Really good read. I don’t usually love spinoffs as much as the original books but this didn’t disappoint. I loved learning more about Jas and her connections. The world is a lovely one to be in and full of magic. Would recommend.

Had no idea it was about Jas, Brie's younger sister from These Hollow Vows, when I got the arc lol, and to be honest, I prefer this one over the earlier books. It is still related to the previous book about Brie. I suppose you may grasp the plot even if you haven't read the other two books, but I recommend starting with the first to get a greater sense of the world building.

It was quite intriguing from the start. With so many POVs and a fast pace, I was able to follow the plot and all of the characters. They have strong personalities and charm that will trick you and leave you wondering whether they can be trusted. Particularly Felicity. I liked her right away. I'd like to know more about her backstory. She and Misha have chemistry that is as powerful as Jas and Hale.

The twists a bit surprised me and made me want to quickly read the sequel, especially since the ending left me feeling empty ;;

Beneath These Cursed Stars was a fantastic read. I have Lexy Ryan's other series on my TBR but was so excited to receive this ARC that I just jumped into this immediately. It is written in the same world as the These Hollow Vows duology but can be read as a standalone series.

I could not put this down and read it so quickly. The characters are so well written and the reader really becomes invested in them. The plot is fast paced with mystery aspects that keep the reader engaged and wanting to keep reading just one more chapter to see if we can figure out more on our own. Jas is such a great FMC and a total badass that leaves you cheering for her throughout the entire story.

I will definitely be moving These Hollow Vows up on my TBR just so I can get more of this world. Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC!

I seen the author's name and knew I had to read this, to the point where I didn't even realise it was a spin off from the These Holllow Vows duology! I was so excited to see some of the characters again! And for anyone who hasn't read the previous duology, I feel this could be read separately because it follows a different character but the initial story is explained throughout.

There was action pretty much from the very start! Although the brief interaction between Jas and her sister was nice to see, I worried it would maybe be slow in places, as Brie is so protective of her but that definitely didn't happen and I ended up hooked again!

I'm not always a fan of dual POV's but it was done well and really interesting to see how the book progresses with each character. For some reason, I always tend to lean a little more in favour of one POV than another and for me that person was Felicity❤

There were a few little twists that I didn't guess at all which I loved for the surprise element. The story ended on a cliffhanger and while this book isn't even released yet, I already need the next one!!🙈

This is one of my favourite reads of the year so far!

5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow!!
Lexi Ryan has done it again.
I loved her original duology set in this word - These Hollow Vows - and this book exceeded my expectations.
It is dual POV of Jaslalyn (sister of Abriella from These Hollow Bows) and Felicity a fae with the ability to transform into other people.
The set up of the story was great, with Jasalyn trading her immortality for a ring that would give her the power of compulsion and the kiss of death.
The story has a much darker tone than the original duology. Which I think set the book up really nicely to have some lovely discussions on mental health.
“You are not fine, but you’re not broken either.”
“Fear isn’t a measure of cowardice, and pain isn’t a measure of weakness. You are brave and strong and anything but broken.”
Both plot lines were compelling in their own right, and both romantic plot lines have me desperate for the next book and this one hasn’t even been published yet!!
“It’s no wonder that ring of yours doesn’t work on me. I’m already bewitched every time I look at you”
One of my favourite quotes from the book (which may be up there as one of my favourites)
“And what if you find yourself living beneath nothing but cursed stars?”… “Then you go find yourself a work with a whole new night sky” … “and some friends who will show you how to get there.”

Ohhffhhh what a READ!

The start was slow, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen and where the story was going but my GOODNESS what an ending. I am clawing the seat desperate for the next one. The deceit and the lies and all of it were just excellent. A true joy to read, i thoroughly enjoyed the tandem POV of both of our female characters. I can’t wait to read what Lexi does next.

I had high expectations for this book, especially after so many favourable reviews I saw here, but... The author tried to bring the reader back to the fantasy world she had previously promoted, but it was boring. I barely finished the book.

THIS BOOK EVERYONE!! I loved every second of it and might fall into a reading slump (means I grab the light romane books after this crazy romantasy ride). I fell in love with the characters on the spot and was very emotional of everything they've already been through and still had to face during the story. The writing style is amazing and there were twists and turns in the story that kept me on the edge of my seat!

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Forced proximity, hidden identities.
POV: Dual
Release Date: 9 July 2024

New York Times bestselling author, Lexi Ryan, brings us a new series, Cursed Stars, of which Beneath These Cursed Stars is book one.

Princess Jasalyn lives a life of contradictions. By day, she’s a reclusive shell of herself, and by night a will-bending assassin that can kill with a single kiss. Felicity is running from a prophecy, an echo using her shape shifting abilities to keep herself alive and out of the hands of those who want nothing more than to kill her. However, when rumours come about that the once evil king, Mordeus, is alive and resurrected, their stars happen to cross, and now the fate of the fae and human realms hang in the balance.

This book is packed with adventure, intrigue, and tension, constantly leaving me guessing as to what would happen next. The characters were both well written, giving us page after page of strong FMC action. It was so interesting to be able to see two separate FMC’s try their best to restore and heal while navigating not only their fates but their hearts as well.

Beneath These Cursed Stars is an easy read and definitely ticked every box in the romantasy genre. I highly recommend it if you enjoy a good, easy romantasy that isn’t overshadowed by unnecessary world building.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Title: Beneath These Cursed Stars By Lexi Ryan

Release date: July, 9th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Princess Jasalyn leads a double life—by day, she's royalty, but by night, she's a lethal assassin wielding an enchanted ring. Meanwhile, Felicity, a shape-shifter, grapples with avoiding a dark prophecy that threatens her future. When rumors of the resurrected evil king Mordeus emerge, Jasalyn sees an opportunity to end his reign of terror, enlisting Felicity's help by assuming her identity. Amidst dangerous alliances and forbidden romances, their intertwined fates hold the key to the fate of both human and fae realms.

Amidst dangerous quests and unanticipated romances, Jasalyn and Felicity traverse a precarious journey filled with hidden truths and intertwining destinies.

Lexi Ryan crafts a captivating narrative filled with intrigue, romance, and twists that had me intrigued from the beginning.

This story features dual points of view, allowing readers to experience the story through the perspectives of the two main characters, Felicity and Jasalyn. Each character faces their own challenges and obstacles, including navigating their complicated love interests, as they embark on their intertwined journeys throughout the narrative.

While 'Beneath These Cursed Stars' can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, it is intricately intertwined with Lexi Ryan's 'The Hollow Vows' series. As someone who hadn't read the previous series, I found the initial chapters a bit confusing as references were made to past events. However, as the story unfolded, I quickly grasped the storyline and became engrossed in the story.


Tropes:

Forbidden Romance
Secrets and Betrayal
Forced Proximity
Magic and Fantasy
Dual POV


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh wow, this is my favourite book I’ve read this year! The writing, the characters, the plot and the twists were just, *chef’s kiss*, so so so good. I loved how we discovered more about Jas and her connections to the different characters throughout the book. I loved the world and the magic. I loved the romances and how the dual POV was done - rather than one chapter in each you get enough time to really get into that part of the story! I would honestly recommend this book to everyone and anyone who likes or wants to get into Fantasy or YA books.

These Hollow Vows, which is a connected duology, introduced some of the characters. But this book, Beneath These Cursed Stars, can be read without reading those books (I haven’t but will right after writing this review).

Summary: Princess Jasalyn seeks revenge with an enchanted ring, while Felicity evades a prophecy by shape-shifting. Both face perilous tasks and romances.

So happy to be back in this world!
I couldn’t put this book down, fast paced and really well written characters with twists I did not see coming!

I don’t usually like a spinoff as much as the original but I have to say there’s so much more to Jas than I was expecting after these hollow vows! She’s written so well, loved all the characters in this, so intrigued to know more about felicity and Hale too.

An exhilarating and totally satisfying read. I read it breakneck fast, such a brutally good page-turner.
Recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The sun will rise again tomorrow.”
Wtf was that? I need book 2 now and this one isn’t even out yet. What am I supposed to do? Wait?
Anyways. As you can see I really liked this one. I wasn’t a huge fan of These Hollow Vows but i still read the second book of the duology and really liked it (yes I love Finn). Beneath These Cursed Stars is a new series in this same world, even though technically you don’t have to read the Hollow Vows duology because the author does a really good job at recapping whatever happened in it without going into too much details, I would still recommend you read it before jumping into this one.
I’m not a huge fan of 1st pers POV and I usually find that my enjoyment of the writing is lessened because of that, therefore, I don’t really feel comfortable saying that I liked or didn’t like it, it was and that’s pretty much it, it didn’t stop me from reading so I guess it was good enough.
Now, the story. Was I a bit lost in the beginning? Sure. Because (spoiler for the precedent duology) what do you mean Jas is going to turn fae on her 18th birthday? I thought her abilities were suppressed but whatever its part of the plot so we’re moving on. are some things predictable? Sure, it’s YA, I can’t expect me (an adult in theory) to react the same way the intended audience is supposed to. Did I expect the plot twists at the end? Heck no. Like I don’t even know what to do with myself, I’m never caught off guard. I love that.
The romance(s) are a tiny bit too fast for me (I love a good slow burn) i would have preferred a bit more character development for one of the couple first and then the romance but it’s okay I still want them together. Now the main romance (Jas’s) you have to remember that they already know each other so they’re not building a romance out of thin air but sometimes it kind of feels too fast nonetheless.
Overall I don’t really have anything to criticise, I was glued to my phone, and I just can’t wait for the sequel, like really give it to me. And now that I think about it it might be a five stars🤭

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐱𝐢 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧
When the stars promise ruin, will love be wroth the risk? Princess Jasalyn seeks revenge, armed with an enchanted ring bestowing death’s kiss, she’s been sneaking away at night to assassinate her enemies. Felicity needs a miracle, faced to kill her father, she’s been using her ability to shape-shift to evade a fatal prophecy.

When rumours begin to circulate that the evil king Morgues is still alive, Jasalyn teams up with the handsome Kendrick, a rebel once imprisoned alongside her. While Felicity must take Princess Jasalyn’s form, and her place at court, she draws irresistibly closer the the Wild Fae King, Misha.

Soon enough their mission alongside their hearts are at risk. The future if the human and fae realms hangs in the balance between perilous tasks, grim secrets and forbidden romance. Jasalyn and Felicity both find that perhaps their stars are the most cursed after all.

An epic romantic fantasy in which a human princess armed with death’s kiss and a fae shifter on the run become unlikely allies when a mission to assassinate the king collides with a fatal prophecy. An enchanting story of magic, adventure and there lengths we will go for the ones we love and how far we are willing to sacrifice ourselves to stop a fatal prophecy.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘹𝘪 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯

I absolutely devoured this. I haven’t read the other books in this world, they are on my tbr but will be bumped up after reading this.

Really strong characters, faced paced plot with enough mystery and answers to keep you hooked. Oh and the betrayals some known with the misha/felicity storyline, but the others I didn’t see coming. My heart breaks for Jas, intrigued to see where her story goes next.

The only thing I struggled a little with was keeping track of the worlds and beings within them but this may be due to not reading the others.

After two books we finally get a 3rd from Jas’ point of view and oh my god I loved it more than the other two!

During this book we learn more about Jas’ time in the dungeons during the first book and more about what magic she may have. Plus it has a quest and is full of betrayal and secrets - what more could you want?

I was hoping this would better than these hollow vows but it seems not. It was very predictable, juvenile and the plot felt the exact same as these hollow vows just with different characters. It was okay and if you’re new to this genre maybe you’d enjoy it more but it fell flat for me.

Lexi Ryan instantly became one of my favourite YA fantasy romance authors after the Theae Hollow Vows duology. Beneath These Cursed Stars is a fantastic book with incredibly relatable characters and an intense, compelling storyline. I am a massive fan of a dual POV so this book delivered non stop action. I am desperate for the next instalment already because I know I'll be raving about this for a good long while. Loved it!

I really enjoyed reading this novel. The universe is very interesting and I loved going back in it. The plot is divided into two parts, and I liked both parts equally. Both main characters were agreeable and likeable. I just thought that the romances were a bit too heavy and it was unnecessary. The plot and the universe were engaging enough. And those last words were definitely intriguing.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.