The Battle Drum (The Final Strife, Book 2)

(Paperback)

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Description

The SUNDAY TIMES bestselling series continues

Murder. Secrets. Sacrifice.

Three women seek the truth of the empire's past in the sequel to The Final Strife, the continuation of a visionary fantasy trilogy inspired by Africa and Arabia. The truth they find has the power to ignite a war.
Anoor is the first blue-blooded ruler of the Wardens' Empire. But when she is accused of a murder she didn't commit, her reign is thrown into turmoil. She must solve the mystery and clear her name without the support of her beloved, Sylah.

Sylah braves new lands to find a solution for the hurricane that threatens to destroy her home. But in finding answers, she must make a decision, does she sacrifice her old life in order to raise up her sword once more

Hassa's web of secrets grows ever thicker as she finds herself on a trail of crimes in the city. Her searching uncovers the extent of the atrocities of the empire's past and present. Now, she must guard both her heart and her land.

The three women find their answers, but they're not the answers they wanted. The drumbeat of change thrums throughout the world.

And it sings a song of war.

Reviews

Praise for THE FINAL STRIFE

'Epic in scope, its worldbuilding as intricate as filigree. THE FINAL STRIFE sings of rebellion, love, and the courage it takes to stand up to tyranny, following three women whose journeys will keep you gripped to the last'
Samantha Shannon, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE

By toggling between key points of view, El-Arifi grants readers a dramatic birds-eye view of both an unraveling world and the indomitable spirits of the women embroiled in its maelstrom. This is a knockout.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred)

An unmissable debut
Andrea Stewart, author of THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER

Epic, gripping, and searing
Sue Lynn Tan, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS

Featuring a love triangle, an enemies to lovers arc, and plenty of intrigue, this read will have you running the full gamut of emotions
HUFFINGTON POST

A game-changing new voice in epic fantasy
Tasha Suri, author of THE JASMINE THRONE

Full of rich, vivid world-building with political intrigue and characters you cant help but root for. I loved it
Christina Sweeney-Baird, author of THE END OF MEN

Epic fantasy turned on its head in the most compelling way imaginable. A heroine with bite, a supporting cast of flawed but deeply human characters, and world building that is raw, unforgiving and richly textured, THE FINAL STRIFE is the real deal. El-Arifi is a bold new voice in epic fantasy and I cannot wait to read more of her work
Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of CINDERELLA IS DEAD

A rip-roaring read!
Taran Matharu, NYT bestselling author of the Summoner and Contender series

Author Bio

With a DNA profile that lights up like a satellite photograph of earth, Saara El-Arifi's heritage is intrinsically linked to the themes she explores in her writing. She was raised in the Middle East until her formative years, when her family swapped the Abu Dhabi desert for the English Peak District hills. This change of climate had a significant impact on her growth-not physically, she's nearly 6ft-and she learned what it was to be Black in a white world. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Though her stories have developed beyond the ramblings of a child, she still appreciates the thrill of a well-told tale. The Final Strife is Saara El-Arifi's debut novel, the first part of a trilogy inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths.