Two sisters, Yeeran and Lettle, are living in the harsh times of the Forever War where humans and Fae have long thought died off and the remaining elves are at war with each other. Yeeran is a colonel in the army and has only known war. Lettle is aspiring to be the next leader of the diviners and spends her days trying to read the future. Yeeran makes a fatal mistake and is exiled and two end up kidnapped and taken to the land of the previously thought dead Fae.

What to expect:
- LGBTQ+ rep: Sapphic! FF and FM plus a lot of gender fluidity. 🌈
- Disability rep
- Rivals to Lovers 🗡️❤️
- Twists and Turns: This book really surprised me. I saw some of the plot twists but then was totally taken by surprise by others.
- Magic, prophecies, fae, and elves! Drum magic which is a magic system I’ve never seen before. 🥁
- Spice: open door - a few brief and euphemistic scenes. 🌶️
- Note TWs: graphic animal death

I really enjoyed this book, and I’m excited for the sequel. I’ll also be checking out Saara’s other books.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Whew! After 26 days, I finally finished! My feelings about the book are mixed because while the world, magic system, and plot were intriguing and original, the writing didn't quite match up. There was SO much potential here but the prose lacked a natural flow which made it difficult to stay engaged and hindered my overall enjoyment. So long story short, loved the idea and diversity of the characters but wished it were executed differently. I’m undecided if I’ll continue the trilogy - I guess I’ll see what my mood says whenever the next one is published. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this electronic advanced review copy.

Faebound hooked me from the first chapter, and this ended up being quite a quick read for me, especially as someone who typically takes a long time to finish fantasy novels.

What I enjoyed:
- Diverse character representation
- The setting of Mosima; I could truly picture the landscape, and the underground world that El-Arifi imagined was so vibrant and beautifully described
- The relationships between the characters, especially the complicated sister relationship between Yeeran & Lettle
- The different systems of magic

What would have made this book even better:
- The end of the novel felt a little rushed to me. I appreciate that this was structured to be the first in a series, and I was completely okay with the loose ends and questions that we were left with at the end of the book. But I still felt like so many hugely significant events happened in a very short period of time, and we don't really get to see the characters process these events.
- I would have loved to have seen the obeah play a more prominent role in the book. I don't want to say much more, as I don't want to provide any spoilers, but I will just say that this was one particular area where I was really hoping for *more*.

I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in the series. Thank you to NetGalley for my digital ARC.

when I say I really wanted to like this, I mean I've been waiting for an interesting, original, and well written fantasy story of a while. fantasy has been one of my fave genres for years and while I enjoy the classics, I'm also always on the lookout for a story that feels new and quirky and maybe even a little weird - think Iron Widow, Cruel Prince, The City We Became.

when Faebound came across my radar I had really high hopes for this story with its interesting sounding magic system, enticing blurbs, and very cute cover but I was ultimately left feeling pretty underwhelmed. the world building is a little lacking, the characters feel a bit one dimensional, and the dialogue is awkward at best. I came away feeling like this was a book that needed maybe one more round of edits.

I've seen this a lot recently with publishers trying to jump on the quickly changing trends of booktok and it's really disappointing, especially after hearing so many good thing about Saara El-Arifi's first series. But then again maybe I just went in with my expectations way too high.

A really great fantasy read. I was hooked almost immediatley and read this so quickly. I had really high hopes for this book so it was really exciting to see that it met my expectations. Would love to read more from this author and I would recommend this to anyone who's on the fence about reading it,

***3.5 Stars***

Overall,
I liked the overall idea of this book, the themes and world are very interesting. Unfortunately, the pacing is off, and the character development is lack luster. The two main characters are sisters who have a strained but loving relationship. Their love interests are the things that are a bit difficult to digest. Neither of the relationships feel real or fleshed out enough. Very insta-love. I love Saara El-Arifi's other series, and I will likely give the second book a chance for that choice alone.

Cover,
The cover is beautiful and for that alone it gets an extra star.

The world building in this book was just gorgeous and I really did enjoy every aspect of it. I felt very connected to all the characters and I’m excited to read more from this author because the writing was just so refreshing and easy to read.

Faebound is an easy to devour book that has a little bit of everything thrown into it! Elves, Fae, Humans, war, a complex magic system, Gods, politics, etc. I will say, in some capacity it was overwhelming to cram into one book. I wish we spent more time learning about the relationships between the people and the world rather than jumping right into two different romantic relationships.

What I enjoyed most was the sisterhood between Yeeran and Lettle. Growing up with an older sister myself I really felt their relationship was authentic and relatable. I loved the twist at the end and I enjoyed how true Yeeran is to herself and her mission. I also loved Lettle’s growth in this book & how she learns to trust her feelings & her gut.

I am hoping in book 2 we dive deeper into the complexities that are driving the war & how that then affects the characters relationships amongst each other. I also hope we get to see more of the magic systems at play here because they are truly so unique - I was obsessed with the Obeahs. I have high hopes & expectations for the rest of this trilogy because book 1 was simply a gorgeous introduction to this story!!

