I loved Lexi Ryan's "These Hollow Vows" duology, but the spin-off had me struggling. Aside from a couple forgivable plot holes, I had a great time with this book and series as a whole. Aside from a couple forgivable plot holes, I had a great time with this book and series as a whole. This book builds on so much from the first two, this is NOT a standalone duology. If you haven’t read These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds,

I’m thankful to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the first installment in this series—it was a five-star read and one of the best Romantasy novels I read in 2024. Between These Broken Hearts picks up right after the events of book one, and I believe it offers a strong and satisfying conclusion to the duology.

There’s plenty of action, character growth, and some truly epic moments. That said, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first book. I found the conversations between Misha and Felicia to be repetitive at times, and I quickly grew tired of Felicia’s victim complex, her neediness, and her constant desire for reassurance.

Aside from that, it’s a well-written and compelling book with a solid ending. I definitely recommend this duology!

This was a good ending to a great duology. This was a quick read with good pacing.

I loved the relationship and banter between Misha and felicity, but I didn’t feel as connected with Jas and Kendricks.

That you NetGalley for this arc.

I loved These Hollow Vows/ these twisted bonds so much. I enjoyed Beneath these Cursed Stars. But for some reason this one felt like a chore to get through. I didn’t think there was enough of a distinction in the voices of felicity and Jas, so I had to keep looking back at the chapter headings to figure out who was speaking.
There were also a few phrases that were used over and over and it kept taking me out of the story because of how they were constantly said. “He scraped his hand down his face” and variations of “the chair screamed as they pushed it back.” It’s literally so dumb to be annoyed by that and I definitely think it’s a me thing.
I’m glad to be able to read the conclusion to this story. Almost Everyone gets their happy endings, and things were wrapped up nicely

What a great conclusion to a great series. This book told such a great story of dealing with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, and finding the light in spite of all of those things.

We kick off 8 months after the cliffhanger from book one. The kicker thought? Jas and Felicity don's realize how much time has passed. Because of that we are trying to figure out, along with our two protagonists, what went on during that time.

I am really happy that the conflicts between Jas and Kendrick and Felicity and Mischa did not take all book to resolve. The tension was already killing me and I needed so romance in the midst of all the turmoil and darkness. Although this was YA, I was more than satisfied with the romantic scenes. The relationships that these four have with the prospective partners is so beautiful. Both relationships are different in what they need, but so special. I love how supportive the men are and are willing to lay everything on the line for their loves. They are willing to literally give up their crowns just to be with Jas and Felicity.

All of the characters went on a powerful journey. The character growth from the first book to this one was really something to behold. The only think I found slightly predictable though was as soon as we found out Jas was a Phoenix and heard what the deal with Erith was I thought it was very obvious was the loophole to break the deal would be. I am okay with this though because that in a way goes along with the myth of pheonix's and makes total sense.

I really love this world, series, and characters so much. I feel like Lexi Ryan wrapped up the story in the four books really well in this book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an =eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunatly, I DNFed this book at the 27% mark.

I loved Ryan's "These Hollow Vows" duology and I think because I loved it so much, I had high expectations for this duology. However, I was disappointed. It was too slow paced and I had little interest in the characters or storyline.

This was bittersweet for me, because I’ve grown to love these characters, and now both duologies are over 😭

Our girl Jasalyn has been THROUGH it. She has come so far from book 1 though, and while it was rough watching her go from depressed to accepting, she came out stronger and better for it.

Felicity also had her own things and insecurities to overcome, and while not as rough, it was still a little hard to get through. <spoiler>Her losses were so sad, but her wins were even better.</spoiler> Now I need another duology for a different Natan or someone else so I can come back to this world😭😭
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I received this book as an ARC.

I really enjoyed the conclusion of this duology. I liked the pace of the story and the jumps between felicity and Jas’s point of views. I read the first book months ago and had to go through a quick recap after I started this book because I need a refresh on where everything has left off.

I particularly liked Felicity’s storyline and the way her relationship with Misha flourished under the truth. I’m happy that the book wrapped up nicely, but the defeat of the villains seemed a bit too easy.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable book and great finish to all 4 books.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I really loved this series and Lexi Ryan's writing. I found myself invested in the world and characters and was rooting for them. While my favorite book was These Twisted Bonds, I did enjoy this story and how everything was tied up at the end. I did find this book to be a bit long and honestly found myself skimming through chunks of the book. I think maybe I just wasn't as invested in Jaslyn and Felicity's storylines as I was with Brie's. I really enjoyed the world though and would recommend this series.

Thank you so much, HarperCollins and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book.

What an epic conclusion to this series. I have been obsessed with These Hollow Vows for years. I was screaming when I found out she was writing another duology in this world. I loved getting a glimpse at Finn and Brie in these books. Jas getting a full-fleshed series was everything I could have hoped for. The icing on the cake was Misha getting a HEA, too.

There is something about a YA novel that speaks to my soul. Lexi has created a beautiful world. I am so sad it is over, though. I will be looking at Lexi’s back catalog after this
series. I hope they are as emotionally riveting as this series.

I highly recommend this series. I hope you will read it and love it, too!

Between These Broken Hearts
by: Lexi Ryan

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The highly anticipated sequel to Beneath These Cursed Stars, we pick up in Abriella’s POV about 3 months after where we left off at the end of the last book. Felicity has been captured by her father’s henchmen, and Misha has been trying to locate and save her. Meanwhile, Jasalyn has gone missing and when we do get her POV, we see that she is still reeling from the realization that she is connected to Mordeus in ways she never realized.

Overall, I found this series to be an easy and quick read. I enjoyed book 2 much more than book 1, as we finally were able to explore the plot and the relationships more. I also really appreciated that we got a cannon plus size female lead, as that continues to be rare in YA.

All that said, this series was no where close These Hollow Vows for me. The story fell flat at times and I was never super invested in the characters and all of their relationships. Also, the dual POV got in its own way sometimes, with certain pieces of information being told to the reader multiple times since other characters didn’t know about it yet; it got repetitive.

This book is a must read if you like:
✨Fae Court Politics
💕 Plus Size FMC
✨Second Chance Romance
💕 Protective MMC

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book, so so much. It may have come at a perfect time (having my own mental health struggles, so I really empathized with Jasalyn's struggles and her path out of her own poor choices), but it also just resonated with me on a deep level.

I *loved* both romances this book, especially Misha/Felicity's. The latter's romance contained so much love for the genuine self and being, it just was *clutches chest* chef's kiss.

Some of my favorite quotes:
- "It's easy to want the good days. It's the others that make the decision so hard. The bad and the painful and the gray and the numb. You can't just imagine a happy life and decide it's worth it; you have to choose all of it." (this really resonated while I was having my own mental health issues!)
- 'Every existence has pain and joy and sacrifice, and I know them all at once.'
- 'My stars may feel cursed or my fate may feel charmed, but my reality will inevitably be a little of both.'
- "I dream of you as you truly are...I want *you*. I crave *you*. And rather than settle for a substitute, I'll wait until I can have you. The real you."
- "You're fighting for your life, and there is nothing that's more important than that. That's why I haven't pushed this thing between for you. But, for the record, I reject any future that doesn't include you. I'm not willing to give you up, not so long as you'll have me."
- "I think you were a promise from the Mother. I think she wanted me to know my partner was coming. That with you I wouldn't have the love I'd always hoped to find but something even better."
- 'I wait and let him look at me the way I never would've imagined wanting anyone to look at me. Not the real me.'

I will be purchasing this book and its predecessor when they both come out in paperback, I love them both so much!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. So much. Another one for the faves shelf, lads.

To start with: this book came Right when I needed it, when I was in the midst of my own mental health issues. It showed me Jasalyn’s strength and rebirth after her own mental health crisis, how she managed to change her own story. AND it gave me two great love stories to root for, especially Misha/Felicity’s!

Some quotes I loved so much:
- “I dream of you as you truly are…I want you. I crave you. And rather than settle for a substitute, I’ll wait until I can have you. The real you.”
- “You’re fighting for your life, and there is nothing that’s more important than that. That’s why I haven’t pushed this thing between us. But, for the record, I reject any future that doesn’t include you. I’m not willing to give you up, not so long as you’ll have me.”
- “I think you were a promise from the Mother. I think she wanted me to know my partner was coming. That with you I wouldn’t have the love I’d always hoped to find but something even better.”
- ‘I wait and let him look at me the way I never would’ve imagined wanting anyone to look at me. Not the real me.’

Suffice to say, I loved this book a ton and recommend this series wholeheartedly! (And FWIW it definitely toes on the side of NA, not really YA anymore.)

