The “Sands of Arawiya” duology — “We Hunt The Flame” and “We Free The Stars” — is written by Hafsah Faizal.
Although the books are for everyone, the Arab community can especially relate to it as the descriptive narrative emulates Arab culture and traditions.
The story starts with a kingdom divided into lands led by different caliphs under a single sultan and revolves around the main characters Zafirah and Nasir.
Zafirah is a huntress who dresses up like a man and refuses to reveal her gender to her town while she travels to a dark and dangerous forest to hunt for her people. Nasir is a trained assassin prince who kills for his father and sultan as he tries to gain the affection of his father and earn his place as the prince.
The two travel to the cursed island of Sharr on separate routes but decide to unite to retrieve an ancient item to bring magic back to the land.
A personal favorite character was Altair who, from the beginning, seems shady but his nonchalant behavior and witty humor make him someone who makes the reader laugh every time he appears on the page.
Arab readers will find themselves completely immersed in the story with its mentions of gahwa, dates, kunafah, and so much more.
Perhaps the most brilliant thing about the books is that, even though they are based on Arab culture, they can be enjoyed by anyone.
In terms of genre, the books are a healthy mix of romance, fantasy, adventure, found family trope, and an enemies-to-lovers trope in the duology, making sure everyone has a good time.
The characters, their emotions, and their journey are described so intricately that they feel like real people. Each character brings their personal touch that makes the story so much better. An interesting read, the books are available on Amazon in all formats.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Sands of Arawiya’ duology
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Sands of Arawiya’ duology
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Fuji: A Mountain in the Making’
Author: ANDREW W. BERNSTEIN
Mount Fuji is everywhere recognized as a wonder of nature and enduring symbol of Japan. Yet behind the picture-postcard image is a history filled with conflict and upheaval. Violent eruptions across the centuries wrought havoc and instilled fear.
It has been both a totem of national unity and a flashpoint for economic and political disputes.
And while its soaring majesty has inspired countless works of literature and art, the foot of the mountain is home to military training grounds and polluting industries.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’
- Vuong, a celebrated poet, brings his mastery of language to this debut novel, crafting a work that is as emotionally resonant as it is stylistically daring.
Author: Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong’s “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is a breathtaking and poignant exploration of identity, memory and the enduring impact of generational trauma.
Written as a letter from a son to his mother, the novel bridges the personal and the universal, weaving together themes of love, family and survival with exquisite lyricism.
Vuong, a celebrated poet, brings his mastery of language to this debut novel, crafting a work that is as emotionally resonant as it is stylistically daring.
The narrator, Little Dog, writes to his illiterate mother, recounting his experiences growing up as a Vietnamese immigrant in America. Through this deeply personal lens, Vuong delves into the complexities of their relationship, marked by both tenderness and violence, shaped by her own traumas from the Vietnam War.
Little Dog’s reflections extend beyond their dynamic to explore his own coming of age, his struggles with identity, and the weight of cultural dislocation.
What sets the novel apart is Vuong’s poetic prose, which transforms every sentence into something luminous. His language is evocative and tactile, imbuing even the smallest moments with profound significance. Whether describing the beauty of a first love or the scars left by intergenerational pain, Vuong’s words resonate with a raw honesty that cuts to the core.
At its heart, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is a meditation on the power of storytelling. Little Dog’s letter becomes an act of preservation — a way to make sense of his own life and honor the sacrifices of those who came before him.
Vuong examines the ways memory is shaped by trauma and love, showing how the past informs the present in both painful and redemptive ways.
The novel’s structure, non-linear and fragmented, mirrors the nature of memory itself, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive. While its introspective style and heavy themes may not appeal to all readers, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is an unforgettable work that demands attention.
Vuong has crafted a novel of extraordinary beauty and depth, a tender and haunting reflection on what it means to be human, to love and to endure. It is a book that lingers in the heart and mind long after the final page.
What We Are Reading Today: The Conqueror’s Gift by Michael Maas
Ethnography is indispensable for every empire, as important as armies, tax-collectors, or ambassadors. It helps rulers articulate cultural differences, and it lets the inhabitants of the empire, especially those who guide its course, understand themselves in the midst of enemies, allies, and friends.
In “The Conqueror’s Gift,” Michael Maas examines the ethnographic infrastructure of the Roman Empire and the transformation of Rome’s ethnographic vision during Late Antiquity.
Drawing on a wide range of texts, Maas shows how the Romans’ ethnographic thought evolved as they attended to the business of ruling an empire on three continents.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Social Wasps of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean’
Author: Chris Alice Kratzer
Social wasps like hornets and yellowjackets use the power of teamwork to build complex societies and architectural wonders, and though they comprise only a fraction of the thousands of species in North and Central America, they are almost solely responsible for giving wasps a bad reputation.
This beautifully illustrated field guide covers all known species of social wasps from the high arctic of Greenland and Alaska to the tropical forests of Panama and Grenada.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Dinosaur Behavior’ by Michael J. Benton
Paleobiology has advanced from a speculative subject to a cutting-edge science. Today, researchers are applying the latest forensic technologies to the fossil record, revealing startling new insights into the lives of dinosaurs.
This illustrated guide explores the behavior, evolution, physiology, and extinction of dinosaurs, taking readers inside the mysterious world of these marvelous animals.
With specially commissioned illustrations by Bob Nicholls, “Dinosaur Behavior” explains how the dinosaurs lived and courted, fought and fed, signaled and interacted with each other, and much more.
