This book centres on Jasalyn who has been held captive ad tortured now released she is bent on revenge on fae. It is written in two point of view that of Jas and Felicity a shapeshifter who helps Jas.
maybe I should have read the two previous books first and would have enjoyed it better.
I couldn't quite take to Jas. I get that she had been through a great deal but she wasn't easy to feel sympathy with.
Felicity was the more interesting character. Perhaps there will be more of her in the second book.
Misha, I liked!
It ended on a cliff-hanger I might in the meantime read the first two books.
Thank you Netgallery

After I had so much fun with These Hollow Vows duology last year, I was super excited when I discovered this book would be published. And I was even more excited when I was approved for the ARC. I couldn’t wait to come back to this world and have a light but entertaining reading, with some sexiness, badass girls and royal intrigue. But, unfortunately, Beneath These Cursed Stars didn’t live up to the expectations.

First, as a first book of a new series, it doesn’t give you anything about the worldbuilding or any context about the characters. If you haven’t read the first duology, you will be completely lost. I read them and I felt the lack of worldbuilding on this one, because there is a lot of new elements and neither those were developed. This didn’t helped the plot, obviously. The premise for it is interesting but not well explained, and sometimes was even confusing. I felt like it was a romance with fantasy elements that the author didn’t knew how to use. What is sad because I know she is capable of it.

I think, at some point, the romance was the major factor on this book. And I don’t mind with romance ok, but I mind if it comes from nowhere and does nothing for the story itself. It doesn’t help if your characters are… boring. We have a dual POV here and the main one is the uninteresting one. I loved Jasalyn, I hate her now. She is exactly the type of main character I don’t connect with. Her POV didn’t make sense, her love interest is boring and the side characters did more for me, honestly. The other POV, is a bit better. Felicity is a more interesting and likable character, and it helps that her love interest is a well known and loved character, but that is it.

I don’t know what happened with this book, honestly. I know Lexi can write better books, These Hollow Vows is so much superior… I’m really sad this was so disappointing really.

DNF @45%.

This might be one of the most disappointing or worst books I've read this year.

I am honestly looking forward to this book considering how promising the premise is.

The writing is one thing that I dislike this novel. It's very bland, I had to force myself to finish a chapter. Another thing is the characters, which I dare say the most boring characters I ever encountered.

It's honestly disappointing and saddening, considering I was really manifesting to be able to read the arc. Not to mention my first novel from this author.

Thank you, Harpercollins, for the e-arc opportunity via Netgalley and Edelweiss.

I tried to read this, but ended up not finishing it at 37%. I really wanted to like this - the premise was interesting, and the synopsis also had me intrigued, but once I got to read the story I found myself so frustrated at the infantile behavior of one of the main characters that supposedly has PTSD. All it was was chapter after chapter of the main character complaining about how hard she had it, how difficult her life was and how traumatised she was, and in the first 40% of the book there was nothing that happened other than stiff dialogue that really had me cringe. I gave it a fair shot, but it was not for me and it seems I am just not the target audience.

Still as obsessed with Lexi’s world and characters as I was with the other two books!! Easy to read, fun and exciting- everything that I want in a fantasy

I have loved Lexi's previous books, and this one was no different! She manages to weave an incredibly compelling tale, and I was sucked into it from the very first moment. I loved that the world was already familiar, but the characters were new. I really enjoyed reading about them. Definitely a book I can recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
5 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the stories in this book. Loved every single second reading it.

I read These Hollow Vows in April of 2022 and loved it. I had only gotten back into reading for about 7 months back then, and this was one of the books that hit me the most. I also adored the sequel (which was actually the first ARC I ever got), but eventually, I saw more and more mixed reviews for it and over time I started wondering if I would still enjoy this duology as much if I had read it later into my reading journey.
I was still quite excited about this spin-off though while also being nervous if I would enjoy it or if it would make me fall out of love with this world.

As you can probably tell by my rating, I actually still love this world. My actual rating would be 4,5 stars because there were some things here and there that I didn't love, but I rounded up to 5 stars because I was so invested in this and the end left me reeling.

The setup for this was so much fun, it reminded me a bit of Twin Crowns (which I loved as well), and I loved having two FMCs. They are both great in their own way and I think the author really nailed their character arcs.
I especially love the way Jasalyn's character was portrayed and how her trauma affected her in all aspects of her life. I really appreciated that the message was how strong she is for living in spite of this trauma.

At first, I was unsure what direction the plot was going to take, but it kept building and building as new pieces were uncovered. By the end of the book, I was obsessed. I might have been unsure about how I would feel about this book, but there is no doubt that the sequel is already a highly anticipated release for me because I NEED TO KNOW.
There were so many different elements but they all fit together so well and to me, it never felt convoluted.
The romances were both great and I honestly can't tell which one I am more invested in.

