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matilda_holroyd_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book is a fantasy novel in which colour of your blood dictates the class you are in within society. Those with red blood are the embers “the elites” of society, then are those with blue bloods who are the dusters and below them are those who have translucent blood who are called ghostings. The story follows our main protagonist Sylah as she enters a competition called the Aktibar a competition that takes place every 10 years. Due to a series of unfortunate events she gets sidelined and it’s forced into training a Duster raised by an Ember called Anor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Death
Minor: Excrement
nettleviolet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
I wanted to love this book. It had all the elements to make something truly amazing: themes of climate disruption, colonialism, racism, a queer love story, trials to compete in, written by an amazing Black woman. Unfortunately, the story-telling really fell short for me.
There were a lot of good things about this book: the magic system was really interesting, the depiction of addiction was very true to life and the ways that the main character turned to addiction to cope with the immense stress of the intensely oppressed life she is facing feels very real. I really liked the mythology and the mystery that was explored about it.
However, the main premise of the book, that the "chosen one" has missed her opportunity and now must train a princess in her place, feels very unbelievable and left the plot feeling very predictable. It also came with very strange pacing -- we spend chapters building up to trials, mostly in training sessions, and then the trials themselves, the "big thing", take one chapter alone, and are often over in a couple of pages. And I found the outcome of the trials completely unrealistic, within the world.
Lastly, there are three main characters: Sylah, Anoor and Hassa, and we learn very little about Hassa whose storyline and character definitely felt the most interesting. Her story, and the story of her people, is the thing that will keep me reading this series. I'm hoping that, with the trials over, the series will continue to build on the world mythos and politics more, which is definitely very enticing.
Overall, this is not a bad book. It just had SO much potential and I feel it didn't live up to much of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Torture, Slavery, Addiction, and Drug use
Moderate: Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, and Self harm
Minor: Rape
solenekeleroux's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Blood, Violence, Classism, Murder, Death, and Colonisation
Moderate: Grief, Child abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Racism, Police brutality, and Physical abuse
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, self harm, torture, confinement, suicidal ideation, death, child death, death of parent, murder, addiction, drug use, slavery, classism, racism, child abuse, ableism, fatphobia/body shaming, grief
--
The Final Strife is an absolutely magnificent first instalment in an all new epic fantasy trilogy all about rebellion and survival.
We’re introduced to an empire governed by a blood based class system where the people are kept just as in check by the deadly Tidewind that ravages the land by night. Those with red blood, Embers are of the ruling class with magic in their blood and the Aktibar, a set of trials which appoints the next set of Wardens to rule the empire is soon approaching.
Sylah, an Ember stolen from her family as a child by a Duster(those of the working class with blue blood) rebel group was raised with the sole purpose to infiltrate these trials and overthrow those in charge, that is until the rebellion was crushed leaving Sylah the only surviving child from the group. However, Sylah’s hope is reignited when an opportunity to see her mission through falls into her hands through Anoor, the daughter of one of the ruling Wardens of the empire.
Now this is a chunky read but El-Arifi’s narration has a compelling rhythm to it that is just as masterful as that of the Griots (storytellers) within her book.
The worldbuilding has roots in Arabian and Ghanian lore and is so vividly immersive and complex, with each turn of the page, each twist of the story feeding us more of the culture, politics, history and secrets of this world.
It is slow going and the time jumps did throw me off at times – also when the point of view switched up within the chapters but this may be more down to the layout of the digital arc - but I just couldn’t put the book and when I had to I couldn’t get these characters out of my mind. There’s an equally frustrating and fascinating quality to each of the main players in this tale and their development and relationships with one another was so well written.
I can’t wait to read more!
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, self harm, torture, confinement, suicidal ideation, death, child death, death of parent, murder, addiction, drug use, slavery, classism, racism, child abuse, ableism, fatphobia/body shaming, grief
--
The Final Strife is an absolutely magnificent first instalment in an all new epic fantasy trilogy all about rebellion and survival.
