***SPOILERS BELOW, BE AWARE***

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for a review! This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, so thank you!

I am kind of sad here. I feel massively conflicted on this one.

So let's start with the good. The prose is beautiful. Lexi Ryan is clearly a very talented, wonderful writer. I appreciated the points made by Nik and Jas about how women have all sorts of dreams, none better than the other. At the beginning, I really liked Brie. She had flaws and traits, and really felt like an older sister. I also really liked Pretha, and her relationship with Lark was lovely.

And here's the rest. I predicted most of the major events in the book. The book was compared to ACOTAR and The Cruel Prince, and based on those, I could pretty much tell what was to happen. Which was a bit boring for me.

Brie also began to really, really frustrate me. <spoiler> She always believed Sebastian over anyone else, always thought she was the one at fault. His manipulations were so obvious, so Brie just came off as really dense. She literally found him in bed with someone else and was like "oh no it's all my fault because I can't commit". Her "moral dilemma" over the courts was basically "the Seelie queen has people in camps, but her son is hot, so oh gosh what do I do?" She kept going on and on about how much Sebastian has done for her, and how kind and good he is to her, but literally?? WHAT HAS HE DONE? NOTHING! </spoiler>

So that brings me to Sebastian. I hate him. And not in a fun way. It actually started to make the book difficult to read. He was such a #niceguy, and I didn't trust him at all. But at the same time, he's so boring, predicatible, and long-winded. Any scene he was in took me double the time to read. <spoiler> He was obviously a Tamlin-style betrayer to set off the next book, but he was just so obvious! Like I said before, he may as well have said to Brie, "I am going to betray you" and she w0uld have just gone on about how she didn't deserve him. I never cared when Brie started angsting about losing Sebastian because honestly, I think that would have made the book better. </spoiler>

And Finn. I guess he's fine? He didn't piss me off, so I guess that makes him the better option. He sort of felt like Rhys or Carden lite. Not interesting enough to be dark and sexy, but not boring enough to annoy me. <spoiler> What did annoy me was how easily Abriella was like "gasp Finn is trying to bond with me", even though he was pretty much the only dude in the book who didn't ask her to bond with him. And then she turned about to be right? Which didn't feel seeded in the book at all. My note from this part of the book literally says "FINN IS THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T ASK TO BOND WITH YOU, YOU IDIOT, also I bet Sebby has an Unseelie father," so that kind of tells you everything. </spoiler>

The love triangle is unsuccessful, as I don't feel pulled between them at all. I hate Sebastian and I'm pretty indifferent to Finn. They don't really have developed personalities beyond being princes and liking Brie.

So that's my dilemma. I was so excited for this book. I loved the pitch, the cover, everything. And it had a really good start. But, the characters just started to ruin it for me. I'm going with 3 stars.

Humans, Fae, a love triangle…..what more could you want from thee most popular fantasy romance trope at the moment!! I absolutely loved this book, I was gripped from page 1 and completely engrossed to the last page. If you’re a fan of ACOTAR then pick this up!!

If you love human and Faerie stories this is a must read. I found thos book so hard to put down once I started and of course have been left wanting more.
With two princes vying for Brie’s attention on seelie or one unseelie, who should she trust. The twists and turns in this of promises and betrayals make this a gripping read. The world of fairy compared to the human world is one of both cruelty and decadence, with elements of cinderella at the start with the servant girl winning the heart of a prince but she is not a meek and mild servant but a thief and a protector of her sister. She also holds power that she doesn’t realise she has straight away.
Brie is a great main character with her love triangle and conflicts over who to trust. If you love The Cruel Prince or A Court of Thorns and Roses you will enjoy this.
I can’t wait for the next book.

This had so many elements that I loved- fey, magic, morally grey characters- but it just didn't wow me.

The plot follows Abriella, a human girl who has struggled to support herself and her younger sister for years as she ventures into the Fey realm to save said younger sister after she is sold to the Unseelie King. Abriella is an okay character but she's not amazing and not overly interesting. She misses things that are right in front of her and just has a lot of 'meh' reactions, plus she is SO wishy washy in places.

The love interests are pretty terrible. I get what the author was trying to do, it just didn't work. Neither one was at all likeable and even when they were meant to be very lovely and sweet, it still rang as very haughty and superior. I also personally felt that it was just a little too similar to A Court of Mist and Fury, and it fell short by a long margin.

The plot was pretty interesting and it was paced relatively well, it just didn't work for me personally. I probably will read the sequel as the last two pages did leave me wondering.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book.

This book is ACOTAR set in an alternate universe and you can't convince me otherwise. Am I the only one that recognizes this?

Brie (steals for survival) - Feyre (hunts for survival)
Sebastian (Golden Prince) - Tamlin (Spring Court)
Finn (Prince of Shadows) - Rhys (Night Court)
Goblins (answers questions w/payment) - Suriel (answer questions when captured)
3 relics need to be stolen - 3 tasks need to be completed
a curse cast by a woman scorned that no one can talk about
I mean, I could go on but I think you see where I'm going with this...

Similarities aside, the character development and world building were severely lacking. The fae world (or Faerie as it's called in the book - ugh) felt the same as the human world but on the other side of a portal. Even the actual fae felt more human than not. If it wasn't for the insane amount of secrets and plot twists that could be seen from a mile away, then this story would have suffered even more.

That brings me to the plot. Let me just say that I requested this arc based on the plot. I knew I was getting a fae love triangle Bachelor-esque story and that is what I wanted. But there are some plot points that exist just for the sake of existing. The human bride competition (hello, Selection vibes) for the Prince was literally non-existent except for moments when Brie needed to feel jealously or heartbroken. There is no competition because [insert spoiler]. But the synopsis makes it seem like it's the main story line, riiiight? Cue the disappointment. Also, let's not forget that Brie's sister existed solely to be sold (and rescued). Not to mention, the conflict between the Seelie/Unseelie/Wild Fae existed to sow more doubt in Brie's decision rather than expand the universe. Oh yeah, Brie can also control shadows but she sucks at it until she doesn't which is one big pile of convenience. Sigh. I just wanted so much more.

With all of that said, I will be picking up book two when it comes out. I'm still holding out for a more expansive story line. Or at least a longer shower scene (iykyk). Not gunna lie, that brief scene got its own star in my rating.

When I saw that this was a book for fans of ACOTAR and The Cruel Prince, I was fairly confident that this would scratch the romantic fantasy itch. So obviously I had to get my hands on it and give it a read!

This story boasts everything from Fae bargaining, conflicting Courts and of course, brooding/snarky Fae males. There's even a slight element of a Fae version of the bachelor (to be honest, I wouldn't have said no to a whole book on that either 🤣).

The plot is fairly fast paced and I would've like to have seen a bit more depth added to the world building and character relationships, but it leaves a lot to be explored in the sequel (which I'm obviously going to read).

Letting you know that you should read this review with an enthusiastic tone, because I absolutely loved this book.

Brie, a thief out of necessity, who hates the Fae, is forced to work for them to save her sister Jas. Jasalyn was sold to the Unseelie King. The King asks Brie to steal 3 artifacts from the Seelie court in order to release her sister. To gain access she must infiltrate the Seelie court by acting like a prospective bride for Prince Ronan.

This predicament is as awkward and dangerous as you would expect it to be, but also smirk-worthy and heartwrenching. A triangle can be great if it works for the story, gifting us with a believable dilemma, and the one between Brie, Ronan and Finn surely does. Believe me when I say they are both swoon-worthy, then confusing, then aggravating, then swoon-worthy again.

Undeniable kind, stubborn, exceptionally brave and fiercely loyal, the protagonist steals your heart from the get go. She is more special than she knows and solving that mystery ignites the intrigue. The 1st person POV serves the story well, and grasps the events so adequately we never feel like the story is one-sided, instead it envelops us pleasantly. A good POV makes you forget in what person it is and just enables you to soar with the story.

