something „new“, but I‘ve read better fantasy books. Maybe I feel that way because it‘s quite slow-paced.
However, the first part really gets going once the zumra has formed on Sharr - tempo picks up, you get to know who is who and why they‘re there and of course they have to fit ifrit and those dragons etc..
One last remark - I would have REALLY liked for the creatures on Sharr to be even more dangerous and eerie (although I understand why they weren‘t).
What‘s refreshing is a Fantasy world resembling Arabia that‘s not actually the product of a white western mind. The author‘s heritage gave the novels authenticity, and I felt like I was really getting a look at a different culture that I haven‘t encountered in too many books (again- meaning authentically).
Was I deeply in love with Nasir? No. But I grew to like him a lot. Of course I preferred Altair though. Also, please, I really hoped that something would happen between Altair and the girl with the spear whose name I now can‘t remember. She gave me huge bi vibes, but unfortunately that seems to be just my interpretation.
However - no smut, very little kissing even, so if you‘re there for some action, you‘ll be disappointed.
The plottwists were nice, but especially Altair being a double-agent seemed foreseeable.
I‘m glad I read them because the setting, the culture and the language were something „new“, but I‘ve read better fantasy books. Maybe I feel that way because it‘s quite slow-paced.
However, the first part really gets going once the zumra has formed on Sharr - tempo picks up, you get to know who is who and why they‘re there and of course they have to fit ifrit and those dragons etc..
One last remark - I would have REALLY liked for the creatures on Sharr to be even more dangerous and eerie (although I understand why they weren‘t).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2024
This series is the perfect length for someone who wants to read a well-written, detailed story but also doesn't want to commit to several books, like me, who doesn't get as much time to read as I used to.
It is also the perfect combination of all the tropes I love: enemies to lovers; dark, morally gray, and misunderstood male lead; strong but sometimes flawed female lead; and wonderfully complex and well-written characters that surround the main leads and have their own stories.
If you ever find yourself in a YA reading slump, I would highly recommend this. I come back to this series, especially the first book, which is my favorite, when I have a down day. The books are well-written, and the pacing is just right. However, the second book does slow down a bit. The wonderful representation of Arabian folklore is an added bonus. I wish I had this book growing up. Thirteen-year-old me would worship Zafira!
It is also the perfect combination of all the tropes I love: enemies to lovers; dark, morally gray, and misunderstood male lead; strong but sometimes flawed female lead; and wonderfully complex and well-written characters that surround the main leads and have their own stories.
If you ever find yourself in a YA reading slump, I would highly recommend this. I come back to this series, especially the first book, which is my favorite, when I have a down day. The books are well-written, and the pacing is just right. However, the second book does slow down a bit. The wonderful representation of Arabian folklore is an added bonus. I wish I had this book growing up. Thirteen-year-old me would worship Zafira!
July 18, 2023
This is 'enemy-to-lover' kind of fantasy/dystopian book. I think it is fairly interesting
because the male mc is an assassin and the female mc is a hunter which allegedly suppose
to a male doing these. The journey to find the magic is pretty eye opening where they will
join hands and fight together as different 'communities' with their unique powers. Talks a
lot on belonging like how someone wants to belong somewhere and when they belong
somewhere, they tend to see the negative aspect of it. I think it would be better if this is
a movie. This book is nice, but it feels a little slow(?) in some sense. It also speaks quite a
lot on someone changing whether is it growing up or because of their circumstances.
Sometimes we don't realise until someone mentioned that they are not the 'same' as before
anymore. Overall, I think it is not bad as a series.
because the male mc is an assassin and the female mc is a hunter which allegedly suppose
to a male doing these. The journey to find the magic is pretty eye opening where they will
join hands and fight together as different 'communities' with their unique powers. Talks a
lot on belonging like how someone wants to belong somewhere and when they belong
somewhere, they tend to see the negative aspect of it. I think it would be better if this is
a movie. This book is nice, but it feels a little slow(?) in some sense. It also speaks quite a
lot on someone changing whether is it growing up or because of their circumstances.
Sometimes we don't realise until someone mentioned that they are not the 'same' as before
anymore. Overall, I think it is not bad as a series.
April 20, 2024
3.75⭐️
I was surprised how good this dulogy was.. the second book was slow, but overall it worth your time.
Zafira, the FMC, is a badass heroine.. stubborn and brave 💪🏼 I also loved all the main characters, specifically Altair, he is so funny and witty, he deserves his own book.
The epilogue was too brief and was only for Zafira and Nasir, though I would love to read how things ended up with the other characters.
I am so excited to read the next book for this author, “A Tempest of Tea”, and I already got my copy 🤩 so excited.
I was surprised how good this dulogy was.. the second book was slow, but overall it worth your time.
Zafira, the FMC, is a badass heroine.. stubborn and brave 💪🏼 I also loved all the main characters, specifically Altair, he is so funny and witty, he deserves his own book.
The epilogue was too brief and was only for Zafira and Nasir, though I would love to read how things ended up with the other characters.
I am so excited to read the next book for this author, “A Tempest of Tea”, and I already got my copy 🤩 so excited.
June 18, 2024
READ. THESE. BOOKS. This duology is my favorite series written in the last decade. As an avid reader of all genres, that’s high praise. These books are beautifully written, the characters are well-developed and lovable, great world-building, romance, the works.
April 28, 2023
If you like the legend of Sharazad or Arabian fantasy this is so for you!! Must read both!!! The character development will blow you over!!
October 23, 2025
Perfection at its peak!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews