Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing group- Ballentine, Del Rey for the arc to read this book. I loved the premise of this book and was very excited to jump right into this world. Afro-based fantasies are my absolute favorite so I had extremely high expectations of this novel.

Overall, I enjoyed the worldbuilding, especially the Fae world, and the vibes in this book. My favorite parts were the character diversity, the afro based magic linked to the drums, the queer normative society, the disabled representation, sapphic romance, and the animal connections. The drum magic in this story is very unique and I loved that the author created something special. I also enjoyed the buildup of the enemies to lovers relationship, but once established, it fell a bit flat for me. The other romance started off a bit rough, but transitioned better.

What didn't work for me was the distance felt between the characters and myself as a reader. I could not fully connect with the characters, and I did not feel a solid sisterly connection between Yeeran and Lettle even though they are the main voices within this story. Most of the time, they just come across as robotically doing things for each other, rather than being able to feel the deep love that we're told about. Some of the thought processes, conversations, and decisions of the characters felt a bit juvenile even though these were all grown adults. As a commander, Yeeran came off a bit naive and idealistic about the realities of war, and often times left me exasperated by her thoughts and plans. At others times, the switch in povs threw me off as it felt like a time loop of the previous chapter, with not much new information being discovered.

My favorite characters were Rayan, Furi, and Pila - they were the only ones operating with the most logic lolol. I look forward to reading other installments in this series and the authors other books!

I could not put this book down! I loved the setting and pacing of the book, there was always new information to learn every page. The setting was amazing, and I loved the magic system. It was easy to understand without feeling like legend lore was constantly being dumped.

For the most part I was very impressed with the foreshadowing in this book. Information was foreshadowed in the best way where if you were paying attention it was easy to play a guessing game at what happened. But also there were peppered in some shocking twists that did make sense. This book did not try to add plot twists for shock value alone which made it enjoyable.

I enjoy fantasy books that challenge the preconceptions of the characters and their biases. And how you can love your family but also disagree with their views. I did wish that by the end some characters were able to compromise and see things a different way. First steps were taken but I feel like it was 1 step forward and 3 back.

I am very excited to read more from this series, and see the ending of prophecies mentioned in the first book.

I DEVOURED this book in two days…it has definitely been a minute for a book to really pique my interest like this. El-Arifi does an incredible job with the world creation and building of a plot that has lasting power for the subsequent books in the trilogy.

The world, as created by the gods, had three races: Fae, Humans, and Elves. War, disease, and competition has led many to believe that only the elves are left and the remaining eleven tribes are engaged in a “Forever War” to control the most valuable and vital resources.

Yeeran, an elven soldier and commander dedicated to her tribe, has been exiled beyond her tribe’s land for a costly mistake. Her sister Lettle and former captain, Rayan follow her into exile. As Yeeran searches for a way back into her chieftain’s good graces, the trio find themselves in a whole new world and soon realize that the elves are not the only ones to remain. The fae have been residing underground for generations due to curse placed upon them by the last human remaining. New alliances and romances will be formed in the time Yeeran, Lettle, and Rayan spend with the fae. If given the choice to return, will they? Even if it costs everything they have begun to value?

I loved the creation lore and the how the plot dipped into divinization and prophecy. Each character had their own individual thread of importance and they were woven together so well that I didn’t look for the plot twist until it was right in front of me. There are a few romantic interludes between characters and I appreciate the focus on gender fluidity throughout the plot.

3.5/5

I really wanted to love this book. The world building was great and I was drawn into it right away. I loved the unique magic system, the culture, and the beginning was really promising with the history of the world. I thought that both Yeeran and Lettle were good protagonists, and I liked how we got two very different perspectives of the story from the two sisters.

I feel like not much actually happened in the book? Most of the book kind of fell flat for me. I wanted more plot, more drama, more SOMETHING, and started losing interest about halfway through the story. Everything that happened was very predictable, and I saw the "plot twists" a mile away partly thanks to the very easy to decipher prophecies.

I was also expecting a really passionate love/hate romance, and instead got hate that is suddenly love (which is also still hate?) with next to zero earned affection in the middle.

Faebound has a really neat premise, and I think the trilogy has a lot of promise, albeit a slow start in book 1. I am hoping that book 2 picks up a bit in pace and depth, and am looking forward to seeing where this story goes.

First things first, I love the queer, disabled, and Afro/Afro tradition representation in this book! While I think we're definitely getting more fantasy books (as other genres) with more queer representation, there still isn't enough disabled and BIPOC representation (I specify this because we do often get Asian representation in the form of some side character from a nearby nation in the book's world that has some Asian-inspired culture and physical features in the form of olive/tan skin, almond/slanted eyes, and their peoples are usually skilled warriors/fighters, usually with swords, lol).

I enjoyed the world-building in this and the introduction to the characters. That said, it did feel more like it was building up to *something* than actually having those elements within this story. I can see it setting up for a great series, though! It ended in a way that makes me curious enough to read the next installment. There's a big twist at the end that I enjoyed and it broke my heart a little. Also, I LOVE the Obeah and hope we get so much more of them, their wisdom, and goofy thoughts. I love a good found family trope, so I enjoyed the friendships that built in this first book but based on another big twist at the end surrounding the identity of one of the group members, I'm sure these bonds will be tested and we, the readers, will be shattered as the story develops further, lol. Can't wait!

Thanks to the author, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley & Del Rey for the eARC and giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

I knew going into this book I would enjoy it (fae & elves in a sapphic fantasy romance ??? what more could you want) but wow was I so fully immersed in this world. It was so easy to connect with these characters and engross myself in their world, and the way the story unfolded was so clever, there were so many little twists and turns that made it so much more interesting and made it harder to put the book down. I loved the world building, the diverse characters, the magic system & the romance, and it was such a captivating beginning to a story that I cannot wait to get more of.

In Faebound, by Saara El-Arifi, we meet Yeeran, a woman whose life has been entwined with bloodshed from the very beginning. Raised to inherit a war that has claimed countless lives, Yeeran now holds the rank of Colonel. On the other side is her sister Lettle, a visionary attempting to foresee a way out of their troubles. After a routine patrol results in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers, Yeeran is banished from the elven lands to wander the wilderness. Determined to reunite with her sister, Lettle braves the harsh landscape, leading to a fateful encounter with the fae – beings believed to be long dead.

Forced into the fae's hidden world against their will, Yeeran and Lettle face the harsh reception of the fae court. Yeeran finds herself on trial for the murder of their prince but discovers a long-awaited legacy as a half-fae – someone who can bond with beings of immense power, becoming Faebound. With their origins shrouded in mystery and danger lurking from those who seek their demise, the sisters must gather allies and unveil a truth that threatens to shatter an already unstable world.

In this sensational fantasy series debut by Saara El-Arifi, curses, prophecies, and magic are woven together with a compelling narrative. "Faebound" fulfills the yearning for fae-centered fantasy, delving into quests for truth, the end of generational traumas, and the alteration of history's power over civilizations. El-Arifi skillfully crafts intricate relationships between women, both romantic and familial, making her a fantasy author to watch.

The story unfolds in a brutal landscape ravaged by war, following two sisters on separate paths that must eventually converge. Yeeran, embracing her fate as a Faebound, grapples with newfound abilities, while Lettle, a dreamer, must harness her power of divination. The tale is rooted in the profound bond between the sisters, emphasizing the strength derived from sisterhood amid immense strife and intergenerational consequences of war.

While Yeeran takes center stage as she navigates her role as a Faebound, Lettle's perspective remains equally captivating. Lettle, the sister left behind, strives to hold things together and make sense of her place in a world determined to sideline her. Themes of prophecy and divination intertwine with her arc, portraying her journey of commanding divination and shaping her destiny.

The narrative also explores an enemies-to-lovers arc, tied intricately to the themes of truth and the power of close bonds. With elements of drum magic, legacies, and surprising twists, Faebound emerges as a fast-paced, outstanding series debut. This dark and glorious fae story is fueled by love, sisterhood, truth, and the desire to end war.

Special thanks to Del Rey for providing an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings include death, blood, violence, murder, war, and grief.

Faebound will be published on January 23, 2024.

I’ll start by saying that when I got approved for this e-ARC, I squealed with excitement 🤩 Heard a few readers saying Faebound was good, so I had high expectations and it definitely met them – it was really good!

Faebound is an exquisite and enjoyable read with a good balance of war politics, romance, and self-perseverance. Its wonderful magic system and enthralling world-building will get you immersed in no time!

The story is set in an Afro/Arab inspired world, told in Dual POV (my favorite 🤭) by our elven sisters, FMCs Yeeran and Lettle, who couldn’t be more different. Unquestionably, this made them more interesting. We get to experience their snarky bickering with each other, their contrasting perspectives, while both navigate a complicated journey and deal with themes such as family issues, forbidden love, an emerging war, and fate/self-fulfilling prophecies.

Loved how the story focuses on appreciating and exploring their identities – their roots and backgrounds. Yeeran and Lettle became enjoyable characters from the get-go. I adored Lettle's perseverance and unconditional love for her sister and Yeeran’s strong conviction to keep her sister safe, no matter what. (These girls can put up a FIGHT, I’ll tell you that ⚔️🥊💥) Incredible, well-written characters.

I enjoyed the well-crafted magic system. It’s layered with Fae magic, alluring divination 🔮✨ and drumbeat magic. Some of the aspects at first glance might seem dull, like playing an instrument in a war instead of a sword, but let me just say that it’s very intriguing how primal it felt reading about it, I was imagining the rhythms and spells of percussions.🪘I felt the story came to life in a fascinating and piercing emotional way – wielding powerful magic and music? Loved that!

As for the Fae court – they were unpredictable. I felt like they have an ancient otherworldly feel to them, like you'll never truly quite understand them. I didn't expect to like them at first but they grew up on me. My favorite part was the tension and slow burn between the characters, it held my attention throughout the book - truly an enemies to lovers moment! 🖤😈🗡️ I’m interested to find out what happens next in the upcoming book — well done, Saara! 👏

If you’re looking for a fantasy book with strong and smart FMCs, prophecies, furry animal companions, sisterhood, and that it honors the journeys of LGBTQ+ characters, pick up this book pronto!

Huge thanks to Random House – Ballantine & Del Rey Publishing Groups / the author Saara El-Arifi and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

wowowowow 4 stars!

thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing my advanced review copy. ✨

i absolutely devoured this book

i'd recommend reading this book if you're looking for:

- dual POV
- sapphic romance (with a touch of 🌶️)
- African-inspired fantasy with elements of mythology
- gorgeous, dynamic worldbuilding
- soul connections
- a refreshing take on fae and elves, where nothing seemed too copy + paste from other books i've read
- secrets! poison! prophecies!
- disability and queer representation

overall, i do wish there was more depth in some aspects of the romance between both main characters. also, and i can't believe i'm typing this, but i wanted this book to be LONGER? i feel like i needed more character/plot development to become more invested in the overall story and prepare for what's to come in the next book.

will definitely be reading more from Saara El-Arifi!

Yeeran is a colonel of the Waning Moon Elven army, fighting in the forever war against the Crescent Moon tribe. Her sister, Lettle is a diviner who spends her life trying interpret prophecies and understand the future. In their world, there used to be elves, fae and humans, but now only the elves remain. After Yeeran goes against orders and is attacked by the Crescent tribe, she is exiled from the Elven lands. Lettle and Rayan, Yeeran’s Captain, follow her to the wilderness only to discover the impossible as they are taken prisoner by a group of Fae warriors. The group struggles with love, loyalty, and honor, all while their understanding of the world has completely changed.

This book absolutely blew me away. Faebound is unlike anything else I have ever read and I’m already dying for the next book. The setting is a unique, queernormative world that is full of magic and mystery. Faebound is heavily character driven, which I love, and I am obsessed with these characters that adapt and change throughout this book. This book also dives into the concepts of Utopia and Dystopia within their world and where each civilization lands, for no one place is perfect. The romance in this book was great (open door), and includes both F/F and M/F scenes. On top of everything else, there are bonded animal companions. If you loved the bonded dragons from Fourth Wing, you will adore these bonded creatures. Overall, I loved this book so much, and I’m so happy it's my first 5 star of the year.

What I loved:
The queernormative World
The romance
The Character driven plot
Bonded animal companions
The Magic system
Court politics

Thank you so much NetGalley and Del Rey books for this ARC!
If you are interested in this book, it will be published TOMORROW (Jan, 23rd) in the US and is already available in the UK.

Review posted to @getbookiwithit on Instagram and on goodreads, January 22nd. Link to review below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2aPK_Dr9ia/?igsh=MTIybzF5aGlzOHU5Mw==

First, a huge thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Happy Release-Day Eve! This book has been highly anticipated (it was one of my most anticipated) and I can understand why. The concept felt more original than some of the books in this genre. It has a bit of fae/elf magic, prophesy, political intrigue, war, interpersonal tension, and romance.

Unfortunately, the execution just missed the mark for me. It was missing that spark that makes a book great. I can usually measure how engaging a book is both by how long it takes me to read and how many other books I pick up while I’m reading it. If I don’t pick up another book and read it straight through, the book unequivocally has my interest and attention. Faebound took me 2 to 4x as long to read than it should have and I read 3 other books in the interim. The pacing felt very slow to me throughout. I would consider the world building a strength, though I wouldn’t call the book particularly atmospheric. The characters were complex and well developed, but it became immediately apparent to me that I wasn’t rooting for either of the main characters. I only found one side character (and one tertiary character) really likable and sympathetic. I generally prefer reading about individuals I’m rooting for, but that’s just me. There were times it felt terribly formulaic and other times quite original, where the twists were unexpected. I didn’t love the military/political content - a clear personal preference - and felt the romance was not executed as deftly as it could have been.

Overall, I know this book has an audience who will enjoy it, I’m just not that audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Faebound was one of my top anticipated books for 2024 and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the worldbuilding and the romance and I could not put it down! I thought the book was well-written and the author keeps you on your toes with the many twists and surprises in the story. Looking forward to book 2!

This is my first #netgalley review for an ARC of Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

This book started very strong and ended very strong, however the story plateaued for me around the halfway mark. There were many parts that felt needed to be fleshed out a bit more as things in this story tend to happen quickly with little momentum. This, to me, lessens the emotional investment I had with the story and the characters. The storytelling is very matter of fact and straight to the point, but at times felt like a first draft of ideas rather than a full, robust story.

The strengths of the book: the unique world, the character of fae familiar Pila, the gender fluid characters and overall queer normalizing within the story was super refreshing, the divination aspect was interesting to me as well as the twists that helped tie up the story at the end. The pitfalls were: the rushed plot lines, lack of explanation in some parts while over-repeating other points to the point of annoyance, the writing was simplistic and the characters had little depth and I was unable to truly emotionally connect to any of them. I found myself questioning the main character Yeeran a lot during the entire story as I could not understand her motives or loyalties after a blatant misunderstanding and betrayal early in the story. I also found the notes on the characters and vocabulary AFTER I had finished the book (it’s at the very end) and I strongly felt this information would’ve been more useful to me at the start of the book so I could know to reference it. Characters are introduced to us throughout the novel who I had a hard time keeping straight.

Overall I’m giving this 3 stars as I wasn’t overwhelmingly engaged with this story, however I did think it had some strengths overall and potential for more growth in sequels.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for this advanced copy of #faebound

DNF @ 15%. Author relies heavily on spoon feeding the reader when it’s not at all necessary and it makes the book boring. We also have so many tropes at play here and you can tell nothing inventive will be done, making this sound and feel like 2010s fantasy. Not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Ray for a copy of Faebound!

4/5 Stars | This book is an absolute delight, encapsulating everything wonderful about romantasy!

"Faebound" follows the journey of two sisters, both Elves, as they discover the long-lost fae world, encountering danger and romance along the way. From a land marked by poverty and war, Yeeran, a colonel in the elf army, and Lette, a diviner, unexpectedly find themselves at the heart of the hidden fae realm.

Yeeran and Lette grapple with the circumstances that led them to this enchanting world, forcing them to question their preconceived notions about life. The narrative beautifully explores themes of forgiveness, openness, and the prejudices ingrained in societal norms. The characters evolve, learning to reconsider their biases and come to terms with past mistakes.

The book is well-paced, maintaining my interest from start to finish. Despite some plot points being hinted at through foreshadowing, the story still surprised me with unexpected twists.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

The good:
- I really appreciated the diverse cast of characters (race, gender, sexuality, disabilities) and how normalized much of this is in society.
- Loved the concept of the world and magic, though the worldbuilding could have been better. I hope that future books will dive into the elven culture more and we get a more rational explanation of the war.

The not so great:
- Not an actual criticism, but, wow I hate the elves' magic system and their obsession with killing obeah (and with war). This was a bold way to open the book.
- I'm not one for military fantasy, luckily this becomes less of a focus later in the book.
- The author really hits you over the head with repetitive foreshadowing and prophecies. As a result, the plot is predictable, yet none of the characters seem able to put 2 and 2 together. The last "reveal" is especially egregious. A lot of the lore is explained straight off the bat when it might have served the story better to have a little more mystery.
- All of the characters are super hot and we're reminded of this every few pages because everyone is so thirsty despite being in a brutal war, <spoiler> or held captive and supposedly terrified for their lives </spoiler>
- Romantasy readers might enjoy this more. I am not a fan of extraneous romance or spice in my fantasy. All the romance felt rushed, underdeveloped, and honestly a bit weird in some of the contexts.
- None of the characters really hit for me. They felt pretty surface level, and all seemed to act much younger than their age. Yeeran is especially unlikeable and unsympathetic. She's bloodthirsty, prejudiced, and very naive/ignorant when it comes to the elven war. She gets only mildly more tolerable throughout the story. Maybe she will have a bit more growth in the next installment when <spoiler> she returns to the elven lands with a fresh perspective </spoiler>.
- The writing just wasn't good. Clunky and awkward, and could have used some more thorough editing.

Giving this a 2.75 rounded up, there were some big flaws that could not be ignored and took me out of the story. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series or not. I imagine Booktok romantasy readers will enjoy this one.

Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The world building, the character relationships, the magic system, the lore, it all hooked me. I was so excited to get my hands on this one early, and the reality is the more I got into it, the more I thought “This is not the right book for me right now.” I think in a few months when I go back for a reread I will have a clearer mind to really get into it, but for right now, it left me wanting. I think perhaps I also had it hyped up quite a bit thanks to social that I was expecting more? Different? I’m still out to lunch on my full feels here.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and Saara El-Arifi for letting me review this ARC! Of note, I also got the Fairyloot Exclusive Edition which has a gorgeous cover and sprayed edges from my monthly subscription.

I think the setting, magic system, and characters had the opportunity to be fantastic but I personally struggled with the predictability. I feel like there was minimal growth in character relationships, and that it was simply stated that they were enemies and now they're lovers. There wasn't tension or development in either of the main characters relationships.

Yeeran is a warrior in the elven army and has only known violence her whole life. When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran's exile from the Elven lands, she and her younger sister, Lettle, encounter the fae—a community that hasn't been seen for a millennium and only exists in the legends. The sisters are thrust into a hostile world that wants the elves dead and must tread carefully to survive.

I loved FAEBOUND so much I finished it in two sittings. What's better than a queer fantasy with magic, sisterhood, and tons of twists & turns? I love that the world-building isn't too info-dumpy, and El-Arifi slowly eases the readers into various terms while not sacrificing the tension in the story. I was immediately sucked into the world of FAEBOUND and was on the edge of my seat the entire time!

My favorite part about FAEBOUND is the sisterhood dynamic. As the first-born, I felt Yeeran's anxiety of "carrying the family" so keenly, and sometimes grew tired of Lettle's daydreaming 🤣 Raise your hand if your younger sibling got away with way more sh*t growing up than you did 🙈 El-Arifi does a phenomenal job capturing Yeeran & Lettle's voices, making the alternating POV an absolute joy to read.

Even though FAEBOUND is almost 400 pages, El-Arifi's compelling writing and perfect pacing made it seem like a 200-page read, and I totally wouldn't mind reading another 200 pages! Actually, I didn't want the story to end at all, and I can't believe I have to wait to read the sequel(s). What am I supposed to do now 🥲

✨”You are my starlight, always.”✨

“Faebound” is honestly a REALLY good book for fantasy novices or people who want to start dipping their toes in the genre. The characters are so colorful and the characters world building was remarkable! It takes a lot—in my opinion —to take something like fae and elves and give it a different and unique spin!

The plot twists were really fun to figure out and I was able to like, pick up clues as I read it. The animals the whole “daemon” bond was giving “Golden Compass” which I love! How basically all characters are gender fluid and stuff like that, was also a breath of fresh air.

The only setback would be dialogue. While characters are colorful and amazing to behold, the way they spoke was a bit robotic. Also, the pacing was a bit all over the place. Not really fast paced, but not really slow and sometimes too slow?

Regardless, I devoured this over a weekend and would HAPPILY read the sequel!

Thank you for the ARC, Del Rey!