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A review by chainingbooks
The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Full review to come later
Overall I'm not as obsessed over this one as much as I was the first one. I'm glad I didn't wait too long between book 1 and book 2 but I did really appreciate the recap told in a way that fit in within the context of the story.
There were some moments in the middle of this book that felt like they dragged and at times seemed to work out conveniently in ways that I didn't feel in the first book. And while I was working to figure out the mystery elements, I don't know that they really added much to the story told in 2
BUT THE LAST THIRD DID HAVE ME ABSOLUTELY HOOKED AND THE REVEALS, CHEFS KISS ONCE AGAIN, EVEN WITH THE CLIFFHANGER
While I didn't necessarily dislike the additional narratives introduced in this one, Jond's didn't really give me much to look forward to other than seeing out how Sylah would make it through. Like, I detested his actions in the first one and I don't have any kind of change of heart for him
What I think I can always appreciate about this series is how nothing is held back in terms of violence, destruction, and unbridled rage
But I can say for sure that I don't support ALL women's wrongs. I'm ever so curious how the final book in the trilogy goes
Overall I'm not as obsessed over this one as much as I was the first one. I'm glad I didn't wait too long between book 1 and book 2 but I did really appreciate the recap told in a way that fit in within the context of the story.
There were some moments in the middle of this book that felt like they dragged and at times seemed to work out conveniently in ways that I didn't feel in the first book. And while I was working to figure out the mystery elements, I don't know that they really added much to the story told in 2
BUT THE LAST THIRD DID HAVE ME ABSOLUTELY HOOKED AND THE REVEALS, CHEFS KISS ONCE AGAIN, EVEN WITH THE CLIFFHANGER
While I didn't necessarily dislike the additional narratives introduced in this one, Jond's didn't really give me much to look forward to other than seeing out how Sylah would make it through. Like, I detested his actions in the first one and I don't have any kind of change of heart for him
What I think I can always appreciate about this series is how nothing is held back in terms of violence, destruction, and unbridled rage
But I can say for sure that I don't support ALL women's wrongs. I'm ever so curious how the final book in the trilogy goes