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booksalacarte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.5
The Final Strife- 3.5⭐️ 3🌶️
Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control.
Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance.
Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible.
Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes.
Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment, by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the empire. But when Sylah and Anoor meet, a fire burns between them that could consume the kingdom—and their hearts.
Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. And when she joins forces with Sylah and Anoor, together these grains of sand will become a storm.
As the empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn
✨My Opinion✨
Slow burn
Slow burn
Sapphic
Missed legacy
Classism
Revolution
Slow paced
Switched at birth
Grumpy sunshine
Rivals to lovers
It was a good read, but not mind blowing. I am happy with continuing the series, but not desperate for the next book.
The backstory and world building was expansive and very thorough. I was amazed by how in depth everything went. It was really well done. The magic system was unique in its introduction. I’m looking forward to reading more about it.
It was slow going for the first half of the book. The plot finally getting traction didn’t make up for the lulls, in my opinion.
It was slow going for the first half of the book. The plot finally getting traction didn’t make up for the lulls, in my opinion.
I was a little put out with things being mentioned multiple times before being physically described, case in point; Erus. I didn’t even realize it was a giant sand lizard until it was being ridden when Sylah delivering the dresses… I thought it was like a camel or donkey. I still don’t have a clear mental picture of what it looks like, or how it pulls a carriage!
The main characters could have been flushed out a little more. Sylah was very hard to like. Really hard. Most of the book is her dealing with addiction and grief. Her personality beyond that was pretty petulant. Anoor was childish as well, but I would have enjoyed a more solid arc into her maturity. I often forgot that I was reading new adult rather than young adult, until the in the story spice happened.
Disability rep, but only because of mass mutilation as infants. Brutal, but I guess I understand how it plays into the plot. Hassa was a great character that wasn’t explored more until the second half of the book, and even then seemingly as a throwaway addition. Her story line was more compelling than the main one, by far!
I wish that the trials would have been more prevalent in the story telling. They felt really important in leading up to them, then glossed over when we finally got to them. It would have been great character building to see them more thoroughly through Anoor’s eyes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
kcmg710's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS BOOK ISNT MORE POPULAR!?
I’ve been on booktok for a while now (as I know many of us have) and I’ve only seen this book on there twice maybe? (That could be just my booktok I guess but still).
I’m so engrossed in the world that El-Arifi has created that I don’t want to go onto another book, I’m struggling to bring myself to do it 😂. I literally put off reading the last 2 chapters for 2 weeks just so I didn’t have to say goodbye to the characters that I’ve grown to love.
I feel like when I first started The Final Strife I was abit overwhelmed by everything going on and trying to remember all the different names and places ect. (if I wasn’t a dummy and had realised there was a glossary in the back the whole time I wouldn’t have had this struggle 🤦🏽♀️ I don’t know if other editions have it, sorry, but I’m assuming so) but I quickly became so immersed into everything; the action, the people, the politics going on and I soon fell in love.
This book is slept on, I’m so gutted that I can’t jump straight into the next one in the series (the battle drum) and that I have to wait until May.
I’ve been on booktok for a while now (as I know many of us have) and I’ve only seen this book on there twice maybe? (That could be just my booktok I guess but still).
I’m so engrossed in the world that El-Arifi has created that I don’t want to go onto another book, I’m struggling to bring myself to do it 😂. I literally put off reading the last 2 chapters for 2 weeks just so I didn’t have to say goodbye to the characters that I’ve grown to love.
I feel like when I first started The Final Strife I was abit overwhelmed by everything going on and trying to remember all the different names and places ect. (if I wasn’t a dummy and had realised there was a glossary in the back the whole time I wouldn’t have had this struggle 🤦🏽♀️ I don’t know if other editions have it, sorry, but I’m assuming so) but I quickly became so immersed into everything; the action, the people, the politics going on and I soon fell in love.
This book is slept on, I’m so gutted that I can’t jump straight into the next one in the series (the battle drum) and that I have to wait until May.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Body shaming and Blood
cozyscones's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Torture
Minor: Excrement and Vomit
meshell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
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 wasn't connecting with this book in the first few chapters so I took a little break and came back to and I'm really glad I did because I got really into it. I had no idea where it would end up, because I didn't read anything about it and thankfully a friend recommended it or mentioned it, so I knew it was worth reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia
gurofl's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
3.75
I liked it in the start, but after a while I lost a bit of interest. There's little development of the plot in the middle.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Colonisation
Moderate: Drug use and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Fatphobia, Genocide, Racism, Police brutality, and Kidnapping
likeanecho'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, 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
azrah786's review against another edition
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: 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
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: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and Classism
littlecabbage's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
The Final Strife grabs you by the collar and pulls you into a new world where people are classified by blood, color, and caste system. With Sylah as your guide, you are introduced to a world as flawed and driven as she is. Raised as a renegade, Sylah's efforts lead her into the closet of Annor, the warden's daughter. As the opener for a trilogy, you can tell through the 600 pages that there is a deep world worth exploring.
