IN SHORT: This young adult fantasy book has beautiful settings and a Unique Magic Structure but feels a bit slow, driven more by characters than plot.

REVIEW

Fatima lives a simple life with her sister, but the past still haunts her. The city of Noor is a thriving stop along the Silk Road, and it too bears the scars of its recent past. Years back, when Fatima was just a child, a tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered the city’s entire population. Fatima and her sister were two of only three survivors. 

Under rulership of a new maharajah and the protectorship of the Ifrit commander Zulfikar, the streets are once again filled with music, laughter and myriad languages from people of all faiths. But the Shayateen are not done with Noor. When one of the most influential of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot understand. Even those who love her are suddenly scared of her. With otherworldly powers at her fingertips, Fatima is unwittingly drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the Ifrit, and a magical war they have little hope of winning.

The Candle and the Flame teems with a vast fantasy landscape, a unique magic structure and rich culture. I really loved the beautiful settings the author painted. The city of Noor is a gorgeous array of sights, sounds and colors so vivid I felt truly transported. In many ways, it is reminiscent of the Daevabad Trilogy, with a similar culture and complex lore.

However, this young adult fantasy is also written in third-person present tense, and to me, this keeps the characters at arm’s length and makes the story feel devoid of emotion and power. Because of this style choice and the story’s slow pace, I struggled to finish it. 

Overall, The Candle and the Flame is a YA fantasy book driven by characterization more than plot. While the book wasn’t for me, it may still appeal to readers who enjoy immersing themselves in deep world-building, plots filled with female friendships and strengths, and a slow-burning romance.

RATING

Rated: Moderate. There is no profanity. Violence includes quite a bit of blood, death and some gore. A character stumbles across a massacre and a dying child. Characters are poisoned, stabbed, beheaded and killed using magic. A man’s obsession for a woman causes her to feel unsafe. Sexual content includes some intimate kisses on a couple’s wedding night. Kissing with tongue is also mentioned. Women talk of seducing men with their appearances, and a man ogles a woman’s body. Brief mention is made of a love affair between two men.

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