Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

31 reviews

miraileah's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

4.0. Although this book started out not keeping my attention, I ended up becoming really invested in the plot and the characters stories. I’m not sure when I’ll read the next one, but I’m glad I kept with this book, for the themes of colonialism and making social change. I thought that (both Sylah and Anoor’s journeys to better understanding of what their ideal world looks like) was the best part of the book, and it was done excellently. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Physical abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

kathyreadsalot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

• 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

4.0

*Spoilers!* So I was a bit skeptical about this when I started. It is definitely heavy with very early mentions of

slave labor, torture, maiming, child abuse and whipping/beatings etc

and the overall like tone of how the kingdom hierarchy is set up is brutal. It can a bit gory in parts as well. 

What I liked: the overall story has promise and it was intriguing enough for me to finish; the LGBTQ+ representation, the political intrigue, the plot twists at the end and the character development of Sylah, Anoor and Hassa. I am definitely looking forward to reading Book 2 because i am keen to see how the story progresses. 

What I didn’t like: the pacing of the middle part of the book was a bit too slow at times especially during the training scenes with Anoor and Sylah, how Anoor’s weight was treated at times, and that we didn’t get equal treatment of Hassa’s storyline vs Anoor & Sylah. 

If you are not in the mood for oppresive and violent government regimes as part of the story lines, I would say skip this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, War, Child abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Genocide, Murder, and Toxic friendship

tahsintries's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Torture

Moderate: Grief, Slavery, Genocide, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Gore, and Racism

dreyy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Addiction, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Xenophobia

third_bookworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Interesting worldbuilding concept, but the main characters were annoying, the plot was formulaic, and the writing was mediocre. Would have been much improved by a better editor, there were multiple typos and several irritating stylistic choices.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Child abuse, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Blood, Racism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Slavery

gagereadsstuff's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Drug abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Hate crime, Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Cultural appropriation, Police brutality, Racism, Self harm, Classism, Colonisation, Death, and Drug use

Moderate: Vomit, Torture, Excrement, Grief, and Kidnapping

madscientistcat's review against another edition

The writing style is less showing and more telling and that combined with the very dark world full of torture and slavery makes this not really my cup of tea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Gore

errie's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Violence, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, Addiction, Blood, and Child abuse

Moderate: Classism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Sexual content, and Body shaming

sarahholt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

Even the characters I hated, I loved for what they brought to the story. I can't wait to read the rest of this series, it's everything I was looking for in a fantasy series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Blood, Torture, Racism, and Classism

malinhalia's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Drug use, Child abuse, Body shaming, Colonisation, Addiction, Racism, Gore, Death, Drug abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Slavery, Genocide, and Sexual content