It also felt so good to be back in this world. On that note, even though it is a spin-off, I personally think reading the original duology is crucial for this one as there is a lot of context needed to understand what is going on and who everyone is.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. This whole series is one of my favorite YA romantasies of all time and I'm glad to learn that I still feel this way.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Rated 4.5 Stars

Beneath These Cursed Stars was good and unexpected in the best of ways. There was adventure, an awesome magic system, an intriguing world and wonderful characters whose actions I wasn't always onboard with but man what an enjoyable journey. It was packed with twists, turns and betrayal. I loved the author's use of masks in this story and can't wait to read the conclusion. I very highly recommend it.

Beneath These Cursed Stars
Fantasy
Lexi Ryan
⭐️⭐️⭐️

• ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ • ꜱᴄʜᴇᴍɪɴɢ • ʀᴇᴠᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ •

I really wanted to like this book because I liked the These Hollow Vows duology by this author but I was actually a bit disappointed.

I found the start to be very slow and I struggled to stay engaged with the plot. I put the book down several times since I started it in March. The pacing continued to be slow throughout the majority of the book but it did pick up a little bit towards the end.

I wish there was a recap at the beginning just to refresh my memory of the world building and the magic because I struggled with how limited the explanations were.

The characters were ok but I didn't really care what happened to any of them.

I'm sure other readers would like this book but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

*Thank you to @Netgalley, the author, and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*

This story is told from the perspectives of Jasalyn and Felicity, two women who have never met but whose fates are now intertwined. At first, I was unsure about this dual narrative but it wasn’t long until I was hooked on both sides of this story, enjoying seeing these two very different characters in different, dangerous situations. There’s a thread of romance in each narratives, though I felt more drawn to Felicity’s, with the added complications of her hidden identity and intended departure once her task is complete. The romance is newer and softer, but since I love a bit of drama I was looking forward to seeing how it played out for her.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this story, the romance, the foreshadowing, the betrayals, and the bravery of the narrating characters. The path forward is uncertain and complicated, and I’m desperate for the next book to continue the story and see where it takes us next. At times I did find things a little confusing but overall this was really interesting and I’ll be picking up the next book!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

I was so excited when I heard that this world was getting another look. I hated that the duology had to end when I wanted more of the world, the story, and the characters.
I'm glad we got to see them in this book, even if it wasn't the story's main focus.
I have to say though that this book took a bit for me to get into, as Jassalyn wasn't a fascinating character in the previous books.
I'm happy that she got her time and her own story for what she had endured in the past, and how she can overcome it.
I did however love Felicity and Misha's story. He was a character from the books beforehand that I loved.

Thankfully, even though it took a bit for me to me captured by the story, as I was nearing the second half of the book, and albeit the end, I was truly invested,
I could live in this world forever is Lexi Ryan would let me. haha.

if you're unsure whether or not to give this book a shot, I suggest you do. You might be pleasantly surprised.

I loved Hollow Vows and Twisted Bonds and it was great to be back with these characters in this book. It was beautifully written and exciting to read. It ends on a cliffhanger so hopefully we will get the sequel soon. This book was such a pleasure to read. Lexi has a wonderful way with words and it comes through with this book.

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan.

Princess Jasalyn seeks revenge. Armed with a secret enchanted ring bestowing death's kiss, she has been sneaking away at night to assassinate her enemies.

Felicity needs a miracle. Fated to kill her father, she's been using her ability to shape-shift to evade a fatal prophecy.

When rumours begin circling that the evil king Mordeus is still alive, Jasalyn teams up with Kendrick - a handsome rebel once imprisoned alongside her - while Felicity must take Princess Jasalyn's form and her place at court, where she draws irresistibly closer to the Wild Fae King Mischa. But soon their mission is at risk right alongside their hearts and the future of both human and fae realms hang in the balance... Will Jas and Felicity find that their stars are the most cursed of all?

"Life is magic. Magic is life."

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fairly fast paced and engaging fae tale - definitely one for fans of the original duology and also Holly Black's Folk of the Air series. Whilst it could be read separately, I would strongly advise reading the These Hollow Vows duology first (which I also loved) as the worldbuilding of Faerie heavily relies on the original story, although we do learn more about Elara in this book too.

Told in dual POV, it is driven by the two main female characters and their internal struggles. Set 3 years after the original tale, Jas is struggling with anxiety, ptsd and a desire for revenge after her trauma at the hands of the Mordeus whilst Felicity, a new character, is a shapeshifter hiding from her prophesied fate. I found both POV engaging, although I did enjoy Felicity and her time with Mischa in the Wild Fae Lands a little more and indeed they were my favourite characters. I rooted for both rather ill fated romances and after that cliffhanger ending I really need the sequel as soon as humanly possible...

Overall I loved being back in this world and will definitely be needing a hardcover version: 4.75 - 5 stars.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Hodderscape for a digital review copy.

R E V I E W

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan

☆☆☆.5

As someone who read and enjoyed These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds, I was unsurprised to find that this spin-off was an equally easy read.

Having read the original duology, I was already familiar with the two main settings for this story; the Unseelie territory and the Wild Fae Lands. Despite this narrative shifting to new characters, namely Jas, Felicity, Misha and Kendrick, it was rewarding to get glimpses into the lives of Brie, Finn and Sebastian three years on from the events in These Twisted Bonds.

Beneath These Cursed Stars focuses on Brie's sister Jasalyn and her trauma and PTSD following her imprisonment at the hands of King Mordeous in the original series. Despite having read the first two books, I do feel a brief recap of Jas' experience would have been beneficial at the start of this spin-off since I couldn't remember much about her time with Mordeous (specifically the length of time she was held captive and the reasons why at the time).

Additionally, with the introduction of Kendrick and his 'chosen one' mission, the plot shifts quickly to focus on Elora, the human realm where we spent a few measly chapters during These Hollow Vows. Once again, I felt there were times here where the author assumed we could remember certain things from the first book, like the realms power structures and magic systems when in reality, many of us needed to be reminded.

Whilst I enjoyed the dynamics between the two respective pairings in this story, I felt this book needed more world-building and back story in places for the reader to truly grasp what was going on and immerse themselves fully. For example, I still don't really know why there was magic in Elora if it was 'the human realm'? Despite this, I will read the next instalment in the series, because Beneath These Cursed Stars ended on a cliffhanger, and I am keen to see if our characters get their happily ever afters after their respective betrayals.

I loved These Hollow Vows and the sequel, These Twisted Bonds, so I was obviously going to need more books in the world. It was wonderful to be back in that world, and seeing familiar characters. My one regret is reading it without the next book in my hands, because now I have to wait!

First of all, I knew going in to this book I’d have a fun challenge on my hands: how much would I remember from the first duology?! Turns out, I remembered a mixture of things which made this an interesting reading experience…details would come back to me at random times and I’d be like OH YEAH, THAG HAPPENED! However, I think you probably could read this without the first two books and be fine…I think. Again, maybe I can’t remember what I should remember and maybe that’s a problem! But this did do a good job at recapping old plot points when necessary.

I quite liked this, I liked the characters (I loved Misha in the original duology, can’t remember why, I think he was funny) and I still liked him a lot in this one. I loved Finn a lot in the originals though and whenever we saw him in here he seemed to be devoid of a lot of his personality but then we were seeing him from the point of view of someone who isn’t in love with him.

The mystery was good and had me making lots of theories and I feel like the book really started to get going with it all at the ending. This whole book was basically one just giant, kinda slow at times, lead up.

Now what I did find confusing, and maybe it’s just me not being smart, was all this elves who are fae and fae who are elves and elves who are not fae and fae who are not elves and and what. I was so confused. What is the difference. All of a sudden there are all these different types of elven fae from this place and fae from this place and surprise this person is disguised as one no they’re disguised as this no they’re actually this and they’re on this persons side (I saw the final bit but I still don’t know what they are). I just felt this was so poorly explained and that’s really bad since it’s a massive part of the world building and the history and the plot.

I will be tuned in to the next, there was some good cliffhangers, some romances on the line (one I do not like at all, they should not be together), there are some things I need clearing up, and some foes that need slaying (again, and do it for good again, we can’t have another duology with the same villain).

I haven’t finished reading this Beneath These Cursed Stars yet but, having absolutely loved These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds I had to read it! I’m already loving all the drama and excitement of the fae realms alongside the storylines and plot that totally pull you in.

Most of all I am so happy to hear the story from Jasalyn’s perspective and I’m leaving this review short as I dive back in. If that doesn’t tell you I’m loving it, I don’t know what will!

Oh wow! I literally just finished! That plot and storyline. It totally blew me away but now I have to wait - ugh!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc of Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Lexi Ryan knows how to write good YA books and this is no exception. Its everything you could want from a YA romantasy. Its nothing new by any means but its exactly what you know you're getting yourself into.
I loved the fun elements, and the chaos and drama of it all, with hidden identities, romantic tension, beautiful heart warming elements and some good twists to keep the plot moving forward.
I really like the dual POV but one characters story for me was much better than the others, however both characters endings!? I need the next book for sure.
There isn't huge amounts of worldbuilding here as it set in the same world as these hollow vows, so the plot and story are very character driven, but 't much explanation here about the magic systems and how the world works, but as someone who read the other series it did work for me. IIt does mean the story is fast paced. I do think people may struggle if they haven't read the other books as there isn't One of the lead characters is however very naïve and it really shocks me how she didn't see some of the events occurring sooner.
It is slightly predictable but a fun YA read none-the-less and I think it will appeal to many readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking forward to reading this novel, having read the authors previous duopoly. It definitely helps to have read these previous to this novel! I was immediately thrown into the same universe. Beneath These Cursed Stars is a great fantasy read, truly enjoyable and well developed.