This book was so good! I love the dual
POV and secret identity aspect. Having Felicity’s POV gives us insight into Jas as she’s a more closed off character. This book kept my interest the entire time and I need the second book! I need to know what happens and who’s lying. Will definitely be reading the other series in the meantime.

that ending >>>>

friends i had a lot of fun with this one. slow to start, but i swear if you stick with it you will enjoy it!! i'd recommend reading these hollow vows and twisted bonds first, i had to definitely go back and give myself a refresher.

i enjoyed the plots, even if i guessed some, i enjoyed the romance and deception. prepare for a cliffhanger!!

cant wait for number two. thank you so much for the arc netgalley!!!

This book does not disappoint! I loved the first two from Lexi Ryan and this series, and her sister's story is just as incredible! Thank you for the chance to read. I loved it!!!

While this is separate from 'These Hollow Vows,' I feel like you need to read that prior. The world building in 'Beneath These Cursed Stars' is lacking by itself. I was never really able to get fully into this book because I felt like I was missing crucial info. It was like I came into a series on book 3, with no prior info regarding the first 2 books. THV is on my TBR, I just haven't gotten to it yet. Nowhere does it indicate you need to read THV first, just that it's a standalone. It may say interconnected, but I feel like as it is, it is *not* a standalone. Or it's best if it isn't read as a standalone.

That being said, I enjoyed the writing style. The characters are good, but I think at least one of them is a carryover from THV and would've loved more depth to her.

The plot is good, as best I understand it. This book has 2 parallel storylines, and I was more invested in Felicity's (fae) than Jasalyn's (carryover). I found Jas a bit naive and while I know she was traumatized, she annoyed me at times.

Pacing is probably OK, but to me felt painfully slow. I think that's at least a good bit due to me not being able to connect or fully get into it.

Overall, it was meh for me. Not great, not bad. I'm completely ambivalent about this one, which is disappointing.

If you've read and enjoyed the 'These Hollow Vows' duology, I think you would enjoy this one. If you haven't, I strongly recommend reading it before this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lexi Ryan, and Harper Collins for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Beneath These Cursed Stars is a revelation, one that ironically began with trepidation. I have not read the duology this book is spin-off is from, so I entered this one worried about all those missed beats in story would negatively impact my enjoyment.

Fortunately, those worries were swiftly vanquished.

Yes, if you know the spin off’s predecessor, there is no doubt it will heighten your emotions as you experience this tale, but I did not have any difficulty fully immersing myself in the here and now of this adventure. The narrative provides enough foundation from the prior books to properly build upon in this story, so there is never a feeling of missing out— if anything, there’s now an itch I need to satisfy by diving into that duology. Especially considering how this book ending, with me at the edge of my seat, my breath caught in my throat, my heart beating relentlessly, I could use a detour into These Hollow Vows. Because, wow, this book ends on a bang and I am going to wear down the floors impatiently pacing as we await the sequel. I need to satisfy my impatience somehow!

But I’m getting ahead of myself! Let me take it back to the start, a start that begins with emerging heroines, their swoony love interests, and a lively cast of characters: all scattered across a board of massive intrigue, mystery, allure, and excitement in plot.

Jasalyn and Felicity are fantastic, dynamic leads.

I initially worried Jasalyn would be another stabby, wisecracking, girlboss fantasy heroine, but my fears were unflinchingly squashed.
Jas is a multifaceted protagonist, she is never one thing. She is as heartbreakingly vulnerable as she is inspiringly brave. She is as prickly as she is kind. She possesses a soft heart with sharp walls built around it. She fits the mold of the typical fantasy heroine, whilst also breaking it. I loved her, I admired her, I feared for her, and above all— I rooted like hell for her.
I felt so much of her hurt and pain, and I wanted to eradicate it all. I want so desperately to see her triumph, and I can’t wait to see where her journey leads her too. I’ll be there every step of the way.

Then there’s sweet Felicity. Felicity is such a lovely heroine!
I longed to reach into the pages to protect her from the inevitable hardships facing her upon the discovery of her true self. A true self both she and reader long to meet. She hides behind the face of others, and all I want is to see her claim herself, to claim her agency, to claim her freedom, and to claim her own personal victories. Her story is filled with potential and her arc is the one I most look forward to as the series continues.

Now for the romancing!
I am so on board the direction I hope Felicity’s love story goes, as I am riddled with fear given certain circumstances that unfold throughout the narrative. I will be keeping my fingers crossed!
As for Jas’ romance— I began the story so here for it, but left this one feeling unsure. My heart just hurt so much for her and I hope that hurt is mended. I most certainly will be holding my breath as her love story further develops.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters (although I can’t say I love Skylar, but I think I’ll eventually warm up, haha!), something I appreciated of this cast is how each individual truly stands out; it doesn’t feel like a monotone cluster of supporting cast, it feels like individual characters with endless potential and richness to untap. A cast like that really elevates the narrative to new heights, which I very much love.

