Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED it! I have always been an epic fantasy fan, and I have been meaning to get back into them. This was the perfect book for me at the perfect time. There was war and intrigue, family and history, friendship and love. This has been one of only a few 5 star books for me this year so far, and now comes the sad long wait until the sequel.

I was so excited to be able to read a copy of Faebound by Samara El-Arifi.

The book itself is so beautiful, the cover is amazing. But once I got into the book the plot just didn’t do it for me at all. The characters are amazing and their journey was great but nothing came into place for me.

you to @prhaudio for the free audiobook.

I read #faebound by Saara El-Arifi and I enjoyed myself! It was a slow burn sapphic romance that was dripping with political intrigue and tons of secrets.

Yeeran was forced into exile after a fatal mistake on the battlefield. With her sister at her side, Yeeran must decide what factions deserve her loyalty and who she can and can't trust.

While I found this book absolutely pleasurable to read, it did fall a little flat with me in the pacing, and the slow burn was a little too slow for me. I found the political intrigued also to be a little too predictable in some areas that being said, I did enjoy the romance once it kicked off, and I did enjoy the world building and the animal companion aspect of the novel. I thought that the bonding situation was extremely fun and fresh. The magic system was also very interesting although I wish it had been better explained. Overall a solid romantic fantasy and I would definitely continue to the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Overall a serviceable romantasy with telegraphed plot “twists” and a not fully fleshed out feeling. I picked this book as its been touted as The Fantasy Book of 2024 and going in with such high expectations made this a let down. To be clear, this is a romantasy amongst the likes of Fourth Wing and ACOTAR - romance driven and plot light in a fantasy setting.

The central romances had the unfortunate romantasy classic of insta-love, and I never found myself invested in the couples. The characters felt hard to root for at times and read as much younger than their 30 something years. If you had told me they were in their teens just starting out rather than seasoned military experts, maybe their choices would’ve made more sense and been overall more believable.

Adding in prophecies and divination will always be difficult as you’re giving away key plot points, but here there was no mystery or sense of puzzlement to them. All of them seemed straightforward and obvious, and it was so frustrating as a reader to see the plot points coming a mile away while the characters remained oblivious.

I made three different attempts to dive into this one. On the first two attempts, I read a handful of chapters before moving on to something else. At the time, I thought perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood. On my last attempt, I made it to about 28% and then started skimming through the rest of the book.

Here’s what I loved:
🌙 vibrant world building and rich atmosphere
🌙 representation and diversity among characters

Unfortunately, I never emotionally connected with this story. And because I never felt invested in the book, it felt like a chore to read. While I felt it had so much potential, much of the book felt hollow and lacking in substance to me.

I am really bummed that I didn’t enjoy this one more.
My rating: 2.5⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Incredible! I absolutely loved this one. Such a great book to curl up with. It was hard to pull myself away to do things, but I always looked forward to diving back in. Highly recommend!

I devoured this book in two sittings, although it took me a while to pick it up again because I didn't want it to finish. This book has unique magic in it and a rich history for such a quick read. It was interesting to unravel the prophecies along with the main characters. Although some things were easy to guess, it was still fun to see how everything unravelled. It was also a happy surprise to realize that the main character was in a wlw relationship. The ending felt a bit abrupt, although I understand why it ended there. I just want to know more! I'm excited for the next book and what awaits. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good fantasy read that flows easily, has some romance, unique magic, war, and found family.

Thank you for this ARC! I loved these characters so much. They were all so likeable and relatable. There were times where the book was a little slow and I had a hard time being excited to read it but I'm so glad I did because the twists towards the ending were so unexpected!! I originally thought I wouldn't finish this trilogy when the next books come out, but now I'm so excited to find out what happens!

I had high expectations for Faebound, as many reader praise this authors previous work. One aspect that initially captivated me is the world building. The author introduces a realm filled with fantastical elements and mystical creatures, offering glimpses of a richly imagined universe. From the allure of fae realms to the intricacies of magical systems, there's no denying the author's creativity in constructing this setting. The story is told in multiple POV's, we follow two sisters Yeeran and Lettle.

However, despite the promising foundation, this book failed to deliver on its potential. The narrative lacked the necessary depth and momentum to keep me engaged. Instead of being swept away by the story I found myself struggling to connect with the characters. The romance wasn't that believable to me and also lacked a genuine connection. The author was telling more of the story rather than showing and I started to feel like maybe this author's writing style just wasn't for me. Despite attempts to persevere, I found myself setting the book aside, only to find little desire to return to it.

