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Faebound #2
Cursebound
They’re no longer prisoners to the fae court, but now two elven sisters are each bound by shackles of the heart—the sequel to the national bestseller
Faebound,
hailed as “a devastatingly romantic and breathtaking fantasy” (Tasha Suri).
United by war.
Betrayed by destiny.
Cursed by love.
Yeeran was born for war but is unprepared for love. She has left her new lover, the Queen of the fae, to return to her homeland, only to find that her former lover now threatens war against the fae.
Left behind, her sister Lettle is determined to break the curse that binds the fae to their realm. When a stranger appears in the city, Lettle is convinced he’s the key. But the Fates that once spoke to her have fallen silent.
Can Lettle and Yeeran discover the secret behind the curse—and unite these two worlds before they destroy each other?
Don’t miss any of Saara El-Arifi’s magical Faebound
FAEBOUND CURSEBOUND
* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains a map and journal from the book.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
United by war.
Betrayed by destiny.
Cursed by love.
Yeeran was born for war but is unprepared for love. She has left her new lover, the Queen of the fae, to return to her homeland, only to find that her former lover now threatens war against the fae.
Left behind, her sister Lettle is determined to break the curse that binds the fae to their realm. When a stranger appears in the city, Lettle is convinced he’s the key. But the Fates that once spoke to her have fallen silent.
Can Lettle and Yeeran discover the secret behind the curse—and unite these two worlds before they destroy each other?
Don’t miss any of Saara El-Arifi’s magical Faebound
FAEBOUND CURSEBOUND
* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains a map and journal from the book.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Audible Audio
First published February 18, 2025
381 people are currently reading
32655 people want to read
About the author
Saara El-Arifi
16 books3,240 followersSaara El-Arifi is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Ending Fire Trilogy
and the Faebound Trilogy.
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 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. She currently resides in London as a full-time procrastinator.
and the Faebound Trilogy.
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 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. She currently resides in London as a full-time procrastinator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,147 reviews
January 5, 2025
OOP that is how you drop a plot twist!
Read my full review
also i support toxic fae behavior from a love interest but only if its sapphic sorry. that is my decree
thank you to harper voyager for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review
Bookstagram | Blog
Read my full review
also i support toxic fae behavior from a love interest but only if its sapphic sorry. that is my decree
thank you to harper voyager for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review
Bookstagram | Blog
August 20, 2025
“Anything beautiful can be a weapon, it all depends on who wields it.” ✨🗡️🖤
I absolutely loved Faebound, so I had high hopes for Cursebound, and it did not disappoint! This was a solid follow-up that kept me completely hooked from start to finish. 📖🔥💫
Right away, I appreciated how the book opened with a journal entry recapping the events of book one. 📜✍🏾 Honestly, more fantasy books should do this—it was such a great refresher! Cursebound picks up immediately where Faebound left off, diving right back into the action. We’re introduced to new characters who play an important role in the prophecy, adding even more depth to the story. 🧝🏾♀️🌿✨ The world continues to expand in such an exciting way, filled with magic, danger, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
This book was full of twists, turns, and betrayals, with high stakes that kept me completely engaged. ⚔️💔 No one is safe, and just when you think you have things figured out, the story throws another curveball. The reoccurring theme in this series—that love itself can be a curse—hits even harder in this book. Every choice, every emotion, every connection feels like it comes at a cost. 💘🩸 The tension, the heartbreak, and the power in these relationships make it impossible to look away..
I cannot wait for the finale! The way this book ended has me on edge, and I need to know what happens next. If you love fantasy filled with magic, danger, and heart-wrenching moments, this series is a must-read! 🧚🏾♀️🔮🌙✨
✨ Honorable Mentions 💬✨
📖 “Hope can be a torture or a balm, depending on how you accept it.”
🗡️ “If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that worthiness is a quality made up by those who wish to justify a hierarchy.”
💭 “That was the thing with feelings you buried deep. They were always there, churning beneath the surface, ready to reappear.”
*Thank you Del Rey for ARC*
I absolutely loved Faebound, so I had high hopes for Cursebound, and it did not disappoint! This was a solid follow-up that kept me completely hooked from start to finish. 📖🔥💫
Right away, I appreciated how the book opened with a journal entry recapping the events of book one. 📜✍🏾 Honestly, more fantasy books should do this—it was such a great refresher! Cursebound picks up immediately where Faebound left off, diving right back into the action. We’re introduced to new characters who play an important role in the prophecy, adding even more depth to the story. 🧝🏾♀️🌿✨ The world continues to expand in such an exciting way, filled with magic, danger, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
This book was full of twists, turns, and betrayals, with high stakes that kept me completely engaged. ⚔️💔 No one is safe, and just when you think you have things figured out, the story throws another curveball. The reoccurring theme in this series—that love itself can be a curse—hits even harder in this book. Every choice, every emotion, every connection feels like it comes at a cost. 💘🩸 The tension, the heartbreak, and the power in these relationships make it impossible to look away..
I cannot wait for the finale! The way this book ended has me on edge, and I need to know what happens next. If you love fantasy filled with magic, danger, and heart-wrenching moments, this series is a must-read! 🧚🏾♀️🔮🌙✨
✨ Honorable Mentions 💬✨
📖 “Hope can be a torture or a balm, depending on how you accept it.”
🗡️ “If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that worthiness is a quality made up by those who wish to justify a hierarchy.”
💭 “That was the thing with feelings you buried deep. They were always there, churning beneath the surface, ready to reappear.”
*Thank you Del Rey for ARC*
February 27, 2025
“𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙢, 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙞𝙩.”
after an abbreviated synopsis of what happened in book one (faebound) cursebound picks up right where it left off. yeeran is captured by her former lover after leaving mosima to warn the elves of what is to come. meanwhile, lettle and rayan are left behind to search for more answers on how to break the curse that trapped the fae. unbeknownst to lettle and rayan, a rebellion is starting and they have their sights set on murdering lettle in order to bring around actual change.
something that i really enjoy about the writing of the faebound series is that it is extremely character driven while still flowing so well. the characters are so diverse and they feel so beautifully natural within the pages of this story. the writing is a bit formal at times but with the characters and lore being based around elves/fae/humans it isn’t out of place. i also thing el-arifi does a great job at tackling topics like class division and segregation.
some of the things that made this a four star read and not a five star read is that at a certain point, some of the problems within characters felt repetitive. i’m also a huge hater of a miscommunication trope, and characters deceiving and keeping things from one another to “protect” one another so that influenced my rating a little bit as well.
after that jaw dropping information drop at the end i cannot wait for book three. i can’t wait to see where she takes the story next.
on another note — i saw someone describe this as “gay lord of the rings” and honestly they’re not wrong???
