A kind thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC.

cw: mutilation, murder, mention of rape as a crime at the end of the book, fatphobia, bullying, maternal abuse

The Final Strife is an epic fantasy written in 3rd pov that mostly follows Sylah and Hassa. As the story progresses, we see Anoor's perspective, as well.

First of all, it has strong African and Arabian influences. The world-building is the strongest part of the book. It's lush and vivid, and you feel like you're there. There's not a detail that is forgotten. Although a social divide by blood is not new, the author's approach was fresh and nuanced. The three protagonists also represent the three classes, which gave a deeper insight into the world.

Of the three protagonists, I preferred Hassa by far. Sylah was a strong female lead whose 'chosen one' fate went veeery wrong. Although I did appreciate the subverted trope of the chosen one, and although I did like Sylah to a degree, I never truly liked her. It could be a 'me' issue, but I just didn't connect to her on a deeper level. Anoor was the sweet, lighthearted privileged protagonist who really didn't do it for me. She was sheltered (yet bullied) and always stayed inside the Keep, so she didn't know how the rest of society works. I just found her naiveté hard to believe and hard to connect to. Like Sylah, I rolled my eyes. Though, Anoor had the best character development. She actually evolved and learned to take matters into her own hands. She got self-confidence, and I liked her at the end of the story because she felt more real then. Hassa was my girl. She may be unable to voice her thoughts, but she's a star. She had nothing, and yet, she did everything for her people, for herself, for her friend. They tried to push her down, but she still rose. She was amazing, and I would have loved for the book to be told by her perspective.

Now comes the however part, sadly. Firstly, this is not a sapphic book. Sylah is bi- or pansexual, and I would have loved for the book to be marketed as such. Bi- and pansexuality are valid and should be embraced and represented proudly, too. Sylah was with a guy and a girl, and she never showed a preference. Anoor was only with one girl, and she also never defined her identity. I loved how queernorm it was. Love is love, and it didn't feel like gender played a role in the characters' feelings and actions. The majority of the cast is female, though I don't believe that's what the word sapphic constitutes. This is also not an enemies-to-lovers book. Sylah and Anoor come from different parts of the worlds and have vastly different experiences, but their views weren't opposite. Their classes were enemies, but the characters themselves weren't.

What really didn't work for me was the first half of the book, especially the first 30%. I'm not sure if the text didn't have the best wording, or if it expressed those views as the author intended. Although we see Sylah say (at a later point, between 30-40%,) that Anoor's curves are beautiful, that is not how it had been portrayed until then. I felt uncomfortable when Sylah tried on Anoor's dresses and commented on how big they were on her. To be fair, Sylah didn't have the means to eat. She was extremely poor, so everything would be big on her. But how it was highlighted in combination with the context given in other passages left me uneasy. The part that truly shook me was the scene that promoted diet culture and implied that Anoor wasn't fit because she wasn't thin. Again, I'm not sure if that was the intended message, but that was the message I received when I read it, and I'm not of that ideology. Also, the fact that Anoor kept her captive and shaved her head without Sylah's consent shook me, as well. It wasn't done with ill intentions, but they were still strangers at the point, and the whole thing felt iffy to me. The story is set in a very brutal, violent world, but sometimes, the characterization was too insensitive for me, for example, "This [place] is as useful as a [class] singer" while the class represents those who cannot speak because of their mutilation inflicted by the oppressive class. This can also be a 'me' issue but I feel like it's something readers should be aware of, as a content warning.

The second half of the book was pretty good. The plot twists were cleverly executed, and the pace was great. The ending was also very interesting and builds great anticipation for the sequel.

I'm glad we keep getting books by women of color writing about queer women in a non-Western setting. While this didn't land for me, I appreciate the intricate African and Arabian-inspired world-building and the queernorm world.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for granting my wish and providing me with an eARC of this book! I’m so excited that it’s my first Netgalley review.

I don’t need a lot from a book. All I ask for is a little romance, an interesting plot and good writing. And oh boy did The Final Strife deliver! I was hooked from the very first page. F/F and enemies to lovers and you’ve hooked me. Samara El-Arifi did an outstanding job with her debut novel. The world-building was out of this world (see what I did there!) and I adored the unique magic system.

I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and can’t wait for the next book.

A great read. Set in a world very different to our own. I totally enjoyed sharing Sylah’s journey to discover herself and her true heritage. There are endless excitements and challenges for her along the way. Stories of barbaric treatments meted out to those deemed of a lower status. These made my flesh creep but all part of a well woven tale that stirs feelings and emotions.
We also shared in Sylah’s deep felt sorrow of past events in her family and how this was driving her on to her ultimate goal.
The ending wasn’t quite what I had been expecting and was all the better for that. It was the sort of ending that leaves you wondering and wanting to know, what next? Thoroughly recommended.

This is the start of an exciting new fantasy series. It has elements of ‘The Hunger Games’ and Noughts and Crosses’, but is quite unique in its world-building. There is a very tight caste structure – but not one based on skin colour, or wealth alone – rather on blood colour. In a reversal of the Western standard, where the aristocracy are described as blue-blooded, the top caste here – the Embers – have red blood. Next down – the Dusters – are blue blooded, and right at the bottom – the Ghostings – have clear blood. Naked – as a brothel madam points out – all look the same, unless they bleed, making passing for another caste relatively straightforward. However, the Ghosting caste are also defined visually by their lack of hands and tongues. This was a legal requirement brought in as a punishment following a long ago uprising by the Ghostings, to prevent further insurrections:
“It is my fervent belief that severing the hands and tongues of Ghostings benefits their wellbeing. Those whose wounds fester are weeded out young, their frail countenance discarded before they become a nuisance to their masters. Those who survive understand the power of pain and the importance of subservience. —Journal entry by Aveed, Disciple of Duty”
There are three main character in this book – all female and of different castes: Sylah (Ember), Anoor (Duster) and Hassan (Ghosting). The twist is, that Sylah and Anoor grew up in the ‘wrong’ caste. Sylah is one of the Stolen, the twelve two-year-old Ember children who were swapped by the rebel Sandstorm for Duster children (such as Anoor). Most of the changeling Duster children were discovered and killed, but Anoor’s Ember mother could not have her reputation tarnished by admitting that the Sandstorm had infiltrated her home, so kept Anoor’s secret. Sylar was brought up by the Sandstorm to help lead the revolution and to topple the Embers:
“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.”

“In a battle, the last battle, the only battle. And we name it now, so it sears into our flesh, the moment to come, the rebellion that will destroy the Embers and the empire they stand upon. The Dusters’ last stand. And it starts with you, my Stolen children, you are our last hope, you are The Final Strife.”
Only, it didn’t go to plan. Sandstorm was discovered, and all but Sylah and her Duster mother were believed dead. Sylah used her martial training to earn a living as a cage fighter, but with no hope of fulfilling her purpose, became a drug addict, addicted to Joba seeds. Desperate for money for a fix, Sylah breaks into Anoor’s bedroom – feeling that anything Anoor had, should have been her birthright. Anoor turns out to be not such a weak, entitled milksop as Sylah had expected, and imprisons Sylah, forcing her to go cold-turkey.
The empire is run by the four wardens: Warden of Strength, Warden of Truth, Warden of Knowledge and Warden of Duty (There is also a Warden of Crime to take care of the underworld). Every ten years the Aktibar trials take place to find the next disciple for a Warden, and then ten years hence to become the next Warden once they had learned the ropes.
Sylah’s mission had been to enter the Aktibar for the Warden of Strength. She misses the deadline and instead is forced to help Anoor train for it. Anoor has always been underestimated. Her mother (current Warden of Strength) hated and abused her for her low blood.
Sylah believes only what Sandstorm told her – that all Embers were bad. Anoor had a very sheltered upbringing – but a very keen curiosity and sense of fairness, and through Sylah discovers much about the privilege and destitution of the outside world. Both learn so much from each other, and become better people because of it. They also learn a truth about the empire, that they never in their wildest dreams would have considered possible. Hassan, as the lowest of the low, and as an unseen and ignored servant to Embers, sees all layers.
“Hassa added her rage to the burning coals that were always glowing white in her mind. Ghostings were the dregs of the empire because Embers made them that way. Even Dusters thought they were lesser. They were all wrong. They didn’t know the truth.

If your blood runs red, go straight ahead. If your blood runs blue, you’re not coming through. Translucent hue, who are you, who are you, who are you? We’d tell you exactly who we are, if only we could, Hassa thought. The words, starting in the throats of the officers, had crawled across the river into the mouths of countless children. A nursery rhyme, they thought. Isn’t that how propaganda starts?

… “Tell them they are lesser. And they will feel lesser. Show them they are nothing. And they will be nothing. Take their identity. And they will be no one”
Hassan has always known what was going on, and is the most mature and liberal of the three. She alone does not judge people by the colour of their blood, and knows that real, lasting change can only come through all sectors of the empire working together.
“We cannot reclaim what is ours without the help from those who oppress us.”
Can Anoor win the Aktiba? If so, what then? Can things change? and for the better, for all? Anoor states:
. “I’ve realised a world run by people who think they’re better will never be better for everyone. … I didn’t want to fight this battle, but I was the only one who could. Not because I’m better but because I’m not one of them. And that’s a start”
Apart from the brutality and discrimination that is blighting the Empire, there is also the worsening environmental situation, with the scouring, deadly sand storms. Even if society changes, will there be a land left to live in?
I am really looking forward to the next in this series. It is not just a great fantasy adventure story, it makes you think long and hard about discrimination of all kinds in the real world. Highly recommended.

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.