Beneath These Cursed Stars

Full review to come but let me say: This book really grabbed me! I loved it so much, I read the entire thing in less than a day. Jas is an incredibly compelling heroine who has been through heartbreaking trauma, and I want nothing more than her happiness. Some genuine twists and shocking reveals had me gasping. The ending made me want to scream - I cannot believe I have to wait for the next installment to find out what happens!

“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.

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!

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.

I have read These hollow Vows and These twisted bonds and really loved them! So now to be chosen as an ARC reader the spin- off series is amazing and that book did not disappoint!

This book follows two separate people Jasalyn and Felicity. Jasalyn is the human sister and princess of Queen Brie, which we have met in the previous books. Felicity is part of a rebel group and can shift her appearance to look like a carbon copy of another person and get some of their memories.
Both of their lives become intertwined when Jasalyn decided to join the rebel group to help stop a resurrected Mordeus and Felicity takes her place so no one realises the princess is missing.

The world building was amazing again and everything was well explained. To see the aftermath of what Jasalyn went through in the previous series and her feelings how she deals with it was well done.
Yes there is also love in this his book. Both of the FMC’s get their own man.

Now to the question do you need to read the previous series before you read Beneath these Cursed Stars? I personally think yes you should. It helps you get a grasp on the other characters like Brie or Mordeus and it will help you understand it so much better!

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not going to lie - I scrambled to request this book when I saw Lexi Ryan, I didn't even realise it was in the same world and a 'spin off' to the other serious. But WOW I loved it. I loved the Characters. I loved Jas and Felicity, I loved the concept and the way the story unfolded.

I loved the ROMANCE - I didn't realise how much I love a slow burn until this book, but I do... I love it!. I'm really excited to see what happens with Felicity, I'm looking for ward to more of Jas/Misha....I JUST CAN NOT BELIEVE WE GOT LEFT WITH A CLIFFHANGER.

Ok I can believe it - I JUST DON'T WANT TO WAIT.

An excellent start to what will be another excellent couple of books from Lexi Ryan - I'll be recommending this to everyone so we can all cry at the cliffhangover together - misery loves company!! :)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars
Beneath These Cursed Stars is Lexi Ryan's new romantasy novel. I was really looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed!
The storyline follows two heroines, Jasalyn and Felicity, to whom I quickly grew attached, in a quest to save the world. The novel is well-constructed, engaging, and I was gripped from the very first pages. The only thing you should keep in mind is that despite the exiting premises, little action and adventure is present. The narration, in fact, heavily focuses on the romantic entanglement of the two protagonists. So if you're in it for the adventure, I think you might get disappointed. But the romance part of the novel is also great and the love interests are swoon-worthy 😍.
Can you read this book without having read the first duology? Yes, I think you can, although you might feel at times disoriented, with some gaps in your understanding of the story and of the worldbuilding, and I'm sure you would enjoy it more if you had read also These Hollow Vows.

Overall, not a very creative or unique story, but it was very well executed and engaging. Most importantly, the writing was exquisite
Can't wait to read the sequel!

That plot twist had me crawling up the walls what on earth! I need the next book immediately. Multiple plot twists some unexpected. I really liked the multiple POVs too between the two FMCs. After the first duolgoy with Brie's character, I was interested to see Jas' story. This played out so well and I can't wait to see what happens next.

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.

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 📖

“There’s nothing braver than doing the things that scare you.”

First off I would like to say a huge thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for this book in exchange for an honest review. I swear when I saw that email in my inbox my entire street heard my scream.

After finishing the These Hollow Vows duology last month there was a hole in my heart that it was over, so when I learnt Jas was getting her own story I was so happy! Then to receive this ARC honestly tears.

But now onto the review because I swear Lexi Ryan has done it again.

This woman is the queen of manipulation because I just never see it coming. I had every idea in my head of how this book was going to go, and she pulled the rug out time and time again and at this point I’m not even mad about it because it’s done so heartbreakingly beautifully that I just can’t help but admire it.

My man Misha also gets his time to shine in this book which is the bit I was secretly looking forward to the most, because I fell completely in love with him and I still very much am.

Let me just say this book is of epic brilliance and I can not wait for the rest of my book besties to read it, because I just have so many thoughts and feeling swirling around in my brain that I just need to get out.

This book releases on 9th July 2024 but you can preordered it now!

Actually wasn’t aware the was set after the These Hollow Vows duology. But as I’ve read that series this was a really nice surprise.
Actually prefer the characters and love interests in this one more.
Lexi Ryan wrote the romantic tension between characters really well. It’s dual perspective but I found I enjoyed and was intrigued by both these characters povs.
A really easy and fast paced read, and I can’t wait for the sequel!

5⭐️

Tldr: yes yes a thousand times yes to this dual-POV / interconnected narrative, with political intrigue and a wonderful cast of characters. Undoubtedly one of my favourite books of the year, and I was so happy to be back in this world. I highly recommend reading this book if you like: excellent writing, fae, lots of #feels, fate, found family, love stories and complex characters.

Very lengthy full review below - listen, don't judge me, sometimes I just can't stop writing when I love something 😂

***

These Hollow Vows/These Twisted Bonds is one of my favourite fantasy duologies of all time - I never stop recommending it (or re-reading it). I always wanted to know more about Jas, so when I got approved for this arc, I literally jumped for joy. And more Misha??? Sign me right up. Well, oh boy, the way this exceeded even my highest expectations!! I knew from the 1st chapter this was going to be a 5 star read.

The plot was one fueled by a need for revenge, a need for safety and a need for hope in the face of fated events. We get dreams and prophecy and that is something I adore in a fantasy novel. The plot was, as a result, one full of twists and turns, and I love the intrigue that comes alongside that.