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 🫶🏻
after an abbreviated synopsis of what happened in book one (faebound) cursebound picks up right where it left off. yeeran is captured by her former lover after leaving mosima to warn the elves of what is to come. meanwhile, lettle and rayan are left behind to search for more answers on how to break the curse that trapped the fae. unbeknownst to lettle and rayan, a rebellion is starting and they have their sights set on murdering lettle in order to bring around actual change.
something that i really enjoy about the writing of the faebound series is that it is extremely character driven while still flowing so well. the characters are so diverse and they feel so beautifully natural within the pages of this story. the writing is a bit formal at times but with the characters and lore being based around elves/fae/humans it isn’t out of place. i also thing el-arifi does a great job at tackling topics like class division and segregation.
some of the things that made this a four star read and not a five star read is that at a certain point, some of the problems within characters felt repetitive. i’m also a huge hater of a miscommunication trope, and characters deceiving and keeping things from one another to “protect” one another so that influenced my rating a little bit as well.
after that jaw dropping information drop at the end i cannot wait for book three. i can’t wait to see where she takes the story next.
on another note — i saw someone describe this as “gay lord of the rings” and honestly they’re not wrong???
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 🫶🏻
December 29, 2024
I was so excited to get this as an ARC (thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group!) but this is such a hard book for me rate because I while think Saara El-Arifi does a good jump in continuing to expand the lore of book one, the actual writing gets to me at times. The lore of this book is truly what interests me most and just trying to unravel the history between the human, elves, and humans. We get the addition of a new character (Adler), and his POV, which I thought added to the story for sure. There is also a new romance here that I thought was cute - even though most this book occurs in a timespan of like...a week. I also liked the plot twist at the end.
With that being said, I think some of my complaints from book 1 still hold true. Lettle's chapters in particular are hard for me to get through because they are all telling and not showing. I am also trying to understand the point of prophecies if the author is just going to tell us what they mean within a few pages, or they are so crystal clear to the readers but not to Lettle. Additionally, this book heavily relied on characters just...not talking to one another to add problems and discourse in the story. While I did not see the last plot twist coming...all the others in the story I saw coming from a mile away.
Update: Editing to add in details that the reason that the reason I still gave this 3 stars is because I do LOVE the representation in this book. We have POC, we have queer relationships, we have disabled characters, and even nonbinary characters. For what this author is trying to accomplish, I have to give them credit for this.
With that being said, I think some of my complaints from book 1 still hold true. Lettle's chapters in particular are hard for me to get through because they are all telling and not showing. I am also trying to understand the point of prophecies if the author is just going to tell us what they mean within a few pages, or they are so crystal clear to the readers but not to Lettle. Additionally, this book heavily relied on characters just...not talking to one another to add problems and discourse in the story. While I did not see the last plot twist coming...all the others in the story I saw coming from a mile away.
Update: Editing to add in details that the reason that the reason I still gave this 3 stars is because I do LOVE the representation in this book. We have POC, we have queer relationships, we have disabled characters, and even nonbinary characters. For what this author is trying to accomplish, I have to give them credit for this.
July 14, 2025
Endearing characters, beautiful queer romance, world building that makes you wish you could enter the book, and a plot that keeps you guessing. I couldn't ask for anything more ... except for perhaps the sequel :)
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 14, 2025
This series delivers a fresh take on elves and fae with amazingly detailed and beautiful world building!
This is the second book in the Faebound trilogy ( My Faebound Review ) and follows two elven sisters, Lettle and Yeeran, as they try to navigate the fae world and protect those they love. This story is set in an afro/arab inspired and queer normative world and there are both F/F and M/F main love stories as well as lots of additional LGBTQIA+ rep.
Cursebound is less romance focused than Faebound but did up the angst and conflict between the main characters as well as give all the main characters growth. The plot twists are one element that have been consistently done well in this series and I can't wait (and am scared) to see what happens book3! I also really appreciate how Saara El-Arifi is able to craft a fast moving and enjoyable epic fantasy in less than 350 pages.
One of my favourite elements of this entire series remains the obeah (giant cat-like animal companions that the fae are telepathically linked with and can ride) and I love how unique not only each POV in this book is but each obeah is. New POVs are added in this book and I can honestly say that I loved every POV in this book (if anything bad happens to any of them in book 3 I will RIOT).
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Faebound but this remains one of my favourite fantasy series and Cursebound was still a great read.
Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me a physical proof copy of this book!
This is the second book in the Faebound trilogy ( My Faebound Review ) and follows two elven sisters, Lettle and Yeeran, as they try to navigate the fae world and protect those they love. This story is set in an afro/arab inspired and queer normative world and there are both F/F and M/F main love stories as well as lots of additional LGBTQIA+ rep.
Cursebound is less romance focused than Faebound but did up the angst and conflict between the main characters as well as give all the main characters growth. The plot twists are one element that have been consistently done well in this series and I can't wait (and am scared) to see what happens book3! I also really appreciate how Saara El-Arifi is able to craft a fast moving and enjoyable epic fantasy in less than 350 pages.
One of my favourite elements of this entire series remains the obeah (giant cat-like animal companions that the fae are telepathically linked with and can ride) and I love how unique not only each POV in this book is but each obeah is. New POVs are added in this book and I can honestly say that I loved every POV in this book (if anything bad happens to any of them in book 3 I will RIOT).
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Faebound but this remains one of my favourite fantasy series and Cursebound was still a great read.
Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me a physical proof copy of this book!
January 18, 2025
I LOVE THIS WORLD!!!!
No second book in a trilogy issues to be seen here 👀
It’s hard to review second books without dropping spoilers so I’ll keep this brief but allude to what to expect if you were on the fence about continuing.
Cursebound opens up in the same lush and vivid way as faebound did - the world is one of my favourites and we get more of it, new areas, more lore and more magic. This also meant the introduction of some new POV’s.
The new POV’s added more depth to the story and a new romance between characters *squeals* (I love them your honor). And some really enjoyable characters, too! I did not feel bogged down by the extra POV’s.
Cursebound also moved into some more political topics such as segregation, class systems and rebellions. As with all things, what is reflected internally is also reflected externally and we really get to see how fear can create resistance.
This moves quickly and was paced well. I’ve never read a fantasy faster in my life and I attribute that to El-Arifi’s ability to write concisely and in such vivid detail. The only downside to this fast moving story is that I struggled to stay emotionally connected to the characters during harder times and crisis. I don’t believe this would be an issue for anyone who prefers plot driven stories though.
ADORED. Can’t wait for more.
No second book in a trilogy issues to be seen here 👀
It’s hard to review second books without dropping spoilers so I’ll keep this brief but allude to what to expect if you were on the fence about continuing.
Cursebound opens up in the same lush and vivid way as faebound did - the world is one of my favourites and we get more of it, new areas, more lore and more magic. This also meant the introduction of some new POV’s.
The new POV’s added more depth to the story and a new romance between characters *squeals* (I love them your honor). And some really enjoyable characters, too! I did not feel bogged down by the extra POV’s.
Cursebound also moved into some more political topics such as segregation, class systems and rebellions. As with all things, what is reflected internally is also reflected externally and we really get to see how fear can create resistance.
This moves quickly and was paced well. I’ve never read a fantasy faster in my life and I attribute that to El-Arifi’s ability to write concisely and in such vivid detail. The only downside to this fast moving story is that I struggled to stay emotionally connected to the characters during harder times and crisis. I don’t believe this would be an issue for anyone who prefers plot driven stories though.
ADORED. Can’t wait for more.
April 11, 2025
You could tell a plot twist was coming the moment they started showing a character too much
January 23, 2025
this trilogy needs to get more love STAT!
A completely new, refreshing take on Fae and Elves in a non-European-inspired setting, war and court politics, LGBT rep of all kinds, soul-bonded animal companions that are giant cats you can ride, AND it’s easy to read? The people need to tune in.
A completely new, refreshing take on Fae and Elves in a non-European-inspired setting, war and court politics, LGBT rep of all kinds, soul-bonded animal companions that are giant cats you can ride, AND it’s easy to read? The people need to tune in.
May 25, 2025
I cannot stop thinking about this series and these characters. Like, seriously I can’t. It’s so refreshing to have a new fantasy world to be obsessed with, and at the same time, already so sad because I’m two-thirds of the way through with it! That being said, I am not a patient person and I will be crying every day until I can read the third and final book. Not to be dramatic or anything.
My love for obeah is relentless, and although I still have a little bit of a hard time visualizing them, as a cat lady I’m thoroughly satisfied. Also, HIGH praise for genuine character growth and development, even with the obeah. The plot line has layers upon layers and I am so hooked.
Alder’s addition proved to be much more intriguing than I initially suspected! I tend to get impatient with new “main” characters, however Alder is a beautifully written, complex personality with bit of mystique that keeps things interesting. Overall, he’s irresistibly lovable and I’m dying to know how the rest of the story unfolds for him.
Yeeran and Lettle have really become my comfort characters, they’re distinctive and I relate to them both in many different ways, and their sisterly relationship is exceptionally accurate.
Last thing, maybe best thing?? The romance!! Yes!!! Sizzling!!!!
Okay that’s all lol
But seriously, if you’ve read Faebound (even if it was not your favorite) read Cursebound, because, honestly, it just keeps getting better. 🖤
My love for obeah is relentless, and although I still have a little bit of a hard time visualizing them, as a cat lady I’m thoroughly satisfied. Also, HIGH praise for genuine character growth and development, even with the obeah. The plot line has layers upon layers and I am so hooked.
Alder’s addition proved to be much more intriguing than I initially suspected! I tend to get impatient with new “main” characters, however Alder is a beautifully written, complex personality with bit of mystique that keeps things interesting. Overall, he’s irresistibly lovable and I’m dying to know how the rest of the story unfolds for him.
Yeeran and Lettle have really become my comfort characters, they’re distinctive and I relate to them both in many different ways, and their sisterly relationship is exceptionally accurate.
Last thing, maybe best thing?? The romance!! Yes!!! Sizzling!!!!
Okay that’s all lol
But seriously, if you’ve read Faebound (even if it was not your favorite) read Cursebound, because, honestly, it just keeps getting better. 🖤
September 15, 2025
Cursebound was a fast-paced, exciting follow-up to Faebound. This sequel features more romance, new characters, drama, a plot to take down the Jani Dynasty, and shocking betrayals. I ended up reading the bulk of this book during a vacation. Instead of drinking and sight-seeing, I was glued to this novel.
In this follow up to last years Faebound Yeeran returns to her ex-lover Salawa with news of the Fae. Lettle becomes the target of a disgruntled group of the Fae.
I loved every bit of this novel, especially the new character and romance. The conspiracy kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was behind the plot to kill Lettle and why.
If you're looking for a novel that has a lot of inclusivity and diversity with strong female leads then Cursebound and Faebound will definitely please you.
In this follow up to last years Faebound Yeeran returns to her ex-lover Salawa with news of the Fae. Lettle becomes the target of a disgruntled group of the Fae.
I loved every bit of this novel, especially the new character and romance. The conspiracy kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was behind the plot to kill Lettle and why.
If you're looking for a novel that has a lot of inclusivity and diversity with strong female leads then Cursebound and Faebound will definitely please you.
February 10, 2025
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A bit of a rocky sequel that seems to promise a satisfying finale to the trilogy.
It's a testament to Saara El-Arifi's talent that my least favorite book by her is a three star read; her worst (in my opinion) still remains better than a lot of the books in the same genre. She's such a gifted writer - one of my favorites - and my conflicted feelings on this installment don't change that.
With that being said, unlike Faebound, I found this book incredibly difficult to get through. It wasn't bad, by any means, but it felt so... empty? for lack of better terms. Like the characters and plots were all there only because they had to be, not like the story was actually a real, breathing thing that could stand on its own. The dialogue felt clunky, the romances grating, and the political decisions felt like they were being made by a really dumb teenager.
I understand this makes it sound like I hated this book and I promise that I didn't. I didn't enjoy it, but I think a lot of that is due to it hitting a bit of a middle book slump. The world is still incredibly intriguing and I love the conversations about the twisted historical records.
I just felt like this book could have been better and I'm sad it wasn't.
The end... however... that was a good twist and I can't wait to see what she does with it in the finale.
Overall, while this disappointed me, it was still very much okay and I would definitely recommending giving it a try - especially if you loved book 1 and don't mind too many romances, with very little development.
A bit of a rocky sequel that seems to promise a satisfying finale to the trilogy.
It's a testament to Saara El-Arifi's talent that my least favorite book by her is a three star read; her worst (in my opinion) still remains better than a lot of the books in the same genre. She's such a gifted writer - one of my favorites - and my conflicted feelings on this installment don't change that.
With that being said, unlike Faebound, I found this book incredibly difficult to get through. It wasn't bad, by any means, but it felt so... empty? for lack of better terms. Like the characters and plots were all there only because they had to be, not like the story was actually a real, breathing thing that could stand on its own. The dialogue felt clunky, the romances grating, and the political decisions felt like they were being made by a really dumb teenager.
I understand this makes it sound like I hated this book and I promise that I didn't. I didn't enjoy it, but I think a lot of that is due to it hitting a bit of a middle book slump. The world is still incredibly intriguing and I love the conversations about the twisted historical records.
I just felt like this book could have been better and I'm sad it wasn't.
The end... however... that was a good twist and I can't wait to see what she does with it in the finale.
Overall, while this disappointed me, it was still very much okay and I would definitely recommending giving it a try - especially if you loved book 1 and don't mind too many romances, with very little development.
February 11, 2025
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC!
I liked the first Faebound book well enough - mostly due to Yeeran's chapters and the arc that she goes through - but I think this second book solidifies my preference of El-Arifi's other series, The Final Strife.
This middle book in the trilogy felt very much that, there wasn't really a whole lot going on for the wider plot. The first and second halves of the book felt very separated from each other, though the last couple of chapters were pretty good in building the hype for the third book.
I found myself guessing the answers to the mysteries that the characters faced, and in that way it was quite predictable. My problems with the characters also carried over into this book, and Lettle still irritates me to no end. I still don't find myself believing in or caring for her relationship, and I wish we had gotten more of Yeeran instead of her. It was fun getting to know some newer characters and side characters from book one, but none of them particularly caught my attention.
The world building is amazing as per usual, and her descriptions are beautiful. I am altogether intrigued to see how the third book will go and on what note the trilogy will end on.
I liked the first Faebound book well enough - mostly due to Yeeran's chapters and the arc that she goes through - but I think this second book solidifies my preference of El-Arifi's other series, The Final Strife.
This middle book in the trilogy felt very much that, there wasn't really a whole lot going on for the wider plot. The first and second halves of the book felt very separated from each other, though the last couple of chapters were pretty good in building the hype for the third book.
I found myself guessing the answers to the mysteries that the characters faced, and in that way it was quite predictable. My problems with the characters also carried over into this book, and Lettle still irritates me to no end. I still don't find myself believing in or caring for her relationship, and I wish we had gotten more of Yeeran instead of her. It was fun getting to know some newer characters and side characters from book one, but none of them particularly caught my attention.
The world building is amazing as per usual, and her descriptions are beautiful. I am altogether intrigued to see how the third book will go and on what note the trilogy will end on.
December 23, 2024
This second installment in the Faebound trilogy, while highlighting Saara El-Arifi’s unique ability to craft rich and evocative worlds and settings with complex, flawed, and diverse characters, struggled to maintain the same forward momentum and character development of Faebound.
Cursebound finds our FMCs, Yerevan and Lettle both navigating a new world as consorts of the King and Queen. Nettle seeks to find answers to the fae’s imprisonment while avoiding assassination at the hands of a new revolutionary group intent to destroy the court and Yeeran…well, as usual, Yeeran’s intentions are good and her execution is REAL BAD when she attempts to negotiate with her ex-lover and leader of the Elven Lands.
I think this series may have been better served as a duology rather than a trilogy as the storyline in this narrative felt more tangential with the overarching plot progressing very little through the course of the book. There also seemed to be less character growth in this book with our MCs acting in naive and nonsensical ways at times, when they should know better by now. Yeeran's trip back to the Elven lands infuriated me, not only because of her naivete, but also because what should have culminated in a huge turning point in the story was so rushed, with the conflict resolved so quickly that it literally made the 5ish chapters before that completely irrelevant.
We did get a new POV, Alder, which I enjoyed getting to know and found myself intrigued about his backstory most of all. We got to see some growth of existing side characters as well and this, along with how much I LOVE the queernorm world and diversity of character and how generally fast-paced the story was, really kept me going.
This wasnt a bad book, and I LOVE Saara El-Arifi and the worlds she creates, it just felt more like a “stop-over” than a continuation of the series as a whole. I will definitely be continuing the series though and have high hopes for the last installment.
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Cursebound as an e-arc.
Cursebound finds our FMCs, Yerevan and Lettle both navigating a new world as consorts of the King and Queen. Nettle seeks to find answers to the fae’s imprisonment while avoiding assassination at the hands of a new revolutionary group intent to destroy the court and Yeeran…well, as usual, Yeeran’s intentions are good and her execution is REAL BAD when she attempts to negotiate with her ex-lover and leader of the Elven Lands.
I think this series may have been better served as a duology rather than a trilogy as the storyline in this narrative felt more tangential with the overarching plot progressing very little through the course of the book. There also seemed to be less character growth in this book with our MCs acting in naive and nonsensical ways at times, when they should know better by now. Yeeran's trip back to the Elven lands infuriated me, not only because of her naivete, but also because what should have culminated in a huge turning point in the story was so rushed, with the conflict resolved so quickly that it literally made the 5ish chapters before that completely irrelevant.
We did get a new POV, Alder, which I enjoyed getting to know and found myself intrigued about his backstory most of all. We got to see some growth of existing side characters as well and this, along with how much I LOVE the queernorm world and diversity of character and how generally fast-paced the story was, really kept me going.
This wasnt a bad book, and I LOVE Saara El-Arifi and the worlds she creates, it just felt more like a “stop-over” than a continuation of the series as a whole. I will definitely be continuing the series though and have high hopes for the last installment.
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Cursebound as an e-arc.
February 20, 2025
This book is such a fantastic sequel—I enjoyed it even more than Faebound! I loved reconnecting with Yeeran and Lettle, and this time, the sisters’ struggles felt even more real and relatable. Yeeran’s heartbreak as she tries to balance her love for the fae queen with her duty to her people was so raw and emotional. And Lettle’s determination to break the fae curse added a great sense of urgency and mystery to the story.
One thing I have to highlight is the journal-style recap at the beginning of the book—it was such a clever touch! It made it so much easier to jump back into the story, and I wish more authors did this.
The pacing was spot on, and the twists kept me hooked. While the worldbuilding didn’t feel quite as magical as it did in the first book, it was still beautiful, with some truly vivid scenes. This time, the focus felt more on the characters and their choices, which I didn’t mind because it made the story feel so personal.
I can’t wait to see how everything wraps up in the final book. The stakes are high, the emotions run deep, and I’m completely invested in these characters and their world!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
One thing I have to highlight is the journal-style recap at the beginning of the book—it was such a clever touch! It made it so much easier to jump back into the story, and I wish more authors did this.
