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ClareR (5950 KP) rated The Final Strife in Books

Sep 13, 2025 - 6:16 PM  
The Final Strife
The Final Strife
Saara El-Arifi | 2022 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Final Strife was a High Fantasy novel that I couldn’t put down!

The main character, a Chosen One, misses out on her calling because of a drug addiction. There’s also great deprivation because of the social hierarchy in this world. It’s a caste system based on the colour of a persons blood.

There are themes of oppression, class, division, poverty and addiction. There’s a Trans main character (and others besides), and this isn’t a society that is prejudiced against LGBTQ+ people, in fact there’s support for those who want to transition. Women hold positions of great power in government and on the battlefield - and they’re just as able as their male counterparts. Often better.

This is a chunky book and a fast read regardless of that. I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
  
Welcome to Night Vale
Welcome to Night Vale
Comedy
9
8.7 (36 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
Welcome to the bizarre (3 more)
Great backstory to work through (also listed in the bad)
Cecil's incredibly soothing voice
The Weather (are we still waiting for the bus in the rain?)
Long, LONG backstory to slog through (also listed in the good) (1 more)
A bit of a format change, part way through (I preferred the original flavor)
Oh, where to begin? I loved this podcast from the first episode, it's weird in the best ways. Think of an banana split sundae; one scoop of Lovecraft, one scoop of Stephen King, on scoop of various mythologies, a banana of Dadaism, some sprinkles of your local independent music scene, generous dollops of LGBTQ+ acceptance and support, and a single, solitary maraschino cherry of optimism in the face of overwhelming anxiety and depression.

All of this, of course, coming together as the public local news station for a small town, somewhere int he desert.

It's fun. I recommend it. Just make sure the locals don't notice that you're an interloper.