*there may be some very mild/vague spoilers ahead.*

So, we start off with Jas, and after the events of the first duology she is a shell of who she used to be - using an enchanted ring to not only sneak out of the Palace and assassinate her enemies, but also to numb the intensity of her emotional turmoil. We see the complexity of her character from the offset, and I love complex MC's. It was refreshing to read a different type of fantasy heroine, and I loved the layers of Jas's character. Some may find her fae prejudices frustrating to read, but I found it to be believable and understandable given what occurred in the first duology - personally I would have found it frustrating for her to "let go" of those issues too easily. She is a a character that has suffered and been altered by that sufferring. I think that these complexities make her a really relateable MC, and I was really invested in her story. Whilst it may not be necessary to read the first duology to enjoy this, I think it creates an understanding of Jas's character, and I think it's worthwhile to read it in order to gain full enjoyment out of this book. All in all, I loved Jas - give me a fractured, layered and gritty FMC any day of the week. The representation of mental health struggles through her was incredible, and extremely relateable.

We are also introduced to the character of Felicity, who's fate is inextricably linked with Jas's. Oh Felicity 😭 my heart ached for her - not to spoil anything but I really loved her character. For a multitude of reasons. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding her, and slowly finding out more pieces to the puzzle of who she is in the first portion of the book. I did really enjoy her part of the story, and even though I'm personally not always a massive fan of the 'insta-lust/love' trope, in this instance I think it was written really well. I was worried that this would be one of those cases where I was less interested in one character - however I found both stories to be extremely interesting, captivating and leaving me wanting more.

I really really *really* loved both romances in this book. And I understand why what happened at the end of the book happened, because it's setting up book 2, but gosh darn it my emotions can't take it!!

As far as the MMCs go - yes. Just, yes. *Vigorous head nodding.*
Kendrick, ugh, I simply LOVED this man. I like the selflessness, I like the caring that he shows and I love the 'touch her and die' energy that he gives off.
Misha, well, if I loved him in the first duology I really loved him in this. The smooth talking, the emotion, the loveable touch of arrogance. Once again, just yes.
In addition to some incredible main characters, the side characters are also absolutely wonderful (I love Remme and Natan, I'm going to cry, and Nigel, I actually am crying).
AND I'M SORRY BUT THAT CLIFFHANGER??? I'll have book 2 now please, thank you very much!

Overall, I really really loved this story, the characters, and the interconnectedness whilst still allowing for independent growth of the respective protagonists. I did not want to stop reading and that is always a good benchmark for me as far as judging how much I love a book. I will say I personally would class this as New Adult as opposed to Young Adult.

Thank you so very much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the pleasure of reading this arc in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to Lexi Ryan for giving us another enchanting story in this wonderful world.

Well… she did it again! Lexi Ryan never fails to impress.
I absolutely lost myself in this book, you know the kind of book you can’t stop thinking about, desperate to get through your working day so you can just curl up and jump straight back into it? Yeah this book does exactly that.

Being back in this world was so satisfying and although I wouldn’t suggest you desperately need to read These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds before picking this up, it would help the context of some of the characters and their motives and to an extent the world settings and politics.

Coming back to some of the characters from the previous duology was amazing, developing a deeper understanding of them and following them on their own journey. This book focuses on Abriellas sister Jas and her life after her time in the dungeon. It deals with her struggles and trails following her trauma and her journey to accepting (or not accepting) her fate.
However, Felicity’s story is the one that has me begging for the next instalment of this duology the most. A fabulous storyline with a great romance concept, I was just waiting for a moment you know has to eventually happen and then when it hits, you are still utterly devastated, hopeful and emotionally wrecked in the best ways.
One of the best things about this book is you have two romances to follow, equally well put together and tension filled.

The book took twists and turns off of an expected path and I just found it so gripping and fun to read, il be recommending this one for some time.
If you enjoyed These Hollow Vows this is a must, if you haven’t read that yet, you really should but as a guide this book has tropes such as travelling, only one horse, friends to lovers, forbidden love, betrayal and a found family feel in some areas.
Honestly my favourite book of the year so far!
Continuously grateful to the publisher for allowing me to read their books prior to release and eternally grateful to Lexi Ryan for such great reading experiences.

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan from Hodderscape was absolutely amazing. It's the first book in a new duology that takes place in the same world as These Hollow Vows. It's a continuation of the story with two POVs interwoven throughout- Princess Jasalyn, sister to the Unseelie queen and Felicity, a new character who uses her gift to shapeshift to evade a tragic prophecy. Both their fates are entangled and both storylines are equally engaging.

I'm so glad that Misha has a made a return as I thought he was a really charismatic in These Twisted Vows. There are a lot of callbacks to the previous duology and although it's not essential to have read Ryan's previous duology I definitely recommend it. The other books provide a little more depth in terms of world building, the political structure and magical system.

I'd say this book falls into the NA category. The characters are young and sometimes come across as a little juvenile and naive, however, there's a lot of potential for growth and both FMCs are incredibly badass and endearing. Jasalyn is dealing with a lot of trauma due to her previous imprisonment and torture in Mordeus’s dungeons and is subsequently misjudged and underestimated as a result. Her past may have ignited her need for revenge, however, it's her relationship with Kendrick and his band of misfits that help her to heal and face her demons. I can't wait to see her fulfil her destiny and unleash her powers and fury upon the world.

This was a sweet, fast paced romantasy which had me gripped throughout thanks to the relatable and endearing cast of characters, political intrigue and forbidden romance. It ends on a devastating cliffhanger that left me reeling and already longing for the next installment. Let's hope we don't have long to wait!

Release Date: 9th July

Thank you to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton for letting me read and ARC of this book.

If you’re looking for a sexy, seductive and heartbreaking book all in one, this book is for you.

