Battle Drum

With a DNA profile that lights up like a satellite photograph of earth, Saara El-Arifi's heritage is intrinsically linked to the themes she explores in her writing.She was raised in the Middle East until her formative years, when her family swapped the Abu Dhabi desert for the English Peak District hills. This change of climate had a significant impact on her growth—not physically, she’s nearly 6ft—and she learned what it was to be Black in a white world.El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Though her stories have developed beyond the ramblings of a child, she still appreciates the thrill of a well-told tale.THE FINAL STRIFE is Saara El-Arifi's debut novel, the first part of a trilogy inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths.

Praise for THE FINAL STRIFE 'Epic in scope, its worldbuilding 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‘By toggling between key points of view, El-Arifi grants readers a dramatic bird’s-eye view of both an unraveling world and the indomitable spirits of the women embroiled in its maelstrom. This is a knockout.’PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred)‘An unmissable debut’Andrea Stewart, author of THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER‘Epic, gripping, and searing’Sue Lynn Tan, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS‘Featuring a love triangle, an enemies to lovers arc, and plenty of intrigue, this read will have you running the full gamut of emotions’HUFFINGTON POST‘A game-changing new voice in epic fantasy’Tasha Suri, author of THE JASMINE THRONE‘Full of rich, vivid world-building with political intrigue and characters you can’t help but root for. I loved it’Christina Sweeney-Baird, author of THE END OF MEN‘Epic fantasy turned on its head in the most compelling way imaginable. 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. El-Arifi is a bold new voice in epic fantasy and I cannot wait to read more of her work’Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of CINDERELLA IS DEAD‘A rip-roaring read!’Taran Matharu, NYT bestselling author of the Summoner and Contender series