Earthbound

Faebound #3

by Saara El-Arifi

Yeeran 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…

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Lesbian, Queer, Adult, LGBT

384 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2026

About the author

Saara 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.

Reviews

[brittany:)]

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!!

[tori (barely active atm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

full review to come! i'm a little sad to be writing this review because this is the last book in a trilogy that is near and dear to me. but what an ending it was, and it's honestly gonna take me awhile to recover from the emotional rollercoaster i endured.

[taylor ❤️‍🔥 · Rating 4 out of 5]

for the third and final installment in the faebound series we return to our favorite group of characters on separated and on the brink of war. lettle and alder have set off on a quest to uncover alders past in an attempt to unanswered questions, while yeeran and furi remain in mosima attempting to barter for peace with the elves.

wow, i cannot believe this series has come to an end. there is a pang of sadness over finishing, but in my eyes this was the perfect conclusion?
this book was such an emotional rollercoaster. i smiled, giggled and kicked my feet at the reunions, gasped over reveals and cried over characters i've grown attached to facing impossible odds.

this book offers multiple povs, allowing us to watch our favorite characters grapple with their own internal battles and attempt to grow from their mistakes, especially when it came to their relationships. as usual, i love the queer representation throughout this book and series.

faebound was the first arc i EVER read, so the series holds such a special place in my heart. i cannot wait to see what al-arifi publishes in the future.

𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘦𝘭-𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪, 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 🤍

[lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

what a conclusion. this was easily the most action packed of the trilogy and after the two previous books, i throughly enjoyed the focus on yeeran and furi getting closer emotionally + being allowed to show vulnerability with each other. if you enjoy sapphic characters, quests, animal sidekicks, and a black fantasy series i implore you pick this up!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.25 stars

Faebound is a trilogy I enjoy for its simplicity, quirks, and charm. I first read an arc of Faebound in 2023 and I appreciate how easy it is to fall back into this world year after year. Earthbound gives you the romance and action expected in a final installment, and it weaves together the strands of the plot points that were lingering after book two. I look forward to whatever (sapphic) projects Saara El-Arifi gifts us with next.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank gods this was not a disappointment

[Tyla 🧚 🗡️ ☠️ 🩸 🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC.
that’s how you finish a trilogy 👏
I really enjoyed this series even though it’s not my usual kind of read. It’s a fantasy, not a complicated fantasy with lots of world building. But there is a lot going on, with lots of different characters & animals. The names were hard to follow at times. But it felt like a real cosy read. LGBT representation. Found family. The relationship between fae & obeah was written so well. I loved how this all came together at the end. Again, following different people with different POVs can be hard to follow sometimes but the plot was worked out so well. I love how this was concluded. I loved the characters. I love the world building and how the magic system works. Probably a really nice fantasy read if you’re starting off with fantasy.

[Dee Hancocks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earthbound provided the absolute perfect conclusion to this incredible series, and I am so highly satisfied with how everything wrapped up! I loved the inclusion of the gritty, dirty war tactics and the raw, heavy exploration of trauma, which were both brilliantly balanced by the lovely, deeply moving character relationships. It was so incredibly fulfilling to finally get all of the answers to the massive mysteries built up across the trilogy. I have enjoyed diving into this brilliantly crafted world so much throughout the entire series, and this finale delivered everything I could have hoped for and more! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed by book 2 in this series, but Earthbound reminded me why I fell in love with this series at the beginning: the beauty of the writing, the rich characters, the culture and the worlds. And in the end, all the threads were neatly gathered, truths revealed, and new beginnings made. I loved spending time with these characters.

Would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a rich and beautifully diverse fantasy novel.

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Sam Reads Books *Just the Highlights* · Rating 4 out of 5]

2026: 4.0

[Marlo Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!

I can’t believe that this trilogy has come to an end. I am going to miss these characters and world very deeply.

This series has held a special place in my heart. I picked up the first novel at random when it released, and I’ve had the honor of reading the second and third now as early additions. These books have become a form of nostalgia and comfort to me, and the ending was perfect.

As with the first two, Earthbound is fast-paced and keeps you intrigued at every page turn. Even with the gaps in each book being published, I was always able to jump back in and recall where the narrative was at. But as much as I loved each character in this conclusion, one perspective took the show: Alder.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

In revealing Alder’s true identity, the rest of the puzzle slid together. The combination of identity within Afa, and then the ending (ifykyk), I found him to be incredibly interesting and the perfect answer. I never was able to guess where the plot was going throughout the trilogy, and I appreciated that greatly in this grand conclusion.

I was also happy to see the humans in their true forms again :)

I deeply love these characters, and I hope that you all adored this trilogy in the same way I did.

[Audrey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

the ending really saved this book - El-Arifi's endings are always so good they keep me coming back for more each time

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, slightly bitter sweet but mostly sweet and wholesome ending to the trilogy I admire 🥹
So glad for the epilogue also. Getting a snippet into 1 yr later ❤️

[McKala Charlemagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best series I’ve read in a very long time WOW WOW so much diversity ugh are you kidding me

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 ⭐️

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. A great conclusion to this trilogy. I really should’ve reread the first two books cause I won’t lie, I’ve forgotten a lot about what happened in this series but it didn’t take me too long to catch up and enjoy this book. It’s action packed and emotional and the pacing of it is really good. I never felt bored while reading it because all of the characters had something interesting going on. I liked how everything wrapped up for everyone and the ending does kinda leave it to where the author could come back to this world years down the line. I would be so here for that. Furi and Yeeran were my favorite characters as I love them together but Alder’s chapters had me intrigued as well. I found his character to be so fascinating.

I ended up really enjoying this series and I can’t wait to see what El-Arifi does next.

Spice: ❤️‍🔥/❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
Content Warning: Violence, Death, War

[Ness (Vynexa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Del Rey for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️3.5⭐️

This was one of my anticipated reads of the year, the conclusion to Faebound. The first book was one of my absolute favorite reads when I read it. So much so that I immediately read Cursebound when it came out. It gave typical book two energy. While it wasn’t a bad read, I had wished it gave more.

Now, Earthbound was better in my opinion than book two. However, the explanation for everything that happened to get the characters and world to where it was when we entered book one was…interesting. I understood the messaging and did have a few gasps here and there, but it didn’t give me the same feelings as book one did.
It is a good conclusion to the story, but I did want a tiny bit more to get it to 4 stars.

All in all, I overall like this trilogy and hope to reread it in the future and take more from it, perhaps love it more.

[Amanda Allee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this finale to the series! The twists and turns and this were amazing, and I absolutely love the way the worldbuilding expanded in this book.

Individually, I think this book is phenomenal and by far my favorite in the series. The way that all the dots got connected was brilliant, and I've found that I really enjoy books that explore how power corrupts and might even turn former heroes into villains, and just how far some people are willing to take the destruction that comes with unbalanced power. It feels very poignant in this day and age to read about these story villains who might sacrifice their morality, but in truth, it's everyone else who has to pay the price. To avoid posting spoilers, I will not dive into exactly how this plays out in this particular book, but just know that this particular story thread was my favorite in maybe all of the series.

I also loved the way the interpersonal relationships continued evolving. The tension and conflict that both main couples were faced with was so good. Lettle and Rayan have to deal with the aftermath of a prophecy and feelings of betrayal, while Furi and Yeeran had to figure out if they love each other enough to accept the wrongdoings that might occur due to the positions of power they hold.

I overall really loved this book and devoured it in three sittings because it was so hard to put down.
The one thing I will say is that I don't quite know how I feel about it in the context of the series. I think it's a great conclusion, but I read Cursebound right before this and I think there's quite a jump in scope. And because of this jump, the main conflict that was present in book 2 (with the Lightless) was barely mentioned here – and yes, it was largely resolved by the end of Cursebound, but as I finished that book, I thought about how this lingering conflict with the Lightless would go with the looming threats, only to find that the conflict suddenly didn't play a role anymore. Maybe the story would have gotten a bit convoluted if that story thread had continued, but in my opinion, all the catastrophes they faced would probably not go over well with a group of people who were already so dissatisfied with their rulers.
So I think overall, on its own, Earthbound is easily a 5 star read for me, but as a sequel / final book, I would probably knock it down to 4 stars.

Still, this is a great series and I highly recommend it, as well as any other book by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Caitlen A. S. Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t really know how to feel about this book and this ending to this trilogy.

Really, it’s worse than the first book and only rudimentarily better than the second.
I’ve enjoyed my time with these characters thoroughly, yes. And I felt compelled to keep reading and binging, yes, but from a critical standpoint, it was not that good of a book. The prose was just plain bad and the pacing was just crazy.

The characters were odd; they had development but it just . . . happened. Other than Yeeran and Lettle, the rest of the immediate cast (ESPECIALLY Furi) suddenly change. Like, when Furi is suddenly all devout and caring and Yeeran says she’s extremely compassionate. That scene could’ve held so much weight for her character but it just doesn’t, as none of the previous necessary work is put into there.
There’s plot holes baked into the middle of the story that never get fixed and things are just thrown into the dough.
I LOVE Yeeran so much and I think she was written absolutely gorgeously. Even her ending. (Especially her ending.)
Furi was disappointing. We were told she’s changed, but her attitude just changed with no clear incitement. And no acknowledgement.
Lettle is still annoying, but she’s at least shown growth and change.
Once again, Rayan is just a love interest. There’s not much to say about him? He’s just a dude.
Alder was written . . . Okay? He was written amazingly and charmingly, at first, until it became repetitive (and this is where some of the plot holes emerge, but I do try to keep my reviews spoiler-free)
There is an absolutely horrendous overuse of the ‘they feel too much . . . Too deeply . . . More than others . . .’ It loses it’s meaning when EVERYONE feels so ‘deeply,’ and we aren’t actually shown that deepness, only told.
And once again with the telling and not showing approach. I am not a baby. I like my media with layers, not ‘she said “—“ because “—“.’

Overall, I might be being overly critical, but putting this book down onto the shelf my biggest happiness was that the series looked really nice together.
I’m not particularly attached to this series after my disappointment with the last two books; and the ONLY character I cared about was given a good, satisfying conclusion (love you Yeeran), so there’s not much else to say.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part of The Faebound Trilogy

This installment is a beautifully crafted fantasy that seamlessly blends adventure, political intrigue, and emotional storytelling. With high stakes, rich world-building, and deeply personal character journeys, it delivers an immersive reading experience from beginning to end.

The story explores the devastating consequences of hidden truths and long-buried secrets, while balancing intense action with heartfelt moments. Yeeran, Lettle, and Alder each embark on compelling paths of their own, facing impossible choices, painful sacrifices, and revelations that reshape everything they thought they knew. Their individual struggles make the story feel both epic in scope and deeply personal.

The emotional depth is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Themes of love, loyalty, identity, forgiveness, and resilience are woven naturally into the narrative, giving every triumph and setback real impact. The relationships are beautifully developed, and the characters continue to grow in meaningful and believable ways.

The fantasy world is richly imagined, filled with magic, political tension, and ancient mysteries that keep the story engaging throughout. The balance between diplomacy, adventure, and emotional conflict creates a gripping pace, while the twists and revelations continually raise the stakes.

Overall, this is a captivating fantasy that delivers everything fans of the series could hope for—powerful character development, immersive world-building, emotional intensity, and an engaging plot filled with surprises. A compelling read that leaves you eager to discover what happens next.

[Aryan Saleheiy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saara El-Arifi, the author that you are!!!!

This really tugged at my heartstrings, and it's very bittersweet now that this trilogy is over. The number of times I got emotional and was always feeling like I was on the edge of my seat, edge of my bed, edge of a cramped train in London; I could not get out of the flow state whilst reading this book.

I think this book was so beautifully written, connecting all the important facts regarding humans, faes, and elves. The prophecies all came back into play and became clear as to their meaning. The character development in the book and the entire series for each character. I loved the way in which Lettle has grown throughout the trilogy a lot, and I really connected with the characters as if I was watching a movie.

Saara is the first author that I have ever completed a trilogy by, as I am navigating myself through my recent start to my reading journey, and I am so honoured to have seen her work. I cannot wait to read new work and also her other trilogy, which I have and am excited to start soon.

This was a journey and a half, and I love the faebound trilogy, and I also love the way it concluded so beautifully. I will still be thinking about this book for quite some time. It was just amazing.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley eARC — Earthbound was truly a fantastic end to a fantastic series. From the start, book one was already incredibly complex, nuanced, and unique in its storytelling. This carried on into Earthbound, where we finally uncover centuries’ long mysteries and events, and have a deeper understanding of all of our characters. Every single character is so beloved (and I love that we get everyone’s POV chapters). Each are working through pain and betrayal. Each wants peace and the best for their lands, but there doesn’t seem to be a black and white answer amidst wartime.
Lettle and Alder journey to Caperly to uncover his origins (and I can’t give spoilers but my jaw was on the flood by the brilliance of El-Arifi’s unveilings). But I also love their spirit of friendship and true dedication to one another throughout the journey. Based in Mosima, Yeeran, Furi, and Rayan are struggling to keep peace while the armies of elves are at their doorsteps. There is chaos, there is love, and there are crazy unpredictable events. Through each chapter, we work through their mental and emotional processes on how to successfully protect the fae of Mosima. I enjoy seeing them all in a room, all with vastly differing personalities, but with the purest of hearts.
The obeah, the grimoire, the prophecies— El-Arifi weaves all of these once mysterious elements into the greater story with unmatched imagination and lovely writing. I’m in love with this world and its people, and it’s honestly hard to say goodbye!

[Jess Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGallery and HarperCollins UK (HarperFiction) for this ARC

This review contains NO spoilers! And all that is said is my honest and non-biased opinion.

I am not going to give spoilers or massive details of what happens in this book. That would be silly and counterproductive!

Release date for this book is 27th August 2026

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was okay, it wasn't amazing but wasn't extremely bad. It was very middle of the road for me.
I found it extremely hard to start this book, it really did not grip me. However, it does get better as it goes on.

I really think this series lost me after the middle of book 2. However, for those that really do enjoy this series, I believe they will love this book.

Unfortunately, I just do not think Saara El-Arifi is for me, as a stand-out go too author. This is in no way a reflection on the authors capabilities as a writer. It is just my personal preference.

Thank you again to NetGallery and HarperCollins UK (HarperFiction)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a bittersweet review because this is the final installment of Faebound Trilogy. That means we say goodbye to the world and characters created, but at least it was a wonderful final read. The ending of the trilogy was wrapped up so nicely.

In Earthbound, some time has passed and the jumping around between the different PoV was done really well to keep us in the know of what was going on in different areas of the world and with our main characters.

When we finally learned who Alder really was and how he impacted the world was not something I anticipated. It was definitely a shock. I loved the interactions between Alder and Lettle though!

If you are looking for a cry, this one definitely had me crying!

I highly recommend reading this series if you are looking at this review to consider even starting the first book. I loved every book.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀:
✨Disability Representation
🪘Drum Magic
🏠Sister FMCs
🌈Queernormativity
🧚Elves x Fae
🌱Afro/Arab World

[Maya Fischer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a frustrating end to a frustrating series. I wanted to love this, and in many ways there were parts of it I did love.

However, too much of it I just found lacking. There were too many plot holes / inconsistencies, the characters never felt multi-faceted they just felt so flat I never connected with them emotionally.

Constantly problems arose to only then be dealt with within a chapter or two, and very quickly and easily. I was excited when one character was in peril for the unexpected turn only to have them be miraculously saved at the last second.

I was really hoping for something more substantial and instead I got crumbs. Really bummed.

[Thebookwitches_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc even though Im a bit late in getting round to it haha.

I finished this epic conclusion in a day!

And what a conclusion it was. I have loved this series from the very beginning and am I glad this 3rd book did the series justice.

It was nice to have the multiple POVS as the characters each went off exploring parts of their world for answers but then still being able to sort of keep up to date via the Obeah.

Also a moment for Alder and Golan!

I liked that there was an epilogue too so we werent left hanging too much and the last sentence from Pila was just what my heart needed!

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very nice ending to the series, and it nearly broke my heart a few times, but the ending was quite satisfying even though I did not cry as I hoped I would. Again, like the other books in this series, this was a great queer fantasy world with found family, cool magic, and a lot of complex politics. My only issues were that the plot twists were way too easy to figure out and the spice level kept increasing lol but otherwise I had a nice time!

[Daniel Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Earthbound was a great way to finish the series.

I really enjoyed seeing how the characters progressed throughout the story, and there were plenty of twists that kept me guessing along the way.

What I liked most was the ending. It didn’t go down the usual route of everyone living happily ever after or everything ending in complete disaster. Instead, it wrapped things up nicely while still leaving enough open for you to decide for yourself what happens to the characters after the final page.

I think that worked really well for this series and left me with plenty to think about afterwards.

Overall, a really strong ending to the series and definitely one I’m glad I picked up.