Reviews

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

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b_morganbooks's review against another edition

4.5

In my opinion, this has a YA nostalgic plot, but with the grit and complexity of adult fantasy. I absolutely loved it. From the very first page, I knew I was going to enjoy it. Although the lowest class were mutilated, I really liked how they communicated with each other without tongues or hands. It added a layer to the book that will make the whole trilogy very memorable, I would think.

The idea of there being different classes in a fantasy book is nothing new but the author made it feel fresh and exciting. I haven’t read another book that handles addiction (joba seeds) in such a way, other than maybe the Greenbone Saga. I also love waiting for big reveals in books, especially when we know but the characters don’t, so I was really excited for the ending and it delivered! I fell in love with the relationship between Sylah and Anoor, they had my favourite moments in the book. I really hope they keep it up as they both deserve the world.

The ending came as a shock to me, and I have no idea where it’s going to go from here. The first book in the series definitely has a whole lot of trauma, but I think it’s one that most fantasy fans would enjoy.

scarypaper's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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

elphaba61's review

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

4.75

thursdayleroux's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

books4bee's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This story really dragged for me then picked up in the last 6 hours.

laurolly's review against another edition

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5.0

5 Stars. It took me a very long time to get into this book, and the first few chapters I needed to push myself through. But wow am I happy I did! Sylah, our main character, suffers from a drug addiction and is very difficult to connect with early on. However, after learning more about her history and seeing how she grows, the book becomes much easier to fall into. Similarly, it took me some time to get used to the phrases used and interactions between characters - though this likely stems from the story drawing from African and Arab cultures which I am less familiar with. The cast was beautifully diverse, El-Arifi wrote complex bi, trans, non-binary, and disabled characters, each with unique and well explored motivators. The mystery in the subplot was masterfully woven into the main storyline with just enough small details provided to keep the reader guessing but never quite reaching understanding until the final reveal. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, especially to see more of Anoor’s and Hassa’s POV.