Faebound introduced readers to a world inhabited by elves locked in a Forever War, ages after the passing of both fae and humans. But Yeeran, an elf commander exiled from her home by her chieftain and lover, soon discovers that the fae are still alive, if not well: bound by the last of the humans to an idyllic prison. Now the lover of the fae queen Furi and bonded to the catlike obeah—magical beings sacred to fae but hunted by elves—Yeeran finds herself entwined with the fate of the fae.

Cursebound is the second book of the trilogy, placing Yeeran and her seer sister Lettle at the center of political turmoil. There is unrest among the Lightless—fae unbonded to an obeah and thus lacking fae magic—as their situation renders them second-class citizens among their own people. As attempts are made on Lettle's life, the sisters attempt to navigate the intersection of prophecy and politics. Equality among the fae is just one of their goals: they also seek to break the curse of human magic binding the fae to their home. The appearance of Alder, a Nomadic elf with an affinity for obeah and a tendency to speak a strange language when sleepwalking, could change things for the better. But the four factions of elves, once at war, have set their sights on the fae, meaning time is running short.

Faebound, for all its excellent worldbuilding and stunning characters, occasionally showed its hand a little too much when it came to Lettle's prophecies. Rather than making the audience feel clever, it sometimes left Lettle looking a bit slow. Fortunately, El-Arifi has stepped up in Cursebound, striking the exact right balance between reader awareness and character discovery. Some threads can be picked up on and chased down; others will leave the reader guessing right up until the tense moment of discovery. El-Arifi also manages to do something few writers can: create tension from lack of communication without it feeling contrived. All the main characters suffer from the same fear of honesty, leading to a deluge of poor choices; but they are also caught in their hypocrisy when they confront each other about it, or kick off far-reaching consequences. But what shines most is the setting of the trilogy: a delicately intertwined world of magic, where humans are (for a change) the beings of legend and nothing is ever truly as it seems. Cursebound has set the stage for what will hopefully be an incredible finale.

Cursebound is the second book in the romantasy trilogy written by Saara El-Arifi. Well, I do feel like some of the pacing issues that kept me from falling and enjoying the first book were resolved in this novel, I have new concerns with the second book.

Disclaimer: I read this as a tandem read with the e-book and the audiobook. Thank you to NetGalley and the Penguin Random House audiobook influencer club for the free advanced reader copies. These are my honest and voluntary thoughts and review.

Not to dwell on the past, but I had some issues with Faebound. The characters seemed a little surface level and not very developed. The pacing was also very jerky and entirely too slow in places. I do feel like the pacing issue was resolved in cursebound. I did not have loads of downtime where I became disinterested in the story or it lost my attention. However, the characters still continued to have almost no development or growth, and were very much the exact same character as they were at the beginning of the first novel. By the end of the second novel, I expect there to be some sort of character growth and unfortunately, I didn't see that in the novel.

This book was also highly predictable. I knew who the problem character was way too early in this novel. It became a waiting game of just seeing how they would actually catch the character. And honestly, the big reveal and catch wasn't even that interesting. Very lackluster. The "Easter eggs" hinting at who the culprit was were much too obvious.

That being said there were some things in this book that did make it better for me than the first book and will lead me to continue reading. I really liked the inclusion of Alder. I feel like his story arc is going to do a lot of work to save this story for me. He was interesting and endearing and was pretty much the only character I feel actually grew at all in this novel. I cannot wait to see how his character becomes more of a point in the next book.

I also liked the induction of the start of creating social justice in this world. I hope that continues into the next book which is promising by the ending of this to be more action packed, which I am ready for. A lot of of the action scenes within this novel seems to be over and resolved fairly easily so I'm hoping for some more conflict and resolution that's in depth in the third book. This book set that up for to be a big proponent of the third book And I felt it did that well.

Overall, I can give it a higher rating than the first book which I rated at a three. I give this book a 3.5 because I do feel like it improved on some things, but not enough to give it a higher rating. I will be reading the third book because even though I do have some concerns and problems with this story as a whole, I do find it to be very entertaining and enjoyable while I am reading it at this point. And I do like the improvements were made into the second novel. I am hoping the third is just a knock out of the park.

I had very mixed feelings about Faebound, and I was unsure what to expect from Cursebound. I think El-Arifi really upped her romantasy game in this one, as I enjoyed it a lot more than I did Faebound! The worldbuilding is, yet again, fantastic, and I was so intrigued by what this world had to offer. El-Arifi does a great job of giving you enough information to help you not be confused, but hiding enough information to keep you on your toes. There were a few "twists" that I did see coming, but they were good enough twists that I was excited to see what would come from it. This book has a little bit of second book syndrome, in that the main plot isn't moved forward as much as it should be, and the plot of this book feels slightly inconsequential to the larger picture. But I enjoyed it more than the average second book, and it has me more excited for book three than Faebound had me for book two!

I love Saara, and I will continue reading (and likely loving) everything she writes.

