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. 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. 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. Praise for The Final Strife 'Saara el-Arifi deftly facets every layer of her debut. Ready we will be, when the Ending Fire comes, When the Child of Fire brings the Battle Drum, The Battle Drum, The Battle Drum. The drumbeat of change thrums throughout the world. The three women find their answers, but not the answers they wanted. Now she must guard both her heart and her land. Her search uncovers the extent of the atrocities of the empire's past and present. 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.

Sylah braves new lands to find a solution for the hurricane that threatens to destroy her home.

She must solve the mystery and clear her name without the support of her beloved, Sylah. But when she is accused of a murder she didn't commit, her reign is thrown into turmoil. Anoor is the first blue-blooded ruler of the Wardens' Empire. 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.

Sacrifice: Three women seek the truth of the empire's past.

The battle drum a novel saara el arifi