I have such mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to love it, and there were aspects that I did. The magic system was fascinating, and the reveals towards the end of the book were exciting. However, the pacing let the book down overall. The beginning was very slow and dragged out, which made it difficult to keep going. I enjoyed the ending, but am not totally sure it was worth the time it took to get there!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Inspired by Ghanian and Arabian folklore, Saara El-Arifi’s The Final Strife is a detailed and intricately woven epic fantasy full of polititcal intrigue, bloodmages and a band of misfits you’ll definitely root for—set in a unjust (and cutthroat) world where magic and power are inextricably linked.

In an Empire ruled by a class system where the elite red blood’s rule, the second class blue blood’s work and the enslaved clear bloods serve, it’s the Wardens (Strength, Knowledge, Truth and Duty) that hold all the power. And the Aktibar—a set of trials held every decade to find the next Wardens is about to begin.

All can join but not just anyone can win, you need great skill and ingenuity to become a warden but Sylah was destined to win. Stolen by blue blooded rebels and raised with a Duster’s heart, she was forged as a weapon to tear down the red blooded Ember’s cruel regime from the inside.

But after her adopted family were murdered those dreams of a better future crumbled before her eyes. But hope isn’t all lost, for Sylah was born to burn and it’s up to her whether she rules the empire or destroys it…

I really enjoyed this! The pace was a little slow to start, but with most of the important info seamlessly blended into its most action-packed scenes you do get to skip a lot of boring, info dump style exposition that alot of fantasy plots favour. At a whopping 640 pages it’s still quite a long book so do keep in mind if you prefer to read shorter (between 200-400 page) and faster paced stories.

The worldbuilding was incredible! I loved how richly detailed and expansive it was. Thanks to the multiple POVs we experience the lifestyles of all three classes and witness firsthand the corruption and injustice that prevails. Sylah is the biggest POV character and although incredibly flawed, she’s a really relatable and endearing character. When we first meet her she’s an addict, her story is messy and bloody but through it all she manages to persevere and I loved that.

Hassa and Anoor likewise, are both really interesting characters that despite the difference in their stations (one raised in the lap of luxury, the other raised as a slave) do suffer their fair share of trauma at the hands of the Embers. Anoor, sheltered from life outside of the Warden’s keep really experiences an awakening to the cruelty and injustice that exists, the truth of which spurs her emotional arc.

Hassa remains a bit of a mystery for the majority of the book, disappearing and reappearing several but it’s not until the second half of the book that we finally get a real glimpse into her motivations and reasonings. I can’t wait to she more of her going forward.

A lot of darker themes and issues are explored such as : drug abuse, addiction, graphic violence, blood, death (including death of a child and death of a parent), grief and child abuse which may be upsetting or triggering for some—so do please bear that in mind before reading.

Overall, this was a gripping and action packed fantasy that fans of Sue Lynn Tan and S.A Chakraborty are bound to enjoy.

Also, thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Synopsis: Sylah, Anoor and Hassa. Red is the blood of the Elite, Blue the blood of the poor workers, Translucent the blood of the enslaved.

CW/TW: Blood/Gore/Violence/Slavery/Mutilation/Oppression/Ableism/Drug Use/Drug Addiction/Withdrawal Symptoms/Fatphobia/Death/ others may be present.

Rep: Sapphic mc’s (labels unspecified but one is either bi/pan)/Transgender pov character/queer side characters/non-binary (Musawa) side-characters.

The Final Strife, by Saara El-Arifi is a compelling fantasy that explores a cruel Empire built on blood magic, fear and slavery.

The Final Strife is a beautifully written epic fantasy the is vivid, compelling and rich. The book is relatively slow paced, but it compliments the story and the prose through which it is conveyed. Saara El-Arifi‘s prose is brilliant, perfectly crafted to create the exact atmospheres she wishes to portray. The multiple POV works wonderfully with her gorgeous prose and complex story, giving us insight into Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa, as well as other characters who we meet along the way.

