The world building took me a little bit to wrap my head around, but once I had the lay of the land, and understood the history and mythology, it really picked up the pace. I definitely felt invested in the MCs early on and loved that this is a tale of two sisters.

I think the magic system and how the world is set up is really unique and I found that to be really refreshing, in particular how the Fae and Elves differ, but also intertwine.

I loved the connection the Fae have with the obeah and seeing not just Yeeran’s transformation in discovering what faebound is, but Rayan and Lettle, as well.

I found myself really cheering for not just Yeeran and Lettle, but Rayan and Furi and Pila and even Golan!

I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next installment in this story.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

First, I want to thank Random House for ARC copy of Faebound! Second, holy crap. Lol I had so much fun with this. The magic system in this book is so unique. There’s some blood magic, elemental magic, divination, and really really interesting lore woven all through this. The cast if characters incredibly diverse. I feel like I did guess both of the “plot twists” fairly early in the reading, but overall I had a really good time. I’m looking forward to continuing the series!

I didn't even know I had it in me to care about elves and faeries, but oh my God!!

Faebound is a wonderfully written, completely enrapturing romantasy centered around loyalty, war, secrets, and love. I absolutely adored the African and Arab world, queernormativity, and drum magic—all of these are things I'm not used to reading. Saara El-Arifi masterfully folded these elements into a story that I will hold close to me, and I cannot wait for the completion of this trilogy, let alone the next book!

In the beginning of time, there were elves, fae, and humans; now, the elves believe they are the only ones who remain. Yeeran, a newly made colonel, kills a faerie prince unbeknownst to her and is thrust into a faerie underworld where tensions grow daily. Yeeran's sister, Lettle, is a diviner with the gift of sight, and the narrative goes back and forth between Lettle and Yeeran in a way that isn't draining or exhausting by the end. I also loved Pila, Yeeran's animal companion, and found their rapport to provide comedic relief in areas that needed it. I adored the fluidity of the characters and thought the sapphic romance and hetero romance were written equally well. If you are looking for a fantasy novel that is action-packed and seeped in war, this isn't that—those things are the backdrop, but I feel like the rest of the trilogy will expand upon the war.

I honestly don't want to say more and risk spoiling the book, but I will say that because I am new to reading fantasy novels, I found some parts difficult to follow. For example, I still don't quite understand drum magic, and El-Arifi explained it well (it is also explained in a glossary at the end), so I figure it is simply my ignorance. I feel like this novel sets up for the two following novels really well.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️s
2 🌶️s
Pub Date: 1/23/24

I am so thoroughly surprised, but I did not like this book. I’m a die-hard fan of El-Safiri despite this only being her third book, because the The Ending Fire trilogy has been absolutely brilliant so far. I had very high expectations for Faebound and perhaps those expectations played a part in my disappointment, but I do want to say that it’s less that the book isn’t what I wanted and more that I can see the vision and I know this author could have executed it so much better than she did here. I’m just baffled as to what happened.
The first half or so of Faebound is exquisite. The world-building is fresh and intricate. The characters were very driven and active. The plot was pacey, propulsive. Every new reveal seemed filled with so much potential.
I’m not sure why, but the second half seemed to lack all of that to me. Suddenly, Yeeran and Lettle stopped being compelling and became characters I didn’t want to spend time with, because frankly all they did was justify the elves slaughtering the fae via ignorance while planning to maybe do a little more slaughter so they could go back home. And I wanted to be sympathetic to them because they’re captives, but it was hard when I couldn’t understand the appeal of their war-driven society or the grim lives they left behind.
I think, despite all those qualities in the first half, some more development of these characters and their background was needed, because there comes a point in the book where motivations for everything—from the characters’ wants to the two main romances—feel flimsy and hollow, and at that point the story started to lose me.
I’m still going to inhale the last book of the other trilogy as soon as it comes out, though.

Such an excellent story! The world-building was rich and immersive—I loved the Lore and how it was inspired by Afro/Arab culture.

There were a lot of genius and well-crafted details that absolutely delighted me and felt completely novel. I also really enjoyed the representation and diversity in the characters and their relationships & identities. The story of sisterhood was touching and the animal companions captured my heart!