With an enchanting demeanor, the narrative seizes your attention as it presents excellent storytelling and elegant figurative speech that is so evocative. The double-crosses, shocking reveals and twists just add flavor to an already delicious plot. A plot that is so much more intricate than you initially thought and all the better for it.

This story is about hope, believing in yourself and making the world a better place in whichever way you can.

So intense in its emotion, unpredictable and engrossing, that you will gobble up the pages without realizing. This book was beyond amazing. Cannot wait for book 2.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

These Hollow Vows

3/5 stars

Spoilers ahead and as always check trigger warnings.

So I have really mixed feelings about this book. I think the premise is fun- a mortal woman stuck between two faerie courts as she tries to save her sister and discover her powers? Amazing. The execution just wasn’t it for me. I think the first half especially read like it was intended for a young audience (definitely the lower end of YA), but then there’s a mature scene that I think would be better suited for the upper end of YA. Towards the end when the plot really gets moving and there’s less world building, it begins to feel more suited to an older YA audience. So I’m not sure what the intention was here, or if because it is being compared to Cruel Prince and ACOTAR the author felt like she had to cater to an older audience, I’m not sure. But something about the mixed age suitability of this book feels off to me.

There also a few issues with the plot that stuck out to me, especially with the whole curse. I think if the world building was a bit more fleshed out, so many inconsistencies could have been addressed.

I think overall this was an enjoyable read. There were moments that I really disliked our main character, Abriella, and how oblivious she seemed to what was going on around her. From the very start Sebastian seemed off to me and the more time Abriella spent with him and learnt about the courts, the more disingenuous he seemed to me. It was almost like she would realise he had done something to betray her trust but forget about it soon after, or convince herself that because she was also lying to save her sister, it was ok. So to see her realise who he is and turn against him at the every end was beautiful, I only hope we keep that energy going forward.

I like Finn so far, he’s portrayed as a villain by the end of it, but he seems the most self aware out of all of them, so we’ll see where we end up. Although I don’t really care for him as a love interest either.

Overall, I’d give this book 3 starts, but I think for a younger audience this could easily be a 4 star book. I think it says something that the only criticism I really have is about the age of the audience this book is intended for, and that’s more a me problem than anything.

I will definitely be reading the sequel, I need to see Abriella become powerful and take over all the courts.

When Abriellas (Brie) sister is sold to the Unseelie court, Bries only chance of rescuing her is to infiltrate the Seelie court and steal 3 relics for the Unseelie King. To do this, she must pose as a potential bride for the Seelie Prince. But the Prince isn't what he seems, neither is the Prince of Unseelie court who has his own plan for Abriella. She must use her wits and cunning to save her sister , protect herself from the territory of fae, and learn to control the darkness within her before it consumes her.

I'll admit going in to this book I assumed it was going to be very throne of class like however that soon changed. The magic system in the book is well thought out and I like how the mortals and fae interact with each other. We see how the humans are integrated into faerie, both the good way and the bad way. Both courts are very distinct from each other. For instance, Unseelie fae are 'shadow' fae and Seelie fae are 'sun' fae.

The romance aspect of the book did sometimes take precedence over plot in places, but the intrigue and mystery of whom to trust made up for this though. I really enoyed Abriella mis-trust of the characters interesting and can't wait to see how she handles the betrayal from the other characters.

I'll admit I referred to Finn and Sebastian as Rhysand and Rowan in my head a few times and the US cover didn't help that, but that is where the comparison ends. Sebastian's betrayal doesn't hit home the most and gives me darkling betrayal vibes. but Finn, in the words of a Jedi Master, ' you were the chosen one'.

The worst part about this book which is what makes it a fantastic read is that the signs were there I clocked them like the two courts having one ruler thing I saw it and yet the book still got me, I fell for it hook line and sinker.

I definitely can't wait for the next installment and would recommend this to anyone.

I just reviewed These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan. #TheseHollowVows #NetGalley

These Hollow Vows is YA fantasy that starts a series with the same name. It’s set in a world that is mostly early industrial, but with magic and indoors plumbing. Existing along it is the world of the fae that is accessed through portals.

