**Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75/5**
Another excellent installment in the Hollow Star Saga! Book 3 picks up in the aftermath of the major events that capped off Book 2, and (avoiding spoilers) we find out what happened to all of the characters as they try to make sense of a new and dangerous political landscape. While we still get multiple POVs from our favorite characters, this book really focuses on the development of Celadon—our Unseelie Spring Prince—and Lethe—our immortal villain.

>>What I loved: When I saw this book was going to focus on Celadon and Lethe, I knew I was going to love it and unsurprisingly, their journey may be my favorite yet! I love the way that Shuttleworth writes characters—all the characters in this series are so dynamic, which is a huge feat considering the number of POVs present in this series. I also really appreciate the way relationships are written into this series. The connections between characters go far beyond surface level and we get to experience their relationships being built in ways that feel gratifying and believable. The way that Shuttleworth engages queerness in this series is also exceptional—it is present throughout this series in such a thoughtful and genuine way that is truly integrated into the chapters identities and world itself.

>>What I didn’t love: This book was almost perfect for me! Because we’re following so many characters, at times things felt slow going. However, Shuttleworth really makes this worth it by the end.

*A Grim and Sunken Vow* continues a lot of the great work already happening in this series, so fans of the series will not be disappointed. I always recommend this series to both my students and adult friends who love Young Adult Fantasy, and I hope to see more readers enjoying this series—it deserves more attention. I’m desperately waiting for Book 4!

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Shuttleworth, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

*Screams* *screams again* Long story short: I loved it. Gonna try not to spoil anything, but I am READY for Arlo's villain era. Ashley continued on plot promises from the first two books while building new twists and turns. Reviews this late in series get scant by nature (anything I say beyond "it's good" and "read it" is a spoiler), so just imagine two pages of me screaming and you get the gist of my reaction to this book. I am dying for book four, and if the cover is what I suspect (a certain main character that hasn't yet graced a cover) the screaming will continue!

"A Grim and Sunken Vow" captivates readers with its enchanting world and compelling characters. The series has become a cherished favorite, and my love for it only deepens with each installment. The meticulously crafted world is immersive, leaving me eager to explore its uncharted corners. The characters, true to their nature, evolve dynamically, transforming into the best versions of themselves as the narrative unfolds. This growth is a testament to the author's skill in weaving a narrative that resonates long after the final page. The story lingers in the mind, creating a lasting impression that keeps me eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this mesmerizing series.

A new Queen has taken the bone crown, a prince turned king must plot to destroy his new family, a fury will give up everything for love, and the die will cast a new path for all of them. Riadne is the new queen after killing all of Arlo's family and revealing that she is Celadon's mother. She forced Arlo to be bound to her and plans on reviving all the seven Sins and reshaping the world to her liking. Arlo is determined to find a way to fix everything, and her sort of girlfriend Nausica, fury, will do anything to protect her, even become the new queen's controlled assassin if it means saving Arlo. Meanwhile Celadon is dealing with the death of his family and the reveal of his new mother, and who he truly is and the power he has. On top of that there is a strange connection between him and Lethe, the deadly Hunter who has his own plan yet seems to be willing to do anything for Celadon. This book further explores Lethe's past (he is the son of a titan, Luck and the god of death but was forced into Atlantis to be trained (tortured for years) and his only solace was his friendship with the Moon... who sacrificed their life for his revenge. Lethe has been trying to get revenge and find a way to find his Moon again... and who just happens to bear the same tattoo that Lethe has... Celadon. This book really had the most interesting relationship between Celadon and Lethe, like I could do with an entire book about their relationship. They were the main focus of this book and I loved them. Celadon and Lethe have both gone through so much yet are willing to do anything to protect the other, they're both playing their own games in this terrible situation with Riadne, and I am sat for my Grim and Sunken Kings. Besides them, the rest of the book/couples felt kind of lackluster and a bit slow... the only thing that kept me so invested was Celadon and Lethe. They had the best storyline and the most interesting character dynamic and personality. There is a fourth book coming and I will be reading it just to see where they go with the story and the rest of the characters. This series is a saga, so honestly I don't know how many more books there are going to be. My one big gripe with these books is that they are all over 500+ pages and most of the time it's unnecessary, it truly could be shaved down because the story feels so dragged on and other chapters and events feel kind of pointless..... but anyways, I digress. I'd have to say this is my favorite book from the series so far, it truly is the best of the three and I am curious how the next one will go.

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you again to Ashley Shuttleworth for once more not letting me get these characters out of my head! I am so completely invested in the world they have created and am constantly impressed by the depth of their prose. Note that the books in this series have a large amount of different POVs. However, as someone who typically is not a fan of this element in a book, I haven't had a huge amount of issues with it. This is the series that I have been wildly recommending to teen library patrons for a diverse, LGBTQIA+ representative cast with strong female characters as well. I was initially nervous about the length of the third book in terms of excessive detail that can sometimes be present in chunky fantasy books. I worried for nothing though and actually wanted to read more of the story! Overall, I would give this series six stars if I could and could not stop thinking about this plot/characters, even when I was not reading. The third book in particular introduces new characters and serves to give readers a more complex understanding of familiar ones. I would highly recommend this series (definitely read in order), especially as the holiday season approaches for any fantasy fans in your life.

Thank you Margaret K McElderry Books and Netgalley for this eARC. These opinions are my own. This series continues to be fantastic! Arlo, Nausicaa, Celadon, Vehan, and Aurelian are dealing with the fall out from the solstice. They all know now what Riadne is capable of and some of her plans. But how do they stop it? How do they survive when she’s trapped them all? But Lethe had his own plans. Can they trust him? And how far will each of them go to save the others? What I loved so much about this is the anger and rage that each of the characters have! They’ve just been dealt a terrible blow and are forced to act like it was no big deal. I especially love Arlo’s and Aurelian’s, helping them access a power they didn’t know they had or were to afraid to use! Also Lethe’s side story is absolutely stunning and I didn’t know I could feel so much for him! The twists that come with who Arlo and her familiar really are also had me shook! Intriguing to the very end and had me unable to put it down! I cannot wait to see how it plays out in the next book! A can’t miss read! Excited to read again!

While this is a young adult series so they are ages 18-21 (minus some immortals) i haven't truly felt like the character were their age more than I did in this book ( I had to stop constantly and just say to myself they are just children in the grand scheme of thing, ill equipped and ill prepared of what they need to do). They were overwhelmed and confused and struggled to communicate with each other caught up in the self loathing and pity. But another strength of this series is its relationships not just the romantic ones but the platonic ones too, how every one is there to love and support one another and just being a true support system, a true family paraphrasing ' their is no one that you could be come that I wouldn't love" describes their unconditional love for one another.
the romantic relationships were wonderful as always with Celadon and Lethe being a gorgeous addition to our happy couples and them loving each other in a past life is the cherry on top and Lethe's wonderful plan at the end being a big F you to his dad and all the deities that seek to tap and control him is iconic.
While don't see much of Vehan and Aurelian together, we do find out they are essentially soulmates which is awesome. They each do a quite a bit of growing up apart with both of the accepting their power and just who they are as people and It's a beautiful sight, like watching your children grow up into better people than you could have imagined,
Arlo and Nos they understand each other so well and while I'm a little peeved at Nos it couldn't be helped, it interesting to see Nos at her breaking point when she collected 'puppy' and to see how 'soft' she had become and it absolutely broke my heart at what she was forced to do and the emotional blow back that is pending.
Arlo has really came into her own buy the end of the book and a sight to behold and can't wait to see more of in the next installment along with more alchemy and how she processed her grief.
One of my favourite things in this book was how they decided to trick Riadne it was obvious but at the same time not, a perfect combination of things they can do and the impossible( but nothing really is with alchemy).
I can't even begin to think of how deluded Riadne has to be to think that her sons are on her side given what has done and continues to do with their family and friends and constantly belittling and disregarding Vehan despite her own mother treating her similarly, my anger knows no bounds.
While could go on more it was just every thing I could have wanted and more I am hopeful at what our characters will achieve in the next book but also scared of the consequences of tricking Riadne because there is nothing quite as scary as increasingly mad tyrant on a power trip.