I will say that at times, it felt more like a YA book with spice scenes. And the pacing could’ve been plotted more evenly to let some plot points (like the romance storylines and character dilemmas and progression) unfold more naturally. And to let us, as readers, settle into some of those big reveal scenes. Letting us linger in those turning points would’ve really heightened the stakes and emotional impact of those scenes.

But overall, I devoured this book and already can’t wait for the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this eARC in exchange of an honest review.

This is the first work that I have ready by El-Arifi and I am grateful for the eARC through NetGalley-

It took me roughly 25% of the book to feel invested, but from there the story held my attention and I looked forward to continuing the story. I appreciated the LGBTQ+ characters without making it a plot point (which for some reason is hard to do), the diversity of the characters and the age of the characters (thank you for not having teen main characters!).

I had a hard time the chapters being named after characters, but the chapters were not in first person- I found this confusing at times. Additionally, there were many instances where the description provided felt off and prose was clunky. The world. building felt new and one plot point I did not predict and even though I despise an immediate enemies to lovers troupe I would recommend this book to someone looking for a quick escape.

I look forward to the sequel-

Thank you for the opportunity to read Faebound early I literally squeeled in excitement and it absolutely lived up to my hopes from the cover and description. I now need to read all of the authors previous books while waiting for the second in what's hopefully a new series.

Received an Advanced Reader Copy from Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Faebound, a new fantasy release with elves, a magic system that is fresh and new, and of course, Fae; needs to be added to your TBR, as it will easily be one of the most talked about fantasy releases of 2024. Faebound follows a cast of characters that are easy to connect with from page one. We follow two points of view; Yeeran, a colonel working with her tribe to put an end to the Forever War, and her sister, Lettle, a diviner who reads into prophecy as it guides her through the events that take place throughout the story that impacts her relationships. The many other characters in this book that we are also introduced to such as Rayan, Furi, etc; add so much personality to the story and world that the author is delicately constructing.

Let’s talk about the world. If you are someone who likes a unique magic system as well as a world and story with influences from African lore, this is for you. One of my favorite things about this book is the lore surrounding different animals, plants, and other living beings in this world. This added an original touch to this new fantasy. It is also to mention that when reading, I could infer this author took a very delicate approach to building this world up, and the world building took place as we went along with the story instead of dropping it all at once.

Do you like romance? Another reason to pick this book up. This book contains both a sapphic and heteronormative relationship with our cast of characters. The romance worked well in this book in reinforcing central plot lines to the story arc.

Overall, this book was an amazing read and had me wanting more by the end. I will be highly anticipating the next installment.

I remember somewhat liking The Final Strife when I read it back in 2022 but not enough to continue reading the series. (Don't ask me anything about it. I don't remember a lick of it.) When I saw that El-Arifi had a new fantasy series, I thought I'd give the author another shot.

A missed shot, if anything.

Before I go about my misgivings, I must say I did like the first 20% or so. The worldbuilding held a l0t of promise, and the casual LGBTQ+ rep was really done really well. I also was beginning to like Yeenan, all because the narrative made it clear she gave the wealth she earned as a soldier back to her impoverished people, which is a character trait that really endeared me to her.

Unfortunately, things started going down hill once the story rooted in the fae and their city. The plot starts to meander and drag as it focuses on Yeenan and Lettle's budding romances, neither of which have the chemistry needed to make me care about them at all. It didn't help the prose was awkward and robotic, making the characters less like people and more like walking, talking cardboard.

The worldbuilding also takes a nosedive. There are so many exposition dumps about fae stuff. It's because our leads know nothing of the fae, having previously believed they were extinct, but that still doesn't make it any less tedious and mind-numbing. It goes on and on til the last third or so when the plot finally decides to come back. I swear I almost fell asleep with how boring the middle chuck of the book was.

Overall, this was just not for me. The ending wasn't engaging my curiosity enough t continue the series, so I think I'll be stopping here.

Faebound follows two sisters who are exiled from their elf community. They discover a group of Fae living deep in the woods after believing that the Fae had completely disappeared. I wanted to love this book but ultimately it was hard for me to get through. I just found the characters unlikeable and flat. I do think that this book is well written. I am hoping to re-read this book via audiobook when it comes out because I am hoping that it will come across better in another format.

