Reentering this world and its characters was enjoyable. loved returning here. It's always enjoyable to learn more on this universe, its kingdoms, and its magic. Even though I'd love to see more stories in this world, the ending really brings everything together nicely. At the end, I doubt anyone will feel like they're missing anything! great read!

Although I was excited to see what had happened to Jas and Felicity in this return to the Fae world, this book did feel a bit rushed. I preferred Felicity's story to Jas's overall, but it was definitely a book worth reading with lots of unexpected turns!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

A fantastic ending to the fast paced, action packed duology! I loved how everything wrapped up despite such high stakes. I did find the Jas-Kendrick age gap slightly problematic though. Despite that, I enjoyed this book so much!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

AMAZING!!!!

and that is my review

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Lexi Ryan for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lexi Ryan has long been a go-to comfort read for me, and I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of <i>Between These Broken Hearts</i>. Having read all her previous contemporary romance works, I was eager to continue her first fantasy series. While I had read the earlier 3 books, I recommend a refresher, as the plot takes some time to gain momentum, and I found myself a bit lost in the beginning.

Like many romantasy novels, this one follows a familiar structure, but it still stands out from much of what is currently dominating bookstore shelves. In fact, I preferred the latter two books in the series over the first specifically because they depart from the typical formula that the first two firmly stick to. I appreciated how the third and fourth books tied up some lingering plot holes from Abriella’s story from the original duology through her sister, Jas, while also introducing Felicity, a shapeshifter, in a compelling dual narrative.

Though firmly in the YA category, the book thoughtfully addresses themes of mental health, suicidal ideation, and leans into accepting the darkest part of ourselves - all very tactfully. I also loved seeing a plus-size FMC represented in the story. However, the stakes are never all that high and the conflict resolution is pretty easy to anticipate. I still enjoyed this story and the series as a whole despite some of the more modern day language in a fantasy setting.

In her Author’s Note, Ryan shares how she channeled her personal experience with grief, writing about depression and anxiety in a world she loves while her father was in hospice. He ultimately passed shortly after she submitted her first draft, adding a deeply personal layer to this novel’s emotional depth. I hope to read more from her soon and wish her and her family strength and healing.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC of this book!

Between These Broken Hearts is the fourth book in the These Hollow Vows series.

In this story, Jasalyn has made her decision to go it alone to try to protect her loved ones from Mordeus, which also means protecting them from herself. Felicity in the meantime is attempting to figure out what has happened to her since she was imprisoned and then suddenly swept away by some unknown entity, all while dealing with her own wounded heart. Both have to make the toughest decision of all: do they sacrifice themselves for the ones they love, or do they attempt to run from their fate?

This is another world that I was really excited to return to. While I enjoyed this one, I will say that the previous book that kicked off Jasalyn’s storyline hooked me so much more. In that one, I really loved the tension between Hale and Jasalyn and the romance between Felicity and Misha. The distance between the characters, whether due to physical distance, absence, secrets, or the chaos of battle, really impacted that romantic tension in this book where it did feel less impactful. Although, there are still some beautiful lines between these characters.

I did think that there were a lot of good ideas in this one where the plot was concerned, and I loved seeing the world expand. I enjoyed the continued quest for the sword and how we got a ballroom scene and more involvement from the oracle. I also appreciated how we were introduced to new characters and places. However, even the best scenes needed more expansion—I kept wanting more depth. For instance, the final battle scene felt disjointed, where it all of a sudden cuts from one scene to another and characters are separated without that separation really being explained in terms of how it happened, and one of the major conflicts felt a bit on the anticlimactic side because it was over and done with so quickly.

Spoiler Thought:
Being a fan of the first two books in the series, I also have to ask, where was Finn? Brie played a much larger role in this storyline, and I could not for the life of me understand how he had such a meager role this time, and not only that, but he is never mentioned in the final battle scene. I know the story is not told from Brie’s perspective, but I still feel like we should have seen some glimpses of him at some point.

Tropes:
✨ Adventure/Quest
✨ Healing from an injury
✨ Found Family
✨ Forbidden Love
✨ Separated Lovers
✨ Prophecies and Curses
✨ Hidden Identities
✨ Speaking Mind-to-Mind
✨ Oracle
✨ Magic

Between These Broken Hearts by Lexi Ryan is book four to These Hollow Vows Series. I loved the plot of the series it grabs y'all attention and keeps it. It made me want to keep reading more I loved it so much. I love the art on the cover as well the artist did a great job.

Lexi Ryan's YA series are just simply fun and enjoyable to read. I loved These Hollow Vows duology and was excited to see a new one come out. Between These Broken Hearts is the sequal to Beneath These Cursed stars and continues the story of Jas and Felicity. I would say to go back and re-read the first in the duology just to refresh your memory and make this one more enjoyable.

Lexi Ryan remains one of my favourite authors and I look forward to other spin-off duologies from this world with other characters.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I felt a tad bit lost getting into this story but looking past the fact that I did not read the other book, I actually finished this and enjoyed it. I definitely will be picking up beneath these cursed stars to get more of Felicity & Jasalyn story because I absolutely loved the characters and it's compelling writing.

What a beautiful way to end the story. Jaslyn's growth was amazing. I was so happy about everything she accomplished.

The author's writing style is great and easy to follow. It is YA but can be enjoyed by any age group.

The romance was beautiful and the ending was perfect!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book and provide a review.

One of my favorite series hands down. Lexi Ryan is a genius yet again! The second book in this duology (part of a full series) focuses again on Jas and Felicity with pivoting POVs again in such a unique and fun way. Highly recommend!

3.5 stars 💫

Overall, I did enjoy this book and its conclusion.

Jas is trying to figure out how to break or change the deal she made with the witch who sold her the ring to save everyone and Felicity has been kidnapped from Misha’s dungeons by her biological family who wishes to see her dead due to the prophecy saying she is her father’s weakness. All in all, nothing is as it seems. The more we learn, the more dire things seem higher the stakes.

I enjoyed diving back into this world and its characters. Learning more about this world, its magic and kingdoms is always fun. Jas and Felicity have POVs again but I honestly felt that Jas progressed more than Felicity and I wish we got to see more of Felicity at times.

I also really wish we saw more of Finn, even if he was just mentioned of being there because it seemed like he just vanished. Especially, when his bonded is in peril I feel like he would have made more of an appearance. It just seemed out of place like he was a missing link.

I’m truly not sure the best way to describe it but parts of the story almost felt anticlimactic? I don’t know if there should have been more angst, more banter, or other. I know that some things fall into place as they should, but it was missing a sense of je ne sais quoi.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me crying so much. Lexi Ryan truly has the most beautiful writing i have ever read. I feel like this book really tied up all of the loose ends that we were still wondering about and more.
The symbolism of the phoenix was beautiful and such a great reflection on their journey. Felicity was wonderful and i loved being able to relate to her and her complicated family life and her growth in learning to love herself.
The ending was perfect and i couldn't ask for a better book than this.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful ending. I’m pretty sure I was just crying for the last 100 pages or so. Loved returning to this world and this addition was so well done. The depression representation was everything to me. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The original series is what pushed me into reading this genre again so I was excited when she announced she would go back into this world. I feel like we really learned more about the world in this duology more than the first and I really enjoyed going into more depth. The only thing that I didn't like is that I feel like this duology made me not like the original characters as much and maybe that's because we had rose tinted glasses on in the first but I went from liking those characters to not so much. I do think this book does do a good job of wrapping everything up though and it was nice to see some mental health rep in this series instead of the main character going through something traumatic and then just never speaking of it again. I'd probably rate a 3.5 out of 5!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Every so often, you read a book that touches your soul in a way you didn’t even know you needed. When I read Beneath These Cursed Stars, that book did that for me. Then, as I read Between These Broken Hearts it brought that feeling full circle. This book was a perfect completion to the journey these characters were on for so long.