Moreover, I loved the inclusion of the Griot’s stories that we encounter throughout the book and the Empire’s songs that are weaved into the story. Th inclusion of both of these aspects fleshed out the world and rooted it in something real and believable.

I loved all the POV’s that we get to read. I loved the characters whose eyes we see through and whose thoughts we hear. And, I loved how each POV worked to compliment each other and slowly put the pieces of the story together.

Not only did I love the prose, but I also adored the story! I’ll keep this section brief because there is a lot more to the story than it seems. But, I really enjoyed the primary storyline that is being developed through the book. We follow our characters as they challenge and try to end the cruel Empire that is run by the Red Blooded Embers. Embers are the only people who can ‘Bloodwerk’ (perform blood magic), as a result they rule the Empire and oppress the Dusters (Blue Bloods), and Ghostings (Translucent Blood). The Embers force the Duster into specific fields of work, branding them with the Guild they are assigned too, and are made to liv in poverty. The Ghostings are mutilated, tongues cut out and hands severed, part of a punishment placed on them for a past crime, they are then enslaved to the Embers.

Sylah lives with the Dusters. She was Chosen, suppose to compete in the Atkibar trials and become a weapon to end the Empire. But we follow Sylah as her chosen path changes into something else, something much more difficult to navigate. I really loved Sylah’s chapters. Her characters is stubborn, full of guilt and hatred, and deadly – but she is also kind. I loved Sylah’s journey over the course of the book, her development and personal challenges aided the plot and added depth to both the character and the story. Her dynamic with the characters around her (particularly Anoor and Hassa) was excellently written, believable and enjoyable to read about. The bonds and love that transcends the colour of their blood, the tension and angst, the friendship and desperation – all of it was so well done. Sylah’s story is one of rebellion, of a weapon forged and is fantastic to watch play out.

Anoor is was raised in luxury, naïve to the world beyond the Ember’s Quarters. But, when she meets Sylah everything changes. I loved Anoor and her journey. She develops a lot over the course of the book, struggling and understanding her privilege, fighting to do what’s right – and I loved watching this grow. Anoor is soft and inquisitive but has a fire in her that grows brighter as the book goes on. Her determination is honed and sharpened as she takes on a difficult challenge. Anoor’s dynamic with Sylah and the characters around her are equally interesting and well written and I loved watching these relationships grow and evolve over the course of the book – especially her and Sylah’s frenemies to lovers dynamic. Anoor’s story is one of determination, of fear honed into motivation and focus.

Hassa is a Ghosting, a slave, a trader invisible to those in the Empire. Hssa’s journey is another excellent element of the plot – her forced silence creates a façade of subservience but Hassa is determined, clever and caring. I really loved Hassa’s character and journey – the pressures on her, the clever mind she has. Hassa’s relationships are brilliant, her and Sylah as friends is a core bond, but also with other characters we meet. Hassa story is one of silent determination, of secrets and hope.

While the plot primarily follows Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa, there is so much to the story. With the Tidewinds claiming lives more brutally and quickly than before, and a sleeping sickness killing the Ghostings, The Ember’s don’t appear to be the only threat in the Empire. And the discovery of a map leads to questions that appear to have no answers.

Saara El-Arifi creates a clever plot and story with elements that come together to create something twisted and complex. Many of the twists and turns truly took me by surprise, El-Arifi truly knows how to cleverly weave small elements together to create a shocking image that slowly begins to click together as you read.

There is so much more I could say about the story, about the Rebellion, the blood magic and the Atkibar trials but I don’t want to spoil this for anyone tempted to pick this book up!

As for the characters we have an inclusive cast of excellent characters that are flawed and realistic. Sylah and Anoor are sapphic characters, there is a primary transgender character, and many of the minor characters are queer. The Ghostings are all mut due to their mutilation at the hands of the Embers, but have their own complex and clever way of communicating with eachother through sign-language that uses the limbs rather than the hands. Moreover, the cast is African and Arab and some side-characters are non-binary (they/them).