Picking up after the end of These Twisted Bonds, this book sees Princess Jasalyn trying to live with the trauma of what King Mordeus did to her. Her sister can’t get through to her, and little does she know, she is sneaking out at night to seek vengeance on the men who support her torturer.
Little does Jas know, her entire life is about to be turned upside down when she is offered a deal she can’t refuse, and a man she can’t refuse either.
Felicity’s part in the story is just as seductive, her and King Misha’s romance is something to die for, if only he knew the truth of who she is.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lexi Ryan has done a fantastic job of constructing a story with that un-put-down-able quality. I’m desperate to know what happens next and it’s going to kill me to have to wait so long for the next instalment.
It was everything I wanted. Gut wrenching when it needed to be, dealing with trauma and pain in an appropriate manner. And sexy and hot when the time came, I was obsessed with the pairing and loved all of their interactions.

Overall, a very enjoyable read. I look forward to seeing where Jasalyn and Felicity’s story takes them next.

This book is a spin of from the these hollow vows series, and you follow Bree's sister Jasalyn. You also follow a new character, Felicity, who is pretending to be Jas. You should probably read the first duology first because it does continue 3 years later, and most of what's happening is related to that. This book also deals with a lot of trauma.

I loved this book, and i was a bit surprised it was over already. I want and need more. I loved being back in this world, seeing some of the old characters, but also meeting new ones. Plus, I need to know what's happening next.

If you're not sold on this book, we have a "who did this to you," one horse, secret identities, betrayal, secrets, and a lot more.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Beneath These Cursed Stars' by Lexi Ryan.

'Beneath These Cursed Stars' is the latest fantasy book by Lexi Ryan. Although it's not really stated anywhere, this is a spinoff to the 'These Hollow Vows' duology and I'd recommend you read that first or you'll be quite confused on a lot of situations.
Following Brie's sister, this book is the writing and the characters we all know and love and I just overall enjoyed my time. I did get quite confused in some areas but that is purely because it has been a while since I read the original duology.

In the spirit of honesty, I'm a huge fan of the world this is set in, so I may have some bias here in my review. With that on the table...

After finishing THV/TTB I had so many questions, including Jas, so when BTCS, I was eager to see what became of her. What I found between these pages was a heart wrenching journey of pain and rebuilding that was just so raw at times but so maturely and plainly discussed in Lexi's prose. Please do check online for trigger warning associate with this book but I would say for me personally, it was cathartic and therapeutic.

Character development is one of the strongest areas of Lexi's repertoire and it is certainly present here. Plot was not particularly anything surprising for me, perhaps because I personally got lucky that it hit all the predicted spots I wanted, maybe others might find themselves more surprised at all the right twists and turns but honestly, I think less is more when you have a hard focus on strong character building, which this book fulfilled.

I've seen some promo saying you don't particularly need to read THV/TTB but I'd say personally for context you should read them first. I mean they're fab, so why not?!

In summary, strong main characters, lots of tension, a solid plot and lots of heart. Oh.. And have tissues nearby to catch the inevitable tears!

Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon and Instareviews to come on pub day! 🎉

— 4.5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

"Fear isn't a measure of cowardice, and pain isn't a measure of weakness. You are brave and strong and anything but broken.”

📖 | 432 pages
👤 | author Lexi Ryan
🏢 | publisher Hodderscape
📅 | release date 9 July 2024

What you can expect:
— Young Adult Fantasy Romance
— First Person POV
— Dual POV
— First Instalment In A Duology
— Forbidden Romance
— "Who Did This To You"
— Close Proximity
— Betrayal & Secrets
— Hidden Identity
— Only One Horse
— Slow-Burn Romance
— Found Family

Beneath These Cursed Stars is the first instalment in a duology by author Lexi Ryan. Princess Jasalyn has a secret. Armed with an enchanted ring that gives her death’s kiss, Jas has been sneaking away from the palace at night to assassinate her enemies. Shape-shifter Felicity needs a miracle. Fated to kill her magical father, she’s been using her unique ability to evade a fatal prophecy. When rumours of evil king Mordeus’s resurrection spread through the shadow court, Jasalyn decides to end him once and for all. Felicity agrees to take the form of the princess, allowing Jas to covertly hunt Mordeus—and starting Felicity on the path that could finally take her home. While Jasalyn teams up with the charming and handsome Kendrick, Felicity sets out to get closer to the Wild Fae king, Misha. Kendrick helps Jasalyn feel something other than anger for the first time in three years, and Misha makes Felicity wish for a world where she’s free to be her true self. Soon, the girls’ missions are at risk right alongside their hearts. The future of the human and fae realms hangs in the balance as fates intertwine. Between perilous tasks, grim secrets, and forbidden romances, Jasalyn and Felicity find that perhaps their stars are the most cursed of all.

I will start this review by stating that whilst you don't necessarily need to read the These Hollow Vows duology to understand the story in its entirety, I would recommend it as I was unaware of the connection between both series and found myself confused during the first 15% of the story. The story begins recounting the main events that occur within the These Hollow Vows duology where Jasalyn's sister Brie is the main character, and as somebody unfamiliar with Brie's journey I was definitely overwhelmed with the sheer volume of plot history being tossed my way. However once I got past this initial portion of the story and settled into the present, Beneath These Cursed Stars was an breeze to read through with its consistent and efficient pacing. The characters were a lot of fun to follow on their individual journeys, and I'm really glad that this is a dual-POV told tale. The book is packed full of mystery, adventure, romance and magic that keeps the reader engaged and unable to put the book down. If you're a past reader of this author's work or a new reader, this is not a Romantasy story to be missed in 2024.

