Beneath These Cursed Stars is a dual POV YA fantasy novel that is a great alternative to people who love ACOTAR, but don't necessarily love the length of the books. I loved Lexi's These Hollow Vows duology, and I was excited to be immersed back in the Brie's world, and I loved that we got to follow Jasalyn's journey.

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan is a high fantasy ya novel set in the world of These Hollow Vows.
 
While I wasn’t fully in love with the These Hollow Vows duet, I was very curious and excited to read something different from this world. Because this is a spin-off, I highly recommend reading the duology first because it’s often expected to know certain information and that even gave me trouble when I couldn’t remember something.
 
And in this one we follow Princess Jasalyn and Felicity and I liked how we got two story lines. But oftentimes I felt like the plot just runs in circles and it could have been done better to intertwine these two-story lines. The pacing was also a bit off and sometimes for a few pages something interesting happened, but it would slow down again and the plot dragged. That made me want to skip along. The characters had so much potential but especially Jasalyn felt very flat to me and there had to be more development and that’s quite sad when the story is mainly character driven.
 
Overall, I’m not sure if this author is for me and I’ll probably not continue this series. 3 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

These Hollow Vows is one of my favorites in fantasy from the last few years (I say this but haven't reread them) so I was excited for another one in the world featuring the sister while also continuing the plot -- albeit with a time skip of 3 years. I really liked how this was split between two FMC, each with their own plot that combined into the larger plot. It was a fast paced read, but I do wish I would have reread THV duo first because I did not remember basically any of the characters or how the world worked.

Also...it is not a standalone. Do not be fooled.

I adore Lexi’s writing style, and the world she created! The complexities were easy to follow, but so dang addictive to read!! And that cliffhanger THO!

“This is where the magic truly is. The moment these red lips touch his.”

“Abriella is a powerful queen, but with me she acts like a nervous child. And that’s all my fault. It’s all my fault because I’m broken.”

“The princess is a conundrum. She’s fragile and angry. She’s delicate and sharp. She was once soft and hopeful, and now she’s hardened and bitter.”

“I won’t leave you in the dark. I promise.”

“You’ve hardened, but that’s just a protective shield. Your heart remains the same. As does mine.”

“We can have mercy without being naive, and we can be judicious while seeing our enemies as whole people.”

“There’s nothing braver than doing the things that scare you.”

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

“It feels good, I realize, having someone share my rage. I’ve carried it alone for so long.”

“Every second I’m not touching you is torture.”

“There’s nothing hideous about you. Inside and out? You are beautiful.”

“These lips might be worth dying for.” “You don’t mean that.” “It’s painful how close to the truth it is.”

I love Lexi Ryan's writing style and getting to see beloved characters again really made me happy.

I loved getting to see more of Jasalyn's journey and meeting new characters.

The middle seemed to slow the pacing way down and I got bored so it dropped to a 3☆, but the ending makes up for it and I can't wait for the next book!

I enjoyed this book. Slow burn but every enjoyable. The different pov and the twist at the end. Wow. Can't wait for more

I enjoyed this a lot! I read the duology it is a spin off from a while back and liked it alot so decided to give this a shot. I found the pace pretty fast moving and engaging although some of it was a bit predictable. Overall a good read and I’d recommend for people who enjoy YA fantasy.

I wanted to love this book but it just didn’t grip me. And honestly I can’t nail down what it was. I struggled with Jas’ opinions on turning far eventually since it felt so similar to Bries which is just read. Then first half felt really slow to me and just a lot to get through. I did find myself excited to read Felicity’s chapters and interested to uncover her back story as well as Mishas. Overall I am at this moment putting the book down at about 60%. I do plan to come back to it at some point and I think other readers might love it but right now it’s not pulling me in.

A big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had such high hopes, and it was a flop.

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan is a YA fantasy novel set in the same world as Ryan's previous duology, These Hollow Vows. Princess Jasalyn has a secret. Armed with an enchanted ring that gives her death’s kiss, Jas has been sneaking away from the palace at night to assassinate her enemies. Shape-shifter Felicity needs a miracle. Fated to kill her magical father, she’s been using her unique ability to evade a fatal prophecy. When rumors of evil king Mordeus’s resurrection spread through the shadow court, Jasalyn decides to end him once and for all. Felicity agrees to take the form of the princess, allowing Jas to covertly hunt Mordeus—and starting Felicity on the path that could finally take her home. While Jasalyn teams up with the charming and handsome Kendrick, Felicity sets out to get closer to the Wild Fae king, Misha. Kendrick helps Jasalyn feel something other than anger for the first time in three years, and Misha makes Felicity wish for a world where she’s free to be her true self. Soon, the girls’ missions are at risk right alongside their hearts. The future of the human and fae realms hangs in the balance as fates intertwine. Between perilous tasks, grim secrets, and forbidden romances, Jasalyn and Felicity find that perhaps their stars are the most cursed of all.