We’re introduced to an empire governed by a blood based class system where the people are kept just as in check by the deadly Tidewind that ravages the land by night. Those with red blood, Embers are of the ruling class with magic in their blood and the Aktibar, a set of trials which appoints the next set of Wardens to rule the empire is soon approaching.
Sylah, an Ember stolen from her family as a child by a Duster(those of the working class with blue blood) rebel group was raised with the sole purpose to infiltrate these trials and overthrow those in charge, that is until the rebellion was crushed leaving Sylah the only surviving child from the group. However, Sylah’s hope is reignited when an opportunity to see her mission through falls into her hands through Anoor, the daughter of one of the ruling Wardens of the empire.
Now this is a chunky read but El-Arifi’s narration has a compelling rhythm to it that is just as masterful as that of the Griots (storytellers) within her book.
The worldbuilding has roots in Arabian and Ghanian lore and is so vividly immersive and complex, with each turn of the page, each twist of the story feeding us more of the culture, politics, history and secrets of this world.
It is slow going and the time jumps did throw me off at times – also when the point of view switched up within the chapters but this may be more down to the layout of the digital arc - but I just couldn’t put the book and when I had to I couldn’t get these characters out of my mind. There’s an equally frustrating and fascinating quality to each of the main players in this tale and their development and relationships with one another was so well written.
I can’t wait to read more!
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Fatphobia, Self harm, Death, Drug use, Racism, Murder, Death of parent, Addiction, Ableism, Body shaming, Grief, Slavery, and Classism
maxinesf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Blood, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Violence, Slavery, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Body shaming
mimimac's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to Harper Voyager UK & Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.
What a great book! I’d heard a lot about this book before reading & I was so excited to start.
Although the competition plot isn’t the most original, the world building is fantastic! The world built is so rich & beautifully layered. I loved the bits of history we were given & everything was written in a way that it was all seamlessly inserted into the story without making it seem dull or lengthy.
Sylah & Anoor were both wonderfully in depth, complex characters. Everyone loves an underdog & both embodied that in such different ways. The way their relationship blossomed felt so natural & not at all forced, I was rooting for them from quite early on & that bittersweet ending was just perfect!
And what an ending! Cannot wait for the second instalment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Murder, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Addiction, Classism, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
enchantedreads97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.75
Tw: slavery, drug addiction, mutilation, murder
We start out learning our wold is divided into four sects/races/classes. Some minor inconsistencies but not noticeable. LGBTQ+ ally book. A great read that reminded me a bit of the Ember in the Ashes.
We start out learning our wold is divided into four sects/races/classes. Some minor inconsistencies but not noticeable. LGBTQ+ ally book. A great read that reminded me a bit of the Ember in the Ashes.
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Murder, Addiction, and Self harm
carochacord's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Cursing, and Addiction
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Excrement, Murder, Police brutality, War, Gore, Body shaming, Grief, Torture, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, and Slavery
Minor: Abandonment, Rape, Self harm, Stalking, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Colonisation, and Death of parent
bookinitwithahtiya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow, what a beautifully written opening! I always love when a book shows you the power and lushness of its writing in the few pages, and the opening to this book did not disappoint. THE FINAL STRIFE is slow-paced and intriguing — I kept wanting to come back to it and know what was happening. It deals with themes of oppression and capitalism. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the map in the finished copy because this world/kingdom/empire has a lot of sections that are separated by the different castes. I’m excited for this book to enter the world and have others gush about it; make sure you pre-order it!
THE FINAL STRIFE features the following rep: trans, non-binary, recovering addict, chronic pain, and PTSD.
THE FINAL STRIFE features the following rep: trans, non-binary, recovering addict, chronic pain, and PTSD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
enchantedreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Tw: slavery, drug addiction, mutilation, murder
We start out learning our wold is divided into four sects/races/classes. Some minor inconsistencies but not noticeable. LGBTQ+ ally book. A great read that reminded me a bit of the Ember in the Ashes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Murder
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