The Final Strife
Author: Saara El-Arifi
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 483
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★★
Author: Saara El-Arifi
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 483
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★★
The Aktibar – a set of trials held every ten years to find the next Ember rulers of the Empire – is about to begin.
All can join but not just anyone can win; it requires great skill and ingenuity to become the future Ember wardens of Strength, Knowledge, Truth and Duty.
Sylah was destined to win the trials and become Warden of Strength. Stolen by blue-blooded rebels as an infant she was raised with a Duster’s heart; forged as a weapon to bring down the Empire from within.
When her adopted family were brutally murdered those dreams of a better future for all turned to dust.
But Sylah wasn’t made to sparkle, she was born to burn. And as the trials draw near it’s time for her to decide… will she rule the empire or destroy it?
All can join but not just anyone can win; it requires great skill and ingenuity to become the future Ember wardens of Strength, Knowledge, Truth and Duty.
Sylah was destined to win the trials and become Warden of Strength. Stolen by blue-blooded rebels as an infant she was raised with a Duster’s heart; forged as a weapon to bring down the Empire from within.
When her adopted family were brutally murdered those dreams of a better future for all turned to dust.
But Sylah wasn’t made to sparkle, she was born to burn. And as the trials draw near it’s time for her to decide… will she rule the empire or destroy it?
My thoughts:
The Final Strife is the first book of The Ending Fire Trilogy, inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths.
The Final Strife is an adult fantasy that follows three young women from very different backgrounds as they work together to resist the harsh social structures and determine their own future. It begins from Sylah’s point of view, and the story is set in a world where people are classed based on their blood and its colour. Embers have red blood, Dusters blue and Ghostings translucent.
Many years before, a group of individuals who wanted to change all of that kidnapped some of the highest caste children and replaced them with ones of a lower class of blood. They would raise these children to be able to take over the government when they grew up, but with the sympathies of the lower classes. That plan was wrecked, however, when their little enclave was found and destroyed, leaving only one of those children as a survivor. 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. It’s a great opening and guaranteed to get you hooked. I was fully invested throughout.
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. This isn't a very short book, but the pacing is perfectly handled. I was never bored but it also never felt rushed. There's a lot to learn about the world but the information is provided at a comfortable speed. It's easy to visualize what's going on and get totally absorbed in the story. You can expect action, adventure, intrigue, magic, suspense, romance, and surprises around several corners.
By far one of my favourite things about this novel is how naturally inclusive it is, particularly when it comes to disabled and non-binary characters. I loved reading about these characters, how they navigate the world in their own ways, and exist in all their complexities. The disability representation among the Ghosting class is perhaps the part of this book that has stuck with me the most.
It was intriguing to read El-Arifi’s choice to have ‘race’ in her world solely distinguishable by the colour of one’s blood. Her book 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 so effortlessly.
This book really is everything you could hope to find in fantasy - magnificent richly detailed and layered world building, unpredictable and intricate plotting, entertaining twists and turns, a beautiful slow-burn romance, riveting action, and of course believable characters you're rooting for from the start.
The author writes beautifully. This is a phenomenal debut and I am already eager for parts two and three of the trilogy!
Overall reaction:
The Final Strife is the first book of The Ending Fire Trilogy, inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths.
The Final Strife is an adult fantasy that follows three young women from very different backgrounds as they work together to resist the harsh social structures and determine their own future. It begins from Sylah’s point of view, and the story is set in a world where people are classed based on their blood and its colour. Embers have red blood, Dusters blue and Ghostings translucent.
Many years before, a group of individuals who wanted to change all of that kidnapped some of the highest caste children and replaced them with ones of a lower class of blood. They would raise these children to be able to take over the government when they grew up, but with the sympathies of the lower classes. That plan was wrecked, however, when their little enclave was found and destroyed, leaving only one of those children as a survivor. 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. It’s a great opening and guaranteed to get you hooked. I was fully invested throughout.
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. This isn't a very short book, but the pacing is perfectly handled. I was never bored but it also never felt rushed. There's a lot to learn about the world but the information is provided at a comfortable speed. It's easy to visualize what's going on and get totally absorbed in the story. You can expect action, adventure, intrigue, magic, suspense, romance, and surprises around several corners.
By far one of my favourite things about this novel is how naturally inclusive it is, particularly when it comes to disabled and non-binary characters. I loved reading about these characters, how they navigate the world in their own ways, and exist in all their complexities. The disability representation among the Ghosting class is perhaps the part of this book that has stuck with me the most.
It was intriguing to read El-Arifi’s choice to have ‘race’ in her world solely distinguishable by the colour of one’s blood. Her book 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 so effortlessly.
This book really is everything you could hope to find in fantasy - magnificent richly detailed and layered world building, unpredictable and intricate plotting, entertaining twists and turns, a beautiful slow-burn romance, riveting action, and of course believable characters you're rooting for from the start.
The author writes beautifully. This is a phenomenal debut and I am already eager for parts two and three of the trilogy!
Overall reaction:
