Reviews

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

centuryarchive's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you’ve ever felt like the fantasy genre was missing something, this is the series for you. Between its complex, lovable characters, its richly detailed world, and its nearly perfect pacing, the Final Strife is a thoughtful and carefully constructed foundation for a true epic.

Go into this first book with the intention of reading at least the second. (You won’t be able to stop there.) It’s already so good as a standalone piece, but I didn’t realize how much I would love it until I could look back with fresh context.

bookedandboujee's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

clhtdr's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

thehawk72's review against another edition

5.0

Actual rating 4.5

The only thing that made me notch this down a half star is I wish there was more to Hassa’s character. I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel in hopes we will read more about her!

asiya_lovebug's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

bookstolune's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

pearlmijohns's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

raynearchv's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Ableism and Death

Minor: Death of parent

elioozx's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ashleykhoffman's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I thought this book was great! I wish there had been a little less implied relationship building and a little more described relationship building, but otherwise I found the characters really likeable, especially Anoor. I did not see that final twist coming, and it really got me excited to read book 2!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death of parent