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.

I loved this. It was slowed paced for at least the first half but that didn't effect my enjoyment.

Sylah may have her flaws and issues but I loved her. Seeing her journey and struggle with drug addiction. The strength she has to power through and try help others.
Hassa may actually be my favourite character. I just wanted to hug and protect her at times. I need a novella dedicated to her.

The training for the trials were interesting to read. Learning about the skills and powers needed to get through each one.
We spent enough time with each trial to learn more about the world and how they do things. But didn't feel filler at all.

This story was rich in detail without ever feeling too info dumpy. I never found myself confused or overwhelmed with information.

This is the opening to a brutal fantasy trilogy with dystopian elements. exploring some dark themes such as addiction, grief and oppression.

I didn't like is how slow it was, and really struggled to get into it, theres a lot of exposition and for someone with ADHD like myself it can be difficult to enjoy.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this!
I really enjoyed this! The plot and the world building clearly was very well thought out, although it did take me some time to really be hooked. However the characters were very well written and engaging! Both Sylah and Anoor were well developed and interesting characters. Overall a solid debut and I’m excited to see how this world expands.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this epic book

have to admit to struggling at first in getting into this book but i was soon caught up in the drama of it all... there was so much going on but i soon caught up and just went with the flow of it all

red blood, blue bloods and the non coloured bloods all have a part to play in this story some are down trodden and ill treated with their tongues and hands cut off for a discretion that happened years ago...

a cuckoo in the nest was planned... 10 children were replaced with the hopes that they would bring the uprising that was needed but only two survived to enter but betrayals would happen, who would be their allies....

oh my word a long book but one that had me hooked

Great representative of SSF.
F+F enemies to lovers trope.
Northern Africa/Arabic setting.
Has got some elements from "The hunger games".

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Saara El-Arifi has solidified herself in just her debut as an incredibly talented author. To be able to handle such a complex, vast world with such care and deliberation is not something many seasoned authors can do, and to accomplish it in her debut novel? Outstanding. Despite the incredibly rich and complex worldbuilding, it was still easy to digest and grasp an understanding of. Storytelling aspects are interwoven throughout the book, which, rather than bringing you out of the immersion, are actually a refreshing change of pace to the main plot and added so much depth to the world.

Don't get me wrong, there are very heavy and brutal topics dealt with in here including enslavement, colonisation, enslavement, drug addiction, murder, etc., and nothing was shied away from. I felt like it was all dealt with so realistically and just really well done. But there's also a lovely contrast in that gender and sexuality were not something that these characters had to fight to have freedom over, they just were, and that was so nice to see!

The characters are very well-rounded and complicated, and flawed. They felt incredibly real and were all so easily distinguishable from one another. I loved them all, you can't help but root for our three main girls, Sylah, Anoor and Hassa. Honestly I felt like I was watching a movie while reading this, I could picture everything and everyone so clearly and I didn't want it to be over.

I'm very intrigued to see where this story goes. I wasn't completely taken in by the actual plot of the book; the tournament almost felt like filler while the real intrigue occurred in discovering the world and culture and all of the secrets that have been hidden from this society for over 400 years. But I cannot wait to read the next one as the world is expanded and we learn so much more!

Wow. What a fantastic book. Easily the best fantasy novel I've read in the past few years. Saara El-Arifi builds a breathtaking world with roots in Africa, complete with a vibrant landscape and history, and a host of diverse characters. All of this with zero pandering to white readers. Go Saara!

I particularly enjoyed the casual way that diversity is baked in. There were a few places where I was unconvinced by the logic, or didn't understand why someone did something, but that takes away nothing from this stunning debut. The only major complaint I have is that the book finished abruptly—or I had a few pages missing from my file.

I'm staying tuned for book 2.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

The Final Strife is set in a fantasy world where the colour of your blood decides your path in life. Sylah is a drug addict, battling with the demons of her past and doing all she can to forget her past. Anoor the daughter of the warden of strength who has no chance of ever following in her mothers footsteps. There's a FF enemies to lovers romance with a sunshine/grumpy one!

The world building and mythology is second to none in this novel. The savage world that the MC's live in is built around you as you read. The characters are amazing and strong.

The plot took a long while to get going, and parts of this felt a bit predictable. The second half of this book really picked up and became enjoyable.

This was an incredibly strong and absorbing start to a new fantasy trilogy and I can't wait to see how this series continues.

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.