I wish more trilogies were duologies.

This was a super fun YA fantasy with a nice, sweet romance mixed in. Predictable at parts but no less enjoyable. I’ll definitely be grabbing this one for my shelf.

What can I say? I’m so in love with the world Lexi Ryan creates! Between these broken hearts does not disappoint. Jasalyn and Felicity are such compelling FMCs and I just absolutely loved their stories.

Review coming July 28

DNF @ 7%

Like with Beneath These Cursed Stars, I wanted to love this novel. However, when the book opens on Jas having slept for 8 months and not wanting to cut her finger off to remove the ring in order to cut off some of the power transferring to Mordeus and Felicity with magical amnesia, it just feels like lazy writing to up the tension. I know I didn't give it much time (I only finished chapter 2) but I feel like the second book in a series should be able to start stronger than this.

I love Ryan's contemporary books set in New Hope, so I am disappointed I just couldn't connect with her fantasy books. For this series, the first two are maybes and the last two are definitely passes.

I was very satisfied with this conclusion to the series. It wrapped everything up nicely, giving these characters the endings they deserved while delivering all the emotion, romance, and healing I was hoping for. But let’s be real, this was more than just a romance. This book came in swinging with a powerful message about trust, self-love, and the importance of not being a total menace to your own emotional well-being. Life lessons, folks. Take notes.

Let’s talk about Misha and Felicity because—oh my stars—their banter was everything. I was grinning, laughing, even kicking my feet at how well their dynamic was written. I love a good enemies-to-lovers arc, but only when there’s something real standing between them. Here, the ‘enemy’ label feels more like a technicality—there’s no true malice, just two people navigating a complicated situation with sharp wit and undeniable chemistry. And I ate it up. Out of all the couples in this series, these two stole the show.

On the flip side, Jas and Kendrick… I wanted to feel as invested as I was in the previous book, but something didn’t hit quite the same this time. Still, props where props are due—the ending was satisfying, and I loved how Kendrick and Misha both genuinely saw and respected their partners. More romance books need to take notes because, let’s be honest, communication is hotter than brooding silence and unnecessary misunderstandings.

Now, my one tiny, minuscule, but still slightly tragic grievance—Brie. Love her. Adore her. But I NEEDED just one more thing. A chapter, an epilogue, literally any moment from her POV to seal the deal. Throw me a bone here!

Oh, I keep seeing this referenced as a duology—this is NOT a standalone duology. If you haven’t read These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds, do not pass go, do not collect $200, because you will be lost. This book builds on so much from the first two that jumping in here would be like watching the last ten minutes of a movie and pretending you get the plot. You don’t. You won’t. Read the first two. Trust me.

Aside from a couple forgivable plot holes, I had a great time with this book and series as a whole. The heart, the humor, the healing—it all came together in a way that left me smiling at the end. Consider me emotionally satisfied.

Thank you #Netgalley for the arc to this story! It was definitely a beautiful ending to the series. Jasalyn’s growth as well and healing was amazing to witness. Some parts of the story felt dragging but then we get to scenes like the battle scene and it was too rushed. Over all the story is good just wished we included more of Brie and their bond. But maybe that’s cause I’m still stuck in the first duology and wishing to go back to Brie and Finn’s story.

This book (duology) consumed my every thought for days! The author took themes of anxiety/depression/mental health and engrained them into every bit of the plot flawlessly, down to her magic system. It’s inspiring and wholesome to see mental health represented in such a holistic way. Add in the adventure, plot twists, and characters you want to root for, and you have one of the best fantasy books I will read this year.

Why was this book so hard to read? I’m still struggling to answer that question and it’s been days since I closed this book for good. Lexi Ryan is a go-to read for me, and though the last book in this duology series maybe didn’t quite grip me like THESE HOLLOW VOWS did, I still found it to be immersive and incredibly entertaining. I wish I could say the same here, but I really struggled to connect and get lost within BETWEEN THESE BROKEN HEARTS. All of the shifting character POVs were consistently confusing and the conclusion didn’t totally add up. We got very little about Bree and Finn in this one, too, which was a bit disappointing. All in all, I can’t say this delivered on my expectations, but nonetheless I do still recommend it from fans much like myself who are looking for answers about Jas and Felicity, and the deliciously complex magical worlds they live within.

(Rounding up from a 3.5)