This YA fantasy debut is by Hafsah Faizal, a brilliant writer who I will DEFINITELY be keeping an eye on!
Here's the official summary from Goodreads:
People lived because she killed.
People died because he lived.
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.
Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.
War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.
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You know how sometimes you see a book, and you read the blurb, and you just know you're going to love it? That's what happened with this book. The world, the magic, the characters--they all felt so real and fresh to me, even though there are familiar fantasy tropes.
I really don't want to say too much about the plot, since this is one that definitely deserves discovery. But I really loved the characters and I could feel their individual struggles. Especially Nasir. My heart aches for him and all he has endured--and done. The world is unique, the writing is deftly beautiful, and the characters are captivating. I had a hard time putting this down, and I am DYING for book 2! (January 2021, I need you!)
In short, I totally recommend this book!
Let me know if you've read this one, or what great book you've finished recently!