Not sure exactly how I want to rate this book & might change it as a star rating doesn't capture everything that was or was not successful. On one hand, the world building is really interesting, detailed, and intricately crafted. The characters feel distinct and recognizable. Cannot emphasize enough how much I am looking forward to seeing parts of this world come together in the rest of the series. I really liked that Lettle and Yeeran as sisters still see their tribe and the war so differently from each other, which added a lot to their clashes over other things—divination, Salawa, etc.

On the other hand, my problem with this book is that I wanted more. As as avid romance reader, I think the romances in this book (which I really liked, to be clear) needed way more development. As a lover of court intrigue fantasy, I wish the excitement and tension of the scheming and politics in last act had run throughout. The things that had been planted throughout the story to result in that exciting last act weren’t enough, and were too few and too obvious and the result was that the pace felt too slow. While I enjoyed learning about the world during act II, I kept thinking like, the clues aren’t warranting this much time, so maybe we could fill the time with more relationship development? But that too was stilted.

Part of my frustration might just be a writing style/person taste issue. The narration was quite explicit about the emotions of our close third pov characters Yeeran and Lettle. Which is fine, it doesn't have to be a puzzle or anything, but if you want the psychic distance to be small, then it has to feel small. And somehow even though I was told exactly how they were feeling and what they were thinking, I didn’t feel close to them. The narration was too matter of fact about everything.

The third act was the strongest and made me much more excited about everything to the point where I think I am quite likely to continue with the series but the middle lagged in a way that was a bit frustrating.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
This was an interesting read! The story is a little slow paced, but I very much enjoyed the history of the elves, fae, and humans. The sisterly bond between Yeeran and Lettle is one for the ages; their struggles only making them stronger. And the political strife, with a war raging on for so long, was both gripping and heartbreaking. Overall, I did enjoy this book!

A Forever War. Three Gods Asase, Ewia, and Bosome. Fae, Elves, and Humans are destined to live together peacefully. After powers are distributed to each. Elves are the only ones who remain. Two sisters were imprisoned by a political war. When Yeeran a colonel for the Waning Army is exiled. Prophecies are fulfilled and faerytales come true.

This book started very slow in the beginning, but after Yeeran is exiled the book picks up very quickly. The author does a great job of explaining the world-building and explaining the history of how the war came to be. I loved the representation throughout the book such as LGBTQ and it's rare to find fantasy books that have BIPOC female main characters. There was betrayal, murder, found family, and forbidden romance. I do agree with other reviewers that there were parts where the timing was off for certain situations. But I think overall the author did a great job of tying everything together at the end. I can't wait for the next book in the series and I'd highly recommend it.

I found Faebound to be an engaging and original story. I enjoyed the world building that links the Fae, Elves and humans and the magic system that tied characters to a companion. The dum magic was also well developed and has it's own twist. This was intriguing as the political system opens up yet more twists that kept me guessing and complicating the plot and all of the relationships. I thought this fantasy was compelling and will certainly be looking for the next book in this series.

"Faebound" immersed me in a captivating fantasy world, skillfully blending mythology, war, and deep relationships among elven tribes and Fae. Saara El-Arifi's storytelling shines , framing the narrative with amazing elements like the harsh landscape shaped by war, intricate character dynamics, and a well-paced buildup of tension and mystery. The book introduces a diverse cast, each with their own struggles and strengths.

The novel's strength lies in its rich world-building, exploring an underground fae city and seamlessly including myths that come to life. The magic system involving obeahs, animal companions, and the consequences of their over-hunting add layers to the narrative. However, it's crucial to note that early chapters include detailed descriptions of hunting and killing, which may not be suitable for everyone.

The story follows Yeeran, a warrior facing exile, her diviner sister Lettle, and Captain Rayan. Their encounter with the long-lost Fae leads to intricate political dynamics, mysteries, and a growing tension between different races. The exploration of sisterhood, evident in the relationship between Yeeran and Lettle, is a standout aspect, portraying their love and loyalty amidst challenges.

The romantic elements, especially the tension between Lettle and Rayan, contribute to the romance of the book.
Thank you Saara El-Arifi and Netgalley for allowing to read this amazing book!

This book was such a fun and amazing read I loved every second of it and couldn't put it down! Such a good story

A fun and inventive magical world that is somehow familiar yet different than what is out there now. I thought that the characters were well rounded and the plot was very engaging. Overall I think where it shined most for me is with the magic system and the creation myths with the world, any time that was brought up I was tuned in.

Faebound was packed full of adventure and plot twists. Although I did predict one of the plot twists quite early on in the book, there were many that surprised me.

This book did what I think all great fantasy aims to do - create a parallel with real world issues. There was lots of thoughtful commentary on war, inequality and prejudice.

I also loved that this was diverse and sapphic fantasy. This was a compelling adventure laced with important lessons about seeing other perspectives and questioning the ideologies you are raised with.

I really enjoyed the magic system, the lore and *everything* about the obeahs.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and RandomHouse for providing me with an ARC of this book!

(This review was posted on my bookstagram on 1/29/2024. Link to page below).

I was excited to see that I was approved for the ARC of Faebound! I got the email on the pub day and couldn’t wait to start reading it. Much thanks to @delreybooks and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Faebound, and I’m happy to report that I am excited to read the sequel! Faebound was my first El-Arifi read. The magic systems she created were unique, and I really liked the world building with the lore of the bat, water, and wheat, and with the fae, humans, and elves.

Faebound is ultimately a story about fate, trying to escape war cycles (the sisters are a warrior and a diviner), and sisterhood. Yeeran and Lettle are opposites in so many ways, and I’m interested to see how their differences will lead them in paths that will converge in the future.

I hadn’t read anything quite like Faebound before. I think I described it as The Priory of the Orange Tree meets Fourth Wing (only to the extent that certain people can communicate mind-to-mind with a bonded animal). There are no gender rules, and the characters and world are diverse.

The main reasons why this wasn’t a 5 star read for me were that, while the characters were in their thirties (hooray for that!!!), some of the dialogue came off juvenile and more like a younger protagonist. The writing, and consequently the book, felt more NA than adult. A particular plot point was predictable, but there was one I didn’t see coming! The romantic relationships felt a little rushed, but I hope they may be more developed in the next two books.

Overall, I’m very happy I read Faebound and would recommend it!!

Yeeran makes a deadly mistake on her first day as a colonel in the elven army, getting herself exiled. Lettle (her sister) and Rayan (her friend from the army) go into the woods after her. The three of them encounter a group of fae, thought to be extinct, and get captured.

It’s dual POV, switching between the two sisters. It’s firmly fantasy, with a teeny tiny romance subplot for both sisters, towards the end.

This took a minute to get going. The first 10% is Yeeran’s mistake and exile, followed by another 10% of Lettle and Rayan walking through the woods to find Yeeran. Overall, it didn't really get going until about 40% in. There’s a lot of lore being established early on.

As prophesies begin to come together, the story gets interesting. I stayed up for hours reading once I reached the second half. I’m super interested to see what happens in book 2.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

First 5-star read of 2024! Fantastic book. I found the story to be fast paced and engaging, the characters were interesting and well juxtaposed, and the ending certainly has me anticipating a second book. Overall, I found the writing beautiful, the plot fascinating, and the growth of El-Arifi rewarding. This will be a spoiler-free review! Details below.

Plot:
The storyline begins the second the writing does. You're following the story of Yeeran and Lettle, two sister elves exploring an unknown land as Yeeran enters exile. The action is near constant with new events occurring almost every chapter. I found it hard to put the book down, constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next and telling myself "just one more" long after my bedtime. Perhaps the most impressive feat of the plotline is the double plot-twist occurring at the climax of the book. While I had my suspicions about one, I was truly surprised (and went "AHHHHH!!!") at the other one. I was excited by the constant rise and fall of hope presented in the plot as new challenges continued to arise and were overcome, some more than others. It's been a while since I was gripped by a book from the very beginning, thus earning Faebound and El-Arifi my first 5-star rating of the year.

Characters:
Character development in this story was well done for a first book. While all of the main characters experienced a broadening of their knowledge and understanding of the world, some took to it better than others. With characters who are all starkly different, often grating against each other regardless of how much love they share, the reader gets to experience multiple perspectives on the events of the plot as the story goes on. You find yourself sympathetic for, and irritated with, all of the characters for different reasons, which in turn allows you to understand their actions or the reactions of others. While many first books in a series struggle to demonstrate substantial character development before the second book, El-Arifi does a great job of making the characters flexible from the beginning, though their core characteristics are firm and consistent the whole way.

World building, setting, and magic system:
I found the world of Faebound quite fascinating. Not so different from our own, but different enough to keep the reader curious, Faebound explores different roles within a society, as well as different peoples within a greater world, and the conflicts that arise amongst them. The descriptions are beautiful and vivid, allowing the reader to envision the characters' experiences with clarity. The magic system was also incredibly interesting, with details and explanations emerging progressively throughout the book. This allowed readers to learn alongside the main characters, but never left the reader wondering how it all fit together or whether they were missing something. I was extremely satisfied by the explanations and depictions of the world's magic, which remedies the only complaints I had about The Final Strife, another first book in an El-Arifi fantasy series. You can see the growth in El-Arifi as an author, and it is quite pleasing to witness in real time.

Simply captivating. I loved this story from the first chapters. I am drawn to stories that involve sisters and this one did not disappoint. The dual POV was easily distinguishable and the sister stories while different, intertwined beautifully. There were so many parts that I did not see coming. This story had a little bit of everything, romance, betrayal, mystery and magic. The anticipation for the book was well worth it. And that ending? Let's just say the only thing I am mad about is that I have read this book right when it came out which means that I have to wait even longer for to find out what happens in book 2.

Yeren was the youngest colonel in the army before being exiled from the elvish lands. Alongside her younger sister and Captain Rayan, Yeren accidentally kills a fae prince - a people they thought faerytale.

Like her other series, El-Arifi uses the fantasy element to explore fluidity of gender and incorporate free sexuality seamlessly within her story and world.
Furthermore, we have aged up protagonists - around 30 years old! Rejoice!
In this sense, it reminded me of N K Jemisin.

”We must let the wind of change ease our flight, not hinder it.”

The magic system explanations never fully satisfied me, but the gist is: Yeren fights with drumfire that required intention to draw on magic. Lettle is a diviner, speaking prophecies by detaching from one’s mind.

Sadly, my favourite parts are also huge spoilers, so I’m leaving this review purposefully vague. Just know it’s filled with rich world-building and if you like talking animal companions - you will love this.

There’s passionate romance bordering between love and hate, deadly prophecies, poison, secrets, and royalty!

Genre - General Fiction (Adult), Sc-Fi & Fantasy, Romance
Pages - 400
Publication Date - January 23rd, 2024
Rating -
Review (No spoilers but does mention things from Synopsis)
• I ate this book up! So fast. Saara’s writing was so easy to read and enjoy at the same time! I was hooked within the first 30 pages of this book and from there I couldnt put it down. One moment I was on Chapter 4 and then I hit the end. I was so sad when there was no more to read and really hope another book is on the way.
• This book offers royalty, war, love, hate, death, magic, enemies to lovers, and more.
• Follow Yeeran, a Colonel who becomes exiled from Elven Lands and her younger sister Lettle who chases after her. Follow their journey as they are thrust into the Fae court who haven't been seen for a millennium.
• This book had me on my toes the whole time. The reason I gave this a 4/5 star rating is only because I hoped for more world building than we got. I felt it just needed some more detail. I felt it was descriptive yes but also could have had just a little more to it. I do have hope that the next book will have more world building.
• I do also really love the cover art. I think it is stunning!

Faebound was ultimately very disappointing to me. I’ve heard such good things about the author’s first trilogy (which is still on my TBR!) but Faebound didn’t work for me. I think it was originally advertised as an epic fantasy, but it is romantasy. That is no hate to romantasy, I was just expecting something different.

As a romantasy, it does the job. The romance for both couples was very insta-love, including the “enemies to lovers” one. For those playing the trope game though, there is a queer “who did this to you?” Which is quite excellent.

I found the pacing uneven; the first 50% was a slog and the last 50% jammed packed. I also felt the writing read more YA than adult, which the book is advertised as. The characters also act very young, though they are all late 20s and early 30s (there is some in story explanation for this but it was hard for me to translate still).

However, the world was so interesting! El-Arifi really said “why choose?” And wrote a whole world with Elves, Humans, AND Fae. I liked the mythology behind the races as well. I also really liked how she showed the dark realities of war and what that means for how people are raised during a neverending one.

I also loved the sheer amount of diverse characters. A+ no notes.

I received this copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

This book intricately unfolds the captivating journey of two elven sisters navigating an unfamiliar world. While the initial challenge lay in engaging with the story due to my dissatisfaction with the dialogue structure, the narrative gradually unveils a truly remarkable worldbuilding. Set against the backdrop of a magical realm where fae, elves, and humans once harmoniously coexisted, the storyline presents a modern blend of "Lord of the Rings" and "Avatar."

This fusion, skillfully rendered, effortlessly guides readers through the intricate dynamics and political intricacies of this fantastical world. The meticulous attention to worldbuilding emerges as a standout feature which provides a better understanding of the political intricacies. However, amidst this rich tapestry, my enthusiasm was tempered by a lack of connection with the main character, adding a layer of challenge to the overall reading experience. Despite this, the narrative remains a fascinating exploration of a vibrant and complex world.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Yeeran and Lettle’s relationship as sisters is so cute even when they are aggravating each other. The romances are to die for.

Saara El Arifi is an autobuy author for me... Faebound is a brilliant masterpiece and I had a great time with it.
Saara's USP is her attention to detail and the immense world building which is absolutely remarkable. I absolutely can't wait for more and to see where this adventure takes Yeeran and Lettle..

2.5
“In the beginning there were three gods.” After living peacefully for many years, they became lonely. Thus the humans, fae and elves were created. The gods granted them their greatest gift - free will. Now only the elves remain.

This book is from the POVs of Yeeran and Lettle, sisters in the Waning Clan of the elves. Yeeran has just been promoted to colonel (in her mid thirties thank you very much!) in the Waning army. Lettle is loving her life as a sassy late twenties seer. A grave mistake forces Yeeran to leave the tribe, followed by Lettle and Captain Rayan. After Yeeran accidentally kills a fae prince (they were alive?!), they are taken captive by the fae.

This was my first foray into Sapphic romantasy. I appreciated the natural representation of varied peoples and relationships. Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the book. I wasn’t overly invested in the characters or their stories. The story picked up at the end, so I may read next book.

Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

I enjoyed the world building of this book! From humans to elves, fae, and captivating animal-bonding relationships, the story was brimming with rich elements.

The overarching storyline was a delightful blend of war, politics, romance, and fantasy— seamlessly woven together. In the end some of the characters fell a bit flat for me, but overall it was an enjoyable read! 🤩