Saara El-Arifi’s Cursebound delivers a captivating sequel to her enchanting debut Faebound, expanding the richly woven tapestry of a world where elves, fae, and humans exist in a delicate—and often dangerous—balance. The second installment in the Faebound trilogy plunges readers deeper into the underground realm of Mosima, where ancient curses, forbidden love, and political machinations create a heady brew of fantasy and intrigue.
While Faebound introduced us to the sisters Yeeran and Lettle as they discovered the hidden fae civilization beneath their world, Cursebound shifts focus to explore the consequences of those revelations. El-Arifi crafts a narrative that delves into more complex territory—examining how love can flourish in the most unlikely places, how trust can be shattered in an instant, and how ancient prophecies may hold the key to freedom or destruction.
Plot: Diverging Paths and Converging Destinies
Cursebound picks up shortly after the events of Faebound, with the sisters now on separate paths. Yeeran, having left her new lover Queen Furi of the fae, travels to warn her former tribe about the fae’s involvement in their war. Meanwhile, Lettle remains in Mosima as consort to the newly crowned King Rayan, seeking to translate a human grimoire that might break the curse binding the fae to their underground prison.
El-Arifi skillfully weaves these parallel storylines, allowing them to complement rather than compete with each other. Each sister faces distinct challenges: Yeeran must navigate the treacherous political landscape of her homeland where her former lover Salawa now rules as chieftain, while Lettle confronts assassination attempts from a mysterious organization called “Free the Light” that opposes her presence in the fae court.
The author excels at building tension throughout the narrative, particularly as the sisters discover that breaking the curse may have devastating consequences. When a mysterious elf named Alder appears—seemingly able to pass through the magical boundary that contains the fae—the plot takes a fascinating turn, suggesting humans might not be as extinct as everyone believed.
Character Development: A Tale of Two Sisters
The character work in Cursebound represents both the novel’s greatest strength and, occasionally, its weakness. El-Arifi excels at portraying the complex relationship between Yeeran and Lettle, two sisters bound by blood but separated by circumstance and choice.
Yeeran’s character undergoes significant growth as she grapples with conflicting loyalties between her homeland and her new love. Her struggle feels authentic and poignant, especially in scenes where she must choose between warning her former people or protecting her fae lover. Her relationship with Furi develops in meaningful ways, though some readers may find their romance occasionally overshadowed by political machinations.
Lettle’s journey is perhaps the more compelling of the two, as she navigates both external threats (the assassination attempts) and internal conflict (keeping secret a prophecy that she will one day kill Rayan). Her determination to help the marginalized “Lightless” fae—those who never bonded with an obeah—adds welcome social complexity to the world.
The introduction of Alder brings fresh perspective to the trilogy. His unique position as possibly the last human descendant provides fascinating insight into the world’s history, though his character sometimes feels more like a plot device than a fully realized individual.
World-Building: A Universe Expanded
El-Arifi’s world-building continues to impress in this sequel. The underground realm of Mosima—with its star gliders, crystal glade, and royal woodland—feels vivid and tactile. The author excels at small details that bring the setting to life: the unique plants that grow only in certain conditions, the taste of fruits from the obeah orchard, the way rainfall affects the cavern’s ecosystem.
Cursebound also expands our understanding of the political landscape, both within Mosima and in the elven lands above. The divide between faebound and Lightless adds welcome social complexity, while the alliance forming between the four elven tribes creates mounting external pressure.
The most interesting world-building elements involve the revelations about the curse’s origins and the potential connections between humans, obeah, and fae. The grimoire’s contents hint at a far more intertwined history between the three races than previously known.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Well
- Complex Relationships – The romantic entanglements never feel simplistic; El-Arifi portrays love as messy, complicated, and sometimes painful.
- Political Intrigue – The machinations within the fae court and the elven tribes create genuine tension and unpredictability.
- Prophecy Elements – The way prophecies influence but don’t dictate characters’ choices creates an effective narrative tension.
- LGBTQ+ Representation – The novel features several queer relationships that feel natural and integrated rather than tokenistic.
- Action Sequences – When conflict erupts, the author crafts dynamic, visceral scenes that showcase her ability to balance emotional stakes with physical danger.
Where It Sometimes Falters
- Pacing Issues – The middle section occasionally drags, with some plot threads (particularly the assassination attempts) feeling somewhat repetitive.
- Character Motivations – A few characters’ decisions—especially Sahar’s dramatic reveal as the “Authority”—sometimes stretch credibility.
- Prophecy Clarity – While intentionally mysterious, some prophecy elements can feel frustratingly opaque rather than intriguingly ambiguous.
- Romance Development – Though compelling, some relationship developments happen rapidly, particularly Alder and Golan’s connection.
Style and Tone: Lyrical Precision
El-Arifi’s prose continues to be a highlight, straddling the line between poetic and precise. She crafts sentences that can be both beautiful and functional. The alternating POV structure works well, with each viewpoint character having a distinctive voice and perspective. The author shows particular skill in balancing exposition with action, providing necessary world-building without overwhelming the narrative flow.
Final Verdict: A Worthy Middle Chapter
Cursebound successfully avoids the dreaded “middle book syndrome” that plagues many trilogies. Rather than merely setting up the finale, it stands as a compelling story in its own right while deepening the mysteries and raising the stakes for the concluding volume.
For fans of Faebound, this sequel delivers more of what made the first book engaging—complex characters, a richly detailed world, and genuine emotional stakes—while expanding the scope of the story in exciting ways. New readers would be better served starting with the first book, as Cursebound builds heavily on established relationships and world-building.
The novel ends with several tantalizing revelations that promise an explosive conclusion to the trilogy, particularly the stunning realization that obeah might once have been human. This twist fundamentally alters our understanding of the world and creates tremendous anticipation for the final installment.
Comparison with Similar Works
Readers who enjoy N.K. Jemisin’s intricate world-building, Tasha Suri’s exploration of colonialism through fantasy, or R.F. Kuang’s unflinching look at war will find much to appreciate in El-Arifi’s work. Cursebound shares DNA with other innovative fantasy series that reimagine traditional fae elements, such as Holly Black’s Folk of the Air trilogy or Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series, but with a more diverse cast and nuanced politics.
El-Arifi’s character work also recalls the complex morality of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, where characters operate in gray areas rather than clear moral distinctions. The political machinations might remind readers of S.A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad trilogy, with its emphasis on power dynamics and representation.
Who Should Read This Book
Cursebound will appeal most to:
- Fans of fantasy with strong romantic elements
- Readers who appreciate diverse representation in fantasy settings
- Those who enjoy political intrigue and court machinations
- People who like prophecies and destiny-related plot elements
- Readers looking for complex sister relationships in fantasy
While not perfect, Cursebound represents an impressive continuation of El-Arifi’s Faebound trilogy, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the concluding volume. Its rich world, compelling characters, and mounting tension make it a worthy addition to any fantasy reader’s shelf.
