The ending 😭 how am I supposed to survive for probably at least a year until book 3?? The ending was absolutely incredible (as was the rest of the book obviously).

One of my favourite things about The Final Strife was the world building & Saara has somehow taken it to a whole new level for The Battle Drum! The depth of this world is just insane, there’s such a rich history which I hope gets explored more & the new levels reached in TBD are just so so good. I loved how the different parts of the world all interwove, the nuance in the history & how it all came together!

For me the book started off pretty slow paced but really picked up as I got further in to the point where I read the last 40% in one sitting as I was so invested in it! Plot wove together great, plenty to keep you guessing with some subtle foreshadowing added in!

For me, this isn’t a series where I actively like any of the characters, they’re all flawed & realistic & that somehow makes me root for them more! At points I literally wanted to slap some of them, but Saara just writes characters (plus their arcs) so well that I just don’t mind. Again, the added depth added to the characters we met in TFS was excellent!

Literally cannot wait to see what happens in book 3!

Also, massive shout of the the recap at the beginning of the book, I would love to see this in more books & they way it was done was absolutely perfect!

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

A fabulous follow up to the sensational The Final Strife that continues to build on the foundations laid in Book 1. There are times where the pace slows, but overall, a wonderful read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved The Final Strife which I was also lucky enough to read early, and so I was extra delighted to get this ARC as well. It truly didn't disappoint as a sequel, but did suffer a little from Second Book of a Trilogy syndrome, where some parts in the middle felt a lot slower and the pacing dwindled.

It was great to be back with all the characters again, following each of their stories as they separated and converged. I would have liked to see more from Anoor, or at least a little more interesting stuff, but with a larger cast to follow it makes sense some might not get as much attention.

One thing I hugely enjoyed was the introduction of more cultures, countries and people, truly expanding on the universe El-Arifi has created - and you can tell how much work went into this world building, it's honestly such a labour of love and you can see it.

There are a lot of quite wild plot twists and I'd say the tone is quite a lot darker than book one - and that was a pretty dark book at times! I would advise any readers to check content warnings for the series before diving in, and I'd say this especially for anyone who has suffered religious trauma.

All in all this was a solid second installment to the series and I'm very much looking forward to book three!

"The Battle Drum" is the sequel to the international bestseller "The Final Strife". Here we continue where we left off, following the journey of Sylah and Anoor. Sylah has set off on a journey towards the distant land that the Warden Empire has tried to hide, following her friend's Hassa instructions on finding a faraway Ghostling settlement. Anoor, as the newly elected Disciple of Strength, tries to establish her authority and to make a change in the empire. The journeys of both protagonists were not smooth. They are filled with unexpected obstacles, twists, and heartbreak.

We have three more POVs - of Hassa, Jond and Neyeli. I used to hate Jond's character in The Final Strife, but truth be told, having the chance to experience things from his perspective changed my opinion of him and I ended up sympathising with him. Hassa, as always, was an absolutely brilliant character and probably my favourite. I was absolutely heartbroken by her journey in the Battle Drum. I wonder what this will lead to in the series finale and why she had to go through what she did.

Risking to enrage a few people, I really disliked Anoor. I found her quite naive, whiny and all in all, irritating. She redeemed herself toward the end, but her POV was by far my least favourite one. Also, in contrast to the others, I did not see her to grow or develop as a character. In The Final Strife, there was a real shift from Anoor in the beginning to Anoor in the end. Here, it felt constant. There seemed to be something missing with her, at least from my perspective.

Neyeli's viewpoint was a nice addition. I loved the world Saara built through her eyes, the lore and the beliefs of the Zalaam were absolutely fascinating, I kept trying to place who she would end up being in our current timeline and I was truly windblown at the revelation. The author certainly has a real talent for adding those twists and turns and keeping readers on their toes.

In terms of worldbuilding and storytelling, The Battle Drum once again did not disappoint. I adore the way Saara El-Arifi writes. I can never have enough of reading her stories.