Although the story is compelling, the plot moved at times too quickly and too often overemphasized foreshadowing for future plot points and books. There are moments when you ask, 'why are you mentioning that again' only to assume it will come up in a later chapter or book.
Overall, it was a solid read. Add this to your TBR if you're looking for wlw, fantasy, or want to expand your imagination in a way that includes black and brown people. El-Arifi shows how exciting the mythology of Africa and Arabia can be when used to inspire stories that relate to today. I'm excited to see her future work and where Sylah's story goes.
**Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of The Final Strife**
Although the story is compelling, the plot moved at times too quickly and too often overemphasized foreshadowing for future plot points and books. There are moments when you ask, 'why are you mentioning that again' only to assume it will come up in a later chapter or book.
Overall, it was a solid read. Add this to your TBR if you're looking for wlw, fantasy, or want to expand your imagination in a way that includes black and brown people. El-Arifi shows how exciting the mythology of Africa and Arabia can be when used to inspire stories that relate to today. I'm excited to see her future work and where Sylah's story goes.
**Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of The Final Strife**
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Fatphobia, and Violence
qace90's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
I am absolutely adrift in feelings after finishing this masterpiece and I cannot wait to see what happens next with Hassa, Sylah, and Anoor. Full review closer to release!
Full review:
I am absolutely adrift in feelings after finishing this masterpiece and I cannot wait to see what happens next with Hassa, Sylah, and Anoor.
The Final Strife is a story of survival, family, and fighting to make and be a change for good. Sylah is part of the Stolen, a group of Ember children stolen by Dusters to win the Aktibar and rid the Empire of Embers. Hassa is a Ghosting, and in many ways she is invisible which allows her to know more than anyone else. And Anoor is one of the Dustings left in place of the Stolen, left with the Warden of Strength and hated because her existence presents a show of weakness that Uka’s household could be infiltrated.
There are so many elements at play in this book and I found it so hard to put down or not think about it when I was forced to deal with the real world. I love the complicated motivations of all the characters and the way secrets and hidden truths have shaped the reality they’re all living in. Anoor and Sylah are both trying to figure out where they fit in the world they're living in, while Hassa is a silent watcher to all the things going on. Hassa is also more aware of everyone's secrets than sometimes the people whose secrets she knows even are aware.of their own histories. This just truly does so much and I don’t want to give too much away because getting sucked into this world and feeling for these characters is such an experience. Themes of grief, friendships, family, and the mystery of what’s happening in the Empire.
I adored this book and look forward to more from Saara and the continuation of the Final Strife Trilogy!
Review will be posted to Cannonball Read on June 14, 2022
I am absolutely adrift in feelings after finishing this masterpiece and I cannot wait to see what happens next with Hassa, Sylah, and Anoor. Full review closer to release!
Full review:
I am absolutely adrift in feelings after finishing this masterpiece and I cannot wait to see what happens next with Hassa, Sylah, and Anoor.
The Final Strife is a story of survival, family, and fighting to make and be a change for good. Sylah is part of the Stolen, a group of Ember children stolen by Dusters to win the Aktibar and rid the Empire of Embers. Hassa is a Ghosting, and in many ways she is invisible which allows her to know more than anyone else. And Anoor is one of the Dustings left in place of the Stolen, left with the Warden of Strength and hated because her existence presents a show of weakness that Uka’s household could be infiltrated.
There are so many elements at play in this book and I found it so hard to put down or not think about it when I was forced to deal with the real world. I love the complicated motivations of all the characters and the way secrets and hidden truths have shaped the reality they’re all living in. Anoor and Sylah are both trying to figure out where they fit in the world they're living in, while Hassa is a silent watcher to all the things going on. Hassa is also more aware of everyone's secrets than sometimes the people whose secrets she knows even are aware.of their own histories. This just truly does so much and I don’t want to give too much away because getting sucked into this world and feeling for these characters is such an experience. Themes of grief, friendships, family, and the mystery of what’s happening in the Empire.
I adored this book and look forward to more from Saara and the continuation of the Final Strife Trilogy!
Review will be posted to Cannonball Read on June 14, 2022
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Gore and Physical abuse
Minor: Fatphobia
- Alcohol consumption - Disfigurement/maiming - Execution - Prejudice - Gambling - Nightmares - Withdrawal - Vomiting - Sexual content