All in all—I had a blast reading this one! And now I’m biting my nails impatiently awaiting the next! LFG!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

Beneath These Cursed Stars, started off a little slow and I was questioning myself about wanting to finish the book. I’m glad I finished it! I’m a sucker for slow burns and this book had not one, but two of them. The book switches POV from Jasalyn to Felicity, the two main characters that swap places with each other. Jasalyn is a princess and Felicity is a fae shifter. I very much preferred Felicity’s story over Jasalyn’s. I found Jasalyn to be annoying and too trusting considering what happened to her in the dungeons. I hope there is more Felicity and Misha in the next book. I would love to see their relationship develop into something more with Misha knowing her true self. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy hidden identities, slow burns, dual pov, forced proximity, and cliff hangers.

I went into this book really excited I loved the authors previous works and there were so many tropes I enjoy in it. However I struggled to get into the book. I couldn’t connect with the characters or the story the way I did with these hollow vows. I wouldn’t say it was a bad book but I probably won’t be reading the next book.

This book was great!! I’m always a little hesitant on series spin-offs…usually if I’m taking the time to read them it’s because I’ve already fallen in love with the characters from the original books so there are a lot of expectations there..this book did not disappoint!! I immediately liked Felicity! Jas was a great main character. And I loved her group of “friends”. The character development was great and I loved the dual POV’s. Overall great read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

I really enjoyed this! I have read the prior duology, but this can be read without having done so. However, this book definitely has some spoilers for the other previous series.

The main plot and subplots were all interesting. It was definitely a slow burn romance which I always love. Also, since I have read the prior duology it was great to see the characters from those books that I loved. I’m so glad we are getting to see more of Misha.

The book was pretty fast paced, and it was hard to put down because I needed to know what happens next. There were some interesting reveals towards the end, but a few were somewhat predictable. After that cliffhanger at the end I’m dying to read the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✩ 3 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Forbidden Love
➼ Secrets & Betrayal
➼ Revenge
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Healing From Trauma
➼ Fate
➼ Fae Royalty
➼ Fae Shifter
➼ Spin Off
➼ Two Separate Parallel Storylines
➼ Dual POV

Initially I really struggled to get into this. Princess Jasalyn’s introduction as a revenge obsessed vigilante felt a little off brand from the previous series and I had forgotten enough to feel a little lost being dropped back into this world. The story is written in Dual POV and switches between Princess Jasalyn and a Fae Shifter named Felicity who are on two separate parallel journeys. They are united under the same purpose but their location only overlaps once making the overall story progression unavoidably slow.

This book was very character driven and while Princess Jasalyn’s role is more integral to the plot, I much preferred reading from Felicity’s POV. What Jasalyn went through was inarguably terrible, but I have to wonder how someone who spent so much time being tortured in a dungeon could be so naive. The only explanation I can come up with for her being so dense and trusting was that she was simply blinded by her hatred of the Fae and her need for revenge. This level of prejudice really doesn’t make for a very lovable heroine and my sympathy for her only extends so far.

The story ended on a cliffhanger for both girls, but I am personally much more concerned about Felicity. 😅 I would have liked to have read more of her and Misha’s story and I will stick it out for their happily ever after. Jas and Hale can get whatever’s coming to them honestly. Those two lying liars deserve each other but I’m sure they’ll get their happy ending too. 😆

Thank you to Lexi Ryan, NetGalley and HarperCollins publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

I was so happy to be back in this world. I didn't find Beneath These Cursed Stars as immediately engrossing as I did These Hollow Vows, but it eventually sucked me in and picked up toward the second half. I'm not sure if it had been too long since I'd read the original duology, but I struggled more than I thought I would with jumping back into the world. I enjoyed both POVs pretty equally, which was nice. I wasn't dying to rush through one to get back to the other. I do think that both Jas and Felicity's voices were very similar, and I wished there had been more stand out differences between the two voices. Overall, I really enjoyed this spinoff and can't wait to read the next book!

Beneath These Cursed Stars is a young adult romantasy spin-off novel coming after These Hollow Vows. The tale is told from two perspectives. This character-driven novel features Jasalyn, the shadow princess, and Felicity, who has assumed Jasalyn’s identity. Both characters are intriguing and have interesting, well-developed backstories.

There admittedly isn’t a lot of world-building in this story and therefore, is best read after the previous duology. There is a fair amount of repetition in this story, but it is also a very engaging, unique concept with twists, turns, suspense, betrayal, secrets and romance. Beneath These Cursed Stars is a quick, entertaining story and one that leads well into a sequel, leaving the reader ready for more. I look forward to more from this author.