Brie and her younger sister live Cinderella-like life (before the prince) in their aunt’s house after their mother abandoned them to live with her fae lover on the other side of the portal. They have a magical contract with their aunt that gets worse every time they fail to pay for their upkeep, which Brie provides by stealing from the rich. And then the aunt tires of the game and sells the sister to the king of the unseelie court.

Determined to save her sister, Brie heads to the fairyland and ends up striking a bargain with the king: she has to steal three impossible objects from the seelie court to get her sister back. Since she’s a good thief, she thinks she can manage it. But it’s easier said than done.

This was great YA fantasy. Like in (almost) all of them, there are two handsome men that Brie is interested in who seem to know more about her than they let on (not my favourite trope). As the story progresses, each of the men is revealed to be more than she believed, in good and bad, and she has to constantly adjust her view of them and her role in the story. Since she can’t talk about her deal with the king, she constantly ends up betraying either or both of them.

I liked Brie for the most part. She was resourceful and determined to save her sister. She had magic of her own that she only learns about when she arrives to the fairyland, and she makes the most of it. She wasn’t a teenager of contemporary YA fantasy, but matured by her hardships, which I especially liked. She was an adult and behaved like one. Except when she clung to her princes, hoping that they would save her, which happened too often to my tastes.

The princes, Ronan and Finn, were good YA heroes, charismatic and mysterious, but apart from their looks, I don’t see why Brie was so taken with either of them. Other side characters were few and they weren’t very memorable.

The book progressed in a good pace. The twists and turns were signalled well in advance, so none of them came as a surprise, which made this a pleasant read. And, like so often in YA fantasy, the book ended with the ultimate revelation and betrayal, which promises interesting times in the next book. I’m looking forward to reading it.

- plot, setting and writing -
I’ve been waiting this book since...forever? I don’t even remember how much I’ve waited for it.
I was captivated by the cover and plus it’s about faes and I love them.
So my expectations were high, it was probably one of my most anticipated book of the year.
It’s been advertised as “acotar meets the cruel prince” which are two of my favorite series of all time, the stakes were high.
I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed by “These Hollow Vows” I think I was probably just expecting something different.
I mean, the beginning of the book was plain and kinda boring at times, but chapter after chapter it became so interesting that I couldn’t stop reading it. And the final? Wow, it left me speechless and craving for more.
The setting is one of the things I’m most confused about, it’s messy and I actually couldn’t understand much of it, but maybe it’s just me.
I’m not a huge fan of the writing, but again, the plot is just so good!

- characters -

My favorite was probably Finn, I mean he is a dark fae with dark curly hair so it would be impossibile for me to not love him.
Sebastian felt like the friend who wants to be the lover which I always end up hating (see Gale from Hunger Games or Mal from Shadow and Bone for references). And guess what? I hate Sebastian.
In the beginning Abrielle was just fine, but I ended up loving her; I felt her hate where nobody was answering her questions.
I can’t wait to see more of Lark.

- final thoughts -

If you love faes: read it, go for it, but don’t expect an acotar meets tcp, cause it’s way different. In a good way. Cliffhanger alert, can’t wait for the sequel.
Highly recommended!

3.9 stars

So many books get compared to A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Cruel Prince but few stand up to the comparison. However, I’m pleased to say that These Hollow Vows definitely earns a place alongside these much-loved books.

Fae romances have been popular for years now and some books simply churn out the usual tropes and forget to offer anything new. Lexi Ryan has taken these tropes and made them feel fresh again. Alongside Fae lore is a healthy dose of fairytale staples and the story begins with a Cinderella-esque feel.

Brie and Jas are two sisters living with their cruel aunt and spoiled cousins when their aunt sells Jas to the Unseelie King. Brie determines to rescue her sister and sets out for the Faerie realm but soon gets embroiled with two Fae Princes both wanting something from her. The love triangle was well written and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

The first half of the book is slower as the author layers the world-building and introduces the characters and their motivations. The second half is incredible though and I just kept turning the pages until I finally finished. Political machinations and manipulations tear Brie’s life apart but that ending has me excited for the promised reckoning.