Jasalyn is a morally complex heroine who we endured a horrific kidnapping and torture at the hands of Mordeus, the false king. Jas's vulnerabilities and fears broke my heart as we witness her feel trapped into a life that she does not want. Her need for vengeance added an edge to her softness that I loved, and I found myself really intrigued by the lore of the magical ring that grants Jasalyn the 'kiss of death.' At the root of her actions is Jas's need to no longer feel afraid in her own skin and her surroundings, and it was a joy to watch her story unfold throughout her point-of-view. I love the bonds that she makes along the way and the sense of assurance that grows within herself. I'm very eager to see where Jasalyn's story will lead in the second and final instalment in this duology. Felicity was an unexpected delight that I absolutely adored. I still find much of her character to be a mystery as she spend the majority of her point-in-view as she pretends to be Jasalyn, however I very much enjoyed the snippets of her personality that shine through and I cannot wait to see where her story will lead. Felicity is fierce and determined in her role throughout the story, however she also possesses a softness and gentleness that acted as the perfect balance in her personality. It broke my heart as we ultimately watch Felicity fall for a man that doesn't know the true her, and that ending... wow. The longing and pining was written to perfection, and I need book two ASAP to know what happens next.

Beneath These Cursed Stars is not a love-triangle as both main characters have their own budding love interest. I couldn't possibly pick a favourite between Kendrick and Misha. Kendrick's loyalty and selflessness are unparalleled. His "who did this to you" moment had me kicking my feet and screaming, and I loved how he truly saw Jasalyn for who she was from the beginning. Kendrick's support and belief in Jas as she is continuously faced with her trauma and PTSD from her past quickly cemented him as a favourite of mine, as I believe many readers will also feel by the end of the book. To my understanding Misha is present during Brie's duology, and now I know I have to go back and read these books after falling in love with him in this one. Misha's cheeky nature and playful arrogance was such a joy to read as he offered much-needed humour during stressful situations. His commitment to his people and role as the Wild Fae King was admirable, and you get this true sense of love and respect from his peers. Misha's want for a true and honest love tugged at my heartstrings, and I truly hope that he and Felicity come out of their betrayal stronger than ever in book two. Please Lexi Ryan... I need to see their happily ever after.

That ending took me by complete surprise and I know I'm going to go insane waiting for book two after that cliffhanger. Beneath These Cursed Stars was unputdownable and thrilling from beginning to end. I cannot wait to see where this story leads in the conclusion to this magical and spellbinding duology.

Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the DRC to read and review prior to release day.

The first thing you need to know about Beneath These Cursed Stars is that it is a direct spin off of These Hollow Vows. So I would highly recommend reading that duology before diving in.
That being said, I loved going back to this universe and seeing more of familiar characters, while also discovering new ones.
The biggest change in this book was the multiple point of views. It added a lot to the story and made the plot easier to follow in my opinion.
I thought I would have a preference between Jas and Felicity but I found both point of views super interesting.
I can’t wait to know what will happen next !

After finishing These Twisted Bonds, I was absolutely desperate for Lexi Ryan to write more fantasy. I was absolutely delighted when this spin off was announced and after how much I adored the These Hollow Vows duology, I had very high expectations.

Beneath These Cursed Stars certainly did not disappoint. Once again, Lexi Ryan had woven an exciting and romantic fantasy that I just couldn't put down! It was so lovely to be back in this world and I really took a shine to Jas as a main character. Felicity was a beautifully written character and I absolutely loved her chapters.

Overall, I absolutely adored this spin off, maybe even more than the original duology! I can't wait for the sequel to come out!

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for providing access to the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5 (My heart screams 5, but my brain understands that it has a couple of issues).

I. AM. IN. PAIN.

I initially jumped into this book knowing that Lexi Ryan wrote the These Hollow Vows duology, a series I had on my shelves for years. I thought it would be a fun standalone that might take place within the same world, or simply had the same author branding. I didn't expect it to spoil the ending of that series entirely within its first 19 pages, so I took a step back, despite really loving Jasalyn's bitterness and vengeful soul already, and chose to prioritize the first two books.

And I am so glad I did. I ADORED the initial series. Devoured it in just a couple of days, during which everyone that looked in my direction had to then listen to my massive rants on how much I appreciated the pacing and overall plot. Didn't care much for the romance, but I did enjoy the characters, especially Brie and Misha. Jas was a sweetheart all the way through. I didn't even mind the spoilers that much.

For two weeks I had to jump into other releases but my heart stayed within the edges of this universe during this time. (The 'guy looking back' meme perfectly reflected how I felt).

When I jumped back, it felt like coming home. And, while being away, something must've awakened in my brain because my attachment to Misha seems to have grown overnight to an almost unhealthy level. I was SO excited for a Misha-centric story, and every single time I saw a chapter from Felicity's perspective I wanted nothing more than to disconnect from everything else and just scream Misha's name into the void. I wouldn't change a single thing from those chapters, I loved every scene.

Jasalyn's side of the story, however, confused me initially. As someone who initially started with this version of her, loved it, then read about her terrible time in Elora, her imprisonment, and then her release - then went back to read this book - a couple of things did not add up. She never mentioned, nor have we seen, anyone else being captured or punished by Mordeus with her. There were no Kendrick(s) or Crissa(s) in sight. Jas also got captured twice, and she stayed as open and as positive at the end of the series as she did at the beginning. There was a slight reluctance to return to the fae world, but nothing even remotely close to the racism she felt here. She still loved to create clothes for Brie, and still wanted her close at all times.

BTCS Jas is another character entirely. Maybe it's because she remembers the horrific parts from her imprisonment in flashes, still learning about some of the things she endured instead of being allowed to process things and start her healing process, but the fact that her 14-year-old fresh-out-of-prison persona still had so much love and hope in her and this version was the complete opposite hits you hard. Is this version more realistic? Yes. But it felt like the author chose to dive into the trauma Jas SHOULD be feeling (finding it a great opportunity to continue her successful fantasy journey) and completely erased the Jas we had in the Epilogue. Or she wrote this book without re-reading her previous work.

