All Things Halloween - These Twisted Bonds

These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows, # 2)

By: Lexi Ryan

Publication: July 19, 2022 by HarperTeen

481 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library - On sale this week!

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Brie finds herself caught between two princes and two destinies while the future of the fae realm hangs in the balance.

After Abriella's sister was sold to the fae, she thought life couldn't get any worse. But when she suddenly finds herself caught in a web of lies of her own making ­- loving two princes and trusting neither - things are not quite as clear as she once thought.

As civil war wages in the Court of Darkness, Brie finds herself unable to choose a side. How can she know where she stands when she doesn't even know herself anymore? In this darkly romantic thrill ride, the more Faerie is torn apart from the inside, the clearer it becomes that prophecies don't lie and Brie has a role to play in the fate of this magical realm - whether she likes it or not.

As I mentioned in my review of These Hollow Vows, I read the first book of the spinoff, Beneath These Cursed Stars. Reading out of order didn't seem to be such a big deal at first, but man it was frustrating to know how things end up but not know how they got from the ending of These Hollow Vows to the beginning of Beneath These Cursed Stars.

These Twisted Bonds starts almost immediately where These Hollow Vows ends. Abriella is escaping Sebastian and the Court of the Sun because he betrayed her by bonding with her while knowing that it would kill her and forcing her to drink the Potion of Life thereby turning fae. As she's escaping, she learns about a camp of children basically being used as slave labor by the Seelie Queen. She stops off to help them and makes a new friend in the process. 

I don't know how Sebastian could hope that Abriella would forgive such an utter betrayal simply because he claims to love her. And I do think he does in his own way. But she asks him later why he wouldn't have told her and given her the choice to make. His answer is that she wouldn't have chosen to do what he needed her to do. And so he removed the choice from her. I don't see how that can be love. She accuses Finn of betraying her as well. Finn, also, didn't give Abriella all the information that he could have for her to make an informed decision about her future. But his motives were purer than Sebastian's.

The Court of Shadows is now in chaos. Sebastian has the Crown, but he can't sit on the Throne because the power of the Throne didn't pass to him when he gave Abriella the Potion of Life. Finn has worked behind the scenes for the good of the court for 20 years. He worked to help the everyday commoner while his uncle Mordeus ruled with cruelty and horror. He has always planned to take the throne, but one thing after another comes up to distract him from that. So it's one brother pitted against another. Both are vying for the Kingship of the Court of Shadows. And both are vying for the girl, Abriella. 

Only the bond between Sebastian and Abriella kept Finn and Abriella from moving forward sooner than they did. I have to be honest and say that Abriella stayed bonded to Sebastian for much longer than I expected her to. And I wish more was available about Abriella and Finn being bonded together. That's an experience where the reader is really left wanting. Abriella and Finn do have a connection that draws the two together though. 

I found the world-building to be better in These Twisted Bonds than perhaps the other two books from this world. The story about the forming of the courts and the history behind them all was interesting and made a lot of motives and information make sense. Although, there was a lot of buildup to a coming war that didn't quite pan out. The resolution felt a little anticlimactic to me in this area. And some problems were so conveniently resolved that it felt too pretty. For example, These Twisted Bonds gives an idyllic impression that Jas is all honkey-dorey and sewing dresses and outfits left and right. She seems so perfectly fine. And this is completely at odds with the beginning of Beneath These Cursed Stars. I imagine this is because Lexi Ryan wasn't sure if she would publish another book when concluding this one she wanted things to feel wrapped up just in case. Or maybe she never intended to write another book. 

Favorite quotes:

-"None of us asks for the burdens we bear, but that doesn't make the way we handle them any less significant."

-But the vocal minority was behind him, and they had power and influence of their own. They supported Mordeus when he stole the throne from Oberon, because they knew Finn was dedicated to the commoners--his rule would've redistributed the power and privilege in their court.

Never underestimate the ones who don't want to give up their power, even if they're the minority, especially if they're the squeaky wheel.

-"I recognize a good soul when I meet one, and good souls are never alone for long."

-"I've had my fill of chasing emotionally unavailable females."

-"I don't think love is about what we deserve."

These Twisted Bonds was what I needed to fill in the gaps. I appreciated how Misha came into the story and his contribution. I was a little surprised that he reached "best friend" status over someone like Pretha who Abriella knew longer. There was no salvaging the wreckage that Sebastian wreaked on Abriella's life and their relationship. Finn and Abriella spend most of the book working towards salvaging the Court of Shadows and figuring out how they could be together. I thought some of the conflict resolution was too easy, but overall, I give These Twisted Bonds a solid 4 Stars. Have you read These Twisted Bonds? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween - These Hollow Vows

These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows, # 1)

By: Lexi Ryan

Publication: July 20, 2021 by HMH

448 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fae

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.

Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she'll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.

Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie's only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm.

Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.

I got Beneath These Cursed Stars for review before reading this book or series. And I loved it but felt like I was missing information. I knew immediately that I would go back and read These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds. So I got this from the e-library. I got the audio version which allowed me to dive into this book sooner than I normally would have.

Abriella is basically a servant for her aunt and cousins. She and her sister are basically orphans. Her mother left them uncharacteristically. Their uncle took them in, but he has since passed away leaving their aunt to care for them. They have a debt to pay off, but they are barely keeping their heads above water if not constantly getting behind. Abriella will do whatever it takes to keep her sister safe, but some things are just out of her hands. Their aunt sells Jasalyn to King Mordeus, a fairie king known for his cruelty. Aribella knows she must go get her back. 

