A review by brewsandbooks
The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

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? Yes

5.0

El-Arifi took a book I enjoyed and ratcheted it up to a series I'm obsessed with. The first book was a straightforward battle book - setting the scene. This book led us through new worlds, new issues, and new politics that I was not expecting. I loved the way El-Arifi looks at privilege and how it can harm those around you and limit your worldview even when you think that you're being helpful. It shows the limits of people and how they need to call themselves on the carpet or how their own trauma can lead them to using their privilege to harm others that they care about. Moreso, El-Arifi does a stunning job at looking at self-loathing and the dynamic it has with addiction. 

Small spoilers:

Sylah is not recovered from her self-sabotaging and harm because she is currently refraining from drug use. She's in recovery. She is still complex. She is still needing to do the work. I was stunned at how well El-Arifi looked at a character like this.

I can't wait to read more.   
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