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solenekeleroux's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, and Alcohol
gurofl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I liked the character Anoor, the start of the relationship between the two main characters, the quest, and that the society is very diverse (both when it comes to identity and sexuality). And I would be interested to find out what happens next with the empire and the politics if I hadn't been so annoyed with the characters feeling like they're teenagers when they are 20-22.
It feels like this borders between adult and young adult fantasy. What I didn't like: the characters are a bit flat, things become very melodramatic at times, and the characters' mood swings a lot very fast.
The ending was quite interesting, but the juvenile feel of things is putting me off continuing with this series.
Graphic: Torture and Colonisation
Moderate: Drug use and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Fatphobia, Genocide, Racism, Police brutality, and Kidnapping
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Slavery, Blood, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Racism, Torture, Police brutality, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
burstofhope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Confinement and Drug use
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
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
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
natsbooknook's review against another edition
- 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
I loved every second spent reading this book.
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
mimimac's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Vomit
carochacord's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Colonisation
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I was beyond excited for this fantasy series starter debut before I even finished. And now that I'm done, I am even more obsessed than I ever believed possible. Sylah used to believe that freedom, that rebellion from oppression, was possible. Trained for that purpose alone, the decimation of her old rebellion leaves her searching to fill the ache and she does so with drugs and fighting rings. But when a serious of consequences and decisions lead her to meeting Anoor, her entire world will change.
Firstly, the world building. The world El-Arifi has created is stunning. You can feel the very sand beneath your feet, the dry air swirling around you. But even more so, the ways that El-Arifi illustrates the oppression, the consuming grip of the empire is gripping and rage inducing. By showcasing multiple perspectives, The Final Strife allows readers to see what no one else can - a more comprehensive, but by no means without secrets, view of the playing pieces. As they advance upon each other, keep their own mysteries hidden behind smiles, and truths they might not even know.
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Torture