The Candle & the Flame



Published May 14th, 2019 by Scholastic



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. 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






Awards and Praise



Short-listed, YALSA William C. Morris YA Debut Award, 2020
Short-listed, Sunburst Award, Young Adult category, 2020
Short-listed, Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, 2020
RECommended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 2020



“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.” — Rebecca Lim, author of 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


*“Based on Islamic mythology and Arabic folklore, debut author Azad's descriptive storytelling and complex characters give the novel a certain richness and texture missing from solely plot-based narratives . . .” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review



Reviews



“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



Reviews



“Groundbreaking and immersive paranormal YA that evokes all the beauty, richness, and diversity of the ancient cultures, faiths, and languages of the Silk Road.” — Rebecca Lim, author of The Astrologer’s Daughter



Reviews



“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



Reviews



*“Based on Islamic mythology and Arabic folklore, debut author Azad's descriptive storytelling and complex characters give the novel a certain richness and texture missing from solely plot-based narratives . . .” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review



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Nafiza Azad