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

This books was beautifully written and enthralling. I found myself sucked into this world that the author created, wanting to continue and learn about the characters we’ve met. I found the enemies to lovers aspect of this story to be well done!
The only criticism I have is that the pacing at the beginning was a little slow, but when this story popped off it really went from zero to a hundred. I cannot wait to see where it goes next!

Saara is growing so beautifully as an author- her words are beautiful on the page, that this 400 page fae warrior book felt like 100. A beautiful story, with an intriguing epilogue- 10/10 from me!


Thank you NetGalley for an arc in exchange for a review.

Fae bound is out now!

I enjoyed this book a lot. This book has a diverse cast of characters and an interesting plot line. I liked the dual perspectives of this book and the different twists and turns in the story. Another thing I appreciated about this book was the romance and the character development.
There was a portion in the middle when not much was happening and it was a little boring, but the ending made up for it and I am excited for the next book in this series.

A lot of people will love the book Faebound, but I didn't quite connect with it. The world building with the elves, fae, and humans started out very interesting, and the characters were great. The characters acted a bit young for their age at times and the book felt more appropriate for YA readers (if the sex scenes were taken out). The romances felt a little forced and dialog sometimes a bit robotic. However the ending was intriguing and made me want to check out the rest of the trilogy when it comes out. Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC to review!

4.5⭐️

I absolutely adored this refreshing, magical, harrowing tale, about 2 elven sisters traversing the mysterious & captivating world of the Fae.

At the heart of the story, is the relationship between two sisters. Yeeran is a colonel in the army, and after making a terrible strategic mistake, she is exiled by her superior from the elven lands. Lettle is a diviner, who weaves prophecies to earn coin. When her sister is exiled, Nettle, along with Yeeran’s army captain, embark on a quest to find her.

When the trio is ultimately captured by the Fae, whom they believed extinct, they are forced to rethink everything they thought they knew about their history, their world, and their magic.

The story is filled with twists and turns, excitement, adventure, and all of the high fantasy feels. The writing was beautiful and engaging, the magic system was truly unique and absolutely brilliant. The romance was swoon worthy, and filled with angst and longing. There was a pinch of tastefully written spice, just enough to satisfy the reader, without having it overtake the story.

The real heart of this book is the love between the two sisters- it’s the driving force behind the story, and the emotional component that sets this epic high fantasy apart from others in this genre.

The author truly reached through the pages and pulled me in to this unique and wondrous world.

✨Elves, Fae & Humans
✨Unique magic system
✨Epic battles
✨LQBTQ+ rep
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Found Family

First, thank you for an ARC copy.

I enjoyed this dual-narrator, world-building tale with both elves & fae (and humans once upon a time). It reminded me of ACoRaT (#1) in its writing style. The diverse characters were well thought out and their personalities showed throughout the book in their actions & dialogue. Although I figured out some of the twists early on, there were others that kept me surprised. The romance was okay - I didn't feel as much build up between the couplings. But it didn't distract from the story and maybe they will develop more in the next book.

I look forward to the sequel.

Absolutely devoured this book. I loved the world building, and it wasn’t too overwhelming to follow. I got lost in this world and didn’t want the book to end. I will definitely be recommending this to all my book loving friends!

I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it and it honestly took me so long read it because I just could not get into it it was super slow and Lettle was so annoying she was so childish I completely hated that. The ending ended in a cliffhanger but why Yeeran should have just stayed like how can she not know that Salawa was just fighting for power that she didn’t care for her people. Instead of realizing it she went to go give her the information she gathered of the fae and still hoped she wouldn’t see Furi on the other side of the battlefield fighting back for her lands. She should have just stayed she loved Furi and she should just have stayed and caught for their land but coming up with a way to possible not kill the actual innocents.

Loved this book! The diversity, the magic, the romance this book had it all! I need the next book now!

I enjoyed this book, but it took me a bit to get into it. I felt the first half was a little slow and the characters predictable, but I enjoyed the interesting fantasy elements like the Obeah. I liked the diversity in this book, too. I wish there was more attention paid to the character development and really fleshing out their emotions. I like to sit with character's emotions in books and I felt like they were rushed past in this book. The second half of the book did pick up and there were some story twists that I wasn't expecting which was nice. I think now that the world and characters are established, a second book would hook me in more and be more captivating. I am interested to learn what happens next in this story.

A fresh take on fae fantasy romance with unique magic and rich worldbuilding, Faebound was a gripping story of power that will have you captivated from the early pages. It has themes of war, magic, prophecy, secrets, battle, fae court, elves, family and sisterhood. If you enjoyed Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas, or The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart then you’ll enjoy Faebound.

I loved it and can't wait for the next book! Thank you so much to the Random House Publishing Group & Netgalley for the advance copy.