The Battle Drum by Saara El- Arifi

Pages: 448 

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

Released:  23rd of May 2023 

Murder. Secrets. Sacrifice: Three women seek the truth of the empire's past. And the truth they find has the power to ignite a war in the sequel to The Final Strife, the continuation of a visionary fantasy trilogy inspired by Africa and Arabia.

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, does 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 a trail of crimes in the city. Her searching 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 they're 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.

TW:  Miscarriage, Death, Violence, Addition, Genocide, Sexual Content, Animal Death, Child Abuse, Panic Attacks/ Disorders, Past Mutilation, Self-harm, Ritual Sacrifice, Murder 

What I Have to Say

I really love these books, they have so much tension and pain in the pages. I was so gripped during the climax of the book, feeling the character's pain as my own. It does mean though that when it get brutal, it gets really brutal. 

I've put in a warning about this in my review of the Final Strife, but I wanted to put another one in here. When I say these books are brutal, I mean they are BRUTAL. Read the trigger warnings and if you do not like anything listed there, pick a different book to read. 

I really loved the murder mystery element of the book, but I wish it had been more carefully crafted. It felt like the ending was a bit rushed up with everything else that was happening. The name of the murder was just dumped there and it didn't feel so shocking or like a big reveal at all really. 

Still the rest of the ending was really good and it left a lot of open threads for the next book. And I have THEORIES!! I really can't wait for the next book to be released. 

My thanks goes to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with this gifted copy for review.