We Free the Stars (Sands of Arawiya, 2) Paperback – November 8, 2022

Initial ThoughtsThere’s nothing like reading 450+ books between the first and second book in a series to remind you how much you missed the world. I read We Hunt the Flame in May of 2019 and oh wow was I frustrated with the ending. I actually preorder my copy of this book in October of 2019 and here we are in 2021 just talking about it. Needless to say, I was excited to read this book.Some Things I LikedStunning world building with lush descriptions. As mentioned above, I read a TON of books between books 1 and 2, but, all that did was mature my reading taste. While I might have rebuffed the poetic language in book 1, I craved it in book 2. Hafsah Faizal paints such rich pictures I felt like I could close my eyes and see what Zafira, Nasir, or any of my favorites were seeing at any given moment.That romance. Never have I ever been so tortured by slow burn romance and loved it so much. I probably had a moment every other chapter where I wanted to either shake Zafira or Nasir and be like “JUST SAY IT!” The tension that Hafsah created was nothing short of phenomenal.Altair. My heart hurt every moment he wasn’t with the zumra. He’s one of my favorite characters of all time. His wit, his smile in the face of danger, the way he mercilessly teases Nasir, I would read a million spin off stories about him.The ending. The build to the end was everything I wanted it to be and more. It was just what I wanted to see.Series ValueI would love to read more books set in this world. Prequels, sequels, side stories, you name it. I’m very excited to read Hafsah’s next series, which is supposed to be set in the same world but about new characters.Final ThoughtsI devoured this book. I read it all in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. This book was WELL worth the wait.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Recommendations for Further ReadingAn Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – if you want a book that will literally destroy you emotionally and make you feel all the feelings, try this completed seres.A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal – if you want more of this amazing world but also a little bit of Vampires and Arthurian legend, look no further than Hafsah’s next series.

I don’t always like sequels, but this book did not disappoint! Super fast paced with a gripping story and addicting characters. The only thing that takes getting used to were the short chapters. Otherwise the book cover looks good and the writing was beautiful. I already miss the characters in this book even though I only finished it last night. This book made me laugh and cry which is how I know a book is good if I feel all ranges of emotion. I absolutely loved this book!

🦇 We Free the Stars Book Review 🦇🦇 Zafira and Nasir return to a ghostly Sultan’s Keep, low on resources and allies alike. The dark forest has fallen, but the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Night’s return. As Nasir fights to command the dark power in his blood, Zafira fights against a very different darkness festering through her bond with the Jawarat. Can they defy the darkness surrounding them to find the light?💜 My lovely romantasy readers. While we're all waiting for a certain dragon book, why not slip into a rich, vivid, Arabian-inspired epic fantasy that will HAVE YOU ON YOUR KNEES for an intense, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers ship? We Free the Stars (the second book in the Sands of Arawiya duology) provides all that AND SO MUCH MORE.💜 Hafsah Faizal is an absolute MASTER at intricate, eloquent, powerful prose. Between the stunning setting, realistic characters, and absolute wit, you'll remain enthralled with every page. As our rag-tag found family "zumra" races to restore magic, you'll remain seeped in Arawiya's world and Faizal's spell-casting language. It's lyrical, action-packed, full of longing and loss. As captivating as the world-building and attention to detail are, it's the characters that bring this story to life. Many romantasy stories focus solely on the main ship, but Zafira's relationships with her sister, best friend, a daama book, and those she's lost weigh on her heavier than her father's cloak ever did. Those relationships are meaningful, still growing, capable of shattering with a single mistake--much as real relationships are.💜 Zafira and Nasir have suffered so much, but still find one another in stolen moments that can steal your heart just as swiftly. The build from enemies to allies to the possibility of more is authentic, never rushed, leaving you craving more with every page yet never denying readers too long. The development is authentic; a dizzying, delightful slow-burn that never steals from the main story.💙 Unfortunately, the second half of this duology relies deeply on miscommunication. Again, the characters internalize a LOT, causing the pacing to drag at certain points. Some points of conflict were avoidable, if only the zumra spoke to one another (instead of Zafira talking to a daama book that sasses back). The third part of the book, while sweet, felt a little unnecessary, dragging out scenes that could have been collected into an epilogue.🦇 Recommended for all romantasy fans, namely fans of Ember in the Ashes, Rebel of the Sands, The Wrath & the Dawn, Spice Road, and The City of Brass.✨ The Vibes ✨🌙 Young Adult Epic Fantasy🧭 Sands of Arawiya Duology🏹 Magic✨ Assassin/Huntress Enemies to Lovers🌙 Lyrical and Spellbinding🧭 Arab & Muslim Inspired/Writer🏹 Triple POV✨ "I came to kill you but fell for you"🌙 Found Family🧭 Royal Court/Political Intrigue🏹 Slow Burn & Super Angsty💬 Quotes❝ “You seem to have no trouble being the end of me.” ❞❝ “Habibi. Hayati. Roohi. My love, my life, my soul, the words meant, but their meanings went deeper than that. Habibi was for friends and love that was real enough. Hayati was when love became an all-encompassing thing. Deeper and deeper, until one became the others life. Roohi was when a soul twined with its match and loved with the force of a thousand suns. When it slipped beneath the heart and tangled in the very fibres of an existence.” ❞❝ "You’re like a room full of books. Every time I see you, I discover something new.” ❞❝ They suffered alone. Quiet and brave. It was easy to believe that anyone who did not speak of suffering did not suffer. ❞❝ My bladed compass, sheathed in starlight. ❞❝ His compass. His queen. His life. ❞❝ He had been the Amir al-Maut until she had come and torn the monster to shreds with sharp words and coy glimpses. ❞❝ You’ll have me. No matter how thick the night, I will always be there to light your way. ❞❝ "They say the soul cannot rest until it finds its match. Then it ignites." ❞❝ “Do my people not deserve the freedom of yours? Do you know how it feels to stand beside others forged of the same flesh and bone and still be treated as inferior? As someone undeserving?” ❞

We Free the Stars is such a great book. It's the squeal to We Free the Stars. It's about Zafira and Nasir going through even more trial's while trying to free Altair for captivity of the Loin of the Night. As we go through the story, we see Zafira and Nasir fall in love with each other. Some parts that quite enjoyed in the book were the fight scenes. Mostly because the way Hafsah Faizal describes each scene, I can imagine each part in m head. I feel like it would make a really good movie or TV show. In other words, if you like a romance adventure novel, then I suggest reading this book. But I'd probably start with the first one.

Wow. Just wow. What an ending to this duology. I loved it! The whole thing was packed with such beauty, love and honor. Found family. I definitely want a followup for the zumra too. These characters will stay with me for so long.