The Candle and the Flame
- Publisher
- Scholastic Inc
- Initial publish date
- May 2019
- Category
- Epic, General, Diversity & Multicultural
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781338608342
- Publish Date
- Jun 2020
- List Price
- $13.99
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781338306040
- Publish Date
- May 2019
- List Price
- $24.99
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 12 to 18
- Grade: 7 to 12
Description
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.
About the author
Nafiza Azad is a self-identified island girl. She has hurricanes in her blood and dreams of a time she can exist solely on mangoes and pineapple. Born in Lautoka, Fiji, she currently resides in British Columbia, Canada, where she reads too many books, watches too many K-dramas, and writes stories about girls taking over the world. Nafiza is the author of The Candle and the Flame, which was nominated for the William C. Morris Award, The Wild Ones, and Road of the Lost. Learn more at NafizaAzad.com.
Awards
- Short-listed, Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
- Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
- Short-listed, YALSA William C. Morris YA Debut Award
- Short-listed, Sunburst Award, Young Adult category
Excerpt: The Candle and the Flame (by (author) Nafiza Azad)
Fatima remembers the package. She removes it from her messenger bag and holds it out to Firdaus. "The merchant delivered this today. It’s a book."Firdaus eagerly takes the package. "I've been waiting for a volume of poetry written by an obscure Kmemu poet."Firdaus rips open the brown paper wrapped around the book and makes a sound of pleasure when he discovers that the book is indeed the volume he was seeking. He flips open the book, running his fingers through the text. Fatima watches him, consoled by the pleasure he takes in the written word. He suddenly, unexpectedly, goes still, and the old Ifrit’s face empties of expression."What is it, baba?" Fatima moves closer to Firdaus. Firdaus lowers the book, and Fatima sees a smudge of black on the edge of the paper. She watches that viscous blackness slither from the paper onto Firdaus’s hand before being absorbed through his skin.Firdaus's gold eyes flash black, and Fatima staggers back a step."The taint," Firdaus says through clenched teeth. Black veins appear on his skin and spread like the vines of a grape plant. Fatima watches helplessly."What do I do, baba? Who do I call?"Firdaus's skin is sallow, and he is sweating profusely. He grips the edge of his desk tightly, keeping himself upright. The book has fallen unnoticed to the floor. "Listen, ya binti, listen." Fatima nods frantically."You are a child of flesh and blood, and I am a being of fire and bone. Were I merciful, I would bid you run and end this tale here. But I am Ifrit and my stories are eternal even though I am not." Firdaus extends his trembling right hand to Fatima. "In return for the kindness I have shown you, will you become the ink that writes my tale?"There never was a choice.Fatima reaches out and grabs his right hand with both of hers.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Candle and the Flame:
Finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award
Short-listed, Sunburst Award, Young Adult category, 2020
* "A must-read for lovers of fantasy." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Azad's splendid debut is an ode to cultural harmony that features exciting magic, an emotionally complex cast, and a touching romance." -- Booklist
"Fiery magic, sizzling romance, and a city so achingly hopeful and real that you can almost taste it on every page. I can't wait to return to Noor!" -- Rachel Hartman, New York Times bestselling author of the Seraphina books
"Ground breaking and immersive paranormal YA that evokes all the beauty, richness, and diversity of the ancient cultures, faiths, and languages of the Silk Road. There's an effortless beauty in the kaleidoscopic descriptions of food, fashion, practices, and faiths; Azad's language is so evocative, you can almost taste and smell the riches of the night bazaar. A fiercely feminist take on Islamic culture, it's an assured and outside-the-box debut that deals with larger themes -- such as tolerance and women's rights -- while functioning as a thrilling action adventure with touches of heart-stirring romance. Prepare to be swept up." -- Rebecca Lim, bestselling author of Mercy and The Astrologer's Daughter
"Sumptuous writing, vivid detail, and a gallery of deftly-drawn characters highlight this glorious debut." -- Kate Elliott, author of Court of Fives and Cold Magic
"No other book I've read this year has felt as much like home to me. Gorgeous, intricate and enthralling in its scope, The Candle and the Flame is a brilliant debut . . . a stunning standout in YA fantasy." -- Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of The Bloodprint
