Oh my goodness gracious I already cannot wait for the next book in this series!! This was AMAZING and I couldn’t get enough of it!

I didn’t realize Beneath These Cursed Stars was a continuation of the story from These Hollow Vows but from Jasalyn’s POV before starting. I loved the original duology, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, I found the pacing a bit too slow for my tastes and I struggled to find the desire to read this until past the 70% mark. Once I got close to the end, the story really picked up and I became super invested! That ending cliffhanger has me so excited for the next installment; I can’t wait to see where the story goes. The character development for Jas was very well done and I admired the author for not shying away from her trauma. Do I think this story needed to be two books? Not really, especially since it felt so drawn out for the majority of the book. However, I will definitely be picking up the sequel and hope it’s a bigger hit with me.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperTeen, and the author for sending me an early copy!

I loved the blend of fantasy and romance in Beneath These Cursed Stars! Princess Jasalyn’s journey was compelling, and her determination and strength really stood out to me. The addition of Felicity, a shape-shifter with her own burdens to bear, added a fun twist that kept things interesting. Their stories intertwined in a way that made me eager to see what would happen next.

The relationships in this book are definitely one of its highlights. I was drawn in by the tension between Jasalyn and Kendrick, and Felicity’s connection to the Wild Fae King, Misha, gave the story a great romantic spark. With a fast-paced plot, emotional moments, and a tantalizing cliffhanger, I’m excited to see where the next book takes these characters!

Tropes:

Forbidden romance
Shape-shifter
Vengeful princess

Okay okay, I was totally planning on this to be a one book spin off of the These Hollow Vows duology and so I was NOT ready for that ending. Ummm obviously there is going to be more and I am totally here for it!

I loved getting to learn more about Jas and Misha. I loved Misha in These Twisted Bonds and I hope he ends up getting his happily ever after! He is definitely an easy character to root for! I’m also looking forward to learning more about Felicity.

Kendrick is my new favorite though. As his story unfolded, it was admirable to see the burdens he carried with him. I hope some of the revelations at the end aren’t true or that there are explanations for them because it was so painful to read.

Definitely read this after you read These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds!

Spice: None, just kissing

Read this if you like:
🌟 Deception and revenge
🌟 Second chance for beloved characters
🌟 Who did this to you?

Oh my goodness such an incredibly magical continuation of the beautiful worlds from These Hollow Vows. I loved Jas’ story from trauma to healing. She is a very likeable Nesta-type character. The journey, the betrayals, and the twists hit just right. The story is incredible ❤️‍🔥 You will love all of the characters, their pasts, their current missions. And, this is a unique dual POV story where you get 2 FMCS and 2 MMCs, and you even get two love stories. I am obsessed with this book, and the These Hollow Vows duology. They are 100% a must read.

This is a 5+⭐️ 🌶️ low spice read.

Thank you Harper Teen for the gifted physical and digital copies.

This was an enjoyable YA fantasy novel! I had never read this authors work before and have come to learn there was a duology that came before this that is set in the same universe, I quickly added those to my wish list and TBR! I probably would have appreciated some aspects of this book more had I read that duology first, but this also read just fine on its own.

A quick glance on Goodreads showed me a lot of not so great reviews for this but I liked it! I enjoyed that the dual POV were somewhat separate missions/stories but at the same time were connected and working toward the same end goal. This book has royalty, fae, humans, and goblins! What a fun cast of magical characters. There were two sloooowwww burn romances, which I am always a fan of. There are family dynamics, found family vibes, secrets and betrayals, trauma and some mental health rep, and of course magic. The ending definitely left me wanting the next book so I can see what’s going to happen!

Absolutely solid.

Would give to teens who are enjoying fantasy romance and don't mind a little bit sauciness to their characters.

I am in love with the world that Lexi Ryan has created, and having another novel set in it made me so happy.

This was just what I needed after These Hollow vows. It scratched an itch that I needed. It’s fun, emotional, and sooooo good. If you loved the These Hollow Vows series, this spin-off is for you. I'm excited to see where the story goes next!