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

I love this series! I love the characters I love the chaos! Pick this up quickly you will not be disappointed 🥰🩷😊

3.5 stars, rounded up

The world-building is amazing and that twist at the end (if you know you know and if you don't know I won't spoil it for you) is perfectly executed.

A new main character is introduced, Alder, and I really liked him. We also get Furi's pov, which was interesting, since she's a very fascinating character.

In terms of the other main characters, I continued to enjoy them for the most part, with the exception of Lettle, who was so incredibly frustrating in this book. It doesn't help that the story desperately wants us to think that she's smart when she really isn't.

Unfortunately, since the book is relatively short and much of it takes place less than two weeks (and a large chunk over the course of four days) the pacing is ridiculously fast. Alder gets integrated into the main group and gains a deep understanding of all of them in the span of just a couple of days. He also falls in love in that time (though I have a theory about that that might make it a bit less bonkers).

There are also very few characters, so as a result the solution to the mystery plot is very obvious just by exclusion. I really think Cursebound would have benefited a lot from being longer, because then it would have more time to juggle the various plot-lines and add red herrings.

I did like this overall, and I would recommend this series if the premise appeals to you and if you don't mind the political intrigue falling on the simpler side in favor of a focus on the romance and worldbuilding. I will definitely be reading the third one (I have to, after that twist).

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately, I could not get through this book. Something about the writing style and sentence structure is throwing me off. I feel like there is zero world building and some of the information given is confusing.

I can’t wait for book 3😱 that cliffhanger!! This fantasy series is so enjoyable. It’s quick and fun with fae, elves and humans and of course the obeah (still not sure what they look like but I love Pila)

⭐️ enemies to lovers
⭐️sapphic romance
⭐️soul bonded animal companions
⭐️multiple pov

Cursebound starts with journal entries from Lettle which were a fantastic method to refresh our memories from faebound.

We have some new characters and point of views. There’s a real exploration on relationships and their limits, and how far someone will go for the people they love or a cause they believe in.

Lettle is such a convincing, complicated, hopeful and endearing character. I find myself rooting for her. Alder offers a
new perspective and the way he moves through the world is refreshing. Cursebound in general did a great job of widening the scope of lived experience in this world. I wish we could get a little more from Rayans perspective.

Tensions between the fae and the elves reach boiling point. War is looming and things will get worse before they get better. Yeeran, Lettle and the Jani dynasty are facing threats from every angle.
There’s some lyrical and poetic writing, but in parts the plot did feel a little rushed. There’s a lot of near misses, sinister motives and trauma explored in this sequel.

History is told by the victors, and we mine for the truth along with the characters. As always it’s interesting to see the some of our issues reflected in fantasy. The world of Mosima and beyond is polarised in both elf and fae society. A two tiered system within Mosima causes unrest. The only positive way forward is building a better world together.

Pila is gorgeous. I would die for Pila. All of the onbeahs are a joy.

The groundwork for the magic system was set in the first book, but Rayan and Furi’s link to the health of the land features frequently. There’s something beautiful about a physical representation of someone’s heart and mind. As with faebound the focus on divining and prophecies is riveting. We also dig abit deeper into the social, political and physical landscapes of this world.

We have a diverse cast of characters and LGBTQ representation. It’s a breathe of fresh air to see this in fleshed out characters vs a passive mention.

Things really unravel towards the end and there’s so many questions left unanswered that set us up for the next book.
Overall really enjoyed!

This wasn’t my usual style at all- my first fantasy book! I loved it, I loved the characters, the setting, the story- amazing! I will definitely be recommending.

Wow!
That ending? I was completely blown away. Saara does it again - I have loved all her books and this was no exception. Fast paced and fun, I loved it. The only issue I had with this story is that Furi and Yeeran are adults who made huge mistakes and hurt each other terribly but were ready to forgive each other almost immediately? Love is powerful but it still takes time to heal. It didn't seem realistic and that's why I ranked it slightly less than 5

4.25 Stars

I received Cursebound as an ARC from Del Rey (Penguin Random House) on NetGalley. I cannot thank them enough - this book was incredible.

Rating: 5/5

Cursebound was an incredible journey, the second installment in the Faebound trilogy by Saara El-Arifi. El-Arifi continues the perilous adventures of Yeeran, Lettle, and the world of elves and fae in a fast-paced, emotionally charged narrative. The richly imagined world is complex and steeped in pure fantasy, yet grounded by realistic dangers. I especially appreciated the thoughtful representation of gender, race, class, equality, and love, all woven seamlessly into El-Arifi’s concise yet evocative writing. I can’t wait to read more!

3 ⭐️ I was overjoyed to receive an advanced copy of Cursebound, as I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, Faebound. While Faebound had some minor flaws in the writing, I loved its storyline, magic system, and inclusive representation of LGBTQIAP+ and disabled characters.
Unfortunately, Cursebound felt quite different from its predecessor. Keeping in mind that I read an ARC, the book felt extremely rushed. The plot moved quickly, leaving little room for character development or exploration of their internal worlds—something I especially enjoyed in Faebound. The lack of foreshadowing made the villain reveal feel abrupt, and their motivations didn’t fully justify the severity of their actions. Overall, something about this book just felt… different. Lightless? That said, there were aspects I did enjoy: the introduction of new characters, the inclusion of new POVs, and the rich descriptions of the setting, were definite highlights.

