📕 Title: The Final Strife
✏️ Author: Saara El-Arifi
📖 Genre: Epic Fantasy
⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📝 Book 1 in the Ending Fire trilogy

BOOK BLURB

The Warden’s Empire is a dystopian world with a caste system in which the color of a person’s blood determines their place in society: Red blooded Embers are the elite, blue-blooded Dusters are the working class, and clear blooded Ghostings are the servants. The empire is ruled by four Ember wardens, each chosen in a set of trials called the Aktibar.

Sylah was an Ember child stolen by the Duster rebels, raised to win the Aktibar and bring down the Empire from within – until the Embers destroyed her family. As the next Aktibar approaches, Sylah must decide whether to compete or to continue drowning her pain with drugs.

REVIEW

The Final Strife is the first book in a unique epic fantasy trilogy inspired by African and Arabian mythology. This story completely subverts the Chosen One trope and the plot kept me guessing from start to finish.

Sylah’s POV begins the story, and as a drug addict who doesn’t seem to care about anything other than getting high, she’s not exactly likeable at first. And yet I was so intrigued by this world and the caste system that I had to keep reading! And as Sylah’s past is uncovered, I quickly became more sympathetic and grew to love her despite her flaws.

Same with Anoor, I wasn’t sure about her at first but her interactions with Sylah were so fun to read. Hassa might be my favorite character. As a clear blood, her role in society is to be a servant but she is so much more than that.

I loved the bloodwerk magic system. I loved watching the characters work their way through the Aktibar trials. And while they are so focused on the trials, there are many secrets to be uncovered about their world’s history. You’ll want to have the next book on hand because that ending–!!!

I also love that this is a queer normative society! Gender is not fixed, people can identify as two spirit (musawa), and reaffirming survey is readily available. The character list at the back of the book even includes their pronouns. You will find sapphic romance, several trans characters, and plenty of queer relationships here!

Such a great read, fully recommend for people who love epic fantasy and dystopian novels (but definitely check content warnings).