Title: Cursebound
Author: Saara El-Arifi
Publication: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Del Rey
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 352
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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Cursed by love.
Bound by hope.
Yeeran and Lettle are no longer prisoners to the fae court, but now they’re bound by the shackles of their hearts …
Yeeran was born for war but is unprepared for love. She has left her new lover, the Queen of the fae, to return to her homeland, only to find that her former lover now threatens war against the fae.
Left behind, her sister Lettle is determined to break the curse that binds the fae to their realm. When a stranger appears in the city, Lettle is convinced he’s the key. But the Fates that once spoke to her have fallen silent.
Can Lettle and Yeeran discover the secret behind the curse – and unite these two worlds before they destroy each other?
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Cursebound is book 2 in the Faebound Trilogy and it did not disappoint. I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. Some new characters were introduced, while I learned so much more about those already established. Cursebound has cemented my desire to know what happens and I will definitely be finishing this trilogy.
I appreciate the author’s ability to get right to the point which makes this book a very easy read. But, this also created something of a disconnect between myself and the characters. I found myself struggling to connect or stay connected emotionally. Sometimes a scene called for more showing and less telling but this is a small issue in my opinion. The story moved forward at a pleasing pace and I never felt lost within the details. I was able to predict some of the outcomes but it didn’t turn me off or make me lose interest. I’m still left with the need to know how this story ends.
My favorite part of Cursebound was a new character named Alder. He was written well and I really enjoyed his inner monologue. The way he lives his life and the way he expressed himself just felt good.
The political issues which include class systems, segregation, and the rise up of a rebellion offers plenty of tension. I liked seeing characters being made uncomfortable and having to face their own choices/mistakes. Plus, as the first book was, this book is packed full of representation and it feels so natural to the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I give it an easy 4 stars and look forward to how everything comes together in book 3.