I was extremely disappointed by this one sadly. While I think it was still a good book it just did not hit the same way these hollow vows did.

Beneath These Cursed Stars is apparently a companion novel to These Hollow Vows which I have not read. So—two comments here.

1. It is quite readable without knowing these past books. Though you would know the MCs past story better, I still do not feel it affected the present story in not knowing.
2. My review is on this book alone, I see a lot of people either enjoying it more or substantially less than THV and I have no comparisons here to make.

BtCS follows Princess Jasalyn and a shapeshifter named Felicity on their separate journey’s with the same mission—save the country they care about from corruption and the resurrection and return of evil king Mordeus.

I enjoyed princess Jas and her storyline though I did see some of the twists coming it was fast-paced and left on a cliff hanger that has me WAITING for the next book.

BUT Felicity’ storyline to me was the most intriguing and I am fully invested in her. Her POV ended on a cliff hanger and THAT has me pleading for time to fast-forward to the next book. And because I can’t ever go through a review without the #crushofthebook being mentioned Misha is everything thanks bye.

This was set in the same world as These Hollowed Vows. I read the duology, but I have no memory of it, so there were some references that itched at my brain and didn’t ring any bells. You don’t have to read the duology, but the author doesn’t re-explain much. I definitely could’ve used a recap and new readers who haven’t read the duology might be confused.
I actually loved the premise of the book! I felt engaged and sometimes on the edge of my seat. I loved the dual POVs of Jas and Felicity.
I have similar criticisms as I did for the duology and that is the decision making capabilities of characters, especially the Mab ladies. I’m irritated by Brie, as she dismissed her depressed sister. She never thought to question why she’s sleeping all day (like maybe she’s out all night trying to get revenge?!)
I understood Jasalyn’s motivations, but I was skeptical of the ring. I’m shocked she had no qualms about it and also absolutely no understanding. She didn’t want to be Fae, but… how about instead of thinking about what YOU are losing by getting the ring, you think about what someone ELSE might be gaining? It’s like magic bartering 101 and I don’t even have magic in my world! The conflict could have been avoided if she wasn’t so focused on herself and her emotions.
There were some surprises, but overall the book was predictable. I was more interested in how the relationships would pan out once secrets were revealed and less on the plot twists, anyway.
The audiobook was good, but the Jas narrator trails off softly and I had to keep adjusting the volume in my car, so a heads up to my fellow car listeners!
Overall, it was a decent story. I wish the author had given her teen characters just a little more credit.. so much hinges on the impulsiveness/lack of communication and it is just tiring. Like could you imagine being a 100 year old Fae ruler and some 17 year old comes bopping in with just complete chaos and destruction?

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Princess Jasalyn thought she escaped the cruel grasp of King Mordeus after his death at the hands of her sister. When rumors begin to spread that he has inexplicably returned, Jasalyn realizes her mysteriously reappearing wounds and vivid nightmares are more than haunted memories. Forced to make less than ideal allies, she unites with a group led by her charming human cellmate, Kendrick Hale. With a tenuous plan to find a powerful weapon and secret portal, Jasalyn, Hale, and his sister Felicity embark on a dangerous covert mission to save the realms from King Mordeus once again.

Having read and enjoyed These Hollow Vows/These Twisted Bonds, it was very fun to return to the world of the Unseelie court. That being said, I caution readers from jumping into this one without reading the previous two, as this book wastes little time establishing the characters, world, and magic system and should be treated as the third installment. Jasalyn and Felicity were easy to like, as were Hale and Misha. The romance was fast paced and fun. I loved the duplicitous scheming from both lead characters and watching the plot unfold into a tightly intertwined climax.

I would absolutely recommend this to fans of Lexi Ryan’s previous works and for any romantasy reader who needs another dose of fae romance. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the continuation of this series that I hope will be soon to follow (as this one ended on a very tantalizing cliffhanger!).

3.5 stars rounded up.

