Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

I wasn’t ready to love Cursebound more than Faebound... but I did. This sequel ate—more tension, more twists, and a lot more Lettle being That Girl. The world is still a bit much sometimes (so many threads!), and I did side-eye a few insta-love moments. But the magic? The drama? The stakes?? Yeah. I’m locked in. Book three can’t come fast enough.

A great installment in the series. Not as action-packed as the first one, but I appreciated the further development of the characters. I can't wait to see how it's all wrapped up!

I love these sisters. I love these character but goodness Yeeran I would like to think a little more sometimes. Overall fun read!

saara el-arifi writes books that are so inclusive yet so gay at the same time. (aka books for me.) i spent a whole year thinking about the sequel to faebound and it did not disappoint. i cannot said until book 3.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the ARC, I got the first one as an ARC last year and instantly got pre-approved for the second one and THANKS for that because I loved this book.
I’m also a little late on the review but on time for Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈
As with the first book I LOVE all the type of representation in this series, lesbian, gay, nb, trans and everything in between that assimilates to our reality.
This is my first series by El-Arifi, The Final Strife’s currently on my shelf though, but I enjoy so much the fierce way her characters are written, even the antagonists in the sense that they do what they do because they’re passionate and completely believe the purpose behind their actions.

I can’t wait for the 3rd book on this saga!

I enjoyed this sequel a little more than I enjoyed the first book. Lettle is still my favorite character and I loved the addition of Alder. He was funny and charming and really helped the narrative. Furi's POV was surprising to me but I felt it was also something the first book lacked in. I liked being able to see her thoughts/perspective on everything that was happening. She should have had a POV in the first book too honestly so I could better understand how she and Yeeran came to love each other so quickly. What I did not like though was how fast Golan and Alder came to love each other in this novel. As it was with the first book when I felt like Furi and Yeeran happened too fast, the same can be said for these two. I could see the inklings of their relationship when they first met but I've never been a "love at first sight" trope kind of girl. I knew Alder would have no qualms about Golan being Lightless or vice versa with Alder being elven (spoiler: he's actually not but that's a different story) but I still expected Golan to have some qualms about jumping into a relationship especially since his last one ended very badly. All this to say that, I'm glad the prophecy about Rayan and Lettle finally came to light but I don't think it's fair for Rayan to be this upset when he literally put Lettle in a situation that nearly got her killed. They both lied about something but this shouldn't be what breaks them apart.

I really enjoyed the second book even more than the first! Great world building, lots of angst and political intrigue. A great mix of love interests mm, ff & fm. I love how it combines the worlds of elves vs fae and humans. Looking forward to the conclusion.

I did not need to reread Faebound in order to read this. I enjoyed the introduction of Alder in this book. Wonderful world building and complex characters make this story. I really love being immersed in this world and cannot wait for the third installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
4 stars

I loved this continuation of this series, and I also loved how much the world expanded with this book. Also, that cliffhanger??? How am I supposed to wait for what comes next???

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this arc! I read Faebound about a year and a half ago, and this was a really great sequel job done by El-Arifi. I find that the issues I had with the first book persist -- remaining so frustrated with the sisters' relationship, the magic system not capturing me enough. The plot twist and addition of new characters was a treat. So thankful for this early access.

This book was fantastic. El-Arifi did the second book so brilliantly. Pacing was brilliant, characters were developed. I loved this book.

Ho avuto problemi con il ritmo della storia, un po' come era successo con il primo libro. Alcune cose (come lo scontro) sono state tirate via mentre altre sono sembrate trascinarsi.
Speravo in una ripresa in questo secondo libro, ma purtroppo non c'è stata

Cursebound is a richly imagined continuation of the Faebound trilogy that still struggles to find its rhythm. The worldbuilding remains vivid, and the sisters Yeeran and Lettle continue to feel authentic as they wrestle with political intrigue and personal conflict. Alder’s introduction adds welcome depth and fresh tension, but too often the story feels like it is merely laying groundwork for the finale.

The emotional stakes are clear—power, loyalty, and the bonds of family—but the pacing is uneven. Some scenes build genuine suspense, while others slow to a crawl, leaving me waiting for the narrative to regain momentum. There are moments of true magic in the prose and glimpses of character growth, yet the plot frequently feels like it exists only to bridge to the next book rather than stand on its own.

If you loved Faebound and want to spend more time in this world, Cursebound will satisfy that urge. Its strengths lie in the lush setting and characters you care about, even if the execution sometimes falters. I’m curious to see how Saara El-Arifi pulls everything together in the finale, but on its own this installment earns three stars.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before its publication date.

I loved Faebound, and I was so excited to get to read the next book in the series. It did NOT disappoint. Now, unfortunately, I have the long wait until the final book in the series in order to find out what happens to some of my favorite fantasy characters. I was caught by surprise a few times by things that happened in the story, and even found myself gasping out-loud one time.

Ok I liked Faebound (book 1) but I lovvvvved Cursebound. No second book slump here that is for sure. In fact it made me appreciate the first book more and I even thought about rereading it (didn’t because who has the time for that 🤣). I feel like Faebound as Saara il Arifi playing the long game for this series because now in hindsight it really laid the ground work for world and character building for the second one.

I love Yeeran and Lettle’s messy sister relationship in this book. This is definitely a relationship I love to see. I did miss more face time with the other characters like the sisters significant others Rayan and Furi. Pila the obeah is the best still. And the addition of Alder who is part of the nomadic elfs is really interesting as well.

