It's been a couple years since I read These Hollow Vows, but when I saw this pop up on Netgalley, I was excited to read more from this world.

I really enjoyed this!

There are twists and turns, magic, forbidden romances and betrayals. The dual POVs from two FMCs running from trauma and their pasts were well done. Sadly, both POVs end on a big cliffhangers!

I really need book 2 NOW.

4.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My first thoughts were: I definitely should have re-read These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds before starting this because I barely remember who these people are. So first things first - don't read this unless you've read those previously.

While this book isn't an addition to the "These Hollow Vows" series, it is set as a continuation of the story. All world building is done in the previous duology and this book continues on 3 years after the conclusion of that series.

I thought it was a fun continuation of the world of Faerie that brought in adventure and characters trying to save the realm(s) while also finding themselves. This book has a dual POV (two places one timeline), which made it feel like you were definitely getting the entire picture of the cause.

This book did lightly delve into depression and anxiety, particularly after a traumatic event.

The romance is there but it is not explicit (this is more closed door than spicy), and would classify it as a YA Romantasy.

I did feel like most of the plot is still unresolved, so I can't wait for the next book here to finish it off! I'm complete invested in what will happen with each of the characters, and can't wait to see what rescue missions will ensue from this point on.

Thank you Negalley for providing me with an eARC copy of this book!

I loved Beneath These Cursed Stars. I admit, I hadn't read these hollow vows, which honestly I don't feel you need to have read it to enjoy this book. I feel it would just make me love some of these characters even more than I already do, and I cant wait to read these hollow vows and meet them before this book!

I'm not usually one for joint POV's but it was so fun and extremely captivating. I felt like I was reading two books in one. I loved Jas and Hale and Felicity and Misha were perfection.

I was so anxious about one inevitable betrayal that I didn't even see the other one coming before it was happening.

I was in tears at the end and I highly recommend this book to everyone! I will be anxiously be awaiting the announcement for book two, it cant get into my hands soon enough!

I was so excited to be back in the Unseelie Court for this spin-off set 3 years after the end of these twisted bonds. This time around we are following Brie’s younger sister Jasalyn as she is coping with the fallout of being held as Mordeus’ prisoner in the previous books.

Although it’s a YA novel, Ryan’s writing is so enjoyable and doesn’t feel immature. Just like with the preceding duology, it was easy to become immersed in the story and I was eager for each new piece of information as the storyline progressed. The thing that hooks me in her books is how gripping the relationships are between characters and how easy it is to become invested. I loved getting more time with some of the characters from the first two books which were only side characters at the time.

Just like with her earlier duology, this book is full of secrets, twists and double crosses that you won’t see coming. And of course we end on a reveal that makes you want to read the next book asap.

This was a very quick read. There wasn't a whole lot of backstory for myself, a new reader to Lexi's world, to grasp on to and I felt as though we were really just thrown into the thick of it.
The characters didn't particularly stand out to me in any way, the pacing was quite fast, and the story line was predictable up until the final cliff hanger.
For those who have already read her books, this might be a better read for them, but as someone who is new it was just okay.

“we don’t get to choose the burdens we bear, only how we bear them.”

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

this book took me so long to finish and i think it’s because i really struggled to get into it during the first half. but once things picked up i was so into it! my jaw honestly dropped in the last few chapters and now i desperately need the next book

the way this book follows not one, but TWO slow burn romances at the same time, and (minor spoiler) knowing that jas (felicity) and misha couldn’t actually be together because she wasn’t really who she appeared to be was tearing me apart 😭

dual POV
TWO slow burn romances
hidden identity
YA romantasy
magic & prophecies
forced proximity
betrayal and secrets

Forbidden Romance ✅
Fatal Prophecy ✅
Empowering FMC’s ✅ (Felicity is my fav)
Kickass magic system ✅
Heart intact ⛔️ - this book ripped it out 😖

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Felicity and Jasalyn have quickly become two characters I treasure most, if anything happens to them… we’ll not much I can do but CRY 😖😭
Misha 🤭 oooooh do I love him 🫶🏻 I am so invested in his and Felicity’s little love story I NEED ANSWERS!!!!
Kendrick and Jasalyn are just so adorable that my heart couldn’t handle them 😖❤️‍🩹 their interactions were just utter perfection and Remme, I love that man 😂