3.5 star rounding up. I liked this book. The plot and characters were interesting. There were some good twists and I loved the animal companions. I feel like there could have been more development and explanation of the magic, I’m not really sure how the drumfire and fae magic works. I also guessed a few of the twists, but that really didn’t bother me. I’m definitely curious about where things will go from here and I hope to continue with the series when the next book comes out.

4.5 stars

I enjoyed Faebound a lot more than I thought I would. I heard it was heavy on the romantasy side of things, but I disagree with that. While there is romance, I do not think it was the most prominent aspect of the story. The story El-Arifi wrote was incredibly lush. The craftsmanship behind the world building and lore was so intriguing. I really liked how bits of the world, lore, and magic system were revealed all throughout the story. I never felt too bogged down by the details and it never felt info-dumpy. I thought the characters, all in their late 20’s to mid 30’s, were well fleshed out. Yeeran and Lettle really worked as the main two POVs. Their sisterly relationship was so relatable at times. The side characters were also really interesting and I think we learned so much about everyone. I did think they were a little rash at times, but there was a lot at stake. The book definitely dragged at times when it came to the pacing and the end honestly gave me whiplash because so much was being revealed. I also thought it got a little predictable at times. That being said, this wa such a unique fantasy book and I really had a great time with it. I am excited to see what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5
I can see where the hype for this book is coming from. It has many components that make a good fantasy story; you have fae, elves and human lore. Romance, dual pov’s and good diversity. A lot of fantasy books start with trying to give you all the information in one go and that can get hard to get into the story. With Yeeran’s and Lettle’s story there were stuff happening from the get go. Some of the lore lack more explanation but I’m guessing it’s been saved for the next book.

SPOILERS

With that said I gave this story a 3.5 because once we are introduced the Fae the story shifted to the romantic relationships between Yeeran/Furi and Lettle/Rayan. I prefer when there is romance in the fantasy stories I read but here both relationships were very much insta love. Furi went from hating Yeeran for killing her brother to calling Yeeran her starlight. I would have understand if they had stay in more of a physical relationship for a while and then developed feelings for each other because for the first half of the book all Yeeran was thinking about was returning to Salawa. And with Lettle and Rayan they have barely spent time with each other and their were thinking about love already at the end. Overall it was an entertaining story with potential to grow as we get more books.

Thank You to NetGalley, Random House publishing for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Faebound is a sapphic Romantasy following two elven sisters - one soldier, one seer - who are imprisoned in the fae realm.

I loved the queer-normative setting and the sibling relationship between the two POV characters. The writing quality of Faebound is significantly better than a lot of popular romantasy books. Unfortunately, the plot was very predictable. I saw every twist coming from miles away, which was really disappointing. I’d recommend this book for readers who enjoy fae romance and don’t mind not being surprised by the plot.

(3.5 / 5 stars)

5/5⭐️Ladies and gentlemen enemies to lovers fantasys are alive and well in our year of 2024. Thank you to Netgalley Im so so happy to have received this arc, this was one of my most anticipated releases for 2024. I haven’t feel so giddy and in love with a book like this is a long time. The plot twists went SO HARD. They came from every angle and just slapped you in the face. I need to see the rest of Yeerans journey immediately!!
Having two point of views between two sisters was very interesting and new for me. I liked being in both their heads but it was frustrating seeing how they saw each other and the way they should’ve just talked it outttt😭😭 Out of the two I can absolutely say Yeeran was my favorite. She was my girl, her and Furi. She did so much for her family while having someone (Lettle) constantly disregard her and not appreciate everything she did. I’m not gonna lie I didn’t love Lettles character. I reallyyy wanted to but with I couldn’t with her internal dialogue and the way she treated Yeeran and lots of things she did that are spoilers.
I was up until 3 AM giggling kicking my feet over these scenes. KNIFE TO THE THROAT. If you’re someone who hates when the enemies become lovers too quick this book is for you. They GENUINELY hate each other at first and for a gooddd chunk of this book. Them breaking down their walls happens very very slowly, and even when theyre doing that the banter is top tier. The tension these characters have is like nothing I’ve read before. You genuinely can’t tell if they’re gonna start making out or killing each other… my perfect enemies to lovers. Like the little things mean everything. Not only was the slow burn and the romance as a whole amazing, but the fact that it’s SAPPHIC?!?! It makes everything better. It elevated it to a wholeee new level. All the relationships in this book were so special then the plot twists came and threw most on their heads and the ones that mattered lasted.

This book was PHENOMENAL. Saara El Arifi is a master of storytelling that is compelling and powerful. From its inclusivity to how well paced it is. I loved all the characters and how their stories interwine! Finishing this book was bittersweet. Cant wait for the next book! Once again, Arifi took the fantasy genre to the next level!

3.75 stars

Thank you, NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.

Yeeran, a warrior in the elven army, has only known a life of violence. After a fatal mistake, she is exiled from the Elven Lands, along with her sister Lettle. In the wilderness, they encounter the long-lost fae court, forcing them to confront their loyalties and desires.

I was excited for this book. I enjoyed the first two books of El-Arifi’s The Ending Fire trilogy. I love the diversity of the characters, and I enjoy the writing style. I am always wanting to continue the story. Unfortunately, this book was not as good as her other two. The twists were not surprising. The prophecies in the book give away some of the plot. I knew what was going to happen when the characters didn’t. There’s only one twist of the prophecy that wasn’t what I was expecting, which could be me not paying attention to details.

The world, the magic, the different races, all of those were good and interesting. I just wanted more. The plot seemed slow, and there wasn’t much happening for a while. I wanted more of the magic explained. I wanted to know more about the fae and their bond with the obeah. This is considered romantasy but it focuses more heavily on the romance than the story and worldbuilding. There was insta-love which is rarely my cup of tea. I wish the book focused more on the plot and lore.

Despite its negatives, I flew through this book. I was entertained, though left slightly disappointed. I’m happy to continue reading El-Arifi’s work just for the inclusivity of her writing. Gender does not matter, sexuality does not matter, and neither does skin color. Those are replaced with species discrimination and hatred, but you need some conflict to arise to tell a good story.

I’m looking forward to the sequel and hope it will be better than Faebound.

Thank you Netgalley and Random Publishing House for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 ⭐️

I enjoyed Faebound! The beginning was a little slow and took me awhile to be intrigued by the plot but the plot does ramp up towards the end of the story. I enjoyed the world building, unique magic system, magical creatures and the romance. I feel like Yeeran’s character lacked a little depth but hopeful we will get more in the rest of the series. Leetle and Furi’s characters were what held my interest in the story (and ofc the mysterious Rayan). Overall a good book 1 and will most likely continue the series!

Quick Thoughts Reviews:

Hi friends! The snow is gently falling outside my window & my kids are still asleep so besides the puppy intermittently barking & squeaking his new alligator toy, this is a peaceful morning indeed.

Today I’m coming at you with three quick thought reviews—

❄️ The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. Alix’s writing is stunning & marvelous, this story had me thinking me about doors in a completely new way, the twists & turns keep you on your feet, & the last chapters offer solace for the previous hurts. My fave book of hers I’ve read yet. 5 ⭐️. (Qualifies for my “read a book about books fiction or nonfiction” spot on the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge.)

❄️ King & the Dragon Flies by Kacen Callender. This book! I hadn’t realized how very limited my previous middle grade reading experiences have been. Tackling the topics of grief, racism, abuse, Black masculinity, homophobia, and Queerness, this book has such a way with emotion and imagination & the language will grab you and not let go. 4.5 ⭐️. (Qualifies for my “read a middle grade book with an LGBTQIA main character” spot on the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge.)

❄️ Faebound by Saara El-Arifi. The premise of this one—two sisters are taken hostage in Faerie, a place where they are viewed as enemies—is so interesting & I love the Queer rep (more of this in fantasy, please!). But I didn’t feel totally invested in the characters or the story (YMMV). 3.5 ⭐️. Out 01/23. (Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

📖 are any of these on your TBR or have you read any?

[ID: the three book covers are on a When Harry Met Sally backdrop—Sally & Harry are squatting over a wood floor & looking at the viewer.]

I was very excited about the release of this book but I was let down upon reading it. The story right off the bat starts off with no world building and not many details about anything that was happening. It was too bland and everything in the story was too obvious. While the magic system originally felt like a good idea ended up falling flat for me because the book overall wasn't enjoyable.