You simply can't picture Epilogue Jas being capable of revenge. That desperate to isolate herself from everyone, including her sister, to the point of feeling like her sister didn't even know her anymore when they had such a beautiful and loving bond at the end of TRV. And hating the fae so desperately that she'd rather die than become one. A scene of transition, maybe right after she got her initial scars and started to get some of her memories back, that would subtly address her shift from post-trauma bubbly to the post-trauma reluctance of interacting with any fae or her sister as a starting point would've been great. Lexi Ryan already used Felicity's abilities to fill in some gaps, but I don't think there were enough to justify the switch.

As it stands, I'm still unsure what the best way to enjoy the book is. If you read it on its own, without experiencing the THV duology, you fully spoil that series, cheapening many of its secrets and developments from the get-go, so you can't enjoy it as much after (if you'd rather consider that series a prequel). However, you'd also be missing a lot of information, like the depth of Sebastian's connection and friendship with the girls, Misha's marriage, Finn's relationship with his uncle, Lark's impact, and Mab's legacy.

But if you read them as I did, binging them in chronological order, you can't help being a bit confused about the changes made to add more substance and tragedy to BTCS's overall story. Like an angsty-er fanfic of the original ending intended, that Lexi Ryan had to create to find new plot points within this universe while still using a big chunk of that original cast.

Ideally, I think, you'd need to read that initial series and then take a long break before jumping in this one for the changes to be less visible. But that is not ideal.

My other bit of criticism is the marketing for this book so far. There's no mention on NetGalley or Goodreads that this is a sequel to the THV series (which again, meant that I got the ending to that series spoiled by reading the first chapter). Nor does it mention on either of those sources that it's only the first volume (not a standalone as I assumed it would be based on the information provided) in another duology. I had to find out about that when I finished the first half of the book and it became clear that there was no way the plot could be wrapped up within the remaining 200 pages. Where did I find that information? In one of Lexi Ryan's own reels, because I got so incredibly invested in this universe that I was desperate to find out if she'd be coming to the UK for the release of this book (she hasn't announced anything yet), or if there was any UK-based special edition with the same gorgeous cover illustration I should be on the lookout for (there isn't).

I should be happy that an extra book is on the horizon since that would mean more Misha content (and I truly can't express how desperate I am for it). But I NEED it. NOW. There's no title, no release date (after all, this hasn't been released to the wider public yet either), and there's not even a listing on Goodreads to showcase its existence.

There isn't even any official (or fanart for some reason???) of Misha to keep me sane while waiting.

At least I managed to convince a friend of mine to jump into this universe with me, so we could suffer together.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

this was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint. . I enjoyed the characters and the world building. I am a big fan of the first duology and I am happy to say I loved this one just as much! 5 stars!

<i><b>“We’re all a little broken.”</b></i>

<u>Trope</u>
• Forbidden Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Slow burn Romance
• Dual POV
• Kiss of 💀
• Who did this to you?
• Betrayal & Secrets

Beneath These Cursed Stars is the first instalment in a spinoff duology of These Hollow vows series staring Brie’s sister Jasalyn and a new character named Felicity.

Felicity is a shapeshifter who pretends to be Jas while Jas teams up with a charming guy from her past, Kendrick, she soon uncovers secrets she was never suppose to find out..

What happens when Jas learns that Mordeus might be alive can she work together with Kendrick and his team to defeat Mordeus once and for all. Find out July 9th, 2024!


<i><b>”I relish the sight of the scar, cling to the reminder that I was the victim, not the one inflicting the torture. But you enjoy killing his followers. You relish the moment life leaves their eyes.”</b></i>



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As soon as I saw the cover I knew I had to preorder and read Beneath These Cursed Stars. I knew going into this story I didn’t need to read These Hollow Vows or These Twisted Bonds but I definitely recommend reading that duology before you read this spinoff. It’ll definitely give you some background information about a few characters like Brie and how she became the Unseelie Queen.

From the very beginning I was hooked with the story about Jas and Felicity and how life was before and leading up to their story being told. I was in so many emotions from feeling happy seeing the two girls falling in love to being sad when witnessing Felicity being haunted by the memories of Jas’ time in Mordeus dungeons.

I can’t wait for my preorder of Beneath These Cursed Stars and can’t wait to read the second novel in the duology. I need to know what happens next!!

<b>Thank you so much NetGalley, Lexi Ryan, and Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.</b>

Being a massive fan of These Hollow Vows, I was thrilled to receive this arc

We have so many new characters and an old one which was amazing (silently fangirling here)
There is still room for growth in the characters and plot but I have no doubt Lexi Ryan will knock it out of the park

Thankyou for the ARC

Thank you so much for letting me read this book. Wow, just wow! Lexi Ryan once again managed to capture me with her storytelling. But that cliffhanger sure is brutal, I need the next book now. It is good.

Beneath our cursed stars

“what if you find yourself living beneath nothing but cursed stars?…Then you go find yourself a world with a whole new night sky.”

Secret identities layered on top of secret
identities!

Beneath our cursed stars jumps between the POVs of Jasalyn the shadow princess & Felicity who has taken on Jasalyns identity. Both characters have their own tortured pasts & missions to save the realms.

“We both know death is hardly the worst thing our enemies can do to us”

With two POVs this also means you get two slow burn romances unfolding at the same time 🔥

“You say your kiss is deadly, but every hour that passes, I feel more and more like I might die without it.”


If you love:
>YA fantasy
>Multiple POV
>Hidden identities
>Magic & prophecies
>Found family
>Who did this to you?
>Forced proximity
>Bonded companions (a little goblin you can call on for portal travel & wisdom)

The betrayal & twist at the end had me reading until 2am , I couldn’t put this down and I’m dying for book 2!

“the ring was to free me from my fear, and now there’s nothing I fear more than what I’ve done because of it.”

**This is a spin off of the “These hollow vows” duology (I have not read). I believe they are all set in the same world with a cross over in characters. This would explain why the world building is minimal in Beneath these cursed stars.**

Thank you NetGalley Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this one! I’m so happy i got to go back to this world again and with new charismatic characters!🤩
The story is told from a double pov (Jasalyn and Felicity’s) while they cooperate towards a bigger plan that involves both the fae kingdoms and Elora. Both our fmcs have love interests that are swoon worthy but i’m partial to Misha, i’m so glad we got to know him more in this book and i hope we’ll get some chapters from his pov in the next book.
In spite of all the schemes, new magic powers and revelations, this book also explores Jasalyn’s ptsd after being in Mordeus dungeons during the previous books (These Hollow Vows & These Twisted Bonds) and it’s awesome and terrifying (for obvious reasons once you read the book) to see her coming back to life again and gain her will to live anew.
In spite of this, i loved Felicity’s chapters a little more✨ her and Misha’s chemistry was palpable💖
Thank you netgalley and the publisher Hodder Books for a free earc. All opinions are my own🥰

An absolutely brilliant stroy that expands in the related hollow vows series.

It was so nice to meet jaslyn more formally in this book, and get to m kW her for better than through her sisters stroy in these hollow vows. It was fun to learn new things and revist old things. It felt bktg new and fun, and nostalgic at the same time to be back in this world.

I love that this is dual pov with the two FMCs. I love the concepts, and hadn't really read anything with deaths kiss in, in a very long time, and that was such a fun edition that meshed well with the story and really spiced up the whole assassin plot line, taking it away from your typical fantasy assassin tale.

In short, recommend. Really fantastic and can't wait for the next book . But I would recommend reading the hollow vows duology first, or you won't really know what is going on in the world as the world building is minimal here, as it was done in the first duology. Also if you do want to read it and don't want spoilers, read this book first as there will be so many spoilers if you do choose to read this first.

Absolutely adored this, Lexi Ryan has written another amazing book. Dual FMC perspectives with separate but interconnected storylines, lots of fantasy and the sweet longing kind of romance. I strongly recommend reading these hollow vows and twisted bonds before this one as the storyline has spoilers, but it would be readable without this. The lead shifts for this book and we get to see a different perspective to the previous two.

Thank you so much for the free advanced copy via netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love love loved this! It took a bit of getting into, as I read the These Hollow Vows duo quite a while ago. However I loved getting to know Jas on a deeper level, and having Felicity's POV as well. Some plot points were predictable, but I didn't personally mind that.

The idea of Jas's ring (iykyk) was so cool, she was like an independent siren queen and I love that for her!

The ending was absolutely crazy, and I cannot say anything about it for the sake of spoilers. All I know, is that I need the next book in my hands immediately.

Beneath These Cursed Stars is the first instalment in a duology. It is a spin off of These Hollow Vows duology and follows that series main character's sister Jasalyn as she adapts to her life in the fae world. It is told in dual PoV from Jasalyn and Felicity who are both involved in separate tasks to help with potential power struggle in realm. I would highly recommend reading These Hollow Vows duology first as although it follows new characters and is based 3 years after the first series there is a lot of world building and plot development from the first books that would be helpful for this series. I really enjoyed these characters and how the story is told from the pov of two strong female characters. They both have separate love interests and plot lines that manage to keep both storylines gripping. I found I enjoyed both equally throughout the book. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to be released!

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

IMO you MUST read These Hollow Vows duology first, not optional, as it's direct spin-off happening three years after These Twisted Bonds
5 stars for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3690640883">These Hollow Vows</a>
3 stars for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4243546981">These Twisted Bonds</a>
This is the last warning you get, so from this moment on I assume you've read the first duology, or at least you're okay with being spoiled on what happened there.

<img src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYWdrMzc3NmE3cjNuc2VsOHA5NnU0dWc4ZG5scTE5MHhuY3Y0aHRyayZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/26vUHM4LqupiaL0IM/giphy.webp" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"Sometimes it is that which we readily sacrifice at our lowest that we most ardently desire when we emerge from the darkness."</b>
Let me begin with a quote of mine from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4243546981">These Twisted Bonds</a> review:
<i>I do want to read more from Lexi Ryan in the future, so all I can do is keep fingers crossed that she'll make better choices with whatever will come.</i>

And oh Lord, Lexi Ryan made a 180 turn for me, making THIS book a 6 stars read and my strongest Book Of The Year candidate (as of today).

I've loved how fast paced, enjoyable and refreshing These Hollow Vows was, but its sequel crushed all the good things there were to find. And in my review I've listed everything wrong I found in it compared to the first book. Beneath These Cursed Stars you ask? It made me feel as if Lexi Ryan was reborn, fixing all her past mistakes and really growing as an author. So not to elongate this intro, let me introduce you to the brilliance to the story of our YA Barbie the Princess and the Pauper — seriously, if you were looking for a book that was the most similar to the Barbie version of this story, seek no more. Even Twin Crowns can't beat it.

<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9f/01/00/9f0100767e2b0316ee1bc54f056030aa.gif" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"So the oracle predicted that I would kill Erith and you would overthrow the Magical Seven?"
"Dream team, aren't we?</b>
We're roughly introduced to princess Jasalyn as Brie's sister, the kidnapped one, the broken one. As three years have passed, she's still as broken and as lost as she was in her captivity by the false king. Wasting days by fearing the night, and spending night fearing for the dark. So Abriella decides to send her off to Misha, her well known BFF who is also known for the best retreat destination for the human girls turned Fae. The only problem is, Jas has different plans. As she comes to possess a magic ring that makes her fearless and her kiss a deadly one, she spends the nights wandering around and killing off false king's minions. Because the fear of his return never left.

