Even though it took me a bit to settle into this book, it really did have some bright spots. There was good character development and world building. Not everything made sense but that's the beauty of fantasy. - - it doesn't have to make sense, does it? But drums that shoot fire? That one was a stretch for me.

The story initially revolves around two sisters Yeeran and Lettie who are pulled into the Fae world along with a soldier and friend, Rayan. They are taken prisoner for committing an unforgivable act. Unfortunately for them, at the time it happened, they didn't realize what they were doing.

I liked many elements of the book but wished the plot had flowed better. It had some solid themes and good twists but felt disjointed at times. I'll still read the next book to see how the author continues the storyline.

This is going to be one of the best fantasy releases of 2024. Faebound is a story of two sisters, Yeeran and Lettle, a war colonel and a diviner respectively, who become exiled to find a surprising truth about their world. Some highlights include sapphic romance, a mystery to solve, incredible world building, and these really cute creatures called obeah that you're going to love.

The first half of the book flew buy then things slowed a bit but in the end this was and amazing book. this is a story of queer love, found family.

I was really excited to read this, but unfortunately I found it very underwhelming. I think there’s a really good story here and the world and mythology has promise, but the way this was written just did not work for me. It felt so stilted and awkward, and as a result I really struggled with reading this. I also didn’t love many of the characters and thought some of the romance was a bit forced.

I do think the actual story is intriguing, but I'm not sure if I'll be continuing with the series.

I struggled a bit with this book. There was so much hype surrounding it that I think I set myself up for disappointment. There were elements I enjoyed, but it was all a bit too obvious and predictable. It was also somewhat slow. I couldn’t relate too much to the characters and some I even found downright annoying (Lettle). Her character in particular reads very young and immature which is something I truly find annoying in books, especially when the character is not young in age.
I will say that the story left off in an interesting place and I may even read the second book to see where the story goes. I just think I need to adjust my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, my review is completely honest and voluntary.

The first few pages were very gripping, but as it went on, I quickly lost interest. Unfortunately this was a dnf for me. It got very bland very fast

The story is by far and away the strongest aspect of this book. Not to discount the characters—some I loved some I really didn’t, but they all caused an emotional reaction either way and we’re not forgettable. The weakest aspect was the pacing, it really needed a boost. I kind of feel like the pacing was intentionally slow just so everything could happen right and the end and set up for the next book, but I’d rather have read a shorter book or one without a cliffhanger ending.

This book has become my new obsession. I've been in such a fantasy slump recently and this book pulled me straight out. This book had my attention the whole time and was full of twists and magic throughout. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review!

While this novel can be super detailed and interesting in some aspects, overall I found it dragged unnecessarily and I did struggle a bit to finish it. I still recommend it, just be ready to make a commitment to this book until you're able to finish it!

I actually really enjoyed this story!!
This book had a super diverse cast of characters both with race and sexuality which I really appreciated. I thought the world building was strong and I felt immersed right away. I was also hooked from the strong beginning!
I found the characters perfectly complex and likeable and I truly can’t wait to see where this story takes them next.
The ending was also fantastic and I am such a fan of a well written ending

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-arc!
This book is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! Saara El-Arifi is such an amazing author and this book is everything I want from a fantasy series. Lesbian fae warriors are exactly what I want, especially in a queer normative world. I enjoyed the story overall, especially the different fae and elf tribes and their history. Fae stories in the world-building are one of my favorite things to see in Books, and I really enjoyed the different elements added to the story. The natural elements used in magic were cool, and I loved seeing the cute bonding with animals.
Overall I really enjoyed the different fantasy elements and I absolutely loved the queer romance in this book!

"Faebound" by Saara El-Arifi follows the story of Yeeran, a seasoned warrior in the elven army who is exiled from her homeland after a grave mistake. Her sister, Lettle, a diviner, also ventures into the wilderness to find her and they both stumble upon the long-forgotten realm of the fae. As they navigate this new and dangerous world, they are thrust into a conflict that tests their loyalty to each other and their elven roots. Along the way, Yeeran's inadvertent killing of a fae prince complicates their journey, especially as she develops complex feelings for the fae princess.

By the end of this novel, I had mixed feelings. The world-building was enchanting and interesting, but the story was a little underwhelming overall. Its strength lies in its richly imagined setting and the intriguing premise of a world where fae and elves coexist amidst ancient prophecies and wars. The aesthetic of the fae realm, complete with mystical creatures and magical elements, provides a captivating backdrop that draws readers in.

However, the character development and plot progression leave much to be desired. The characters often feel two-dimensional, and their emotional arcs—particularly the romantic elements—come across as forced and rushed. The instant love confessions and rapid relationship developments stretch believability and detract from the otherwise decent narrative.