My only criticism outside of Anoor's character development would be that the pacing at the beginning and towards the middle seemed a bit off. The story dragged at some places but went fast at others. I would have liked to spend more time in the Academy, watching Sylah interact with the people there and understanding their world in more detail. I hope we get back to it in the next book and hopefully, we gain a new POV. Kara, for example, seemed an absolute badass and I would love to hear from her, Maybe watch her build a relationship with Jond and explore that a bit more. So based on what was said in this paragraph, my real rating would be 4.5/5.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and cannot wait for the finale. Thanks to Netgalley for providing the arc, it was a real pleasure to get this early on!

4/5

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I thought The Battle Drum, sequel to The Final Strife, largely improved upon the plots and themes that it left off of in the first instalment. My main problems with the first book stemmed from the stretched out substance of the aktibar plot, however I grew to adore the character of Hassa and the more mysterious, haunting truths we uncovered near the end.
This sequel picks up right where we left off and I loved exploring new maps and new characters. Our main characters are thrust into complicated situations that they must try their hardest to navigate with the limited tools they have. They are looking for aid, they are looking for freedom, they are looking for truth.

Hassa has always been, and in this book remains, my favourite character. She's a Ghosting, a people oppressed by the Embers who rule the Wardens' Empire. She's a spy, the beetle of Nar-Ruta. She's kind and loyal to a fault, she's suffered greater hurts than most would across several lifetimes, she's the shepherd of a new dawn for her people.
I have continuously found her the most interesting character and her story in this book only grows more emotional. I adored how her relationships with the other characters were portrayed. (Hassa and Kwame have my entire heart!)

Sylah is our warrior, sent out to burn a new pathway for everyone in the Wardens' Empire. We see so much of the world that we have not yet discovered through her eyes. Her struggle with addiction and with the broken parts of herself continues on in a very nuanced way. Saara El-Arifi shines in Sylah's story as she explores these emotional complexities with such skill.

Every character has compelling and intricate storylines that connect brilliantly in unexpected ways. I'm excited to see where the next book goes as every instalment so far has shocked me and thrown my predictions off course. This is a great second book in the Ending Fire trilogy, it doesn't suffer at all from second book syndrome.

Prepare yourselves! Saara El-Arifi spins a fascinating tale as she connects each web of these stories together. If you liked The Final Strife you definitely won't be disappointed.

**GOLDEN ARC ALERT**

What an absolutely STUNNING sequel! This has quickly become one of my all time favorite fantasy series and I am so stoked for the third book.

As more people become aware of the wardens deceptions and the true origin of the Ghostings, the story splits and we follow Hassa, Sylah, Anoor, occasionally Jond, and a new character, Nayeli of the Volcane Isles. The split perspectives were beautifully done, and all the plot threads wove together beautifully for a jaw dropping ending!

Hassa is my favorite character overall, she out of everyone stays most true to the mission and who she is. My heart breaks for Anoor because I feel like she tries so hard to do the right thing but is constantly swayed and blown around, and ends up making the wrong choice. But her heart is mostly in the right place.

The writing style in this book is wonderful. I still can’t believe that this is her second book, and first ever series. The style is mature and well established, easy and enjoyable to read, and the dialogue fits perfectly with the description. Such a cohesive blend of world building and story telling.

The magic system gives me Children of Blood and Bone mixed with Daughter of Smoke and Bone vibes and I am here for it.

I LOVE how the world building is gradual, at first we know so little because Sylah is so uninvested in things, but as she goes on her journey of discovery, so do we, and the world comes to life!

🌶️ There wasn’t any spice in this book as Sylah and Anoor were separated for the entirety of it.

I love love love this book and I am so excited for the final book on the trilogy!!!!

Get this on your TBR and preorder list NOW! It’s out May 23rd!

(Thank you to @netgalley and Saara El-Arifi for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own!)

Wow where to start with this book, I really enjoyed the first book the final strife and part of me was worried that this book would suffer from middle book syndrome as we knew that this will be a trilogy. However, I did not have to be worried this book built on the world that was already built in the first but makes it bigger and one that I cannot still fathom what I have just read I will say that there are some scenes where it will absolutely pull your heartstrings I think as I was reading I put my hands over my mouth and a few tears fell from my face. I cannot wait to talk about others about this book because now I need to discuss things with others, and I cannot wait to get this in my hand where I can hold this book in my hand. I feel that I will pick up things that I did not know that was coming on second reread and I feel that this is going to be a book I read time and time again. The world in this book is very unique and only keeps growing in the story which lead to the book ending the way it did. I loved the references to the book title throughout the book and the glimpses in the world.
I now need to talk about Jord because going from not really liking him and now wanting to die for him I feel that he had the biggest character growth and now I cannot wait to see where it goes with him as well as all the characters. I feel I need to discuss about him at length and I will when this book is released and discuss my feelings more.
This is now me waiting patiently for the last in the series because I need answers about a few things especially the epilogue it left me going what??? If you liked the first book you will not be disappointed with this book and I hope that you all will like how this goes.