So I was between rating this 3 or 4 stars because I was solidly at 3.5 stars for this book. I ultimately decided on 4 because the last 40% of the book was worth 4 stars. It’s been awhile since I read These Hollow Vows, so it took me a bit to figure some things out that would’ve been more clear had I read the duology more recently. The first 60% of this book was slow as it set up the premise of the story, but the last 40% I really enjoyed! I’m super interested in Felicity and her character development- and I look forward to reading more about her. Also- I LOVE Nigel. Some of the reveals at the end of the book were incredibly predictable, but there was one that I didn’t suspect until a few chapter before it happened! All in all this was a fun read, I’m not on pins and needles for the next book, but I am absolutely looking forward to it and plan to read it after that cliffhanger!

Love. Fear. Hope. Betrayal. Although it took me a while to finish it, I enjoyed this story. Dual pov is difficult for me. I found myself gravitating more toward Misha and Felicity than Kendrick and Jas. I look forward to the next book.

Lexi Ryan has an incredible way of making popular book tropes feel fresh! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was a great read to be back in this world! Granted, I recommend rereading or starting with the Hollow Vows duology first. Beneath These Cursed Stars touched on the prior plots but not enough to fully understand (or trigger memories) as to what occurred.

I’m going to start by saying if you haven’t read These Hollow Vows, turn around and read that duology first! The end of that story will be spoiled in this book and you won’t know who half the characters are!

Now, onto the review.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 ⭐️

Beneath These Cursed Stars picks up a few years after the ending of These Twisted Bonds and follows Jaselyn’s story (Brie’s sister) as she tries to make peace/seek revenge for her torture at the hands of Mordeus. It also has a dual POV with a new character, Felicity, who is on the run from a tangled and mysterious past! No spoilers here though!

My only real issue with this book was the pacing. Not a lot really happens for the first 2/3rds of the book. It feels a lot like it is meant to set up the next book in the series. Lots of plot points coming into play, lots of stories being weaved and it could be confusing at times. I was really excited to read this one but the pacing really killed the vibe for me.

Some of the twists in the book are a bit obvious, but still interesting enough to keep you going. The end of the book was where the real meat was and what an ending it was! There’s not one, not two, not three, but FOUR cliffhangers at the end of this book. I was like this 😱😰😳🤯 the last 60 or so pages with all the reveals and twists and foreshadowing going on. It was insane and left me wanting more! I have questions. I need book two immediately.

I’m also hoping for more Misha chapters in the next book ❤️

There is some slow burn romance in the books, as well as a healthy dose of betrayal 🙃 I’m not sure who hurt Lexi Ryan, but it seems to be a common theme in her books 😂

Final thoughts - I wish the whole book read like the last 60 pages of this one, it would have been a solid read if it did. If you were a fan of These Hollow Vows you’ll definitely want to jump into this one, however don’t expect it to be as action heavy and exciting as THV was!


Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins/HarperTeen and the author for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

I really really enjoyed this book! I did not realize it was part of a series when I requested to get an arc on net galley so I was a little confused on some things here and there on things that had happened in the previous books so definitely make sure to read the first two books before reading this as things will make more sense. I loved the characters and the story line and can not wait to read the next one as this one ended on a cliffhanger! Great book!

Lexi Ryan apparently does not disappoint. So often the follow-up series will, unfortunately, be lackluster compared to the first, but I’m delighted to report this isn’t the case.

BENEATH THESE CURSED STARS is just as well written as THESE HOLLOW VOWS and THESE TWISTED BONDS. Ryan clearly knows how to plot and pace a captivating story. There are no lulls. And I kept trying to guess the plot twists but couldn’t. In true Ryan fashion, the story, of course, ends in a cliffhanger, but it is still a satisfying ending that only keeps you excited for the sequel.

I loved getting Jasalyn’s story and being in Felecity’s head. Both are such compelling characters with their own secrets. Readers who loved Brie will love them, too!

💍🩸🪄⭐💔

Princess Jasalyn harbors a secret that could spell the end of her realm. She traded her destiny for an enchanted ring, using its power to vanquish her enemies. However, her past returns to haunt her in the form of the dark king Mordeus, a figure from her nightmares, rumored to have been resurrected. Determined to stop him, Jasalyn must navigate the perils threatening both mortal and fae realms to break the curse and defy her fate. It balances romance and adventure, leaving me looking forward to book 2!

It was such a pleasure to return to this world following the end of the duology!

Beneath These Cursed Stars is told in dual POV, through the eyes of Felicity and Jasalyn, as they both struggle with themselves on the path they set out on to seek to complete the missions they've set out on.

It was really nice to see the two characters develop, including their intertwined stories and individual slow burn romances. And who can resist more Misha? The content seemed much darker than the duology but equally engaging. It is a very well written story with both surprising and no-as-surprising plot twists. I had no idea this was set to have a sequel so I was very surprised to be left on a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next installment!