Comparing Cinder And The Final Strife By Saara El-Arifi

In today's world, those in power can be corrupt, like government officials. Many government officials, or even those who are extremely wealthy. Politicians are one of the many examples. Having the power to make unjust laws that only ever hurt those who are below them and benefit the rich or upper class. In both Cinder by Marissa Meyer and The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi, they have corrupt governments/rulers in common. The story of The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi takes place on an island, ruled by Embers, the richest and highest class of the empire. The story of Cinder takes place in New Beijing where cyborgs are looked down upon and there's a virus raging on and taking the lives of thousands, and the only people to find a cure are Lunars.

In the Cinder where Cinder is at the ball and dancing with Kai, she speaks up about Kai and Levana’s marriage. “‘And you know,” she continued, not allowing him to interrupt, “you know that she won't forgive you for trying to find the princess.” she gulped. “Kai, as soon as you marry her, and she has what she wants. she's going to kill you’” (Meyer 345). The conversation between Kai, the newly crowned prince, and Cinder, connects to the theme because Levana, the lunar queen, is the one in control, she holds all the power. The author used tone to show how Levana is corrupt. As the quote shows, all Levana wants from Kai is the crown. They arranged marriage for alliance, and then she’ll just dispose of him when she no longer has a use for him when Cinder says, “Kai, as soon as you marry her, and she has what she wants. she's going to kill you.” You could almost hear the warning in her tone, showing up even despite Levana being at the ball, meaning Cinder risking her life to help and even save Kai from the mistake that could land him in his grave. In The Final Strife Slyah is brought to the hidden tunnels under the Keep (the empire of the island, by Hassa and to meet other Ghostings like Hassa) talking about leaving the island as the tidewind (a blue sand that sweeps the entire island and is considered to be deadly). “‘But only Embers can bloodwerk?’”

“‘If I had not been brought to Earth,” she said, "I would be a slave under your rule. I would not apologize for escaping’” (Meyer 355). This shows conflict because Cinder is in the ballroom testifying against Levana in front of everyone, causing conflict. This is evident when Cinder says, “I would be a slave under your rule”. I will not apologize for escaping.” This shows her testifying and showing Levana is corrupt when Cinder refers to Levana's subjects as slaves. Cinder says this because of Levanas abilities to control bioelectricity and basically mind control her subjects, forcing them to be loyal to her whether they want to or not, turning her objects into mind-controlled slaves.“There, in the middle of the room was a circle of runes with a blasted hole in the middle.” (Saara El-Arifi 501) The quote connects to the theme of conflict because it tells us that even though dusters, a more middle class, were said to not be able to bloodwerk and everyone going with able to do so too. Of course, they lied and another, another main character, was able to use her bloodwork to escape from the people her own mother had sent to get rid of her. As the quote states “circle of rubes with a blasted hole in the middle.” It is talking about the bloodwork Anoor had done to hide herself and escape. Showing that even those in power can be