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A review by utopiastateofmind
Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I kind of knew Hollow Fires would break my heart from the premise alone. And then within the book, my heart got broken about 5 or 6 times. Hollow Fires is heart wrenching, but don't let that discourage you. This book deserves to be read. It's an examination of radicalization, islamaphobia, and fuels rage, but also provides hope. From the beginning, Ahmed explores not only explicit hate crimes, but also the implicit way people give perpetrators "second chances". Or the way they are unwilling to speak against them, to see their own biases.
Being dual POV with Safiya and Jawad was going to wreck me. Spoiler alert, it did. Hollow Fires balances this chilling mystery and suspense - where is Jawad - with an examination of hatred and ignorance. Full of moments of fear in the pit of your stomach and rage in your heart, it's also has moments of levity and happiness, of romance and family moments. Piece of interviews sprinkled throughout the book heighten the suspense and atmosphere, while also looking at the events differently.
I kind of knew Hollow Fires would break my heart from the premise alone. And then within the book, my heart got broken about 5 or 6 times. Hollow Fires is heart wrenching, but don't let that discourage you. This book deserves to be read. It's an examination of radicalization, islamaphobia, and fuels rage, but also provides hope. From the beginning, Ahmed explores not only explicit hate crimes, but also the implicit way people give perpetrators "second chances". Or the way they are unwilling to speak against them, to see their own biases.
Being dual POV with Safiya and Jawad was going to wreck me. Spoiler alert, it did. Hollow Fires balances this chilling mystery and suspense - where is Jawad - with an examination of hatred and ignorance. Full of moments of fear in the pit of your stomach and rage in your heart, it's also has moments of levity and happiness, of romance and family moments. Piece of interviews sprinkled throughout the book heighten the suspense and atmosphere, while also looking at the events differently.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Antisemitism, and Islamophobia