These Hollow Vows was so much fun and an example of escapism at its best. It has definite ACOTAR and A Curse So Dark and Lonely vibes and I don’t think fans of either will be disappointed. It’s aimed at slightly younger readers than ACOTAR although there are a couple of steamy scenes. I don’t know how I’m going to wait another year for the sequel though.

Author: Lexi Ryan
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Young Adult
Format: E-Book (Advanced Reader Copy)
Published: 20th July 2021
Pages: 439
Rating: 3 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling 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 would do anything before making a deal with the Fae; death is better than their vicious schemes. But when her sister is taken by the sadistic king of the Unseelie court, there is nothing Brie wouldn't do to get her back-including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the rival 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 the Seelie Prince, Ronan-a prince who's not quite as wicked as she once thought. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. But as Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she finds herself struggling to resist his seductive charm.

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

CAWPILE

Characters – 5
Atmosphere – 6
Writing Style – 5
Plot – 6
Intrigue – 7
Logic – 7
Enjoyment – 6

Overall: 6

Review

Trigger Warnings: Blood, Death, and Violence.

This review may contain spoilers.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, however, this in no way influenced my opinion. Thank you to the publisher Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with a copy.

I was so excited when I got approved for an ARC of this is one of my most anticipated releases of 2021. I did enjoy certain aspects of this like the ‘quest’ aspect of the plot as Brie has to steal things from the Seelie court and give them to the Unseelie king in order to get her sister back, and there were some great twists however other aspects like the characters let the story down. In the beginning, this was a little slow-moving and took me a while to get into it, however, the second half was much better and I became more invested in the story, I especially loved the last 10%. There were a few twists in here, some that I did predict like Sebastian actually being prince Ronan (I guessed a few pages before it was revealed when he showed up at the Seelie Court), however, some others were unpredictable. Now, let’s talk about the characters, my main issue with this novel was that I didn’t really connect with the main character Brie. The two love interests are Ronan and Finn, I definitely prefer Finn and I hope we see more of him in the sequel. This ended on a massive cliffhanger so I’m definitely excited to see what happens in the sequel.

Overall this was a decent YA Fantasy novel with an intriguing plot that had some great twists however I didn’t love any of the characters.

The world here is divided into three sections; the Seelie court, the Unseelie court and the human world. The humans consider the fae- manipulative and notorious. They are said to enslave humans and use them however they may like. Some people also think that a life in the fae world would be better than living a life in the human world. Well, of course, who wants to live a dull life in the human world when they have the opportunity to have an adventurous life in the land of the fae and if some one’s lucky they can also become the next Seelie queen.

Abriella (Brie) and Jas’s mother leaves them in the care of their aunt Vivias and uncle Devlin to find her Fae lover. Immediately after uncle Devlin’s death, aunt Vivas shifted them into a seller and were forced to pay for their keep. Someway or the other their debt to their aunt kept on piling up. Abriella took to the streets lurking in the shadows, stealing whatever she could get to pay the debt. Also their aunt treated them as servants, making them work day and night. If it wasn’t for the fae contract their aunt made them sign they would've been long gone. The penalty for not keeping to the contract is that their aunt can do whatever she wants with them to get her due money, even if she had to sell one of them to the highest bidder, that is, the fae.

Which is what happens to Brie's sister Jas; for not being able to pay their debts on time, Brie’s aunt sells Jas to the highest bidder, the king of the Unseelie court.
Brie sets out to find her sister in the fae realm. She needs to find and steal three magical relics; the price for saving her sister.

The story at first builds as Cinderella retelling but that only lasts for the first few chapters. As soon as Brie enters the fae lands the story changes drastically. It turns into a full on search and rescue mission with some massive twists and some romance as well.

Brie is a fierce and cunning character. She can manipulate and create darkness. While she was in the human world she didn’t really know that she had powers and unknowingly she used them while she was out stealing to make a living for her and her sister. In the fae world she finally learned how to control them. Even though she is smart and clever, it’s her emotions that drive her the most and sometimes because of those strong emotions she becomes reckless and impulsive. She is a person who would serve her heart on a platter for the ones she cares about, however when someone hurts, tricks or uses her for their own benefit, she becomes darkness and vengeance personified.

