The Lion Tamer: The Hamza Ghazouani Duology (Book 1)

by Lina H. Fredj

747 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2025

About the author

Comparative Literature & Humanities Scholar.

Author of: We Created You in Pairs (3 books) and The Lion Tamer & The Butterfly Catcher (2 books).

Reviews

[haffy xx · Rating 4 out of 5]

sooo much deeper than the ‘we created you in pairs series’.
hamza is such a beautiful character and as an eldest daughter in an immigrant household- i see myself in him in so many different aspects.
i loved this xx

[laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into this book I knew it would be different from Riyadh and Ilyanna's story, and we would be seeing more of Hamza's struggles that he faces in private when no one is watching. Throughout it all, I knew Hamza has the capacity to change and better himself as a Muslim and as a human in general. I admired him because of his fiercesness, stubborness and his passion. Yara's character was very different from what I had in mind; She put Hamza in his place and even though she was really stubborn like him, she also had her internal struggles and difficulties that made it harder for her to convey her feelings and compartmentalise them therefore we see her ups and downs as well as her doubts. I found myself relating to her because whenever she faces a hardship, she retreats and copes with silence. It is safe to say that this book never once bored me throughout and I can certainly say that I think this is a book that will not only entertain you with its comedy, coziness, etc but also teach you about struggles that nobody notices and how to find the solution through Salah, Istikharah, Tahajjud and submitting yourself completely to Allah. I had such a fun time reading this book 100% recommend. I am excited for the next book which will be through Yara's eyes<333

[aminahthebooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing Hamza’s story was so satisfying, especially as the eldest son of the family. I’d previously read Ilyaana’s story and I could tell that his was just dying to be told.

What I never understood was how Hamza was keeping his Porsche afloat with his random side jobs. Like seriously, how is that even possible??

Going to Germany was unexpected but really brought out a sense of discipline in Hamza. He learned how to cook, built a system in place and even bought another car as another ‘investment’.

Him and Yara were so at odds with each other that it was funny at times. I didn’t feel like they had a lot of connection with each other, Yara was constantly angry and there were just a lot of missing bits in the plot line that didn’t add up.

Really, the last 20% of the novel dove down fast. I wouldn’t given this a 5 star review if everything wasn’t so rushed.

[Lyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books catch you off guard and hit you right in the gut , The Lion Tamer did just that. Lina blew me away once again. I honestly don’t know how she keeps getting better, but she does.
This story is quite different from what she’s written before, and that change of tone is exactly what makes it so powerful. The writing is smooth and beautiful as always, but there’s something deeper here. I laughed, I cried, I got frustrated—and by the end, I was emotionally wrecked in the best way.
Hamza absolutely broke me. He’s such a fragile, complex soul. I felt everything with him—his pain, his doubts, his hope. And then there’s Yara, who’s still a complete mystery. Unreadable but fascinating. I can feel there’s more to her story, and I can't wait to see where it goes.
Honestly, this book deserves way more recognition. It’s raw, moving, and so well-crafted. Easily one of the best things I’ve read this year.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start with this book? I love this book with my whole heart and now I have a hard decision deciding if Riyadh or Hamza will be my future husband. I promise no spoilers!

This is my first review ever and I’m so glad it’s this book. During exam season, it felt so comforting and made me forget about my impending A-levels 🤣 but this book was so beautiful 😊
I love how we get to see Hamza grow. My favourite scene is when Hamza feels so lost and finds comfort in Islam even though he’s never been that practising. - Islam is the same ❤️
The chemistry is amazing! I was giggling so much 🤭 It was so well written.

I can’t wait for the next book! 💜

[Sour.cheese · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BEST PLS
NOBODY CAN TELL ME OTHERWISE
The way this character evolves
The character development and everything abt this story is just so heartbreaking AND amazing
The bestt halal romance yet !!!