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I have a prediction this book will be the ✨it girl✨ of 2024!!!
Ya know how sometimes the first book in a series is kinda meh bc it has to all the heavy lifting for the rest of the books get, but Faebound 100% doesn't suffer that fate the story is compelling from the beginning.

The world is really where this book shines. The mythological lore that was peppered through the story was amazing (one thing about me is I love mythology in a book). The fae world was amazing, the magic, creatures, and architecture were so fantastical and whimsical.

If you like animal companion related magic, READ THIS. Easily one of my favorite characters was the animal companion (if you've read Fourth Wing and love Andarna you will be obsessed as soon as I met this character I was obsessed & literally wrote in my kindle notes "would die for her already")

I really love that Saara included both the fierce woman warrior archetype as well as the softer girl who sometimes needs saving. A lot of times fantasy books either choose one and lean really hard into the stereotype, but Saara uses these archetypes to her advantage while also subverting it when necessary

I loved the romances! I was punching the air several times kicking my feet and twirling my hair vibes, but that being said, this is where the book lost a star for me. The romances didn't completely enthrall me I think primarily bc two romance storylines were happening at the same time. bc of the switching povs it felt like we missed important narrative beats in the romances plot lines, so it sometimes the romances felt rushed. That being said I was still rooting for them and very excited when things were happening, but it just didn't hit like I wanted it to if that makes sense?

I still highly highly highly recommend this book! It was such an enjoyable read that had all kinds of twists and turns that made it such a page turner. I couldn't put it down at a certain point and finished the last 50% of the book in one sitting. I will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy!

Thank you to NetGalley, Saara El-Arifi, and Random House for providing this arc in exchange for a review!

Features:
✅ One Bed
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Force proximity
✅ Queernormative (also characters' pronouns were in the back of the book!!!)
✅ Afro/Arab world

Two sisters, trapped in the fae world, unlikely romances, court politics, and defying destinies. Yeeran is a warrior in the elvan army and has known bloodshed and violence all her life. Lettle is her sisteer, a diviner who wants nothing more than to find a better future within the prophecies. Yet when a mistake from one of Lettle's prophecies leads to Yeeran's exile from the Elan lands they both end up entering into the most impossible place... the fae court. The faes had not been seen for millenniums and now both Yeeran and Lettle are both trapped in their, along with Yeeran's general Rayan who went with Lettle to search for Yeeran when she was exiled. Once all three of them had made it into the fae court, they are told they are no longer allowed to leave. Yeeran will have to test into the fae guards in exchange for Lettle and Rayan to be allowed to live a peaceful life in the fae court... despite the faes being prejudiced and hating the all elves. Yeeran is caught up in the elf court politics, with the elf princess Furi who also is a warrior...meanwhile Lettle is learning how to read prophecies.. except her own prophecy states that she will kill her beloved... who just happens to be Rayan. The closer they get the harder it becomes for Lettle to push him away. Meanwhile something is going on, someone is vying for the throne and Lettle discovers a prophecy that states two elves will be killed.... but when they discover which two elves.. it might be too late for them. This is the first book in a trilogy and it definitely was an interesting read, the pacing is a bit slow and it does feel at times like you are getting info dumped, however the overall journey of the plot was interesting and I am interested in where the next book goes. The romances in the book were good in some aspects, not so much in other. I did enjoy the romance between Lettle and Rayan but couldn't believe the romance between Yeeran and Furi. Then there was the mystery and the way that wrapped up, and it kind of was an obvious one and didn't really feel carefully laid out or surprisingly really. I was interested in the world of the Fae court and how Yeeran and co had to integrate and navigate it but for some moments it just didn't really expand on it all that well. Overall, it's a fun start to a fantasy series and if you enjoy court politics, a bit of romance with prophecies, then give this a go.

*Spoiler: Yeeran and Furi get together, Lettle and Rayan get together, Furi's younger brother poisoned his mothers to give Furi the throne (without her knowing). Rayan turns out to be the long lost son and chosen king (he's essentially Furi's cousin) and is chosen as king. Lettle is the diviner's prophesized apprentice and begins learning how to divine. Yeeran can talk to Pila, her animal familiar essentially.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this was amazing! I finished this in one day after craving more from this author since reading The Final Strife. I’m so happy I got approved for this arc!

As a hardcore elves-and-dragons fantasy girly, this was right up my alley. I say dragons because the bonds the fae had with their obeah reminded me of the bonds to dragons in books like Eragon, so if you like that dynamic then you‘ll love this.

I adored The Final Strife, but I dare say I like this even more because of the worldbuilding with the elves and fae. The home of the fae, Mosima, was so beautifully written and reminded me of Farthen Dûr and Du Weldenvarden in Eragon- so again, if you loved visiting those places in that series, this would be right up your alley too!

Getting to know the elf sisters Lettle and Yeeran was such a pleasure, and they were both so headstrong and independent but in such different ways. The fae Furi might be one of my favorite characters though, omg I loved her and <spoiler> I could so see why Yeeran was smitten with her omg </spoiler>. Rayan was also such a wholesome character and I am so looking forward to what he discovers in the next book.

Think elves and fae and magical lands but with tons of complex and powerful female characters, enemies-to-lovers spicy wlw (and wlm) romance, and zero heteronormativity, just like in The Final Strife. Fans of other authors of fantasy with these traits like Samantha Shannon would also love this!

Highly recommend this one and can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Another exquisitely written book by this author. She is exceptional at world building and even when she is writing something heat wrenching you still are taken aback by beautifully it is written.

I’m new to the fantasy genre and I don’t know if that’s the reason for me not really enjoying this one. I couldn’t seem to connect with the characters like I had wanted to. The summary seemed promising it just fell flat for me.

Ah, so early in the year and already disappointed in a hyped fantasy book.

While the first 20% laid an intriguing world and plot, it very soon seems to stagnate. Once the world opens up a bit, we find ourselves quite literally locked into the mysterious city of Mosina. While in this city, much of the politics and power groups outside this city, and even the Forever War first described in the beginning, are all left behind and never evaluated. This severely hampered my ability to feel immersed in the world or compelled by the story.

With the two sisters, I often found their dynamic strained, almost cold and detached, and overall just not very connected. With Yeeran steeped deeply in war and military, and Lettle focused on peace and divination, they’re meant to be opposites I believe but they just didn’t play off of each other well. Their 6 year age difference also felt very vast, with Lettle especially feeling quite young and immature in her behavior and actions instead of the 28 years she’s supposed to have. It would have been interesting to have Lettle push and prod Yeeran to interrogate her beliefs and commitment to war, yet instead, Lettle rarely brings it up. Yeeran also fails to really change or show any growth even as Mosina exposes her ignorance, forgotten history, and the new circumstances for the forever war. It just felt like both Lettle and Yeeran were stilted and frozen, which when nothing of action or note happens in 60% of the book, feels especially disappointing.

The ending plot beats felt forced and too obvious, instead of carefully laid out, and one aspect of a magical challenge Yeeran is to face, just literally never materializes so again, the stakes and importance of it all are lacking.

Ultimately there was just so little plot and character development for the majority of the book that by the time you get to the end…the stakes don’t feel high, the tension doesn’t come across, the characters feel exactly the same as the beginning, just with love interests and a mildly larger understanding of magic. The ending fails to leave us on a cliffhanger or with a big reveal that propels you to “need” the next book immediately.

Sadly, this isn’t a series I will be continuing.

This was a next-level fantasy, for sure! The world-building was spectacular with the faes, humans, and elven components. I loved the story and was sucked in and very invested early on. I'm so excited for see where it goes!

I really enjoyed this read; it is a really great first book to a series. This story is set in a complete fantasy world. World building was done so effortlessly that the storyline never seemed to suffer (really impressive). There's so much creativity built into how fae, elves and humans came to be and how they are presented in the book's present time. You can feel the fable history pulled from African roots. I've never read a fantasy quite like this one.

The representation in this book is impressive. Societies have a nonbinary social structure for both of the societies we spend time in giving way to queer representation with incredible ease. There is also physical disability representation without much fanfare. I love and appreciate unforced representation; societies that just get "it".

We don't get deep character understanding or development in this book which hinders the reader's ability to form an emotional connection with some of the characters/relationships. I think it's coming the further we get into the series. The characters don't really know themselves well at this point because so much of their history is hidden from them or they've been deep in war culture for years.

If I could have gotten more emotionally attached to the characters, this would have been a solid 5 star book for me. It's such a good first book for a series. I'll be sticking around for what happens next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I dare say this is going to be the next super popular romantasy book. I loved so many aspects about this book. The worldbuilding is amazing and not overwhelming like many other fantasy books. The drumfire is unique and exciting, the obeah are mysterious and magical, the rich descriptions of the world and other elements were fantastic. This is a fresh new take on fae fantasy romance that will leave a lasting impression. I cannot wait to read future installments and other works by this author.

It is amazing from the first page to the last. If you are a fan of fantasy or fantasy romance, this is a must read for 2024!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and Saara El-Arifi for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t put this book down. The plot and world building sucked me in and didn’t let go until I finished the last page. I loved the characters, but the twisty turny court intrigue and politics really made this book stand out. I also loved the concept of fae bonding with obeah. B

Wow, I really liked this story.

This is the most competent and original start to a series I have read in a long time. The writing is superb, the plot is satisfyingly complex without being convoluted. The setting and societies represented really set themselves apart from typical fantasy novels in the best way. I have never seen the Fae done like this, and with elves included. While I think some of the reveals were on the obvious side, it didn't detract from my enjoyment. I think a lot of people are really going to enjoy this one. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys animal companions, sapphic enemies to lovers romance, prophecies, and sisterly dynamics.

This is the first book I'm reading from El-Arifi, and I'm feeling a little conflicted. On one hand, I'm a sucker for lore and I'm dying to unravel all of the secrets of the past. El-Arifi has crafted a beautiful underworld with a community and culture that is built upon the mutual understanding that they're all in this together. This doesn't come without internal strife, as there are still magical haves and have nots, but there is no violence or poverty among the fae. I was also impressed with the way the main characters were introduced, I immediately got a firm grasp on the personalities and how they played off of each other. El-Arifi also includes a pretty diverse cast, considering that most romantasy is based around white, cos, straight couplings. It's nice to see some sapphic spice and a cast that embraces gender beyond the binary.
On the other Im finding the use of prophecy in the story to be a little frustrating. It often felt like the clues and foreshadowing were dropped too early and too close together, and then I was upset at the characters for not figuring it out right away, and not in a chomping at the bit, edge of my seat kind of way, but in a way that made me question the talents of the characters. There were also a few plot devices and tropes that felt overused and misplaced. By the third time a character is faced with "inevitable" death, I have a hard time feeling any concern. The enemies-to-lovers relationship is also too toxic for me. I can't imagine loving someone who dealt me physical harm for their own entertainment, and I enjoy this character too much to feel okay with her doing it either.
This book is a solid 3.5 for me. Based on the insane ending, I'll definitely be picking up the second one, but I'm not in love with it. I'd recommend this book to romantasy readers, those who like Fourth Wing and ACOTAR especially, and anyone who's looking for a little more representation in their romantasy reads.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced digital copy.

The world-building in this was truly next level. The ending felt a little rushed to me, but I'm really excited to see where the story goes in the next book.

AMAZING! This book feels so fresh with how much fae romantasy is out there. The great gender and sexuality diversity as well as disability rep feel like a natural, unforced part of the story as you delve into a totally new world.

We follow sisters, Yearan and Lettle, as they navigate how to get back home after Yeeran is exiled from their home in the Elven lands. Yeeran is a fighter and colonel in the army while Lettle is a seer, reading prophesies from the Fates. Along with their friend Rayan, they find themselves captured by fae, who the elves believed to be gone forever. While in the seductive world of the fae, both of them have to learn about themselves, their abilities, their homeland, and their hearts.

wonderful magic and world building
some crazy plot twists (that ENDING??)
talking animal companions
African-inspired fantasy
FF relationship
MF relationship
forced proximity
enemies to lovers
friends to lovers
lots of queer side characters

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE the two books in The Ending Fire series. So when not one, but two, special editions of this beauty showed up on my doorstep by the very same author, I was overjoyed...But after reading it, I am honestly extremely disappointed. This was not at all what I expected.

I took quite a few notes while I was reading, so instead of a synopsis, I am just going to go into my thoughts.

1.) There are four elf tribes. But I know nothing about them. Like actually nothing aside from their names. Not where they are located. Not anything about languages, or rulers or if anything in their life is different than that of the Waning tribe. To have four elf districts would lead me to believe that the world itself is fairy expansive (this is before we even get to the humans or the fae), yet there is NO world building. Sure, some locations are described but that's it. There is no sense of scale and basically NOTHING to distinguish these areas from one another.

2.) I feel like the concept of having these three separate races (humans, fae, and elves) is cool, but much like the map, nothing is well defined. Aside from having sharp teeth, the elves could be fae. If it wasn't for their pointy ears, the elves could be mistaken as humans. It seems like the author just wanted these big buzz words that attract fantasy readers to a romance, but this just falls flat. Which I think is another issue. I went into this expecting a fantasy, and maybe that's my fault for having the wrong expectations, but this is MAYBE a fantasy romance. But it certainly doesn't have the depth or development that I think most fantasy readers would expect to see. Especially coming from Saara El-Arifi's other novels.

