This was a really good. This is a sapphic fantasy book. It talks about gods of the sun moon and the earth and how they created fae's and elves. Theres sisterhood as well. The story unfolds really well. It was really well written. This was a breath of fresh air. There are trigger warnings that I would recommend checking out.

This has to be a fantasy book of the year. And if it’s not, it’s because I didn’t do my diligence as a bookseller in handselling this. Twists, curses, magic, and romance oh my!

This book for sure was one of my most excited books to read when I saw how stunning the cover was. Reading it was a challenge cause a lot of information was dumped on you from the get go and it really never connected with me personally. I ended up dnfing the book about 60% through cause I wasn’t really connecting with the characters or the world. It had promise of being a great book but didn’t really live up to its potential.
Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future but if it had to rate it based on what I read it would be about a 2.5⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for getting me the opportunity to read this book.

Idk why I put off reading this for so long? I really enjoyed this book. There was a lot of world building as expected from a first book in a series but one I got past the halfway point it really started picking up! I am dying to know when the next one comes out…?????

The world building and plot line in Faebound were simultaneously unique and deeply intriguing. The magic system with drumfire and bonded casting was incredibly fascinating and the characters were well thought out and engaging. Through the first 60% of the story, I was convinced that it would be a 5⭐️ read, no question. The camaraderie and loyalty shown between Yeeran, Lettle, and Rayan was admirable and I was on the edge of my toes for almost the entire time I was reading. I never knew what to expect, and even now I’m waiting with bated breath for news of the continuation of the series. What could possibly have made me change my mind about the rating if I was enjoying myself so much? The relationships. Yep, i can’t believe I’m saying this, but this story would have been so much better without the romance. I love Yeeran and Furi, even together, and think that they will be a force to be reckoned with, but their relationship felt much too “insta love” and unrealistic for their circumstances for me. I had similar feelings about Lettle and Rayan, almost as if the author forced them together without taking the time to develop their feelings. A little slow burn would have done wonders in either case to make everything flow a bit better. Then the revelation with Rayan? It felt altogether too coincidental. Toward the end, I felt like puzzle pieces were being jammed into holes to tie up the loose ends, rather than taking the time to place them into a cohesive image. Despite the bumps, however, I’m incredibly invested in the plight of Mosima and can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
This story was such a great read. There were plot twists that I didn’t see coming! I loved reading the different character POVs. The magic system was so interesting to learn about, especially the drums. I’m excited to read the next book!

As always thank you to publishers and Netgalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review!


A diverse, magical world with intriguing politics, complicated interpersonal relationships and serious talks about abuse of power and the complexities of war, sign me up!! Oh my god this absolutely deserves more hype!! Yeeran is one of my favorite characters i've read this year, her grief and guilt she lives with and the way it shows on page is absolutely gorgeous. Also the dynamic and love between her and Furi was absolutely adorable. Even through the complexities of the world they live in, the undeniable soft spot they have for each other is magnificent.
Sidenote this gives MAJO spop energy, iykyk. Also I really want an Obeah now.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC but unfortunately this book did not translate well for me. It took me almost 80% through the book to realize the characters were supposed to be in their late twenties to early thirties because they acted like they were teenagers throughout the entire book, to the point I also had to double check this was supposed to be an 'adult' fantasy and not YA. The writing itself felt very immature also, with the majority of the plot being spoiled within itself because of the prophecies riddled throughout the story. The world and characters felt like they needed to be significantly more fleshed out in order to match up to the big fantasy that I expected it to be. The romances were pretty rudimentary and borderline unbelievable between the couples, with most of their relationships and feelings being explicitly told for the reader rather than showing us throughout their actions and words.

Lots of things to love here. I love the world building, the pacing, the inclusiveness, and the character outlines. I love the bond between Yeeran and Lettle, and how different they were to each other. The romances were secondary to the main storyline, and the love scenes while not closed door, they also were not explicit.

The only thing I felt off putting was when the author occasionally told the same scene from different perspectives. These feels repetitive, and unnecessary. Overall great book, looking forward to book 2.

I tried to read / listen on audio but I just could not get into the story. Might give it another go one day. I have heard great things from other reviewers so I will keep on my TBR for now!

Faebound was highly anticipated read for me and I read it in less than two days. I wished I had loved it as dearly as I anticipated considering its blurb and sapphic storyline.

Faebound struggled to wow me from its prose to its execution. While I still enjoyed the plot and worldbuilding, I found both to be very two-dimensional. On one hand, I appreciated being thrown into the story and learning as the characters journeyed through their respective stories. On the other, I found myself wanting more out of it all. More details, more exposition, more dimension, and overall tension within the story and between characters.

The plot, and unfortunately the characters too, were so shallow that I almost didn't care for the sapphic subplot. Not only was it very sidelined, it did not have the intense build and tension I usually look for. One moment Yeeran and Furi didn't speak, the next they were sharing stolen glances in each other's directions. When it came to the intimate scenes (sapphic and otherwise), they were very rushed and emotionless. It added to the overall feeling that the romance was merely there to be checked off.

Similarly, all conflict happened and was resolved within a page to two pages maximum. It lacked tension to the point where I simply ceased to care about the overarching conflict.

I wanted so bad to have loved this but it really didn't even impress me. Nevertheless, thank you Saara El-Arifi, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This book was not as good as I thought it would be. Props to El-Arifi for finishing a book and having an interesting premise, but it just did not pan out how it could have. And the thing is, it had SO MUCH potential with the POC main characters and the ages of the characters and the magic system and prophecies etc. The plot was so boring and the characters - I didn't really care about it. I felt like I was skimming pages just trying to get to the interesting parts and then they never came. And the potential for a great Sapphic love story? Just bungled honestly, I wish I could have been the editor for this book so that I could have given so many pointers to draw readers in and keep them interested. The prophecy thing fell flat - it ruined any kind of surprise or tension, the romance was bland and the writing was honestly mediocre. I might try other books by this author but this being the first one i've tried, I'm not super motivated to keep going. This book's marketing and special editions were better than the book itself.

The relationships in this book were absolutely chefs kiss. The familial relationships AND the romantic relationships had me tearing up, throwing the book across the room, and turning the page faster so I could find out what happens next. These characters are so relatable, even in such a unique world.

The world building and magic system is unlike anything I've read, and I'm excited to dive in deeper. I was book one in this series was a little longer and a little less world build-y. I wanted more action right off the bat.

With the amount of hype surrounding this book, I thought I was going to be picking up my next favorite read (especially with such a gorgeous cover!!). Instead... I was ultimately disappointed.

None of the relationships in this book made sense to me besides Yeeran and her first love (apologies for forgetting her name). They seemed like a good couple, although I'm sure the second book will have reasons as to why the first love was actually a horrible elf and undeserving of love. Lettle and Rayan's romance was WAYYYYY too insta-lovey dovey for me. I saw other reviews referring to it as a slowburn - WHERE?? We are made to presume they will fall in love from the moment they meet and then that's the only description we get of the two are their longing stares and protectiveness of each other - EVEN THOUGH THEY BARELY KNOW EACH OTHER AT THIS POINT.

I didn't find myself growing attached to any of the characters, and the plot felt way too long and clunky. I may pick up the second book, but I'm honestly not sure if I'll remember enough by the time it comes out to know what's going on. While I guessed the major plot twists, I'm probably likely to forget them before picking up the sequel.

If you're a fan of LGBTQ romantasy stories that are just ultimately kind of average but with plenty of elements that give it SO MUCH POTENTIAL, then this will be a perfect story for you!

Faebound is an incredible fantasy about two sisters Yeeran, a soldier and her sister, Lettle, a prophet. I was enthralled by the telling of the gods and goddesses that depicted the creation of the humans, fae and elves. The inclusion of Yeeran's sapphic relationship and Lettle's chronic pain and disability enrich an already beautifully written book. I read this book in one sitting and can not wait for book two. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for my digital ARC.

What an utter delight. I really enjoy Saara El'Arifi's writing and their worldbuilding. The characters are so vivid and you just get absolutely sucked in. I do think this one lived up to the hype -- I enjoyed it immensely. 5/5.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had good world building and explanations for a fantasy book. I was hooked from the beginning. I'm excited for the rest of this series

This is a story about two elven sisters, one blessed with battle and one blessed with prophecy, and their journey discovering that the fae are real when they are banished from their elven homeland. We get to see the underground world of the fae, their bonded animal companions, a tree of souls, and the different magic they are able to harness. There are romance and mystery subplots. Overall it was a so so book and Im not sure I will read the next in the series.

Thank you netgalley for this eARC!

'Faebound' was so captivating. I enjoyed the richly developed characters and the magic system that felt refreshingly unique. Thats harder to find these days. Each character felt easy to connect with in their own way. The author's world-building was immersive and dropped me into a vibrant fantasy world, What stood out most to me was the innovative magic system, which added layers of depth and complexity to the story. Overall, 'Faebound' left me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, eager to delve deeper into this captivating world and follow the characters on their next adventure."

Some of the most multi-demensional, diverse characters in a book I have ever experienced. The worldbuilding was unique, the prose beautiful. Bravo!