"A game-changing new voice in epic fantasy . . . There are no Chosen Ones here, only bad choices and blood."--Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Oprah Daily, Autostraddle
Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control.
Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance.
Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible.
Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the empire from the red-blooded ruling classes' tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes.
Anoor has been told she's nothing, no one, a disappointment, by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the empire. But when Sylah and Anoor meet, a fire burns between them that could consume the kingdom--and their hearts.
Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. And when she joins forces with Sylah and Anoor, together these grains of sand will become a storm.
As the empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn.
Book One of The Ending Fire Trilogy
Don't miss any of Saara El-Arifi's searing Ending Fire Trilogy:
THE FINAL STRIFE - THE BATTLE DRUM - THE ENDING FIRE
"The Final Strife is epic fantasy at its best: layered, complex world-building; gripping plotting that will have you staying up past your bedtime; expert pacing; and let’s not forget unique sapphic characters going on a journey from enemies to lovers!"
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Saara El-Arifi expertly avoids second book slump in her pulse-pounding sequel to The Final Strife. PW’s starred review: https://t.co/fatc6JsHes @DelReyBooks https://t.co/t39TNvu7dX
Samantha Shannon is an author.
Saara is such a wonderful, hilarious, generous and talented woman ... It’s been such a joy and a privilege to see the beginning of her career as an author – and what a book to start on ... THE FINAL STRIFE had me by the heartstrings all the way through.
"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
"El-Arifi tells a tale 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
"The Final Strife is everything you could ever hope to experience in fantasy--magnificent worldbuilding, unpredictable plotting, entertaining twists and turns, gorgeous slow-burn romance, and characters you're rooting for from the start."--London Shah, author of the Light the Abyss series
"The Final Strife has a rich world with a complicated story about what happens when the hero--or their heroic actions--may not be who or what you thought they would be. The interweaving of the three women's stories kept me turning the pages."--C. L. Clark, author of The Unbroken
"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
"An expertly layered world that is equal parts beautifully rendered and brutal in its depiction; a protagonist who is as likely to save the day as she is to ruin it; delicious tension--I loved every page."--Ciannon Smart, author of Witches Steeped in Gold
"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 debuts and launches the Ending Fire series with a fast-paced epic fantasy inspired by Ghanian and Arabian folklore. . . . El-Arifi keeps the pages flying even while building an intricate secondary world, allowing readers to learn its rules through action rather than exposition. This sets a high bar for the series to come."--Publishers Weekly