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

I MEEEEEAN come on!!! How can I not fall in love with Kendrick when he says things like that 😔
Jasalyn’s kiss of death is such a cool aspect to this book and the ring that gives her that power… the creativity I am in love. Felicity being able to shape shift and takes Jasalyn’s place in court and accidentally (though I think it was on purpose) starts to fall for the Wild Fae King aka MISHA! 😍😍

Big thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC 🫶

First off, going into this I had no clue it was a spin-off of another series, so bear that in mind. There wasn’t much world-building at all, so it felt like literally everything was left to my imagination. I love it when books create a mood and atmosphere; it just makes it that much more immersive and magical, but this book didn’t do that for me sadly. There was little to no explanation of the magic system or just how anything worked in general, so I was super confused and spent the first half of the book trying to get my bearings. Now I’m assuming that had I read the These Hollow Vows series I would have a much better understanding of all of this, but I feel that since this is its own series, there should have been some basic level of explanation of the world and society this book is set in.

Having read many other fantasy books it wasn’t hard to grasp the idea of seelie and unseelie courts, however as each author does, Ryan has adapted and made it her own. Reading about the Wild Fae as its own separate faerie court (I think?) and trying to understand how humans come into all of this - some with magical abilities, some turning into Fae on their 18th birthday - was a LOT to figure out for myself, and to be honest I still don’t really understand it. It’s just a shame that I spent much of the book trying to wrap my head around something that could have been much clearer if it was touched on at the beginning of the book. Even readers of These Hollow Vows could surely do with a refresher coming into a new series; I feel like this is pretty normal to see in fantasy stories spanning multiple books.

Both romance plot lines in this book were pretty insta-love-y to me which is a shame, coming from someone who loves the tension of a slowburn, especially in fantasy. I feel like the relationships and the plot as a whole moved unnaturally fast, and I didn’t really believe that they could actually be falling for each other - this goes for both Felicity and Jasalyn unfortunately.

Now onto the things I enjoyed. Goblins!! Secrets and deception and shape-shifting and traumatic memory dreams!!! I found the dual-pov of Jas and Felicity super interesting because as a primarily romance reader, I’m used to dual-povs of the fmc and her love interest. I like how having these two perspectives, while happening simultaneously, gave us a whole other storyline we wouldn’t be privy to had it just been from either one of the girls’ perspectives, or even from them and their respective love interests. I can see how these two plots will become more interwoven in the second book.

Beneath These Cursed Stars took a while for me to get into but by the end I was pretty excited to see what would happen next. It felt like the whole book was building up to some sort of conflict but then it just ended super abruptly! I get that it will lead into a second book but as it’s not out yet for the reader to jump straight into, and I’m assuming won’t be published for quite some time, it doesn’t really stand well on its own.

Sadly this book wasn’t a hit for me, but I have heard great things about These Hollow Vows, so perhaps I’ll read those and they clear some things up for me.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Australia & New Zealand for sending me a digital copy to review*

I haven’t read the These Hollow Vows duology so I got confused many times at the start of the book, especially when it kept interchanging a character's full name and nickname. I did do a little bit of Googling so that I could figure out who the central characters were and get a little of their backstory.

I loved how there’s a dual POV. Jasalyn & Felicity have both been through difficult situations and it was interesting to see them address their trauma while also trying to complete a dangerous quest. I found Felicity’s ability fascinating and her being able to see Jasalyn’s memories allows both her and us to understand what Mordeus put her through.

I found it so easy to read, at the end of every chapter I just wanted to keep reading. One of the reasons for that was definitely the romance. I just couldn’t get enough of Misha & Felicity (they were my favourite) and I can’t wait to see what happens with them as well as Jasalyn & Kendrick.

BOOK REVIEW 🩷
Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan.
My thanks to NetGalley, Hatchette Australia & New Zealand and the author for the opportunity to review this book and provide my unbiased opinion.

Princess Jasalyn, of the shadow court, has been systematically assassinating her Unseelie enemies with the help of a magic ring and a goblin named Gommid. Felicity, a shapeshifter, is eking out a living, avoiding the destiny that her family, and the oracle, proclaims is hers. So, when Felicity’s brother, Hale, shows up in her village, with the kidnapped shadow princess, his plans see the girls trade places. Felicity, masquerading as Jasalyn, journeys to the Wild Fae Kingdom to get close to King Misha and locate his Hall of Doors, while the young royal stays behind with Hale and his friends, still searching for a way to save their own people.

