Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi was full of all the magic of the first book, Faebound, but with new discoveries that I couldn't predict. It was a page turner and I couldn't wait to see how things turned out!

dnf
i just couldn’t make myself finish it. i was already skeptical with faebound but i thought it’d get better in the second book but then it didnt

DNF @ 40%.

This one really hurts. I loved Faebound, the first book in this series, and I love The Ending Fire trilogy by this same author. However, when I read this book I didn't feel any of the magic that I felt in Faebound. The first book was a promising start to the series, and maybe it's just me (I hope it is!) but this one really felt like a totally different book in terms of plot structure and writing style. I wouldn't even call this middle book syndrome, but rather it felt like a rushed draft, rather than a final version. A lot of telling, not showing. I did like the unique style of using Lettle's journal to recap the events of the first book (more series should include recaps!), but then the story proceeded to keep rehashing events and plot points from the first without propelling the action forward. I really tried to give this one a fair shot, but at 40% I ultimately felt like I had to cut my losses and DNF. If I hear great things about the finale in this series, I may come back to this book one day. El-Arifi is a great author that I have loved other books from, so this one is absolutely the exception rather than the rule.

Cursebound is the action packed sequel to Faebound, set in a world of magic, intrigue, and drama. There are several characters we follow in this story, all trying to break free of the fae curse that was placed upon Mosimer. In between that, there is a plot to kill those that are closest to the new King and Queen.

I was not a fan of Faebound. I thought it took too long to get to the point of the book. Where Cursebound is different, is the immediate throw into the action. The whole story was intriguing and entertaining, and I am very excited for the next installment.
In saying that, I do critique the ‘recap info dump’ at the very beginning of the book. If people have read the first book, then they are fully aware of the lore and plot. It read a little like a novice.
The other thing that stood out was how easy it was to guess who the bad guy was. I was reading and waiting for the characters to catch up with me.
Overall, the storyline was unique and intriguing. This was better than the first book in my opinion, and I am excited to read the next installment.

I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys political intrigue, on a lighter note. This is fantasy with a political and romantic subplot. If you like these tropes and genres, then pick up Cursebound!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Del Rey for the Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this book. All opinions are my own.

This author's other books are so compelling and engaging, and this one....just isn't. The first in this series was lackluster in terms of worldbuilding, pacing, and character development, but there was enough potential to keep me reading. This one--I had to drag myself through to get to the end, and it was a chore most of the way. I won't be picking up the finale to this trilogy, but I'll kepe a copy of Book #1 (Faebound) on my classroom shelf for my students to read, if they so choose.



***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

Cursebound was an absolute standout. The worldbuilding was rich, the characters were layered and compelling, and the twists kept me on edge. Every chapter delivered something unexpected, and the emotional depth really hit home. I was completely immersed from beginning to end. If you're into powerful storytelling and unforgettable magic, this one’s a must-read.

What I love so much is that we picked up right after the first book's ending. Thank goodness. I hate time jumps when there is a cliffhanger in the previous book because we get lost in the storyline. Thankfully, we can immediately jump into Yeeran's capture. It's a bit of a doozy. I expected it because a former lover never forgets. Messy love, always remember, isn't good for Yeeran. I won't say that I feel for Yeeran because her actions are reckless. So many times I wanted to shake my head at Yeeran constantly doing the same thing when she shouldn't.

4⭐️

Cursebound picked up right where Faebound left us off - right in with the action! I have fallen so much for the characters and world building. There’s a lot that these two books have covered that I feel sets it apart from others I have read, such as class divisions.
I am truly looking forward to seeing where this story takes us next!

What an amazing continuation of this series, I will NEVERRR not give a Saara el-Arifi book five stars. I love these characters so so so much. She’s so great at creating compelling stories and complex women (Hassa and Lettle are my favs). I can’t wait to read whatever else she puts out.

I absolutely loved Faebound, so I had high hopes for Cursebound, and it did not disappoint! This was a solid follow-up that kept me completely hooked from start to finish.

This was a tough one for me. I absolutely loved Faebound. I loved how unique the world was, the culture, the journey and wonder of it all....book two lost all of that.

It took me a long time to get through the book. I spent a lot of time picking it up and putting it back down because it could not hold my interest. I am increasingly frustrated by the messy nature of the relationships. Does Furi even like Yeeran? And then to give Lettle the same treatment by the end? Ugh.

Alder was the saving grace (and Pila ofc). I agree the last 50 pages were worth it but only just. I was ready to DNF the series until then. I finished the book with my mouth open and yelling into the void. I want to see where this goes but I hope the story doesn't push past a trilogy because it is so thin right now.

Thank you so much to the author, Del Ray and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I attest that I am leaving my review honestly and voluntarily.

In Cursebound, the second book in Saara El-Arifi’s Faebound trilogy, sisters Yeeran and Lettle continue their journey to break the fae’s curse. Yeeran returns to her homeland, where she must face her former lover, now a dangerous foe to the fae, while Lettle unravels the mysteries surrounding the curse. El-Arifi builds a rich, Afro-Arab-inspired world, filled with complex characters. This book has a focus on character growth and a fast-paced plot.

