The Final Strife! Wow! I was blown away by Saara's book. Please let this be the first part of a trilogy (or more). At various times during the read I was worried that the publishers had categorised this as a YA book and that I had selected it in error. Our 3 main protagonists are all young females, from different segments of society, and superficially, in a fantasy reality this is a coming of age adventure. However that short summary totally understates the nuanced and enlightened look at aggressive, institutional racism. How religion is used to not only racism, but also totalitarianism. We touch on so many aspects of friendship, love, parental responsibility, trust, loyalty, manipulation and indoctrination, shattered dreams, and realigning expectations. Huge themes of humanity in a reality without humans.
I risk making The Final Strife sound like a work of heavy philosophy, whereas what we have, after a slow start is a rollocking great fantasy story where the philosophical issues are addressed by our heroines from the characters they have been drawn without leading you by the nose. In case you couldn't tell, I loved it.
Bring on book 2

Fantastic world and character building! Absolutely enjoyed this story and cannot wait to read what happens next!
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It's not long before we learn that the people are separated by the color of their blood. Red blooded people are called Embers aka the elite. Blue blooded people are called Dusters and they are the workers or lower class, and Clear blooded people are called Ghostings not only because their blood is clear but because they are the slaves and unseen.

One of the biggest differences is that the Embers can use their blood to write runes that when combined is a form of magic. There is political unrest as the divination of class is so apparent. And the organisation that call themselves The Sandstorm have a plan to change the way their world works.

The Embers hold a competition every so many years to pick new trainees for the roles of Warden, they are the ones who rule the world, they have to get through a series of trials that show their physical and mental strengths.

This is the year Sylah should be entering... But life has a funny way if working out in unplanned and various ways!

I would argue that Sylah is our main character, but we do get a lot from Anoor's POV as well as Hassa's and we get some of Jond's POV from time to time! All amazing characters flaws and all! As I already said very impressed with the character development and the world building...

I won't say more because I think this book is pretty amazing and definitely worth a read!!


*Trigger Warnings*
- mental and physical parental abuse
- drug abuse
- medieval torture

I absolutely loved this!! The world building, plot and characters- all absolutely blew me away! I desperately need the next instalment.

Great world building and lovely prose. This is in some ways a far superior take on the same themes tackled by Aveyard’s Red Queen series (not that those books set a high bar), as well as a more sophisticated look on classism and how it traps everyone, in an exquisitely wrought fantasy setting. However, it didn’t entirely land for me because the pace plods. Also, more of a me thing but I just didn’t connect with the characters. I suspect I’m slightly outside the target sub-audience.

Breathtaking epic adventure. Inspired by Arabian sand Ghanaian myths, The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi tells the story of a rebellion against an all powerful empire and of love found in the darkest places

I loved the characters in this book so much especially Sylah. A drug addict whose story is entwined with the fate of a corrupt society built on slavery and lies.

Complex world building and a tapestry of secrets are expertly woven together to create an unpredictable tale of coming of age and truth uncovered. Not to mention twisted family dynamics, a brutal contest to select new leaders and a population controlled by drugs and mutilation. It was an amazing world to explore, and I really liked the representation of disability and the depiction of how rulers can twist history to tell a story befitting only them.

I can’t wait for more.

Thank you Dundurn and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

This was one of my anticipated books for this year so getting the opportunity to read the e-arc of it was great.
The story sounded really interesting for me and I decided to read this bookt as soon as I got the chance.

The pacing was really slow for me, the writing style drew my attention from the story because I had difficulty to focus on the story and the plot, which was more telling then showing in my opinion.

I see potential this book, the characters and the story has but for me it didn't work out at I hoped for.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read the final strife.

F/F enemies to lovers plus a blood division that reminds me of the red queen had me dying to read this, and it did not disappoint.
This book is pure brilliance. brutal, secretive and twists a-plenty

There is a strict hierarchy in the Warden’s Empire. At the bottom are the clear-blooded Ghostings, the silent and submissive servant class. Next are the Dustings, their blue-blood built for labour and hardship. The Embers are the lucky ones, their red-blood capable of bloodwerk and marking them out for the wealth and luxury of nobility. At the top are the wardens, red-blooded of course, and rulers of the Empire: one for truth, one for duty, one for truth, one for knowledge, and one for strength. Sylah is an anomaly, a dangerous anomaly. Born with red blood, but raised as a Duster. Raised as a soldier, raised to be Warden, raised to start a revolution. Unfortunately, plans rarely play out as intended.

Sylah’s origin story is obvious from the very first pages. However, the brutal reality of that story is unravelled slowly throughout the book and it is this reality that has made her into the character that she is. This slow unravelling allows the hard outer layers of her character to gradually peel away, their pace somewhat matched by the slow shift in her ideals. And this shift is similarly matched in the character of Anoor who is, in a way, a reflection of Sylah. It is this reflection between the two characters and their lives that creates much of the magnetising tension in the latter parts of the book.

I found the themes of this book particularly interesting. The themes of racism and rebellion were clearly dominant and unflinchingly explored in all their gory detail. Yet it was the subtler themes which gave true depth to the story. Whilst the goal of the plot focussed on achieving the power of a Warden’s seat, the characters themselves seemed to value strength over power. Sylah’s red blood could have given her the power she needed, but it was the strength of her upbringing that drove her forwards and gave her the tools she needed. Likewise Anoor’s position in the Ember court offered power, but it was her strength and determination to earn that position in her own right that made her character so successful. On a wider level, the Ghostings had no power but the strength of their memories and their community allowed them to move in ways that those in power did not expect.

Even the use of magic as a narrative device reflects this theme of strength over power. In itself the bloodwerk magic is a symbol of the Ember’s power, but its presence sits in the background rather than the forefront. It is often almost an afterthought. Despite being presented as an important definer of hierarchy and power, there are very few dramatic demonstrations of this power. This has a humbling effect on the narrative and allows the reader to focus their attention on the more personal traits of the characters.

"In the first book of a visionary African and Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, three women band together against a cruel Empire that divides people by blood"
This book was amazing, I can't wait for the next two!

The writing in this book is exceptionally intricate and detailed. You can easily envision what this world looks like, smells like, etc. This is really beneficial too when it comes to descriptions of characters as we build out who they are.

Sylah has pretty much given up. She was stolen from the keep as a baby by revolutionaries who believed raising these "red" children and then bringing them back to take over the government would spark the change necessary for the world. People in this world are separated by blood color. Red are treated better than the others (especially the ghosts, who are slaves and their hands are chopped off and their tongues disfigured.)

It's a brutal world. But when someone Sylah thought was dead turns up alive, she gets swept into the revolution all over again.

Really my complaints are this–this book is about 200 pages too long. It needs some editing to cut out some of the slow parts and make some of the writing more concise. It's not an easy book to read or get through simply because of how much content is there.

This is such an epic astonishing fantasy debut, a masterclass in building tension, and revealing plot twists, in secrets and in power. Its the story of Sylah, who was stolen as a baby from the heart of a brutal regime and raised to bring that regime down. Its the story of Anoor, who grew up in the wrong place with the wrong people, hated and hidden and shamed. And it's the story of Hassa, whose words were stolen from her but who found her power anyway.

I loved the three different heroines and the different ways that they subverted their tropes. The whole story is so clever and sweeping and epic. I'm already counting the days until the next book releases and I can spend time with these fantastic characters again.

Thank you to the publishers for this eARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

The Final Strife is the story of Sylah's struggle with the enemy of both the world around her and the enemy within. The writing is great, sharp-tongued and witty. The world building is brutal but also vivid and beautifully created.
The subjects in this novel touch upon; addiction, betrayal, race, dictatorship, sexuality and love. The characters in this novel are LGBTQ+
The Final Strife is an epic fantasy ride and a real page turner. The first in it's trilogy, I'm intrigued to read the next.

I am so thankful that I was invited to read this book! I had my pre order in before I even finished. I loved it what an epic fantasy book!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the invitation I was so excited for this book and to get it early was such a treat!

I was no sure about this book, it took me a while to warm to it. However as I moved on into the story I have to say that I was totally hooked. It is rare for a fantasy book to have something really different in it and this one does. Yes, it has the usual good vs bad. The privileged and the unwarranted underdogs but there are many original elements in here that were both interesting and compelling. I liked the way the different characters were drawn and developed through the story. I look forward to the next one. Highly recommend.

