I think I might have liked this even more than The Final Strife. So much was revealed and expanded upon in this book, and I'm so so excited to see how it all concludes in the next book.

4.5
holy moly!!! what a massive jump from book 1 to book 2 I mean that in the best way possible.

What i liked:
- the plot and storyline improved so much and really exceeded. The backstory of the magic and history was amazing and so much more developed than book one. It was needed. How everything came together and was integrated was done masterfully
- the themes of beliefs and false beliefs on religions and was so reflective. False information really.
-the twist and turns where expected and very unexpected at the same time !!! I was on the edge of my seat the majority of the novel.
- the characters. I hated them all in book 1(except Hassa) and what an improvement. i connected and enjoyed them a lot more, except Annor I still don’t like or enjoy her character. John was such a well developed character and his arc was wonderful.
- i love all the villans here and i can sympathize with their understanding of their “belief” i’m so invested in them.
- the cliffhanger at the ends omgg! i was waiting for that to be possible and was happy when it came to fruition.


What i didn’t like:
- the romance. it really brings the story down and is just not needed. i don’t mind the themes of loneliness and love and loving oneself and others. Really forming a found family in the face of being so alone. But romance is not needed. Also don’t think it’s done well. there is no emotional build for a romance to exists. Again i didn’t enjoy book 1 so maybe I am bias here. But the story is more powerful without romance .

- there is an emotional connection missing from this book. Which is interesting since there is so many rich and painful stories of struggle and death but the emotional connection is missing.

-pacing in part 2 was slow going.

overall i highly recommended this when it comes out. This is making me consider re reading book 1 but i know i can’t get pass some of my issues namely the plot being weak and the characters (except Hassa) being boring.

I will be posting a TikTok on this i the next week or so at @latoyadawson13

The Battle Drum is the second book in The Ending Fire Trilogy, following a book I really enjoyed, The FInal Strife. The first novel told an interesting and captivating story (albeit a little slow sometimes), the second book definitely continues to be interesting. However, while reading this one, I didn't fall into it like I did with the first book.

There are a few notable reasons for this.
1. It Drags On
1. There is so much happening in this book but yet every single chapter seems to just wear you down. We get new perspectives, as well as some previous characters getting their own POV Chapters. That didn't really help as things would be happening around the same time but you would read about each person experiencing a mystery but all of it just seems like some walking and talking.
2. Too many POVs
1. Like I mentioned earlier, we do get some more alternating POV's. And while I love getting to see more sides to these characters, the chapters don't really contain much thrill or experience. It is just more talking or planning, There is some plot and action occuring but keeping up is difficult.
3. Overwhelming
1. Not only are there new POV's and characters, the entire worldbuilding and lore has been expanded. You now have (/spoiler:different countries? And different views on bloodwork, blood, and gods). Its not necissarly overwhelming to start, El-Arifi does a good job of pacing it out so that you can learn. But towards the end of the book, it all seems to intersect and leave you feeling more confused.
But all the things I complained about also have a positive side. Seeing Hassa or Anoor getting more chapter time, is great to read. (Not as much as sylah i believe but still an improvement). Characters that were just set to the side now play a vital role in each person's journey.

On the flip side of overwhelming, its incredibly interesting to just see how much further the backstory to the world can go. So many things that you couldn't think of become reality. But I have to say, the reading those moments at the time was a little boring. Thats where it ends up being overwhelming, you are learning so much but its going so slowly and more and more nwe things appear while no resolutions to any of these problems have occured.

The ending really is the only thing that is keeping me in this story, if it didn't keep me interested I might've ended my reading of the series right there. I hope the final book shows some improvement from ths one.

An incredible and captivating sequel to The Final Strife. The worldbuilding, pacing, and character POVs were mesmerizing!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I don't know how Ms. El-Arifi did it, but this sequel is BETTER than the first! I read this SO fast, and I didn't even register until I looked up and half the day was gone. Immediately preordered this to put on the shelf next to book 1! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

I'm always afraid to continue reading a series and experience burnout... but this second book in the Ending Fire trilogy is even better than the first! El-Arifi is a skillful master of world-building and storytelling in general. This is a MUST READ.

It's rare that a sequel is better and harsher then the first book but that is exactly what's happening with the Battle Drum. We are scattered with Anoor in Nar-ruta, and Sylah on a mission to stop the tide wind. We also get to hear Jond's p.o.v. a LOT more which I did like. As well as an introduction to a new p.o.v. a person named Nayeli. The author does a WONDERFUL job with story telling with each of the characters, you are put in the past and present, and when it's time for two to overlap it is done so well. I always like it when everything connects at the end in a good bow but still manages to leave the readers with some questions to ask and theories to ponder. I loved the way Saara achieved that. I also greatly enjoyed the more indepth addition of Jond and Hassa's p.o.vs. I can't wait to see how everyone's story continues on ahead.

Thank you for NetGalley for giving me an ARC for this book!

If you loved the Final Strife then buckle up for this roller coaster of a ride! Saara El-Arifi has now become an automated buy from me. I thought The Final Strife was had developed the characters and the world has already established but I was wrong. That was only the foundation to that skyscraper building that this author has built for her world. The layers and meaning she had created for this book is awe inspiring.

The Battle Drum follows immediately after The Final Strife ( with even a little recap which was nice to have ) every time I thought I knew where this story and characters were going the rug was slip right out from under me!

I have no idea what’s in store for the next book in this series but I’m excited and cannot wait!

The truth behind the long-kept secrets and sacrifices that have upheld an Empire surface as three women and their network of allies strategize how to overcome them when a surprising new battle begins to make itself known in The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi.

Traveling on the mission given to her by Anoor to find a solution for the increasingly deadly tidewinds the Empire is facing, Sylah makes her way to the Ghosting territory to seek their knowledge and aid with her former friend turned prisoner Jond in tow; as they make their way toward support and answers they face dangers in acid rain that incapacitates Sylah and they’re captured by those who would sell them, forcing Jond to devise an escape plan so they can fulfill their mission. Back in the Empire, Anoor has taken up her duties as a disciple and building her Shadow Court in preparation for when she’ll take over as Warden; however, when Uka, her mother and current Warden, is found killed and the clues point toward Anoor she’s accused of the murder, which she didn’t commit, so she tries to solve the mystery to clear her name before it’s too late thanks to the grace afforded to her by her powerful grandmother Yona. While teaching the Shadow Court the Ghosting signing language and helping Anoor clear her name, Hassa finds herself investigating a string of bodies ravaged by the tidewinds that have strange markings in the bones that point toward crime-related murder, but with Loot gone a question arises of who’s ordering the murders. While the three women seek out answers to the questions on their minds while they pursue a solution to save their lives, and their Empire, what they learn unseats everything they thought they knew and will set them on a path forward filled with sacrifices they must decide if they’re willing to make now that the Child of Fire has been found and battle is imminent.

Beginning with a clever method of providing a recap of what previously occurred in The Final Strife, a griot’s story eases readers back into the world for the tale yet to come. Though slowly paced with multiple perspectives to balance and flesh out the situations faced, this second ambitious novel in the trilogy addresses many of the questions raised and left open toward the end of The Final Strife while also depicting a much broader world beyond the Empire, presenting a new, yet related, set of questions to address; the storyline of Nayeli is fascinating and provides greater context and depth around the world’s history, particularly that of colonization and God worship, easily demonstrating that the sliver readers have been offered thus far, and therefore what Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa know, is but a small part of a grander whole. While there are some major revelations within this novel, which were set up and hinted at well, they serve primarily as a way of setting the stage for the battle that will unfold in the next installment of the series, piquing interest to learn what might happen and how things will resolve as a result of what was revealed. Moments of stark realization about the lies they’ve been fed their entire lives are interspersed throughout a variety of hardships, be it dangerous travel in deadly weather elements or attempting to evade capture or striving to clear your name from murder charges, all of which provide opportunities for the characters to demonstrate how they’ve grown in how they react to these trying situations.

Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The battle drum by Saara El-Arifi is a stellar, knock out of the park second installment to the final strife series

Picking up right where the first buck left off, you are immediately thrust into additional plot, world and character development. This book is much faster paced than the first installment. I definitely was hoping for more political intrigue and character and world development in the second book, and the second book absolutely delivered all three. And I went through a complete range of emotions about reading this book. So many questions that I had were answered. Yet, just an enough was left to the imagination to keep me hungry for the third book. Which I am already chomping at the bit to obtain lol. Well done!

Wow. Just WOW.
So many of the questions we were left with in book 1 were answered in this sequel and it was just so satisfying to start to put the pieces of the puzzle together and start to see the bigger picture.
That twist at the end?!?! Absolutely floored me.
I'm enjoyed that we got multiple POVs in this book vs. the (almost) singular POV from book 1.
We are introduced to a new character in this book and her POVs made me truly angry. There are certain tropes used that I am personally not a fan of. But regardless of how I feel about those tropes, they added a lot of substance to the plot and it served the story well!
Battle Drum picks up almost immediately where Final Strife left off and we are thrown into the thick of it right away which I loved. Final Strife took me a second to really get into but Battle Drum stole my interest from page 1.
I also adored the world building we got in this sequel. I need fan art of the giant mushrooms IMMEDIATELY.
I cannot waitttttt for the third book. I NEED ANSWERS SAARA

Thank you Netgalley for providing this arc! I feel so honored to read this now as it is one of my most anticipated reads of 2023!
Unpopular opinion but I love middle books in a trilogy. This book DELIVERED EVERYTHING oh my I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. So much information filled in to expand on the already beautiful and tragic world. Our new characters were lovable, the original cast was obviously incredible. I couldn’t love Hassa, Anoor & Sylah more. I really enjoy the way hard truths are treated—recognizing your internal guilt and processing it as best you can without burdening the marginalized and affected group. It was an excellent lesson for myself honestly. Anyway, the story was incredible, I have so many questions and book 3 simply cannot come out fast enough AHHHH 🥰
Review will be posted on Goodreads/StoryGraph now, and my Instagram (angelas.book.nook) within the next 2 weeks (by Feb 28).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The second installment of the Ending Fire trilogy careens from revelation to revelation as each of our protagonists, plus some new voices, investigate the cause of the worsening tidewind. I was constantly blown away (pun intended) by El-Arifi’s capacity for worldbuilding. This universe is so rich in history, music, poetry, and storytelling that it’s impossible not to be completely immersed. Compared to the first book, this one has a much broader scope, and I was so excited to learn more about the world beyond the Wardens’ Empire. Her other great strength is her vivid descriptions which place the reader right into the story along with the characters.

I was so eager to spend more time with Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa again, since the first installment solidified all three of them as some of my favorite characters of all time. The first book had them each journey on some truly unforgettable arcs and overcome so much internal conflict. In this book, however, all the returning characters felt fairly stagnant and all the conflict was external — not that the external conflict wasn’t interesting (it definitely was), but I really felt like some more character growth and development was missing. Jond grew on me somewhat in this one, but I still wasn’t a huge fan. Nayeli was a truly fascinating addition to the cast and I was absolutely floored by where she ended up by the end.

If you’re looking for a spellbinding fantasy story full of twists and turns, full of so much detail it feels like reading history, you should definitely check out this series! I am so ready to read the finale.

this is the second book in a groundbreaking trilogy. Was honored was contacted by author to request as I had read & reviewed the first book Final Strife & was delighted to be able to continue the tale. It does not disappoint & fleshed out both characters & enviroment from the first book. A world where there were three different blood colors that became caste systems of people. Embers are red & ruling class, Dusters blue & workers & the Ghostlings which are clear & have their hands & tongues cut off after birth & are treated like lower workers/chattel with little rights. The Ghostings that lost their hands & tongues over a false claim of an uprising. Something that would keep them from their magc & destroy their knowledge of themselves. Those whose land & magic was stolen by the invading Embers & Dusters. Their time should come & they be vindicated. Is this the beginning or end of their uprising? This is a deep, incredible series would recommend to anyone.