Another fae court is opening the border between the realms in hopes of finding a human wife for a fairy prince. Fae have difficulty breeding, and children seem to come more easily for human women. Abriella uses this opportunity to find a way to stay in Fairie safely. It just so happens that the prince looking for a wife is none other than Sebastian, Abriella's best friend whom she's had a crush on for years. She is faced with Sebastian's lies for about two years. Finding her sister comes first, but Sebastian aka Prince Ronan has resources at his disposal that Abriella doesn't have. The only trouble is that she's made a deal with Mordeus. Her sister's life in exchange for returning some relics back to the Seelie court. 

On her first night in Fairie, Abriella runs into a friend of Finn who is the nephew of Mordeus. Finn is trying to remove Mordeus from the throne of the Seelie court as he isn't the rightful heir. Finn and Abriella have an instant connection that Brie doesn't understand. And she doesn't quite trust him. Since I've read Beneath These Cursed Stars I already know who Brie ends up with. I look forward to These Twisted Bonds knowing what must inevitably be coming.

There are twists and turns. Mostly I knew they had to be coming since I know where things stand as of the first book in the spinoff series. But getting there is just as confusing as if I didn't know what to expect. I kept wondering how what was happening would lead us to the end result I know is coming. I would recommend reading these books in the order they are published if you can.

These Hollow Vows easily gets 4 Stars. If I were reading this in order, I might have rated it even higher. I'm not sure if the frustration I felt was due to knowing how things should end in the series overall which is where Beneath These Cursed Stars starts or if I would have felt the same frustrations without knowing the intending ending. Either way, I recommend this book, and I can't wait to dive into book 2. Have you read (or listened to) These Hollow Vows? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Beneath These Cursed Stars - Review

Beneath These Cursed Stars

By: Lexi Ryan

Expected Publication: July 9, 2024 by HarperTeen

432 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fae

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan comes a romantic fantasy in which a human princess armed with death’s kiss and a fae shifter on the run become unlikely allies when a 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.

Beneath These Cursed Stars is a spinoff of These Hollow Vows series. Technically you don't have to read the first series first. I didn't. But I felt like I was missing out through the entire book. The events of the previous books affect this one but affect the characters and their relationships with each other the most. *I have since read the previous books and reviews for them will be coming soon.

Jasalyn was held captive by the previous king when her sister was the rightful heir to the throne. He tortured her but healed her wounds. She is suffering from PTSD and the trauma she endured. But at some point, she buys a magical ring from a witch which takes away her fear and turns her into an Enchanted Lady making everyone obey her every word. It also gives her the kiss of death. She's been using this to kill Mordeus's supporters and the guards who tortured her. Jasalyn is deeply affected by what she experienced, and she can't seem to be what everyone else wants her to be. She can't pretend she's healed or whole or normal.

Felicity is an Echo which means using someone else’s hair she can transform into their body when the hair is on their head. It also gives her one memory of the person she is turning into. Felicity is hiding from her birth father. As soon as she returns to her actual form her birth father will be able to locate her. Felicity and Jasalyn come to an agreement for Felicity to take Jasalyn's place visiting the Wild Fae court because Jasalyn needs some space to breathe, and Kendrick needs her for his mission. Felicity has a part of the mission which happens to include being at the Wild Fae court.

Kendrick is on a mission to save the realm of Elora from corruption. He spent time in the dungeon in a cell next to Jasalyn. She was younger then, but he encouraged her and connected with her through their shared trauma. Although Kendrick never knew the full extent of Jas's torture because she was healed before being returned to her cell. Kendrick needs Jas to help him succeed in his mission. So his friends kidnap her. Jasalyn agrees to help them because she loves Elora and still considers it her home. It represents the beginning of her life. Before she was kidnapped and tortured. 

And then there's Misha. He's the king of the Wild Fae court. He's a friend of Jasalyn's sister, Aribella. Aribella wants Jasalyn to stay with Misha for a while until she recovers a little more emotionally from her trauma. Aribella may also be attempting to play matchmaker. Misha never has seen Jasalyn romanticly but things change for him while she's in his court. Unfortunately, the Jasalyn with him is Felicity posing as Jasalyn with her permission. Misha spends his time trying to get Jasalyn out of her shell and teaching her to defend herself should she ever be faced with a situation where someone wishes her harm. You can imagine how he will feel when he finds out that Jasalyn is not who he has been spending time with. 

I have barely scratched the surface of the plot. Lexi Ryan does an outstanding job with character development and handling trauma. Of course, I have no experience in the trauma that Jasalyn specifically went through. But Lexi Ryan wrote in a way that felt realistic. The other characters have all been through their share of some trauma. No one is immune to heartbreak. And everyone has their missions and plans. It makes for an intricately woven web. 

Beneath These Cursed Stars sucked me in. We get a two-for-one in the romance department. Although, of course, the couples can't be happy right now because there's more to come from the series--at least one more book. But the more the merrier in my opinion. I didn't want to stop reading when I needed to. And I immediately went to find the previous series as soon as I finished this book. Beneath These Cursed Stars gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Beneath These Cursed Stars? What did you think? Let me know!