Jas is the the scared and quiet sister. The one that everyone thinks is broken. She spends her days hiding away in her room, afraid of human touch and connection. Traumatized by her time in the dungeons. But is she as fragile as everyone thinks she is?

This book follows Jas and a new character Felicity in their struggle to overcome and overthrow a dark group that is plaguing their lands.

Felicity is a very complex character that has so much depth to her. Plus her ending is 😱😱

Very different from the Hollow Vows series but in the best way possible! Lexi Ryan keeps true to the series but makes it fresh and fun.

Beneath These Cursed Stars begins three years after the duology These Hollow Vows ends. In this book we follow Princess Jasalyn on her quest for revenge, alone by choice at first, but soon finds herself among others with a similar objective. Before she joins their cause, she finds herself face to face with a man for Jas’s past that she could never forget…

At the same time, we journey with Felicity, a shape shifter who is now tasked with impersonating Princess Jasalyn during her absence. Felicity takes the task of spending time with the Wild Fae king under this guise, attempted to sus out information that would be useful to the group’s efforts. But while posing as Jas, Felicity and the king develop undeniable feelings…

With hearts and lives on the line, this story is far from over.

I am SO happy to be back in the world I came to love in THV and TTB. While I feel like you can come into BTCS without the knowledge of the previous duology, I HIGHLY suggest you read it. Both for helpful context, avoiding spoilers, and because it’s amazing! This one took me a second to get into, but once the dust settled, I was invested.

Jas and Felicity were both compelling POVs, but I did enjoy one more than the other. The plot was easy enough to follow along and even though I was able to put the pieces together earlier on, I was really pleased with how everything unfolded. I loved having two separate romance plots going on, the more the merrier! It’s not a Fantasy Romance without a cliffhanger, so while I’m over the moon that I got early access to this book, I’m PISSED I have to wait that much longer for the sequel!

Beneath These Cursed Stars is out July 30, 2024.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I ate up Lexi Ryan's Hollow Vows duology, so when I saw that this was a related book, I was very excited. The story continues several years after Hollow Vows with the sister of original duology's main character. Abriella may now be queen, but her sister Jasalyn is still in pain over her time spent in the false king's dungeon. In order to try to overcome some of her trauma she allows a faerie who can take on her likeness to take her place while she goes with a band of people trying to free her home realm. I wish I could say that I loved this book as much as I loved the original duology, but I did not. I could not like Jasalyn, nor did I warm to any of her traveling companions. I did love getting to see more of Misha and his interactions with Jasalyn's double, Felicity, were the highlights of the book for me. There was no filler in the story, but it seemed to drag somehow. I will highly anticipate any other fantasy that Ryan gives us, but this one was a miss for me.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! The ending is intense!! It’s quite fast paced and would make your heart just goes right in your throat. It’s absolutely epic and is filled with plenty of plotting, romance, mystery, amazing word building, emotional and a thrilling ride!!

Absolutely adored this book! I loved the first two in the series and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. Ryan did not disappoint, I may have even loved this one a little more. The drama, deception, magic, mystery, and slow burn romance, all made for a wonderfully fun read.

I really enjoyed this book. It left off on such a cliffhanger and I can see it definitely continuing into a series - at least a duology. It took me a little bit to get into, but once I did, I finished it quickly. I liked the world she created with different kinds of fae and humans interacting. I bonded with the characters although Jas did annoy me a bit with her coldness towards her sister, but with all of the trauma she dealt with, it was understandable. I would recommend this book to other fantasy readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books!
This is actually the first Lexi Ryan book I’ve read, so I felt like I might have been missing some of the undercurrent between certain characters, BUT…I enjoyed this book so much I want to go read the Hollow Vows series AND desperately want the author to give us another book, because we were truly left hanging!

Lexi Ryan always does a great job in writing and romantic fantasy element perfectly. The characters in this felt like they were supposed to and I enjoyed the political elements to this. It has that feel that I was hoping for and thought it uses the prophecy perfectly. I enjoyed reading this and glad it had the charm that These Hollow Vows had.

This is a spinoff of These Hollow Vows. This book follows Jasalyn (the sister of the FMC from the first two books) and a shape-shifter named Felicity. You read the the point of view of both girls. There is romance and fantasy in the book. The premise of the story is interesting, it is about the villain from the previous book making a comeback. However, I feel like the story just lagged and lacked in some places.

I love Lexi Ryan. It was so nice to be back in the these hollow vows universe and I could not be happier!

Dual lead sister energy! Enjoyed the two main leads. Anyone who is a fan of the author's previous YA duology These Hollow Vows will for sure enjoy this one. Adding this to our "to-buy" list.

I loved this book. I also loved These Hollow Vows; so this was such a fun spin off. I recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a fun romantasy. I thought there was a lot of character development and backstory, some of it heartbreaking. Lots of action and just the right amount of romance. I am definitely interested to see what Lexi Ryan writes in the future. She’s one to look out for. 5 ⭐️

I was so excited about this book, but it unfortunately was a struggle to get through. I felt like it needed a lot more backstory in order to care about the characters and understand more what is going on.

This was amazing! I gave it 5 bright stars and I can’t wait to see where this goes. I jumped at the chance to continue this series and did a happy dance when the publisher granted me an advanced copy! I loved it. It was a slow build up to a very promising adventure. The characters, plot and romantic ties were well written and I’m all in. At 65% I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it if you liked the first books in this series. I hope you add it to your reading collection.
Thanks Harper Collins via NetGalley.

I enjoyed reading thia book and the fantasy elements to it with the twiat and turns, will decinately recommend to people.

I read Abrielle’s duology by Lexi Ryan and absolutely adored it. They were some of my favorite reads of 2022-23, and I plan on rereading them more than once. For some reason, Jasalyn’s story didn’t click with me in the same way. Keeping the characters straight was a challenge for me, and I found myself having to re-read some pages.

That being said, it was still very much enjoyable, and I enjoyed this switched identity novel.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

I should have reread the other books first, because I spent a little too long thinking about how they connected. I'm just a little unclear on a marketing stand-point whether or not this is supposed to be a standalone or a continuation. But I enjoyed seeing how things unfold and the guessing game. It didn't end how I expected it too but I loved it!

Overall: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Plot: 3/5
World-Building: 3/5

Romance: 3.5/5
Spice Factor: 1.5
Themes: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Enjoyment Factor: 3.5/5
Review: The premise was really intriguing, but i feel like the execution was missed as a lot of plot points in the beginning felt rushed and glanced over just to get characters in the right spot. I did very much enjoy learning about Jas’ story and background as it gave so much context to her character and her overall story arc. I wish we got more of Felicity’s story in the beginning as I never really connected to her in her chapters until the very end, Once the plot got going I was invested as there were many twists and turns. The climax was very well executed and i am now fully invested in the story. I wish this was slightly longer to be able to fully development the plot in the beginning and to develop Felicity sooner to make me care about her POV during her chapters.

Thank you NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book early.

When I first saw this cover I fell in love. At the time I did not know that this book was connected with Ryan’s The Hollow Vows duology, and I had just finished reading both of those books this month. Going in I did not fully realize what kind of book Jas would have after the awful violence committed against her in Mordeus’s dungeons. I should have known, but Jas kept everything from Abriella, which means the reader wouldn’t necessarily know either.

This is a hard book to read at times only because of Jas’s trauma. Anyone like myself who has gone through trauma at any level may need to shelve this book until you’re more confident and comfortable with your emotions..

Aside from the darker parts of the book, I really enjoyed Jas’s and Felicity’s stories. While I was more intrigued by Felicity and Misha’s relationship and experiencing Felicity’s internal struggle about her identity, I found my heart breaking for Jas. She needs a break, and she keeps getting the crap beat out of her. I can’t wait to see what happens next for these characters, because I am fully invested in this story now.

I loved seeing old friends again, especially Abriella, Finn, Bash, and Misha. I even liked the rare moments we see Amira. There is a balance between the parallel plots, flashbacks, and relationship building between the characters that makes this story so compelling.

Read this. It will make you smile, make you cry, make you hope and, most importantly, it will make you dream.