The Battle Drum
Author: Saara El-Arifi
Published by: Harper Voyager
Pages: 430
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★★
Published by: Harper Voyager
Pages: 430
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★★
Murder. Secrets. Sacrifice.
Anoor is the first blue-blooded ruler of the Wardens’ Empire. But, when she is accused of a murder she didn’t commit, her reign is thrown into turmoil. She must solve the mystery and clear her name without the support of her beloved, Sylah.
Sylah braves new lands to find a solution for the hurricane that threatens to destroy her home. But, in finding answers, she must make a decision: does she sacrifice her old life in order to raise up her sword once more?
Hassa’s webs of secrets grows ever thicker as she finds herself on a trail of crimes in the city. Her searching uncovers the extent of the atrocities of the empire’s past and present. Now, she must guard both her heart and her land. The three women find their answers, but they’re not the answers they wanted.
The drumbeat of change thrums throughout the world.
And it sings a song of war.
Anoor is the first blue-blooded ruler of the Wardens’ Empire. But, when she is accused of a murder she didn’t commit, her reign is thrown into turmoil. She must solve the mystery and clear her name without the support of her beloved, Sylah.
Sylah braves new lands to find a solution for the hurricane that threatens to destroy her home. But, in finding answers, she must make a decision: does she sacrifice her old life in order to raise up her sword once more?
Hassa’s webs of secrets grows ever thicker as she finds herself on a trail of crimes in the city. Her searching uncovers the extent of the atrocities of the empire’s past and present. Now, she must guard both her heart and her land. The three women find their answers, but they’re not the answers they wanted.
The drumbeat of change thrums throughout the world.
And it sings a song of war.
My thoughts:
The Battle Drum is Saara El-Arifi’s explosive second fantasy novel in the Ending Fire trilogy. The second book once again takes inspiration from African and Arabian mythology.
Admittedly, having been such a big fan of The Final Strife, I was a little nervous going in to this one. The author had a big challenge ahead of her when writing this sequel – what if she failed to write a sequel that would live up to the first one?
Often when reading part two in a series, I can feel a sense of the “second book syndrome.” However, this is certainly not the case with The Battle Drum. Every moment of this was so enthralling and I really struggled to put it down.
The story circles the inextricably bound destinies of three women: Anoor, Sylah and Hassa. Anoor, Sylah, and Hassa are each on their own journeys to seek the truth of the empire’s past.
With its roots in the mythology of Africa and Arabia, we follow each on their own highly dangerous journey. It is a blood-caste-segregated empire full of conspiracies and lies. The world building continues to be rich and imaginative, and the new characters we meet are colourfully painted and intriguing. The Zwina academy was arguably interesting enough to even merit its own trilogy series.
In this instalment, the world expands enormously! One of my favourite elements of this book is the world that readers get to explore. Back in The Final Strife, the landscape was fascinating but, in this instalment, you get to discover much, much more. With Sylah venturing across the sea in search of help there’s so much more to uncover ranging from fantastical structures, a new approach to bloodwerk, more weather-based threats, as well as new potential enemies and allies.
There’s a great deal of history to uncover which was mesmerising to read about. I found it fascinating to learn more about the history, geography, religious beliefs, and political systems in El-Arifi’s vivid, complex, and compelling world. There are many elements of it that feel new and exciting. With even more points of view than the first book, the plot is addictive and exhilarating as the characters begin to explore the other Islands, their communities, and cultures. And the world never fails to feel real.
I continue to love reading about these characters, how they navigate the world in their own ways, and exist in all their complexities. The undercurrents of political intrigue, friendship, betrayal, and love are vital to the story, and I was blown away by many of the twists and turns that are revealed as the characters each continue in the hunt for truth and knowledge.
And the ending? Well let’s just say that I’m now incredibly impatient for the finale to be released and I honestly can’t predict how this series will end. I can’t wait to read part three when it is released next summer!
Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.
Overall reaction:
The Battle Drum is Saara El-Arifi’s explosive second fantasy novel in the Ending Fire trilogy. The second book once again takes inspiration from African and Arabian mythology.
Admittedly, having been such a big fan of The Final Strife, I was a little nervous going in to this one. The author had a big challenge ahead of her when writing this sequel – what if she failed to write a sequel that would live up to the first one?
Often when reading part two in a series, I can feel a sense of the “second book syndrome.” However, this is certainly not the case with The Battle Drum. Every moment of this was so enthralling and I really struggled to put it down.
The story circles the inextricably bound destinies of three women: Anoor, Sylah and Hassa. Anoor, Sylah, and Hassa are each on their own journeys to seek the truth of the empire’s past.
With its roots in the mythology of Africa and Arabia, we follow each on their own highly dangerous journey. It is a blood-caste-segregated empire full of conspiracies and lies. The world building continues to be rich and imaginative, and the new characters we meet are colourfully painted and intriguing. The Zwina academy was arguably interesting enough to even merit its own trilogy series.
In this instalment, the world expands enormously! One of my favourite elements of this book is the world that readers get to explore. Back in The Final Strife, the landscape was fascinating but, in this instalment, you get to discover much, much more. With Sylah venturing across the sea in search of help there’s so much more to uncover ranging from fantastical structures, a new approach to bloodwerk, more weather-based threats, as well as new potential enemies and allies.
There’s a great deal of history to uncover which was mesmerising to read about. I found it fascinating to learn more about the history, geography, religious beliefs, and political systems in El-Arifi’s vivid, complex, and compelling world. There are many elements of it that feel new and exciting. With even more points of view than the first book, the plot is addictive and exhilarating as the characters begin to explore the other Islands, their communities, and cultures. And the world never fails to feel real.
I continue to love reading about these characters, how they navigate the world in their own ways, and exist in all their complexities. The undercurrents of political intrigue, friendship, betrayal, and love are vital to the story, and I was blown away by many of the twists and turns that are revealed as the characters each continue in the hunt for truth and knowledge.
And the ending? Well let’s just say that I’m now incredibly impatient for the finale to be released and I honestly can’t predict how this series will end. I can’t wait to read part three when it is released next summer!
Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.
Overall reaction:
