As the first blue-blooded ruler, Anoor is under considerable amounts of stress. This is increased dramatically when she's accused of a murder she didn't commit and must prove her innocence without Sylah, who had left for new lands. Sylah is at a crossroads herself, as she isn't sure if she should sacrifice everything about her old life in order to fight. In the meantime, Hassa is following a trail of crimes in the city, uncovering the extent of the atrocities the empire had committed, both past and present. All three are looking for answers, but they're not going to find the ones they wanted.

The Battle Drum is the sequel to The Final Strife, an imaginative fantasy with rules based on the magic able to be created by the color of someone's blood. We have a summary of the first book in the form of a griot tale, and then it takes off from there. We have aspects of the story not only from the three young women but from a new yellow-blooded POV. Sylah is sent to the Ghostings' enclave, and from there to the world her ancestors came from. Anoor is trying to learn how to be a good disciple but her adoptive mother is killed and the council thinks she did it. Hassa is teaching the ghosting sign language and sees bodies around town that were murdered then left for the tidewinds to scour and cover their tracks. Neyeli is from the Volcanic Isles, believing in the prophecy of the Child of Fire. This same prophecy led the Wardens to create their empire, and she's determined to see the truth of the prophecy as she interprets it come to fruition.

Many sequels deepen the world-building, and this novel is no different. Now we go beyond the Warden's empire, to the continent and the volcanic islands where the other groups live. There are eight colors of blood, each with their corresponding personality types, rather like a zodiac sign or the Asian blood type. This is reductive but plays a role in how Neyeli sees others, as she's more ambitious than others with yellow blood around her. This led her to take risks push beyond expectations, making others uncomfortable; we see at the very end what came out of that ambition, and it was shocking. I didn't see that coming at all. Anoor was floundering for so long, and Sylah was sick for a while; both of them are not good alone but need people with them to bring out their better selves.

I was sucked into their tale, staying up late to read it, and found the ending to be completely different from what I had expected. In a good way! I was so emotional and invested in their lives, and had to see that through. I look forward to the next step in their story because it doesn't end here. They're all looking to effect change, and I know they're going to do that. It might not be what they want, but it's definitely going to be a wild ride to get there.

I requested "The Battle Drum" from NetGalley without knowing it was an unfinished series. And I didn't realize this until I was wandering around the bookstore and found book one on the shelf and thought I should probably read that one first. I CONSUMED "The Final Strife" reading it in two days, which saw me through a pretty serious reading rut. I couldn't wait to continue the story of these characters in book two.

As Sylah sets out to discover all the secrets the Wardens have wanted to hide for years, Anoor's newly-earned leadership is threatened as the Tidewind becomes more and more violent and she inevitably sows dissent among her new peers. Supporting Anoor in her new position is Kwame and Gorn, ever faithful, but also Hassa, who takes more of a central role in this second novel of the series.

This book, however, has a bit of "second book syndrome" -- the author has to get from the dramatic, high-tension expositional material in book one to the epic, conclusive material in book three, so inevitably the pacing of book two feels slower. I found the most engaging parts to be Sylah's chapters exploring the empire beyond their small isle, but I found myself missing the banter between her and Anoor. I think I also wanted to see more character growth for the leading ladies -- we see Jond evolve quite a bit in this middle book, and arguably Hassa as well, which was great, but I yearned to see Sylah progress more than she did. Perhaps El-Arifi intended this book to focus on these two characters rather than Sylah and Anoor since they did develop so much in book one.

I'm upset I have to wait for the conclusion of this series -- I find myself inspired and fascinated by the world the author has built with all its many secrets, and I'll be worried about the ending for the next year and some change waiting for book three. If you're a lover of fantasy, get started and enjoy the wait with me!

After thoroughly enjoying The Final Strife, I was excited to dive into The Battle Drum to find out what the rest of the world held. El-Arifi did a great job of capturing emotions and exploring the world! I was heartbroken when the characters were heartbroken, I felt the tension and importance. There were a few times that the plot slogged a little once Syrah and Jond made it to the City of Rain and while Anoor was in hiding, but the overall worldbuilding and expansion of what readers already know more than made up for that. And the REVEALS at the end. I was SHOOK. I already want to go back and reread to see if I missed clues or if that reveal was well concealed. The Battle Drum isn't even fully published, yet, and I'm anxiously awaiting the third installment of this series!

The Battle Drum is the 2nd installment in the Ending Fire Triolgy. I did not read the 1st installment but I'm definately going back to read it. I loved this book and the pacing was right on point. The characters were compelling and I was invested into each one of them. Hassa, Sylah, Jond and Anoor are forever ingrained in my memory and I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment. There are some trigger moments in the book so get ready for those! This book was much darker than I expected judging by the cover since I did not read the 1st one. I loved how the author merged generes in this book. There's quite a bit of sci fi in this book. I loved the exploring of different cultures, religions, customs, climates and infrastructures. READ THIS BOOK! #TheBattleDrum #NetGalley

4.5 stars

First, let me press upon you how much I enjoyed and wanted to devour this book. I just had a baby. I'm supposed to sleep when the baby sleeps, yet I found myself sneaking in a chapter or two .. or three.. every night. There was even one night where I read for an hour because I just needed to know what happened next (I did regret this later when it came time to feed at 4 AM lol). And this book just builds up and up to a slam dunk ending.

The expansion of the world and characters is done super well. There is a lot of new information given, but it never felt like a giant info dump. I especially loved the exploration of Hassa's and Jond's characters. I've been a fan of Hassa since book one but she may be hands down my favorite now.

My only real issue with this book is how it handles Anoor's story (and maybe a bit of Sylah's too). Anoor has almost reverse development and I found myself annoyed at her quite a bit. This is reflected in the characters around her as well, so I'm sure its purposeful, I just wish it was developed better. Both Anoor and Sylah don't develop as much as other characters do in this book and I think its because they are both spending too much time focusing on what the other would think instead of actually focusing on themselves. It'll be interesting to see the results of this in book 3.

Overall The Battle Drum is a really strong follow up to The Final Strife. If you loved the first book, I am certain you will love this second book as well. Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Battle Drum is a stunning sequel to The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi. I love how this author expanded upon the world being created. Especially with the inclusion of different cultures as inspiration for some of it. So far, I have not been disappointed at all throughout this series.

Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa show their bravery and courage in different ways. Hassa, in particular, is a favorite of mine. Jond also is an intriguing character in this book, only leading me to fall even more in love with this story.

I really don't want to give anything away, so I shall leave on this note. If you enjoyed The Final Strife or think you just might like this series, then I can not recommend picking these books up more! I feel like so many aspects to this story need to be told, and I'm so happy I got to read more!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Out May 23, 2023!

Sometimes you don’t like the middle child (book) but I actually liked this one better than the first. DOn’t get me wrong I saw how raw and real the conflict with addiction Syrah was going through. But Battle Drum, just blew me mind with how much world building is going on. It expanded on the friendships we didn’t see enough in the first book. And a murder mystery?! Loved this book. I’ve already got my preorders in for UK and US.
YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED
I legit was moaning NO no no in the last 10& of the book and cried a little. I am way too emotionally invested in these characters, new and old from the last book.

"Yellow. A droplet of truth that could shatter the empire."

I didn't feel as engaged with The Battle Drum as I did with the first book. The pacing drug a bit in the middle and it wasn't as shockingly dark either. It was still a good fantasy but the expansion of the bloodlines even more than 4 felt one demensional. The characters here were still all fully fleshed. Hassa is still my favorite character. I like her sass. However, this storyline wasn't as layered and the new characters weren't as interesting. The politics with Anoor was great. By the end, however, the plotline had me in it's grips. If you're just starting this book please please keep reading. That stark ending is certainly worth it. In the end all I can say is utterly fantastic. Was it perfect, no but I enjoyed it so much. Saara El-Arifi has become a favorite author of mine with this sequel.

Oh the twists and turns of this book. I had to read the first book and afterwards I immediately dived into this one as I couldn’t put it down. It was good to see the characters returning, cultural significance preserved and an enticing story!

My Thoughts:
This is book 2 of the Ending Fire Trilogy. The first book The Final Strife had so much potential, but the problem with trilogies is that the second book has to act like a bridge so basically nothing really happens except building the bridge between the first and last book.

It bring in new elements, new worlds, new issues. There is death, murder, separation, large surprises, but Sylah and Jond are the main characters. Without Sylah, Anoor as a character cannot hold the story line with the people left behind. Those characters that are left behind, minus Anoor (specifically Kwame, the Wife and Hassan) really kept me invested in the Empire. This book could have done without Anoor, although she promises to be a large part in book three. I hope as a character she becomes more investment-worthy, but I really do not see the relationship with Sylah as anything beyond lust. Even Sylah's last decision in this book is disappointing and immature.

If like me, you really understand the deep love and hurt between Sylah and Jond, then Battle Drum keeps things exciting for a little bit. It has nothing to do with the non-cis, gender or pronoun issue, although there is a glossary of pronouns for characters at the end of this book. It really has to do with the maturity of the relationship. For example, I think the relationship between Loot and his husband Fayl was very deep. Loot's actions may be messed up, however, it is Fayl's compassion as well as his fierce loyalty despite his own misgivings that gives depth to this relationship.

If I were to "sell" this book to students, I will probably wait until the last one comes out. This book cannot be a stand alone and it does not end in a way that would sustain reluctant readers to wait for the third book.

From the Publisher:
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.

Publication Information:
Author: Saara El-Arifi

Publisher: Del Ray (May 23, 2023)

Bio: Saara El-Arifi is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife, the first part of a trilogy inspired by her Ghanaian and Sudanese heritage. She has lived in many countries, had many jobs and owned many more cats. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Over the years she has perfected her tall tales into epic ones. She currently resides in London, UK, as a full-time procrastinator.

Fans of the first book in the Fire Ending Trilogy, The Final Strife will likely be more than excited that the second book lives up to expectations.

The Battle Drum expands in all kinds of fun and exciting directions. Final Strife readers who felt that the first book was a bit constrictive or small will be happy to know that El-Arifi dramatically expands the woldbuilding here. At the end of The Final Strife, Sylah and Jond (the latter really against his wishes) were traveling beyond the borders of the Warden's Empire to try and save the world from worsening climatic conditions (to put it lightly!). They spend this book exploring the main continent across the sea. In doing so, El-Arifi is able to stretch some of her worldbuilding muscles. The continent has a very strange ecology - our protagonists encounter terrifying predators, giant mushroom cities, as well as new environmental disasters that are tearing the world apart.

On the continent, Sylah and Jond also learn about how bloodwerk operates beyond the Warden's Empire. I really liked how El-Arifi approached this element. Without getting into spoilers, she carefully constructs a brand new worldview/ideology around the blood magic we learned about in The Final Strife. Too often epic fantasy authors fail to make an expanding magic system feel authentic or plausible. Normally when characters go into a new land they learn about a new type of magic they have never experienced before, as if magic somehow follows sociopolitical boundaries. El-Arifi doesn't do this. Instead, she shows how different cultures, their history, their ideologies, and their biases impact how they perceive and practice the magic, while still following the rules of magic introduced in the first book.

The expansion of the book's plot beyond the Warden's Empire means that we also get a lot of answers for some of the lingering mysteries left at the end of The Final Strife. Going into The Battle Drum, we know that there is a world beyond the Empire, we know that there are people with yellow blood, and we know that the deadly tidewinds are getting worse and worse. I am happy to let you know that all of these mysteries get answered in The Battle Drum. El-Arifi brings out so much history in the world in this book; she isn't holding things back! There are a couple of places where the characters don't learn crucial information due to inconvenient circumstances, but El-Arifi usually provides those answers in due time. For those of you who are intrigued by the history of the larger world, the last 1/3 of the book is a totally wild and page-turning experience.

While this book completely worked for me and I tore through the 500+ pages in about two days, some readers may be a tad disappointed in what the The Battle Drum offers. Readers who hate multi-POV books where the main POV characters are largely separated from each may get frustrated with this book. We get the story namely from five major POV characters who are separated into three plot-lines. I'm not sure if this is the slightest of spoilers, but the characters in each of the plot threads largely don't communicate with one another nor interact. Therefore we don't' get any of the fun moments of Sylah and Anoor's developing relationship, nor Sylah and Hassa's friendship. This books does what many "second books" duo and expands the world and flings its characters across it. El-Arifi also ensures there is a world-changing or gut wrenching cliffhanger each time we switch which plot thread we are currently following. These kept me tearing through the (proverbial and digital) pages, but other readers may just be annoyed. I should also point out that the ending of The Battle Drum is not quite as strong as The Final Strife, which left us with so many great cliffhangers. The Battle Drum nicely sets up the conflict for the (presumably) third and final book, but the plot and characters arcs just kind of "stop" rather than conclude.

Speaking of POV characters, Sylah and Anoor are both back as major players in the narrative. Anoor was by far my favorite character from The Final Strife, and it is a lot of fun here to see her embody her more assertive confidence to attained in the previous book in her new role as disciple. I will say that while her character is still my favorite because of her depth and development, her plot arc might be the weakest here. She is trapped in a not very interested murder mystery where she keeps stumbling because she has less information than the other characters. I was very happy to see that Hassa had a much larger role in this book; her developing romantic relationship with Kwame was a real highlight in terms of small character moments in feelings where so much of the book is about the macro world stuff.

We also get two (?) new POV characters in this book. Jond ascends the ranks to full POV status (I think - I don't remember him being a POV character in The Final Strife. At first I found this annoying because I did not like Jond (even before we found how his big betrayals), but as the The Battle Drum developed I liked him more and more. El-Arifi does a lot of really humanize him and process the complex positions he navigates in the world. Still my least favorite POV character, but I didn't dread his chapters like I thought I would when I started! The other new POV character is a new character named Nayeli. Nayeli leaps off the page from the get-go, full of personality. I was drawn into her tragic backstory, while also figuring out the role she plays in the larger narrative. Her POV chapters take many turns I was not expecting!

Before wrapping up this review I also want to point to the major themes that El-Arifi explores in The Battle Drum. She continues her exploration of race and racism, and her critique of biological determinism is even more present here. Epic fantasy often has a problem of naturalizing race (like, as much as I love it, Avatar: The Last Airbender giving each ethnic group a different kind of magic). I can't get into too much depth here without going full on spoiler, but El-Arifi subverts these tropes in many interesting ways. She also introduces concepts of dogma, religious intolerance, and adherence to prophecy. She shows how our unquestioning devotion to a single creed can cloud our worldviews and make us singularly focused. I should note that part of this does involve the introduction of the chosen one trope (for anyone either looking for this or to avoid this); the chosen one plot never really resolves itself so I don't know if El-Arifi is leaning into the trope or subverting it.

I know I pointed out some flaws in this book, but I want to reiterate that I only did so to demonstrate to some readers why this book might not work for them as well as The Final Strife did. I personally loved this book and I am eagerly awaiting the next book!

Concluding Thoughts: A page turning sequel, The Battle Drum dramatically expands the world of the The Final Strife, while solving many of the trilogy's key mysteries. El-Arifi further develops all of my favorite characters while introducing several fascinating new ones. Don't miss this epic follow up!

I love this book - 4.25 Stars
To be honest, I would say it has a lot of second book syndrome. It was slow in parts and not much happens but the worldbuilding was insane. Also, the details and the thought process behind it was amazing. So overall, I had a great time with this book and I love all the characters.
I do wish a few things were different about Anoor's arc but that could be just me. The ending was absolutely worth it and I cannot wait for the next part.

"Like an eggshell, life can bloom from broken things."

I am unwell. That was so good but simutaneously extremely painful. The above quotation from the depths of this sad book is the only thing keeping me going right now tbh.

Anoor was disappointing this book, her naivete from her sheltered (very abused) life was on full display without Sylah by her side guiding her. She was adrift and unsure who to trust - which turned out to be the correct decision. She kept making rash decisions and was so easily manipulated at every turn. Ultimately she chose so very wrong in the end. UGH. She is still mt strong queen, but she definitely needs her girl to come save her from herself right now.

There was so much death from start to finish, but the world is so fascinating. The dive into the Volcano Isles and the Zalaam's belief in Kabut (who is an a-hole god, lbr) was so interesting I found myself churning through the rest of the story to get to Nayeli's chapters.

The way the web of characters and their stories weaved into one another by the end was fantastic. I was so ready for the big twist of the story to be wrapped in the murder-mystery it was fun to be blindsided from left field with the reveal at the end.


This series is definitely being added to my physical bookshelf, as I can see myself returning to it and reading it over-and-over in the years to come. I am on pins and needles awaiting the final act. I have faith that Sylah will somehow save everyone, even if she's really only doing in for the selfish reason to saving Anoor. Whatever works lol.

5/5

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review

The Battle Drum is the sophomore book in the Ending Fire trilogy, where we pick up from the events of the previous novel. Everything we thought we knew about the world in The Final Strife is changed with this novel. The tone of this book is extremely different from the first book. The first book felt a lot more whimsical and lighter in tone, whereas this book is darker. We follow Sylah, Hassa, and Anoor as they slowly come to realize the biggest threat to life as they know it is not the Ember supremacist society they live in, but something much greater than them.
The world-building is incredible– each chapter changes our worldview and until we uncover the terrifying truth of it all. Despite the novel’s length, this story is fast-paced with different storylines in three different settings in the world. We learn more about the different religions and beliefs across the lands. The lore in this story is rich¬ and I wish we had more time to learn more. The characters are incredibly well-written, all the main POV characters have so much depth to them and it’s easy to become attached to them. The interpersonal relationships between characters are messy, and complicated but that makes the story so much better. Jond’s character growth in this book was incredible and despite intensely disliking him the first book, I saw myself rooting for him. My only complaint with this book was that I felt there were times that Anoor acted out of character towards the end of the novel.
This series is one of the best fantasy series I’ve read recently. At this point I would read Saara El-Arifi write about paint drying. I am so excited for the final book in the series and will be begging for an ARC when the time comes. Also, this cover is a blessing to us all.

Wow! The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi does not disappoint. I had actually forgotten that a sequel to The Final Strife would be coming out, so I was excited to get an email from the publisher about it. Ms. El-Arifi brings us back to the worlds of Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa and their continued adventures to find out more about their people, their land and themselves. We also get the addition of Nayeli and her very vital role in the whole tale.

I can't say much, without spoilers, but what I will say is that the action, the intrigue, and the unexpected will leave you on the edge of your seat. You become so invested in the characters, whether protagonist, antagonist, or likely somewhere in between, that you can't wait to turn the page. The friendships leave you wishing you had one of them in your corner and the scenery descriptions make feel like you are there yourself.

I highly recommend The Ending Fire Trilogy so far and can't wait until the next novel. Keep up the great writing Ms. El-Arifi!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of The Battle Drum!

I love the catch up at the beginning of the book, it was definitely needed, because I didn't remember some of the smaller details from The Final Strife.

I really enjoyed the The Battle Drum, my only complaint would be the Jond POV chapters, I felt like they could have been condensed down, I know they were needed to further his storyline but they felt out of place with the overall plot.

The world building in this book was fantastic, the expansion of the magic systems, and the addition of Nayeli, wow her story blew my mind, and I look forward to more of her it in the next book!

Sylah and Anoors love story is one of my favorite parts of this series, the assurance and strength they both draw from it is beautifully written and makes me swoon!

Overall, I enjoyed the second installment of this trilogy, and I'm excited to see where the finale goes!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a short, spoiler-free review.


This story is wonderful! Loved the first book and I had high, high hopes for this one. For the most part, this lived up to my expectations, but it fell into the typical sophomore slump rut most trilogies suffer from. I still loved the characters and really appreciated the multiple POVs in this book, but there were pacing issues and I felt like we were expected to feel build-up or tension in some parts that just fell flat or didn’t deliver on their promises. That’s not to say, I wasn’t engaged or chomping at the bit to figure out what happened next. Just saying some parts could've used a little more….“oomph” or been edited down to a more condensed story to negate the feeling the story was being dragged out just for the sake of it. Overall, I was excited to return to the world, the magic and the writing is as beautiful as ever. I can’t wait to see how everything comes to a head in the final book.

I’ve mixed feelings for this….
I LOVED The Final Strife, it’s one of my best read in 2022 so I highly anticipated The Battle Drum. Turns out…. This isn’t “it”

Unlike TFS that focused on one matter and can stand on its own, the whole TBD was like a built-up for the third. It was sooo slow-paced. I didn’t feel the climax yet. And because the scope of the world became a lot bigger, the complexity was significantly increased. And more serious too. I’d say this is a mix between high fantasy, mystery, and climate fiction.

I remembered complaining about the narration’s style on TFS: “It's like watching a CCTV that's constantly shifted between 3 different places.” because there’s no clear boundaries between 3 POV. Thankfully, Saara fixed that in this book. There’s 5 POV, each chapter focusing on one. BUT, the story basically happened in 3 different places and most of the time Saara put 2 consecutive chapters for one POV: imagine this: I read Sylah’s POV but then I had to read 4-8 chapters from other POVs before back to Sylah again. That was kinda dampen the tensions.

There’s a LOT more violence in this book and in some scenes it really made me uncomfortable. The concept of sacrifice-obsessed heretics were concerning too. At one point I’ve gotten used to Saara’s attempts to stir emotions so I managed to guess a few things right (in other words: it failed to stir my emotions). At the end, some things were explained (though the explanations felt too cramped since it only covered the last 5% of the book, more or less)but there’s more that left unexplained. It was confusing as fuck. Despite my rating, I’m eager to read the third and final book of this series. Really hope that it’s all worth it.

(Slight spoilers)
Sylah-Anoor’s dynamic was one pf my fav things in TFS, but apparently they were separated the whole time in this book. There’s more Sylah-Jond’s crumbs so that’s a win for those who shipped them. But we also got a completely new couple so there’s a little win.

The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi is Ms. El-Arifi’s sequel to The Ending Fire trilogy and holy hell! I adored the first book in the series because it was fresh and exciting and completely unpredictable. The Battle Drum is all that and more, something I did not think was possible.

The action starts right away, with The Battle Drum picking up a day or two after the end of The Final Strife. Our three main characters, Hassa, Sylah, and Anoor, are still angry and still fighting against the injustices that plague their country. In any good sequel, the original quest changes, and the same holds true here. Sylah seeks a solution to the growing nightly hurricane problem. Hassa must balance her duties to her people with her growing friendships with those who are not her people. Anoor is the same mess as always, looking without leaping and judging before there is a shred of evidence, but her messes are even bigger and potentially more dangerous.

Much like the first novel, I had no idea in which direction Ms. El-Arifi was taking the women’s stories. I never wrapped my mind around the dual timelines, and I remained clueless about the story’s trajectory until I received that final puzzle piece. Looking back, I am so glad I was unable to guess anything. Not only were the reveals more effective because they were surprises, but I also enjoyed the story more as a result. The Battle Drum is a complicated story. There are a lot of moving pieces to match the large cast of characters. I appreciate how deftly Ms. El-Arifi weaves each piece into the larger story while keeping you guessing the entire time.

The other impressive aspect of The Battle Drum is that by the end of this second novel, who the villain is versus the heroes is unclear. Sylah, Hassa, and Anoor are morally gray. If there were doubts before, there are none by the end of the sequel. Each does things that cause harm to others as a direct result of choosing to be selfish instead of selfless. At the same time, we meet a new character who you could call the villain, but I have a difficult time sticking that label on her. Her actions are not any worse than those taken by the other characters, and, unlike them, her actions are completely selfless. It makes for a compelling drama as the lines of good versus evil blur and intermingle and even fade completely.

Another fun aspect of The Battle Drum is that it feels like the first book in a series. Yes, the characters are the same, and there is one key storyline from The Final Strife that remains pertinent in book two. However, Ms. El-Afiri introduces so many new places with new people and uncovers game-changing information that it has none of the stagnancies that plague so many sequels. All of it is new and exciting, and the answers you get leave you reeling.

