“remember what it felt like…being part of something bigger. Something that carries you along like a grain of sand. You can’t fight it—you don’t want to—because alone you are just one grain. Together you are the desert.”

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

Swipe for pics #NewSwag from my visit to the #MCMComicCon (@mcmcomiccon) in London on Saturday #TheSandman #1 signed by #TomSturridge (Dream) & #MasonAlexanderPark (Desire) from the #Netflix series #TheFinalStrife signed by author #SaaraElArifi (@saaraelarifi) #LegendsAndLattes signed by author #TravisBaldree (@travis_baldree) Various mini prints from the #VicePress (@vicepressnews) stand #BladeRunner2049 24" x 36" #screenprint by #MattFerguson (@mattfergusonartist) #Books #Print #Comics #MCMComicConLondon (at MCM London Comic Con) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkYNAg7sXNa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Morning! We are so excited for you to meet Sylah from The Final Strife written by Saara El-Arifi and published by @delreybooks!!!! Today is the last day to register to win a free hardcover edition of the book!! Link in bio: @sistahscifi Reposted from @saaraelarifi Let me introduce you to Sylah Alyana, a character who represents everything about my own queerness; she loves who she wants regardless of gender. The world of #TheFinalStrife is queernormative. There are no labels such as gay, queer or bi, you can just BE. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not denying those labels their meanings, there’s just no need to spell it out, as there is no heteronormativity. Gender also takes on a different meaning, as there is no binary or patriarchy. Although there are lots if dark things in this novel, there is also so much light as I celebrate aspects of queerness. This stunning illustration lines the inner pages of the UK edition. Illustrated by the incomparable @kingsleynebechi Image two Reposted from @saaraelarifi ❤️ Sylah and Anoor 💙 “Anoor was the sole boat in her ocean and when she knelt beside her, Sylah grasped onto her with all the strength left in her body.” Thank you for this phenomenal artwork from @peach.pod commissioned to celebrate the launch of #TheFinalStrife. This picture breaks my heart in all the right ways. Read all about their journey in book one of the Ending Fire trilogy. #bookstagram #sapphicbooks #queerbooks #fantasyrecs #bookrecs #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #WestAfricanYAFantasy #sistahscifi #yabooks #YAFantasy #SaaraElArifi #theendingfiretrilogy (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgZmkI_LB53/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"Today, I am envious of you, child, of the faith you have in others. To be that open is to be free." #qotd: What are your top 3 anticipated November reads? Mine are Bloodmarked, Greywaren, and The Final Strife! Also, Happy Friday! #fallreads #readersofinstagram #readersofig #recentlyread #anticipatedreads #autumnreads #fantasybooks #bookrecommendations #bookstagrammer #queerbookstagram #booksofig #booksofinstagram #yabooks #thefinalstrife #saaraelarifi #endingfire https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckjl5h6Llrr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi is a fantasy book and the first book in The Final Strife Trilogy. This is a beautiful book with a beautiful story and a very interesting world building and magic system. I really like that this debut novel is inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths. It is unusual to see in books. We follow the stories of Sylah, Anoor and Hassa and the connections between them. The book has the friends to lovers trope (F/F) and also the chosen one trope but a little bit different than usual. The beginning of the book was a little slow for e but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I loved the author's writing style and how she wrote her characters. Also that plot twist towards the end was perfect and now I need to read book two. Rating: 4 Stars *** Check out my post on my blog Book Notes by Athina for more information *** #TheFinalStrife #SaaraElArifi #netgalley #review #fantasy #bookrecommendation #greekbookstagram #instavivlio #vivlio #diavazo #eucitesc #mybookfeatures #booknotes_athina #instabooks #booklovers #bookstagrammer #bookcommunity #ipreview (at Bucharest, Romania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfOnAOqDVuL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy June 1st! . When I look over my June TBR, I see 15 potentially excellent books that I’m so excited to read, especially The Final Strife. I have a mix of thrillers, fantasy, romcoms, and some chick lit in that pile- just the way I like it! . 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 . When you look over your June TBR pile, which book are you most excited to read? . 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 . . . . #allthebooksjune22 #thefinalstrife #saaraelarifi #randomhouse #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreader #tessatalksbooks #bookblogger #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookbloggerlife #bookbloggersofig #bookbloggershub #fantasybooks #fantasybookclub #fantasyworld #yafantasy #yafantasybooks #yafantasyseries #yafantasytrilogy #epicfantasy #epicreads #fantasyreads #fantasyreader #fantasyreaders #bookdragon #bookdragons #junetbr (at Lake Davidson) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeRTeqkL46y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Doing, Reading, Eating, Watching – May 15, 2023