In conclusion, "Faebound" fell short of its potential, leaving me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. While the world building shows promise, the lackluster execution and absence of engaging storytelling make it difficult to recommend. I am still undecided if I will continue in this series, as part of me is wondering if maybe it will get better in book #2.

Faebound" by Saara El-Arifi is a spellbinding fantasy novel that transports readers to a world filled with magic, intrigue, and danger. From its captivating world-building to its richly developed characters, this book is a delightful journey into the realm of the fae.

At the heart of "Faebound" is its protagonist, a young woman named Yeeran. Yeeran's journey from an ordinary life to one filled with extraordinary challenges is both compelling and relatable. As she discovers her connection to the fae and learns to navigate the treacherous politics of their world, readers are drawn along on an adventure that is as thrilling as it is enchanting.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its immersive world-building. El-Arifi has crafted a vivid and detailed setting that feels both magical and authentic. From the sprawling forests of the fae realm to the bustling streets of the human world, every location is brought to life with vivid descriptions and richly imagined details.

Overall, "Faebound" is a must-read for fans of fantasy fiction. Saara El-Arifi has crafted a captivating tale that will transport readers to a world of magic and wonder. While it is not perfect, the world building was captivating and I will read the sequel.

Very torn on this book. The world building was lovely in concept but fleshed out in ways that made it fall flat in some aspects. I liked the concepts in the book but also never got fully invested in the characters.

Saara El-Arifidoes it again, crafting a rich fantasy world that is able to address systemic issues in complex, nuanced ways. Yeeran is an elven warrior who made one tiny mistake. Lettle is a diviner who refuses to let her sister leave her again. So when Yeeran is exiled from the warring world of elves and finds herself dragged into a land straight out of myth and legend, Lettle too finds herself in the heart of a fae culture that is supposed to be long dead..
I love how this story handles the themes of the brutality of war and poverty, the mystical allure of utopia hiding still more bigotry, and the strange loyalty we often feel to the things that have harmed us. I love the characters and the world-building and the magic system. I could probably have been okay if it wasn't so much of a romantasy, but that's no fault of the book. I did love at least some parts of the
plot, even when the twists are telegraphed quite clearly so nothing is truly surprising. This book will be for you if you are into badass women, animal companions, and misinterpreted prophecies.

There were a lot of things I liked about Faebound:

- The world-building and overall plot of the story. It felt like a unique take on fae, elves and humans. I liked the backstory/lore with the gods. This felt like it could be an epic story
- The gender identity and sexual orientation inclusion. This felt fresh in a way that I haven’t read in really any other story. Both were fluid in a way that was discussed as more of an afterthought, with decisions being made based on the relationships and people themselves. I’m probably not explaining this well, but a lot of stories feel like throwing in inclusion just for inclusions sake.
-Bonded animals always.
-Yeeran and Furi’s relationship development. I like both characters a lot independently and together with their history on two sides of this war/divide. All stars burn brightest in the night.


There were a few things I didn’t like:
-Something about third person POV always has me struggling to relate.
-Lettle and Rayna’s relationship moved way too fast for me. They fell in love almost instantly, over really nothing but thinking the other was attractive.
-I liked the Elves proclivity for seeing, but all of Lettle’s visions felt extremely predictable. I guessed all of the visions before they happened.


Overall 3.5-4 stars. I will definitely continue reading the series as future books are released.

ooh i so wanted to like this but i just could not get into this book.

the premise is pretty promising and at first i liked it, but as we got deeper into the plot i started to lose connection with it. i'm not the biggest fan of the writing; maybe the non-arc writing was better but i felt like the writing was unpolished in a sense; the sentences were short and stilted and the flow of dialogue was choppy. the world-building was also confusing and at the end of the book i found myself puzzled by the different people and their roles and the world around them, such as the two queens and the inheritance. i really think this world had so much potential but it was left unexplored. i also felt like the romances were badly built up and underwhelming. the characters were kind of bland and i honestly wasn't that invested in them.the side characters in particular were hard to be interested in because they were just one-note. i'm not gonna lie tho the ending surprised me.