While good sequels do exist, there are so many less-than-good ones that there is a reason why many readers approach sequels with caution. The Battle Drum suffers from none of that. I found everything about it compelling and became so engrossed in the story that the lines between reality and fiction blurred ever so slightly. If The Final Strife was impressive, The Battle Drum is awe-inspiring in its scope, its detail, and its execution.

★ 4.25 / 5 or ★ 4.5 / 5

Nothing can describe a sequel glow-up. I had SUCH a rough experience with The Final Strife due to slow pacing that I almost did not request this book to review. The ending of that debut was the reason I picked this up, and I'll be thankful for that decision forevermore because wowwww was this good!

I described The Final Strife as a setup book. Its painstakingly slow build in the world was not ideal, but it brought us to The Battle Drum, which not only broadens the world building of this world but also unleashes the truth behind the magic system and natural disasters like the Tidewind. If you had mixed feelings like me for TFS, I definitely think it is worth it to try the first couple of chapters of TBD. The books feel very different, TBD more mature in writing for example.

A new POV is dropped into the mix. We've already had Sylah, Anoor, Hassa, and even Jond for a whole book, but Nayeli was an interesting addition. She comes from a mysterious other country as a renowned craftswoman (cannot recall her specific title). We have the shortest amount of time with her POV, always the last two or three chapters in every part of the book, but they became the most interesting due to her mystery. Nayeli has lived a life of pain and struggle, not only in her rigorous crafting/ metalworking but in her loved ones too. We do not learn the truth of her story honestly until the last couple of pages, but her big reveal had me screaming like a banshee. I am truly so excited to see what happens with her arc because the Wife has come to bring the fire down on this world.

Now jumping back to the original POVs—Sylah is out in the world looking for aid to help Anoor and their empire. She killed Loot and took Jond hostage right before the end of the first book, so she's dragging Jond's traitor ass after her while searching for the Ghosting revolutionary base that Hassa mentioned. Sylah will go through the roughest journey of the POVs this time around, which still tracks perfectly with TFS. She's still dealing with her addiction, but she is trying to better the world in whatever manner she can. She believes in Annor and her friends back home, and nothing will stop her... or nothing will until she's nearly dead. Contrastingly, Anoor felt very alienated in this book. Her paranoia and duty felt like shackles to her shoulders. She has lost Sylah for now, but she doesn't help her situation by pushing essentially all of her allies away from herself. She is not using her intelligence and cunning to make decisions because her eyes are clouded with fear and nerves. It was hard to see her lose faith in her loved ones, so Anoor's story hurts emotionally a ton. Lastly, Hassa. I need to go back and reread her parts of TFS because my memory is the worst for her characterization. Her spying and sneaking for the revolution and Anoor has always been interesting, but her arc in the end hurt eternally. I'm worried Hassa is going to go down a bad path like Annor after the consequences of this book, and I desperately don't want her to because she was the one keeping Annor's head on straight, even Sylah. Hassa has always been this concrete, stable force, and to see her rocked to her core will be difficult. But I also think she deserves to find her healing, so let her rage burn.

Overall, the best part of this sequel was the attention to world building, lore, and the magic system. Just like the leads, readers eyes are opened up to a broader world view on bloodcraft—aka deathcraft—and its conflicting reputation. The blood Drum reminded me a ton of A Day of Fallen Night due to the magic system tying into the extreme climate change. It makes sense that an abuse in bloodcraft would worsen the environment due to magic coming from the world itself. The balance is thrown off when too much is used resulting in the Tidewind, tsunamis, acid rain, and other disasters. The Tannin being this hodgepodge creation of destructive and sacrificial magic also twisted this magic system into an even darker perspective. I'm curious to see what comes of its now that Sylah has failed to destroy it. I knew it would be too easy for her to just sail out and end it, but I'm curious who will destroy it now. Jond? He's the only lead left out in that part of the world, and I could see him learning this new magic and way of the world to better it by destroying something as twisted as the Tannin. Maybe the bone marrow will come into play for reversing the creation magic too. Bone marrow is the only other aspect to this magic system that confuses me a bit, but I think the finale in this trilogy will focus on it.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.