I gave this book 3 from 5.

First of all, this was an enchanting and fascinating fantasy. Not one of a kind, but a good one. The writing style is neat and the characters were all fun to watch. But, I couldn't engage with the plot. There were some scenes or storyline that i personally hate.

Thank you publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

I give this 3.5. This books started strong but when she gets exiled the book seems to go to a screeching halt, and goes on about her learning far government and chain of command, and I feel like the book just droned on.

“Faebound” by El-Arifi is a captivating fantasy tale that immerses readers in a world brimming with magic, intrigue, and complex relationships. Set against a backdrop of ancient conflicts and prophetic mysteries, the novel follows Yeeran, a resilient and fierce elven colonel, exiled from her homeland for disobeying orders. Alongside her sister Lettle, a diviner, and Captain Rayan, Yeeran embarks on a journey that unravels centuries-old secrets and threatens to reshape the balance of power between humans, fae, and elves.

From the outset, El-Arifi’s world-building is masterful, seamlessly blending cultural influences and intricate magic systems that enrich the narrative. The portrayal of the Fae court and the Elven tribes is both enchanting and immersive, offering readers a deep dive into a realm where alliances are fragile and ancient prophecies loom large.

The characters are the heart of this story, each meticulously crafted with their own strengths, flaws, and compelling arcs. Yeeran shines as a protagonist—fierce yet vulnerable, driven by a sense of duty and a quest for justice. Her relationship with Lettle is beautifully nuanced, reflecting the complexities of sisterhood amid perilous circumstances. Captain Rayan adds layers of depth with his loyalty and the unexpected softness he shows towards Lettle.

The romance in “Faebound” is passionate and fraught with tension, blending elements of love and hate that add an electric spark to the narrative. The chemistry between Yeeran and Rayan is palpable, while the evolving relationship between Lettle and her companion Furi offers another layer of emotional depth and complexity.

El-Arifi’s narrative style is engaging, with a pacing that keeps readers on edge with plot twists and revelations that unfold organically. While some prophecies may seem predictable, the execution and the impact on the characters remain compelling throughout.

Overall, “Faebound” stands out in the fantasy genre for its rich storytelling, diverse representation, and thematic depth. It’s a must-read for fans craving a fresh take on magical realms, intricate relationships, and characters navigating their identities in a world teetering on the brink of change. El-Arifi’s debut novel promises a vibrant start to what is sure to be an enthralling series, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.

A special thank you to Harper Collins for providing an eArc in exchange for a review!

Sadly was really disappointed with this. I just could not get invested in the story. I can appreciate the worldbuilding but the plot felt rushed and messy. I didn’t like the characters they felt very immature. Since they are supposed to be military leaders it was just not working.

Thank you for the ARC, I wish I enjoyed this more!

Thank you for this arc!! The world building in this book was very rich and such a beautiful take on elves, fae and humans. This world felt new and alien. I found myself enjoying the world set up more than the plot at times though.While the characters were interesting, they felt a little cliche. At times this made the characters and their actions (the story) feel incredibly predictable. The Predictable characters paired with clunky prose had me putting the book down after I was about 67% through it. I finally picked it up earlier this week, since I love this authors other series and really didn’t want to DNF this book. I ended up enjoying the ending and I’m happy I finished it. At the end of the day I’m glad I read this book and any complaints I have can be boiled down to personal taste. I would still recommend it to anyone who loves a good , queer, romantasy. And while I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book in this series I can’t wait to see more of this authors work!

Review will air on 7/15/2024 on Goodreads and Amazon :)


3 ⭐⭐⭐'s
↠Pre-Review↞
Overview: Yeeran and Lettle are elven sisters, Yeeran being a commander of the elven army, and Lettle being a diviner. Yeeran is exiled after making a fatal mistake, and she and her sister end up in the wilderness beyond their borders. In this world, there are three races: elven, fae, and human. The humans and fae are presumed to be gone, but Yeeran and Lettle run into a group of fae in the wilderness and are brought into their world and customs.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!!
↠Review↞
I had high hopes for this book and the description was right up my alley! My favorite part of this series is the world-building, it's simply amazing, Saara El-Arifi did a fantastic job of building a world full of customs and unique characteristics. I only gave this book three stars due to the characters' interactions with each other. To me, the relationships all seemed superficial and lacking in depth, relationships pop out of nowhere, and deep connections seemed to be made with only a few sentences. Overall, the relationships and interactions felt rushed, I think this book would have been more amazing if it was divided into two, then the author would've had more time to delve into the characters' interactions and build their relationships along with the world around them.

This book is a series and I have high hopes for the second book, I can't wait to see where the story goes and perhaps with another novel I can see the characters develop more.

In "Faebound," Saara El-Arifi crafts a mesmerizing tale that seamlessly blends the enchanting allure of faerie lore with a contemporary coming-of-age narrative. Set against a backdrop where the veil between our world and the realm of fae is thin, this novel immerses readers in a world where ancient magic and modern sensibilities collide.

The story follows Leila, a young woman grappling with the complexities of her identity and heritage. Descended from a powerful line of fae-blooded humans, Leila finds herself drawn into a hidden world of faeries, magic, and intrigue. As she navigates this unfamiliar realm, she discovers long-buried family secrets and unlocks dormant powers that threaten to reshape her understanding of herself and her place in the world.

El-Arifi's prose is lush and evocative, painting vivid landscapes that transport readers from the bustling streets of modern-day cities to the ethereal realms inhabited by fae creatures. The author's meticulous world-building ensures that every detail, from the intricacies of fae politics to the shimmering beauty of enchanted forests, feels palpably real.

At the heart of "Faebound" is Leila's journey of self-discovery and empowerment. As she grapples with her newfound abilities and confronts the dangers lurking in both the human and fae worlds, she must navigate treacherous alliances and confront personal demons. Her growth from a hesitant outsider to a resilient heroine is portrayed with sensitivity and depth, making her a protagonist readers will root for and empathize with.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, featuring a diverse array of fae creatures and human allies, each with their own motivations and secrets. Relationships are tested, alliances forged and broken, and trust becomes a precious commodity in a world where deception and ambition threaten to unravel everything Leila holds dear.

"Faebound" is more than just a fantasy novel; it is a poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the enduring power of courage in the face of adversity. El-Arifi deftly explores themes of heritage and destiny, weaving them into a narrative that resonates with both timeless mythic elements and contemporary relevance.

Overall, "Faebound" is a captivating debut that will enchant fans of fantasy literature with its richly imagined world, complex characters, and thrilling narrative. Saara El-Arifi's debut marks her as a talent to watch in the realm of fantasy fiction, promising readers a journey that is as enchanting as it is unforgettable.

This was such an awesome adventure story! The characters have great depth and spirits. I can’t wait for book two to come! The magic system in this is unique and intriguing as well!

I don't even know what to say about this book besides that it feels messy. The pacing is off. The characters are flat, not especially likeable, and have some of the clunkiest dialogue I've ever read. The romance is... something. The worldbuilding is shallow. The storyline alternates between too convenient to be believable and so outlandish that it's unbelievable. I want this review to be spoiler free, but as an example, it would be like reading something with the chosen one trope, but then there's like five chosen ones and they all happen to be in the same place at the same time. mmmmkay.

Then there's the little things that are just pet peeves in books, like a character realizing a skill exists and then somehow masters it overnight or a character somehow managing to learn a notoriously hard to learn language in just a few days and well enough to translate entire books with just a dictionary. Like what??? So many things just didn't add up here. I know we are supposed to suspend belief in fantasy, but that's for things like elves existing, not things that yank you out of the story because it's so eyeroll worthy. And don't forget everyone's favorite pet peeve - author infodumps lore and worldbuilding via a character taking lessons/interviewing another character/etc. Sigh.

This book presented some really cool concepts that I wish it delivered on more. The setup was exciting for the first 10% or so. I loved that this is a casually queer world without exception. I also really liked the drum magic - that felt really fresh and new to me. I'm a sucker for any type of situation involving familiars and the like, so that was another aspect I actually enjoyed. But those few examples are about it.

My whole timeline is either 5 stars or 2 stars, so at least other people are having a better time than I did. Personally, I wish I'd DNF'd this one. Whomp.

3.5 stars

I'm a sucker for unique magical systems and Faebound uses a beautiful one. I will admit that I struggled with the first half of the book but absolutely fell in love with the world in the second half. I really look forward to the next book in the series.

This book was hard to keep me entertained the whole way through. I enjoyed the story but the pacing felt a little off.

4 ⭐️
Love a fantasy with a little bit of everything and this one did a great job! I enjoyed this story but it didn’t captivate me like other books have. I am still so excited for book 2! Loved both sisters and their stories and their love for each other. Both such strong characters! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This was a disappointing read to be frank. The writing style was extremely juvenile, despite the characters being in their late-20s and early to mid-30s (Lettle is 28 & Yeeran is her older sister). Lettle in particular read like a teenager to me for most of the book. The timeline was confusing and choppy, and I know this whole course of events takes place over only a few months, it still feels rushed. I also don’t feel like there was enough lore or world building prior to them arriving at the Fae city to even really fully grasp their magic system. The three goddesses, the obeah, the magic being channeled through animal parts into their objects to wield magic (drum skin, arrow fletchings) ??? The more I found out the more I realized I was confused. Lettle is constantly spouting off random nonsense about her prophecy, which in truth also feels like the author is shoving it in the readers face as if we couldn’t pick up on subtext and clues. It’s just messy.

