SYNOPSIS:

The Ending Fire picks up quickly after the events of The Battle Drum with Anoor - the Child of Fire - and her celebrated arrival to the Zalaam. Sylah and Hassa learn of her disappearance and must search for her whilst also determining just who the Truthsayer is, and whether they are really against the Wardens or not. Meanwhile, Jond must navigate both head and heart as he also prepares for the final battle. Whatever happens, The Ending Fire must come and many will burn.

REVIEW:

I really really enjoyed The Final Strife and The Battle Drum, but it feels like an absolute age ago that I read the both of them, so once more I was grateful for the recap that Saara El-Arifi puts at the beginning of her novels. Soon I was caught up to speed and thrust back into this fantastically built magical world with the complexities of religion, blood colour and the sense of other. El-Arifi doesn’t shy away from these difficult topics with many parallels to our world and the importance of valuing and celebrating difference.

The Ending Fire follows four main points of view and darts nicely between them, always leaving you wanting more from these main characters. A particular favourite of mine is Hassa and I really enjoyed seeing her navigating the empire in the wake of her great loss - it felt like this was handled poignantly and delicately. Her grief became a great anger and seeing her journey through the trilogy has been great - she’s really grown fierce and feisty. On the other hand, it was reasonably painful seeing Anoor’s descent at the hands of Yona or the Wife.
A fitting and also reasonably tragic end to a great trilogy. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this review copy.

A fantastic conclusion to an epic trilogy by Saara El-Arifi!! I can't explain how brilliant this trilogy was, it hurt but it also was woven so beautifully, that I can't wait to reread this trilogy again from the start.

I feel the story suffered from being too ambitious. Introducing too many new characters in a finale is always risky and this time it didn't pay off. The new characters brought new subplots which took away from the main conclusion. However, the writing was extremely gripping and I couldn't put the book down once I started reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. So, overall, some good and some bad.

You know sometimes trilogy's fall off at the end but I was pleasantly surprised with this trilogy. This book in particular has a gripping and emotionally charged conclusion to the series. Its the kind of book that captivates readers who crave complex, morally nuanced stories of rebellion, self-discovery and the struggles for power, particularly those who love LGBTQIA+ representation and are drawn to epic character narratives.

I can’t believe this trilogy is over.

It feels like just yesterday I heard about this upcoming book called The Final Strife, with nothing but a small description and a stock cover. And then it appeared on NetGalley…

What a journey it’s been since then! I’ve loved single book in this trilogy and I’ve enjoyed watching Saara El-Arifi’s career flourish. I got to meet her a few years ago at YALC and she was wonderful!

Back to this book.

There was A LOT riding on this final instalment. Questions to be answered, reveals to revealed, reunions to happen, romances to flourish….It was SO intense!!!!

I was really happy with how this series wrapped up and I really enjoyed the shake up in POVs towards the end even if all they did was mostly bring devastation. It was a really interesting structural shakeup that worked really well to tell the story in a broader way.

This book in some ways did feel a lot slower than other ones and I felt like Anoor and Sylah were more sidelined throughout the book, especially towards the end, which was disappointing. I wanted to see more of them, especially as this had primarily been theirs — and Hassa’s journey — although I did really appreciate how El-Arifi did show that while this story might have started with them as the catalyst, it is a lot broader than them.

I wouldn’t be disappointed if we were to see a spin off story about a certain man and his cat and a not dead queen *nudge nudge Saara*

I loved this series and this is the excellent final instalment. Gripping, epic, well written, excellent storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

2.5 stars!

I am so disappointed with how this trilogy ended, it had all the makings of a classic fantasy series but the finale just didn't deliver. I loved the second book, it's still one of my all-time favourites, but this last one was a letdown. There were too many new characters and plot threads that didn't add anything to the story. The final battle felt rushed and predictable, and I didn't feel invested in the characters' fates.

The character development was a huge letdown, particularly with Anoor's naivety and lack of initiative. It's understandable that her drugged state would impair her judgment, but it's disappointing that her character doesn't show growth or agency.

On the bright side, Hassa's storyline remained strong, and Sylah's emotional struggles were well-handled. Jonds' story had potential, but the unnecessary romantic subplot and his characterisation as "perpetually horny" detracted from it.

Overall, this trilogy had so much potential, but the ending did not live up to my expectations.

I was truly excited to read this finale as I had recently finished El-Arifi’s exquisite Faebound.
Delving back into the Warden’s Empire and across the dangerous seas didn’t disappoint as we join the incredible cast of characters fighting across multiple fronts. The Blood Forged are seeking allies whilst the cultic Zalaam are creating a seemingly impossible to beat army to bring about the ‘Ending Fire’ of prophecy. Our group finally comes back together to fight what could be the end of the world as they know it.

Anoor and Sylah are in completely different places and we see their heartbreaking journey as leaders, victims and friends to those willing to sacrifice themselves for them. Although there seems to be little hope for the lovers, every angst-filled moment is beautiful and memorable.

The fantasy world-building El-Arifi is so skilled at had me invested in book one and that doesn’t let up as we discover more of the secrets of the world. Combining them seamlessly in this epic finale.

This novel takes all of the love you had for the characters in the previous two books, dials it up to the highest level and then leaves devastation in its wake.

Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Took me a while to get around to reading this trilogy but was it worth it when I did . Loved this ending to the trilogy . The story all got wrapped up in an epic final book - although the last battle was over fairly quickly I still thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience . Great characters brilliant representation and clear world building and magic systems . Highly recommend 5 stars

What a conclusion to an excellent fantasy trilogy. I absolutely devoured this book and would recommend this three-part story to anyone.

The world building and extensive story lines are fantastic, as well as twists along the way that I didn't see coming. I really liked how African and Arabian mythology and culture were built into this story and it felt like quite a unique series to read that was very different from other fantasy series I had read.

The final battle in this was done really well and I liked that we got to see more viewpoints during this than we have throughout the rest of the book. It would have been far too much if this had been done throughout the series but doing this during the battle scenes lent it more gravitas and meant that we could really see and feel the impact of it for more than just the 3 main characters.

On a less positive note, there were a couple of niggles for me. I felt that I had loved the character of Sylar in the first novel but she seemed reduced somehow in this to being overly focused on Anoor to the detriment of other things and this made her a bit one dimensional. Talking of Anoor I found her storyline of becoming deeper and deeper into the cult really interesting but I felt her redemption arc was done too fast. She seemed to quickly throw away these extreme views which had directly led to the death of people, it didn't seem believable to me that she would come around so fast. I thought Jond's story was done well and I did enjoy Sylah and Anoor's ending, it felt very fitting.

3.25/5

I've had my ups and downs with this series. I thought the first book was okay and held promise, I thought the second book was very good and I've just completed the third and final book. It turns out that I'm not as utterly enamoured with it as most people seem to be, but I have enjoyed it.
This epic conclusion thoroughly disappointed me, however. Maybe I've fallen out of love with the aspects I did like, maybe I've grown tired of it? But I think my problems with this book stem from a little more than simple, personal dislikes.

The best part of this series, the best character by far, is Hassa. I've always adored Hassa, and every element of her narrative and perspective. The Battle Drum is also my favourite of the trilogy because of how prevalent she is.
I thought in this conclusion she was vastly underutilised. I wanted to see so much more of her, to hit the emotional impact far harder, to focus on everything this ending meant for the Ghostings in a much more personal way. Hassa's voice is so unique and intriguing, she's the perfect character to follow. I wish we had stayed with her a little longer.

Anoor, in particular, really bugged me this book. I've never been much of a fan of Anoor's character, but that's just a matter of opinion. My problem in this book was with how she was written.
I couldn't for the life of me understand how she was flip-flopping across beliefs and moralities that were so immensely different so quickly. It was absurd and I could never buy into it, it pulled me out of the story incessantly. There was such a lack of internal conflict it was unbelievable.

I found the character's actions very strange across the board. There was a lot of all-consuming love, and I know 'love makes you stupid,' but I am on my hands and knees begging these characters to make smarter decisions. I caught myself rolling my eyes and groaning an awful lot. (It's difficult to go into anything without spoiling something as this is the last book in the trilogy.)
I also thought that the characters were played more like chess pieces than real people, and that was why their actions felt so stiff or inevitably useless. They were in a place so we could see the place, they were with a character so we could gain insight into the character. It forced me to extend my suspended disbelief until I could no longer buy into it. It didn't feel like any of our main characters actually had a large impact on the story, they weren't the ones propelling it forwards, and that made everything feel very wooden.

It just didn't seem like the components of the story were moving as one well-oiled machine. It felt anti-climactic, not because of the actual action taking place, but because of the lack of emotional resolution. I actually enjoyed the end of the story a lot, I loved how we kept shifting perspectives, it echoed very well the stress and conflicting experiences on a battlefield. But I still felt as though there were things that hadn't been sufficiently wrapped up, emotional beats that hadn't quite been fulfilled. It left me wanting a lot more closure.

Overall, I'm just left with a vague feeling of disappointment. I don't mean to be so negative, but my frustrations with the book only seemed to grow as I read on. I don't think El-Arifi's works are for me, I've read a fair amount of books by her now and I think I can safely say that.
I'm so glad that other people seem to enjoy her works a lot more than I do, it's a shame I don't feel the same!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperVoyager for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am honestly so so sad to have finished this trilogy. With the length of the books and the time I spent immersed in this story, I really feel like I’m leaving behind friends. But oh, what an ending.

This is also the only book of the series that I didn’t audio, so it was interesting to see the differences between reading and listening. I felt the the text was still really evocative even without the work that was put into the audio and it was interesting to see the artwork of the different characters. I think in future rereads I will stick to listening though, as they really have done a fantastic job with the audios for this one.

One thing that really interested me in this book, was that during the big battle at the end, they jumped into loads of different viewpoints that they hadn’t done before. I don’t think there was a single named character who didn’t have at least one viewpoint scene. Including the cat. I really liked this, because it meant that we could see everything that was happening in the battle, of which there were so many elements. I think it worked out very well.

Honestly this trilogy was just epic fantasy at it’s finest. It was beautiful and well built and had just so much culture to it. If epic fantasy is your taste and you can stomach the trigger warnings, I really do think you should give it a go.

5/5

Saara El-Arifi is one of the best writers in fantasy right now and her Ending Fire trilogy has been one of my favorites to follow over the last few years. The Ending Fire, its conclusion, is just as gripping as its former two books and has only further solidified her as an epic fantasy writer pushing boundaries within the genre. Simmering with magic, blood, and sacrifice, the battle over the future of the Warden’s Empire has begun. Sylah, Jond, Hassa, and Anoor have all been set apart on different paths, but in this final fight, El-Arifi draws them back together to face their pasts and the hurts that have further sundered them. After three books we get some truly gratifying concluding arcs – Hassa standing in her place and having a leading position, Jond choosing the future he never thought he could have, and Sylah and Anoor finding their way back to one another. This trilogy is flawless, from its character journeys to the dissolution of a flawed empire. The commentary on history as a tool for control and the powerless becoming powerful was incredibly well done across this series. While I am sad to be putting this series to rest I will continue shouting about it because it is THAT GOOD.

This review is featured on my blog

"Ending Fire" by Saara El-Arifi is a captivating read that weaves together elements of fantasy and adventure in a beautifully crafted narrative. The author excels in creating a rich world filled with complex characters, each facing their own struggles and growth throughout the story. The plot is engaging, with unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat, making it hard to put the book down.

El-Arifi's writing style is both lyrical and immersive, allowing readers to fully experience the emotions and stakes of the characters' journeys. The themes of resilience, friendship, and the battle between light and darkness are explored with depth, making the story not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. Overall, "Ending Fire" is a must-read for fans of fantasy, offering a compelling story that resonates long after the last page is turned.

A great finale to the trilogy - my favourite character and to me, the real hero of the series, was Hassa, the Ghostling. I loved reading her story develop over the series and watching her become more in control and more powerful as the series went on. It was a great and satisfying ending to the story overall and you felt all the characters ended up where they should be. An original and compelling series that is well worth reading.

Wow. What an ending to the series, just absolutely perfect. It brought all the storylines and arcs together and just tied it all up nicely. I cannot wait to see what else Saara does!

What a conclusion, I feel so elated at the way everything ties up in the end but so so heart broken that its over.

I really fell in love with our many perspectives, they were all so important and each added to this story in crazy ways.

There’s so much I could say about this wild journey, but I’d be letting too much slip while excitedly sharing. This series was everything and more, I’m so impressed. I’m also grateful to have gotten to read this book early.

The Ending Fire is a superb conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. I absolutely loved all the different POVs and getting to see all the characters grow and reach a well deserved ending. This series was truly something special and I cannot wait to see what Saara comes up with next.

The world building in this series has been formidable.  Rich and descriptive and a breath of fresh air as it's not the usual Euro-centric fantasy.  It was great to see Black and Arabian characters get to be their own heroes and villains.

Sylah's character was really well crafted and you could almost see all the work she'd put in unravelling before your eyes. Anoor, similarly, seemed to be reverting back to the her of book 1 but all came good and my panic subsided!

Hassa came into her own throughout the book and Jond became a bit of a surprise fave!  That last epic battle still leaves me a bit breathless.

The shorter style chapters and multiple POV's allow the story to feel like it's moving at pace without losing anything.  All the depictions of LGBTQIA characters felt so un-stereotypical and refreshing.

I loved this book so much it really takes you into another world allowing you to escape your reality. The characters draw you in and the story is amazing go and get it as a autumn read