Beneath These Cursed Stars
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan brings us the first book in a new romantic fantasy set in the enchanting world of These Hollow Vows. When a human princess armed with death's kiss allies with a fae shifter on the run, their 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.
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Community Reviews
A fae king, a shapeshifting girl, a vengeful princess, and a human rebel, Beneath These Cursed Stars, follows two girls as they fight for survival and deal with the darkness of their past, all while trying not to fall in love.
Beneath These Cursed Stars is the third novel in These Hollow Vows, but it takes a different approach from the previous two novels. A dual POV novel, Beneath These Cursed Stars, now follows Princess Jasalyn and a new character, shapeshifter Felicity, each on their own mission, their story connected through a twist of fate. Just think, The Princess and the Pauper.
Storytelling
The opening chapter of this novel was brilliant. We’re following Jasalyn, Brie’s younger sister, who was held captive and tortured by the now-dead kind Mordeus. She’s on her way to kill someone and using magic to do so.
This is a strong opening that does translate throughout the novel. We see a different Jasalyn than we were introduced to at the start of the series: the girl who dreamed of a fae prince, who made dresses and was the light to Brie’s life.
Throughout the story, we see how, even two years later, Jasalyn is still suffering from PTSD from her time in Mordeus’s dungeon. Those events have left their scars on her, on her psyche, her soul, and her physical form. Her characterization has a lot of depth as she struggles with her identity. Now she has learned she’s a descendant of a powerful fae queen and will become a fae on her eighteenth birthday. She hates the fae for all the wrong they did to her and, in a way, hates herself. There’s so much darkness within her that keeps the story fascinating, especially in how it ties back to the previous two novels and the plot twists.
Honestly, I saw the plot twist coming. However, one plot twist made my jaw hit the floor. The story is a fresh start to its own duology.
Now, as for Felicity, as much attention as her POV got, a part of me wanted more. Her arc is very intriguing and unique, and I wanted more from it.
That’s not to say it was bad, but Ryan did something unique with Felicity by creating another being of shapeshifters from another realm. Not only does she take on the form of whomever she chooses, but her dreams are the other persons’ memories in her sleep. She is the one person who can understand Jasalyn’s pain because her mind goes through those memories in her dreams. That was an interesting little tidbit for the story because it was unique to me and offered so much.
There’s a lot of Felicity that I’m hoping will be explored in the next book because of all the build-up and mystery alluded to here.
I also appreciated seeing more of King Misha of the Wild Fae. There’s a lot of good characterization here that keeps the story interesting. The romance between each dynamic is well done, as well as the story, the rising tension, and the mystery behind Felicty’s past and King Mordeus’s return.
Final Thoughts
Beneath These Cursed Stars was such an excellent follow-up. It’s not really book three in the series but rather a new start to a new duology that happens to be connected to the previous two. The characterization is full of complexities and depth, and the storytelling keeps you engaged.
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The writing draws you in and the plot keeps you engaged. The characters are relatable and the magic had me guessing. I'm eager for the second!
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