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A review by bittennailbooks
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Faebound misses a beat from fantasy heavy-hitter El-Arifi.
As an undeniable superfan of El-Arifi, Faebound was a confusing installment to and otherwise flawless track record of incredible fantasy. I had extremely high hopes since the The Ending Fire is a near perfect series in my mind so why wouldn't Faebound reach the same heights?
The storyline opens in a land that is devoid of humans, long-extinct fae, and war between elvish clans. Newly appointed military leader Yeeran is ousted from her clan after a (not that extreme) mistake during battle and is followed into the wilderness by clairvoyant half-sister Lettle, and guilt-ridden military friend Rayan. Captured by the thought long-extinct Fae, Yeeran, Lettle, and Rayan enter into a predictable plot and vaguely built world of the Fae.
Where the Ending Fire (1&2) felt complex and beautiful, Faebound felt like bad YA trope mining. Check box after check box, we trudge through this underground literary desert alongside our cardboard cut out cast. I found the characters flat, the world (which had so much potential) traded in for these rushed romance scenes, and for a book advertised heavily for its spice, features little. I am not a romance reader but I will just tag that on for anyone going in thinking that is what they are getting.
I will still continue to follow El-Arifi's literary journey outside of this world as I know the incredible worlds she can create, just not this one. 2.5/5.
As an undeniable superfan of El-Arifi, Faebound was a confusing installment to and otherwise flawless track record of incredible fantasy. I had extremely high hopes since the The Ending Fire is a near perfect series in my mind so why wouldn't Faebound reach the same heights?
The storyline opens in a land that is devoid of humans, long-extinct fae, and war between elvish clans. Newly appointed military leader Yeeran is ousted from her clan after a (not that extreme) mistake during battle and is followed into the wilderness by clairvoyant half-sister Lettle, and guilt-ridden military friend Rayan. Captured by the thought long-extinct Fae, Yeeran, Lettle, and Rayan enter into a predictable plot and vaguely built world of the Fae.
Where the Ending Fire (1&2) felt complex and beautiful, Faebound felt like bad YA trope mining. Check box after check box, we trudge through this underground literary desert alongside our cardboard cut out cast. I found the characters flat, the world (which had so much potential) traded in for these rushed romance scenes, and for a book advertised heavily for its spice, features little. I am not a romance reader but I will just tag that on for anyone going in thinking that is what they are getting.
I will still continue to follow El-Arifi's literary journey outside of this world as I know the incredible worlds she can create, just not this one. 2.5/5.