I was SO excited to read The Battle Drum, the outstanding sequel to The Final Strife, and it truly delivered. It picks up right where we left off: with Sylah, Anoor, and Hassa all attempting to find their place in the empire. Sylah is chosen to investigate the secrets of the tidewind and journeys far from home. In her absence, Anoor is accused of murder and thrown in jail. Fortunately Hassa remains the spy master she’s always been- this time with a new deadly mystery to solve. The epic tale that began in The Final Strife continues...

The Battle Drum is a fierce and well-paced addition to The Ending Fire trilogy. Sylah’s journey across the sea was heart-pounding and I was fascinated with what she discovered. I really enjoyed getting to know Hassa more and see how she uses her status as a Ghosting to spy. Anoor goes through some excellent character growth, after being framed for a murder she did not commit. New secrets and information were artfully revealed. I loved the queer-norm worldbuilding and acceptance that the LGBTQ+ characters experience. 

The Battle Drum is a rich fantasy filled with poignant themes and compelling characters. The plot is creative, with a multi-layered feel as different perspectives are explored. Saara El-Arifi’s dialogue is witty and engaging. I love how she weaves in subtle clues for the readers to uncover as the plot progresses! I can’t wait to read the final book in this trilogy! I would highly recommend this book/series to anyone. In particular, readers who enjoy Sabaa Tahir, Samantha Shannon, and Andrea Stewart should check out this series. 

Thank you so much to Saara El-Arifi, Del Rey, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.