Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

122 reviews

lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful fast-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 loved this book. There is a lot of violence, be warned. The characters, plot, and world-building were incredible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Rape

babewiththepower's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, and Toxic friendship

mj_86's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Blood

Minor: Confinement and Sexual content

kayberlyn's review against another edition

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

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

franksalot's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: War

fairyollie's review against another edition

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

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

tarrnation's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.25

The beginning was slow, but once the story starts, it starts. The world building is easy to grasp from the beginning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use

fernanda_o's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Gore

salemander's review against another edition

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