Honestly, I loved all three of the central women in the novel, I loved other charcater’s we meet, and thought the cruel characters were written well. Each character has a unique and distinct voice, motivations, beliefs and goals which supports the plot, the reveals and the secrets excellently. All the characters are well developed throughout the story and the relationships between them all develop in interesting ways.

Overall, The Final Strife, by Saara El-Arifi is an excellent and complex epic fantasy that is intense, compelling and vivid.

*I received an eARC via #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUK in exchange for an honest review – thank you!!*

I was absolutely blown away by this debut fantasy novel. Saara El-Arifi is a name to watch out for, and The Final Strife is undoubtedly a novel everyone should read.

The Final Strife begins from Sylah’s point of view…although there are later parts written from other characters’ point of view, which only adds to the novel. Sylah has turned to joba seeds, a highly addictive drug, to deal with the loss, guilt and distress she felt at having lost most of her adoptive family — and her purpose.

The beginning of the novel is definitely captivating. It builds up this incredibly brutal world where people are divided depending on their blood colour. Sylah is an Ember, but only she and her adoptive mother, Lio, know that. She was raised as a Duster and sees the terrible injustices around her daily, yet without the rebel faction, the Sandstorm, she feels unable to continue the cause.

Saara El-Arifi does a fantastic job of world-building. The Final Strife is set in a complex, detailed world that the author brings to life beautifully. My ARC did not have the maps included which I believe will be a valuable resource for readers to get a better feel for the layout of the empire. I already can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy to study the maps for myself.

The characters of the novel are equally fascinating. With loveable ones and hateful ones in equal measure. There is honestly nothing more I could have asked for with regards to characterisation. Even as I write, I am still blown away by the skill evident in The Final Strife. Saara El-Arifi is definitely one to watch out for.

There were elements to the writing that could have been improved, but only in very small instances. Being a debut, The Final Strife already went above and beyond, so I’m sure El-Arifi will only get better and better as the trilogy (yes, trilogy!) continues.

The Final Strife is a shining example of how to write a diverse, inclusive, brilliant cast. From skin colour to blood colour, disability to LGBTQ+, El-Arifi has made a place for everyone, and she has done it effortlessly. This should be an example to any author or writer: diversity is not difficult. Diversity is necessary, a reflection of our beautiful world, and I can only hope this way of writing becomes the norm.

I could talk about this novel for a long time, sharing my love for particular characters, scenes, character-development and plot points…but I want you to experience this novel for yourself first. Read it, read it again, then come to me with all of your thoughts.

Needless to say I am already eager for the sequel, and The Final Strife is still yet to be released!

Once this book hooks you in, you can’t let go. I had to stay up until way past midnight to finish this and it’s a long while since I’ve had to do that.
There are three classes of people in the empire, red blooded, blue blooded and clear. The red bloods or Embers are the ruling class and they rule their empire without mercy. The blue bloods are the Dusters who do all of the work and the clear or translucent bloods are simply invisible and known as Ghostings.
Four Wardens control every aspect of life and their disciples learn from them. Every ten years, the disciples become the new wardens and the Aktibar Games are held to choose new disciples from the ranks of the Embers. These games and the opportunity that they bring for change are the focus of the novel. This is a familiar scenario but there is nothing familiar about the story that the author creates here.
We read the story through the eyes of three different women, an ember, a duster and a ghosting. Each of the women has her own agenda and through each of the view points we gradually learn more about the world they live in. Sylah was trained from birth to win the games but six years before, her entire family was murdered in front of her. Now she is a drug addict who survives by fighting for money in the ring. Anoor is the spoilt daughter of the Warden of Strength. Her only interest appears to be creating more and more extravagant outfits to wear. Hassa is a ghosting but also a friend of Sylah’s. As a ghosting, she has no worth in society but she is more than at first appears. These women’s lives become intertwined and their interests coincide but nothing is quite as it seems.
Interspersed with the story are brief extracts from the wardens’ journals which show us more about the way they govern their empire and the horrific way the Dusters and Ghostings are treated. We also get extracts from the story tellers or griots which add more to our understanding of the world. I found the world building amazing. Bit by bit, we learn about the society, its history and the magic system. It’s a dark world and there are some distressing descriptions of punishments meted out to the Dusters and Ghostings but for me, this book was unputdownable.
The book is definitely part of a series but doesn’t end on a cliff hanger. This part of the story concludes in a way that ends satisfactorily but leaves plenty of questions for the next books. I loved this and can’t wait to see how the story develops next.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Harper Collins UK, for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Final Strife is a book designed to be savoured. The action is fast-paced and thrilling, but I loved the deft, subtle and quieter character work and attention to detail.

This was such a stunning book. I loved how deftly the groundwork for future books was set out, with an in-depth peek into the politics and history of this brutal world. There is just so much material here, but it never feels overwhelming or like exposition. Instead, you are just fully immersed into this incredibly rich world. In particular, I loved the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter, which added little hints of world-building throughout the book and weaving that rich tapestry. Books like this just pull me in and allow me to lose myself in the imaginative dexterity of the writer. El-Arifi has set the standard for what promises to be an excellent fantasy series.

I am a sucker for some morally ambiguous and ever shifting characters. Sylah and Anoor are two vastly different people, but they are equally driven by the compulsion to survive in a system determined to crush them. Their alternative viewpoints offer such different insights into the world around them, opening up some thought-provoking discussions and brutal examinations of issues. This is not a book that shys away from the bloody havoc of the world around them. Yet El-Arifi takes her time, allowing the intricate character work to shine through in order for you to really connect with these complex people. The relationship between the two of them was endlessly fascinating as well. The tension, the dialogue and the way they interacted was incredible. I love a slow-burning shift in dynamic and we are treated to a great one here.

The Final Strife is a thunderstorm of a book. It is a fully fleshed-out, epic fantasy that will capture your mind.

I tried to finish this book, but had to DNF it because it was a struggle to continue it. I found the story too slow for my liking, the writing style wasn't my cup of tea and I didn't connect with any characters. The whole concept sounded interesting, but in the end it wasn't for me.

Sadly not a book I could get into but definitely promising and I could see the appeal for others!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me access to an eARC to review!

What I was hoping would be a tale of 3 powerful women and their interactions with a brutal, caste-based society ended up being the story of 1 spoilt brat, and 2 women that were just around whenever she needed their help.

I found Sylah incredibly infuriating as a protagonist, and it wasn't until near the end that I realised we were meant to be rooting for her. I liked the idea of a Chosen One who never got to fulfil their destiny, but I didn't understand why she was taking this out on Anoor, a girl who also didn't choose her lot in life. It felt like Sylah only hated her because she felt entitled to the life that Anoor had, one that Sylah would only have due to her blood, which was the very system she was meant to be working to dismantle. For someone who was meant to have an Ember's blood and a Duster's heart, Sylah didn't ever really seem to care about the Dusters (or the Ghostings) any more than righteous outrage and childish tantrums when Anoor got a new dress or was naive about something.

I think my main gripe with this was I didn't understand the central premise of the revolution. Having a group of people with Ember blood beat the trials - didn't this prove that you needed Ember blood to do it? And why wouldn't they instead work to help someone like Anoor who was in a position to undermine the whole system if she were to win instead? It didn't make much sense to me, and I feel that Hassa or even Anoor should have been the protagonist of this story instead of Sylah.

The romances in this really didn't do it for me - mostly because I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters but also because the dialogue/banter at times was just so so cringe. When Sylah isn't being a martyr, she acts like a petulant kid who just learnt to swear for the first time and I found it really annoying. I particularly disliked her relationship with Anoor - she would disparage and criticise her behind her back (and sometimes even to her face) but then we were meant to believe they were growing closer?

Anoor was meant to provide plus-sized representation as well, but I feel this was reduced to describing her as curvy and then Sylah immediately putting her on a diet and exercise regimen (though of course we specify that she still kept her curves) and commenting on how she could fit three of Anoor's dresses on her (but then be confused why her mother would hate her for her body) (I think maybe this comment was meant to be taken as a 'she's forced to cover up her body' thing as it is mentioned a few times that Anoor's dresses don't show off her 'curves' but I feel it's a little too close to 'I could fit two of me in one of your dresses' for my liking). I also feel that Sylah was constantly trying to change her (like always commenting on how she hated her green outfits or making her stop reading) and that it was meant to be empowering cause eventually Anoor went along with it -- long story short I just don't think the plus-sized representation was done particularly well, especially when compared to someone like Nina (I know) who is able to be plus-sized and eat waffles while also being an absolute baddie.

Hassa too felt like she was only there whenever Sylah needed her, and while this was somewhat addressed in Hassa's chapters, I didn't think enough attention was paid to the fact that even Sylah was treating the Ghostings like trash and that they were even more oppressed than the Dusters.

I don't know, I just think this could have done so much more, and despite its considerable page count, there wasn't anything particularly special about this for me and I won't be continuing in the series. At times it felt very YA in the way that Sylah in particular acted and interacted with others, and it straddled the line of "YA author adds drugs and violence and calls a book adult" that I found in books like Book of Night and Ninth House. I think your enjoyment of this really hinges on whether you like Sylah (and I think fans of SJM's protagonists might have a better time with her) but I just couldn't quite bring myself around to caring much about her. Perhaps if it had been a full multi POV story (rather than short interludes from other characters) the Sylah-effect would have been lessened but alas...

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Final Strife is set in a world where people’s worth are determined based on the colour of their blood. The ruling class, the Embers, have red blood. The middle class, Dusters, have blue blood and the lowest class, Ghostings, have clear blood. Based around African and Arabian mythology, the novel features trans and non-binary reps and sapphic MCs.

The book follows three female main characters. Sylah, who was raised to start a revolution but misses her calling. Anoor, brought up as an Ember despite her blue blood. And finally Hassa, a Ghosting who knows more than she lets on.

I really enjoyed the world building, magic system, plot twists and romance. I felt that it set up really well for the next book in the triology. Despite some slower parts I was captivated throughout and enjoyed the side plots as much as the main story line.

While all of the main characters, are flawed they are still really lovable, and the reader is rooting for them throughout the book. I would have liked to see more of Hassa but I believe that she will play a bigger role in the next instalment.

I can’t wait for the publication of The Final Strife, and for the next instalments to find out how Anoor, Sylah and Hassa’s stories progress.

An absolutely phenomenal book! It gives everything I could want from the genre PLUS more!!!! Definitely one I'd recommend and will be gifting to friends!

Is it best to change a regime from the inside or topple it from outside?

Sylah, the initial protagonist, was stolen from her red-blooded parents and trained to replace their government of Wardens for the benefit of the blue-blooded. But the rebels who were training her were massacred and she has lost her way, relying on the highs of the joba seed to get through the day. When she learns who her real mother is, she is inspired to break into the Keep where she meets Anoor, the daughter of the Warden of Strength. The Wardens are replaced every 10 years in trials of strength and intelligence, and it is often protégés and family who take their place, but Anoor won′t even be entering the trials for she is one of the blue-blooded babies left in the place of those stolen, and her life is one of ease and frivolity.
Although antagonistic at first, Sylah and Anoor form an alliance which will see Anoor stepping up to to compete in the trials. She not only learns to plan and fight, but also about the life of those outside the Keep, and sees winning the trials as a way of making life better for all citizens. And Sylah begins to realise that those with red blood are not a faceless mass but individuals who may deserve to live.
And weaving her way through the main story is Hassa, one of the mutilated clear-blooded, who has access to more knowledge than any of the red or blue-blooded and whose revelations cast a new light on the whole history of the conflict.

