Thank you to Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I squealed when I got the email that I had gotten an ARC for Cursebound. I said at the beginning of 2024 that Faebound was going to be the best of the year, it holds true. Cursebound was such a great middle book of a trilology.

When it comes to the second books in trilogies, they can be rough. Though, El-Arifi does a wonderful job expanding the relationships, the world, and lore without adding too much. Instead of introducing more to the world, I felt like she really developed it. Like Yeeran and Lettle, we are getting more of a grasp of the world.

I LOVED the various perspectives that we get in Cursebound. Whereas Faebound stuck with the girls, as a reader when get to see many perspectives.

I’m sad I gobbled this book up in about a day and now to wait for the final book… but I am so looking forward to it(ESPECIALLY WITH THAT ENDING).

Continuing the story from Faebound of sisters Yeeran and Lettle, Cursebound boosts the world-building, escalates conflicts between fae and elves, and intensifies character development and relationships. The story reaches a nice balance of propelling the fantasy plot forward with the romantic/relationship content of a romantasy. Characters are more fleshed out than the first book making interactions interesting. The conflict between fae and elves is definitely surging and I can't wait to see how the tale ends in the third book of the trilogy.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect continuation to faebound

I felt this one gave the characters more depth and growth and the world building is fantastic

I need book 3 already

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC of Cursebound!
3.5 / 5 ⭐

Cursebound was enjoyable but did not meet the bar that Faebound set. Faebound was my top read of January 2024, but Cursebound is only a 3.5 for me. Our characters from book 1 have returned but they’re all at least a little insufferable; there is unnecessary pettiness and secrets from all sides. I’m hoping that Cursebound just got hit by middle book syndrome and the third book of the trilogy will return us to the magic of Faebound.

I liked faebound but i LOVED this. There was so much more emotion and I finally felt like the characters had personality. The world building was fantastic, as it was for faebound.