In “Faebound,” the first installment of Saara El-Arifi’s new fantasy duology, we step into a world where three races once lived in harmony until war tore them apart. Now, only elves remain visible in a realm fractured by an endless conflict, while the fae are but whispers in children’s tales and humans nothing more than ghosts of history. El-Arifi, known for her previous work in “The Final Strife” and “The Battle Drum,” brings her talent for complex worldbuilding and character development to this new series that explores themes of belonging, loyalty, and the devastating costs of ignorance.
The narrative unfolds through the dual perspectives of two sisters—Yeeran, a decorated colonel in the elven army, and Lettle, a diviner struggling for recognition in a world that values warfare over prophecy. When Yeeran’s exile forces them beyond the borders of the Elven Lands, they encounter the fae—a race thought extinct for a millennium—and discover truths that will shatter everything they believed about their world.
Strengths: Magic Systems and Cultural Complexity
Innovative Magic Systems
El-Arifi crafts a world with three distinct magical practices that reflect the essence of each race:
- Elven divination magic: Reading entrails for prophecies and interpreting the silver pearls of fate
- Fae magic: Manipulating golden threads of power, controlling physical forces through intention
- Human magic: The forgotten language of earth and stone, binding and altering the physical world
The way these systems interact throughout the story creates fascinating dynamics, particularly when Yeeran—an elf—becomes “faebound” to an obeah (a magical creature), gaining access to fae magic while retaining her elven heritage. This interplay of magical systems reflects the novel’s broader themes about the artificial boundaries between cultures.
Rich Cultural Backdrop
The Forever War—a millennium-long conflict over fraedia crystals that fuel elven society—provides a compelling backdrop against which the personal journeys of the protagonists unfold. El-Arifi expertly reveals how warfare has shaped elven culture, from the conscription of child soldiers to the commodification of magical beasts. The contrast between the four elven tribes (Waning, Waxing, Crescent, and Eclipse) and the hidden fae society of Mosima highlights how different cultures can evolve when shaped by different pressures.
Character Development: Complex Protagonists, Compelling Antagonists
Sister Dynamics
The relationship between Yeeran and Lettle forms the emotional core of the novel. Their contrasting paths—one embracing warfare, the other seeking wisdom through divination—create a tension that drives much of the narrative. Lettle’s resentment of being abandoned by her sister mirrors Yeeran’s guilt at choosing duty over family, creating a richly textured relationship that evolves throughout the story.
Morally Ambiguous Characters
No character in “Faebound” is purely heroic or villainous, which makes for compelling reading:
- Yeeran: A decorated colonel whose loyalty to her people blinds her to the atrocities of war
- Lettle: A diviner carrying the guilt of her father’s death while yearning for recognition
- Furi: The fae commander whose hatred of elves transforms into forbidden attraction
- Rayan: A captain hiding secrets about his parentage that could upend the power structure
- Komi: An enigmatic figure whose true identity becomes one of the novel’s most shocking reveals
Even peripheral characters like Golan, Sahar, and Nerad possess their own agendas and moral complexities that prevent the narrative from falling into simplistic good-versus-evil dichotomies.
Romance: Forbidden Attractions in a World at War
The romantic elements of “Faebound” are woven seamlessly into the broader narrative, creating relationships that feel authentic rather than forced:
- Yeeran and Furi: Their enemies-to-lovers arc evolves naturally despite the violent history between their peoples, culminating in passionate scenes during the Flare Feast
- Lettle and Rayan: Their slow-burn romance is complicated by Lettle’s prophecy that she will eventually kill him
- Nerad and Golan: A forbidden relationship between a fae prince and a “Lightless” (fae without magical ability) that adds layers to both characters
These relationships aren’t just romantic subplots but integral elements that drive character development and plot progression. El-Arifi handles intimate scenes with maturity, focusing on emotional connection and consent rather than gratuitous description.
Worldbuilding: Immersive but Occasionally Overwhelming
El-Arifi excels at creating a fully realized world with distinctive cultures, complex political systems, and layered histories. Mosima—the underground fae realm—is particularly well-crafted, with its fraedia crystal “sun,” intricate social hierarchies, and magical ecosystem centered around the Tree of Souls.
However, the worldbuilding occasionally threatens to overshadow the narrative, particularly in the first third of the book where readers must absorb information about:
- Four elven tribes with distinct cultures
- Two types of elven magic (drumfire and divination)
- The political structure of the Forever War
- The fae society and their history
- The binding between fae and obeah
- The hierarchy among the “Lightless” fae
This information density, while creating a rich world, sometimes slows the pacing and may leave readers struggling to keep track of the many cultural elements introduced in rapid succession.
Critique: Pacing and Plot Resolution
Uneven Pacing
The novel’s pacing suffers from inconsistency. The first third meticulously establishes the world and characters, the middle accelerates through key relationship developments, and the final third rushes through major revelations about the queens’ murder, Komi’s true identity, and Rayan’s heritage. This creates a somewhat disjointed reading experience where some plot threads receive thorough exploration while others feel hastily resolved.
Plot Convergence Issues
Several major plot revelations in the final chapters—particularly the revelation about Komi being the Two-Bladed Tyrant and the fae alliance with the Crescent tribe—feel somewhat contrived. While these twists are foreshadowed, their execution lacks the careful groundwork that would make them feel like natural culminations rather than convenient plot devices.
The prophecy elements, while central to the worldbuilding, sometimes function as deus ex machina solutions rather than integrated parts of the narrative. Lettle’s prophecies in particular seem to appear at precisely the moments when the plot requires them, which diminishes their impact.
Looking Ahead: Setup for “Cursebound”
“Faebound” effectively establishes the groundwork for its sequel, “Cursebound,” leaving several compelling threads to be explored:
- Yeeran’s return to the Elven Lands with knowledge of the fae alliance
- Rayan and Lettle’s new positions as king and seer in Mosima
- The war brewing between fae forces and elven armies
- The secrets contained in Najma’s hidden research about breaking the curse
- The prophecy that Lettle will ultimately kill Rayan
These elements create natural anticipation for “Cursebound” without leaving “Faebound” feeling incomplete on its own.
Comparable Works and Literary Context
“Faebound” sits comfortably alongside other works that blend political fantasy with romance, such as:
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas (fae courts, forbidden romance)
- “The Bone Season” by Samantha Shannon (complex magic systems, underground societies)
- “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon (multiple POVs, political intrigue)
However, El-Arifi distinguishes her work through her unflinching examination of colonialism and exploitation, themes she previously explored in “The Final Strife” trilogy. Her ability to craft culturally diverse fantasy worlds that reflect real-world power dynamics gives her work a distinctive edge in the crowded fantasy romance market.
Final Verdict: Ambitious Fantasy with Room to Grow
“Faebound” is an ambitious opening to a fantasy duology that aims to combine political intrigue, forbidden romance, and complex worldbuilding. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions—particularly in pacing and plot resolution—it succeeds in creating a memorable world populated by flawed, compelling characters.
El-Arifi’s prose is strongest when exploring the emotional landscapes of her characters and the cultural complexities of her world. The novel works best when focused on the personal journeys of Yeeran and Lettle as they navigate their changing relationship and identities in a world that constantly challenges their loyalties.
For readers willing to invest in a dense fantasy world and patient enough to navigate occasionally uneven pacing, “Faebound” offers rich rewards: morally complex characters, innovative magic systems, and thoughtful exploration of how ignorance perpetuates cycles of violence. The stage is perfectly set for “Cursebound” to resolve the remaining questions and conflicts established in this solid, if imperfect, series opener.
