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adventurous
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
Elves versus Fae ... Elf soldiers inadvertently kill a Fae and are taken prisoner only to find themselves tangled in Fae prophesies and politics.
The bad bits... Leans heavily on some overused tropes and especially feels like ACOTAR in its imprisonment-actually-means-living-in-luxury. Enemies to lovers too - all the sexual tension. (Romantasy readers, if you know what's going to happen, how is that exciting?). Pinches ideas from Northern Lights about animal companions as part of your soul.
Good bits... This book has all the diversity - it is queer poly pan disability-representative and uses African hair and clothing styles. The story is interesting, the world building is added in smoothly, and things move quickly. There's two points of view, although they are sort of different angles in the same thing, rather than from different locations, so the scope of the story is not big. But I think the set up for book 2 means things will develop.
Overall pleasantly surprised (given recent romantasy DNFs I had low expectations). Will read the next one.
The bad bits... Leans heavily on some overused tropes and especially feels like ACOTAR in its imprisonment-actually-means-living-in-luxury. Enemies to lovers too - all the sexual tension. (Romantasy readers, if you know what's going to happen, how is that exciting?). Pinches ideas from Northern Lights about animal companions as part of your soul.
Good bits... This book has all the diversity - it is queer poly pan disability-representative and uses African hair and clothing styles. The story is interesting, the world building is added in smoothly, and things move quickly. There's two points of view, although they are sort of different angles in the same thing, rather than from different locations, so the scope of the story is not big. But I think the set up for book 2 means things will develop.
Overall pleasantly surprised (given recent romantasy DNFs I had low expectations). Will read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, War
Moderate: Gore, Xenophobia
adventurous
I liked the premise of this book/world, but was a bit disappointed with the execution. The pacing was off (show at the start, rushed in the last third), the relationship between Yeeran and Furi was rushed and unbelievable, and every "twist" was entirely predictable. I'll probably continue the series, because I'm intrigued by the world, but I hope the next book is better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content
This was such a fascinating world. Once upon a time the Elven histories say there were also Fae and humans in this land... but at this point that feels more like myth. . It's a harsh world where food is scarce. Yeeran has fought to take care of her family the only way she knows how, but with one false step she finds herself exiled from all that she knows and face to face with... fae?
Full of sapphic tension, questions of fate and magical lands, this is the first book in what promises to be a very intriguing series.
Full of sapphic tension, questions of fate and magical lands, this is the first book in what promises to be a very intriguing series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content
adventurous
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Horrible book, stilted characters, insta-lust. Also, Furi was abusive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Dementia
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Absolutely loved Faebound right from the start! The pace was perfect for me and the plot twists were great. Saara did a good job of foreshadowing the twists without making it too predictable but I would have enjoyed it just as much without the subtle hints.
There were a couple of explicit sex scenes which I wasn't expecting but the little bit of it I did read was written far better than anything else explicit I've read.
The world-building was done brilliantly, I liked that the story remained focused on characters lesser in the hierarchy to the fae queens which drew me into the emotional relationships between characters and I loved that they were older (25+) than I'm used to seeing in fantasy stories like this.
Some great rep across diverse characters that you don't see in other mainstream books or authors. Highly recommend. 5* for me is a read again book.
There were a couple of explicit sex scenes which I wasn't expecting but the little bit of it I did read was written far better than anything else explicit I've read.
The world-building was done brilliantly, I liked that the story remained focused on characters lesser in the hierarchy to the fae queens which drew me into the emotional relationships between characters and I loved that they were older (25+) than I'm used to seeing in fantasy stories like this.
Some great rep across diverse characters that you don't see in other mainstream books or authors. Highly recommend. 5* for me is a read again book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Animal death
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
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the story of two elven sisters, Yeeran and Lettle. Yeeran is a colonel in the army and Lettle is training to become a diviner (someone who can read the future). When Yeeran disobeys orders and ends up causing a huge defeat, she is exiled, leaving her sister to follow her (along with Yeeran's captain, Rayan). The three of them reunite, only to be discovered by a group of fae (who are thought to be fairytales) after committing a huge crime in the eyes of the fae.
