I have been desperately waiting to see what Lexi Ryan had in store for her readers next. Beneath These Cursed Stars was a gorgeous and dark book featuring the previous duology’s sister Princess Jasalyn. This book is rife with betrayal and secrets, many of them dangerously close to unsettling the fragile balance the previous duology had set in place. Although this is set up as a standalone, it would be worth reading the These Hollow Vows duology before starting this new world, otherwise it will be a bit confusing to puzzle certain things together. This book leans more toward a mature YA title, as there are some darker themes addressed in this book like suicidal ideation, PTSD, kidnapping, and physical assault.
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is still part of the world of These Hollow Vows, so there may be some spoilers in the summary ahead. Princess Jasalyn has been harbouring a deadly secret. Under the cover of night, she dons a ring that allows her to bestow a deadly kiss upon her and her sister’s enemies. While Jasalyn is assassinating her enemies, Felicity is a shapeshifter on the run from a fatal prophecy. As rumours of the evil King Mordeus’ resurrection begin spreading through the court, Jasalyn resolves to put an end to him once and for all. Felicity agrees to take the form of Jasalyn while the princess attempts to uncover the sinister plot. The fate of the human and fae realms rest within the hands of two girls whose secrets could turn their worlds upside down.
It’s been a minute since I’ve read These Hollow Vows, but there’s something about the way Ryan writes that sucks me right into her world. Princess Jasalyn evoked a lot of emotions as I read, especially anger, resentment, bitterness, and a thirst for revenge. There was also a lot of pain and fear, which given her circumstances in the previous duology, makes a lot of sense. While I’d wished that there was a touch more processing of the trauma that happened to her, the self-destructive path she put herself on to start with seemed to get the job done quite well later on in the story. Something I wasn’t expecting in this book was Felicity. I thought she’d only be a side character to start, but Lexi managed to flesh out an incredible background and story that weaves in seamlessly with Jasalyn’s. Both girls are cautious, to be sure, but Felicity is motivated more by fear than anything else. Both girls have something that they want to protect, and they are going to some extreme lengths to do so.
Romantically, I am in tatters. I won’t give any spoilers, but I demand a bandaid for my poor little heart. I long for the next book to find out what happens with Kendrick and Misha love stories, because that ending left me with all the questions and NO answers. If you pick this up, feel free to hit me up so we can commiserate together, I need a buddy.
There were some aspects of the book that made it a little harder for me to get into, and that would be world building. If readers pick this up without reading the previous duology, they’ll be quite lost in a world that seems to have magic both in the fae and human world. Even if you have read the previous duology, the magic aspect seems to come out of nowhere. Not only that, because we spend the entirety of the book in the fae world, I felt disconnected when it came to certain characters and their attachment to the human world. It’s possible that is because this book is more character driven as well, but I would have loved a little more explanation into the magic system and the human world.
Beneath These Cursed Stars gave me Goose Girl fairytale vibes, but very loosely. Primarily in the imposter masquerading as a princess aspect. No magical horses to be seen here…yet. However, what will ultimately happen is yet to be determined, as this book ends on a MASSIVE cliffhanger, and I am dying to know what happens next.
Beneath These Cursed Stars is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 30th 2024.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan comes a romantic fantasy in which a human princess armed with death’s kiss and a fae shifter on the run become unlikely allies when a mission to assassinate an evil king collides with a fatal prophecy.
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.