Saara El-Arifi follows on from the Final Strife with another wonderfully woven tale.

The world building continues to be rich and imaginative and the new characters we meet are colourfully painted and intriguing. The Zwina academy was interesting enough to merit it’s own trilogy! The twist near the end was certainly unexpected and whilst answering some questions leads to lots more!

Personally I think it lacked the chemistry of the first book and the characters of Anoor and Sylah were slightly disappointing in that they weren’t the passionate, strong, independent yet fiercely loyal women who I had come to love in the Final Strife.

Kwame (who in my head is Ncuti Gatwa) with his big smiles, and the thuggish yet sensitive Jond definitely outshone the women this time I’m afraid!

I look forward to reading the next instalment and would recommend both books.

Thanks to Netgalley, Saara-El-Arifi and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A strong, suspenseful and action packed sequel to The Final Strife. I loved reading different POV's from all around the world and seeing the characters and their relationships being developed as well as an expansion from the first book into the world building and lore. Overall this was a really strong sequel and I really enjoyed the beautiful writing and pacing.

A mostly solid continuation of the story set out in The Final Strife, although it did suffer a little from second book syndrome. Looking forward to the conclusion of this one.

I found The Battle Drum to be even more riveting than The Final Strife - towards the end, my heart was pounding whilst reading. Saara El-Arifi certainly doesn't pull her punches - there are some big revelations and shocking events in The Ending Fire trilogy's second instalment. A publication date hasn't even been rumoured for the concluding part yet, but I am eagerly anticipating it - I have so many questions I want answered!
The Battle Drum utilises a larger number of POVs, which are spread geographically across the world - compared to all being in vaguely close proximity in The Final Strife. This really made the events seem more epic - everything felt much higher stakes and larger scale. This did coincide with a higher emphasis on plot, but despite my usual tastes veering the opposite way, I greatly enjoyed this. This isn't a five-star for me due to niggling little details - some aspects of plot which could be tightened, and some aspects of writing style which I wasn't convinced by. However, this is an epic, engaging book - I can't wait to see where the series goes next.

I'm wavering between rounding up or down on this, because honestly it's 3.5/5 but like solidly 3.5.

I'd be lying if I said this book didn't drag a bit and didn't suffer a bit of second book syndrome. BUT that in mind, it all ties together for what will undoubtedly be an explosive finale.

So onto the book. Hassa remains the hero of the story. Her character is just everything and we see so many sides to her again. We even get a softer, trusting, loving side of Hassa and I am so here for it. (Also Saara did her dirty and I'm mad for Hassa.) Unlike the first book, Anoor and Sylah aren't too present in this. That might be a good thing because they're both a little insufferable with their pining. Anoor did start on her reforms, which I was keen to see from the ending of the last book, and as anticipated that went tits up. But not in the way you'd think. We also get a little bit of redemption from Jond's side (and a super cute sand cat called Rascal) which, because it's Jond, also goes tits up.

We get introduced to the Volcanoe Isles and the mainland Tenio and there's a host of characters from there. This makes the timeline a little messy. They're often talking about this and that from 400-450 years ago and then we have this absolutely nutter Nayeli who names herself the wife of a god we come to learn about. So that had me wondering how far removed the Volcanoe Isles story was from what is happening in the Warden's Empire and in Tenio.

It all comes together towards the last 25% of the book and that is when the story really starts to shine. All three storylines converge, everything clicks, all the little hints throughout the book you were like 'Oh is that? Wait maybe not' meet and, as I said, you know this is building up to a grand finale.

