In a recent #spellbooksaturday feature I lamented the state of popular heterosexual romantasy novels and their glamorization of controlling and toxic men. Following up on a recommendation, I recently read the much-more-inclusive…
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Yeeran was born on the battlefield, has lived on the battlefield, and one day, she knows, she’ll die on the battlefield. As a warrior in the elven army, Yeeran has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future. When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, both sisters are forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the impossible: the fae court. The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world, torn among their loyalties to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts.
[source: bookshop.org]
This one offers up all the romantasy tropes (enemies to lovers, an inn with only one bed left, a decent amount of smut) to keep fans of the genre happy. and in many ways Faebound is very much like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses, but without the “toxic, lazy, conservative propaganda.” There were elements I enjoyed (the world’s system of magic was interesting, and I’m embarrassed to say that I’m generally a sucker for plucky talking animals, with mythical beast Pila falling into that category), but I felt the novel relied more heavily on building romance instead of plot, and many characters felt two-dimensional. Overall, it was fun to listen to the audiobook while working in my studio, though I might not have finished it another format.
Have you read Faebound? What were your thoughts? Share in the comments!
Since I stopped using Goodreads, I will be recommending books via Bookshop.org, and have a list of #spellbooksaturday features for folks to peruse. In the spirit of full transparency: as a Bookshop.org affiliate, I will receive a small percentage of book sales purchased through my links. If you find that off-putting, feel free to shop directly through Bookshop.org or your own local bookseller! My only goal here is to fight Amazon and the mega-rich.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS SPELLBOOK SATURDAY FEATURE? SHOP THE LIST ON BOOKSHOP.ORG, OR CHECK OUT SOME MORE READING RECOMMENDATIONS…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
