The Candle and the Flame
Readers rate it 3.6 (11 on Hardcover)
268 pages · Released May 14, 2019 · Scholastic Inc.
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A note for parents
This William C. Morris Award finalist is a character-driven fantasy with strong themes of cultural harmony and identity set along the Silk Road. While it contains moderate fantasy violence (past slaughter, magical conflict) and some scary mature elements tied to trauma and transformation, the story emphasizes resilience, independence, and cross-cultural understanding. The magical worldbuilding and diverse cast offer rich educational value alongside emotionally complex but ultimately hopeful storytelling.
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From the publisher
Azad's debut YA fantasy is set in a city along the Silk Road that is a refuge for those of all faiths, where a young woman is threatened by the war between two clans of powerful djinn. Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of... Azad's debut YA fantasy is set in a city along the Silk Road that is a refuge for those of all faiths, where a young woman is threatened by the war between two clans of powerful djinn. Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population -- except for Fatima and two other humans. Now ruled by a new maharajah, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, and by their commander, Zulfikar.But when one of the most potent of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot fathom, ways that scare even those who love her. Oud in hand, Fatima is drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield.In this William C. Morris YA Debut Award finalist novel, Nafiza Azad weaves an immersive tale of magic and the importance of names; fiercely independent women; and, perhaps most importantly, the work for harmony within a city of a thousand cultures and cadences.
Shelved under
- Young Adult Fiction
- Character driven
- Strong Character Development
- Loveable Characters
- Diverse Characters
- Adventurous
- emotional
- hopeful
- sad
- Fantasy
- Young Adult
- Adventure
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ISBN 9781338306057 · Scholastic Inc.