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Faebound #3
Earthbound
Not yet published
Expected 27 Aug 26Yeeran and Lettle’s world has been shaken by a revelation from the Fates that changes everything: the obeah are not what they seem. Return to the intoxicating realm of the fae one last time in the final installment of the #1 Sunday Times bestselling Faebound series.
Broken by love.
Trapped by war.
Bound by magic.
Lettle is on a quest to uncover the truth. Along with the human Alder, the last of his kind, she sets off on an arduous journey of discovery. But after a painful separation from King Rayan, she is struggling to find her way.
Alder is determined to learn more about his origins. With no memories of his childhood, he retraces his steps to the cave where it all began. But what he finds there may shake him to the core.
Back in the fae court, Yeeran has other priorities. The warrior-turned-ambassador must negotiate a peace treaty with the elven army to save them all. But it’s hard to bargain with a duplicitous enemy. And it’s even harder to negotiate with a broken heart.
Secrets ripple like an earthquake across the land and love and power is at the core of them all…
Broken by love.
Trapped by war.
Bound by magic.
Lettle is on a quest to uncover the truth. Along with the human Alder, the last of his kind, she sets off on an arduous journey of discovery. But after a painful separation from King Rayan, she is struggling to find her way.
Alder is determined to learn more about his origins. With no memories of his childhood, he retraces his steps to the cave where it all began. But what he finds there may shake him to the core.
Back in the fae court, Yeeran has other priorities. The warrior-turned-ambassador must negotiate a peace treaty with the elven army to save them all. But it’s hard to bargain with a duplicitous enemy. And it’s even harder to negotiate with a broken heart.
Secrets ripple like an earthquake across the land and love and power is at the core of them all…
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 27, 2026
About the author
Saara El-Arifi
13 books3,793 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 39 reviews
Want to Read
February 1, 2026I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!!
July 13, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review! I have loved this series since the start and I am so glad to say the final book did not disappoint! I was worried at first because it felt like we were getting a lot of new problems and no solutions but it all made sense in the end. I loved these characters so much and enjoyed seeing how they developed throughout the trilogy.
July 14, 2026
Stunning end to the trilogy. This was a journey and a half for our protagonists but wow what an ending.
Beautifully written, heartbreaking at times, unexpected developments.
Adventure all the time. Fae occasionally.
I’m at a loss for words how to sum up this book and the whole trilogy. It is so unlike any other fantasy series out there and it was a joy to read.
Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for the eARC
Beautifully written, heartbreaking at times, unexpected developments.
Adventure all the time. Fae occasionally.
I’m at a loss for words how to sum up this book and the whole trilogy. It is so unlike any other fantasy series out there and it was a joy to read.
Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for the eARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really, really wanted to conclusion to this series to stick the landing. I’ve had my critiques of the series: the first in the trilogy was enjoyable and full of really interesting concepts but held back by a POV I felt wasn’t very compelling and by piling too many plot twists into the end of the novel; the second felt a bit empty, like not enough was happening and what did happen was glossed over in a way that detracted from the emotional weight. Unfortunately, I did feel that the third book combined too many of these elements that I just didn’t enjoy: too many POVs aside from Lettle and Yeeran so it made it harder to connect with many of the characters, paired with too many plot twists and a lack of emotional weight behind them. I am so glad to see this series working well for other readers—the reason I’ve kept reading this series is because, at the core, there’s ideas here that I really do want to love. Unfortunately, the execution of this series just didn’t work for me.
Though I normally like to include a plot summary, I’ll forgo one this time as I don’t want to spoil anything; however, be warned that my review will allude to plot points of the book so please read with caution.
The biggest thing holding this series back for me that became the most apparent in the last book is a lack of weight. There are a lot of huge and life-changing choices in this final book; moments where lives and fates of entire societies hang in the balance. There are relationships that have been building across the trilogy with extremely important moments and high stakes. The world is irrevocably changed in so many ways; yet, for me, the book just never really convinced me that they mattered.
I’m not sure how to word this critique—ostensibly, on page, what happened mattered to the characters. However, emotionally, so much happened so quickly and with characters who never seemed to be that fearful or invested or reflective, so I never felt like I needed to be that emotionally invested. For example, there’s a lot of very bad things happening in Mosima that actively threaten the safety and well-being of every citizen and that require leadership to navigate, but no worries, Furi has plenty of time to spend the night elsewhere and sleep in half the day. Alder and Lettle spend most of the book on another quest that raises absolutely ginormous stakes that never hit because the book never convinced me anything bad could happen to them along the way. In short, the story just lacks weight behind it. No plot point hit all that hard. Moreover, because the scenes are tonally disconnected from each other, the book felt less like a thread of plot points that flowed into each other and more like a series of disconnected events that happened one after another.
This felt especially true for the end of the series. Again, I really don’t want to spoil anything, but there are absolutely huge changes to the world with astoundingly huge stakes that get literally no follow-up, nor are even given weight in the story. I think it is, in part, to innate tonal dissonance to the story—the book asserts that certain things are true even though, in practice, they don’t really jibe with everything else we know. Thus, when these big changes happened and then the book ended, it just left me feeling like the whole plot point didn’t matter at all, so what was it all for?
All in all, this book just didn’t work for me and, thus, unfortunately, this whole series just didn’t work for me. Again, I am so, so happy to see many other readers enjoying the ending—this is, in no way, a bad book, it just wasn’t a book or series that I enjoyed. I do think that those who enjoyed the first two books are likely to enjoy this one. However, for me, this was a 2.5 out of 5, which I’m rounding up to a 3.
Thank you to Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Though I normally like to include a plot summary, I’ll forgo one this time as I don’t want to spoil anything; however, be warned that my review will allude to plot points of the book so please read with caution.
The biggest thing holding this series back for me that became the most apparent in the last book is a lack of weight. There are a lot of huge and life-changing choices in this final book; moments where lives and fates of entire societies hang in the balance. There are relationships that have been building across the trilogy with extremely important moments and high stakes. The world is irrevocably changed in so many ways; yet, for me, the book just never really convinced me that they mattered.
I’m not sure how to word this critique—ostensibly, on page, what happened mattered to the characters. However, emotionally, so much happened so quickly and with characters who never seemed to be that fearful or invested or reflective, so I never felt like I needed to be that emotionally invested. For example, there’s a lot of very bad things happening in Mosima that actively threaten the safety and well-being of every citizen and that require leadership to navigate, but no worries, Furi has plenty of time to spend the night elsewhere and sleep in half the day. Alder and Lettle spend most of the book on another quest that raises absolutely ginormous stakes that never hit because the book never convinced me anything bad could happen to them along the way. In short, the story just lacks weight behind it. No plot point hit all that hard. Moreover, because the scenes are tonally disconnected from each other, the book felt less like a thread of plot points that flowed into each other and more like a series of disconnected events that happened one after another.
This felt especially true for the end of the series. Again, I really don’t want to spoil anything, but there are absolutely huge changes to the world with astoundingly huge stakes that get literally no follow-up, nor are even given weight in the story. I think it is, in part, to innate tonal dissonance to the story—the book asserts that certain things are true even though, in practice, they don’t really jibe with everything else we know. Thus, when these big changes happened and then the book ended, it just left me feeling like the whole plot point didn’t matter at all, so what was it all for?
All in all, this book just didn’t work for me and, thus, unfortunately, this whole series just didn’t work for me. Again, I am so, so happy to see many other readers enjoying the ending—this is, in no way, a bad book, it just wasn’t a book or series that I enjoyed. I do think that those who enjoyed the first two books are likely to enjoy this one. However, for me, this was a 2.5 out of 5, which I’m rounding up to a 3.
Thank you to Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ This was perfect ✨
Earthbound gave me everything I wanted from the conclusion of this trilogy. I loved this world. I loved these characters. I loved how deeply their relationships mattered to every part of the story. Finishing the trilogy was incredibly satisfying and also devastating because I genuinely did not want to leave.
The truth about the obeah has changed the shape of every bond in this world. Liberation sounds simple until Yeeran realizes it may cost her Pila. Furi and Rayan can open Mosima’s boundary, but as rulers they remain literal keys to a city that imprisons them. Lettle can see the paths ahead, but that doesn’t make choosing her own any easier. Alder’s missing past begins to look less like an absence than a threat. Everyone wants freedom. No one agrees on what it should look like or who they will be once they finally have it.
That tension has always been one of my favorite things about this series. The fantasy is huge, but it has never mattered more than the relationships inside it. Sisters who love each other and still cause each other pain. Lovers trying to build something while the world keeps demanding pieces of them. Friendships strained by secrets, and questions of loyalty vs duty. I’ve cared about these characters since Faebound, and by this point every reunion, argument, and moment of tenderness landed with the full weight of everything they have already survived together.
Furi and Yeeran were everything. Furi can command an entire city, but Yeeran is the one person she cannot order into safety. Yeeran, meanwhile, loves her too much to let her disappear behind duty or sacrifice. Their relationship is fierce and physical, but I loved watching them fight their way back to tenderness after everything that has complicated loving each other. Every touch felt hard-won. Every moment of softness felt like defiance.
There is so much to resolve here, but it never felt like El-Arifi was simply moving pieces into place for an ending. Every answer mattered because of what it meant for the races involved. Every choice carried the history of the first two books behind it. Even while I was desperate to know how everything would end, I wanted the book to slow down because I would have happily stayed with these characters for another book…or two. That has honestly been my only complaint throughout the trilogy: I always wanted more. More depth, more time in this world, more of these relationships, more pages.
Earthbound understands that undoing a curse is not the same thing as repairing everything the curse created. Freedom can be joyful, terrifying, painful, and still worth fighting for. The ending was emotional, hopeful, fully earned, and everything I needed it to be. Absolute perfection. One of my favorite series ever. I’m not ready to let it go. 😭
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and Saara El-Arifi for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Earthbound gave me everything I wanted from the conclusion of this trilogy. I loved this world. I loved these characters. I loved how deeply their relationships mattered to every part of the story. Finishing the trilogy was incredibly satisfying and also devastating because I genuinely did not want to leave.
The truth about the obeah has changed the shape of every bond in this world. Liberation sounds simple until Yeeran realizes it may cost her Pila. Furi and Rayan can open Mosima’s boundary, but as rulers they remain literal keys to a city that imprisons them. Lettle can see the paths ahead, but that doesn’t make choosing her own any easier. Alder’s missing past begins to look less like an absence than a threat. Everyone wants freedom. No one agrees on what it should look like or who they will be once they finally have it.
That tension has always been one of my favorite things about this series. The fantasy is huge, but it has never mattered more than the relationships inside it. Sisters who love each other and still cause each other pain. Lovers trying to build something while the world keeps demanding pieces of them. Friendships strained by secrets, and questions of loyalty vs duty. I’ve cared about these characters since Faebound, and by this point every reunion, argument, and moment of tenderness landed with the full weight of everything they have already survived together.
Furi and Yeeran were everything. Furi can command an entire city, but Yeeran is the one person she cannot order into safety. Yeeran, meanwhile, loves her too much to let her disappear behind duty or sacrifice. Their relationship is fierce and physical, but I loved watching them fight their way back to tenderness after everything that has complicated loving each other. Every touch felt hard-won. Every moment of softness felt like defiance.
There is so much to resolve here, but it never felt like El-Arifi was simply moving pieces into place for an ending. Every answer mattered because of what it meant for the races involved. Every choice carried the history of the first two books behind it. Even while I was desperate to know how everything would end, I wanted the book to slow down because I would have happily stayed with these characters for another book…or two. That has honestly been my only complaint throughout the trilogy: I always wanted more. More depth, more time in this world, more of these relationships, more pages.
Earthbound understands that undoing a curse is not the same thing as repairing everything the curse created. Freedom can be joyful, terrifying, painful, and still worth fighting for. The ending was emotional, hopeful, fully earned, and everything I needed it to be. Absolute perfection. One of my favorite series ever. I’m not ready to let it go. 😭
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and Saara El-Arifi for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2026
I genuinely cannot believe this trilogy is over. I also cannot believe I got to read the final book early because this has been one of my most anticipated releases for so long, and somehow it still exceeded every expectation I had. Stepping back into this world felt like coming home! Saara El-Arifi has created one of my favourite fantasy worlds, and Earthbound is such a beautiful, emotional, and incredibly satisfying conclusion.
Seeing everyone scattered across the world, each fighting their own battles while still working towards the same future, made the story feel so wonderfully expansive. I loved following Alder and Lettle as they searched for answers, watching Yeeran continue to shoulder impossible responsibilities while trying to build peace, and seeing Furi, Rayan, and Golan all continue their own journeys. Every character had an important role to play, and I loved how every storyline eventually came together in such a rewarding way.
One of my favourite things about this trilogy has always been the characters, and this book reminded me exactly why. They’ve all grown so much since Faebound, and seeing where they ended up was bittersweet in the very best way. Their friendships, loyalties, love, grief, and hope all felt so genuine that I was completely emotionally invested in every single one of them.
The worldbuilding somehow became even richer in this final instalment. We uncover more of the world’s history, more of the truth behind everything that’s happened, and watching those final pieces click into place was so satisfying. Even when I thought I knew where things were heading, Saara still found ways to surprise me.
And then there was the ending. I was SOBBING!! It felt hopeful and heartbreaking all at once, and I honestly can’t imagine a more fitting conclusion for this series. Finishing the final chapter genuinely felt like saying goodbye to friends I’ve spent years with.
I already know this is a trilogy I’ll come back to again and again because these characters and this world have completely captured my heart. Five stars doesn’t even feel like enough.
Thank you so much to Saara El-Arifi, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the eARC. It was such a privilege to experience this incredible finale early.
Seeing everyone scattered across the world, each fighting their own battles while still working towards the same future, made the story feel so wonderfully expansive. I loved following Alder and Lettle as they searched for answers, watching Yeeran continue to shoulder impossible responsibilities while trying to build peace, and seeing Furi, Rayan, and Golan all continue their own journeys. Every character had an important role to play, and I loved how every storyline eventually came together in such a rewarding way.
One of my favourite things about this trilogy has always been the characters, and this book reminded me exactly why. They’ve all grown so much since Faebound, and seeing where they ended up was bittersweet in the very best way. Their friendships, loyalties, love, grief, and hope all felt so genuine that I was completely emotionally invested in every single one of them.
The worldbuilding somehow became even richer in this final instalment. We uncover more of the world’s history, more of the truth behind everything that’s happened, and watching those final pieces click into place was so satisfying. Even when I thought I knew where things were heading, Saara still found ways to surprise me.
And then there was the ending. I was SOBBING!! It felt hopeful and heartbreaking all at once, and I honestly can’t imagine a more fitting conclusion for this series. Finishing the final chapter genuinely felt like saying goodbye to friends I’ve spent years with.
I already know this is a trilogy I’ll come back to again and again because these characters and this world have completely captured my heart. Five stars doesn’t even feel like enough.
Thank you so much to Saara El-Arifi, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the eARC. It was such a privilege to experience this incredible finale early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Earthbound is the perfect ending to the trilogy. A strong finale that had me crying at the last few chapters. Get the tissues ready!
The story picks up 4 months after Cursebound ends. We continue with the same multi povs from that book which I was glad for as their additions in Cursebound were one of my favourite parts of the book. The series has so many complex characters and I think one of the strongest parts of the story telling is how the characters interact and care for each other. For example the reveal of Alder’s past and Lettle’s reaction was a very well written part of the story and monumental for the rest of the book. I also love the queer representation throughout the series and the love stories between the various characters had a satisfying conclusion.
One character who stood out for me was Lettle. She was very childish and immature in the first two books but book three is where she comes into her own. Her character development was my favourite in the series - I did a full 180 on my opinion of her! The Obeah are some of my favourite magical creatures in books and the bond they share with their fae is so well written. Love a magical companion!
In terms of world building, we finally get the reveal of the world’s history and why Misoma is blocked off from the other lands. This was well executed and tied a lot of strings together, answering questions from the start of the series. The book was fast paced but the ending did feel a little rushed as there was a lot of plot and story to get through. I also have to shout out the depictions of war, negotiations, underhand tactics etc and how well written they were. Despite not being a lot of action (no long battle scenes etc) you really felt the conflict between the fae and elves.
Overall I think readers will be happy with the ending to the series. It’s one I plan on revisiting in the future as, for me, each book keep getting better!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for access to this ARC.
The story picks up 4 months after Cursebound ends. We continue with the same multi povs from that book which I was glad for as their additions in Cursebound were one of my favourite parts of the book. The series has so many complex characters and I think one of the strongest parts of the story telling is how the characters interact and care for each other. For example the reveal of Alder’s past and Lettle’s reaction was a very well written part of the story and monumental for the rest of the book. I also love the queer representation throughout the series and the love stories between the various characters had a satisfying conclusion.
One character who stood out for me was Lettle. She was very childish and immature in the first two books but book three is where she comes into her own. Her character development was my favourite in the series - I did a full 180 on my opinion of her! The Obeah are some of my favourite magical creatures in books and the bond they share with their fae is so well written. Love a magical companion!
In terms of world building, we finally get the reveal of the world’s history and why Misoma is blocked off from the other lands. This was well executed and tied a lot of strings together, answering questions from the start of the series. The book was fast paced but the ending did feel a little rushed as there was a lot of plot and story to get through. I also have to shout out the depictions of war, negotiations, underhand tactics etc and how well written they were. Despite not being a lot of action (no long battle scenes etc) you really felt the conflict between the fae and elves.
Overall I think readers will be happy with the ending to the series. It’s one I plan on revisiting in the future as, for me, each book keep getting better!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Earthbound" is the satisfying conclusion to the Faebound trilogy, wrapping up Yeeran and Lettle's stories.
Overall I enjoyed the series and would give the series as a whole a 4 star rating. I thought this book wrapped everything up nicely and was satisfied with the conclusion and each characters ending. I found the book compulsively readable and was able to read it within a few days, due to the fact that it was so fast paced and I couldn't put it down! To me this reads at the quick pacing you often see in YA or romance novels.
A few things to point out in this final installment. I did find a few inconsistencies near the end. Minor spoiler *For instance a character loses the ability to use their legs, but is seen doing a pushup and swimming for hours, then is back to not being able to walk again. I also found when the author wrote themself into a corner and needed a character that had a specific ability, all of a sudden there was a new character that had that ability or all of a sudden had a past that provided them with the access they needed. I also found this read quite YA to me except for the random intimate scenes between Furi and Yeeran....which I felt were unnecessary and also though was really weird that we only saw intimate scenes from their point of view when there are 2 other romantic couples that are main characters but have no intimate scenes. I just felt like this could have been a YA series if you cut those few scenes out, and nothing plotwise would have been lost.
I'd rate this final book a 3.5/5 and would recommend this series to those who enjoy fast paced fantasy with a bit of romance and a bit of spice.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I enjoyed the series and would give the series as a whole a 4 star rating. I thought this book wrapped everything up nicely and was satisfied with the conclusion and each characters ending. I found the book compulsively readable and was able to read it within a few days, due to the fact that it was so fast paced and I couldn't put it down! To me this reads at the quick pacing you often see in YA or romance novels.
A few things to point out in this final installment. I did find a few inconsistencies near the end. Minor spoiler *For instance a character loses the ability to use their legs, but is seen doing a pushup and swimming for hours, then is back to not being able to walk again. I also found when the author wrote themself into a corner and needed a character that had a specific ability, all of a sudden there was a new character that had that ability or all of a sudden had a past that provided them with the access they needed. I also found this read quite YA to me except for the random intimate scenes between Furi and Yeeran....which I felt were unnecessary and also though was really weird that we only saw intimate scenes from their point of view when there are 2 other romantic couples that are main characters but have no intimate scenes. I just felt like this could have been a YA series if you cut those few scenes out, and nothing plotwise would have been lost.
I'd rate this final book a 3.5/5 and would recommend this series to those who enjoy fast paced fantasy with a bit of romance and a bit of spice.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2026
Thank you so much to the publisher for allowing me early access to one of my most highly anticipated books of the year for an honest review!
Earthbound was a 4.5 star rating from me! This was everything I was wanting and expecting and more!
In my opinion, Earthbound was a lovely finial book, wrapped in a bow. It gave us answers we've been wanting from book 1, it gave us so much world lore and information. It gave us hope, heartfelt moments, but also those heart wrenching moments too. I haven't cried at this series at all, but those final 60 pages-- oh boy, they got me good.
We got some character growth and also met some new characters, I liked both very much.
We also got scenes we've been waiting for since book 1, however, I feel like those scenes didn't live up to the expectations I was expecting, but I wasn't mad at them either.
The world lore we got was so interesting, and I am very much glad we got it in book 3 rather than any earlier (literally couldn't have gotten it any earlier, but the point in which we got it was the perfect timing)
The ending to me was a little lacklustre, I wanted more. It was very much what I expected and how we got there was a little too "easy" and I wanted more heartbreak [I am a sucker for a heart wrenching ending, I love those bittersweet moments] but it was wrapped up very nicely. This is why I dropped it by half a star, it was all down to personal preference.
Overall, I am very happy with how this book started, continued on, and finished and overall completed the trilogy. I was very nervous with how her other trilogy, The Ending Fire, had ended (not great in my opinion).
Thank you again to Harper Collins UK for the chance to read this early and thank you Saara for another great book!
Earthbound was a 4.5 star rating from me! This was everything I was wanting and expecting and more!
In my opinion, Earthbound was a lovely finial book, wrapped in a bow. It gave us answers we've been wanting from book 1, it gave us so much world lore and information. It gave us hope, heartfelt moments, but also those heart wrenching moments too. I haven't cried at this series at all, but those final 60 pages-- oh boy, they got me good.
We got some character growth and also met some new characters, I liked both very much.
We also got scenes we've been waiting for since book 1, however, I feel like those scenes didn't live up to the expectations I was expecting, but I wasn't mad at them either.
The world lore we got was so interesting, and I am very much glad we got it in book 3 rather than any earlier (literally couldn't have gotten it any earlier, but the point in which we got it was the perfect timing)
The ending to me was a little lacklustre, I wanted more. It was very much what I expected and how we got there was a little too "easy" and I wanted more heartbreak [I am a sucker for a heart wrenching ending, I love those bittersweet moments] but it was wrapped up very nicely. This is why I dropped it by half a star, it was all down to personal preference.
Overall, I am very happy with how this book started, continued on, and finished and overall completed the trilogy. I was very nervous with how her other trilogy, The Ending Fire, had ended (not great in my opinion).
Thank you again to Harper Collins UK for the chance to read this early and thank you Saara for another great book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Del Rey for the digital copy of Earthbound by Saara El-Arifi!
Earthbound is the final installment in the Faebound trilogy, an adult high fantasy series. As with the previous books, this is a multi-POV novel written primarily in third person perspective, and features a queer normative society that is inclusive of nonbinary and trans people.
I appreciated the brief, in-character recap of the main plot points from the previous books, which made it easy to jump back into the story as it picks up soon after the events of Cursebound. After the massive revelation in the second book, I was very eager to jump back into this series!
The stakes are higher than ever as Yeeran and Furi attempt to negotiate a treaty with the elves, the two realms teetering on the brink of war. I liked that the points of view excluded anyone in the elven army, so as a reader I was kept guessing about their plans and motivation. Lettle and Alder's quest is an arduous journey of discovery as they attempt to uncover the human's past, and the revelations trigger some heartbreaking moments.
The politics are interspersed with some romance and open door scenes. My favorite relationship was definitely Lettle and Rayan (it's wild to think about how much I disliked Lettle in the first book because I love her now), but Yeeran and Furi had some of the sweetest moments in the story.
While I had some doubt about this series in the beginning, it grew on me over time especially when the story began to focus more on the fantasy elements. The premise of this story and the world the author created felt so unique, and by this third book I was completely into it. Earthbound was my favorite of the series and wrapped up everything well.
Earthbound is the final installment in the Faebound trilogy, an adult high fantasy series. As with the previous books, this is a multi-POV novel written primarily in third person perspective, and features a queer normative society that is inclusive of nonbinary and trans people.
I appreciated the brief, in-character recap of the main plot points from the previous books, which made it easy to jump back into the story as it picks up soon after the events of Cursebound. After the massive revelation in the second book, I was very eager to jump back into this series!
The stakes are higher than ever as Yeeran and Furi attempt to negotiate a treaty with the elves, the two realms teetering on the brink of war. I liked that the points of view excluded anyone in the elven army, so as a reader I was kept guessing about their plans and motivation. Lettle and Alder's quest is an arduous journey of discovery as they attempt to uncover the human's past, and the revelations trigger some heartbreaking moments.
The politics are interspersed with some romance and open door scenes. My favorite relationship was definitely Lettle and Rayan (it's wild to think about how much I disliked Lettle in the first book because I love her now), but Yeeran and Furi had some of the sweetest moments in the story.
While I had some doubt about this series in the beginning, it grew on me over time especially when the story began to focus more on the fantasy elements. The premise of this story and the world the author created felt so unique, and by this third book I was completely into it. Earthbound was my favorite of the series and wrapped up everything well.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the last book in the Faebound trilogy from Saara El-Arifi. If you haven’t read the first or second yet, rest assured that a complete and satisfying story now awaits you. And you should probably stop reading this review because I’m about to talk about stuff that happened in those previous books!
As with the sequel, we start with a concise in-universe summary of the events leading up to it, this time from the perspective of the last human alive, Alder. This is a great addition to any series, particularly when it’s been eighteen months since the last book, and you might have forgotten some of the finer details (like me).
Our power couple Yeeran and Furi have split up, and Lettle and Rayan aren’t doing that much better. It turns out the obeah animal companions that many in Mosima are bound to are actually what’s left of the missing humans. And the fae court is under siege from the elven army right on their doorstep.
So everybody is heading off in different directions. Yeeran has to negotiate peace with her former soldiers, and it does not go well at all, particularly because she still has to work with Furi. Lettle and Adler have gone to explore the world trying to find out his true nature and break the curse trapping the Fae. Furi and Rayan are just trying to hold the royal court together.
Alder’s POV is very interesting when his true nature is revealed, and we find out exactly what has been going on, and there are many twists and turns along the way. The stakes are higher than the previous books, and there’s a lot more action. Not to mention, we get not one, but two complex villains.
A very enjoyable conclusion, and the trilogy is highly recommended.
As with the sequel, we start with a concise in-universe summary of the events leading up to it, this time from the perspective of the last human alive, Alder. This is a great addition to any series, particularly when it’s been eighteen months since the last book, and you might have forgotten some of the finer details (like me).
Our power couple Yeeran and Furi have split up, and Lettle and Rayan aren’t doing that much better. It turns out the obeah animal companions that many in Mosima are bound to are actually what’s left of the missing humans. And the fae court is under siege from the elven army right on their doorstep.
So everybody is heading off in different directions. Yeeran has to negotiate peace with her former soldiers, and it does not go well at all, particularly because she still has to work with Furi. Lettle and Adler have gone to explore the world trying to find out his true nature and break the curse trapping the Fae. Furi and Rayan are just trying to hold the royal court together.
Alder’s POV is very interesting when his true nature is revealed, and we find out exactly what has been going on, and there are many twists and turns along the way. The stakes are higher than the previous books, and there’s a lot more action. Not to mention, we get not one, but two complex villains.
A very enjoyable conclusion, and the trilogy is highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
'Earthbound' is the last book in the 'Faebound' trilogy and it was so well down. I couldn't put this book down it was so good. I love that there is a bit of a recap of the last book at the beginning (so helpful to job the memory) and that we dive in immediately where we left off. Everyone is off in their own directions, each has a mission of their own and all are fighting for each other and a better world.
Alder and Lettie are off to find the truth of his past, Yeeran and Furi are barely communicating while Yeeran works with the elves on peace. Rayan is distant are slowly folding in on himself. Galan continues to help represent the lightless while also feeling Alder's absence. We get to watch these characters as well as others continue to grow. We get new characters and a conclusion worth of the series.
The world building and storytelling is done so well!! All the characters seem so well thought through and add so much depth to the story. Journeying with Adler and Lettie was so cool to see and getting a glimpse at the past was exquisite. Watching these pieces come together and seeing how the story developed was amazing. I am so sad to see this story end but also am happy to see how it ended.
I can't wait for the next book by Saara El-Arifi!! Also that author's note made me lol. I will prepare for her next tale! Highly recommend this series!! It's been so fun to read and experience. Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alder and Lettie are off to find the truth of his past, Yeeran and Furi are barely communicating while Yeeran works with the elves on peace. Rayan is distant are slowly folding in on himself. Galan continues to help represent the lightless while also feeling Alder's absence. We get to watch these characters as well as others continue to grow. We get new characters and a conclusion worth of the series.
The world building and storytelling is done so well!! All the characters seem so well thought through and add so much depth to the story. Journeying with Adler and Lettie was so cool to see and getting a glimpse at the past was exquisite. Watching these pieces come together and seeing how the story developed was amazing. I am so sad to see this story end but also am happy to see how it ended.
I can't wait for the next book by Saara El-Arifi!! Also that author's note made me lol. I will prepare for her next tale! Highly recommend this series!! It's been so fun to read and experience. Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m still not emotionally recovered from Earthbound. I was absolutely fangirling when I got approved for this ARC because Saara El-Arifi is one of my favourite authors, and this finale genuinely felt like such a full-circle, emotionally devastating, and beautiful ending to the trilogy. I read it in one day because I had no self-control once I stepped back into this world.
The plot had me hooked from the very beginning. Everything felt higher stakes, more intense, and so much more emotionally charged as the story pushed toward its conclusion. There’s so much love, danger, betrayal, and magic woven through every part of it, and I honestly couldn’t put it down because I needed to know how everything would unfold.
The characters were everything in this book. Watching their journeys come to an end felt bittersweet in the best way. Every choice they made felt earned, and I loved seeing how far they’d come across the series. The emotional weight of their relationships—friendships, loyalties, and everything in between—really hit hard in this final instalment.
This was such a powerful ending to the trilogy, and I already miss this world so much. Five stars doesn’t feel like enough.
📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Saara El-Arifi and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚
The plot had me hooked from the very beginning. Everything felt higher stakes, more intense, and so much more emotionally charged as the story pushed toward its conclusion. There’s so much love, danger, betrayal, and magic woven through every part of it, and I honestly couldn’t put it down because I needed to know how everything would unfold.
The characters were everything in this book. Watching their journeys come to an end felt bittersweet in the best way. Every choice they made felt earned, and I loved seeing how far they’d come across the series. The emotional weight of their relationships—friendships, loyalties, and everything in between—really hit hard in this final instalment.
This was such a powerful ending to the trilogy, and I already miss this world so much. Five stars doesn’t feel like enough.
📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Saara El-Arifi and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Such an epic ending to a spectacular trilogy!
What a journey the Faebound trilogy has been—I loved every bit of it. I remember picking up Faebound last year, right after the second book, Cursebound, was released, because I kept hearing about it. The plot had everything I could ever wish for, and honestly, the writing did not disappoint at all!
From the very start, I learned to love every single one of the characters in this series; they are so well-characterized, unique, and yet united under the consequences of war. I truly loved seeing how they all reacted to the harshness of war. I'm not usually a big fan of violence or war, so it was really surprising for me to fall in love with this story. The worldbuilding is exceptional to say the least, and the finale was shattering, heartbreaking, and yet beautiful. In this book, we get to see even more POVs, which I personally loved, but I can see how it could feel a bit overwhelming at times, especially with everything going on.
I won't stop yapping about the characters in this book because their journeys, friendships, love stories, Lettle's premonitions... everything felt amazing and right on point. Maybe the finale felt like a bit too much of an "easy" resolution, but honestly, everything wrapped up perfectly.
After finishing this book, I went for a re-read of the entire trilogy—it's definitely worth experiencing the whole story without a break.
The best conclusion I could ever have expected for this series. I definitely recommend it!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
What a journey the Faebound trilogy has been—I loved every bit of it. I remember picking up Faebound last year, right after the second book, Cursebound, was released, because I kept hearing about it. The plot had everything I could ever wish for, and honestly, the writing did not disappoint at all!
From the very start, I learned to love every single one of the characters in this series; they are so well-characterized, unique, and yet united under the consequences of war. I truly loved seeing how they all reacted to the harshness of war. I'm not usually a big fan of violence or war, so it was really surprising for me to fall in love with this story. The worldbuilding is exceptional to say the least, and the finale was shattering, heartbreaking, and yet beautiful. In this book, we get to see even more POVs, which I personally loved, but I can see how it could feel a bit overwhelming at times, especially with everything going on.
I won't stop yapping about the characters in this book because their journeys, friendships, love stories, Lettle's premonitions... everything felt amazing and right on point. Maybe the finale felt like a bit too much of an "easy" resolution, but honestly, everything wrapped up perfectly.
After finishing this book, I went for a re-read of the entire trilogy—it's definitely worth experiencing the whole story without a break.
The best conclusion I could ever have expected for this series. I definitely recommend it!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having loved both Faebound and Cursebound, I was incredibly excited to dive into Earthbound, and I’m pleased to say this finale delivered everything I was hoping for and some! It was the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable trilogy.
Saara El-Arifi once again showcases her exceptional storytelling with a world that feels rich and immersive.The stakes have never been higher, and every page is filled with emotion, sacrifice, and the lasting consequences of war. I was completely invested from beginning to end.
One of the greatest strengths of this series has always been its characters, and Earthbound gives each of them their own space to shine. The multiple POVs add depth to the story, making every perspective feel meaningful while bringing the emotional weight of the finale to life. Their friendships, romances, growth, and resilience made this an incredibly rewarding conclusion.
The pacing keeps the tension high throughout, with twists, heartbreak, and moments of hope woven seamlessly together. While the story is epic in scope, it never loses sight of the characters at its heart, making the ending feel both satisfying and deeply emotional.📚✨
If you enjoy epic fantasy with exceptional world building, unforgettable characters, multiple POVs, high stakes conflict, and emotionally powerful finales, I cannot recommend the Faebound Trilogy enough. I am sad it’s all over.
Saara El-Arifi once again showcases her exceptional storytelling with a world that feels rich and immersive.The stakes have never been higher, and every page is filled with emotion, sacrifice, and the lasting consequences of war. I was completely invested from beginning to end.
One of the greatest strengths of this series has always been its characters, and Earthbound gives each of them their own space to shine. The multiple POVs add depth to the story, making every perspective feel meaningful while bringing the emotional weight of the finale to life. Their friendships, romances, growth, and resilience made this an incredibly rewarding conclusion.
The pacing keeps the tension high throughout, with twists, heartbreak, and moments of hope woven seamlessly together. While the story is epic in scope, it never loses sight of the characters at its heart, making the ending feel both satisfying and deeply emotional.📚✨
If you enjoy epic fantasy with exceptional world building, unforgettable characters, multiple POVs, high stakes conflict, and emotionally powerful finales, I cannot recommend the Faebound Trilogy enough. I am sad it’s all over.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to Del Rey for reaching out to me with the opportunity to read Earthbound.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Earthbound is a satisfying conclusion to the Faebound trilogy, wrapping up Yeeran and Lettle’s journey with an emotional and fulfilling ending. I found this book incredibly bingeable and flew through it. The pacing is consistently fast, making it difficult to put down, and I was satisfied with how each character’s story concluded. It’s a unique fantasy series that balances adventure with romance, and there were several genuinely heartbreaking and unexpected moments. That said, I did notice a few inconsistencies towards the end, with some plot plots feeling quite convenient.. that occasionally took me out of the story. I was surprised how much attention some couples got, with intimate scenes, that others didn’t… To me, the series has always felt quite YA fantasy, and those scenes didn’t feel very needed, nor did they add much to the plot.
Overall, I really enjoyed the trilogy and would rate the series as a whole 4 stars. If you’re looking for a fast-paced fantasy with memorable characters, plenty of adventure, and a touch of romance and spice, I’d definitely recommend giving Faebound a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Earthbound is a satisfying conclusion to the Faebound trilogy, wrapping up Yeeran and Lettle’s journey with an emotional and fulfilling ending. I found this book incredibly bingeable and flew through it. The pacing is consistently fast, making it difficult to put down, and I was satisfied with how each character’s story concluded. It’s a unique fantasy series that balances adventure with romance, and there were several genuinely heartbreaking and unexpected moments. That said, I did notice a few inconsistencies towards the end, with some plot plots feeling quite convenient.. that occasionally took me out of the story. I was surprised how much attention some couples got, with intimate scenes, that others didn’t… To me, the series has always felt quite YA fantasy, and those scenes didn’t feel very needed, nor did they add much to the plot.
Overall, I really enjoyed the trilogy and would rate the series as a whole 4 stars. If you’re looking for a fast-paced fantasy with memorable characters, plenty of adventure, and a touch of romance and spice, I’d definitely recommend giving Faebound a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love this conclusion! 5 stars!
I loved both Faebound and Cursebound and read each in a day, and Earthbound did not disappoint! I once again couldn’t put this down once I started and it sucked me right back into the story.
The writing lends itself to practically inhaling this book in one go and I love nothing more than being giddy about getting back to a story. We get to see a little bit more of the world in this book and honestly I can’t get enough!
This was a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy and while I’m sad to let these characters go now, I’m so happy I got to experience their whole story. It wrapped up perfectly but goodness was I stressed while reading this book. I gasped out loud at multiple revelations and cried for many of our beloved characters. This is a story I will be coming back to multiple times to reread and honestly I’m itching to reread the whole thing already, knowing what I know now!
100% a series I’d recommend to anyone looking to binging a trilogy in a week! So much fun, so much tension and the right amount of love and betrayal and intrigue to keep you on your toes throughout the whole thing.
I love this conclusion! 5 stars!
I loved both Faebound and Cursebound and read each in a day, and Earthbound did not disappoint! I once again couldn’t put this down once I started and it sucked me right back into the story.
The writing lends itself to practically inhaling this book in one go and I love nothing more than being giddy about getting back to a story. We get to see a little bit more of the world in this book and honestly I can’t get enough!
This was a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy and while I’m sad to let these characters go now, I’m so happy I got to experience their whole story. It wrapped up perfectly but goodness was I stressed while reading this book. I gasped out loud at multiple revelations and cried for many of our beloved characters. This is a story I will be coming back to multiple times to reread and honestly I’m itching to reread the whole thing already, knowing what I know now!
100% a series I’d recommend to anyone looking to binging a trilogy in a week! So much fun, so much tension and the right amount of love and betrayal and intrigue to keep you on your toes throughout the whole thing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i definitely enjoyed this trilogy overall but i don't think this finale hit quite as hard for me as i wanted it to. to be fair i definitely skimmed book two instead of fully reading it so i already walked in knowing i probably wasn't as emotionally invested as i could have been. i will say the multiple POVs were probably my favorite part because every character actually felt different and i never found myself wishing i could skip someone's chapters. there was one backstory in particular that completely got me and tied into the history of the world so well.
i think where it lost me a little was that it felt like every chapter was trying to outdo the last. war, betrayals, twists, more betrayals, another crisis... i was exhausted 😭. i kept waiting for everyone to get five minutes to breathe so i could actually process what was happening but the story never really slowed down. by the end some of the resolutions also felt a little too neat after everything these characters had gone through. even with that though i still had a good time with this series and i'm glad i stuck with it to the end.
✨ tropes ✨
⭐️ multiple POVs
🌙 sapphic
💫 political conflict
⭐️ friendships and found family
🌙 romance subplot
💫 high stakes fantasy
i think where it lost me a little was that it felt like every chapter was trying to outdo the last. war, betrayals, twists, more betrayals, another crisis... i was exhausted 😭. i kept waiting for everyone to get five minutes to breathe so i could actually process what was happening but the story never really slowed down. by the end some of the resolutions also felt a little too neat after everything these characters had gone through. even with that though i still had a good time with this series and i'm glad i stuck with it to the end.
✨ tropes ✨
⭐️ multiple POVs
🌙 sapphic
💫 political conflict
⭐️ friendships and found family
🌙 romance subplot
💫 high stakes fantasy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Earthbound brings the Faebound trilogy to a satisfying, if imperfect, close. The multiple POVs bring real depth and emotion to the story, and it was genuinely hard to put down — war, betrayals, twists, and high stakes keep the pacing relentless throughout. The relationships, both romantic and platonic, remain the heart of the series, and getting the full truth behind Mosima's history was a beautifully written payoff. Furi and Yeeran's dynamic stood out especially — fierce, complicated, and hard-won, with every moment of tenderness feeling earned after everything they've survived together. Alder's arc and the revelations around his true nature added great tension too, along with some genuinely compelling villains. That said, this installment isn't flawless. A few continuity slips crept in, and it occasionally felt like new abilities or backstories appeared conveniently whenever the plot needed them. Some readers may also find certain scenes tonally out of step with the rest of the story's otherwise YA-leaning feel. Still, as a conclusion, it wraps up each character's journey with heart and satisfying closure. A fast-paced, emotional finale, and a trilogy well worth the ride.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 Stars.
As one of my most anticipated releases this year it did not disappoint.
Earthbound is a brilliant showing of the depth in the characters and their stories, they definitely made this book. I loved the multiple PoVs from everyone, each character has such a strong personality and what they each provided to the storyline had so much emotion depth.
We have war and trying to prevent it, there are betrayals and shocks, twists and turns, I didn’t want to put the book down. There were high stakes throughout the book, it was one thing after another trying to accomplish and deal with and I felt the pacing didn’t drag for a second. The relationships between the characters were beautiful, both romantic and friendships.
I absolutely loved one particular characters history that we found out and how it showcased the whole history behind Mosima, I thought it was beautifully written.
A trilogy I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and would recommend, I will miss these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
As one of my most anticipated releases this year it did not disappoint.
Earthbound is a brilliant showing of the depth in the characters and their stories, they definitely made this book. I loved the multiple PoVs from everyone, each character has such a strong personality and what they each provided to the storyline had so much emotion depth.
We have war and trying to prevent it, there are betrayals and shocks, twists and turns, I didn’t want to put the book down. There were high stakes throughout the book, it was one thing after another trying to accomplish and deal with and I felt the pacing didn’t drag for a second. The relationships between the characters were beautiful, both romantic and friendships.
I absolutely loved one particular characters history that we found out and how it showcased the whole history behind Mosima, I thought it was beautifully written.
A trilogy I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and would recommend, I will miss these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an interesting way to wrap up the series. Overall, I enjoyed it, although it didn't quite reach the same heights as the first two books for me.
The pacing was incredibly fast, and at times it felt like the story was rushing to tie everything together. I also found it leaned more towards a typical YA fantasy style than the earlier books.
There were a few plot holes and convenient moments that pulled me out of the story, and I couldn't help but think some of them could have been ironed out during the drafting process.
That said, there was still plenty to enjoy. I really liked the dual points of view, the political intrigue continued to keep me invested, and the world-building remained one of the strongest parts of the series. The characters also felt much more fleshed out by the end, which made the emotional moments land well.
While it wasn't my favourite in the trilogy, it was still an enjoyable conclusion and I'm glad I saw the story through.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc x
The pacing was incredibly fast, and at times it felt like the story was rushing to tie everything together. I also found it leaned more towards a typical YA fantasy style than the earlier books.
There were a few plot holes and convenient moments that pulled me out of the story, and I couldn't help but think some of them could have been ironed out during the drafting process.
That said, there was still plenty to enjoy. I really liked the dual points of view, the political intrigue continued to keep me invested, and the world-building remained one of the strongest parts of the series. The characters also felt much more fleshed out by the end, which made the emotional moments land well.
While it wasn't my favourite in the trilogy, it was still an enjoyable conclusion and I'm glad I saw the story through.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc x
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was one of my most anticipated releases, and while I didn't hate it, I can't say it fully delivered either.
The multiple POVs are a highlight. Each character has a distinct voice and brings emotional depth to the story. The friendships and romantic relationships are well-drawn, and I particularly loved learning one character's backstory and how it tied into the larger history of the world. That part was beautifully done.
But for all its strengths, the book exhausted me. The stakes are constantly high (war, betrayal, twists around every corner) and the pacing never lets up. Instead of feeling thrilling, it became overwhelming. There was no room to breathe, no quiet moments to let the characters or the reader process anything. One crisis after another just numbed me to it all.
I also struggled with how neatly everything seemed to wrap up given the chaos. For a book about preventing war, the resolutions felt a bit too convenient.
I did enjoy the trilogy overall though
The multiple POVs are a highlight. Each character has a distinct voice and brings emotional depth to the story. The friendships and romantic relationships are well-drawn, and I particularly loved learning one character's backstory and how it tied into the larger history of the world. That part was beautifully done.
But for all its strengths, the book exhausted me. The stakes are constantly high (war, betrayal, twists around every corner) and the pacing never lets up. Instead of feeling thrilling, it became overwhelming. There was no room to breathe, no quiet moments to let the characters or the reader process anything. One crisis after another just numbed me to it all.
I also struggled with how neatly everything seemed to wrap up given the chaos. For a book about preventing war, the resolutions felt a bit too convenient.
I did enjoy the trilogy overall though
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Earthbound found a way to bring a powerful ending to a very strong series. These books build on each other and from Faebound to Cursebound and through this last entry the characters get more interesting, the conflicts get more complicated, relationships evolve and the world expands around all of the action. Readers who have followed Yeeran and Lettle's stories through the first two book will not be disappointed with this ending and the way that the prior books are summarized at the start means that you can dive right in without a reread. As for those who have held out but enjoy an original take on fantasy with a little romance, magic, conflicts, fae and elves should start the series with Faebound and binge their way to this gratifying conclusion.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Earthbound is a brilliant, satisfying conclusion to the Faebound trilogy. I continue to love the characters, and my goodness do they get put through some trials in this book! Lettle and Alder are off in search of the truth about his past, whilst Yeeran, Furi, Rayan and Golan are left to broker peace with the elves.
This is a dramatic, action-packed finale, packed with revelations that kept me turning the pages. There was plenty to stress me out and make me emotional too. If you enjoyed the first two instalments, you'll want to dive straight into this one. It's worth it! Cursebound ended with some pretty big shocks, and Earthbound picks up where it left off. I had read Cursebound recently but if it's been a while for you, there's a handy little recap at the start.
A worthy conclusion to a brilliant story. If you're a fantasy reader who hasn't explored the world of Faebound yet, now's the time to give it a go!
Thanks to Netgalley for the e-copy.
This is a dramatic, action-packed finale, packed with revelations that kept me turning the pages. There was plenty to stress me out and make me emotional too. If you enjoyed the first two instalments, you'll want to dive straight into this one. It's worth it! Cursebound ended with some pretty big shocks, and Earthbound picks up where it left off. I had read Cursebound recently but if it's been a while for you, there's a handy little recap at the start.
A worthy conclusion to a brilliant story. If you're a fantasy reader who hasn't explored the world of Faebound yet, now's the time to give it a go!
Thanks to Netgalley for the e-copy.
July 19, 2026
We start with Lettle, Alder and Thor mis-matched crew marching towards the cave that Alder was found in with hopes to uncover his mysterious past and the meaning behind her prophecies. Each struggling with being away from their beloved and if they will ever get back to them. They are searching for a way to save the world against its own terrible fate.
Meanwhile, Yeeran and Luci are fighting against their new dynamic where they have taken their love off the table. They fight to save Mosima, their hidden city of Fae bonded to the obeah, as the elves begin to encroach and threaten war.
As always, I loved the way the different POVs tell the story in tandem with each other. I enjoyed every moment of reading. However, my one criticism is that this book compared to the other two felt a little lack luster. It felt like an ending from the very beginning and I didn’t love it as much as I loved the first two.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for this ARC!
Meanwhile, Yeeran and Luci are fighting against their new dynamic where they have taken their love off the table. They fight to save Mosima, their hidden city of Fae bonded to the obeah, as the elves begin to encroach and threaten war.
As always, I loved the way the different POVs tell the story in tandem with each other. I enjoyed every moment of reading. However, my one criticism is that this book compared to the other two felt a little lack luster. It felt like an ending from the very beginning and I didn’t love it as much as I loved the first two.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for this ARC!
July 23, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
5⭐️
This final book in the Faebound trilogy follows Yeeran, Lettle, and Alder through war, love, and unbinding curses. Knowledge is a powerful thing, but it can also be a burden.
I devoured this book in about 4 days. Once I got to about 65%, I could not put the book down and finished the rest in one sitting. This felt like the perfect ending to this trilogy. I appreciate that all of my questions from Cursebound were tied up and there wasn’t some magical saving grace to fix everything without conflict.
I’m usually not someone who loves multi-POV writing, but this trilogy was written with almost every chapter meshing with another POV chapter which made it easy to follow.
Thank you NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review this!!
5⭐️
This final book in the Faebound trilogy follows Yeeran, Lettle, and Alder through war, love, and unbinding curses. Knowledge is a powerful thing, but it can also be a burden.
I devoured this book in about 4 days. Once I got to about 65%, I could not put the book down and finished the rest in one sitting. This felt like the perfect ending to this trilogy. I appreciate that all of my questions from Cursebound were tied up and there wasn’t some magical saving grace to fix everything without conflict.
I’m usually not someone who loves multi-POV writing, but this trilogy was written with almost every chapter meshing with another POV chapter which made it easy to follow.
Thank you NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review this!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Earthbound was one of my most anticipated titles for 2026, and it did not disappoint! With pulse-pounding action, compelling, complex characters, and heart-wrenching stakes, Earthbound is an epic, satisfying conclusion to the Faebound series.
I've always loved the world of Faebound. Despite all the death and violence, it's so rich and full of life - terms we throw around a lot in reviews, I know, but this one goes further than most. Locations like Mosima and Caperly feel so real, as do the respective cultures of fae, elves, and Nomads. There's no hand-waving here; the details are painstaking and each one serves a real purpose. The world has also been wonderfully diverse from the start, with queernormality and trans and disabled rep, which is becoming more of a thing in fantasy - yay! - but it's especially well-done here.
I've also always appreciated the way the series deals with war. Every character is a product of it, in different ways and to different effects, but unlike a lot of fantasy titles it's not glamorous, it's not rewarding, and it does not a hero make. But aside from one character who feels a bit like an outlier for his relative lack of nuance - though even he's given complex, somewhat forgivable motivations - no one is necessarily *the* villain. They all just want to survive, and sometimes will try to do so at great cost to themselves and others. In particular, Yeeran's evolution from war hawk to eventual peacemaker is moving, and deftly handled by El-Arifi.
Yeeran and company - Lettle, my favorite POV, plus Furi, Alder, and Rayan - are all such rich, complex, at times and in some ways flawed but ultimately very lovable characters. Though human means something different in this world, they all feel like real people with real feelings, problems, and behavior. I really enjoyed seeing them through to their conclusion in the story. Criers, beware; this one got me multiple times!
It's a bittersweet ending, which mirrors how I feel about the series concluding. I want to read more from this world, but Earthbound is a perfect finish to a great trilogy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I've always loved the world of Faebound. Despite all the death and violence, it's so rich and full of life - terms we throw around a lot in reviews, I know, but this one goes further than most. Locations like Mosima and Caperly feel so real, as do the respective cultures of fae, elves, and Nomads. There's no hand-waving here; the details are painstaking and each one serves a real purpose. The world has also been wonderfully diverse from the start, with queernormality and trans and disabled rep, which is becoming more of a thing in fantasy - yay! - but it's especially well-done here.
I've also always appreciated the way the series deals with war. Every character is a product of it, in different ways and to different effects, but unlike a lot of fantasy titles it's not glamorous, it's not rewarding, and it does not a hero make. But aside from one character who feels a bit like an outlier for his relative lack of nuance - though even he's given complex, somewhat forgivable motivations - no one is necessarily *the* villain. They all just want to survive, and sometimes will try to do so at great cost to themselves and others. In particular, Yeeran's evolution from war hawk to eventual peacemaker is moving, and deftly handled by El-Arifi.
Yeeran and company - Lettle, my favorite POV, plus Furi, Alder, and Rayan - are all such rich, complex, at times and in some ways flawed but ultimately very lovable characters. Though human means something different in this world, they all feel like real people with real feelings, problems, and behavior. I really enjoyed seeing them through to their conclusion in the story. Criers, beware; this one got me multiple times!
It's a bittersweet ending, which mirrors how I feel about the series concluding. I want to read more from this world, but Earthbound is a perfect finish to a great trilogy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
„Earthbound“ ist der Abschlussband der Battle of the Drumfire Trilogie von Saara El-Arifi, übersetzt von Kerstin Fricke. Es geht nahtlos mit den Vorbereitungen für die entscheidende Schlacht weiter. Yeeran, Lettle und ihre Freunde geben alles, um den Fluch über Mosima aufzuheben und Fae, Elfen und Menschen eine Zukunft zu ermöglichen.
Das war ein toller atmosphärischer Abschlussband, den ich sehr gerne gelesen habe. Ich war direkt wieder in diese besondere Welt eingetaucht und habe gespannt mitverfolgt, wie es weitergeht. Auch in diesem Band gibt es wieder multiple POVs, sodass sich die Weiterentwicklung der einzigartigen und diversen Charaktere gut verfolgen lässt. Ein spannender und berührender Abschluss!
Das war ein toller atmosphärischer Abschlussband, den ich sehr gerne gelesen habe. Ich war direkt wieder in diese besondere Welt eingetaucht und habe gespannt mitverfolgt, wie es weitergeht. Auch in diesem Band gibt es wieder multiple POVs, sodass sich die Weiterentwicklung der einzigartigen und diversen Charaktere gut verfolgen lässt. Ein spannender und berührender Abschluss!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 stars
What an ending for such an excellent series! I'd definitely say it's the strongest book of the series and my favorite. Her lush writing created such an immersive and atmospheric world with some unique magic. The characters were complex with plenty of depth and strong development. The plot is fantastic with plenty of political intrigue and romance. It's a fairly even mix of being driven by plot and characters. I loved the pacing in this; everything just felt like it was happening at the perfect speed. There was so much going on, but she wrapped everything up beautifully for a very satisfying but heartbreaking ending
What an ending for such an excellent series! I'd definitely say it's the strongest book of the series and my favorite. Her lush writing created such an immersive and atmospheric world with some unique magic. The characters were complex with plenty of depth and strong development. The plot is fantastic with plenty of political intrigue and romance. It's a fairly even mix of being driven by plot and characters. I loved the pacing in this; everything just felt like it was happening at the perfect speed. There was so much going on, but she wrapped everything up beautifully for a very satisfying but heartbreaking ending
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
This might be one of the best conclusions to a trilogy I have ever read. The first two books were just okay for me, but this one I couldn't put down. The story wraps up nicely, with the right amount of heartbreak and heartfelt moments. I particularly loved the backstory we got, it felt original and created one of the most interesting and complex characters I have read so far this year. The characters have also grown so much since the first book and here they finally are their truest selves.
I am so so glad I stuck with this series until the end, because this book redeemed the first two completeley and elevated the whole trilogy.
This might be one of the best conclusions to a trilogy I have ever read. The first two books were just okay for me, but this one I couldn't put down. The story wraps up nicely, with the right amount of heartbreak and heartfelt moments. I particularly loved the backstory we got, it felt original and created one of the most interesting and complex characters I have read so far this year. The characters have also grown so much since the first book and here they finally are their truest selves.
I am so so glad I stuck with this series until the end, because this book redeemed the first two completeley and elevated the whole trilogy.
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