I’ll start my review by saying that if you haven’t read the These Hollow Vows Duology, to do so before this book, as it includes major spoilers. I assumed since this was marketed as a ‘new’ series, that the previous Duology was not relevant but it is, in fact, a spin off with many of the same characters. There is a lot of explanation about the events in THV, and I wasn’t able to invest as much, due to not having read them (especially in regards to the Mordeus subplot). I think this would have worked amazingly as a third book, as it seemed to have a continuing storyline.
I definitely enjoyed the traditional fantasy aspects of magic, prophecy & good vs. evil. The pacing was great and I like Lexi Ryan’s writing style. There was not a lot of world building (which again, suits a third book in a series), but I was able to muddle through and by about halfway, the new action overtook the ‘history’ and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Jasalyn dealing with trauma and leaning on the ‘ring’ had addiction undertones, which I found interesting, and between the two couples, we got romantic tension and some charming moments. I really like the world, but would have preferred to start with the previous story.

4.0 stars

This takes off 3 years after These Hollow Vows duology. It is a spin off and for maximum enjoyment I think you need to have read the duology especially as the world building all happens in the duology.

I absolutely loved the duel pov of Jasalyn and Felicity. However I did adore Felicity more. The two romance subplots were great too, I was so excited to see Misha again!

This was a very easy and fun read - much like the duology. It is a solid YA fantasy. The twists were quite predictable but it didn't take away from the enjoyment. The flashback memories and dreams at the start of some of the chapters were done really well too.

I was shocked by the ending, as in it just ended I felt abruptly. Cliffhanger for sure. Cannot wait for book 2.

Thank you netgalley & Hachette for the arc.

3.75 🌟! This was genuinely so much fun. I couldn’t put the book down. First of all I am just bamboozled at that ending. I NEED the next book ASAP like pls I cant be left with this cliffhanger. I feel so bad for Jas and everything she has endured. I genuinely was loving Kendrick but now I don’t know how to feel at all. I feel how Jas feels and that’s… betrayed. Anyways Felicity is so cool I wish I had her powers. BUT MISHA. OH MY GOD. Let me just say I need this man. Like sorry?????? I loved the dual plot lines/POVS it just kept it so interesting. So much of this was giving the vibes of ACOTAR and TOG and even Harry Potter at one point which was PHENOMENAL. I actually neeeeeeeeed the next book 😭😭😭 (and Misha pls and thank you). One of my fav quotes from this book was, “What if you find yourself living beneath nothing but cursed stars? … Then you go find yourself a world with a whole new night sky.” And I will leave it at that. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Hachette Australia and New Zealand, and Lexi Ryan for this ARC.

I was so excited to read this because the These Hollow Vows duology was one of my favourite series that I read last year, and this continuation definitely did not disappoint!

I really loved both of the FMCs and I'm happy that we get to see Misha again. I love love love the betrayal that I've come to expect from this author and I can't wait to see how it plays out in the next book.

I have been aware of Lexi Ryan and the ‘These Hollow Vows’ duology for a while, so when I saw Beneath These Cursed Stars I was quite excited to read it. I will say that I haven’t read These Hollow Vows, however, I really enjoyed this spin-off and the author does well at providing the reader with enough information and context about previous events (the first few chapters especially alluded to prior events). But I’m sure reading the original duology would provide a more fulfilling and enjoyable reading experience (regarding already knowing events, characters, references etc…).

I really enjoyed both POVs, I often find myself enjoying some POVs more than others when reading, but in this I equally looked forward to both! Both Felicity’s and Jasalyn’s POVs were individually developed very well, but both were intertwined in a way that was integral to the overall story.

I genuinely didn’t see the ending coming and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It had a massive plot-twist and ended of a cliffhanger (the suspense!). I can’t wait for the next instalment; I need it ASAP!

Thank you for returning me to the world of These Hollow Vows! This is a great continuation of the story with new lovable characters and about the right level of betrayal expected from this series.

I got the ARC in June and noticed a number of typos around the 88-90% mark of the book. Hopefully these have been picked out. I do have screenshots saved (like a nerd 🤓) just in case.