The attraction & chemistry between Ryan and Lettle felt awkward and forced. I didn’t care for it. Again, Yeeran is weirdly fixated on her lover and returning to her. But then suddenly has a new attraction 75% into the book, completely out of character with the loyalty she’s established to this point, which is one of the few character traits with any remote depth we get to see. The sister relationship between Yeeran and Lettle was honestly a bit annoying & I just didn’t feel connected to either. We didn’t see them learn to communicate or trust each other. And for two women who constantly bring up how they relate to the poor and starving masses of their country, they don’t seem to have any significant character development. I know this is just the first book, but they feel so flat and there’s no desire for me to continue this story.

Overall, very predictable story. Every time I thought the story would do something unique, I was let down by stilted emotional connections and repetitive conversations. Too many unlikable characters and a nonsensical magic system. The saving grace to this story was Rayan, the soldier who gave up everything to follow Lettle and Yeeran on this journey. He was so adorable and tbh deserved better friends than them lmao.

This had me in the first half and then slowly lost me as the story went on.

I loved the concept and, at first, the characters. But they kept making some of the dumbest decisions or were extremely immature or bland (I'm looking at you Rayan). The insta-lust/love interests were also eye roll inducing.

I enjoyed the world building, especially the Obeah companions, along with the Sapphic and disability rep.

Thank you to NetGalley & Del Rey for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of Saara El-Arifi’s other trilogy - The Ending Fire - I absolutely had to grab her newest trilogy featuring elves and fae. While this book is a huge shift from her other work, I did notice a lot of similarities between the two with regards to worldbuilding and character interactions, so if you enjoy her other series I really think you’d like this one as well. (And vice versa, I’m super excited for The Ending Fire!)

I know this is marketed as having more romance than The Ending Fire trilogy, but (maybe it’s just me) the amount of romance between both felt around the same to me. We have a bit of enemies to lovers (or, more accurately, irritated to lovers), but while their romance is a main plot of the novel (and another romance with the sister), I never felt it overshadowed the main overarching plot.

I will personally admit to not being the biggest fan of talking animal companions, and while they’re still not my favorite here, the obeah are enjoyable and I didn’t hate their inclusion. They very strongly reminded me of a similar type of creature in The Priory of the Orange Tree and I liked them about the same. A well-done talking animal companion is really hard to do, but an annoying one that I hate is easy. This, thankfully, doesn’t fall into the latter but it never quite reaches the former. (When we got to the obeah I audibly went “oh no” as I was afraid they would be like the talking animal companion in another trilogy that I absolutely hated, but luckily they are not). Sorry, I know this is a lot about this one specific topic, but in all honesty there are very few books where I like this trope and many MANY ones that are ruined because of it, so any time one is involved I’m wary about it.

I also absolutely loved the magic system, and how the magic and weapons that are used by the elves are unknowingly in DIRECT harm and contrast to the fae. I thought it was fascinating how the fae have been hidden and trapped for so long that everyone thinks that they are extinct, when something that is regularly used by the elves is actually something related to the fae. I really thought that was cleverly done in interlacing the two peoples, despite one believing the other to no longer exist.

I admit to having figured out the “twist” to this book as I was reading it, but I don’t necessarily believe that takes away from any enjoyment. If you like elves/fae, complicated romances with conflict, politics, and a worldbuilding that slowly opens up more and more as you read, I think you’d enjoy this novel.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the magical world and the lore building was a good setup for the future of the series. I think if I went back and re-read everything I would get more enjoyment out of it and I would def need to reread before book 2 (I found myself taking notes and I still lost track at times). Overall this was a compelling premise but it was a bit harder for me to get into. Typically I am more of a "romance and or historical fiction with a side of magic" fiction reader as opposed to high fantasy reader so that could absolutely be affecting my ability to lose myself in the read. High fantasy, LGBTQIA+ rep, POC/diversity rep.

I wanted to love this one so bad. I loved the characters. I loved the message this book gave. But the plot was so lacking. I felt bored and was never captivated by the storyline. In a fantasy novel I want all plot and minimal character development. I need a story I can fully buy into and this didn’t do it for me.

The synopsis had me intrigued, but I was intimidated by the length and kept putting off reading it. When I finally picked it up I couldn’t get into it, and I didn’t finish it . Not sure if it was a book problem or a me problem.

I did not have time to read and review Faebound before its publish date, however now that I have I gave it 3 stars.

Saara El-Arifi is a powerhouse and she knows it. The depth and breadth of worldbuilding and character exploration in this book alone was incredible. I reread it immediately after finishing it, no joke. The world that El-Arifi has created sticks with, and you will unquestionably grow unhealthily attached to our motley trio of main characters.

I really loved in particular the way El-Arifi weaves threads together, nothing in the book is included for fluff or filler, *everything* has a meaning and comes back, for better or for worse. I can't wait to see the story continue and see how the world will continue to grow and develop as massive changes are on the horizon.