Author: Lexi Ryan

Synopsis:

#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.

Review:

Beneath These Cursed Stars was a young adult romantasy that was so much fun!  While plans were made and political intrigue graced the pages, there was also foreshadowing, secrets, betrayal, friendship and love.  I loved being back in this world!

Kendrick huffs out a breath and shakes his head. “What happened to that timid little girl from the dungeons?”
I know he means to be flippant, but I hold his gaze as I answer, “She didn’t make it.”

This story is set a few years in the future and alternated between Jasalyn, who we met in the two previous books and was the Queen’s sister, and Felicity.  Felicity was a shapeshifter who took on Jas’ shape so she could stand in for her life.  While the real Jas hunted down and killed Mordeus, since there was talk that he had come back from the dead.

“You’re next in line to the throne, sister.” Never was there a smile so sad when someone spoke of another inheriting such power. “Mordeus will come for me, and if he’s successful, the people of this court will depend on you.”  

Jas and her past were more horrific than I ever realized.  I knew that she had been held captive by Mordeus, but each time Felicity took Jas’ shape, she was given a memory from her past.  And what we learned shattered my heart.  I now understood why she was so withdrawn.  I got her hatred for everything fae.  And why her dreams haunted her.  So as someone from Jas’ past stepped into her present, I had all of the hope for her.  That she could find peace, happiness and even love.  Yet dread kept pooling in my stomach, and it felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

My name rests on the tip of my tongue. Felicity. Call me Felicity. But I swallow it back like the painful truth that it is.

So, confession time, when this book started I only wanted to spend the chapters with Jas.  I didn’t have any interest in spending time with Felicity, but she became my top favorite!  As she pretended to be Jas hiding away at Misha’s, I fell for them.  I loved watching how their friendship evolved.  I loved how he pushed her to be a better person.  I loved the tension between them so much too.  And my heart hurt for her, because while Misha seemed to be falling for Felicity, she was in Jas’ body.  It couldn’t be real.  And it couldn’t last.

He steps back as if maybe he likes touching me too much.
Me or Jas? I need to stop trying to figure that out. At the end of the day, it won’t matter.

With death, lies, secrets, only one horse, and some fabulous twists and turns, Beneath These Cursed Stars was a mesmerizing read!  I loved that we were given clues, yet it wasn’t clear how it was going to be put together.  And while I did guess quite a few things correctly, there was still some twists I didn’t see coming.  Plus, we got to see those from the previous two books in this one too!  So, with an ending that has me desperately wanting that next book now, I can’t wait to see what happens next!

She frowns up at her uncle. “You’ll break her heart,” she whispers. “Be gentle. She’s scared, and she wouldn’t do this if she had a choice.”