3.) Time seems to pass way too quickly. As a result, I don't believe in any of the friendships or relationships these characters have formed. Neither do I get a sense of their growth and progression when it comes to learning and training because, for the most part, all of this happens off page. And instead, we're just supposed to take the author's word for it that weeks have passed and that they've learned new languages and now to perform magic.

4.) The romance in this book? I don't believe it for an instant. There is no a drop of chemistry between ANY of the characters. Instead, we just get physical attraction after physical attraction that they confuse as love. And it's like these characters KNOW it isn't love because all they talk about is their beauty, their dimples, THEIR LEGS, and they say it's love. For a fantasy romance, this is one hundred percent lacking in the romance department. Sure, there's a few sex scenes, but even those don't have any particular chemistry.

5.) The prophecies are mentioned entirely too often and because of that, they became too predictable. Because they were repeatedly shoved down my throat, I didn't have a chance to forget them in a book that is under four hundred pages, so none of the twists came as a surprise or held any shock value whatsoever.

I think I am going to continue the series, but if the next one doesn't work for me, then I may stop. I do think there is a chance to come back from this and I am hopeful enough that I would like to see where this goes. I do believe that as an author, El-Arifi has shown the potential to put out some really great work, so this could definitely get better.

I was really looking forward to this. I might have gotten my expectations too high. Did I like this, yes, yes I did. Did I think it could have been better also yes that being said I will definitely be continuing this series the ending had a lot of promise. I felt the story was a little slow to start but once things got going they were flying by. I liked the mythology of the world and the setting. Lettle and Rayan were my favorites, despite Lettle being a tad annoying with her prophecies. I also really liked Komi he would be interested in exploring more. As will Rayan and their bonded. Now for Yeeren our main heroine, I don't understand her obsession with her love interest nor her dedication to the war she doesn't seem to have a single real thought about the world and seems to take everything at face value and never looks any deeper or listens to anyone suggesting things may not be as they seem. I am very curious to see how the world expands and how the elves and fae learn to interact. Overall I am hopeful and excited about the next book

Delightful fantasy/romantasy about two Elven sisters and their friend who become exiled from their homeland and find themselves prisoners of the Fae, a race they have only seen in faerytales until now.

I enjoyed the writing and pacing in this book. It’s a shorter read for a fantasy epic, which I really appreciated after many 800+ page books. Although the storyline was sometimes a bit predictable for the genre, and one is able to pick up on what the big reveals will be before they happen, I still found the story exciting enough to get a lot of entertainment out of it. I look forward to reading more from Saara and more of the adventures of Yeeran and Lettle.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to preview this book.
I absolutely loved this story!
Faebound details the lives of a family of Elves who become imprisoned by the Fae, where all of their lives are drastically changed forever. This story has magic, war, love, and a found family. My favorite character was Lettle. Her banter gave me sassy vibes and she is extremely smart and loyal to a fault.
The last few chapters of this book were so exciting with a new twist constantly appearing.
I can’t wait to read more from this author! Make sure you add Faebound to your TBR and pre-order it today!
I will be posting a review to my instagram-@theexhaustedbookworm

I really enjoyed this book. There are a lot of Sarah J Maas feels to it but this is its own unique blend of fae, elves and humans. Lore is great, characters had growth and the land itself is amazing. The only thing I would say is that her misdirection needs some work...but rounding from 4.5 to a 5.
Can't wait til the next one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I have no doubt this will be one of the top 5 fantasy books of the year. Faebound combines all the best aspects of a romantasy: fascinating mythology, exceptional diversity and dynamic characters with complicated relationships. Did I mention there are bonded mythical creatures?!

The story follows three Elves, Yeeran, the Colonel of the Waning Army, her sister Lettle who is a diviner and Rayan a friend and Captain in the Waning Army.

The story begins weaving the lore of the gods and their three creations the Elves, the Fae and the Humans and the magics the gods bestowed onto each creation. The Elven lands are in perpetual turmoil resulting in a war that divides the nation, robbing it's people of prosperity and resources necessary to live.

Without spoiling the book, Yeeran is thrust into a position that forces her to leave her tribe. Her obstinate little sister and her captain (who was tasked with looking after the sister) set off to follow Yeeran discovering all that they know and have learned is not true.

The book goes through some interesting twists and turns (some obvious, some less so) and ends on a cliffhanger that has me so excited for the next book.

So if you enjoy Sapphic and Achillean relationships, POC, magic and talking animals, this book is for you!

I received this book as an eARC. The opinions are entirely my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.