The story picks up eight months after Beneath These Cursed Stars ends and takes you on an exciting and often times chaotic adventure for both Jasalyn and Felicity. It’s a journey for both characters to discover who they are beneath all their insecurities and fears, and there is such growth shown on both their parts. Throughout the book you’re able to feel the connections between the characters and how they find strength not only in the ones they love but in themselves as well. It’s a story of healing from horrible traumas and of finding hope again.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved that Lexi Ryan was able to capture the essence of anxiety and depression in these characters. I loved how she was able to show that even though it’s not easy, there’s light to be found in the darkness. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression, I connected with these characters so much.

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

Between These Broken Hearts is book 4 in the These Hollow Vows series and book 2 in the spin-off series following Jazalyn, Abriella's sister. Without spoiling too much, this book picks up months after the events of the previous book, Beneath These Cursed Stars, and both Jaz and Felicity have gone missing. With only 11 days left to live, Jaz must reconcile with her dwindling trust in her friends and the burden she feels towards her family. Felicity must deal with the fact that the fae male she loves fell in love with her in a different body and that now he hates her. She must also kill her father knowing that it could lead to her brother's death.

This book was expertly done and a true work of art. I am so excited I got to read it early because I have been pining after the two main relationships. Lexi Ryan had a huge task ahead of her with tying up loose ends and providing an emotional weight that was respectful of people with mental health issues. She did all of that and more. Somehow she made me care about Abriella in the first two books and then even more about her sister in the next two. Jaz's storyline is one of the most intriguing stories I have ever heard. She goes from a bright, bubbly, and hopeful little girl to a shell of herself after being imprisoned and tortured by Mordeus. She wants nothing more than to die until she meets Kendrick and his friends and realizes that what she wants is to live and fight for the love she has and feels in her life. Her story was one of the most faithful and astonishing depictions of mental illness that I have ever seen. It makes me emotional thinking about it because I feel so deeply for Jaz and everything she had to endure. The ending... I was so proud of Jaz for everything she accomplished!

My only note is that I would have liked to see more fo Finn in this book and the previous one, but that is a minor complaint. This book is hands down one of the best I have read this year. I will not stop until I have convinced everyone to read this series. 6/5 stars, but that's not possible so 5/5 stars.

I loved the These Hollow Vows duology. Like 5 stars. Rant about it 24/7. LOVED.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I didn't love it as much. I was really excited to see that book two was up for reading!

I don't know what is wrong with me! But I can't get into this one 😳 I'm convinced it is me. It is not the book!

But until I'm about to sit down and actually read it, I don't feel like I deserve to have this arc. I'm terribly sorry this reading slump is for real. So I'll leave my review by saying how much I liked the other 3 books. And trust me!!! You want to read this YA series

I'm rating it 4 stars because Inknow it will not dissappear me and I can't wait to share a better review.

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence, death

This is the conclusion to the These Hollow Vows series and I think it was a good conclusion which tied up lots of loose ends.

Jas is running out of time and they are all racing against time to try and figure out how to save her. She goes through so much in this book and she even tries her best to defeat the enemies alone but it’s obvious she can’t do that. I love her blooming relationship with Kendrick. They have both been tested and I was rooting for their love.

As for Felicity, she has a role in this prophecy about her being the one to kill her evil father – but the consequence is losing her brother Kendrick so she has some tough decisions to make. As for her romance with Misha, I was also rooting for them! I did want Felicity to stop discounting herself, because it’s a big issue between her and Misha. But I love both romance storylines going on. I am also glad Felicity gets to finally hear her real brother out, Konner.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a solid conclusion to this series! The loose ends are tied up, some of them with a sad ending, but there is so much love and hope as well. The trauma and growth Jas went through is amazing and Felicity’s growth and strength was admirable too. I enjoyed both girls’ stories and romances. If you loved the previous books in the series, I’m sure you will enjoy this one.

This is the kind of romantasy that I enjoy. There is pinning and teasing, but nothing over the top spicy. (like behind closed doors). I enjoyed this and can't wait to see what else Lexi Ryan comes up with - either in this world or something else!