The pacing was spot on, and the twists kept me hooked. While the worldbuilding didn’t feel quite as magical as it did in the first book, it was still beautiful, with some truly vivid scenes. This time, the focus felt more on the characters and their choices, which I didn’t mind because it made the story feel so personal.
I can’t wait to see how everything wraps up in the final book. The stakes are high, the emotions run deep, and I’m completely invested in these characters and their world!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 1, 2025
Book 2s are notoriously hard to like and often don’t live up to the first books. However I think this book is the exception, and may actually be better than Book 1.
The characters felt more fully rounded and the story made more sense.
I wasn’t sure I would continue the trilogy after Book 1, but after reading this ARC I am now super excited for Book 3
Safe to say I think NO ONE would have seen this ending coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC
The characters felt more fully rounded and the story made more sense.
I wasn’t sure I would continue the trilogy after Book 1, but after reading this ARC I am now super excited for Book 3
Safe to say I think NO ONE would have seen this ending coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC
January 10, 2025
Lettle is quickly becoming one of my favorite Seer related characters in the fantasy genre!! I love her, I just want to keep hearing what she’s putting together or prophecizing and this book delivered!! The second book in the Faebound trilogy was a really good continuation of the lore and world that we encountered in the first book!! I loved that we got introduced to a couple new characters— and learned more about what is driving the ones we have already met. It is such a diverse read, and I think that is very special. I loved the plot lines that were explored, and getting to experience more of the fae forests with Alder! The end fell together beautifully for the next book, and now I’m on the edge of my seat!! I really don’t know how all the turmoil is going to be resolved, but I cannot wait to see!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Del Rey for the early eArc!!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Del Rey for the early eArc!!
April 7, 2025
4 stars. This was much better than book one. I liked book one, don’t get me wrong but I think the author has really found her footing with this book. The world building is much better here and the characters went through some great development. Speaking of characters Yeeran and Furi are everything. Like, I love those two badass women. And that moment they had in the cave? Made me 15% gayer so thank you for that El-Arifi. I’m not sure why I thought this series was a duology but it’s not. There will be another book though I’m curious as to how that’s gonna go because the ending to this one ties up everyones stories pretty well. Overall, this was a fun time. If you were on the fence about book one I would say pick this one up as it is a lot better.
February 25, 2025
Don't let the 3 stars fool you, I genuinely enjoyed it, the twists and turns were great and I loved Adlers POV (and love interests)
It just didn't have the same umpf as the first and some parts felt a bit drawn out. But, this is the curse of second book syndrome.
The third will be spectacular.
It just didn't have the same umpf as the first and some parts felt a bit drawn out. But, this is the curse of second book syndrome.
The third will be spectacular.
March 8, 2025
yes ma'am give me #3
April 8, 2025
DNF at 20%
While I thought the first book was fine, I found this follow-up to be juvenile beyond words.
This book commits the mortal crime of telling, not showing.
Examples:
-In one scene, Yeeran's obia (ovia?) is literally being shot at, and the narration reads "if Yeeran was in real danger, her guards would immediately kill the threat" and yet her ovia, to which she is bound FOR LIFE, is being shot at, and she just does ... nothing? What?
-Leetle is literally MEAN to the servants who are not only serving her but tasting her food for poison. I don't like people like that in real life, I'm certainly not going to read about them in a book.
-When Leetle's lover is convulsing on the floor from poison, she literally takes 5 minutes to find help and even when she does, the incompetence exhibited and the honestly annoying dialogue during that scene made me want to claw my eyes out. What do you mean it took you 5 min to determine the antidote didn't work?? That man should've died with the length of time it took them to do anything together to save him.
The dialogue is corny and cringy and does not read as natural at all. The characters are annoying. This read as incredibly juvenile.
While I thought the first book was fine, I found this follow-up to be juvenile beyond words.
This book commits the mortal crime of telling, not showing.
Examples:
-In one scene, Yeeran's obia (ovia?) is literally being shot at, and the narration reads "if Yeeran was in real danger, her guards would immediately kill the threat" and yet her ovia, to which she is bound FOR LIFE, is being shot at, and she just does ... nothing? What?
-Leetle is literally MEAN to the servants who are not only serving her but tasting her food for poison. I don't like people like that in real life, I'm certainly not going to read about them in a book.
-When Leetle's lover is convulsing on the floor from poison, she literally takes 5 minutes to find help and even when she does, the incompetence exhibited and the honestly annoying dialogue during that scene made me want to claw my eyes out. What do you mean it took you 5 min to determine the antidote didn't work?? That man should've died with the length of time it took them to do anything together to save him.
The dialogue is corny and cringy and does not read as natural at all. The characters are annoying. This read as incredibly juvenile.
February 16, 2025
Now THAT is how you avoid a book-2-in-a-trilogy slump, Saara El-Arifi!
Cursebound was completely captivating from beginning to end. I love these characters so much, and a few more were added since Faebound, which made this a pleasure to read on multiple levels. Yeeran and Lettle are all grown up, each on their own paths that often overlap but rarely conjoin. This sets them up for new tensions and pressures in their relationship with one another that gives them a nuanced sister dynamic that ebbs and flows with their life experiences. Furi and Rayan were more present and I adored getting into their heads more. Golan was just as charming as he was in Faebound, but he also feels a lot more grown up and subdued in Cursebound, which meant we got to learn more about his backstory which was nice. Alder was a phenomenal addition to this cast of characters, and within a book of many twists and turns, I completely did not see the twists and turns concerning him coming—and they were flawlessly executed.
El-Arifi's writing is still as eloquent and engaging as it was in Faebound, but it is also sharper. The already expansive world feels more developed, the dynamics more high-stakes, the violence more violent, the love more loving. In a way, Cursebound takes all of the mild resistances I had in Faebound—such as understanding drum magic and the origin of obeahs—and not only develops each in turn, it makes both feel like I'd been wrong, so to speak, not to catch on in the first place. As a reader who often can see the trajectory of a novel or series from the start, this was such a treat.
Once again, I feel like I can't go too much in depth without risking spoilers. All I can say is if you want to take a chance on a queernormative world with Black elves and fae, adorable yet badass familiars, incredible political intrigue, war, and revolution, this series is the one to journey with!
5 ⭐️s
1 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 2/18/25
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!
Cursebound was completely captivating from beginning to end. I love these characters so much, and a few more were added since Faebound, which made this a pleasure to read on multiple levels. Yeeran and Lettle are all grown up, each on their own paths that often overlap but rarely conjoin. This sets them up for new tensions and pressures in their relationship with one another that gives them a nuanced sister dynamic that ebbs and flows with their life experiences. Furi and Rayan were more present and I adored getting into their heads more. Golan was just as charming as he was in Faebound, but he also feels a lot more grown up and subdued in Cursebound, which meant we got to learn more about his backstory which was nice. Alder was a phenomenal addition to this cast of characters, and within a book of many twists and turns, I completely did not see the twists and turns concerning him coming—and they were flawlessly executed.
El-Arifi's writing is still as eloquent and engaging as it was in Faebound, but it is also sharper. The already expansive world feels more developed, the dynamics more high-stakes, the violence more violent, the love more loving. In a way, Cursebound takes all of the mild resistances I had in Faebound—such as understanding drum magic and the origin of obeahs—and not only develops each in turn, it makes both feel like I'd been wrong, so to speak, not to catch on in the first place. As a reader who often can see the trajectory of a novel or series from the start, this was such a treat.
Once again, I feel like I can't go too much in depth without risking spoilers. All I can say is if you want to take a chance on a queernormative world with Black elves and fae, adorable yet badass familiars, incredible political intrigue, war, and revolution, this series is the one to journey with!
5 ⭐️s
1 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 2/18/25
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!
November 21, 2024
Thank you to Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I squealed when I got the email that I had gotten an ARC for Cursebound. I said at the beginning of 2024 that Faebound was going to be the best of the year, it holds true. Cursebound was such a great middle book of a trilology.
When it comes to the second books in trilogies, they can be rough. Though, El-Arifi does a wonderful job expanding the relationships, the world, and lore without adding too much. Instead of introducing more to the world, I felt like she really developed it. Like Yeeran and Lettle, we are getting more of a grasp of the world.
I LOVED the various perspectives that we get in Cursebound. Whereas Faebound stuck with the girls, as a reader when get to see many perspectives.
I’m sad I gobbled this book up in about a day and now to wait for the final book… but I am so looking forward to it(ESPECIALLY WITH THAT ENDING).
I squealed when I got the email that I had gotten an ARC for Cursebound. I said at the beginning of 2024 that Faebound was going to be the best of the year, it holds true. Cursebound was such a great middle book of a trilology.
When it comes to the second books in trilogies, they can be rough. Though, El-Arifi does a wonderful job expanding the relationships, the world, and lore without adding too much. Instead of introducing more to the world, I felt like she really developed it. Like Yeeran and Lettle, we are getting more of a grasp of the world.
I LOVED the various perspectives that we get in Cursebound. Whereas Faebound stuck with the girls, as a reader when get to see many perspectives.
I’m sad I gobbled this book up in about a day and now to wait for the final book… but I am so looking forward to it(ESPECIALLY WITH THAT ENDING).
July 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
For much of this book I was kind of waiting for some big pivotal moment, so much of it felt like just setting things up for the next volume AKA the true middle book syndrome. That being said, there was a particular reveal at the literal END that has me very excited to continue with the series. Unfortunately, I think the main thing that holds this series back for me is the romances. They just don’t quite feel earned for the way the couples act, and it grates on me a bit. That being said, I did enjoy getting to learn more about the world and seeing the relationships continuing to evolve, even if one of them feels a wee bit toxic. If you like romantic fantasy where it’s probably 60:40 romance:plot where the world building isn’t crazy complex, I think this could be a solid one for you. Or if you’re just looking for a fun side series to just get to sit back and enjoy the kind of tropey time, this could also be a solid one for you.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to review via NetGalley.
For much of this book I was kind of waiting for some big pivotal moment, so much of it felt like just setting things up for the next volume AKA the true middle book syndrome. That being said, there was a particular reveal at the literal END that has me very excited to continue with the series. Unfortunately, I think the main thing that holds this series back for me is the romances. They just don’t quite feel earned for the way the couples act, and it grates on me a bit. That being said, I did enjoy getting to learn more about the world and seeing the relationships continuing to evolve, even if one of them feels a wee bit toxic. If you like romantic fantasy where it’s probably 60:40 romance:plot where the world building isn’t crazy complex, I think this could be a solid one for you. Or if you’re just looking for a fun side series to just get to sit back and enjoy the kind of tropey time, this could also be a solid one for you.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to review via NetGalley.
September 7, 2025
I wish I could explain this feeling better because I sound stupid, but things just... happen?
The dialogues feel very robotic and emotionless, obeahs don't make sense to me from a biological perspective, the plot twist was just plot and I still don't understand the hole deal with the fraedia crystal. I mean, your economy is based in gold. That's what you use to pay for stuff. So why is everyone up in arms against each other and starving for not having the equivalent of diamonds??
The dialogues feel very robotic and emotionless, obeahs don't make sense to me from a biological perspective, the plot twist was just plot and I still don't understand the hole deal with the fraedia crystal. I mean, your economy is based in gold. That's what you use to pay for stuff. So why is everyone up in arms against each other and starving for not having the equivalent of diamonds??
November 12, 2025
Ooohhhh I liked the first book but REALLY loved this one!! So many twists and surprises and every chapter kept me engaged and excited to keep finding out more. Can’t wait for the sequel
January 29, 2025
So heartbroken about this one 😭 While I know there were mixed reviews on it, Faebound (book 1 of this series) was one of my favorite reads of last year and easily a 5 star read for me. I'm trying not to be too harsh on this book due to having loved the first one so much and anticipated it for the last year, but if I wasn't already attached to this series, this would've been a DNF for me. Getting through it was a slog, and it wasn't even a long book. That said, I have many thoughts.
First, I'll start with the good:
-I still love some of these characters so much. Especially Pila. I would die for Pila.
-The diverse cast in this series is such a breath of fresh air
-Least important here but this cover? STUNNING.
On a less positive note:
-One of the major praises I had for Faebound was that it just felt magical. I can't even necessarily explain why, it was just a feeling. I feel like Tinker Bell herself sprinkled pixie dust on that book and it was radiating off the pages and into my life while reading it. This lacked that sparkle for me, and I'm unsure where that went or why.
-I appreciate that the author included a brief synopsis of book 1 at the start of this book, for those who haven't read it in forever and may have forgotten. I didn't feel like the recap dragged on for too long, but it also covered enough of the important beats to refresh my memory.
-This book had middle book in a trilogy issues big time in my opinion--I feel like most of this served no purpose except to bridge the gap between books 1 and 3. Almost all felt like a side quest and it really made me care a lot less about the story overall.
For now, I am giving this a 2.75 stars, rounded up. Perhaps once I sit on this for a bit longer I might raise that a bit--it sometimes is hard to tell if you genuinely disliked a book, or if your super high hopes not really being met makes the book feel worse than it actually is. I'm having a hard time discerning what portion of my problem with this book lies with me and my anticipation of it.
Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First, I'll start with the good:
-I still love some of these characters so much. Especially Pila. I would die for Pila.
-The diverse cast in this series is such a breath of fresh air
-Least important here but this cover? STUNNING.
On a less positive note:
-One of the major praises I had for Faebound was that it just felt magical. I can't even necessarily explain why, it was just a feeling. I feel like Tinker Bell herself sprinkled pixie dust on that book and it was radiating off the pages and into my life while reading it. This lacked that sparkle for me, and I'm unsure where that went or why.
-I appreciate that the author included a brief synopsis of book 1 at the start of this book, for those who haven't read it in forever and may have forgotten. I didn't feel like the recap dragged on for too long, but it also covered enough of the important beats to refresh my memory.
-This book had middle book in a trilogy issues big time in my opinion--I feel like most of this served no purpose except to bridge the gap between books 1 and 3. Almost all felt like a side quest and it really made me care a lot less about the story overall.
For now, I am giving this a 2.75 stars, rounded up. Perhaps once I sit on this for a bit longer I might raise that a bit--it sometimes is hard to tell if you genuinely disliked a book, or if your super high hopes not really being met makes the book feel worse than it actually is. I'm having a hard time discerning what portion of my problem with this book lies with me and my anticipation of it.
Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2025
WHAT IN THE CLIFFHANGERRRR?!
i loved returning to this universe, the world building is so fresh and interesting and (some) characters had amazing growth in this one but oh my god yeeran babes......what did you honestly think was going to happen......
i found this a little predictable again (maybe i just read too much fantasy?) but definitely not as much as i found faebound, again though (much like faebound) the final few chapters had me HOOKED and that ending sentence revelation - what do you mean i have to wait however long for the next one?????
thanks to harper for sending me an ARC <3
i loved returning to this universe, the world building is so fresh and interesting and (some) characters had amazing growth in this one but oh my god yeeran babes......what did you honestly think was going to happen......
i found this a little predictable again (maybe i just read too much fantasy?) but definitely not as much as i found faebound, again though (much like faebound) the final few chapters had me HOOKED and that ending sentence revelation - what do you mean i have to wait however long for the next one?????
thanks to harper for sending me an ARC <3
March 23, 2025
All in all, this is a satisfying sequel! I did enjoy Faebound more than Cursebound, and I have a few concerns about how we’ve been set up for the final book in the trilogy. But, as my reading buddy Adriana noted, this series might be *intentionally* more straightforward than the Ending Fire trilogy. There’s nothing wrong with that, and there’s still plenty to enjoy here!!!
I wanted more time with every piece of this world
I was so glad we finally got a Furi POV in this chapter, seeing as how she’s our clearest link to Mosima, and one of the most memorable characters in this series. Our favorite faeguard commander goes through a whac-a-mole number of trials and tribulations in Cursebound, but she handles them with grace. I get why certain things had to happen to move our story along, but I just kept wishing she could CATCH HER BREATH between all the betrayals and murders.
Another thing with Furi—I thought we were heading for a clear love triangle between her, Yeeran, and Salawa, so I felt a bit robbed when Saara El-Arifi took us in a different direction. I don’t even think I would’ve minded the event if we had about a hundred more pages, first. The way things shake out, we’re *this close* to a bit of messiness that I would’ve really enjoyed. I loved seeing how Yeeran responded to Jay in Faebound, and I would’ve appreciated the mirror of Furi scrutinizing Salawa (or vice versa!)
Adriana also made a good point that the sequence of events we have didn’t allow us to discern Salawa’s true nature, like how important power vs. her promises were to her. This is really my largest complaint with the second book—I just wanted more timeeeeee. We deserved lingering treks through the Wasted Marshes that provided ample space for the various relational dynamics to play out. We deserved to watch Yeeran get up close and personal with various characters in the Waning Tribe and nomadic elves, instead of leaving these groups shortly after they were introduced. All of this additional timing could’ve helped flesh out the characters that I assume will play a key role in the war to come. As it currently stands, we’ll barely know ANYONE on the other side of the battlefield in Book 3.
The perils of choosing one’s identity
If Faebound’s core theme was about constraint, Cursebound focuses on what happens when people can choose their identity. For a large portion of their lives, Lettle and Yeeran were incredibly devoted to their sects and armies, respectively. These groups were a core part of their identities, and they used them to express their sense of home and set their moral compasses. In Cursebound, we see both characters sink further into losing their religion. They become unclear about if Waning truly is home, or if maybe Mosima should be? At the same time, we see many fae characters struggle with the “paradise prison” of Mosima, and chafe against the way their identity is bound to the land. In a crucial battle scene, two members of the Jani dynasty decide to choose their identity as lovers over their identity as rulers bound to never leave Mosima—and the consequences become quickly evident. Even new characters like Alden get in on the theme. On page 165, he notes that “I may not know who I was, but I do know who I am.” His fae companion, Golan, replies: “That is the better way of things. Unlike some of us who are still searching.” Throughout Cursebound, El-Arifi seems to be examining which of these characters know who they are, which knew at one point but don’t anymore, and which never knew at all.
These senses of identity are also connected to the characters’ choices in rulers. Who to follow seems to be a referendum on who everyone believes themselves to be. Because of this, we get lots of musing on the best leaders for a given place. Some of this political hypothesizing can be overdone—for instance, Yeeran’s good royal vs. bad royal dichotomy was just not doing it for me. To be fair though, I can’t be too mad at Yeeran when her sister was even more insufferable!!! Lettle’s entitled hypocrisy and unhelpful self-righteousness left me hating her as much as the character Hassa in El-Arifi’s other trilogy. To restate my earlier criticisms, “Between Books 1 and 2, I’ve had to watch [Lettle] be angry, sullen, and unreasonable for nearly [800] pages, and I’m sick of it!” Saara El-Arifi could’ve kept Lettle’s “listening and learning” DEI council. In doing so, she would’ve saved both us readers and the Lightless characters a massive headache.
Final Thoughts
I think this book would be a great introduction to Black queer romantasy, especially for readers who might be overwhelmed by a trilogy where each book is 800+ pages. I found myself wanting a bit more from Cursebound, but I am trusting the process, and trusting Saara El-Arifi to bring it home in Book 3. In truth, my frustration with the (relatively) shorter length of Cursebound is a compliment to the author. It’s another reminder that I love the world El-Arifi has built, and can’t wait to spend more time with these characters in Book 3. 😊
I wanted more time with every piece of this world
I was so glad we finally got a Furi POV in this chapter, seeing as how she’s our clearest link to Mosima, and one of the most memorable characters in this series. Our favorite faeguard commander goes through a whac-a-mole number of trials and tribulations in Cursebound, but she handles them with grace. I get why certain things had to happen to move our story along, but I just kept wishing she could CATCH HER BREATH between all the betrayals and murders.
Another thing with Furi—I thought we were heading for a clear love triangle between her, Yeeran, and Salawa, so I felt a bit robbed when Saara El-Arifi took us in a different direction. I don’t even think I would’ve minded the event if we had about a hundred more pages, first. The way things shake out, we’re *this close* to a bit of messiness that I would’ve really enjoyed. I loved seeing how Yeeran responded to Jay in Faebound, and I would’ve appreciated the mirror of Furi scrutinizing Salawa (or vice versa!)
Adriana also made a good point that the sequence of events we have didn’t allow us to discern Salawa’s true nature, like how important power vs. her promises were to her. This is really my largest complaint with the second book—I just wanted more timeeeeee. We deserved lingering treks through the Wasted Marshes that provided ample space for the various relational dynamics to play out. We deserved to watch Yeeran get up close and personal with various characters in the Waning Tribe and nomadic elves, instead of leaving these groups shortly after they were introduced. All of this additional timing could’ve helped flesh out the characters that I assume will play a key role in the war to come. As it currently stands, we’ll barely know ANYONE on the other side of the battlefield in Book 3.
The perils of choosing one’s identity
If Faebound’s core theme was about constraint, Cursebound focuses on what happens when people can choose their identity. For a large portion of their lives, Lettle and Yeeran were incredibly devoted to their sects and armies, respectively. These groups were a core part of their identities, and they used them to express their sense of home and set their moral compasses. In Cursebound, we see both characters sink further into losing their religion. They become unclear about if Waning truly is home, or if maybe Mosima should be? At the same time, we see many fae characters struggle with the “paradise prison” of Mosima, and chafe against the way their identity is bound to the land. In a crucial battle scene, two members of the Jani dynasty decide to choose their identity as lovers over their identity as rulers bound to never leave Mosima—and the consequences become quickly evident. Even new characters like Alden get in on the theme. On page 165, he notes that “I may not know who I was, but I do know who I am.” His fae companion, Golan, replies: “That is the better way of things. Unlike some of us who are still searching.” Throughout Cursebound, El-Arifi seems to be examining which of these characters know who they are, which knew at one point but don’t anymore, and which never knew at all.
These senses of identity are also connected to the characters’ choices in rulers. Who to follow seems to be a referendum on who everyone believes themselves to be. Because of this, we get lots of musing on the best leaders for a given place. Some of this political hypothesizing can be overdone—for instance, Yeeran’s good royal vs. bad royal dichotomy was just not doing it for me. To be fair though, I can’t be too mad at Yeeran when her sister was even more insufferable!!! Lettle’s entitled hypocrisy and unhelpful self-righteousness left me hating her as much as the character Hassa in El-Arifi’s other trilogy. To restate my earlier criticisms, “Between Books 1 and 2, I’ve had to watch [Lettle] be angry, sullen, and unreasonable for nearly [800] pages, and I’m sick of it!” Saara El-Arifi could’ve kept Lettle’s “listening and learning” DEI council. In doing so, she would’ve saved both us readers and the Lightless characters a massive headache.
Final Thoughts
I think this book would be a great introduction to Black queer romantasy, especially for readers who might be overwhelmed by a trilogy where each book is 800+ pages. I found myself wanting a bit more from Cursebound, but I am trusting the process, and trusting Saara El-Arifi to bring it home in Book 3. In truth, my frustration with the (relatively) shorter length of Cursebound is a compliment to the author. It’s another reminder that I love the world El-Arifi has built, and can’t wait to spend more time with these characters in Book 3. 😊
March 25, 2025
I honestly think this series was done a disservice by being labeled romantasy. There are certain expectations associated with that sub genre, and I feel like this series does not align with them.
I ended Faebound on very unsure footing. I felt like the romance relied on insta-lust and the plot lacked proper tension. But I could see the potential of the series, which is why I decided to pick up Cursebound. Unfortunately, once again, I felt as though my expectations were not met. Nor did I find any further depth given to our characters and their relationships. I feel like none of our characters THINK. They’re extremely hot headed, clueless, selfish, and honestly quite cruel. Now in a different light I could have come to love some of these qualities in a darker, more gritty fantasy. But in a romantasy? I want to actively root for and admire my characters. Instead, I felt like none of them should be together. It was even hard to stay on their side against their “enemies.”
Salawa is the most underutilized character I’ve ever encountered. When I first started Faebound, It was actually her character and her relationship with Yeeran that initially got me excited about the story. To see her character arc completely fumbled and destroyed was difficult to watch. It was the moment I made peace with the growing reality that this series would never be what I wished it to be.
Alder and Golan were the absolute highlight of this book. Despite them also falling into the insta-lust trap, I found their dynamic to be the most believable. I could feel the tenderness and love between them. If anyone could keep me interested in the third book, it would be Alder. Him and the Nomads were the most intriguing part of this story, even with the super obvious twists.
I ended Faebound on very unsure footing. I felt like the romance relied on insta-lust and the plot lacked proper tension. But I could see the potential of the series, which is why I decided to pick up Cursebound. Unfortunately, once again, I felt as though my expectations were not met. Nor did I find any further depth given to our characters and their relationships. I feel like none of our characters THINK. They’re extremely hot headed, clueless, selfish, and honestly quite cruel. Now in a different light I could have come to love some of these qualities in a darker, more gritty fantasy. But in a romantasy? I want to actively root for and admire my characters. Instead, I felt like none of them should be together. It was even hard to stay on their side against their “enemies.”
Salawa is the most underutilized character I’ve ever encountered. When I first started Faebound, It was actually her character and her relationship with Yeeran that initially got me excited about the story. To see her character arc completely fumbled and destroyed was difficult to watch. It was the moment I made peace with the growing reality that this series would never be what I wished it to be.
Alder and Golan were the absolute highlight of this book. Despite them also falling into the insta-lust trap, I found their dynamic to be the most believable. I could feel the tenderness and love between them. If anyone could keep me interested in the third book, it would be Alder. Him and the Nomads were the most intriguing part of this story, even with the super obvious twists.
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