Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 22/09/2023
Published by: HarperVoyager
ISBN: B09R24J9L9
Cover:
This design’s red, white and grey colours make it aesthetically pleasing and subtly hint at the gritty, brutal storyline. The abstract patterns and bold font also beautifully convey the fantasy genre of the story.
Writing:
Despite feeling overwhelmed by initial waves of worldbuilding information, I was soon captivated by the expansive and brutal world that emerged. Even more impressive were the intricate layers constantly added to the worldbuilding throughout the story. All this is delivered with a simple yet rich writing style that brings the world and story to life.
When money is everything, everything is for sale.
Storyline:
While I struggled a little initially, the constant twists and turns of the storyline gradually pulled me in. There are also regular bursts of action, plus the exploration of deep themes such as addiction, child abuse and body mutilation, which make the story gripping and powerful.
Main characters:
Protagonists Syla, Anoor and Hassa are all strong, compelling characters in their own way. Their distinct personalities, struggles and growth are brilliantly presented, making each character realistic and easy to root for.
love may give you strength, but retribution gives you purpose.
Secondary characters:
Even with three strong protagonists, I generally found the supporting characters memorable, as they are given clear personalities and well-thought-out roles. I just wished we had more of Jond’s character as there is so much I wanted to know about his life – but maybe this will be revealed in the next book.
Romance:
From the first interaction between the characters, I loved their easy connection and banter. Besides this, their slow-burn romance is incredibly well shown and never told, allowing readers to feel their raw chemistry and the tension of Will They/ Won’t They.
Narration & Audio:
I could not get enough of the brilliant narration by Nicole Lewis and Dominic Hoffman. These two really enrich the listening experience through different voices and vocal effects that capture the nuances and emotions of the story.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Final Strife‘ once the story got going. Everything from the writing style to the characters and narration blew me away, so I can’t wait to see how the series progresses! I am strongly reminded of The Jasmin Throne by Tasha Suri, and I would recommend that for those who enjoyed this.
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below. For those who have read this and want to discuss it, here are a few questions (contains spoilers!!):
Q: Which aspect of the world seemed most interesting to you?
My answer: The erus! These are lizards-like creatures you ride like horses. For some reason, I find this concept incredibly fascinating, and I wish we had more of these creatures in the story.
Q: Of the three protagonists, Sylah, Anoor and Hassa, who was your favourite?
My answer: It is Anoor for me. Her cute, sheltered personality provides levity and warmth within the story, making her character easy to like. Besides this, the gradual growth and strength revealed by Anoor made her character compelling, and I could not help but root for her.
Q: Which secret/ twist surprised you the most?
My answer: Nothing surprised me more than finding out the Ghostlings were the original inhabitants of the land! This really made the brutality of the Empire sink in as the Embers took everything from Ghostlings and then maimed them to maintain dominance.
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[…] this book was written by the same author who wrote one of my favourite reads from last year – The Final Strife. The simple storyline, flat characters and forced romance left me feeling bored and uninvested […]