Faebound was a beautiful fantasy set in a war-torn world ravaged by a battle that never ends.

This is not a romantasy- this is a fantasy with a bit of romance. The relationships are very important in this book, but the plot is strong enough that it is supported well throughout the book. The spice in this book was brief but fully unnecessary. It didn't do anything for the plot and while I love spice, it just felt out of place. I do wish authors would stop including steamy scenes just to do it, and would either make them move the book forward or take them out.

With that being said, this book starts out with some world-building like all fantasy books- I would say the first 10-15% is very slow, and it really picks up around 30%. Some twists and turns, a couple of mysteries that a focused reader will be able to figure out- overall, very enjoyable.

I would recommend this book, but go into it knowing that it isn't a romance, there is a lot of war-talk (especially in the beginning), and it is a bit slow in the beginning.

✨ARC REVIEW✨
Soooo happy to receive this advance copy!! I have been looking forward to this so much!

DIVIDED BY BLOOD.
IMPRISONED BY FATE.
BOUND BY DESIRE.

This is a gorgeously complex fantasy- there is lore, politics and magic systems that bring immense depth to this story (without being confusing or overwhelming- not an easy task). With evident inspiration from many cultures and a diverse cast of characters, Faebound enraptures readers from the very start. The romance is so angsty and slow burning you can’t put it down! Speaking of- there is fabulous pacing and elegant flow; not once was I bored.
This is An Ember in the Ashes meets Avatar meets LOTR I really enjoyed this!

The hype is real. When I say this was a top 5 anticipated read of 2024 for me, I am not exaggerating. I spent months pining over this book and then FINALLY got approved for the arc. Thank you @randomhouse and @delreybooks and @netgalley for the arc for my honest review! This did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the story and felt like it was very original and the magic system was so different than I have encountered before. If you're like me and you're looking to read more BIPOC and SAPHIC reads this year. This checks both! We also have gender fluidity as well as a disability representation. It's got it all! And Saara did it so well to where it doesn't feel forced. This was my first book by her and I am so intrigued with her writing. It's so inviting and flows beautifully. The ending really set up for a great sequel and I cannot wait to read it!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Holy wow. This book was absolutely fantastic this was my first book by Saara El-Arifi and I immediately purchased her other series. This was right up my alley in every way.

Characters- Faebound really did its shining in the character portion. We have a vast cast of characters, but I truly feel like we got time to sit with all of them and develop feelings about each of them. Each of the main cast went through character development throughout the story (some for the better, some not so much) and I really enjoyed getting to watch their stories unfold. The sister bond between Yeeran and Lettle was done perfectly and I genuinely felt their pain as they struggled to come to terms with mistakes from their past. I'm looking forward to what future books bring for these characters (I am also a little scared 😳)

Story- This story was beautiful. That's all there is to it. While this isn't Saara El-Arifi's first novel, she is still a relatively new author, but it doesn't feel like that at all. Faebound was everything I want AND need in a fantasy story. Complex characters, immersive writing, intense world building, fantasy creatures (because duh), and a plot that delivers. While predictable at times, I never felt like the story was dragging, which is great because I finished this is one night (🫣).

Romance- boy oh boy. If you're going into this with the expectation that it will be a romantasy, please change that idea. It isn't. There's a little bit of spice (it's good spice too), but this book is all plot with a lil romance thrown in there. What's there is well done, but I don't think it's meant to be the focal point of the story.

Writing- again, I think this book shines in this category too. The writing flowed so well and was lyrical in delivery. I wasn't bored for a moment.

Overally, I loved this book. I think it has potential to be a top book of the year if it gets traction (please get traction). This is the book that should go viral.

Thank You to Random House Publishing; Ballantine; Del Ray and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of Faebound in exchange for an honest review.

*contains mild spoilers*

In my opinion, this will be one of the top fantasy reads of 2024! This unique world is an amazing mix of elves, humans (briefly) and fae brought together through a series of circumstances brought about by a seemingly forever war.

Yeeran, Lettle, and Rayan drive this story as they enter new worlds, meet new creatures and companions, fall in love, and try to figure out a way to return to their land after being exiled. They are well woven into this unique world and magic system that is wonderous! How the world was described was amazing and beautiful. I loved the uniqueness of it, even if the descriptions of how they accomplished said magic left me a little confused. The addition of a divination element also made this a unique story! I loved it!

I also loved the gender fluidity and exploration of sexuality throughout the story. It was well woven into the love stories and conflicts that each character experienced.

Overall, this is my first 5 star read for 2024! Thank you for allowing me to review! I would 100% recommend!

Not really a love story. At all. It’s a historical mystery detective novel themed around classism, racism and hatred all mixed into a mess from which rise our plucky protags. Thanks for the arc

I received this as an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I loved this. I’m honestly devastated that this is an ARC because I want to know what happens next. Reminiscent of Throne of Glass to me, which is my favorite series.

The plot is a bit predictable in some ways. We follow Yeeran, Lettle, and Rayan until they’re captured by the fae (who are thought to be human eating monsters) for killing an Obeah. We discover fae are bonded to their Obeah, so in killing this one, Yeeran has killed the prince. There’s a lot of humbling and learning of fae culture before there’s a better understanding between the important characters. I saw the prophecies coming together as soon as the author gave clues, so none of that surprised me. They’re a bit rudimentary, but I also thrive on puzzling out things like that. It still entertained me, nonetheless. I’m curious to see Lettle’s prophecies fulfilled in the next book. And oh man, the plot twist. I knew Rayan was special, but I wasn’t expecting that at all. I know who Kimo was from the start as well, but again, made for a good story. I enjoyed every twist and turn, even if I knew the direction they were taking me.

The characters are fleshed out pretty well, we get a good sense of our narrative characters and Pila. As the plot develops, we learn more of Rayan and Furi and Golan and the rest of the minor characters. Judging by the epilogue, the next book will likely have Rayan join the narrative squad, and I can’t wait to become more acquainted with him. I’m hoping we also get more of Furi and, truthfully, I’m fascinated by Hosta too. They’ve got to come back into the story; it was too open ended to not see more of Hosta. I also appreciated the development of each character, although they are not where they will end up by the end of the series. It’s a slow build, and I can’t wait to continue it.

The writing is adult but not difficult. It flows as I think most fantasy novels should. The language is well thought out and constructed. I enjoyed every bit of it.


The diversity is fantastic. Different skin color, differently abled people, different species, lgbt+, polyamory… there’s a little bit of everything here and I was living for it. People are persecuted for several things in this book and I think by the end of the series, that will no longer be the case.

All in all, I am psyched to continue this series. Really fantastic book, and easy to read. I’m extremely curious about the next book, but I ✨love✨ that the author didn’t leave us on a massive life or death cliffhanger. Very well done! I think this may be my favorite fantasy novel of the year, although it’s obviously too early to tell. (I knew my favorite book of the year last year as soon as I read it though, so who knows.)

This synopsis was interesting. The cover is unique. I've heard great things about it. But as I started to read, I could tell it just wasn't for me.

I have heard SO many great things about this book, and I was shocked when I saw that I was approved to read an ARC for Faebound.

Premise:
Yeeran was born on the battlefield, has lived on the battlefield, and one day, she knows, she’ll die on the battlefield.

As a warrior in the elven army, Yeeran has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future.

When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, both sisters are forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders.

There they encounter the impossible: the fae court. The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world, torn among their loyalties to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts.

-

That first line, “ Yeeran was born on the battlefield, has lived on the battlefield, and one day, she knows, she’ll die on the battlefield.” absolutely slaps. I was hooked and ready to hear about an amazing military strategist in a world of intrigue and scheming. Unfortunately, the world building was incredibly flat, and our FMC felt less strategic and more impulsive/immature to me.

I think if we had been given a richer explanation at the start about this world, how magic worked, and the political environment, I would have been feral over this book.

Faebound also does a lot of telling vs showing, which is a pet peeve of mine. I want to make my own assumptions about characters motivations and relationships and I want you to prove to me what their priorities and flaws are. Being told “this is what this is” about everything makes for a lackluster read.

Also, why was everyone horny all the time?

I would recommend this book for someone just starting their foray into reading fantasy, and is still underexposed to classic fantasy tropes (the ones in Faebound felt like the author was checking off a list of crowd-pleasers without building up the relationships needed to make them hard hitting)

I won’t be keeping up with this series, but I appreciate the opportunity from Netgalley and the publisher to take a crack at Faebound in exchange for an honest review.

5/5✨

I have to start my review stating that I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

I literally dropped everything I was reading/planned to read once this book was sent to me.

The authors storytelling is top notch. The writing style is like music. I was captivated immediately.

As I read this book I feel as though I’m getting hints into avatar, it’s thouorulghy interesting!!

The little Easter eggs littered through the book are great, but very easy for prediction to an immersive reader.

There was however a twist I did not see coming and I am so glad for it.

Truly, I enjoyed this book so much and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to read it ahead of release!

Well written fantasy with good world building, but not really for me. It is very "Battle" driven so a bit violent for me. All was right with the story just not for me. But it I read through it easily and I did enjoy it. The writing is well done and understandable story and details. Well done.

“Let me bleed to death. For I have reached nirvana.”

