About the Author: Nafiza Azad
Renowned author Nafiza Azad, originally from Fiji, presently calls Canada her home. In 2019, she made her entry into the world of young adult fantasy publishing with her impressive debut novel, ‘The Candle and the Flame’. Azad’s journey from Fiji to Canada in 2001 marked the beginning of her rich cultural experiences that often serve as a base for her distinct storytelling.
Initiating her higher education with biology, she later decided to embrace her fervor for writing, shifting her major to literature. Her transformative journey led her to develop a young adult novel as part of her academic pursuit, eventually earning her a Bachelor’s degree in literature.
Inspiration and Style: Weaving Stories in a Unique Way
Azad’s unique style integrates her acute sensitivity towards societal issues, enveloping them in the fantastical world of djinns. This novel approach was triggered by the toxic rhetoric during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Feeling the sting of the divisive narrative as a Muslim woman, Azad chose to create a world where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels included.
Her lead character, Fatima, authentically portrays the struggle against societal expectations, expertly navigating through her layered emotions of trauma and grief. This complexity of character development and Azad’s distinctive style rivals many of the Books in Order in the YA genre.
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| The Candle and the Flame | (2019) |    |
| The Wild Ones | (2021) | |
| Road of the Lost | (2022) | |