Again, it really is that list of quarter of the book that shines. The everything before it is a lot of world building in a world you thought was pretty rich already and the characters, their history and the intricacies grow to almost a confusing level. There were times I was like 'Wait, do we know the Zalaam? Has that been explained? Did I miss it? What day is it?' and then things clarify before going cloudy again and suddenly you're in a mushroom. Definitely a solid follow on that is going to give us the final book we all want and probably with some heartache we don't deserve.

After reading the Final Strife, I couldn't wait to get my little mitts on this one and it did not disappoint. It moves on at a fntastic pace , dropping bits of lore here and there so you're always formulating your own theories. The exploration of religious influence was well depicted and the characters were as fully rounded as in ythe first book. If you're a romance first reader, you may be a little irked that the main pair are separated for the duration of the book and that instead of romantic progression there's instead a lot of yearning. However, it fit for the story and I'm sure will be resolved in the final book. Highly recommend.

In The Battle Drum, Hassa remains my all time favourite and Anoor could be chucked into the Endless Fire and I wouldn't even blink.

She's an idiot. Now, admittedly, the girl has been manipulated basically from before she even drew breath. It's a miracle she has any agency at all, but what agency she does have makes me want to scream.

Anoor constantly makes bad choices. She has delusions of herself and her intelligence, but eh.

Her storyline did give me the wonderful one that is her family history.

BECAUSE WHAT.

TIMEY WIMEY TRICKERY GOING ON HERE.

I'm so here for it. I had very different expectations and guesses of twists and turns. Was almost happier to have them upset.

Speaking of upsets. Lots of dead people in The Battle Drum.

I'm still mad about Loot, Saara.

Although with him dead and his yellow blood all over the place, I thought the blood colours stuff was...okay.

Didn't vibe with the arcs happening on the mainland, but surprisingly Jond really grew on me. I thought he might have a nice and intimate encounter with something pointy, but instead he met something adorable and reevaluated his outlook.

I liked it.

You know what and who I didn't like though?

Sylah at points. Another idiot. But, I suppose love does make you dumb on occasion.

In conclusion, I'd like book three now please

This was a good continuation of the series, with the world being expanded and new characters introduced. I loved Sylah/Jonds storyline and really enjoyed the journey it took us on, I also really enjoyed Hassa’s POV (that ending made me want to cry for her😩). I just cannot get behind Anoor, her character annoys me but hopefully the next book she becomes slightly less annoying! The world building was expertly done and I’m looking forward to reading the 3rd book.

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me an arc in exchange for a review!

The second instalment in an African-Arabic inspired fantasy rooted in uniquely immersive culture.

In this world, your place is determined by the colour of your blood.
At the top are the red-blooded Embers, then the Dusters, blue-blooded, still treated with contempt, but at least they have a better life than the clear-blooded Ghostings who’s hands and tongues are chopped off by the Embers to keep them subservient.

But change is coming. Blood won’t determine status, quality, life. Yet, how far are our characters willing to go?

‘Must not the oppressed become the oppressor in order to further change?’

The four perspectives we follow are strong young women, one additional added in as the story sprawls across different lands…. and people. Each are hotheaded, determined, and stubborn. Each have a different colour blood.

This took a turn. History and religion and past collides to sprawl the world into end times. They’re not only fighting people and prejudice, but the world itself as it lies it’s wrath at their feet.

‘Forgiveness should never be requested. Only granted. Work for it.’

I would recommend this to fans of Red Queen, Children of Blood and Bone, and the Fifth Season.

The second book in this trilogy kicks off right where The Final Strife left off, with Sylah leaving to seek a solution to the tidewind striking the Warden's Empire and Anoor starting in her new position as the Disciple of Strength. There is a recap of book 1 at the start - and although I remembered most of the story, there were small pieces of the puzzle that I had forgotten so that was useful. This book sees extra POV characters for the chapters and the return of my favourite character - Hassa. I thought the characters behaviours and motivations were true to themselves from book 1, with room for some growth – but the events of the book happen over such a relatively short time, book 1 and the aktibar took months to complete whereas this is much faster, with less time training etc being skimmed over. The way that the end of the instalment pulled the characters back together and left an immediate jumping off point for book 3 I really enjoyed – I have no idea how the full story can possibly be settled in only one more book but cannot wait to read that and find out!!