This was a really involving book with great world-building. As more information was revealed it changed what you thought you knew about what was happening, with final revelations about blood introducing startling new possibilities. Although it didn′t really end on a cliff-hanger,there is definitely more to come and I am eager to read what happens next.

I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley

This is the perfect book for fans of The Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard and the Daevabad trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty.

It was a little complex and slow for me at the beginning as I tried to understand the different terms, from Dusters, Ghostings and Embers to erus, joba seeds and the Tongue. As I got further into the book and the scene and characters were more familiar, it was easier to connect to the story and become invested in Sylah’s life and her character’s development. From the moment Sylah steps foot in the Keep, things kick up a notch and it was impossible to put this book down. There was action, heists, mystery and romance - The Final Strife has everything I need. There’s chemistry, longing and heartbreak. Drama, love and loyalty.

With the twists and turns at the end as everything comes to a head and the trial finishes, secrets are revealed, betrayals come to light, and relationships are damaged, it’s clear there’s going to be so much more to get hooked into as the series continues. Saara El-Arifi’s lgbtq+ debut novel builds an absorbing world with complex, determined characters to tell the story of political intrigue, history, identity and power.

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi just climbed straight into my favourite books of 2022.

This is a story of oppression, fear, brutality, courage, enemies to friends with sapphic representation. I was hooked immediately; it was dark and captivating.

Blue bloods are oppressed, translucent bloods are slaves and red bloods rule. The red bloods can perform blood magic which sets them above other bloods. Every decade a tournament decides which four red bloods will rule the land. A group of resistance plan to infiltrate this tournament.

I really loved the Sylah, Anoor and Hassa the World was really interesting with lots more to discover.

I really didn’t know where the story was going to go and I was literally holding my breath at times. The ending was epic! It has made me all the more eager for the sequel.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, cannot wait for my Goldsboro edition to arrive and I will be reading it all over again!

”Love may give you strength, but retribution gives you purpose.”


SUMMARY
*Taken from Goodreads*

Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control.
Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance.
Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible.

Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes.

Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment, by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the empire. But when Sylah and Anoor meet, a fire burns between them that could consume the kingdom—and their hearts.

Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. And when she joins forces with Sylah and Anoor, together these grains of sand will become a storm.

As the empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn.

”Obedience is killing us.”


OPINION
Drug addicted chosen one misses her calling… YEP. I’m in.

“Stolen, sharpened, the hidden key,
We’ll destroy the empire and set you free,
Churned up from the shadows to tear it apart,
A dancer’s grace, a killer’s instinct, an Ember’s blood, a Duster’s heart.”


This book is a whole damn VIBE. I so badly wanted to like it. And I started it and thought oh god there’s so much to learn about this world El-Arifi has so carefully crafted. I was a bit overwhelmed and struggled to get into the swing of things but my gosh, when I did, I cannot describe the way I was completely stuck to the story. I was reading it on my kindle and didn’t put it down ONCE, not even going to toilet. 😂

Initially it was a struggle to relate to Sylah, her misdirected anger at Anoor felt immature and her surliness was annoying rather than endearing. BUT. It is SO worth it because the character development for Sylah and Anoor is utterly amazing. As in, tear provoking amazing.

Why bother telling you what I struggled with, you ask? Because all I’m trying to convey with every fibre of my typed word is: stick with it. There is a LOT of world building and foundation making but once you’re transported into the story you will realise you’re on the edge of your seat, gritting your teeth, and the pounding drum of the story reflects in your heart.

“It will get easier, but you can’t give up. Each step you take today, is one you’ll be thankful of tomorrow.”