All I can say is… WOW. Saara El-Arifi is a MASTER of storytelling and will be one of my auto-buy authors forevermore.

The Battle Drum picks up almost directly following the end of The Final Strife - but if you don’t remember all that happened, no worries… there is a quick synopsis of events in the first chapter, but outside of that, the plot is up and running from the word “go” finding our 3 main characters navigating their own journeys; Anoor finding her place as disciple amongst the backdrop of murder, Sylah navigating new lands in order to save her home and her love, and Hassa practically single-handedly holding together the empire’s rebellion with silent but immeasurable strength (can you tell how much I love Hassa?)

The Battle Drum is a fast-paced adventure with the lore and history of the world expertly interwoven amongst the story in a way that actually drives the plot rather than slowing it down. The foreshadowing is immaculate, with a subtlety so perfect that when the truth is finally revealed, it feels like individual puzzle pieces you’ve been holding all this time are all finally clicking into place. Although Multi-POV like The FInal Strife, The Battle Drum has point of views spread out across time and location and although I felt that little tug each time the POV would switch –where you want to stay with the current character just a little bit longer–the discontent was quickly resolved when the next POV was as intriguing and wonderful as the last.

As in book one, the characters continue to be clearly flawed but full of such depth that you still root for them no matter their failings. …And the world building! So vibrant, magical, and unique that I know the images in my mind were not doing it justice. I NEED some fanart depicting the City of Rain - mushroom/flower towers/buildings/rooms!

There were some crucial plot points, especially towards the end of the book (character deaths), that I felt could have benefited from a little more build up just to really tap into the emotionality of the reader, but it didn't detract from the story or my overall rating because this series is a FREAKING MASTERPIECE.

The best thing about getting an ARC for The Battle Drum was the ability to dive directly back into this amazing world after reading The FInal Strife. The WORST thing about getting an ARC for The Battle Drum is that now I have to wait an undetermined amount of time to read the third one in the trilogy and I’m going to think about how I need to finish this story every day until then.

Thank you Random House Publishing Ballentine, Del Ray and Netgalley for the advanced copy of The Battle Drum.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, for allowing me to read The Battle Drum early!

Enjoyable second book in a fascinating trilogy. I think the "sequel" curse hit again, but not as hard as with other books.

This was amazing. The perfect follow up to book 1. The characters, the story, the writing. There’s just so much to love about these books. Saara El-Arifi has created a world that I just cannot get enough of. I cannot wait to see how all of this is going to end

CWs include: domestic abuse, rape, miscarriage, self harm, and mentions of parental abuse.

This was certainly a book I am endlessly grateful for the chance to read. Thank you,Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley!

As with all second books, though this one expanded the world, it came in great leaps I was taken aback by. We knew that there would be others, we knew of the lands, and yet the depth poured into the voyage, into the people-- it came so much deeper. The Final Strife was only the beginning, a starting flex, and The Battle Drum is the dive in. It was incredible, and the voyages within and without-- Sylah, Anoor, Hassa, Nayeli, and *Jond* deepened the world greatly.

Twists, turns, and deepenings enhanced the world of the Ending Fire, and truly showed meanings behind the names. This was absolutely a gift to read. Thank you so much!

An interesting story full of twists, turns, fun characters and overall a book I would consider reading time and time again.

I support women's rights, but more importantly, I support women's wrongs. So here I am, once again, ready to defend every single thing my girls have done. (My girls doesn't include Nayeli, though. I only support one of her wrongs). I don't know how to scream my feelings about this book without spoiling everything about it, so just let me just stick with screaming about how much I love that these three women of color get to be so messy, so stubborn, so flawed, and still own my whole heart because you know what? Their world sucks and whatever they do to it, they're right!

Nobody tell me how long I'll have to wait for the last book or I'll start crying.