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The Final Strife

A Novel

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The Final Strife

Written by: Saara El-Arifi
Narrated by: Nicole Lewis, Dominic Hoffman
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About this listen

In the first book of a visionary fantasy trilogy with its roots in the mythology of Africa and Arabia that “sings of rebellion, love, and the courage it takes to stand up to tyranny” (Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree), three women band together against a cruel empire that divides people by blood.

“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

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Saara El-Arifi (P)2022 Random House Audio
Coming of Age Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Literature & Fiction Heartfelt
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What the critics say

“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

“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

Featured Article: The Top 14 Fantasy Audiobooks of 2022 To Listen To

The fantasy genre is always rich with an unending list of new titles. From the latest best fantasy books released in a book series to a groundbreaking standalone story, it can be hard to know what fantasy audiobook to prioritize next. That’s why Audible has compiled this list of 2022’s best audiobooks. Our picks span the fantasy and science fiction gamut. They include ghostly looks into the paranormal, forays into mind-bending magic and fascinating quests into the unknown. Plus, the list features fantasy authors from every corner of the globe and celebrates the rich diversity of writers within the fantasy genre.

What listeners say about The Final Strife

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Spectacular!

Oh DANG!
This book is body positive, employed harm reduction practices that positively frame recovery from substance abuse, and is uplifting of different gender and sexual identities and individual autonomy to embrace the complexity of human relationships (both platonic and romantic).

Notably, this book address the complexity of Indigeneity, power dynamics related to colonialism and the responsibility people with systemic power over others have to decenter themselves.

I loved this book.
I loved it SO much.

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Complex themes, well woven story

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this story. I liked the analogies to our world that could be made. Some characters were really well developed and it was nice to see their growth.

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Came for the wlw stayed for the story

I loved everything about this book. A1 performance, really impressed. A tale about slavery, colonialism and so much more deep themes with great characters and dialogues. I enjoyed every minute spent listening to this. Thanks for bringing us this story. Finishing this review and heading directly to the second book!

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