HarperCollinsUK for this eARC of 'The Final Strife' by debut author Saara El-Arifi. My review is purely my own opinion.

I loved this book. A beautifully realised world and such a good read, I'm glad I took my time with it. Looking forward to more from this author, they are such a good writer and the main character is so strong, powerful and well developed.

This was an enjoyable read, It was well written with a compelling and brutal plotline and well developed characters. I also really liked the world building in this book which I thought was really well done and full of vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I really liked this book and I read it so quickly. I can't wait to read more by this author.

The Final Strife is a dystopian fantasy set in The Empire . Which is ruled by blood. There are three different types of blood in the Empire. Red is the blood of all those who are elite, they are born of magic and they like to rule by being in control. Then you have blue which is the blood of all the poor people in the city. Those who work and are born of the resistance and finally you have clear. Clear is the blood of all of the servants in the empire, those who have been crushed by the elites a d the poor of the empire.

Every ten years there are a set of games called the Aktibar. The point of the Aktibar is to find out who will be the next ruler of the empire. Everyone from each blood type can play and can win the games. You just have to have strength, knowledge, skill and ingenuity.

This is a really good dystopian fantasy novel. The premise of the story is good. You really like the characters and hope for their survival and their chances of winning. It is written in a gripping way and I really enjoyed it.







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Wardens’ Empire and the thirteen cities are brutally ruled by blood. The rulers Embers have red blood, underlings Dusters blue and Ghostings clear.

As wardens, Embers claimed their power and assembled the guilds to maintain order, prosperity and peace. Truth, duty, strength, knowledge. Empire!


So six trials were decided for each guild. Six for strength, six for duty, six for knowledge, six for truth. All across six mooncycles. Every ten years the Embers compete to find the best, among the red in Aktibar.


But there exists underground society, Sandstorm. In the Night of the Stolen they stole twelve children and disappeared into the beyond. As babes they were taken from their Ember families and set on a path to tear down the foundations of the empire. The Sandstorm crafted them into leaders with one purpose: to destroy the empire from within. They are the Stolen, born to Ember parents but made by Dusters.

After many years it seems that Sylah is the only survivor to make it out of the Night of the Stolen alive. Until something happens.

This is a fantasy novel at its best. Characters are great. Sylah, fierce heroine, addicted to dangerous drug and lost in her own world. Jond, another Stolen, haughty and beautiful. Anoor, adventurous and dreamy Duster and Hassa, crippled, caring and honorable Ghosting.

Narrative is fast-paced and full of twist and turns. Soon becomes obvious that blood doesn't define people or their virtues. Change can start off small.


The Final Strife is the first book of a trilogy and I look forward to another. Maybe we will explore beyond the sea...

Highly recommended to all fantasy lovers.

I will update the review with a link to our blog closer to publication date.
I'd like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Alone you are just one grain. Together you are the desert."

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

Holy. Sh*t. This book is incredible?

First off, the world-building is so intricate, creative and original. Everything has been thought of, from the magical system to culture and class and societal norms. There's no huge info dump at the beginning and instead we discover more and more about the world as we read along.

A society divided by blood, those on the bottom rung mutilated and forced into servitude - Ghostings, with their clear blood. The elite Embers are the holders of the secrets to bloodwerk - the magic in their red blood. And in the middle are the blue-blooded Dusters, banned from bloodwerk, banned from the Keep.

"First we traded stories for money to sustain us in hard times. Now we trade money for stories to sustain us in harder times."

The characters in this book are so well-rounded and complicated and flawed and glorious. When we first meet MC Sylah she is addicted to the joba seeds so prevalent in the Duster's quarter. She's haunted by the demons and ghosts of her dangerous past, and has no idea of the series of events about to come hurtling towards her. Then there is the spoiled and naïve Anoor, daughter to the Warden of Strength and fan of frivolous dresses and sweet treats, who has no clue what fate awaits her. The Ghosting Hassa lives like a phantom, slipping from place to place - she may as well be invisible. A host of other characters compliments them perfectly, each one weaving a little something else into the story.

Something really gripped me about this book within the first few pages alone, and I seriously found myself almost unable to put it down. I'm going to be recommending it to everyone!