Now for the boys. Sebastian and Finn. At first I was total team Sabastian because he gave Cinnamon roll vibes and this would’ve been one of those friends to lovers trope I’d love but then I met Finn, the Unseelie prince and then and there I was thinking that this might be who she ends up with in the end. They had a really good connection and maybe, maybe they were good friends by the end of the book but at the end of the day he was still using her to get his throne back from the Unseelie King. Moreover, I now hate Sabastian, the way he betrayed Brie and then tried to justify himself and blamed Brie for his actions; no, I did not like that. It was a very toxic trait. After this I was full on the Finn team but he still gave me doubts. I don’t know who is on the good side, it is so confusing. This is the first time I’m totally confused, like Brie, I don’t know who to trust.

Well, I love Fae books, I loved this too. This was really good. I loved the ending. It was a massive power move for Brie. I loved how the author added small items from different fairy tales like the mirror from the beauty and the beast, that could show you whatever and whoever you wanted. This book has it’s fair share of sunny and fluffy moments but it is dark and twisted.
Overall this is a good read, it’s well written, world building is there but not that much, the descriptions are vivid. The best thing that I actually loved about this book was that by the end of the book I didn’t have a ship and I loved how Brie just went out into the world, hurt and betrayed, leaving darkness and destruction behind her, determined to destroy everything and anything that came in her way to get revenge.

I really wanted to love this book, and while there were parts of it I definitely enjoyed, there were also parts that I really struggled with. After her mother abandoned Brie and her sister to live with the Fae she has hated them and everything they stand for. She would rather starve than accept their help, but when he sister is sold to the King of the Unseelie court she will do whatever it takes to get her back, even if that means travelling to the Fae lands and accepting help from those she is determined not to trust. Torn between Princes of the Seelie and Unseelie courts, Brie has to decide who she can trust before its too late.

Brie was a character I liked in some ways and in others she annoyed the ever-loving fuck out of me. She has practically raised her sister since they were abandoned by their mother and she would do anything to protect her, even if that means risking her own life in the process. She is tough and resilient after having to steal to ensure they survive so you would assume this would make her slightly savvy and you would be partially right. However, when it comes to matters of the heart, Brie is about as un-savvy as it gets. As for our two Fae princes, we have the typical bad boy as well as the 'saviour' style character, both of whom were using Brie, and while I didn't mind Finn, Ronan was the biggest douche ever and I found myself constantly screaming at the book and getting incredibly frustrate that Brie couldn't see how toxic his behaviour was.

I'm not normally bothered by a love triangle but this one was written so badly. For a book that is supposed to be about finding love, Brie is thirsty af which, I wont lie, I wouldn't normally mind, but she just seemed to lust over these guys so much that she completely ignored all the toxic shit they were throwing her way and boy was there a lot of it. Both of the guys were using her for their own agendas, but while she would constantly not trust and give grief to one she accepted the behaviour and much worse from the other. The main relationship was incredibly controlling and toxic as hell, and there just seemed to be no base for their romance other than how good he looked without a shirt on.

The world building and overall mystery of the book were enjoyable, as was the ending. There were plenty of plot twists, some I saw coming and others I definitely didn't, but because I really struggled with the romance plot which played a large part in the story, these really saved the book for me and ensured I carried on reading until the end. Ryan also weaves in story lines from well known fairy tales such as Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, but makes sure that her story strays enough from the original stories to keep you on your toes. While there was some Fae trickery I was kind of underwhelmed by it, maybe I was expecting it to be a little darker? I don't really know, but I just never felt like Brie was in any real danger, and I LOVE my dark Fae shenanigans.

The ending definitely took me by surprise, and because of it I would probably pick up book two, but I really hope the author grows Brie's character more in it. I really struggled to relate to or bond with her in any way, and instead found myself caring more for some of the side characters, mainly the ones from Finns band of merry misfits. Overall the book was ok, I certainly didn't love it and wont be rushing to get my hands on book two. Readers who dislike love triangles, or romances that tend more towards the lust than love may want to give this one a pass.

