The Battle Drum, Saara ElArifi
The Battle Drum, Saara ElArifi
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The Battle Drum

Author: Saara El-Arifi

Narrator: Nicole Lewis, Dominic Hoffman

Unabridged: 18 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/23/2023

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

Murder. Secrets. Sacrifice: Three women seek the truth of the empire’s past. And the truth they find will have the power to ignite a war, in the sequel to The Final Strife, the continuation of a visionary fantasy trilogy inspired by the myths of Africa and Arabia.

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: Should 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 the trail of crimes in the city. Her search 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 not the answers they wanted. The drumbeat of change thrums throughout the world.

And it sings a song of war.

Ready we will be, when the Ending Fire comes,
When the Child of Fire brings the Battle Drum,
The Battle Drum,
The Battle Drum.
Ready we will be, for war will come.

Book Two of The Ending Fire Trilogy

* This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF that contains images and the glossary from the book.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Becca on July 04, 2023

The best sequel I've read in a long time!......more

Goodreads review by JustJJ on December 13, 2023

Blog | Instagram Rating: 4 stars Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (blue and white design) I love how the gothic text and patterns give this design clear ties with the previous one in the series and convey the fantasy genre of the story. The icy blue colour scheme also neatly reflects this story's slower pace and......more

Goodreads review by Monte on February 23, 2023

I always feel the need to clarify that for me, personally, two stars is a good rating. It means the book was okay, and that's sort of where I had to settle after spending most of the day reflecting on the work that El-Arifi did in the sequel. What it ultimately boiled down to for me was the middle pa......more

Goodreads review by River on April 08, 2023

4/5 The only way foretelling harks true is if those who believe make it so. It makes me wonder, is faith a type of madness? Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I thought The Battle Drum, sequel to The Final Strife, largely improv......more

Goodreads review by ❁lilith❁ on January 10, 2025

saara doing it yet again, writing a book that I can race through in no time but really take in all the details of her amazing world/ i still love anoor and sylah, and the time they spend away from each other was painful. I miss their dynamic. the world is still great, and there was some plot twists I......more

Quotes

Praise for The Battle Drum

“El-Arifi grants readers a dramatic bird’s-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 review)


Praise for The Final Strife

“Saara el-Arifi deftly facets every layer of her debut. Epic in scope, its world building 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

“With 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: epic fantasy turned on its head in the most compelling way imaginable.”—Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart

“The undercurrents of friendship, betrayal, and sapphic love, and the twists and turns of the competitive trials and political intrigue, come together to kick off a magnetic and appealing new series.”—Booklist

“El-Arifi tells a tale that is as fierce as its characters, plunging you into a sandy, stratified world until you can feel the grit between your teeth. Heart-wrenching and heart-pounding, The Final Strife is an unmissable debut.”—Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

“El-Arifi is a game-changing new voice in epic fantasy, and The Final Strife is a triumph of a book, full of rage, charm, and a cast of misfits you can’t help but root for. There are no Chosen Ones here—only bad choices and blood.”—Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

“Epic, gripping, and searing, The Final Strife weaves a fascinating tale of destiny, magic, and love set in a richly imagined yet brutally divided world. Its unexpected, gritty heroine is one you cannot help but root for, and the story will stay with you long after the last page.”—Sue Lynn Tan, author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

“Boasting an expertly layered world that is equal parts beautifully rendered and brutal in its depiction, with a protagonist who is as likely to save the day as she is to ruin it, The Final Strife brims with delicious tension—I loved every page.”—Ciannon Smart, author of Witches Steeped in Gold

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