<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e54765a9e50a7761917401f815e61e40/tumblr_ng3gpylRq21ry79y6o5_250.gif" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"My sister will find me. She'll find me and take me home."
She gives me a sad smile. "She will rescue you, but you'll have to find yourself.</b>
Then we have Felicity — a mysterious being that has shit of her own happening, with her biological father hunting her down for her whole life. She's lived in disguise, happily with her adopted brother and his family, until the very same false king tipped her father that she's out there and breathing — so she's run to the Faerie land as a shifter, kinda mercenary one. To take out the Magical Seven of Elora, she agrees to her adoptive brother's plan — switch with the Unseelie Court's princess, and go in her stead to Misha's, the Wild Fae King's court, to search for a portal that will lead them to the merciless gods to get rid of them once and for all. But how would princess Jasalyn agree with the switch? As the adoptive brother says it wouldn't be hard to convince her, as he was the one that kept her sane during her captivity as a fellow prisoner.

<img src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/KdZorPzfhMkj_QtsfOXNSg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTM1Ng--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/e3851d4c9d0c9a7133cb9cac9b5edc48" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>Have I been fooling myself to think that my cursed stars might be changing?</b>
What about the main cast from the main duology you might ask? Well Brie is Queening, Misha is Kinging and so is Ronan. And to my surprise, the latter one is seeking redemption — Maas take notes please, Tamlin deserves one too (TBH I hope we get yet another spin-off with his The Selection kind of story line, season 2 I guess as he already had one in book one lol). As for Finn — he's literally an NPC now. At least in this installment (as yes, there will be another book following this one). What I mean by that is that he's a very good husband-king consort to Brie, kinda lacking his personality but TBH I don't mind as I wasn't the biggest fan of his. At least Brie is as stressed as ever, Misha as cocky and Ronan as patient with his redemption as ever. Honestly, I like it this way. They're there (especially that now Misha was promoted to the Male Lead), and it's just the right amount of their appearances to not interfere and shadow over the new cast too much.

<img src="https://i0.wp.com/media0.giphy.com/media/3oEjHZvs8rp4mOBbl6/giphy.gif" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"Drop your glamour."
"Drop. Your. Glamour. Now.</b>
Back to the story, as if all the stuff mentioned wasn't enough of a problem for the Shadow Court a strange faceless murderer is on the run, killing off more and more citizens. With Jas yet to make her drop into fae's immortality you can only imagine how stressed Queen Brie is to keep her alive till then. She'd be overjoyed to hear that she's sending a changeling in her stead to the safe asylum, going on a life threatening adventure herself instead. And what can I say, even though the book was heavily split into two POVs of the adventurers with Jas and whatever was going on between Misha and Felicity — I loved both of them, literally flying by the whole book just like I did with These Hollow Vows. I'm so glad my excitement for this series is back!!

The pacing felt right, the intrigues were right, foreshadowing was obvious enough but still mind twisting, I really enjoyed flashbacks both girls were having in their dreams — they're really interesting expansions to the story, and imo perfectly implemented in it! I really loved all the characters' dynamics and overall vibe. Romantic scenes were finally back to the right amount that one might expect from YA — THANK YOU! I'll forgive 'These Twisted Bonds' for traumatizing my 24yo self in this sense — here they're really tasty, with just the right amount of closeness.

And alas — the twists. The plot. Omg, I was sucked right in from the very first pages right till the end — to sum it up "screaming-crying-throwing up". Now I'll suffer till another installment releases — but tbh I'm glad I will — as I said it feels awesome to be once more excited by Brie's story! I'm grateful to myself for not dropping this universe after twisted bonds, and extremely grateful to Lexi Ryan that I guess she took notes, grew and delivered an amazing book I'm proudly calling a 6 stars read of mine and a Book Of The Year candidate!


So if you're hesitating if you should pick it up, even though previous duology might've been not good enough to your liking — please do, as there's really a lot going on Beneath These Cursed Stars.

When I saw a new book by Lexi Ryan I wanted it so badly I requested it before I read the blurb. Imagine my joy when I started reading and realised that this is set in the same Faerie world as These Hollow Vows!!! Lexi is a true faerie queen and I devoured this book as quickly as I did with the original duology. This time, we get to join Jasalyn on her journey as she tries to cope with the scars of all the abuse she suffered at the hands of Mordeous. Set against a backdrop of dark rebellion against her sister, Jasalyn joins a group of humans. She gives some of her hair to Felicity who takes on the role of the shadow princess, to avoid anyone searching for her.
This is told with a dual POV between Jas and Felicity as they cope with the deception and the repercussions of the choice they've made. There's forbidden romance, tons and tons of Misha (cos we all fell a bit in love with him didn't we???) all the plot twists, secrets and deceit we'd expect from the faerie courts. I couldn't put this book down and I'm gutted it's over. This is a masterclass in YA fantasy. I'm going to be on tenterhooks till I get to read the sequel. I just love these books so much!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

Apologies I am no longer able to read this book as despite loving the first book in these hollow vows series, I’ve not been able to finish the second and don’t think it would then be fair for me to carry on reading in this world and rate unfairly.

5 Stars

I love a good YA Romantasy and think this delivered.

It is stated that you don't have to have read Lexi Ryan's previous duology before reading this. Therefore I went into this without reading the 'These Hollow Vows' duology and while I really enjoyed this, I feel my reading experience would have been better if I had as this continues on from the story following different characters and therefore contains spoilers for the original duology.

This story follows two POVs: Jasalyn the shadow Princess and Felicity, who takes Jasalyn's identity in a mission to to assassinate an evil king while trying to avoid a fatal prophecy.

If you are a fan of slow burn romances, plot twists, flawed main characters, twisty magic, and prophecies, I really would recommend this.

I am looking forward to the next instalment and will definitely be going back to read the These Hollow Vows Duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Stoughton for the ARC

How I love Lexi Ryan's books. I adored her first duology and there's no doubt this delivers as well. An engaging and fantastic fantasy book which have you in a chokehold throughout. Amazing.