The book started strong and with a promise for greatness. What I didn't expect was to find a book so similar to others I've read. I guessed most of the plot twists and I wasn't a fan of the main character. The writing is good though, definitely going to read the sequel.

This was my most anticipated release of the year 2021 (not counting Sarah J. Maas, that goes without saying) and I had such high expectations after seeing the reveal for the awesome US cover (the one with the girl and the two princes). I could barely contain my joy when I was approved for the UK arc on NetGalley and now here I am, reviewing it.

Let’s start with the important things: I liked it, I recommend it and I’m utterly upset that I have to wait a whole year for the sequel after that ending. Now, if you want to stop reading this review and just go purchasing the book, I’ll understand. However, if you’d like to know more about why I liked it, keep reading (or, you know, come back reading after you ordered the book).
This book reminded me of A Court of Thorns and Roses (especially the first book), but if it were a Cinderella retelling. It also reminded me of Throne of Glass (not the series, just the book) for the overall atmosphere and the relationship between Ronan and Brie gave me DorianxCelaena vibes. Let’s say that I recommend this book to the fans of the “old Maas” (when there was little to no smut in her books, but still all the plots and secrets and magic).
I can also see why some would compare it to The Cruel Prince for the human girl that has to survive in a world of fae, but other than that I don’t see any resemblance–it could also depend on the fact thatI didn’t like that series while I enjoyed this book a lot, so I wouldn’t want them associated.
I don’t usually give “star reviews” on the blog because I’d rather explain what I liked and what not, but this book is a 4.5 for me (here I have to give full-star ratings so I went with 5, but, to be completely honest, it’s a smidge less than that): it was fast and easy to read, impossible to put down, the characters were all really interesting and the protagonist was not completely dumb. However, there were a couple of situations that I think could have been handled better… especially the ending: shocking, yes, but sort of unnecessary? Probably the most stupid and hypocritical decision Brie made.
I can only hope that in the sequel the situation can be solved, but I have the horrible sensation that my ship sunk and there are no survivors. The next book will most likely have some scenes between them, but I have the terrible felling I know where this is going… The only joy to have to wait for the next book is that at least I have one year to delude myself that they have made up and are happily together. Still, I must confess I suspected my ship was doomed when I sensed a parallel between the prince and a Trump supporter.
And this leads us to the plot of the book. Maybe not the most original plot ever, but I enjoyed it a lot (probably also due to the captivating writing style). A beautiful book that balances romance and fantasy in a great way: I was worried that, being the author a mostly contemporary writer, the fantasy aspect would play a minor role. I was positively surprised when I realized that this was not the case and that there was plenty of magic and mystery. Obviously, the romance part was well-written too (with not even that much of insta-love). My only “complaint” is that, considering that this book had already to juggle three heists and two love interests and one curse, did it really need the social criticism on how real-world illegal immigrant are treated too? I don’t think so.
But let’s go back to the characters. First of all, special mention to the sisters: I loved how their relationship was written (and I wish we’d seen more of it and that the plot had not been put in motion has it has been).
Then, it’s funny how the whole premise of the book is that Brie has to take part to The Selection but we never meet a single other girl. Considering the triangle had to be Finn-Brie-Ronan, I imagine we couldn’t waste pages with Brie-Ronan-OtherGirl but it seems weird that everyone understood that Brie was the favourite of the prince (everyone read the plot of this novel) and none of the girl tried absolutely anything to win the prince’s heart. Well, less drama, more beautiful princes.
One of the princes is Ronan. He was the character that kept surprising me. He is lovely and perfect and wants to protect Brie… Hence, this makes him “controlling” and destined to be outshined (ironic, considering he is the sun prince) by the dark and broody villain-prince. Sorry, Ronan. It was clear from his so-blond-to-be-white hair that he wouldn’t stand a chance against a tragic past and tattoos.
…
…
Or would he?
To avoid spoilers I have to stop talking about the characters… and all the rest. For example, I can say that this book has one my favourite tropes, but I can’t tell which one or I’ll give you I gigantic spoiler. (Note: yes, there is enemies-to-lovers, but there’s also something else and I loved it!)
The book is filled with plot twists and revelations… even the last page, when you believe everything is fine and decided, changes everything again. Some things are actually quite obvious, but this did not hinder my reading experience. This was because some things I suspected, but wasn’t sure how they could be possible until the author explained them to me. So, it was not a totally boring and predictable read. There are also a couple of things not yet explained that I’m curious to discover in the sequel.
In conclusion, do I recommend this book? Once again, yes. (Just in case, after all I’ve written, you forgot what I lead with.)
Lastly, just for the sake of honesty: I found a couple of mistakes, not as in “plot holes” but as in “grammatical errors”. However, I received the arc some time ago, so they might be corrected in the published version. (Or, there’s also the possibility that I don’t know English as well as I believe I do.) Anyways, in the case they should still be there, they were very few and did not “ruin” my reading experience. So don’t worry, it’s a beautiful book on the outside (both the US and UK covers are stunning) and on the inside.
Now, I can only hope the sequel is as great as this was and the conclusion of the dilogy does not destroy my love for the beginning of the duology.

The press email for this release dropped into my inbox with the title Hot Fae Summer, and I knew instantly I was going to be hooked on this book.

I love me a read based in faerie and fae folklore, the magic system of the fae makes my blood sing. So a sister stolen by the Unseelie Court who needs to be rescued? YES PLEASE.

Throw in a love triangle, warring courts, two handsome princes and a series of heists that need to be completed? You know I loved this read.

It’s a pretty fast flowing story, I binged it in 24 hours and it didn’t feel like a task to do so. It’s definitely been edited well, and the story & prose progression definitely reflects that. I have read a few fantasy novels recently where the character development felt underdeveloped, but our heroine Brie made sensical, logical decisions throughout the novel, she felt fully fleshed out and relatable.

If you like secrets, love triangles, steamy shower sexual tension and the fae, you’re going to want to buy These Hollow Vows.

If you’re a Sarah J Maas fan you’ll love this fantasy novel with echoes of A Court of Thorns and Roses full of parallel worlds and humans plunged into fae courts. While for the first 100 pages I though it would be a bit cookie cutter it really hotted up to the point where at the end when all the twists started coming in thick and fast I always had the feeling that something was not quite right but I absolutely did not guess how it ended - and it has been set up for a sequel I’m already looking forward to!

Brie travels to the Seelie Court under the guise of vying for the princes’ hand in marriage in order to hunt for her sister who has been sold into slavery to the fae to pay off a life debt. Given three tasks in order to win her her freedom she gets caught between warring courts responsible for great brutalities, right in the middle of a twisted love triangle, and she’s subject to constant manipulations, never truly knowing who she can really trust. Oh and there are goblins. I’ve never seen a goblin in a fantasy novel and I’m very happy that there are goblins.

These Hollow Vows is a fun, slightly addictive YA high fantasy novel that I have a feeling is about to become very popular - if this is your sort of thing, do go grab a copy!

Sometimes I feel as though the booktubers and bloggers get so caught up in looking down on certain tropes that they forget the comfort that they can bring. Why will the shy, quiet third son succeed where his arrogant, boorish brothers have failed? Because we need him to. Why will an act of kindness to an old stranger on the road leas to greatness? Because it must.

And why will a young woman with the impossible task of rescuing her younger sister from the clutches of a wicked Fae King who has unjustly stolen the throne find herself torn between two princes of fairy, and make you read WAY past your bedtime (even if you are a grown adult and know very well how much coffee you will need to drink in the morning).

Sitting towards the older end of the YA fae romance sub-genre, These Hollow Vows is for those who enjoyed Hocking and Kagawa, but aren't quite ready for as much moral greyness as some certain other authors can give you. Not quite into cynical assassin territory, but stealing from the rich, lying to save your sisters life, a little bit of spiciness, and some very VERY big secrets.

I will absolutely be waiting for book two (and so will you, I promise)