The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
rubywhatashmoo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
abhimanyu01's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
everlorebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
goodstrongwords's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
laurasjager's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
madelyne_bookdiary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
river24's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
3/5
Thank you HarperCollins UK for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book really missed the mark for me. I didn't enjoy it half as much as I've enjoyed El-Arifi's other works. I found the premise for the worldbuilding interesting, but throughout the book found that it wasn't explored in any significant way and even that lost my interest. I think what my fatal error was was thinking this was an epic fantasy like The Ending Fire trilogy, or a military fantasy like you might predict from the opening chapters. This book, to me, reads more as a romantasy and that's sadly not a subgenre that I enjoy as much.
I found a lot of the plot quite bland as not much seemed to happen for the vast majority of the story and I also found it all quite obvious. The problem with incorporating prophecies into your plot is that you need to make sure it's either a dreadful, looming thing that everyone understands and fears or, if you want it to be shocking, you must make sure the wording of it is subtle enough for a clever twist. Unfortunately, the prophecies in this book yielded their answers fairly easily. Therefore, when the twist revealed itself, I couldn't help but be annoyed that I knew this information hundreds of pages before.
This was a problem I encountered throughout most of the book. Everything was too obvious. It became predictable and stale under the light of such blatancy. Not only did the plot beats not hit because of this but the romances didn't either because I could see everything coming from a mile away.
This is quite a critical review and I do apologise for being so negative, I much prefer raving about books I love. I think what made this so disappointing was that I know Saara El-Arifi can write with much more nuance and intricacy. I'm not even as much of a fan of The Ending Fire trilogy as others are, however that series is a much better show of skill. It confuses me that these series are written by the same author.
Perhaps this all stems from my lack of interest in romantasy as a genre, perhaps not. I just vehemently dislike when everything is dropped for the sake of a romantic plotline, it rids the rest of the story of any substance. The world in this book felt more like a backdrop for these relationships than an actual world teeming with life. The plot, too, felt very simple and forgotten about for a lot of the story in order to focus on the character relationships. Don't get me wrong, I love character-driven stories, but this book didn't show meaningful choices or changes in the characters enough for me to connect with them. Everything felt like an afterthought to the romances, as if only there to facilitate that aspect of the story.
When I read The Final Strife, the first book in El-Arifi's other series, I didn't fully connect with it, however I could admire what was being done and what it was clearly setting up for in the next book (which I enjoyed a lot more). With this book, there weren't even those aspects for me to admire or sit in anticipation for. Honestly, a lot of this book felt unnecessary.
I'm being quite negative, but that's sadly been my experience reading this book. It's been such a disappointment for me, but I do hope others enjoy it more. Sorry everyone!
Thank you HarperCollins UK for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book really missed the mark for me. I didn't enjoy it half as much as I've enjoyed El-Arifi's other works. I found the premise for the worldbuilding interesting, but throughout the book found that it wasn't explored in any significant way and even that lost my interest. I think what my fatal error was was thinking this was an epic fantasy like The Ending Fire trilogy, or a military fantasy like you might predict from the opening chapters. This book, to me, reads more as a romantasy and that's sadly not a subgenre that I enjoy as much.
I found a lot of the plot quite bland as not much seemed to happen for the vast majority of the story and I also found it all quite obvious. The problem with incorporating prophecies into your plot is that you need to make sure it's either a dreadful, looming thing that everyone understands and fears or, if you want it to be shocking, you must make sure the wording of it is subtle enough for a clever twist. Unfortunately, the prophecies in this book yielded their answers fairly easily. Therefore, when the twist revealed itself, I couldn't help but be annoyed that I knew this information hundreds of pages before.
This was a problem I encountered throughout most of the book. Everything was too obvious. It became predictable and stale under the light of such blatancy. Not only did the plot beats not hit because of this but the romances didn't either because I could see everything coming from a mile away.
This is quite a critical review and I do apologise for being so negative, I much prefer raving about books I love. I think what made this so disappointing was that I know Saara El-Arifi can write with much more nuance and intricacy. I'm not even as much of a fan of The Ending Fire trilogy as others are, however that series is a much better show of skill. It confuses me that these series are written by the same author.
Perhaps this all stems from my lack of interest in romantasy as a genre, perhaps not. I just vehemently dislike when everything is dropped for the sake of a romantic plotline, it rids the rest of the story of any substance. The world in this book felt more like a backdrop for these relationships than an actual world teeming with life. The plot, too, felt very simple and forgotten about for a lot of the story in order to focus on the character relationships. Don't get me wrong, I love character-driven stories, but this book didn't show meaningful choices or changes in the characters enough for me to connect with them. Everything felt like an afterthought to the romances, as if only there to facilitate that aspect of the story.
When I read The Final Strife, the first book in El-Arifi's other series, I didn't fully connect with it, however I could admire what was being done and what it was clearly setting up for in the next book (which I enjoyed a lot more). With this book, there weren't even those aspects for me to admire or sit in anticipation for. Honestly, a lot of this book felt unnecessary.
I'm being quite negative, but that's sadly been my experience reading this book. It's been such a disappointment for me, but I do hope others enjoy it more. Sorry everyone!
youcancallmefi's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this arc.