3.75/5
I think I rage-read this whole book in a span of hours, and now I am sat here with an odd mix of feelings.
First, the pros :
This one started slower than the first book, but that would be expected as it shoulders the recap and sets up the finale , however the pacing picks up and remains consistent throughout.
The plot twists were predictable if you pay attention to all the nuances the auther drops in but it still gives you the satisfaction of having predicted it and adds to the positive reading experience.
We do get to meet new characters we have only heard echos of in the previous book. The nomadic elf's pov was an engaging new addition.
The element of an ominous threat in the horizon, a palpable tension in the atmosphere is done better here than the first book, you almost anticipate things going very wrong very fast.
I had quite a few gripes in the first book but the lore and the world kept me interested enough for the second book and now I am interested in how this end.
However, the two sister protagonists remain properly selfish and insufferable like they were though Yeeran comes to show some good sense and introspection. Lettle, who has been the root cause of the full might of my ire in this book remains selfish, and jumps on opportunities to dodge accountability and make excuses .She is the main contribution to the "rage" part of my reading : a testament to the author's compelling use of giving their readers cause to feel the feels. I think I am a little in awe of the author for the way she uses words and scenarios to keep you hooked.
I have recommended this trilogy as the ultimate ride out of a slump and I will continue to do so .

I was lucky enough to read an ARC for the first book last year, and really enjoyed the first book. I had mentioned that the pacing started pretty slow, but once it picked up, the story was very exciting. I have been interested in where the plot would go, and this absolutely did not disappoint. The pacing issue I had with the first book did not at all affect this book, this was exciting from beginning to end. The returning characters, Lettle, Yeeran, Furi, Rayan and Golan, are a welcome return, but the new lead character introduced, Alder, is a welcome addition.
This book was amazing at expanding the world building the first book had started, with so mangy shocking twists and turns that I really didn't see coming. Political tensions, both between the fae and elves and between the lightless fae and the dynasty, are the highlight and driving force of the plot of this book.
I really enjoyed my time with this book and anxiously wait for the final part in this trilogy. I'd rec0mmend this to anyone who read the first book, even if they were lukewarm to it. This second volume was amazing!

This was absolutely fantastic, Saara has hit it out of the park yet again with this continuation. It definitely did not suffer from second book syndrome, my only complaint is it wasn't longer. I would have happily read the book if it was twice or three times as thick. I love the fact that it's multiple point of view, I love how distinctive each chapters 'voice' is for each character, if I didn't know any better I would assume different authors wrote the different characters because they were so unique, each person came alive within moments of reading. The worldbuilding continued to be excellent, the imagery was amazing, & the plot was excellent. Saara is without a doubt a brilliant silver tongue, and I am heartbroken I have to wait gods know how long for the final book.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series and was so excited for the opportunity to read the second installment. Sadly for me, this one didn't grab my attention nearly as much. Overall I think the story was good but there was something missing for me in this one.

Cursebound starts off right were we leave Nettle and Yeeran off in Book 1, Faebound, and I LOVED how we got a quick recap at the very beginning of book #2 in Lettle's point of view. I had read the first book more than a year ago and definitely forgot how it ended, but I remember really enjoying this. I'm still glad I read the book, but it gave me second book syndrome sadly. The world building was fascinating and I'm so glad we got to explore it more with a new point of view, but something felt off. The pacing was slow and it seemed like nothing was happening until the last quarter of the book! I wasn't as connected with the characters as I was last year, but I love the LGBTQIA+ representation, bipoc representation, and inclusion of the characters built in this world. I'm still glad I read it and I'm looking forward to reading the final book. I think this book could have been a duo logy, but it's not and that's okay! It's still a fun series with easy writing.

Thank you for the arc!

I am so appreciative of DelRay and Netgalley for this ARC. Cursebound was such an excellent sequel - it was nicely paced in building up the story, and there were so many revelations in the last part of the story. I really liked the introduction of new characters and while the primary characters are going through it, they still manage to come through open to change, though we'll see how they continue to fare in the face of betrayal. There is so much betrayal!

I loved all the rep in this book, especially the queer and disabled rep. The politics did seem to out the romantic aspects aside in the story, which I personally didn't mind because the story has so many layers. Another thing I really enjoyed was how El-Arifi has the ability to go back in the story to relay from a different POV without confusing the reader - it's a seamless transition and helped explain some parts of the story from another character's eyes, which was important. I just know this series is going to be wrapped up beautifully!

Cursebound continues on from where Faebound left off.

I enjoyed the further worldbuilding we got in this instalment and liked the extra characters that we were introduced to. There were elements of the plot that I did find predictable but this didn't take away from my overall enjoyment.

Oh, what can I say? I was looking forward to Cursebound being the redeeming piece of this Faebound Trilogy. One could say that a rating of 3 out of 5 is an improvement over the 2 out of 5 (you now know my rating... do you want to even want to read more?), which is what the rating I gave Faebound. And I have similar sentiments to other reviews that the labeling of "romantasy" may be giving this trilogy a disservice. The relationships feel a bit forced and the emotions a bit over dramatic, This is adult, but it could easily be YA with the writing style.

I did enjoy the new character and their POV. They were a fresh new addition to the rather very needy and immature sister duo. Cursebound was a great pick up and continuation of Faebound, and loved the world building and description of their magic.

Since I read two of the three books, I will most likely read the last of the trilogy with lowered expectations that it will be a grand finale.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

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