it was promising! i was hooked at first! i just think it didn't have enough focus on the background and the actual driving forces of the plot, and the robotic writing and underdeveloped characters and romance caused me to really lose my interest in this book. i give this 2.5 stars rounded up.

thank you to random house and netgalley for the arc.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Queernormative fantasy? Afro-Arab inspired world? Drum magic? I am sold!
I really enjoyed this book, although the romance plotlines felt a little forced and uninspired. I really enjoyed the world building (a must for me), and the hidden fae culture. I will say that the two sisters Yeeren and Lettle felt a little more immature than expected, and disappointed me a tad as I was excited to read a fantasy novel with actual adults as the main characters. In spite of their ages and some of the heavier topics in this novel it did at times feel more YA-ish. That being said, this is a great and unique voice among fantasy that I am super excited to see more from in the future!

First and foremost, I will read anything that Saara El-Arifi writes. The Ending Fire trilogy has my heart, so best believe I was excited to pick this up. Here are some random thoughts that I feel like adequately explains my feelings about this story.

- I was immediately immersed in the world, in the dark and bleak but extremely realistic portrayal of a war over resources that truly will never be won. I honestly wanted more of the Elven world, and I'm really excited to go back there in the next book.

- The queer normative/ gender fluidity of this world is some of the best that I've ever read. It didn't feel forced or like it was just shoved in there so that the author can slap LGBTQ in the description which I feel like happens a lot. She genuinely built a world where it felt normal for characters to be free of all related constraints, and I loved. We do get some sapphic romance, and I enjoyed the spice even though I wasn't totally convinced by the actual relationship.

- For some reason, while I was reading this I got similar vibes to Avatar (not the Airbender but the James Cameron movie). I think it has to do with the idea of outsiders (our MCs) coming into a world that they don't understand and having to learn a whole new set of customs and values. The elves remind me of humans, with their agenda and infatuation with resources. The fae remind me of the Na'vi, the way they interact with nature, their values and the soul bonding with animals thing. It's one of my favorite movies so I was loving all of this lol.

- My only real critique, and what kept this from being 5 stars for me was that I went into this under the understanding that it was adult romantasy. And I found that while reading, I wasn't staying for the romance. They both felt a little insta-lusty, I don't feel like they were developed enough for me to be convinced that they actually liked each other. When I hear romantasy, I fully expect some "kicking my feet" moments, and I didn't get any of those. For my personal tastes, more world building and plot development to create a well-rounded fantasy with a romance subplot would have made this absolutely perfect.

This is my first Saara El-Arifi book, and needless to say that I absolutely need to read MORE. I love that the characters weren't in their teens but rather of an older age, and I especially LOVED the diversity in the story. i need the sequel ASAP!!!!

Loved it! the worldbuilding and characters are great! the romance felt a bit lackluster in comparision of everything else going on with the book but overall it was a hit, very haunting and the prose is great

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much potential based on its concept—a rich fantasy world inspired by African and Arabic mythology, boasting unique magic systems, LGBTQ+ rep, and disability rep—but the lackluster quality of writing was a massive letdown. The book starts off fairly strong, introducing intriguing characters in a vibrant fantasy world full of cool magic (using the sound waves from drumbeats like arrows? so dope!), but it starts going downhill after a few chapters and the momentum never picks back up again. It was Pocahontas or Avatar in a different (blander) font. The characters are all one-dimensional and have no meaningful growth from beginning to end, and some were downright unlikeable (29-year-old Lettle read like a petulant teenager and I had a hard time empathizing with her in particular). The pacing of the plot is all over the place; major events are few and far between, while interpersonal interactions are rushed and stilted. In terms of prose, there was a lot of “telling” vs. “showing,” and as a reader I felt like I was spoonfed so much information that I had no reason to remain interested in the characters or their circumstances.

This is the first book in an upcoming trilogy, but it was such a slog to get through that I don’t know if I can bring myself to continue the series. Fascinating concept, disappointing execution.

This book was just okay for me. I felt a little bit of letdown and it was not as exciting as I had hoped and seen some other people say. One of the biggest downfalls for me was the predictability of it. Most of the twists I could see coming.

The journal at the end of the book seemed to have so much more development in characters in those few pages compared to the whole rest of the book. But I did enjoy the world itself and world building, it was a very redeeming thing and I LOVE some world building. Also loved the diversity in this book- big plus for that!!