Book Review: The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

My first read of June, and the first book I’ve finished since my slump—yay!

Our three heroines, Sylah, Hassa, and Anoor, are back, each facing their own challenges. In the Warden’s Empire, Anoor is trying to clear her name after being accused of murder, and Hassa is investigating a string of crimes happening in the city. Meanwhile, Sylah explores new lands with Jond in search of a solution to the tidewind.

For me, the highlight of this book is the characters. I enjoyed Anoor’s chapters more than I did in book one. She is more confident and complains a lot less, although I was confused by some of her decisions at the end of the book. Sylah was my favorite character from book one and Jond was my least favorite. Surprisingly, I enjoyed Jond’s chapters more than Sylah’s this time around. His character showed a lot of growth, making his feelings for Sylah more believable to me. Hassa’s POV remains the best—she’s mysterious and intriguing. I love that she comes and goes as she pleases.

Plot-wise, this book starts with a lot of momentum. There’s a murder, exploration, and a potential new crime lord. What more could I ask for? The middle was a little slow, but the ending made up for it.

This series is a trilogy, and book 3 is expected to release this fall. Until then, I’ll be patiently waiting 🙇🏾‍♀️