I loved this book so much. This Arthor is amazing can’t wait for the next book to come out definitely a most read!

"Beneath These Cursed Stars" by Lexi Ryan can be read as a standalone, although it contains major spoilers from the author's previous series. I didn't realize it was first instalment in a spin-off series, which may be the reason I had issues connecting with the book.

The world-building felt lackluster, but that is probably because most of what is needed to be known is distributed through the previous series. Was difficult to suspend disbelief, when I didn't even know what I should be believing, if that makes sense. Characters felt a bit shallow and it was difficult for me to really fall in love and root for them.

I can see this being perfect for others, but sadly, not me.

I really struggled with this book at first, not enjoying the characters or the plot. I was having to force myself to read it. However, around the 2/3 point, I got really invested. The plot twists that came up, the romance, and the cliffhanger all cumulated and now I’m dying for the sequel. I wish I had read this one closer to the duology, but I was still able to follow along having remembered the important characters and plot points.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a digital arc of this book!

Beneath These Cursed Stars is set within the same universe as Lexi Ryan's These Hollow Vows series and follows Abriella's sister, Jasalyn. Living with her sister and deeply traumatized by an evil faerie, Jas has traded for a magic ring giving her the ability to compel others to do her bidding and a kiss that kills. She plans to seek revenge on her enemies until she meets Kendrick and his group of friends, who convince her to help their cause. Meanwhile, Kendrick's sister, Felicity, has shapeshifted into Jasalyn so that her sister and the court don't know she's gone missing. Felicity disguised as Jas is sent to the Misha, the Wild Fae King, by her sister in hopes that space will heal Jas. Felicity is surprised to find that she likes this fae king, which certainly complicates things.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was one of the books that reminded me why I love young adult fantasy so much. It was so easy to consume and had my heart wrenching constantly. By the end, I was broken and in desperate need of the sequel. Ryan's writing style is fairytale-esqu and captivating. I couldn't have put this book down even if I tried.

I did find parts a little weird, especially Felicity and Misha's relationship, because she was not who she was pretending to be. I also thought the secondary characters were pretty flat, and would have loved to see more from them, especially

If you are wondering what order to read Lexi Ryan's books in, worry no further. The duologies can be read in any order. However, I do love that I started with Beneath These Cursed Stars, and then moved on to These Hollow Vows because it felt like more of a prequel. It also had my heart going out to Jas even more after seeing firsthand how little her family and friends know her. So really, read the books in whatever order makes you happy. Easy 5/5 stars.

For fans of:
- A Court This Cruel & Lovely

This book includes:
- multiple POVs
- fae and humans
- complicated relationships between sisters
- PTSD and broken people
- multiple POV
- a precarious world in peril

"Beneath These Cursed Stars" is a fun story with various intertwined storylines weaving together. It has faeries and magical artifacts and evil wizards come back from death. Unfortunately, despite the book being marketed as a standalone, I struggled getting into the story because I was missing so much context and world-building. It soon became very clear that there was an entire anthology that I needed to read to understand the world and be invested in the characters. There were so many pre-established relationships and conflicts and I think if I had been familiar with the world, I would have appreciated them so much more.

I received this eBook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, St. HarperCollins Children's Books, and Lexi Ryan for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my Goodreads; check it out https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863-gigi

I really enjoyed Lexi Ryan’s previous duology, “These Hollow Vows” and “These Twisted Bonds” so I was very excited to be granted an ARC of “Beneath These Cursed Stars”. It has been a bit since I read the original duology so maybe that’s why I struggled so much with this book.

Honestly, at first I was very confused about the world building and magic system. And then I was just bored. I had a very hard time connecting to the characters and really didn’t care about either Jasalyn or Felicity although the latter’s story was slightly more engaging. I also struggled with the writing style - it felt repetitive and added to the boredom from the slow plot. It honestly took me weeks to slog through this book. It was THAT slow. Overall, I think the first duology is better - and definitely needs to be read before this book. Despite the cliffhanger ending I’m ambivalent about picking up the sequel.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins/Harper Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.