The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

As a child, Fatima’s family was murdered outside the city of Noor by Shayateen Djinn, bloodthirsty magical beings. Ghazala, an Ifrit djinni warrior, finds Fatima close to death. Ghazala sacrifices herself by merging her powerful Ifrit magic into Fatima’s failing body. Fourteen years later, Fatima is scraping a living in Noor while struggling to hide her Ifrit powers. Meanwhile, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the maharajah’s troops and Ifrit warriors, with Zulfikar as the Ifrit Captain. When an Ifrit spiritual leader is murdered, Zulfikar needs to quickly fill the vital vacancy. Surprisingly, he finds his candidate in Fatima. Totally unprepared to be in Noor royal society, Fatima feels lost and unsure of her blossoming Ifrit abilities, but Zulfikar helps to build her confidence. Threats soon come against the maharajah’s family which strain human and Ifrit alliances. Only Fatima can keep the peace between human and Djinn powers by finding the real traitors threatening the city and the people she loves. 

Azad’s novel is an immersive fantasy into worlds few authors have trod. Azad takes readers along the Silk Road to an alternate India where god-like beings either protect or destroy the humans struggling to survive. In the city of Noor, the vibrant and colorful worlds of Muslim culture and Indian folklore cement together to build the foundation of Fatima’s story. With this rich undergirding, readers experience real diversity with cultures and traditions not commonly highlighted in young adult fantasy. But Azad goes further, sweeping away common Muslim stereotypes by making many of her characters strong, independent women that are nurtured by supportive men. Azad freely uses culture-specific vocabulary throughout her story. Readers unfamiliar with her terminology can refer to a glossary at the end, which can require some patience. One criticism is that maps of Noor and the outlying area would have been extremely helpful in knowing where Fatima traveled within the story. It can be confusing to keep track of each character’s movements. With mild violence, gore, and suspense, this book is appropriate for ages 15 and up.