If this hasn’t persuaded you to read it by now, perhaps this will: this story creates an imaginative and atmospheric world with clear African and Arabian roots. The representation of non binary and the LGBT community is sublime and organic. There are themes of classism, love triangle trope, drug addiction, and one true calling. The romance follows a slow burn enemies to lovers sapphic love. Spice is minimal. Saara El-Arifi is an incredible storyteller; I would love to see this book as a screen adaptation. The fact that it’s the FIRST in a trilogy makes me so freakin’ excited for the rest.

Also one of the notes I put was literally:
What 👏 a 👏 fucking 👏 ending 👏

RECOMMENDATION
Read it. Read it. Read it. Read it.

Wow. I've just finished this and thought it was incredible. Sometimes I find that when books are that amazing , I cannot remember what even happens in them AND I ONLY JUST FINISHED READING IT.

The cover is BEAUTIFUL.
The writing is brilliant. I loved how it captured all emotions, I was laughing, sad, happy, cringing and creeping out with all the gruesome stuff that happens.

I love the characters, everyone is 3D!!!

The Final Strife is the first book in a fantasy trilogy, and I absolutely loved it. I thought it was a brilliant read, and I'm really looking forward to the direction the story takes as the series progresses.

The three main characters, Sylah, Anoor and Hassa, are each very different, unique characters. I can't choose a favourite from the three of them. I loved the way Hassa's trans identity is handled, and also her sign language. Sylah is a complete mess, but she is stronger than she thinks she is, and I loved reading her journey. And Anoor... I adored Anoor. This is the kind of queer fantasy that I live for.

The world building is complex, and the world the characters are in is horrific, filled with violence, discrimination and bigotry. But the story still managed to feel hopeful, and not too dark. The politics and the way magic works fascinated me, and the plot is exciting and dramatic.

I'm really looking forward to book two!

As a science fiction and fantasy reader I've read my fair share of 'people from X group are downtrodden by people from Y group and then there is this one person whose destiny it is to...' books. As a result I'm willing to admit I went into 'The Final Strife' perhaps a little jaded. I'm delighted to say that I was wrong to expect another cookie-cutter book and instead found a remarkably fresh take. This book has a lot of familiar ideas but presented in such a way that it doesn't feel stale or re-done.
I particularly liked the way that the book opened, the idea of the main character having been a part of a revolution that never came to pass was really fascinating and have such a novel starting point to the story that I wasn't necessarily expecting. It also added layers to the character development that I don't think one would normally get from this kind of tale. Thinking about it now it's almost 'what would happen if the YA heroine didn't do the heroism until she grew up a bit' which is an interesting take I don't believe I've seen before.
This book is also sapphic which I always appreciate and I really liked the way that the attraction played out in the book it felt very genuine (as much as anything in a fast paced fantasy novel can) and very sweet. I liked the ways in which it was complicated and the means by which Saara El-Arifi navigated those things.
Overall I was delighted by this book and I'll definitely be looking out for the sequel. It was a surprise hit with me which is my favourite kind of read. I'll definitely be looking out for it in bookshops and recommending it where I can!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Five blazing stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You know when you grab a book with high hopes and you end up totally satisfied and some more.

GreatGreatGreat worldbuilding.
3D characters with unique voices.
High stakes.
The author's prose sumptuous. Her narrative evocative, colourful, and vivid. It allows the reader to completely immerse themselves in the story (Boy! Was I grumpy when ripped out from between the pages!).
Now? I'm suffering serious book hangover with no idea of what to read next.
Second installment, please!
This exciting new author goes onto my watchlist for the future!

Thanks to Netgalley & Publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC copy

Gah I hate this but I have to DNF this at around 35%. I'm really struggling to get into the story, mainly because I'm just not enjoying the authors writing style. It's a little too modern for the settings. I'm also really struggling to like and empathise with any of the characters. They're a little brattish and self righteous and because of that I'm just not really invested in the storyline at all.