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dreyy's review
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
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
bookishplantmom's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This debut book tells the tale of Sylah and Anoor whose paths cross as they are each trying to compete in trials in the Empire.
I thought the author did a good job of exploring difficult themes like depression, grief, addiction, suicidal thoughts and colonialism. While I would have liked more detailed world building, I thought the lore we did get was convincing. The story is set in a queer normative world with a great diversity of characters including some disabled and non binary folks.
Despite all of this the book wasn’t a home run for me. I didn’t quite connect with the characters and wasn’t immersed enough in the world to become invested in the story as it played out. I found one of the romances really off-putting and inappropriate. I honestly believe the story could have done without it and would have managed the emotional payoff anyway given the already existing relationship.
While I don’t anticipate continuing on with the series I would recommend it to folks who enjoy Arabian settings, mythology and thoughtful relationships.
I thought the author did a good job of exploring difficult themes like depression, grief, addiction, suicidal thoughts and colonialism. While I would have liked more detailed world building, I thought the lore we did get was convincing. The story is set in a queer normative world with a great diversity of characters including some disabled and non binary folks.
Despite all of this the book wasn’t a home run for me. I didn’t quite connect with the characters and wasn’t immersed enough in the world to become invested in the story as it played out. I found one of the romances really off-putting and inappropriate. I honestly believe the story could have done without it and would have managed the emotional payoff anyway given the already existing relationship.
While I don’t anticipate continuing on with the series I would recommend it to folks who enjoy Arabian settings, mythology and thoughtful relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
Bello bello
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, and Slavery
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Police brutality, Racism, Child abuse, and Torture
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Child death, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Fatphobia
azrah786's review
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
luckylulureads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Addiction, and Confinement
Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Classism, Colonisation, Sexual content, Gore, and Body shaming
jashanac's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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 received a free e-book copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I started the book and I immediately felt like I could see this world. And I immediately appreciated that we were following Sylah, one of the main characters, who has a drug addiction. In the first bit of the book, Sylah's entire existence is focused on getting more of the drug she is addicted to.
However, for the first bit of the book, I was considering dnf-ing. But I already dnf-ed a different anticipated release from NetGalley and I really didn't want to do that again. So I told myself I'd give it to 50%. Around 30%, it started to pick up for me, and then by 40-50% I was pretty much hooked.
These characters are flawed and their relationships with each other become complicated, but I became SO invested in them. They felt so incredibly well-fleshed-out. They felt like real people! And I love that the romance was complex and didn't necessarily end up in a neat & tidy way. Also... without spoiling anything I'll just say that there was a bit of a love triangle situation happening that genuinely made sense and worked well (in my opinion, obviously)... ?!?!?!
AND -- one of my most haaaated tropes is The Big Lie. This book used that but once again, in a way that made sense to me and literally not for one second did it frustrate me or annoy me. TRULY SHOCKING.
And this world is so interesting and complex and MYSTERIOUS! THAT ENDING?!?!?!?! HELLO?!?!?!?!
I just think this is one of the most solid debuts I have read in a good long while, and I can't wait for the rest of the series... !
THEMES I SAW: Caste system. Oppression (& suppression) of a group of people. Lost/hidden true history of an empire. Long competition (over a couple of months) to determine new leadership (upper caste). Lack of education used as a tool to keep people down. Colonization. Attempted genocide of indigenous population.
I started the book and I immediately felt like I could see this world. And I immediately appreciated that we were following Sylah, one of the main characters, who has a drug addiction. In the first bit of the book, Sylah's entire existence is focused on getting more of the drug she is addicted to.
However, for the first bit of the book, I was considering dnf-ing. But I already dnf-ed a different anticipated release from NetGalley and I really didn't want to do that again. So I told myself I'd give it to 50%. Around 30%, it started to pick up for me, and then by 40-50% I was pretty much hooked.
These characters are flawed and their relationships with each other become complicated, but I became SO invested in them. They felt so incredibly well-fleshed-out. They felt like real people! And I love that the romance was complex and didn't necessarily end up in a neat & tidy way. Also... without spoiling anything I'll just say that there was a bit of a love triangle situation happening that genuinely made sense and worked well (in my opinion, obviously)... ?!?!?!
AND -- one of my most haaaated tropes is The Big Lie. This book used that but once again, in a way that made sense to me and literally not for one second did it frustrate me or annoy me. TRULY SHOCKING.
And this world is so interesting and complex and MYSTERIOUS! THAT ENDING?!?!?!?! HELLO?!?!?!?!
I just think this is one of the most solid debuts I have read in a good long while, and I can't wait for the rest of the series... !
THEMES I SAW: Caste system. Oppression (& suppression) of a group of people. Lost/hidden true history of an empire. Long competition (over a couple of months) to determine new leadership (upper caste). Lack of education used as a tool to keep people down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Classism, Blood, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Torture
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Child death
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