Overall pacing was good, the intrigue and mystery elements of dreams/flasbacks were nicely balanced with the main story. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Beneath these curse stars

What to expect
•Multiple povs
•Dual romances (not a love triangle)
•Truma and healing
•Insta love/longing
•Forbidden romance
•One horse
•Fae, shifters, humans, goblins and mages

I have seen this story referred to as a spin off but i feel thats not quite right. To me it feels like a continuation of these hollow vows not long after the doulogy ended but from Jasalyns pov. I would highly recommend reading the original two before this one of there are quite a few things that may not make sense to you if you haven’t. I have enjoyed seeing some of my favourite characters again in this book though and getting to know them better. I found it quite annoying in the beginning in regards to the attitude she has after everything her sister did for her in the original duology. But you quickly start to understand and sympathise with her reasoning the further you understand her trauma. Overall i thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved getting to know Jas better and fell in love with many of the new and not so new characters. It had a little of everything i love and holy shit that ending?? Sobbing with how long i will have to wait before i find out what happens. I love Lexi Ryans stories shes has definitely become and auto buy author for me!

I really enjoyed the These Hollow Vows duopoly and was so excited to read Beneath These Cursed Stars, it is the logical and sequential follow up from the perspective of Jasalyn. But this story is dual perspective, we also see events from the perspective of Felicity, who has taken on Jasalyn’s form and is posing as her. The set up of this story is genuinely delightful and I feel like I scored big at a two for one sale, two fleshed out protagonists who feel a large spectrum of emotions, including inner strength but also crippling fear. Two for one adventure in a world I was already pretty familiar with (so there was less set up in the realm of world building, I was genuinely surprised at how much I remembered, it all came rushing back to me as I read) and two for one slow burn romance.

At first I was a little disappointed with the concept of the return of Mordeus, I was hoping for a villain not yet explored or someone who could have stepped into the power vacuum he would have left. However, it was really well done and integral to the plot and the characterisation, my initial reaction was way off! The characterisation of Jasalyn and Felicity was spot on, I particularly liked how Felicity would remind herself of how exactly Jasalyn would act or what she would say, it gave the story another layer of legitimacy. I did find certain elements in the relationship capacity a little predictable, but other parts of the plot completely smacked me in the face, I had no idea it was coming. The writing was accessible and had a good flow, it was an easier read for a fantasy genre whilst still really descriptive and immersive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, I had a great time and these thoughts are all my own.

Betrayal, a quest, plot twists, multiple romances, high stakes, dual POVS, who did this to you trope and a unique magic system.

I read this book in a day, I could not put it down! I was on the edge of my seat constantly trying to figure out the mysteries presented and I can tell you I was shocked when the twists were revealed, the betrayal was epic and my gosh do I need the second book immediately!

A shy human princess has been tortured, she has such trauma that she makes a high stakes deal to gain magic…. She is soon to become fae but she hates the fae & the magic she now possesses she uses to take revenge on her enemies but at what cost!

I really enjoyed going back and revisiting this world and some of the characters we saw from the series “these hollow vows”.

It is a stand alone but I feel it would make quite a bit more sense if you read the other series first as there is more world building with in those.

It dives into the past and what trauma looks like from the first person pov and overcoming that.

There are 2 different love stories that are both intriguing and also unfulfilled in this book making you froth for the next book.

There is a massive cliff hanger and a surprising end.

I really enjoyed reading this and can not wait for the next one!

As rumours of evil King Mordeus’ resurrection spread through the shadow court, Princess Jasalyn and shape-shifter Felicity swap places to try and bring King Mordeus to an end. While Jasalyn teams up with the charming Kendrick alongside his group of friends as Felicity sets out to get closer to the Wild Fae king, Misha. Soon, their missions are compromised, alongside their hearts.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hatchette Australia & New Zealand and Lexi Ryan for providing me with this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although this book reads as a standalone, I’m kicking myself for not reading the These Hollow Vows duology beforehand. It would have helped me better understand the characters, their relationships, magic system as well and avoid sneaky spoilers from the first two books. Regardless, I really enjoyed Beneath These Cursed Stars which included some of my favourite tropes:

-magic
-secret identities
-forced proximity
-one horse
-forbidden romance
-‘who did this to you’
-slow burn
-found family

Whilst I enjoyed all of the characters, I felt particularly connected to Felicity. Even though she was disguised and acting as Jasalyn, her personality shone through which we got to see fully toward the end of the book. I absolutely frothed the build-up of tension and romance between Felicity and Misha.

Of course, the story ended on a major cliffhanger and I’m in a world of pain being left in suspense like that. I can’t wait to continue the adventure in book two (which I need stat!)

Publication date: 9 July 2024