The pacing is another area of concern. The story takes a considerable amount of time to build up to its central conflict, and while the lore and mythology are well-crafted, they often overshadow the plot, making key developments predictable. The final quarter of the book, however, picks up pace significantly, delivering twists that range from foreseeable to genuinely surprising.

Despite these flaws, "Faebound" managed to be an entertaining read. The world-building, especially the depiction of the fae society and their intertwined fates with the elves, is vivid and immersive. Readers who enjoy fantasy settings rich with magic and mythical creatures will find much to appreciate here.

"Faebound" by Saara El-Arifi was an overall decent novel, but it didn't quite meet my expectations based on the online hype. It stumbles through with rushed character development and a predictable plot, but it still kept me engaged with its enchanting setting and exciting climax, making it a worthwhile read. Fans of fantasy with fae and elves may be drawn into this magical world, so it still may be worth an add to your TBR.

This one was ALOT! I was entranced from the beginning but it was a lot to take in. I loved the authors writing style and felt like I was transported to the setting every time. I def recommend!

Really enjoyed this. Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy. I will read everything Saraa El-Arifi writes.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this. After some thought I’m somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, leaning closer to 4 stars.

The beginning was very rushed. We didn’t have time to get to know Salawa, the backstory behind the war, etc. I didn’t think much of it at first until I realized I have zero thoughts or feelings about Salawa because we barely got to know her.

Yeeran and Lettle are written to seem way younger than their actual ages. Especially Lettle. She felt like an angry twenty year old. She was constantly screaming in fear or running away out of anger, which felt very juvenile and was a bit annoying.

HOWEVER, overall I did end up really enjoying the story. I fell in love with the characters that we actually had a chance to get to know. The obeah are a beautiful concept, and they feel very reminiscent of the ossalen in The Drowning Empire series. I’m really excited to see where this series goes, but I may be biased because I have a major soft spot for El-Arifi. The Final Strife is one of my favorite fantasy series.

At first, there were three gods and three people: the fae, the humans, and the elves. Now only the elves remain. Faebound is the story of a world where humans, faes and elves all roamed together with their own special magic given by the gods. That is, until they turned against one another. These actions resulted in faes being banished underground for over a century and believed dead by everyone above ground. A forever war then started over natural resources to keep the four clans of elves alive. Our main character, Yeeran is a colonel of one of the elven clans until she disobeys orders, leading to her being banished from her lands. What she finds on her banishment however, will change the world as she knows it.

I enjoyed the build building through the book and the character development. The first half had me giggling and kicking my feet. Towards the end it went from a perfect pace to a very fast everything is happening now pace. I would have preferred it to stay a slower pace at the end. An enjoyable, easy read with a unique depiction of Fae and Elves.

This was a really good. This is a sapphic fantasy book. It talks about gods of the sun moon and the earth and how they created fae's and elves. Theres sisterhood as well. The story unfolds really well. It was really well written. This was a breath of fresh air. There are trigger warnings that I would recommend checking out.

This has to be a fantasy book of the year. And if it’s not, it’s because I didn’t do my diligence as a bookseller in handselling this. Twists, curses, magic, and romance oh my!

This book for sure was one of my most excited books to read when I saw how stunning the cover was. Reading it was a challenge cause a lot of information was dumped on you from the get go and it really never connected with me personally. I ended up dnfing the book about 60% through cause I wasn’t really connecting with the characters or the world. It had promise of being a great book but didn’t really live up to its potential.
Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future but if it had to rate it based on what I read it would be about a 2.5⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for getting me the opportunity to read this book.

Idk why I put off reading this for so long? I really enjoyed this book. There was a lot of world building as expected from a first book in a series but one I got past the halfway point it really started picking up! I am dying to know when the next one comes out…?????

The world building and plot line in Faebound were simultaneously unique and deeply intriguing. The magic system with drumfire and bonded casting was incredibly fascinating and the characters were well thought out and engaging. Through the first 60% of the story, I was convinced that it would be a 5⭐️ read, no question. The camaraderie and loyalty shown between Yeeran, Lettle, and Rayan was admirable and I was on the edge of my toes for almost the entire time I was reading. I never knew what to expect, and even now I’m waiting with bated breath for news of the continuation of the series. What could possibly have made me change my mind about the rating if I was enjoying myself so much? The relationships. Yep, i can’t believe I’m saying this, but this story would have been so much better without the romance. I love Yeeran and Furi, even together, and think that they will be a force to be reckoned with, but their relationship felt much too “insta love” and unrealistic for their circumstances for me. I had similar feelings about Lettle and Rayan, almost as if the author forced them together without taking the time to develop their feelings. A little slow burn would have done wonders in either case to make everything flow a bit better. Then the revelation with Rayan? It felt altogether too coincidental. Toward the end, I felt like puzzle pieces were being jammed into holes to tie up the loose ends, rather than taking the time to place them into a cohesive image. Despite the bumps, however, I’m incredibly invested in the plight of Mosima and can’t wait to find out what happens next.