A review by booksalacarte
Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3⭐️3🌶️

Fantasy

Fae

🏳️‍🌈 Main Characters

Older fmc’s

Dual POV

BIPOC

War

Unique Magic System

Sister story

Disability rep

Animal familiars

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ normative societies

The recap was definitely needed, and I think it was executed really well! I loved the unique approach of presenting it as a journal entry from one of the characters. It added a clever, personal touch that made the recap feel more engaging and immersive. However, I do feel that there could have been a bit more effort put into rebuilding the world and reintroducing key elements of the setting. While the recap set up some foundation, I think for readers coming back after a break from the first book, the transition into the second book might feel a little abrupt without enough of the worldbuilding being revisited.

Additionally, there seems to be a slight disconnect between the narration and the characters’ internal dialogue. The narration at times feels a bit detached from their personal perspectives, which might make it harder to fully connect with their emotions and motivations. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but I think more consistency in aligning the internal dialogue with the characters’ actions and emotions would help make them feel more authentic and relatable.

As for the characters themselves, they were fine. They had their moments, but I didn’t feel as deeply invested in them as I had hoped. They served their roles in the plot, but I think there could have been more depth to really make them stand out.

The foreshadowing, unfortunately, felt a little too heavy-handed at times. Many of the plot twists were fairly easy to predict, which made the story feel less suspenseful and exciting when they finally played out. A bit more subtlety in the foreshadowing might have helped build more tension and kept readers on their toes.

On a more positive note, I find myself increasingly drawn to the historical implications of the elf, fae, and human races. The slow unraveling of their past and the intricate dynamics between them have really captured my interest. At this point, I find myself more engaged with the worldbuilding and the lore behind these races than with the relationships between the characters. There’s definitely potential there for deeper exploration, and I’m curious to see how that aspect of the story develops.

Faebound- 3.75⭐️3🌶️

Cursebound- 3⭐️3🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Del Rey for the Advanced eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.