Ohmygodthiswasexcellent. 6/5 I’m genuinely so obsessed with all of this. The worldbuilding, the characters, the romance. Like not going do we get the sapphic “knight to her queen“ trope, but the novel then turns it on it’s head about the power differential, and <i>then</i> we get sapphic enemies to lovers, and it’s so fucking cute?

All the characters were fantastically fleshed out and I enjoyed spending time with all of them. While I cared less for the cishet romance that was nothing to do with it being bad, and more to do with me reading this for the sapphics. And even then I didn’t care too much because I loved both of the characters in the cishet romance.

While the magic system was confusing, it was confusing in a loose magic system sort of way that worked very well, especially once the story finally explained how people could use what magic. Which brings me to the worldbuilding. Because oh my god, Saara El-Arifi is that girl! Her worldbuilding was so fun and flawlessly done. This was a fantastic palette cleanser of a book after the last disaster I read, and I’m sobbing that I have to wait a year to read the next book after that cliffhanger.

Saara El-Arifi immediately place herself on my auto-buy list with her debut, and this new world she’s created just confirms why I love her storytelling.

The book starts with a myth telling of the three gods: Asase, the Wheat, god of the earth and creator of humans; Ewia, the two-headed Bat, god of the sun and creator of fae: and Bosome, the Water, god of the moon and creator of the elves. As far as anyone is aware, all that remains in the world are the elves, as the humans were killed off by the fae and the last human, Afa, cursed the fae to a life of isolation, leading them to be forgotten. Yeeran has just been promoted to colonel and wants to do what she can for the Waning tribe by defeating the Crescent elves, but when she goes east after a prophecy from her sister, Lettle, and with the encouragement of her general, Rayan, she sees the Crescent have some kind of magic that she’s never seen before and isn’t able to retreat quickly enough, leading to the slaughter of her contingent. Rather than execution, though, her chieftain (who is also her lover), sends Yeeran into exile. Lettle is determined to bring her home because that is her sister and even if they have a sometimes contentious bond, she won’t let her sister be lost. Rayan was asked by Yeeran to keep Lettle safe, but also he is grappling with guilt over encouraging Yeeran to try finding Crescent elves to battle. When Yeeran is exiled she comes across an obeah, a beast of magic, older than any she’s come across before and believes if she can kill the obeah and bring it back to Salawa, her exile will be reversed. Unfortunately, when she successfully hunts the obeah, she learns the fae are still around and by killing the obeah, she killed the prince of the fae, leading to her capture. At this point Rayan and Lettle have reunited with Yeeran, and all three are taken to Mosima, the prison-kingdom of the fae.

This book was intense from the beginning, and I absolutely could recognize El-Arifi’s storytelling from Ending Fire trilogy. There is so much fantastic world building, from the lore to the different dynamics between communities. One of the things that stood out was Yeeran curses and is informed the etymology of the phrase vilifies the fae and it makes her wonder how much language has lent itself to that vilification and the erasure of fae history.

I also really loved the divination that is so important to Lettle and the prophecies kept me on the edge of my seat, needing to know how things would play out. There are still so many questions and possibilities, but the way things played out was just, oof, so amazing and enthralling.

The last ~20% had me absolutely on the edge of my seat with reveal after reveal and so many emotional arcs playing out. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Yeeran, Lettle, Rayan, and Furi because there are so many politics at play and the war is only going to get more intense with the truths Yeeran and Lettle have learned.

I highly recommend picking this book up if you like fantasy with complicated family dynamics, messy romance, and fate playing out with these closely tied figures.

Okay, I got this one today and began reading it today (1/5/24) if I want to hope to finish it by its pub date. Also, I’ve never read this author before, so had zero expectations / hopes going in. (Finished reading 1/7/24)

Pros -
I was pulled in almost immediately with Faebound - the author’s writing is transportive and visual - I could see all of this as a movie (and that’s a movie I’d watch).

This one worked well on a lot of levels -
*worldbuilding was very enjoyable; I hope to see more growth in the future books
*characters have growth potential
*dual POV, dual romance

Cons -
*too shallow, due to the predictability
*not much of a slow-burn, which is what I personally tend to look for and appreciate in the romantasy I read.
*the spice level is next to nil.
*did I mention predictable? It was near painful in parts.
*there are well known and relied on tropes, and then there’s formula. I personally found this to read very formulaic, and it unfortunately detracts from the story, which has amazing potential.
* I felt like too much (in some ways) was resolved by the end of this

You know that feeling when you start a book and it’s so almost right there, but as the book concludes, it leaves you feeling flatly disappointed. This story has so much potential. I do look forward to the next title, to hopefully see it embrace that potential. The best way I can describe it is like when you think of your favorite ex and in spite of the fond feelings you have they’re still your ex for a reason.

Recommended, with a caveat emptor attached.



Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for the DRC

it’s not very often (read never) I get approved for a fantasy ARC but alas here we are. Faebound was such a delight to read and the worst part of it is knowing it’s over. El-Arifi creates a world in which sexuality, gender, and gender presentation is so fluid and beautiful. There are so many things about this book that are important to highlight:
✨ representation of queer, afro/arab, people with disabilities
✨ bonded magical creatures
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ a bit of spice

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ .5 /5

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this one quite a bit-- with the sapphic romance and dual POV. Found the magic system quite intriguing, and look forward to seeing what's next.

“Faebound" served as the ideal first read for the year!!! The seamless blend of fantasy, romance, political intrigue, and unexpected twists, some anticipated and others pleasantly surprising, crafted a beautiful narrative. The effortless portrayal of diverse characters elevated it to the status of a top-tier book in my opinion. I will look forward to the next in the series and learning more of what this world holds.

Initially, this book has a lot going for it. There's a unique fae world with the promise of a lot of world building. There are two very different sisters who each bring a unique personality and magical talent to the story, and there's the promise that more will be revealed throughout the story. While the premise does hint at romance, I assumed based on the synopsis that this story would be heavy on the action. Unfortunately, that isn't quite the case, spoilers ahead!

This story promises an epic fae world and a lot of danger with some romance. In reality, once the characters reach the fae world, which should be the most exciting point in the book and the kickoff of all major action, very little of substance happens. If I were asked to draw a plot chart of this book, there would just be exposition, a little bit of rising action, back down to exposition, a gigantic leap to the climax, and then...it just kind of ends.

The two main characters are 28 and 34 and yet they read like they are 14 and 17 at best. The romance is meant to be filled with tension, and one of the couples is supposed to be enemies to lovers, but it's all just very tedious and lacking in substance. In particular, enemies to lovers is so overplayed. I'm going to start skipping books with this descriptor because they don't do enemies to lovers via character development and meaningful political differences. Instead it's just like a constant switching up of "I hate her, oh no she's really hot" and I do not find that interesting.

In particular, I don't find it interesting when this is basically the plot of the book, replacing any meaningful character development and plot. This is a fantasy book with a war and at least 2 DIFFERENT major conflict, including between two different types of people (elves and fae), and yet I couldn't really tell you a major piece of any of the conflict or why it matters.

Finally, the writing just did not work for me whatsoever. I did like the author's debut, The Final Strife, which was fun and adventurous at least. I am not sure if this book was rushed or what happened, but the writing is distracting, to say the least. I honestly feel as though the book was not edited. Perhaps a non-arc version of this book will be more polished, but as is, this doesn't read as adult fantasy.

I fear that the success of major fantasy series that heavily feature romance is going to continue these trends into 2024 and indefinitely beyond, but let me be one fantasy reader to say: A good fantasy novel does not need a dominant romantic focus. It really doesn't need ANY romantic focus, but plenty of fantasy novels include strong romantic subplots. However, the FOUNDATION of the book, if it is an ADULT FANTASY, should be the FANTASY PLOT. The worldbuilding, the magic system, the character development, the hero's journey, whatever is most central in that book. A romance can add so much to a book, but it is not a substitute for any of the things I just listed.

Anyway, I had high hopes, and I hope for those who do love romantasy that this exceeds expectations, but it didn't work for me.

This book was everything I've been craving in a sapphic high fantasy romance with fae and elves. We have enemies to lovers, intrigue, twists, magic, and the world building was absolutely amazing!

I have only one issue with the book, and that is the characters and the readers are given the same information, but me as a reader figured it out, but it took our MCs way too long to put 2 and 2 together, and at times it was excruciating.

However, looking past that, this book is a fun ride, with dual POV, of two elven sisters, one a colonel in the elven army using drum magic, and the other using divination magic. We see them cast out of the elven society and brought into the world of the fae, where they have magical companions and a beautiful setting. We see the sisters adapt and fight for their freedom and to change the world.

I'm so looking forward to the next book in this series, I'm dying to know what happens next and to dive more into this world!

Thank you so much NetGalley, and Del Ray books for the eARC!

I'm a Saara El-Arifi autobuy after reading Final Strife last year and I will say, Faebound was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024! That being said, I think this was a fun, light read (definitely fully in the romantasy category), but not quite as intense or complex as Final Strife. I really enjoyed it though and El-Arifi is forever making strong characters that I absolutely love - filled with flaws and a hard exterior, warrior Yeeran her sister Lettle, and friend Rayan, are thrust into the fae world, a space and place that they never knew existed.

I particularly appreciated El-Arifi's attention to the world-building, magic system, and of course sapphic relationships <3

With lots of twists and turns, I eagerly await the next installment!