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adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
At first I thought the pacing was rushed, but the plot was fascinating enough to keep me reading. I'm so glad I did! A definite recommend from me, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, War
Minor: Gore, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War
adventurous
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this read even if it was largely predictable. I don't think any of the prophecies were actually a huge surprise, but I still enjoyed them, though the last 100 pages or so definitely caught me off guard.
I would argue that if the handful of more explicit (barely) scenes were removed, it would be firmly YA. It's fast-paced, easy to get lost in, and overall just fun. I love the novelty of the magic system, the obeahs, the dramatics of them all.
I would argue that if the handful of more explicit (barely) scenes were removed, it would be firmly YA. It's fast-paced, easy to get lost in, and overall just fun. I love the novelty of the magic system, the obeahs, the dramatics of them all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, War
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the book was so mid tbh. the romance felt really forced and out of place because it seemed to just develop from nowhere; it seemed to be rather to fill a checkbox of a trope rather than to develop any meaningful connection between characters.
the writing was also… not great. still don’t really get the whole magic system or worldbuilding but i fr might just be stupid. the whole thing about the obeah and stuff?? don’t get it LMFAO. it also did bring in a lot of anachronisms (existence of leggings and a few other things) that i felt was really forced or out of place for a fantasy book; yes i know ‘suspend your disbelief’ but my immersion </3
that being said i am invested now because i am 100% rooting for these characters now ajd will buy the next book when it drops
the writing was also… not great. still don’t really get the whole magic system or worldbuilding but i fr might just be stupid. the whole thing about the obeah and stuff?? don’t get it LMFAO. it also did bring in a lot of anachronisms (existence of leggings and a few other things) that i felt was really forced or out of place for a fantasy book; yes i know ‘suspend your disbelief’ but my immersion </3
that being said i am invested now because i am 100% rooting for these characters now ajd will buy the next book when it drops
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Medical content, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Racism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Dementia, Trafficking
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, this was not good. Very disappointing. Before I get into the plot, the writing is just plain bad at times. It wasn't the kind of writing I'd expect from an adult novel but more than that, I'm surprised some of this writing passed final edits.
The plot is intensely predictable to the extent where the book felt a little pointless to read. I don't think its bad to write a story where the reader knows what will inevitably happen in the plot, but the whole prophecy thing took the joy out of figuring out what will happen on my own and instead I was just waiting for plot points to fall into place.
This novel is also advertised as being a romantasy. Please do not read this book if that is what you are seeking. The romance has very little build up between MC's and love interests, they are just suddenly totally all over each other with what felt like very little relationship building. I'm all for characters having instant chemistry but it just doesn't feel very romantic to me when you do away with showing me why I should even care about the relationship.
World building seems cool at first glance but if you poke it even a little it falls apart. I am not sure why the duo MCs were elves when they had no characteristics of why being an elf set them apart from the other races except for prophecy telling, which actually made the plot actively worse, as stated previously.
Ultimately, the book is easily readable, so 2 stars it is. I wish this read had gone better for me and I honestly think you should probably read something else instead of picking this up.
The plot is intensely predictable to the extent where the book felt a little pointless to read. I don't think its bad to write a story where the reader knows what will inevitably happen in the plot, but the whole prophecy thing took the joy out of figuring out what will happen on my own and instead I was just waiting for plot points to fall into place.
This novel is also advertised as being a romantasy. Please do not read this book if that is what you are seeking. The romance has very little build up between MC's and love interests, they are just suddenly totally all over each other with what felt like very little relationship building. I'm all for characters having instant chemistry but it just doesn't feel very romantic to me when you do away with showing me why I should even care about the relationship.
World building seems cool at first glance but if you poke it even a little it falls apart. I am not sure why the duo MCs were elves when they had no characteristics of why being an elf set them apart from the other races except for prophecy telling, which actually made the plot actively worse, as stated previously.
Ultimately, the book is easily readable, so 2 stars it is. I wish this read had gone better for me and I honestly think you should probably read something else instead of picking this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Dementia, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Del Rey Books for the free copy of this book.
- Saara El-Arifi is so good at creating dark fantasy worlds that are full of both war and love. I also love how she seamlessly includes queer and disabled people throughout her stories.
- Yeeran and Lettle are a great pair of sisters, loving each other and also being annoyed as heck with each other because they don’t see eye to eye.
- Here’s the thing about FAEBOUND - I could see exactly where the plot was going at every turn and I loved reading it anyway. Everything was predictable, but I enjoyed by time in this world and am looking forward to the sequel.
