Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

28 reviews

kayberlyn's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Slavery, Hate crime, Genocide, Blood, Racial slurs, Murder, Grief, Drug use, Child death, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Racism

britreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

This may become my new favorite series. At the very least, this is now one of my favorite books. The story didn't pick up for me until about 100 pages or around when Anoor and Sylah first meet one another. But after that point, the story sucked me in and took off at a gallop. 

I loved Anoor and Sylah's relationship and how they both pushed each other to be better than their original selves. I'm not usually a love triangle person and it is very easy to root for one pairing over the other in here, but I loved the complexity of Sylah's connection with Jond. Hassa was my favorite character and I wish there was more of her in the story. I'm curious to see what role she will play in the sequel. 

This world was also unique and evocative.

And now that Sylah is going to the mainland, I'm curious what the other countries/continents will look like.

The magic system was different, but not overpowered or unbalanced. Again, with the revelations that came out in the end, I am interested in how the magic system may evolve or regress in future installments. 

This novel will linger for a while. There are little character details that I appreciate and it makes me want to start the story again. The story is violent and heavy, so definitely check the content warnings before starting this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Drug abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Child death, and Drug use

fairyollie's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense fast-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

5.0

it did not take me long at all to absolutely devour this book. full of political intrigue, a bisexual love triangle, complex societal expectations and norms all to similar to our own - this book has it all (and more)!!!

what I especially love about this book, as a queer disabled adult who uses sign language, is that disability, sexuality, gender, alternate/augmented means of communication, etc., are all simply facets of life. never do I see a book in which a main character - or so many characters - are disabled and it is not a "pity, shame, how sad, I could never, this is gonna advance so-and-so's character arc!", plot point or traumatic backstory. it simply is. there is so much more I wish I could say, but for fear of my big mouth and I spoiling a thing, let me leave you with this: I cannot recommend this book more; it is simply impossible. I beg you, please join me in this raw, open-hearted, desperate, vengeful quest for adventure and justice and give this series a try.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Genocide, Grief, Gore, Self harm, Slavery, Racial slurs, Racism, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Classism, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Abandonment, and Kidnapping

salemander's review

5.0

one of THE fantasy books ever made truly this shit is so goddamn incredible. the characters are so richly made, the commentary on addiction and the perils of empire, the action, the lesbians!!!!!! so fucking well done. can’t wait to read the next one 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Child abuse, Classism, Violence, and Drug abuse

porcupine_girl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Drug abuse, War, Addiction, Blood, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Genocide, Violence, Body horror, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Slavery, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Medical content, Self harm, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Ableism, Blood, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Fire/Fire injury

kimreads14's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

I absolutely LOVED this book! 
I had a hard time at first, because of Sylah’s addiction she just made me so angry most of the time 😂

But oh am I glad I stuck with it! The world building, the magic system, EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THIS BOOK WAS PERFECT! 

Oh and the plot twistS 🧑‍🍳💋 yes with a “S” because I could honestly not fully keep track of everything! I’m sure I missed some very important details for the next book! But I’ll probably re-read it when my hard copy arrives ☺️

Can’t wait to dive into the second one! 🥰

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Slavery, Colonisation, Drug use, Gaslighting, Violence, Death, Excrement, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

mar's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.0

I enjoyed this, though not as much as I expected I would. There's a very fun subversion of the Chosen One trope, the worldbuilding is nicely done and with a couple very memorable elements, and the story incorporates and explores topics of oppression and class division well. 

What I struggled with was the immaturity of the characters, which made it feel too much like reading a YA novel 😭 I found they got on my nerves a lot, but with time I did get a bit invested in both the slowburn romance and Anoor's success in the Aktibar, so I guess it wasn't all that bad. (Also: I adore a deadly magical competition, and with how much time was spent training for each trial it would've been nice to spend a little more time on the actual events themselves).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Violence, Colonisation, Addiction, Murder, Slavery, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Ableism, and Torture

Minor: Sexual content and Body shaming

kylosten'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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Xenophobia, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief

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

ewinnk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, Slavery, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Violence, Ableism, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Classism