I loved Ryan's previous works, but this one was a bit of a letdown. I didn't quite like characters, as I found some of them whiny and annoying to the literal plot they were forced along. Not to mention, I kept getting confused on the whole dual point of view. Overall. if you read the original duology, I would MAYBE read this one. But skip it if you can.

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

If you love YA fantasy with multiple POV’s, secret identities, magic, found family vibes, slow burn, forced proximity you need to pick up this first installment in this great duology. This is a spinoff duology from These Hollow Vows, and I loved those books so much and knew that this author would do great with these new/old characters stories that I had to pick it up. I love that you don’t have to read the first duology, but I highly recommend to everyone that you do because it's amazing.

In this book you will meet Jasalyn who likes to go by Jas, she is a little damaged from the time she spent being a prisoner of Mordeus. Even though it’s been a while since she was last in those torture cells she still can’t sleep without the nightmares, and she can’t handle being touched. She does have a secret though; she has traded something that she might come to wish that she didn’t for an enchanted ring that gives her the kill of death. She sneaked away from the palace at night to take out all the former king’s guards and anyone else that helped him. That all changes when she is kidnapped by a friend Kendrick and he has a plan to help her and his court as well, but in order for it to work she will have to let one of Kendricks’s friends fool the Wild Fae King Misha into thinking that it's Jas with him and not really Felicity. Can these two pull it off and find a happy ending for the both of them or will disaster hit, and everything will go up in flames?

I really liked this complex/yet simple plot. I liked that it was told by Jas and Felicity POV, and you really were able to connect with both of the characters and not just one of them. I found the plot to be fun and adventurous, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for a shoe to drop, and when it finally did…let me tell you I was not ready for that. I liked that this book had a lot more twists and turns in it and that the plot was always getting more and more in depth about the characters and what we might see in the next book. By the way, I want that right now lol. I love this author’s writing style, she knows how to write and make the words flow by, but she will leave you wanting more of the book and needing to know what will happen next. The characters in this book were great and well developed.

I liked that with Jas, if you have read the other books, you will see her mentioned, but in this book, you really get a feel for who and what she is all about. I found myself able to connect with her the right way and could understand her need for revenge. You will watch her grow more and more throughout the book, but it was by the end of the book that you will see most growth but at the same time I pray that she will not go back down into her hole due to what was told to her finally. I loved how strong she was, but at the same time you will see the front that she puts on to make it seem like all is well. With Felicity, omg that just breaks my heart, and I can’t believe the ending of this book to leave it on that kind of cliffhanger. I need to know what happened to her and if Misha will be able to forgive her and help her with her problems. I liked that in these books you will see two romances and it’s not a love triangle, instead it’s Misha and Felicity, and Kendricks and Jas. I can’t really say too much about them because I will definitely be giving out some spoilers… but let’s say OMG! There is some great chemistry between each of the couples and a lot of secrets that when they come out are explosive.

I really need book two and soon please Lexi Ryan

I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to review this book.

I loved this addition to the These Hollow Vows universe. Abriellas sister went through severe trauma after being tortured by the previous Unseelie King and now she is dealing with her anger and grief. Her depression was very relatable. There was also an added twist alla The Parent Trap that was super intriguing. I loved the love interests and all the deception and new magic. I cant wait for the next in this series.

DNF at 20%. I thought These Hollow Vows was fun, but I just have zero desire to pick this one up. Putting a pin in it and might revisit it later but… probably not. While this didn’t work for me, I might just not be the targeted audience. I have a feeling younger (YA to NA) might enjoy this one a lot more. I also recommend reading These Hollow Vows duology right before because it’s been about 2 years for me and I felt very lost.

Thank you to the author and HarperCollins for the ARC!

I really enjoyed Lexi Ryan’s other books - and this one did not disappoint, either! I usually am not a big fan of dual POVs but really enjoyed hearing both Jas and Felicity’s stories and relationships.

At times I did have to refer back to her previous books in order to understand some of the background and world building, but overall I really enjoyed and cannot wait for the next one!

The book offers an intriguing premise but falls short in execution, earning it a three-star rating. The world-building is minimal, leaving readers with little sense of the setting's depth or uniqueness. Additionally, the lack of detail in key scenes diminishes the impact and immersion. Characters feel under-developed and fail to evoke strong emotional connections. There was a lack of foreshadowing that left me scratching my head at major plot point reveals. Despite these shortcomings, the plot maintains a steady pace, keeping the reader's interest to the end.

Overall rating: 3.75 (rounded to 4)

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

“I don’t know what I fear more. Being the naive child I was before Mordeus destroyed that part of me or being so cold and callous that I never again see the humanity of my enemies.”

“Sometimes it is that which we readily sacrifice at our lowest that we wish for most ardently when we finally emerge from the darkness.”

Tropes:
-slow burn
-hidden identity
-found family
-one horse
-Who did this to you?


Although I believe this book can be read independently, I highly recommend reading the duology These Hollow Vows first, as most of the world-building takes place in those two books and the reader may feel a little lost on the history without that information. Having previously read the duology, I was able to jump right into this without any trouble.

First of all, I loved Felicity’s POV. I did not anticipate this storyline and it was so well-written and compelling. Felicity has such an interesting gift and I really feel such sympathy for her character.

I absolutely adore Misha. If you’re a sucker for cinnamon roll but badass MMCs, you’re going to fall in love with his character. Kendrick on the other hand, I struggled to like. He comes off as very charming but he seems very fixated on his goal and that always makes me uneasy. I hope he redeems himself in the end.

Jasalyn’s character is what disappointed me in this book. I had a really hard time rooting for her. I think her trauma was well-written, but her character was just all over the place. She very frequently acts like a petulant child and is completely ungrateful to the people around her who try to help her. I know her character is 17 years old, but after everything she has been through, I expected a little more maturity. I hope we see significant character growth in the next book.

I did not read the previous duology in which this book is a spin-off of but now I really want to! I enjoyed my time in this fantastical realm with the lovely, brave heroines Felicity and Jasalyn and their handsome, forbidden men, Misha and Kendrick. They all have a mission to complete, and the journey has been difficult and fearful but also very magical. This book has a lively cast of characters who have all experienced trauma and heartbreak, it’s full of mystery, allure, intrigue, secrets revealed, twists and turns, pain, healing, and romance. I can’t wait to see what happens next as these characters continue their journey to complete their mission while finding their true selves, friendship, and love along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins/HarperTeen and Lexi Ryan for a copy of an ARC for an honest review.

- I really enjoyed returning to the world from These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds. When I finished that duology I felt like I just wanted MORE and I’m so glad the author brought us back in again.
- I loved Felicity’s character and her time spent with Misha. Unfortunately a little more than 50% of the book is spent with Jasalyn and I had a hard time connecting with her character and didn’t really feel the chemistry between her and Kendrick.
- The first 60% of the book felt very slow. The world building felt a little clunky and it seemed as if many chapters went by without much happening. Once you get past this point things really start happening.
- I think we needed more time really getting to know the characters. It was difficult to form a connection with them and sometimes they felt kind of flat, like I didn’t really care about what was going on with them.
- The cliff hanger at the end was WAY to abrupt and felt like it came out of nowhere. I thought there would be at least a couple more chapters tying up the end of the book and setting up the next one but nope.
- I do want to see where the next book takes us and I am especially looking forward to reading more of Felicity and Misha’s story. I could’ve honestly just read a whole book about them.


📚Read if you like:
-forbidden love
-dual POV
-forced proximity
-hidden identity
-slow burn
-who did this to you
-🌶️

I enjoyed this YA fantasy novel set in the same world as Lexi Ryan's previous duology. I do feel you have to read the first duology in order to really understand the context. I was also glad that Misha, the King of the Wild Fae is more prominently present in this book - he was one of my favorite characters. The book is written from two perspective. The first one is Jasalyn's - sister of the Unseelie Queen, who is looking for revenge for all the torture she endured at the hands of king Mordeus. The second perspective is from Felicity who is impersonating Jasylyn while the latter is going on a quest. I did enjoy Jasalyn's perspective more. Felicity's chapters gave me a lot of anxiety since I constantly thought her ruse would be uncovered. I do see quite a few negative reviews on goodreads. I think this is a solid YA fantasy, but if you had not read the previous duology, you might be confused.

I absolutely loved this book from the moment I started reading.
I loved that it was a duo pov of two different main characters on the same mission but doing completely different things to achieve their goal. The flash backs with the trauma that one of characters experiences was beautifully written and makes you feel the hurt that the character went through. I loved how this was a fantasy focused book with the perfect amount of romance that didn’t over power the plot. The betrayal was also written perfectly and had my heart breaking for the character.
Overall this book was entertaining and each character had so many layers that flowed with the story.

One of the things I’m learning about myself as a reader is that I don’t especially enjoy books where the main characters are driven by lust for each other. If they’re in life-threatening situations or experiencing/re-experiencing trauma, going into lust mode in those moments feels false to me. Someone is trying to murder the protagonist, and she’s like, wow, I wish he would kiss me right now. That kind of reaction feels false to me. I’m not saying it couldn’t ever happen, but I find it disruptive and a barrier to connecting with the characters.

Beneath These Cursed Stars follows the perspectives of two main characters: Jasalyn and Felicity. Rebels kidnap Jasalyn and Felicity, gifted with shapeshifting magic, steps into her place. In each situation, the girls meet someone irresistible, and their focus becomes divided between trying to achieve their objectives and hoping to get some action with the guys they’re falling for.

If you like stories with a faster-paced, high level of longing, this book definitely delivers. The story also explores Jasalyn’s past trauma and its lingering effects on her, such as touch aversion and anxiety.

Several moments took me by surprise in this book, which I liked a lot. I definitely had a few moments where I stopped to appreciate how a reveal changed what I already knew or thought I knew about the story.

I think readers who enjoy fantasy stories with a heavy emphasis on romance elements will want to check out Beneath These Cursed Stars.