Reviews

The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

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

waite's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.75

An amazing book 2 that doesn’t fall too hard into middle book syndrome of being boring. The new concepts teased in book 1 were payed off well here and only escalated. It DOES fall into the trap of, this book is definitely building to an action-oriented final installment, but to me this is a feature rather than an issue. 

My first .25 deduction purely comes from a place of “my favorite characters got dog piled with some of the most traumatic shit” and it made me sad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

tkats's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.5

tayvana's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

brooklynkid's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

4.25

triplebriiii's review against another edition

4.5

I liked this much better than the first book. I really enjoyed the expanded world building, with us learning about the other lands, I thought that was well done and incredibly interesting. The world building is just excellent in this one. 

I loved that Hassa played a larger role in this one, I really enjoy her character. Likewise, I liked that I had to deal less with Sylah. I'm not giving up hope on her, it took me until book 3 to fall in love with Rin, there is a chance. But goodness do I not like her

and was so thankful that she has a more limited number of POV chapters.

I am enjoying the new characters, I found Nayeli fascinating. Kwame wasn't new, but the expansion into his character was nice. 

I felt like parts of the plot were still a bit weak. There were some pacing issues about 2/3 of the way in. I felt like the plot line to deal with the sea monster was kinda useless, in the end.

and then Leo dying so soon after being reunited with her daughter. It just felt kind of pointless.

Loved that this whole plot is like an allegory to climate change and evangelical extremists. Fascinating. 

swansandroses's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0