Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan
4 stars
Out: Now
Princess Jasalyn has an enchanted ring and death's kiss. She sneaks out at night to kill her enemies. Unfortunately, there are rumors that King Mordeus is back. Felicity, a shape-shifter, is using her ability to avoid her fate which involves killing her father. Jasalyn needs to go hunt Mordeus so she agrees to Felicity taking her place at the palace. The shape-shifter is on her way to be able to return home. She gets close to the king of the Wild Fae, Misha, while Jasalyn who is drawn to Kendrick teams up with him. Soon both their hearts and their missions are in jeopardy...
Returning to the world of These Hollow Vows but with Jasalyn, Brie's sister as a protagonist, was a cool idea. In classic Lexi Ryan fashion, this book is utterly readable, it has the humor and it has the trauma, and don't forget the swoon-worthy males. There is fierce gentleness to the way the characters and their emotions are depicted. The storyline is peppered with intriguing tidbits along the way so we can figure out what is going on along with the characters. Everybody has their own agenda...
Jasalyn is impatient. Impatient with others and impatient with herself. She needs not to be treated as fragile china anymore. She continues to hate the fae. Revenge is on her mind and she needs to be free of what she has been through, using perilous tactics to accomplish just that. Felicity lives in fear of losing what she cares about. Kind-hearted and softer than how the princess she is impersonating is now. But tough. She will do anything for those she cares about. Both of them are lonely, both of them touched by sadness.
This sentence is dedicated to how awesome the Kendrick squad is.
It is a love triangle that is not really a love triangle, rather an inventive twist on twin trouble. The how and why leading to the switch are clever. And the situation is entertaining like you hoped and full of enjoyable witty remarks. But there are moments where your heart squeezes for those involved. The author had done so well in depicting the differences between the protagonists and what they are going through.
Three years after the end of Twisted Bonds and everything is not perfect. Many things need mending, there are injustices, discrimination, people who can't handle change, desire to break the status quo and a world grounded in a realistic existence. Things that remind us of situations in our everyday life.
The idea of two romances is great and don't get me wrong I enjoy them immensely double swoon but I believe they took up too much time in the book and the twists and OMG moments could have come sooner. Also, the romances seemed to progress at the same times which not only does not make sense due to the difference in circumstances but also it made you feel at moments that Misha and Kendrick were the same character. However when the consequences of what the two girls have done start emerging, boy does the book become explosive.
There is an ongoing theme of healing in this book. Also acceptance of ourselves by the one who matters most, ourselves.
A revolution, a resurrection, and destiny playing its games colors this incredible beginning to a new series in The Hollow Vows world.
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