I was very daunted when requesting this. See, I have an issue: I love the author. I love attending panels hosted by this author, I love watching the interviews and reading about their inspiration and craft. But I did not enjoy their first book, The Final Strife to the point where I didn’t continue with the series.
I desperately want to enjoy this author, so I thought this might be it.
I can say that Faebound was a more enjoyable experience in reading, for me, than The Final Strife however it still fell short to my expectations. I wasn’t foreseeing a romantasy but I guess this is where the author is probably better versed. T
he Final Strife was marketed as an epic fantasy story but had more saphic and romantasy basis than epicness to it – nothing wrong about this, it is just deceiving for the reader.
Faebound was enjoyable and an easy read, but it lacked complexity and depth, especially regarding the magic system and the different skills between tribes
The other point that it failed short for me is how immature and ignorant the main characters act for the age they are supposed to be. I was expecting other profile to these characters and was surprised how YA they read.
I thought it was rather predicting, in terms of plot and outcomes for the characters. They adapted too quickly and accepted a lot of things too comfortably. Even the main villain reveal was rather predicting from the start.
I guess it was just not the book for me, but I can see how well received it will be for fans of ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince, etc..
I was very daunted when requesting this. See, I have an issue: I love the author. I love attending panels hosted by this author, I love watching the interviews and reading about their inspiration and craft. But I did not enjoy their first book, The Final Strife to the point where I didn’t continue with the series.
I desperately want to enjoy this author, so I thought this might be it.
I can say that Faebound was a more enjoyable experience in reading, for me, than The Final Strife however it still fell short to my expectations. I wasn’t foreseeing a romantasy but I guess this is where the author is probably better versed. T
he Final Strife was marketed as an epic fantasy story but had more saphic and romantasy basis than epicness to it – nothing wrong about this, it is just deceiving for the reader.
Faebound was enjoyable and an easy read, but it lacked complexity and depth, especially regarding the magic system and the different skills between tribes
The other point that it failed short for me is how immature and ignorant the main characters act for the age they are supposed to be. I was expecting other profile to these characters and was surprised how YA they read.
I thought it was rather predicting, in terms of plot and outcomes for the characters. They adapted too quickly and accepted a lot of things too comfortably. Even the main villain reveal was rather predicting from the start.
I guess it was just not the book for me, but I can see how well received it will be for fans of ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince, etc..
nclcaitlin's review against another edition
3.75
At first, there were three gods and three people: the fae, the humans, and the elves. Now only the elves remain.
Forever the war will rage, until united, the three shall die. Humans made low, then fae made lower, Then elves in ignorance, gone is their power, Cursed to endure, cursed to survive. All shall perish lest all three thrive.
Yeren was the youngest colonel in the army before being exiled from the elvish lands. Alongside her younger sister and Captain Rayan, Yeren accidentally kills a fae prince - a people they thought faerytale.
Like her other series, El-Arifi uses the fantasy element to explore fluidity of gender and incorporate free sexuality seamlessly within her story and world.
Furthermore, we have aged up protagonists - around 30 years old! Rejoice!
In this sense, it reminded me of N K Jemisin.
“We must let the wind of change ease our flight, not hinder it.”
The magic system explanations never fully satisfied me, but the gist is: Yeren fights with drumfire that required intention to draw on magic. Lettle is a diviner, speaking prophecies by detaching from one’s mind.
Sadly, my favourite parts are also huge spoilers, so I’m leaving this review purposefully vague. Just know it’s filled with rich world-building and if you like talking animal companions - you will love this.
There’s passionate romance bordering between love and hate, dates prophecies, poison, secrets, and royalty!
One thing - the prophecies were fairly easy to work out, so I grew frustrated that our cast couldn’t put the pieces together. Perhaps others will find these reveals shocking and big plot twists, but unfortunately, I could guess what was coming.
I would recommend this if you liked The Boneshard Daughter or An Ember in the Ashes.
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Forever the war will rage, until united, the three shall die. Humans made low, then fae made lower, Then elves in ignorance, gone is their power, Cursed to endure, cursed to survive. All shall perish lest all three thrive.
Yeren was the youngest colonel in the army before being exiled from the elvish lands. Alongside her younger sister and Captain Rayan, Yeren accidentally kills a fae prince - a people they thought faerytale.
Like her other series, El-Arifi uses the fantasy element to explore fluidity of gender and incorporate free sexuality seamlessly within her story and world.
Furthermore, we have aged up protagonists - around 30 years old! Rejoice!
In this sense, it reminded me of N K Jemisin.
“We must let the wind of change ease our flight, not hinder it.”
The magic system explanations never fully satisfied me, but the gist is: Yeren fights with drumfire that required intention to draw on magic. Lettle is a diviner, speaking prophecies by detaching from one’s mind.
Sadly, my favourite parts are also huge spoilers, so I’m leaving this review purposefully vague. Just know it’s filled with rich world-building and if you like talking animal companions - you will love this.
There’s passionate romance bordering between love and hate, dates prophecies, poison, secrets, and royalty!
One thing - the prophecies were fairly easy to work out, so I grew frustrated that our cast couldn’t put the pieces together. Perhaps others will find these reveals shocking and big plot twists, but unfortunately, I could guess what was coming.
I would recommend this if you liked The Boneshard Daughter or An Ember in the Ashes.
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
meghan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25