Rating; 4.5/5

It’s been a while since I’ve read These Hollow Vows duology and I must confess I jumped into Beneath These Curses Stars only knowing it was set in the same world as I barely remembered any of the “main” characters.

This book definitely followed the same winning recipe as its original duology and although expected, it’s always an enjoyable read. We follow two main characters, Jas and Felicity and they’re both kind of caught -without knowing- in the middle of a bigger scheme. I always enjoy whenever I’m able to find things out as the characters do, I think it makes it so much more enjoyable and allows you to connect with the characters and I find that to be one of the strongest assets with this book.

In Beneath we find out more about the history of Elora, the Seven and how magic and power is a driving force in any realm. It was really nice seeing old characters again and I enjoyed being in the Wild Fae realm and having more of Misha in this book! I’m still not sure if I’m a fan of Hale but I do like his group mates, Nathan, Remme and Skylar! Between Jas and Felicity, I think they were both great FMC and I was invested in both their story lines equally, I want to see them both thrive and get their happy endings!

I must also point out the cliff hanger at the end for both characters was very good and definitely will make me read the sequel!

#adpr many thanks to the publisher for this e-arc! All opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5
Spoiler: if I got the second book today, it would still be too late. I need it now (yes, I am aware that even this one is not out yet).

I will start off by saying that you do not have to read the initial duology, These Hollow Vows, in order to read this book. But I highly suggest that you do. Beneath These Cursed Stars is a spin-off sequel, so most of the world building happens in the first series. If you do decide to not read the first duology, please be aware that you will get all of the spoilers you could possibly get. So, my advice would be to read These Hollow Vows first, then move on to this one. I promise it is worth it.

Now, moving onto this masterpiece of a book (yes, I know it has flaws, I will get there). It is told, alternatively, from the perspective of the Shadow Princess, Jasalyn, sister of Queen Brie, and Felicity, a shapeshifter who wants to save her home.

The first thing I should mention is Misha. He had a lot of potential in the initial duology and I was sad we did not get to see more of him. Well, Lexi Ryan and the gods decided to grant my wish and gave me more Misha content.
Witty, smart, a true gentleman, cheeky, playful, arrogant, what's not to love about him??? He was such a joy to read about, and he brought so much humour to stressful situations. I didn't even have a choice, I fell for him face flat on the ground.
His commitment and dedication to his people, and the King of the Wild Fae was admirable. I loved how we got to see him interact with people from his court, it was very obvious how much they cared for him, admired and respected him.

His relationship with Felicity got me screaming crying giggling and kicking my feet. From the first time it was mentioned that Misha had been dreaming of an unknown woman, I was sure it was my girl Felicity.
She was also a very complex character, who was ready to do anything to save the people she loved, including go into the Wild Fae Lands undercover, pretending to be Princess Jasalyn. She was so observant, kind and loving. She really started to care about Misha and his people, she was listening to them and always helping. She will potentially make a wonderful Wild Fae Queen. But the angst in their relationship, it was just *chef's kiss*. And the ending???? Misha being angry at her and accusing her of getting into his head and stealing the face of the unknown woman in his dreams??? Yeah, I am desperate for the next book.

Still, I was so frustrated on Misha's behalf. He was such a kind and trusting soul, he did not deserved to be played with like that. He deserved love more than anyone in this book and I'm hoping he will find it in the next part of the story.

However, Jasalyn's change confused me a little bit. It may be because until this point, I only saw her through Brie's eyes, so I did not know what she actually went through. From the initial duology, it seemed that, while reluctant to return to the fae world, Jas still wanted to be close to the people she cared about. This booked showed how much she actually hated the fae, and how deep her trauma went.
While I appreciated her need for revenge and she felt way more realistic, it was a drastic change from her epilogue self. In the epilogue of the initial duology, Jas, fresh out of the prison, still had love and hope in her heart. In BTCS, she was way more hateful, mature and I could really feel the effects of her imprisonment.
It got to the point where even her own sister did not know her anymore, where she would have chosen death over becoming fae and where she didn't want anyone around her. It was a drastic change, and while some of it is explained through Felicity's ability, I didn't think it fully justified it. Still, it was interesting to learn what Jas went through and the impact it had on her. I think it all came from her need to no longer be afraid in her own skin.

I also didn't love her relationship with Kendrik. For some reason I did not connect to them like I did to Misha and Felicity. It felt like they were both keeping too many secrets from each other. This was reasonable after what they've both been through, they wanted to trust each other but could not do it fully. Still, he was selfless and loyal. He really saw Jas for who she was from the start. He was so supportive of Jas, always there for her as she was dealing with her traumatic past.
I enjoyed the found family Kendrik's group had, and it was so nice to see Jas learning to trust people and care for them again after isolating herself for so long.

Either way, I absolutely loved this book, and I feel like I will go insane waiting for the next one. The cliffhanger at the end was beautifully done. The whole book was so thrilling and I cannot wait to see where the story will go in the second part of the duology.

The book took twists and turns off of an expected path and I just found it so gripping and fun to read, il be recommending this one for some time.

Absolutely magnificent. First of all, thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This has been one of my favorite fantasy books this year. The pace is so comfortable, I absolutely loved the characters and couldn't stop reading. I started the book as soon as I received the approved message and I spent the next 7 hours reading it nonstop.

Note: I didn't read These Hollow Vows / These Twisted Bonds before so I know that there are some parts of the worldbuilding that I missed, but this book can be read as a standalone and I swear that if you enjoy fantasy books with a quest and some romance in it you are going to love it!

Also, the book has a dual POV but it's not between the main couple as I was expecting but with another character that has her own story and it intertwines with the previous one. It's interesting and gives you an unique point of view of the book that I wasn't expecting but loved.

and THAT ENDING. I NEED the next book. It was amazing how the mystery was being explained little by little and how everything made sense when reaching the end. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end.

5/5