3.5
Faebound
ByPublisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two elven sisters become imprisoned in the intoxicating world of the fae, where danger and love lie in wait. Faebound is the first book in an enchanting new trilogy from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife.
“A romantic fantasy of epic proportions, crackling with magic and passion.”—Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
BRITISH BOOK AWARD WINNER: PAGETURNER • AN ELLE AND BOOK RIOT BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Yeeran was born on the battlefield, has lived on the battlefield, and one day, she knows, she’ll die on the battlefield.
As a warrior in the elven army, Yeeran has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future.
When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, both sisters are forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders.
There they encounter the impossible: the fae court. The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world, torn among their loyalties to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts.
Book One of the Faebound Trilogy
Don’t miss any of Saara El-Arifi’s magical Faebound Trilogy:
FAEBOUND • CURSEBOUND
“A romantic fantasy of epic proportions, crackling with magic and passion.”—Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
BRITISH BOOK AWARD WINNER: PAGETURNER • AN ELLE AND BOOK RIOT BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Yeeran was born on the battlefield, has lived on the battlefield, and one day, she knows, she’ll die on the battlefield.
As a warrior in the elven army, Yeeran has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future.
When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, both sisters are forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders.
There they encounter the impossible: the fae court. The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world, torn among their loyalties to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts.
Book One of the Faebound Trilogy
Don’t miss any of Saara El-Arifi’s magical Faebound Trilogy:
FAEBOUND • CURSEBOUND
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesFaebound Reviews
3.5
“Finally a good balance between fantasy world-building and romance. I will say that the characters felt like they didn't grow much (which is my only tiff with this book) but all in all an enjoyable read.”
“I could not put Faebound down. From the very beginning, I was hooked. It was immediately interesting and just kept getting better the more I read. Every part of this book worked for me. The diversity, the character development, the plot, the magic system, the forgotten realms, the politics. Everything felt so rich and thoughtfully done. It was honestly delicious.
What really surprised me was how fresh the concept felt. Nothing about it seemed overdone, and the writing was extremely strong. Even when I could see some of the plot twists coming, I didn’t mind at all because watching the characters deal with those moments was so satisfying. Their reactions and relationships made everything feel earned.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable book and one I’m still thinking about after finishing it. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book. (Please Libby, spare me the wait 🙏)”BelievableDiverse representationFormulaicLikeableMemorableMinor characters stand outMultilayeredOriginalRelatableStrong relationshipsUnforgettable protagonistAction-packedAddictiveClever plottingGripping/excitingPredictable but satisfyingSteady pacingWell-structuredAtmosphericBeautifulEnchantedEtherealImmersive world-buildingMagicalMajesticMysticalOtherworldlyPicturesqueBeautifully-writtenDescriptiveOriginalAbleismAbuseAnimal abuseChild lossDeathExplicit sexual contentGriefMurderRacismViolenceWar violence
“Faebound is a book that succeeds wildly in the areas that usually matter most: I cared deeply about the people, and I could vividly see the world they inhabited but there was one area where I felt left wanting: the magic.
The heart of this book is the relationship between Yeeran and Lettle. It’s rare to find a "romantasy" where the sister bond is, just as if not more, compelling than the romantic interests. The worldbuilding is also top-tier. El-Arifi gives us a place inspired by African and Middle Eastern mythologies. The hidden world of the Fae felt lush and ancient.
My main critique falls on the magic system. The concept of Drumfire is such a unique idea; using the rhythm of drums to weaponize sound waves, causing blasts, or creating shields. This sounded really cool but was massively under used which makes sense once you learn where the drums come from but at the same time this causes a magic gap that needed to be filled.
Overall I enjoyed the world and characters enough to continue to book 2.”
About Saara El-Arifi
Saara El-Arifi is the internationally bestselling author of The Final Strife and The Battle Drum, the first two installments of The Ending Fire Trilogy inspired by her Ghanaian and Sudanese heritage. She has lived in many countries, had many jobs, and owned many more cats. After a decade of working in marketing and communications, she returned to academia to complete a master’s degree in African studies alongside her writing career. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Over the years, she has perfected her tall tales into epic ones. She currently resides in London as a full-time procrastinator.
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