Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. I really loved the first book, this one felt a little short for me. There were parts of the book I really enjoyed and other parts that didn’t grip me. Thank you to the author.

@netgalley ARC review 🎁

I love this series so much. I really do. I was so pumped to get book 2 in advance 💕

✨ *Cursebound* (Faebound #2) by Saara El-Arifi is a dark, enchanting journey that pulls you deeper into a world of magic, curses, and heartache. 🌑💫

Picking up where *Faebound* left off, this sequel takes us further into Yeeran’s struggle with a curse that binds her fate and Mosima’s fate (and her ANNOYING heart). UGH Yeeran be KILLING me. LOL 🤣 The world-building is rich and immersive, with complex magic systems and a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. What I loved most? The emotional depth. Yeeran and Lettle’s growth as characters and their inner battles,are so gripping and raw. 😔✨ I don’t have a sister so I adore them. I’m here for them!! I will admit despite being beautiful writing there are various POVs and sometimes it felt like a filler reading them all.

El-Arifi’s writing is lyrical, and while the pacing slows at times, it’s well worth it for the stunning payoff. If you loved *Faebound*, you won’t want to miss this one! 🔮📚✨AND THAT ENDING!!! Wow.

Book is due to release in February 2025!

#Cursebound #Faebound #SaaraElArifi #FantasyReads #DarkFantasy #BookReview #Bookstagram #ReadingCommunity #FantasyBookLover #BookRecommendations #netgalley #delreybooks

Fantastic follow up to Faebound. I love these characters and this world so much. I've enjoyed all of this author's books but this might be my favourite.

After 4 books by El-Arifi my ultimate conclusion is this, while I think Saara El-Arifi is an excellent and talented writer, she chronically suffers from introducing plotlines in her second books that she didn’t even hint at in book 1, constantly leaving me feeling as if I’m going crazy. She did this in The Battle Drum, she’s done this again in Cursebound. And while in The Battle Drum she carries it off a bit better because the setting of the first book was contained, in Cursebound the same cannot, and should not, be said. While I want to like her books more, I think she needs to really plan her trilogies better because thus far she’s written excellent first books, and then deeply mediocre and detached second books.
True Rating: 3.25 stars

"Hope can be a torture or a balm, depending on how you accept it."

This is probably my most anticipated read of the year, and it did not disappoint!! Gay Lord of the Rings continues to be a good time, and I am never in a million years going to be mad about it. Saara El-Arifi could write a grocery list and I would buy it in a heartbeat, no questions asked.

The writing style is consistant with Faebound--flowy and prosey without being overly so, and slightly on the formal side but in a way that works due to the characters being elves/fae. I loved it, and always will love it. I also loved that the first chapter was a recap of Faebound--I did do a reread before I picked this up, but it's soo nice to know I didn't have to!

Yeeran and Lettle go through it in this book, and my heart aches for both of them. This book is definitely character driven, and the conflicts between Yeeran/Lettle, Yeeran/Furi were so well done! This was a perfect example of everyone doing what they thought was best with the information they had, and learning how to come to terms with the fact that other people see things differently. Which is a lesson more people need to learn, if I'm being honest.

If I'm being honest, Pila stole the show. Again. She's so sassy and funny that I got excited whenever she appeared on page waiting for her next bit of sass. I just want to snuggle up with her and feed her berries for the rest of her days. We love a good side kick!!

If you're looking for something that gives you the high fantasy vibes of Lord of the Rings (particularly Shire vibes with a bit of politics), love Frodo and Sam's relationship (Yeeran and Lettle are so Frodo and Sam coded!!), and is super queer--I can't recommend this book (and series!) enough.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Del Rey for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication!

4.75⭐️ Firstly I’d like to thank you to Del Rey books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Oh WOW this is how you do a sequel! It’s so great to be back in the world of Faebound, especially as it was my favourite book of 2024! I genuinely read this in about 3 sittings which is unheard of for me but this pulled me straight back in and I flew through it!

We pick up right where we left off and are immediately launched into incredible worldbuilding, character development, and an even more epic plot. This book definitley focuses more on the politics rather than the romance which is fantastic and I really enjoyed, but the relationships developed in this were beautiful and I adored each of the characters even more than in the first book!

Yeeran and Furi are stunningly complex and I absolutely loved their relationship and dynamic. Lettle and Rayan’s development was arguably my favourite and the ending?! My jaw is on the floor!

It was interesting seeing two more character perspectives and really helped the world expand and connect with the characters more. I loved seeing Furi’s point of view especially as she is so complicated, fierce yet soft!

My absolute favourite part of this world is the Obeah. It was so great to see them back and even better than ever! Pila is so protective and loving, I adore her!

One thing I wish we saw a little more was more development and deepening of the magic system. It didn’t expand much more from the previous book which is where it did fall slightly flat. The story at a handful of points definitley reads like a middle book which is where the book wasn’t quite 5 stars. But the ending and the preparation for the conclusion make up for it!

I am incredibly excited to see the conclusion to this series and for everyone else to devour this book!

Part two in the Faebound trilogy adds even more to an already incredibly built world, with the continuation of Yeeran, Lettle, Furi, and Rayan’s search to break the curse set upon the Fae by the last human.

Second books in trilogies are tough- they tend to be slower-paced and have less happen than the bookends of the series. With that being said- this was a solid entry into The Faebound Trilogy.

This moved the story along without dragging on- the pacing was pleasant throughout and the plot was engaging and exciting.

I know this hasn't technically released yet but I can't wait for book 3!

i do not know why i read this as i did not love the first one. the exposition is crazily and unnecessarily overdone, the characters are inconsistent and petulant, the politics and wars between the various tribes and kingdoms seem childish and are not taken seriously by yeeran and lettle. this whole book felt rushed in terms of plot and prose, and probably was considering that the author had two books released this year, with this one due for publication in february 2025. sometimes it's worth it to slow down and write something better! i used to love el-arifi's writing but the quality (of the plot, characters, pacing, worldbuilding, dialogue, prose, etc.) has significantly decreased. it was also SO predictable! i knew who alder was by the second time we met him. i'm not really sure what the important elements of this book were, as there were multiple subplots that didn't really go anywhere or add anything of value. and there were SO many lines in this book that just went on and on without commas or semicolons that were desperately needed -- it felt like fanfiction. i wanted to enjoy this, i really did, but everything just fell completely flat.

gorgeous cover, though.

[thank you to netgalley for the copy of this book! all opinions are my own.]

Where to start. Firstly thank you NetGalley for book 1 and now 2 eArc of this series. The second in a trilogy can often been slow to grip you and not always the best book you’ve read however that was NOT the case for this second book. Everything about the journeys continuation was gripping and mesmerizing. I love that the author has such an innate ability to leave you satisfied yet wanting more immediately. Now with War on the Horizon I cannot wait to see if Lettle and the crew will break the curse on the Fae and dare I say it… have we found the humans?

I love this series and this book was amazing just like the other (is anyone surprised? Not me!) So grateful to have received an ARC, the world building and characters were fleshed out more and I just can't wait for everyone else to read this!.

Such a great 2nd book. Normally book 2 is always hard in a trilogy but this one left me wanting more. I felt it was more well rounded than book one, more fleshed out. So excited to read the next installment when it is time.

SIMPLY AMAZINGGGGGG!!!!!!! The first book was 5 stars for me and this was NO different!! Amazing amazing amazing!!!!!! I am so happy i received an arc of this as I love Saara El-Arifis work!

I just finished this book and I need the next one asap. I can not wait this long to know how it will continue..

The second book in a series can be quite slow and tough to get through but this book definitely wasn't. It was very fast paced and filled with action. We didn't really get new information but the author build on the information we already had. The world, the relationships and the characters all had great development. In this book we get some new perspectives that we didn't get in the first book and I feel like they are a perfect addition. We also get to meet a new and very important new character and I really like him.

The plottwists I didn't see coming at all and the ending has gotten me really excited for the last book in the series. I also really want to read the first book again to see if I missed any clues.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Firstly, thank you to Saara El-Arifi and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked Faebound a lot, so I was a little anxious to see if book two lived up the hype or succumbed to the curse of the middle book, well, let me tell you, this was even BETTER than book 1 and that ending? I need book 3 and I need it NOW please and thank you xx

The world feels more fleshed out, we delve into more politics and obviously get to catch up with Yeeran and Lettle, I just can't wait to see how this trilogy is getting wrapped up!!

BEST BOOK EVER. Faebound was amazing, but Cursebound! MASTERPIECE. El- Arifi, has become one od my favorite authors of this year. Cursebound was both filled with so much lore and emotional turmoil from all the characters. And the ENDING!!! Im already cant wait to grab my hands on the last book! I teuly believe that El-Arifi is a master storyteller who has the ability to pull you into a story and make it impossible for you to leave. It picks up right where we left off. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would without a doubt!

the scream I scrumpt when I got approved for this ARC!!!!

I tore through this one, the multiple POVs kept me engaged through my reading we experience
sometimes the second installment of a trilogy falls flat, however that couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to Cursebound. I thoroughly enjoyed diving back into this world and getting more character and world development...and that ending!!!!! *Gasp*

Can't wait for book 3, I will absolutely be recommending this series!!

I absolutely adore this world and the characters in it. I was incredibly lucky to be an ARC reader for Faebound and Cursebound. Usually the second book in a trilogy struggles to live up to the first, but I feel Cursebound stood beautifully on its own. We get more politics, characters, and suspense in book two while continuing to learn about the world Yeeran and Lettle inhabit. I truly cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of this for my shelf. If you enjoyed Faebound then you won't be disappointed with what Cursebound has to offer. Thank you to Saara El-Arifi and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait for book three!

A really enjoyable sequel to Faebound. El-Arifi did a great job of moving the plot along, which I find many authors struggle with in the second installments of their trilogies.

Without being bogged down by having to do so much world building and lore drop, the characters were really allowed to breathe and as a reader, I felt able to really enjoy the setting of Mosima.

Cursebound had a great balance of growing and exploring the existing characters, introducing the new character (Alder), and throwing in a political assassination plot while still managing to tie it all together neatly.

I was pleased with the additional information we got on the lore of this world and am really looking forward to the final installment of the series.

I absolutely loved Faebound, and this second installment did not disappoint! The story picks up where it left off in Faebound, and they are facing war with multiple enemies, some who are unseen. Sisters Yeeran and Lettle fight to break the curse that holds the Fae prisoners in their own land. I loved that the two sisters are depicted as strong yet different. I also enjoy that El-Arafi lets the world come together as you are reading and doesn't inundate you with names, places, etc. This is a must read, especially if you loved Faebound!