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tilda_002's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book is a fantasy novel in which colour of your blood dictates the class you are in within society. Those with red blood are the embers “the elites” of society, then are those with blue bloods who are the dusters and below them are those who have translucent blood who are called ghostings. The story follows our main protagonist Sylah as she enters a competition called the Aktibar a competition that takes place every 10 years. Due to a series of unfortunate events she gets sidelined and it’s forced into training a Duster raised by an Ember called Anor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Excrement
solenekeleroux'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, and Alcohol
ryuutchi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I would give this book 6 stars if I could. A complex, incisive adventure story that introduces us to a completely new world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death
bookinitwithahtiya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.5
Wow, what a beautifully written opening! I always love when a book shows you the power and lushness of its writing in the few pages, and the opening to this book did not disappoint. THE FINAL STRIFE is slow-paced and intriguing — I kept wanting to come back to it and know what was happening. It deals with themes of oppression and capitalism. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the map in the finished copy because this world/kingdom/empire has a lot of sections that are separated by the different castes. I’m excited for this book to enter the world and have others gush about it; make sure you pre-order it!
THE FINAL STRIFE features the following rep: trans, non-binary, recovering addict, chronic pain, and PTSD.
THE FINAL STRIFE features the following rep: trans, non-binary, recovering addict, chronic pain, and PTSD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Blood
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