Basically this book is such a great hinge point. It really explores the tensions the characters are feeling between two poles. Yeeran is between war/warrior past and love, Lettle between her sight and what it has shown her, Furi between duty and vengeance.

They are bound to the curse but they are also bound to each other, their people, their love, and by fate that is seeming to pull them all together (shout out to the magic tree because I love a magic tree).

Fantasy is so hard to speak to because I feel like fantasy readers tend to have either very specific asks or none at all. If you like elf, fae, and human linked mythology that is in a non westernized fantasy world, this might be a book (book series) for you. I also really like the magic system but also feel like this is something in the book series I still don’t know a ton about and I’m just letting Il Arifi lead me wherever she wants. I also feel like these books could have been like 200 pages longer and I wouldn’t have minded because I wanted more of the characters, world building, magic, plot etc but that also didn’t detract from my appreciation of this book.

In Faebound’s sequal, Cursebound, fresh from the heartache of seeing Yeeran and Furi part ways, and Lettle and Rayan think they’ve found peace in each other’s arms, and nothing left behind in Faebound will turn out how they think.
With Yeeran caught up with Furi, but still holding thoughts and loyalty to the queen who banished her, and Lettle trying to survive court life as not being fae, both uncover enemies where they thought they had allies, and the chance of breaking a cycles long curse may slip through their fingers.
I feel like a lot of the world building that happened in Faebound really set up Cursebound to be a better story, some of the early tangible points about the magical land and how the politics of the elves unfolds carry across well.
While I appreciate some of the comments other readers have noted about the writing style, and its what put me off in book one (which I gave four stars to), I was more used to the writer’s voice this time around, and enjoyed the story more.
What really brought this into five stars was the natural progression of the plot twists. I did see who the enemy was going to be very early on, but as a writer/editor used to picking up on these, they felt natural and well evolved to suit what is to come in the next installment.
This darker installment of the story really had some heart wrenching moments with unforeseen consequences that are making me look forward to the next book.

WHATTT?!?!!? this was crazy. CRAZY. i will say, it didn't bring the scenery/atmospheric awe that faebound did, but that's because we're all into plot with this one. truly, cue in wendy williams. air strike! bomb them! bomb them again! keep bombing them!

A sweeping, character-driven sequel that deepens the fae and elven conflict, Cursebound delivers political intrigue, forbidden magic, and emotional stakes—though some pacing issues hold it back.

✨ A warrior torn between love and duty 💫 A seer desperate to break an ancient curse 🏹 A world of fae courts, prophecy, and war

El-Arifi’s storytelling remains compelling, with Yeeran and Lettle’s journeys pulling readers into a richly woven world of alliances and betrayals. The romance and tension are gripping, though some plot twists feel predictable, and certain sections slow the momentum.

If you love fae mythology, morally grey characters, and high-stakes fantasy, this is a strong continuation of Faebound!

The saga of elven sisters, Yeeran and Lettle continues in “Cursebound,” the sequel to Saara El-Arifi’s romantic, fantasy “Faebound.” Torn apart by war and the division between elves and fae, Yeeran and Lettle seek to uncover the truth at the heart of this conflict. But in doing so, the sisters put their lives, and their own hearts, at risk. By far, the most striking feature of this trilogy is the world building. El-Arifi crafts an intriguing world loosely inspired by African cultures and geography, a refreshing take in comparison to the more euro-centric stories of elves and fae. “Cursebound” introduces new characters, including the nomadic Alder, who falls right in with our found family. The plot is relatively straightforward but the unique world and the endearing cast of characters make this series and entertaining read for fantasy enthusiasts.

Okay. Okay. I am still reeling. After absolutely devouring Faebound, I was equal parts thrilled and terrified to dive into Cursebound. Sequels can be tricky, right? But wow, did Saara El-Arifi stick the landing. This book is rich with tension, secrets, and oh-so-delicious drama. It’s everything I loved about book one...but darker, twistier, and even more emotionally charged.

The stakes are so much higher this time, and El-Arifi doesn’t hold back. We see the fallout of choices made, with characters pushed to their breaking points (sometimes literally). The world expands in fascinating ways, especially with the deeper dive into fae politics and curse lore . And the magic system? Still fresh and beautifully complex. There’s also something deeply satisfying about the way El-Arifi builds on earlier foreshadowing without ever spoon-feeding you. You feel like a clever little reader for catching on, and I live for that.

I won’t spoil too much, but the dynamic between Yeeran and Lettle burns. Their relationship is still gorgeously complicated - equal parts love, duty, betrayal, and longing. That slow burn tension sizzles in every scene they share. At one point I just muttered “kiss already” to myself like a lunatic. If you like morally grey decisions and characters who are deeply, achingly human even when they’re not, this book delivers.

A favorite quote that knocked the wind out of me:
“Power isn’t about who holds the blade - it’s about who everyone believes will use it.”
(Chills. Literal chills.)

The only reason I’m shaving off half a star is that the pacing dipped just a smidge in the middle, just enough to make me glance at how many pages were left before it picked up again like a runaway cart down a mountain path.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️ There’s more heat this time, with a few steamy scenes that aren’t overly graphic but definitely turn the tension up a notch.

All in all, Cursebound is a triumph and a solid 4.5 stars from me. Gritty, emotional, and utterly unputdownable. If you loved Faebound, you need to see where this story goes - you won’t be disappointed.