Reviews

The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

happy_meeal's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

kelsmreads's review against another edition

adventurous informative medium-paced

4.5

marywollstonecraftshelley's review against another edition

1.5

This is just… not it folks. There are maybe two characters who are actually fun to read about, the romances are AWFUL, the fantasy world is interesting but it is just revealed in such a poorly plotted fashion. Honestly don’t know why I didn’t dnf it sooner but thank g-d for 2x speed on audiobooks. 

hyac1nthgirl's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

😭😭😭

this series keeps breaking me apart!!!! learning more about the world sylah, hassa, and anoor live in through their respective journeys was wild and i need the last book asap!!

logannium's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-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

4.0

readwithrhys's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

5.0

robinfig's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

b_morganbooks's review against another edition

4.0

After loving the first book, I picked this one up a couple of weeks later and honestly, I’m glad I did because it didn’t come rushing back to me as quickly as I would have liked. There was a handy recap at the start though (really pleased with how many authors are starting to do this).

I really enjoyed delving deeper into the world and the class system. I wasn’t as enthralled by the plot in this book as much as its predecessor, but it did feel as though it set a lot up for the third and final instalment. The relationships that kept me hooked in the first book weren’t able to blossom really because they were kept apart, but the characters still developed on their own and Hassa secured herself as my favourite.

This is a really great series for all fantasy readers but definitely for those of you wanting to bridge the gap between YA and adult fantasy. 

naquare's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It took a little to get into, but the the twist and turns and surprises were so worth it! Sylah and Anoor’s journeys have split so much and I wonder what is going to happen when they meet. Who is going to believe who? 

itsjunghan's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense

• 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