Beneath These Cursed Stars

Thank you to Edelweiss, Lexi Ryan, and Harper Teen for providing me with an early digital advanced reading copy —though all opinions are my own.

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About

Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance

Series: Beneath These Cursed Stars #1

Pages: 432

Publication date: July 30, 2024

This new duology is a spin-off, and takes place in the same universe as her These Hollow Vows series. I would recommend reading them first - but it's not a must. but there will be spoilers.

Author

Award-winning author Lexi Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of hot contemporary romance and sexy, action-packed YA fantasy. Her books have sold over a million copies. A former English professor, she considers herself lucky to have traded stacks of grading for emotionally charged storytelling. She is happiest when at home in Indiana with her husband and two children, where you can find her lifting weights, reading copiously, hanging out with her family, and thanking her lucky stars.

Synopsis

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.

(Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I have a confession: I didn't really enjoy These Hollow Vows and only read the first book. However, after reading Beneath These Cursed Stars and absolutely loving it, I'm reconsidering my initial opinion. Perhaps the audiobook format wasn't the best way to experience These Hollow Vows, and my newfound love for this universe might give me a fresh perspective if I try it again in a different format.

Also, can we talk about the cover? I know people have strong opinions about characters being featured on covers, but I personally love it when they're illustrated. These covers are some of my favorites, especially for YA fantasy. The same goes for These Hollow Vows and the UK editions of Letters of Enchantment. But I digress.

Back to Beneath These Cursed Stars: I absolutely devoured this book. It's an addictive read that kept me glued to the pages and made me lose track of time—completely impossible to put down. The story is told from dual perspectives, alternating between Princess Jasalyn and Felicity, a Fae Shifter, who are on separate journeys that only intersect briefly. What I found enjoyable is how equally invested I was in both their stories, which doesn't happen often; usually, I tend to favor one narrative over another. Both Jasalyn and Felicity are compelling characters with distinct voices and arcs.

I'm enjoying Lexi Ryan writing style. Despite not having finished the previous duology, I felt grounded in the story's universe. However, there were still some aspects of the lore and backstory that I wished were more fleshed out—perhaps these are explored in more detail in the earlier books, or they might be elaborated in the next installment. That said, I had no major issues following the plot and found the world intriguing and rich in detail. The book ends on a cliffhanger that leaves the story in a state of suspense and uncertainty. Everything is so messy right now, and I can't wait for the next book to see how it all unfolds! I'm hoping for some happy endings, although things aren't looking too bright at the moment. I'm especially eager to see if Jasalyn and Felicity's paths will cross more significantly in the sequel and how the various plot threads will resolve. My biggest criticism is that it was over too fast!

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Are you reading this series?

Thank you for reading my review! If you made it do the end you deserve a cookie! In conclusion, Beneath These Cursed Stars has left me thirsty for more. I definitely recommend giving it a go, especially if you're a fan of YA fantasy with strong female leads. And as for These Hollow Vows, I'm now more inclined to revisit it and see if my perspective has changed. If you have read These Hollow Vows and/or Beneath These Cursed Stars let me know how you feel about them in the comment. Did you favor on series over the other? Do you think I should give These Hollow Vows another try? I have all the questions!