Now they need to manage the politics of a new place, while trying to figure out a way to get home. And without getting executed ideally.
I really liked parts of this story, and others I found a bit annoying. Overall, this was an interesting fantasy with a lot of cool worldbuilding.
Things I enjoyed:
Now they need to manage the politics of a new place, while trying to figure out a way to get home. And without getting executed ideally.
I really liked parts of this story, and others I found a bit annoying. Overall, this was an interesting fantasy with a lot of cool worldbuilding.
Things I enjoyed:
- Loved the queernormative world - its really important to have good representation like this, especially in fantasy
- I really enjoyed the world building - the creation myth with the three gods and the humans, fae and elves I thought was really interesting. That story created the basis for the story which I enjoyed.
- I liked the struggles that the main characters faced -
Yeeran wasn't suddenly able to control her fae magic, despite literally only getting it. She had to work hard and figure it out, and it made it feel real. - The obeahs and their relationship to the fae -
I liked how well respected they were, the fact that houses are built to accommodate them was really cool. That line about only lovers touching another’s obeah also showed that there is a lot of respect for them, that they are an extension of another person whilst also being their own person. Was cool. Also big kitties. I liked the hierarchy of the fae - how those without obeahs are treated differently. I think it was good to show that even a utopia in the eyes of some can be flawed. - I liked how our main characters are flawed - they both had a rough upbringing and that's reflected in their characters. They're both done things they're not proud of, but they did it to survive. Their characterisation is still in line with their past and present.
- Loved how Lettle was not helpless - it wouldn't make sense for her to have served in the army and survived and yet still been helpless, but a lot of stories like this I've read, the little sister character is helpless and constantly needs rescuing and can't handle herself at all.
Even when Lettle was put in situations where she was in danger, she would try and fight back, and I appreciated that.
Things I didn't enjoy:
- The prophecies - I think prophecies can an interesting addition to a story, but this was a bit of a let-down.
I found most of the prophecies pretty easy to understand, and it felt like i spent most of the book knowing what was going to happen with the characters not knowing, which was quite frustrating. - Because of the prophecies, twists were predictable.
I guessed that Najima had fathered one of them (though will say i thought it would be Yeeran, though glad they didn't do that), I guessed that Golan had a hand in the murder of the queens (the only poison is mentioned by him, then they're poisoned?, its too obvious), I knew it was the queens who would be murdered as soon as we met them (one gilded, one pearl was far too obvious imo) and I guessed Komi was the other chieftain as soon as that prophecy was read because it was too obvious. Other than a general sense of wanting to be home, I don't quite get why they were so hell-bent on escaping. I get that they are trapped here, and that would add to the sense of not belonging, but I didn't really get an idea that their lives back home were all that good. Yes Yeeran was rich and a colonel, but she had been exiled - she isn't going back to that life. She wouldn't be allowed back in the army surely? Or not at her old position anyway? Lettle struggled with money (and we didn't hear much about her life other than that) so i don't get why the mad rush to escape.
Overall, I didn't hate this. I will probably read the next one, as I am a bit invested in this story.
Note on CV: talk of executions and capital punishment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Dementia
adventurous
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I needed something light, and this was an enjoyable read, albeit flawed.
Pros: Cool political dynamics, fast-paced, Black sapphic lead, and a unique magic system.
Cons: simple prose that felt immature at times, mostly predictable plot, and the romance felt rushed. characters also fell flat for me.
Will I read the sequel? Eh, I dunno. I think this just isn’t the type of book for me. I just kept hoping for more and better from it.
Pros: Cool political dynamics, fast-paced, Black sapphic lead, and a unique magic system.
Cons: simple prose that felt immature at times, mostly predictable plot, and the romance felt rushed. characters also fell flat for me.
Will I read the sequel? Eh, I dunno. I think this just isn’t the type of book for me. I just kept hoping for more and better from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Dementia