Publishers Weekly
06/24/2024
Teens seeking vengeance find star-crossed love in this tempestuous duology opener from Ryan, set in the world of her These Hollow Vows duology. Jas may now be a pampered Unseelie princess, but she remains traumatized by her time as false king Mordeus’s prisoner. Though Jas’s sister Brie killed Mordeus when she rescued Jas and claimed the Unseelie throne, Jas also wants the guards who tortured her dead; she slips out nightly to covertly murder them using an enchanted ring for which she traded her immortality. When rumors surface regarding Mordeus’s resurrection, a hyper-protective Brie sends Jas to stay with Wild Fae king Misha, unknowingly thwarting Jas’s revenge plot. Then shape-shifter Felicity offers an out: she’ll pose as Jas, provided that Jas helps a fellow former Mordeus captive liberate the human realm of Elora by slaying the diabolical patriarch of a powerful magical society—who is also Felicity’s birth father. Following a convoluted setup that relies upon knowledge of the preceding novels, Ryan delivers an emotionally complex dual-narrative tale that sensitively explores issues of agency and mental health while illustrating retaliation’s myopic nature. Sizzling romance and cascading complications maintain tension, and an artfully shaded, intersectionally diverse cast confers resonance. Ages 14–up. Agent: Dan Mandel, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (July)
From the Publisher
Ryan powerfully explores the dynamics of relationships, the struggle to be true to oneself, and the importance of being brave enough to open up to others. Banter, romance, and a complex plot line seamlessly come together in the hands of a powerhouse fantasy author.” — Booklist (starred review)
"Takes readers on a journey of intrigue, conspiracy, romance, and healing. The writing is fast-paced, the narrative is engaging, and the characters are dynamic. Thrilling and romantic." — Kirkus Reviews
"A highly addictive concoction of romance, magic, and adventure. I just love the way Lexi writes faeries!" — Ella Fields, Sunday Times bestselling author of Nectar of the Wicked
‘It was so much fun to return to the world Lexi Ryan created with These Hollow Vows. Each POV breathed with life, and every one of these characters sucked me in with their vivid backstories and emotions. Beneath These Cursed Stars is full of adventure and romance with twists and turns that I never saw coming. If you loved These Hollow Vows, you can't miss this!’ — Nisha J Tuli, bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen
Kirkus Reviews
2024-05-04
Three years after a human slayed the evil faerie king and took power in the Unseelie Court, two young women from different backgrounds are brought together by destiny.
Three years ago, Princess Jasalyn was freed from captivity under evil faerie king Mordeus, but she can’t escape the memories of torture. At night she uses a ring forged with witch magic, giving the kiss of death to those who once hurt her. She’s shocked to learn that Mordeus may somehow be alive. Then Jasalyn is kidnapped during one of her secret outings by Hale Kendrick, the man whose presence in the dungeons buoyed her when she felt ready to die, and she’s offered a chance to fight back against the Magical Seven, who helped Mordeus take power. All she must do is swap places with Felicity, an Eloran Echo whose magic allows her to take the form of others and access their memories. Felicity will pretend to be the princess while Jasalyn works with Kendrick to kill Mordeus for the safety of the realm. This duology opener, set in the world of Ryan’s These Hollow Vows series (but accessible to new readers), is told from Felicity’s and Jasalyn’s alternating first-person perspectives, and it takes readers on a journey of intrigue, conspiracy, romance, and healing. Both leads open themselves up to love and friendship, helping readers become invested. The writing is fast-paced, the narrative is engaging, and the characters are dynamic. Main characters present white.
Thrilling and romantic. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)