- Saara El-Arifi is so good at creating dark fantasy worlds that are full of both war and love. I also love how she seamlessly includes queer and disabled people throughout her stories.
- Yeeran and Lettle are a great pair of sisters, loving each other and also being annoyed as heck with each other because they don’t see eye to eye.
- Here’s the thing about FAEBOUND - I could see exactly where the plot was going at every turn and I loved reading it anyway. Everything was predictable, but I enjoyed by time in this world and am looking forward to the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War
Moderate: Blood
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I want to give this higher but it just didnt quite grab me in.
pros:
- loved the descriptions and worldbuilding, esp. with Mosima, outfits, landscapes and the fae creatures. Really beautiful and vivid.
- the plot twists were interesting and (mostly) surprising and kept you on your toes! especially liked Yerran getting Pila the obeah
- I liked the depth of the characters, with Yeeran not believing in prophercy like Lettle does and it being a sticking point even as they love each other, and Yeeran's relationships with Salawa and Furi.
- the side characters, like Komi, Golan, the prince, Furi and Rayan (kind of) were all interesting and explored, and all came into play.
- also enjoyed how different the characters were and their voices, with Lettle being impulsive and lighthearted compared to serious Yeeran. and the obeah's voices were brilliantly done, funny and sweet and a bit alien too.
- the start was gripping and you really feel for lettle, yeeran and everyone in the war. its emotive and worrying for the characters when everything goes to shit for them!
- I also liked that this was more adult and didnt shy from the violence of war and death and adult relationships (quite in contrast to the prev YA fantasy bk I read).
READ).
- It also felt like a new spin on tropes like fae, curses, prophecy, etc.
cons:
- mostly, I just didn't get very gripped overall. I picked it up and put it down and wasn't especially compelled. I cant really say why, maybe the stakes were lower mid and later in the book?
- too many characters a bit. I forgot who people were, incl. the prince and sode characters, Hosta and the guy Yeeran killed.
- some of the plot twists were a bit obvious, or they felt like they were trying to shock but didnt manage it. I didnt feel much about the queen dying bc we'd already had like 500 elves die bc of yeeran and the fae prince and the prophercy made it seem like it was just *shrug* inevitable
- wasnt super keen on te actual prophercy bits either. loved lettle's character and how she interacted with prophercy but I'm not one to rly enjoy foregone conclusions/tragedies so a bit blah if Rayan does die like in the prophercy. also thought Rayan would push more about Lettle's completely random toing and froing without explanation??
- also thought Furi and Yeeran moved a bit fast.
but overall, I did enjoy this! esp the feel of originality, the diverse (incl. nb) characters, and the worldbuilding, and I would like to know what happens in the next book.
pros:
- loved the descriptions and worldbuilding, esp. with Mosima, outfits, landscapes and the fae creatures. Really beautiful and vivid.
- the plot twists were interesting and (mostly) surprising and kept you on your toes!
- I liked the depth of the characters, with Yeeran not believing in prophercy like Lettle does and it being a sticking point even as they love each other, and Yeeran's relationships
- the side characters, like Komi, Golan, the prince, Furi and Rayan (kind of) were all interesting and explored, and all came into play.
- also enjoyed how different the characters were and their voices, with Lettle being impulsive and lighthearted compared to serious Yeeran. and the obeah's voices were brilliantly done, funny and sweet and a bit alien too.
- the start was gripping and you really feel for lettle, yeeran and everyone in the war. its emotive and worrying for the characters when everything goes to shit for them!
- I also liked that this was more adult and didnt shy from the violence of war and death and adult relationships (quite in contrast to the prev YA fantasy bk I read).
READ).
- It also felt like a new spin on tropes like fae, curses, prophecy, etc.
cons:
- mostly, I just didn't get very gripped overall. I picked it up and put it down and wasn't especially compelled. I cant really say why, maybe the stakes were lower mid and later in the book?
- too many characters a bit. I forgot who people were, incl. the prince and sode characters, Hosta and the guy Yeeran killed.
- some of the plot twists were a bit obvious, or they felt like they were trying to shock but didnt manage it. I didnt feel much about
- wasnt super keen on te actual prophercy bits either. loved lettle's character and how she interacted with prophercy but I'm not one to rly enjoy foregone conclusions/tragedies so a bit blah if
- also thought Furi and Yeeran moved a bit fast.
but overall, I did enjoy this! esp the feel of originality, the diverse (incl. nb) characters, and the worldbuilding, and I would like to know what happens in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail