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)

Gr 9 Up— Princess Jasalyn has a magic ring that gives her influence over others and the kiss of death. Her only motivation is revenge against those who have wronged her, and using the ring she sneaks out at night to kill her enemies. When rumors of the evil King Mordeus's return from the dead begin to make their way around the realm, Jasalyn knows she must do something to stop him once and for all. Felicity has a magical ability to take on the form of anyone she desires. Together they create a plan that Felicity takes Jasalyn's place, so she is free to pursue the sword that has the power to take down Mordeus. The book is told in the dual perspectives of Jasalyn and Felicity. Ryan successfully shares the tribulations of characters, and their inner turmoil between right and wrong (including their romances) drives the narrative. There are no real main events in this book; it is all build-up for the next in the series. It is important to note that this is a spin-off from Ryan's previous series "These Hollow Vows." Although it is not necessary to read the other series first, those who have will be able to dive into this already established world more successfully and avoid some major spoilers. The interesting magic systems and political structures created are elaborated on in this novel. VERDICT Those who enjoyed Ryan's "These Hollow Vows" series will appreciate the start to this one, so long as they don't mind waiting for the sequel for resolutions.— Aliza Mangefrida