Doing, Reading, Eating, Watching – May 15, 2023 - @dcnewsbash @tightfivepub @railscomedy @lizatlarge @stmartinspress @the1whowill @harpercollins @allthingskikiswinson @saaraelarifi @brescadc @netflix @hulu @disneyplus @peacock

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ICYMI: Book Review of #TheFinalStrife by Saara El-Arifi. A fantastic fantasy with a enemies-to-lovers lesbian romance to boot. https://suanneschaferauthor.com/book-review-the-final-strife/ @saaraelarifi @HarperVoyagerUK @NetGalley

Swipe for #CoverArt​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ #NationalBookLoversDay​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ A few of my favourite reads this year so far.​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Dark Earth by #RebeccaStott​​​​​​​​ Pandora by #SusanStokesChapman​​​​​​​​ The Final Strife by #SaaraElArifi​​​​​​​​ Legends & Lattes by #TravisBaldree​​​​​​​​ The Leviathan by #RosieAndrews​​​​​​​​ The Hunger Of The Gods by #JohnGwynne​​​​​​​​ The Justice Of Kings by #RichardSwan​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ #NationalBookLoversDay2022 #BookLoversDay #BookLoversDay2022 #BookLover #Books #BookCover #BookCoverArt #Bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/ChDEtbGsudi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Aziza, we read it and thoroughly enjoy this debut novel by @saaraelarifi!! The Final Strife is the first book in The Ending Fire Trilogy where three women disturb the social order of a rigidly caste-based society poised on the brink of disaster. We can't wait for the sequel, The Battle Drum, out May 23rd. @kirkus_reviews say the following about The Final Strife, "Timely themes and a gripping narrative draw the reader in and keep them there." You can get your copy on our @instagram, @facebook, @shopify, @TikTok, or @twitter stores. Link in bio: @sistahscifi | www.sistahscifi.com. Better yet, check it out from your local #library 😀 Reposted from @thereadingblackgirls Y’all, I am sooo excited to read this book! It’s gonna be awhile before I get to it but I’ve been seeing it everywhere and it’s been looking very enticing. Have y’all read it yet?👀 -Aziza💕 #thereadingblackgirls #blackgirlread #TRBG #goodreads #bookstagram #bestieswhoread #blackbookstagram #explorepage #thefinalstrife #fantasybooks #SistahScifi #SapphicFantasy #thefinalstrife #TheBattleDrum #saaraelarifi @penguinrandomhouse @delreybooks (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoXwtt_P6Nz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Winners were selected for The Final Strife, and we will mail their prizes this week! We have just 100 pages left in the book, and we are excited about the possibility hosting a book club discussion of the book! Have you read it? What did you think of the book? Reposted from @saaraelarifi BOOK CLUB KIT NOW AVAILABLE Check out the link in my bio: @saaraelarifi to download #TheFinalStrife book club kit, including: author letter, bespoke art, suggested questions, map art and a guild quiz! @delreybooks @penguinrandomhouse // #SistahScifi #SaaraElArifi #BlackFantasy #WestAfricanYAFantasy #YAFantasy #BlackWritersMatter #BlackAuthorsMatter (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CghpPvePviW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Registration to win a free hardcover of The Final Strife by @saaraelarifi closes Sunday! Link in bio: @sistahscifi // https://sites.prh.com/final-strife-sistah-scifi-giveaway. We are on chapter five, and creating space for the emotions coming up as we get to know Sylah - one of main characters of The Final Strife. Kalynn Bayron @kalynnbayron , bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart, says "The Final Strife is the real deal: epic fantasy turned on its head in the most compelling way imaginable.” #TheFinalStrife #SaaraElArifi #EpicFantasy #SistahScifi #BlackAuthorsMatter #BlackReadersMatter #BlackFantasy #WestAfricanYAFantasy (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgUaeiSL3n7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Have you registered for a chance to win a hardcover copy of The Final Strife!?! Link in bio: @sistahscifi. Reposted from @jemofabook Do you have any anticipated releases for the rest of the year? • May I suggest The Final Strife by @saaraelarifi? I loved it so much that I preordered both the US and UK editions because I couldn’t decide which I wanted more. • The Final Strife is inspired by Ghanian folklore and Arabian mythology. There are strong social, economic, political, and class divisions amongst the people, but rather than being divided along the color of their skin, they are divided by the color of their blood. We follow the three POVs of young women in each of three different blood classes • My full review is up on Goodreads, so check it out for a detailed gush, but some a highlights: ❤️ The pacing was superb. I was invested from the very beginning. There were lots of twists and gasp-worthy moments 🏳️‍🌈 This is a queernorm world with three genders. All three of our main characters are representative of different queer identities (so it’s a perfect read for #pridemonth 🧡 The author also tackles difficult questions around colonization, privilege, power, rebellion, and even environmental issues.  💛 We have physical disability representation! And it’s bilateral upper limb amputations, which is near and dear to my heart. This along with removal of tongues is a punishment inflicted on one of the blood classes, so it’s dark, but very well handled 💚 The character arcs of our three MCs were phenomenal. I loved how one of the big things that two of our characters deal with is having to deconstruct childhood beliefs 💙 There are so many more things I love, like the worldbuilding, the storytelling aspect, the magic system, the romance, the exploration of addiction, the social commentary, the writing itself, and so much more • @delreybooks @penguinrandomhouse • #SistahScifi #thefinalstrife #saaraelarifi #bookreview #debutauthor #fantasybookreview #adultfantasybooks #fantasybookstagram #bookrecommendations #WestAfricanYAFantasy #YAFantasy #yabooks (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgLJnqnpupC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Did you sign up to win a free hardcover edition of The Final Strife by @saaraelarifi? Link in bio: @sistahscifi!!! ABOUT THE FINAL STRIFE from @penguinrandomhouse // @delreybooks 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. “The Final Strife is the real deal: epic fantasy turned on its head in the most compelling way imaginable.”—Kalynn Bayron @kalynnbayron bestselling author of #CinderellaIsDead and #ThisPoisonHeart ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022— @bookriot Reposted from @mrsrbookish I cannot wait to get into this book. Look at the cover!!! Beautiful!!!It has a map, glossary, and it’s a chunky one. #bookstagram #booklover #books #readmorebooks #thefinalstrife #fantasybooks #saaraelarifi #sistahscifi #YAFantasy #WestAfricanYAFantasy #kalynnBayron (at Sistah Scifi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgCf9gDLfqs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Oprah Daily, Autostraddle

We have been waiting for The Battle Drum since we read The Final Strife last year, and it's finally out!! We have both books available! @sistahscifi | www.sistahscifi.com | https://sistahscifi.com/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage&q=The+final+strife

Reposted @thereadingblackgirls The day we have been waiting for has FINALLY arrived!🎉🎉 The Battle Drum by @saaraelarifi ❤️

Don’t walk—RUN to the store and purchase your copy NEOW!

-Aziza✨

#trbg #thereadingblackgirls #endingfiretrilogy #SistahScifi #TheBattleDrum #TheFinalStrife #SaaraElArifi

Book Review of #TheFinalStrife by Saara El-Arifi. A fantastic fantasy with a enemies-to-lovers lesbian romance to boot. https://suanneschaferauthor.com/book-review-the-final-strife/ @saaraelarifi @HarperVoyagerUK @NetGalley