The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad (review)

Ever since she was rescued from marauding djinn as an orphaned child, Fatima has lived in Noor, a multi-ethnic city on the Silk Road jointly administered by a human maharajah and the Ifrit, a clan of djinn dedicated to order and reason. When a sinister taint, or disease-like corruption, kills her beloved Ifrit mentor, human Fatima unexpectedly inherits his powers as Name Giver, with the ability to see djinn's names and bind them in corporeal form—or unbind them. As Fatima (now Fatima Ghazala, after the Ifrit who saved her and whose djinn fire she carries) and her family and friends struggle to make sense of her new self, a xenophobic conspiracy threatens the rule of the reluctant young maharajah. Though Fatima Ghazala is the undisputed protagonist, she shares the narration with several other characters whose fates intertwine with hers, making this a beautifully developed ensemble piece of women who are complex and capable and men who pointedly defy stereotypes of toxic masculinity. It's especially satisfying to watch the maharajah's spoiled younger sister grow from a petulant child into a ruthless, politically astute young woman. The plot is well paced and compelling down to the last page, while the tender, carefully wrought relationships come alive in a vividly textured city that readers will long to revisit. A list of dramatis personae and a glossary help keep track of the many characters and their multilingual vocabulary (including a mouthwatering variety of street food). FHK