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

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The third and final book in The Ending Fire series. Set in the Warden’s Empire, an island where three different blood colours exist. Those with red blood are known as Embers, the most powerful, who use bloodwork to channel magic and rule over the island. People with blue blood are called Dusters, unable to bloodwork and living in poor conditions, they are required to serve the prospering Embers. The final group are Ghostings with clear blood. They have their tongues and hands cut off at birth and remain the lowest servants of the Warden’s Empire. This is the story of how everything changes.

The series started by following three characters, each took notice of the injustice in their society and formed their own plan to change the landscape. The first two books took us on a journey as these characters with different pasts met and learnt more about the world around them. With each revelation, each death, they became more desperate for change, but the world was bigger than just the Warden’s Empire. The stakes are higher than ever as forces come together in the final explosive book.

I was eagerly anticipating the finale and experiencing how everything would come to fruition. I enjoyed it, but unfortunately, I found it to be a slightly disappointing end.

To me, The Ending Fire was not the book it should have been. My main problem can be sufficiently summed up in one sentence: it had the wrong focus. The story rushed over things that I felt should have been the main focus instead it dragged us through details that should have been the “B” plot. The majority of the book was spent on building up scenes when I felt that the prior two books had already developed it well. In fact, our main characters did little to affect the outcome of the plot. It was missing these active aspects I previously loved about this series.

I don’t want you to think I hated the book, because I didn’t. I still loved these characters and wanted to see their final journey. From their internal battles to handling relationships, heartbreaking reunions and, of course, their final shout. The story keeps you invested as you see how they’ve changed from the first book and why they make the decisions they make. As much as it wasn’t always the “explosive” finale I expected, there were tender moments that added to the story and a consideration of what each character would be feeling in every moment that I appreciated.

⛔Spoilers Ahead⛔
For me to tell you what did and didn’t work for me in The Ending Fire, I am going to have to talk about the context and reveal parts of the story. Please do not read ahead unless you have read the final book.

The first 80% of the book was not deserving of the amount of time given to it in my mind. It was spent allowing characters to find their right place in the upcoming fight. I agree that we needed to see the characters deal with their internal decisions and actions, yet by the halfway point of the novel, I expected the characters to have acted more or at least directly influenced the plot. We had seen the world grow to show there were other kingdoms, other dangers and an alarming cost of bloodworking, yet the story became more one-dimensional as each side had a tally of strengths which ultimately came down to finding out who had the most points. We never got to see more of the world we had been introduced to and disagreements were simple. I guess in the face of battle it is what it all comes down to but as we spent so long developing the joining together of forces, there was more chance to take that deeper dive.

What I found most strange was how the focus was often on relationships instead of the wider happenings. I love experiencing how relationships are written in stories and how they make you feel so much, yet (yet again), it was too much for the focus.

One of the main things I have got to question is how the uprising against the Warden’s Empire essentially happened off the page. This was once the main plot of the series but we missed the details of its downfall and the resolution felt far too easy. Technically we experienced what caused it and a rightful take back of the country, but it was swept under the rug with no great presence in the story. I was simply astounded as to why it was done this way. The side characters were doing so much off-page, but, we the readers, were left with the main characters' emotional turmoil. I like this sometimes, just not all the time.

Luckily, this series has always been good at showing the main characters making big mistakes that aren’t washed away and because of this risk, the characters do not always have the major role you would come to expect from main characters. I appreciate how the author wrote characters like this as they felt different to other books. Their mistakes and internal battles can be nuanced if frustrating. The emotional presence of these characters added to the story despite it taking away from the plot.

Sylah ~ one of my favourites as she had such a dark, heartbreaking edge. She has been a character meant to be the pioneer for change, but the pain has made her a selfish character in many ways. This series has demonstrated her desire to want more. This book shows her in an internal struggle between going after what she wants versus what is best for society. I appreciated Sylah’s growth whilst not betraying the core of her character. It left her feeling lost and helpless at times, but her fierceness and protection found its mark in the (imperfect) end.

Anoor ~ baby girl joined a cult. Anoor resembled an easy hope and positive energy against a dark plot so experiencing her backwards journey was heartbreaking. The anticipation of how she would escape was a very compelling part of the novel, especially as you knew it would involve a certain reunion. You want to scream at her to know better, but I think it was believable why she got lost down this path. Nonetheless frustrating especially as I immediately knew about the joba seed. As a reader, you know more, so it is painful to be stuck in a circular problem. I am tempted to say this storyline would have been improved if experienced through the eyes of “The Wife”. You would have experienced the cruelty to Anoor with honesty and seen more of the danger of their threat. Plus in the end, the Zalaam can be dismissed as “a delusional cult” so experiencing their side would have added more to the enemy. For the namesake, they would have benefited from more time.

Hassa ~ by all rights, this should have been her book and I think she deserved more of a pivotal role. On a technical note, she won the battle for them and inspired the change of leadership. She was, in fact, pivotal in the story, but I feel like this was told rather than shown at times. Still, I am happy she was essential to the story and that other characters finally appreciated her role. Her storyline was the strongest of this book, and the most satisfying.

Jond ~ as a major general in charge of bringing troops together, his plot purpose was quite clear and whilst he technically did this, it was background noise to his romance plot. Jond and Kara are thankfully a great romance, second only to Jond and Rascal (my true highlight of the book). Their banter was fun, Jond was soft and Kara was stern. I love it. Except when the romance faded into the miscommunication trope and swallowed the important duty at hand. I was once again left feeling like Jond should have done more for the plot. At least when it came to the battle, the major general would have a main role to play, right? Nope, he lasted 5 minutes and it was used for romance reasons. Brilliant.

Another thing that was missing was the world-building consideration. The first two books had expanded on the knowledge of the world adding complexities and new information to challenge the characters and raise the stakes. Unfortunately, the third book had less development. They knew the skills and history, so things were glanced over more. It makes sense for a final book where instead of expanding, it needs to close things off so I have this problem with many finales but I still believe worldbuilding should still a focus in finales. This book contained the possibility for more in-depth consideration as they brought forth new important characters and spoke about introducing new systems of government, yet the focus always moved quickly on.

Unfortunately, I have mostly complained about this book so far. I am genuinely sorry to be so negative but I have tried to include the fact there were positives as well. Thankfully I can tell you, the final part of the novel was gripping. The final battle came and I really loved the way it was written by including so many points-of-views of the battle scenes. It showcased the vast amount of people in such big scenes and how each person has an impact on the end result. Not to mention how it captures the true destructive nature of battle. It was powerful and you had to keep reading to see how it would all play out.

I will say the final scenes deserved more resolution. The epic end took place, and then the book swiftly said goodbye. It is a common problem with fantasy finales so I am not greatly bothered by this fact, but once again, missed opportunity.