Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 02.18.25

"Love can be enough, as long as the other person chooses it too."

* Cursed Destiny
* Found Family
* Morally Grey Characters
* LGBTQ+ Rep
* Disability Rep
* Soul Bonded Animals

Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi, is the second installment in the Faebound Trilogy. There’s a quick recap before diving into the further depth of the world and character. I loved the expansion and depth added to the world. As well as, bring more to the table with the characters. I feel like they really got to shine and is setup for the final installment. The plot was engaging and some intensity. However, there are times I found it predictable.

I am excited to see what direction she goes in for the final installment. I don’t want to say much more so that there isn’t spoilers but if you enjoyed the first book, I feel you’ll enjoy this one too.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this ARC!

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Saara El-Arifi, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of Cursebound in exchange for my honest review.

This book honestly surprised me. I enjoyed Faebound and from that book alone I knew I would enjoy this series. However, what i did not expect was to love Cursebound even more. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster and there were several plot twists that I did not see coming. A few I figured out but it is rare even one surprises me with how much I read so being taken by surprise several times was shocking to me. This is no simple second book it stands on its own and is even better the book one. The character development? Outstanding. The actions the characters took made so much sense to me and at the same time allowed for them to grow as they learned from their actions. The plot? Tremendous. It is fast pace and makes it so you simply want more and more. I read this book in one sitting which I NEVER do for fantasy books. I do appreciate that tje author was able to leave me desperate for book three without a massive cliffhanger. It helps with the book hangover slight. Just slightly though. I HIGHLY recommend this book to all lovers of Faebound - this book will not disappoint. And if you haven’t read Faebound? Read it then come back and read this book because it’s worth it.

What Saara El-Arifi does well is craft a rich, beautiful, Afro-Indian inspired, diverse world. However, Cursebound fell short for me in many of the same ways Faebound did. The characters continued to read flat, lacking depth, and I didn’t connect with any of them. I still fail to understand or feel the chemistry between any of our love interests. They all felt lack-luster and shallow. We do get a new point of view, Alder, but, as with the rest, I just didn’t connect with him at all.

Much of the plot felt “gimmicky” and unbelievable, and the magic system continued to rely on prophecy, as in Faebound, and the characters continued to either figure it out within sentences, or far after I, the reader, knew the answer. Same holds true for the big baddie (our characters spend the few days this book covers trying to uncover a murderous plot, missing every clue along the way, which had me screaming) and the cliffhanger ending. Let’s just say the foreshadowing wasn’t so subtle. It isn’t bad by any means, it just wasn’t my favorite.

The LGBTQI+, POC, and disability representation in Cursebound is spectacular and for that, and the lovely world we were immersed in, 3 stars, and I will be continuing the series.

Thank you Del Rey and Netgalley for the eArc.

Cursebound, the sequel to Feybound, joyfully whisks us back into a lush, vivid universe bursting with magic, mystery, and more enchanting lore than ever before! The world-building is just as delightful and expansive as in the first book, introducing sparkling new territories, intriguing backstories, and fresh POV characters that add extra sparkle to the tale. The new perspectives deepen the narrative and even sprinkle in a swoon-worthy romance (hello, fangirl moments!), alongside fun and quirky characters like the ever-charming Lettle and the mysterious Alder. While the multiple POVs can feel a tad overwhelming at times, they never dampen the energetic and playful vibe of the story.

In Cursebound, political intrigue leaps off the pages, tackling themes like segregation, class divides, and rebellions. These dramatic elements mirror the characters’ inner conflicts, illustrating how fear can ignite unexpected resistance. El-Arifi’s writing is a whirlwind of crisp, colorful prose, propelling the plot at an exhilarating pace—making it one of the fastest and most captivating fantasy reads around! Sure, the speedy narrative means that some of the heavier emotional moments might zoom by a bit too quickly for those who crave a deeper dive, but if you’re all about a plot-driven adventure, you’re in for a treat.

Returning to this mesmerizing universe feels like a delightful homecoming. The familiar fae forests and charming settings are as inviting as ever, even if the magic doesn’t feel quite as immersive as in Feybound. The romance, while more subtle than before, offers a refreshing shift from the previous book’s intense yearning, and the clever journal-style flashbacks keep things fun and engaging. The climax packs a punch with a cliffhanger that leaves you buzzing with anticipation—what on earth will happen next?! Even though some mystery threads (like the conspiracy to assassinate a main character) feel a bit predictable, the overall charm and bubbly energy of the story make every twist and turn worth it.

All in all, Cursebound is a wonderfully spirited fantasy adventure that blends magical escapades with playful political drama, quirky characters, and enough cliffhangers to leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page.

I definitely feel like I need to read this series again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes you'll find in Cursebound:
🔥 Cursed destiny
🗡️ Morally grey characters
👥 Found family

Cursebound sucks you in with its lush worldbuilding, keeps you hooked with its morally grey characters, and leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished. Saara El-Arifi does a beautiful job weaving together magic, destiny, and deep emotional stakes, making this a solid read for any fantasy lover.

The world is so dense and the magic system is unique and well-developed, and you can tell El-Arifi put a lot of thought into the lore.

The characters are where this book really shines. The protagonist is layered and complex, struggling in a way that feels raw and real. The side characters bring lots of personality, though some of them could have used a little more development. The relationships are compelling and full of tension. If you love characters who make messy choices with high stakes, this book delivers.

Pacing-wise, it’s mostly solid, with plenty of action and twists to keep you engaged. There are a few slow sections where the worldbuilding takes over a bit too much, but overall, the story keeps moving forward. The last act in particular really ramps up.

Overall, Cursebound is a great read!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this I thought the magic system was very unique and had a good plot throughout. Great book overall

Gorgeous second book, I love the world building that continues here and the writing style makes for a really good fantasy series. Pacing is medium so kept me hooked throughout

Rounding up from 3.5, This did take me a while longer to get through.
As someone who read Faebound I found this was a great improvement and picked up where the last book left off.(Although I was glad for the recap)
In saying that I do feel like Lettle could have shown a bit more growth and maturity in this book, I found myself frequently frustrated with her decision making and not enjoying her plotline as much as the other main POVs. Again I felt like there was a lot more telling instead of showing us with this plotline.

Yeeren's plotline was a lot more interesting and nuanced, a more realistic take on a character making decisions that are difficult, and the consequences of which.
The overall mood of the setting is great and I really appreciate the level of detail Saara El-Arifi provided. The dark mystical vibe is extremely engaging

The additional POVs were slow to start but well worth the payoff and expanded the breadth of the story, with Alder being such a fun journey to follow.
Overall a great second entry in the series and will be reading the third installment

This was a great sequel to the first book. It had all the same elements of the first one they I loved but it kept the plot interesting and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next,

Yeeran and Lettle’s story picks up where it left off in Faebound, with a helpful summary at the start of the book. I wont say too much about what’s happening and risk spoiling Faebound for anyone, but we are straight back into things and I appreciated that there was no gap in the storyline.
Yeeran continues to struggle with balancing her loyalty to the elves with her new place in the fae court, while Lettle continues to be adorable in her relationship. Rayan and Furi come to terms with their new positions in the court and try to find their way to do the best they can for the fae, but there is trouble brewing with the Lightless and their dissatisfaction with their place in fae society. I love that Golan is still present in this instalment, he was my favourite minor character in Faebound. I also enjoyed the other minor characters like Sahar, Alder, Norey, who were three dimensional and memorable.
El Arifi’s writing is easy to follow and enjoyable. The setting remains magical and bleak, with the fae lands beautiful but underground, away from the world. The plot is well paced and makes sense, and there is a revelation toward the end that makes me very excited to finish the story in the next book.
The relationships between characters are well formed and made me feel what they were feeling, cheering them on or feeling disappointed in their actions towards each other. I especially enjoy the complexity of Yeeran and Lettle’s relationship, it feels very authentic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am only sad that I’ll have to wait for the final book in the trilogy! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for me to review.

I enjoyed this more than the first book. The story really progressed and we learned so much more about the world and types of characters throughout this story. There were numerous plot twists that were really well thought out. The villains that were discovered were surprising, but made sense in the grand scheme of things. The prophecies make for excellent tension while reading, you always have them in the back of your mind whenever something new is discovered. The world is beautiful and unique, the characters all grew, and the new perspective was a great addition. I am very excited for the third book to really tie everything together.

I didn't love the first book- I liked it, but the characters felt a bit underdeveloped and the sapphic relationship felt... off to me- but I really enjoyed the world and the magic and everything. Here I did find that I like the characters and their relationships more, but they still feel much younger than they're said to be. Yeeran is too naive for everything that has happened and is happening to her, and Lettle continues the trend of having prophecies that are obvious to everyone except our heroes. I liked the addition of Alder and the growth that our extended cast got through the story, but it feels a bit unrealistic that this is all happening within the very short period of time in this book. I think that extending the timeline to happen over months would have made the relationships and character growth more believable. The saving grace for this was truly that I love the queernormative society and diverse cast of characters, and that I think we really need more of that.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This world and culture in this book is very intriguing. The magic systems are unique. The story and characters are very well thought out. It was a very good sequel in many ways.

My problem comes with the writing. It’s just clunky and a little drab at times…so was the first one.

However, I will read the third in the trilogy when it comes out because I have to know what happens.

Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC!

Cursebound pulls us back into the stunning world of the first, expanding the lore, magic, and intrigue with new locations and fresh POVs (including a swoon-worthy romance—yes, please!). The added perspectives made the story even richer, and Alder quickly became a favorite!

This book dives deeper into political themes like segregation and rebellion, adding tension and stakes. The pacing is lightning-fast—I devoured it! However, that speed meant some big emotional moments didn’t hit as hard, and certain character decisions left me frustrated (Yeeran, I’m looking at you). The overarching plot didn’t move as much as I expected, but the queernorm world, diverse cast, and engaging writing kept me hooked.

While Cursebound didn’t quite match Faebound, it was still a thrilling read, and I can’t wait to see how the trilogy wraps up!

Thank you to NetGalley ARC!

3.75 rounded up. This was a solid continuation of the first book. While I liked the additions of some new POV’s, it did mean that we were relearning the same information from the first book, and anything new that was discovered in this was discovered multiple times. As I found in the first part of this series, plot twists were very predictable. There was only one that I was slightly surprised by, but even then looking back the clues were very heavy handed. This is a very easy read, and I will be continuing the series, but I do hope going forward that there can be a bit more subtlety. Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review which has already been posted to Goodreads.

I rounded up to 3 Stars on this one but it was realistically closer to a 2.5* for me.

While I enjoyed the world building that was set up in the first installment of this series, in this sequel that world and world building fell flat. There was not much character growth and in fact I started disliking pretty much all of the characters besides Golan and the new character that was introduced Alder. It seemed like this sequel lacked the feel of urgency and wonder that the first one had. I guessed many of the plot points and twist so far in advance that it took the enjoyment out of it for me. I think overall the world that is created here is so interesting and I love the Obeah creature, they are by far my favorite part of this series, but I am struggling to connect to these characters and story. I will likely read the last one so that I can see what will happen with the Obeah but overall this was disappointing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

This sequel was . . . A LOT. I’m kind of shocked at how much El-Arifi packed into this one because it just felt like three CRAZY mini plots slammed into one in a way that somehow felt like I was reading three separate stories at the same time. . . If you get what I mean. I dunno, it just baffled me in a good way plot wise but man did I just want to THROTTLE some characters. 😡

The plot continues right after the plot of Faebound, so if you’re thinking of reading these two now, I’d read them back to back if possible. Yeeran has decided to go back to Waning to disclose the true natures of obeah to the Elven Lands. I felt so bad for this character in this book. No matter what she does, it always seems to put her at odds with her incredibly stupid sister and new lover, and I just wanted someone else to go up and be like “what you did was good and screw the others” other than Pila. Speaking of that obeah, LOVED her in this. She’s getting more sassy and I feel like she, Golan and Rayan are the only sane ones in this book. 😫

Lettle. . . Jesus Christ girl I want to just dope slap you with a cast iron skillet. She continuously gets mad at just about everyone and makes excuses for her behavior left and right. The best example of this is her desire to be treated with respect by the fae, but then is shocked when someone calls out her horrible treatment of the fae servants to her face. 🤦🏻‍♀️

The new POVs of Furi and a new character were interesting inclusions, but it made me think that Furi and Lettle are in some desperate need of anger management or some kind of counseling because man these women just made me want to scream. 🤬

While the ending revelations felt a bit too much because of how many there were, the ending bombshell felt the most interesting of the bunch simply because I figured out the other ones early on. It also made me ponder one of the lingering questions I had in book one even more because it was really weird to me. 🤔

All in all, a pretty decent sequel but I would just like a focus on Yeeran and the new character if I had my way. Big thank you goes out to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review. Can’t wait to see what the gang of idiots gets up to in the third and final book! 🌙

Publication date: February 18!

Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️ and it’s that low because of Lettle and Furi 🙄

4.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all: this book has a recap of book one in the beginning and I cannot express how much I appreciate authors doing this.

I flew through this book in less than 24h, the same way I did with Faebound last year. It sucked me right in and kept me hooked until the very end.

We, again, follow the sisters Yeeran and Lettle. And we get some more POVs in this book, which I enjoyed immensely.

The writing style flows the exact same way the first one did.

All in all, if you loved the first one you will love this one just as much, if not more. I had a fabulous time flying through Cursebound unveiling secrets and finding answers along with the characters.

Special shoutout to Pila for being the best. That’s all.

(if this book just had more oomph to it, it could’ve been a duology instead of a trilogy)

cursebound continues with our two sisters, yeeran & lettle, on mosima but with yeeran leaving to warn her ex-lover and tribe and lettle staying behind with the royal family.

what el-arifi does really well in her stories is pull at your heartstrings with lush and vivid descriptions. and she does that exceptionally well in cursebound. but like faebound, cursebound still suffers (imo) in the lack of struggle? like every problem our characters had was solved in the span of a few chapters. where’s the conflict?? where’s the heavy doom? it ended up with me not caring enough that there even was a Problem™ to begin with.

now to what i liked about it. the banter! the representation!! the side characters! really enjoyed the added POV of alder. i felt that it gave the plot a good direction and hopefully is something that gets more developed in the next book. we got a little bit more world building here and how each group really ties in with one another. it’s in rare form that a sequel does better than the first but i think out of the two, cursebound is that one for me. i’m excited to see how this trilogy will end!

ty again netgalley & del rey for the arc -

A fantastic follow on from Faebound! This book succeeded in not falling victim to the second book syndrome, far from it, in fact I found Cursebound to be far better than Faebound. I enjoyed the characters more and their development. I do wonder if this in part due to the fact that most of the romance subplots were explored more thoroughly in Faebound (to its detriment in my opinion) allowing for further general character development and story progression to flourish.
What I liked most about Faebound was the lore and world building which has been expanded beautifully in Cursebound.
The plot was a little predictable, however there was a little twist I didn’t quite see coming that made me smile.
I am very much looking forward to the final instalment, in the meantime I’m eagerly awaiting my physical copy that I have preordered.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this title.