This was a good ending to wrap up the duology. I started reading this book and stopped after the first few chapters to go back and reread the ending of the first book, Beneath These Cursed Stars, before continuing since I needed a refresher on the characters. There was growth in both the main characters, Jasalyn and Felicity, although I would have loved to see them both gain even more confidence in certain parts. I did feel like the ending dragged on a bit and it could be edited down. The book dealt well with depression and also showed how depression not only impacts the person but those that love them.

A special thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for sharing this with me in exchange of my honest review.

I found Between These Broken Hearts to be a brilliant ending to the duology, and I loved the way the story unfolded and the romances reblossom. The banter is everything. The emotional ride through the pages, my heart broke a few times but in the best way.
I'm a huge fan of Lexi Ryan, starting with These Hollow Vows. I don't think many YA romantasy series beat the duet. Don't get me wrong, I still absolutely adore Jasalyn and Felicity's stories. And Masha, someone turn on the fan. Kendrick Hale. Gahhh. So good. This book had a chokehold on my emotions, starting with the dedication... stabbing me in all the feels. I did a re-read of Beneath These Cursed Stars for this one, which is a must-read to have a good idea of what happened and the politics before diving into this one. They are connected. The politics can be a little confusing and easily forgotten because there are a lot of subtleties and details.

The writing is spot on for its genre, and the storytelling is fantastic. Lexi Ryan is a master crafter when it comes to building a world and believable characters and politics. She stays true for a YA audience, but I absolutely loved it at 41 years old. The steam was steaming. The romance on fire. I loved how it tackled depression and anxiety. I thought the ending was perfect.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

This duology was so good. It dealt so well with the themes of depression and anxiety and the healing that can come when we let people in. Although I felt the beginning was a bit slow like the previous book it quickly picked up. The changes between POV’s added an extra layer of tension since you were constantly left on edge wanting just one more chapter from a them before it switched.

Also the slow burn romances in this book was perfectly paced and had me dying for characters to kiss. Overall I would give this book a ⭐️4.25 stars.

Misha will also be added to my list of best book boyfriends.

TLDR: I want more 😭😭

This was everything I wanted from the sequel and I love it sm: characters, plot, pacing, everything
Related HARD to Jas and Felicity and their endings were perfect. Misha has been a character I’ve loved since his introduction in the first series and seeing him more has been a joy, his character is so fun to read about.
Only downside is I wish Finn showed up a bit more

however… lexi ryan making me care for [REDACTED] and then ripping my heart out was EXTREMELY rude

thank you to netgalley and edelweiss for the copy!

On the surface, this story is a fae adventure-romance, with all the standard escapist fluff that's to be expected in this sub-genre, but there are a few moments that run deeper for both central characters. The standard fare served up in many of these stories highlights a protagonist that is stronger than they know or grows into their power, but actually having Jasalyn cope with depression and the challenges of surviving her abduction gives glimpses of an honest emotional strength, and the progression of healing with support and trust. In Felicity we see someone who was not wanted by their birth family and from that she seems think she will hurt those she gets close to and to doubt anyone is able to care for her whether it be her adoptive family or the male that she develops romantic feelings for. Both of the protagonists go through cycles of doubt and growth in the story, but this is still a fairy tale so the love of the right fae partner helps. This is a second book to a duology and makes no sense unless you first read Beneath These Cursed Stars, but I wouldn't even start there since it is a spinoff of the These Hollow Vows duology where we see the start of the story. For anyone who has read the prior three books this is a good wrap-up for most of the characters that we have come to know through those books, tying up loose threads and leading some to a happily ever after. By the end of this story, I don't know that there are too many characters that have been introduced that would need revisiting in this world, but who knows, perhaps king Ronan may require a quest accompanied by just the right bachelorette.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books - Storytide) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I’m so sad to leave these characters behind. This was a highly anticipated book for me and getting to read it early was a blessing. This wrapped up the duology so perfectly. I was hesitant due to the nature of Felicity and Misha’s relationship but I think Misha and myself were both convinced of the endurance of their feelings even after the reveal. This perfectly resolved all the outstanding issues at the end of book 1 and did it well.

I absolutely adored this spinoff duology! Although Abriella got her happy ending in the first series, I felt there were so many loose ends, and I’m thrilled Ryan was willing to craft a whole new story to address them.

I loved Ryan’s portrayal of Jasalyn’s trauma and subsequent depression. It showed someone desperate for her pain to end, and yet so fierce and determined to find the will to fight and live. I thought the symbolism of the phoenix - a creature who literally burns to ash only to rise again - was incredibly brilliant and the perfect reflection of her journey.

Felicity was a great addition to the series and I emphasized with her complicated familial relationships and journey to love her own skin. I loved her banter with Misha and was so happy to see him get a happy ending.

The ending to this series was everything I could have hoped for, and brings the story full circle to the events that started in These Hollow Vows. Highly recommend to romantasy lovers everywhere!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5! This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 and I loved how the story turned out.

This book really hits hard showing how someone can grow and see hope through intense trauma and depression. There is also a lot that goes down in this book. It keeps you turning pages wondering what else could possibly happen but it just keeps coming in the best ways.

The ending really wraps everything up perfectly and while I’d love to see stories continue in this world… I don’t think anyone will feel like they are missing anything at the end. It didn’t quite hit for me as much as the first book did but I still absolutely loved reading this one!

I really enjoyed this read! I’ve been eagerly anticipating Between These Broken Hearts ever since I marathon-read (and completely fell in love with) the rest of the These Hollow Vows series. It’s *so* good—please read it!

Selfishly, I’m hoping Lexi Ryan decides to write more books set in this universe. However, if she doesn’t, I think Between These Broken Hearts is a beautiful and satisfying way to wrap it all up.

Ryan mentioned that she wanted to write a book about depression, and she did that exceptionally well, while still capturing the magic and beauty of a fantasy romance that any book lover can appreciate.

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to read Between These Broken Hearts early. It’s a novel that I was incredibly excited about, and being able to dive into it ahead of the release was such a special experience. Huge thanks to the team for providing me with an advance copy—I truly appreciate it! It’s always a privilege to read a book that’s both impactful and beautifully written, and this one did not disappoint. I can’t wait for others to experience it too!