The Battle Drum

The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

544 Pages

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Runes, Magic

This is the second book in the series. In the first book, we meet:

Hassa – A Ghostling with clear blood

Sylah – An Ember with red blood

Anoor – A Duster with blue blood, the current Disciple

Jond – An Ember with red blood

Yona – An Ember with red blood and former Warden

Gorn – An Ember, chief of staff to Anoor and Yona

This book picks up with Sylah on the way over the Marion Sea. She needs to get help for Anoor so she can reuinite all the blood clans. Now we are introduced to Nayeli, who becomes the Wife of Kabut, the Godpower. She has a difficult marriage with Chah and it does not end with for them.

The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view from three different perspectives. I love the women in this book. They are different but have one thing in common. They are all strong women filled with determination. Each of them has a duty or journey to fulfill. The book ends leaving you wondering about the next book in the trilogy. If you like fantasy books, especially with fighting clans, you will enjoy reading this book.