Ultimately, I think the Faebound trilogy might have worked better as a duology. While I’m curious to see how the story concludes, I’m unsure if I’ll pick up the final book.

- Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! -

Ahh off the back of Faebound, I knew without a doubt I needed to read the next instalment of this series. The world building in this series is truly one of a kind and following Yeeran and Lettle as they navigate through these new challenges and explore all these new emotions tied to each hurdle.

Thankyou so much for granting me the privilege of reading this amazing story and I can't wait for book 3!

3.5 ⭐️

It's nice to read a trilogy where the second book actually has more momentum than the first one. The author did a great job at taking all the world building from book one and producing a fast-moving plot.

I loved the addition of another POV it added nicely to the story and the new romance we get from it is likely to be my favourite of the series. Lettle remains my favourite character. She shows excellent character development, and I'm excited to read the rest of her storyline and more of her friendship with golan.

I still found the plot twists a little predictable, like I was waiting for them to catch up with me. Our main characters can be ruthless, and I did find that in some cases, I wished they would have taken a second to think. But that is the point the lightless have been making since book one, and it was interesting to find yourself agreeing with them.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I'm interest to see how the series ends. There's a lot of plot to fit into the last book, so it's sure to be fairly action-packed.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This series delivers a fresh take on elves and fae with amazingly detailed and beautiful world building!

One of my favourite elements of this entire series remains the obeah (giant cat-like animal companions that the fae are telepathically linked with and can ride) and I love how unique not only each POV in this book is but each obeah is. New POVs are added in this book and I can honestly say that I loved every POV in this book (if anything bad happens to any of them in book 3 I will RIOT).

This story is set in an afro/arab inspired and queer normative world and there are both F/F and M/F main love stories as well as lots of additional LGBTQIA+ rep. This one was less romance focused than Faebound but did up the angst and conflict between the main characters as well as give all the main characters growth. The plot twists are one element that have been consistently done well in this series and I can't wait (and am scared) to see what happens book3! I also really appreciate how Saara El-Arifi is able to craft a fast moving and enjoyable epic fantasy in less than 350 pages.

I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Faebound but this remains one of my favourite fantasy series and Cursebound was still a great read.

So I liked this more than Faebound and i am super excited for the the next one. Alder was a fun addition and a much needed companion for Golan who should put Furi and Rayan in their place they were way. Out of line. I really like Lettile and hope she also puts them all in their place. Her and Golan’s Friendship is very precious and i loved seeing them work together.. The brewing civil war and the the orchestrator behind the murder attempts was super interesting and it had a unique family dynamic. I loved that the family troubles intertwine with the larger political issues. Overall. I am excited to see what happens next

Cursebound had me excited to dive back into the world of Faebound, and I really appreciated the way Saara El-Arifi recapped book one—it made jumping back in so easy. The inclusivity and representation in this series continue to be a highlight, and I love how diverse and layered the world feels.

That said, the writing in this one made it harder to stay engaged. There was a lot more telling than showing, and it didn’t feel like the plot moved forward much. Honestly, this could have been a novella to bridge the gap before book three. The new characters and relationships were interesting, but they didn’t add as much depth as I hoped.

Still, the twists kept me entertained, and I’m curious to see how this trilogy wraps up. It wasn’t my favorite, but I’ll definitely be picking up the next book!

Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC!

I liked the first Faebound book well enough - mostly due to Yeeran's chapters and the arc that she goes through - but I think this second book solidifies my preference of El-Arifi's other series, The Final Strife.
This middle book in the trilogy felt very much that, there wasn't really a whole lot going on for the wider plot. The first and second halves of the book felt very separated from each other, though the last couple of chapters were pretty good in building the hype for the third book.
I found myself guessing the answers to the mysteries that the characters faced, and in that way it was quite predictable. My problems with the characters also carried over into this book, and Lettle still irritates me to no end. I still don't find myself believing in or caring for her relationship, and I wish we had gotten more of Yeeran instead of her. It was fun getting to know some newer characters and side characters from book one, but none of them particularly caught my attention.
The world building is amazing as per usual, and her descriptions are beautiful. I am altogether intrigued to see how the third book will go and on what note the trilogy will end on.

I really wanted to like this, but it just wasn't for me. I read the first book and found it a little slow. Was hoping this one would be better, but I am just not a fan of the pacing! It feels like it took half the book for anything to happen and even then, everything felt very anticlimactic.
Just not for me.

This was a twisty and fast paced sequel! The conflict between the elves and the fae escalates and tensions are higher than ever within Mosima as well. There are more POVs in this book including a new one from an elf named Alder, who I thought was a great addition and whose POV actually became one of my favorites.

I appreciated that this was on the shorter side which ensured that it didn’t drag as second books sometimes do. There were some predictable twists, but a really great unexpected one at the end!! I’m really enjoying this series and am definitely looking forward to the next one.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.