While the blurb certainly drew me in, the execution was lacking originality and cohesiveness. Whenever a book has anything to do with tarot I'm immediately drawn in but I almost wish it hadn't been a part of this story - it just felt out of place. Having to pull a card out in order to use magic bugged me for some reason. I also feel that this is just a big jumbled mix of SO many other romantasy books. It's as if parts of other books were placed into a jar and randomly selected one by one and used for this story. I love a badass FMC but she is just like any other that I've read about. I didn't really care for the MMC either, and the banter between the two never compelled me. This seems to have some pretty high reviews so I'm sure others will enjoy, it just wasn't for me personally. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

A Vow In Vengeance
By Jaclyn Rodriguez


🖤 Romantasy
🔮 Dark academia
🖤 Fantasy
🔮 Magic
🖤 Druids, Elves, Seraphs & Humans
🔮 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Fake dating/fake fated mates
🔮 Coming of rage
🖤 There's only one bed

In a human world that's been all but wiped out by the immortals Rune is on a mission to be chosen in the upcoming yearly 'Selection' in hopes of finding her family.
You see the Immortals have built a wall dividing the realms so that the humans are left out to suffer, but with a decree in place that allows one of the three immortal realms to come and choose 100 humans per year of their choosing, do to with as they please.
This year it is the Druids turn and Rune is determined, she has no idea what is waiting on the other side of the wall or if she will even live long enough to see it, but she manages to catch the eye of the eldest druid princeling and that's a start right?

So just what's in store for her and will she survive long enough to find her family?

Dive into a world full of tarot magic, battles against Mythical Creatures, secrets, spicy tension and Banter in this dark academia.

This debut novel by Jaclyn is absolutely insane in the best way, I could not put it down!


A Vow In Vengeance releases January 13th 2026 😘🖤


#romantasy #romantasyreads #fantasy #fantasyreads #darkacademia #magic #tarot #enemiestolovers #onlyonebed #fakedating #fakefatedmates #comingofrage #druids #Vengeance #princeling #changeling #AVowInVengeance #JaclynRodriguez #Zando #SlowBurn

Thank you Netgalley and Zando for the ARC.

WOW. This for me is a 6 star read and exactly what I needed. I think sometimes it's really difficult to write a new exciting romantasy series, but Jaclyn has done just that!

If you love ACOTAR, Cruel Prince and magic like One Dark Window get ready for your new favourite read. From the first page, I was hooked. The magic system being linked to arcana tarot cards gave me hint of One Dark Window's magic system. The humans vs immortals gave me ACOTAR and Cruel Prince feelings.

This story follows Rune a human who has had all of her family taken by Immortals. But now she's determined to be selected herself to get revenge. I thought the plot moved quickly and also made sure to tell you enough to let you follow along, I loved the twists and turns as everything was revealed.

What I loved the most along with the plot was the romance - Draven, our prince of shadows. The development between him and Rune was electric - I couldn't stop reading and giggling over them. Some of what he says just made me swoon!

Our tropes are Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating/Fated Mates, One Bed and Coming of Rage - what more could you ask for, I ate it up!

If you are looking for your new favourite romantasy series, Jaclyn has giving you one here = I know this is going to be so hyped when it comes out! I can't believe it's not our until January, I need a physical copy in my hands now!

Check this out when on January 13th you don't want to miss it!

Arc Review !!

Tropes: forced proximity, tarot magic, fake mates, magic academy, mutual revenge/oaths

Let me just start off by saying wow... This book was incredible, I was hooked throughout the entire read and didn't put it down until the very end! The entire idea of using the tarot cards for different abilities/powers was genius and I adored every minute of learning about everything! It follows a mortal girl turned wraith who has lost her entire family to a selection process via immortals, on a quest for revenge she enters the selection with the purpose of being chosen only to take a blood oath and attend a magical academy with the prince of the druids. Can Rune follow through her path to vengeance or will she fall for the one thing she hates most?

The only thing relatively critical I have to say about this book is that I wish it were longer! I have no idea how I'm going to wait for the next book in this series waiting to see what the author has in store for us!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Zando for the gifted e-arc! Go check this book out on pub day (jan. 13) for a great fantasy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jaclyn Rodriguez for this unforgettable ARC!

Let me start by saying: THIS. BOOK. IS. GOING. TO. FLY. OFF. THE. SHELVES.

I haven’t devoured a book in one sitting in months—and this one? I devoured it like I was starving. It has everything. A wildly creative, fresh magic system—scratch that, THREE distinct systems for the three unique races in the book. The twists had me clutching my imaginary pearls, and that cliffhanger??? Jaclyn, my love, how dare you. I say this with every ounce of my being: I NEED BOOK TWO yesterday.

Our fierce FMC Rune? PERFECTION. Not once did she give “annoying heroine.” She’s powerful, grounded, and gave off the exact energy I think of when I picture strong women. She didn’t need saving—but wow, the chemistry between her and the MMC? Chef’s kiss. Their dynamic was electric, and the spice was delightfully on point.

Let’s talk about the worldbuilding: magical animals, magical species, just MAGIC in all caps. The action scenes? Impeccably written—I was in it. And yes, I cried. This book brought tears, thrills, chills, and made my soul do somersaults.

But here’s the warning, dear reader: this book will resurrect you from your reading slump...only to destroy you emotionally and leave you staring at the wall when it's over, putting you BACK into the slump.

Jaclyn Rodriguez—if you're out there, hear my plea: if you need someone to read even a word of book two... I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE. PICK ME. CHOOSE ME.

Okay, I’m emotionally unwell now.
kai byeeeeeee.

This debut has all the markings of a romatasy: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, a morally gray lead. I’ve been obsessed with tarot magic ever since one dark window and I’m so glad to see it creeping into the genre more and more! I find it so interesting and refreshing.

I actually wished we had a bit more world building since I enjoyed the system, but that’s one me cause I love my super long books with a million details haha!

The book is not as much of a slow burn as I prefer, but it’s fast paced and filled with banter and tension. It has typical romatasy tropes and characters but honestly I didn’t mind. Tall and broody - check, snarky fmc - check. But beyond that, there’s found family, adventure, hidden identities. I look forward to see where the story goes!

This one is definitely for the romantasy girls! It's fun and unique with its magic system. The tension was chefs kiss!

With a magic system that uses tarot cards A Vow of Vengeance feels fresh. I loved the world building and school setting. The main character, Rune was headstrong and interesting to follow. The romance had lots of heat.

I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thanks netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I will say this A Vow In Vengeance does not read like it was written by a debut author. There is a mastery of words, plot, and character building that reads like a seasoned writer wrote this. Rune and Draven were so sexy that I was fanning myself through out half the book and most was just for the tension and banter flowing from them. Rune was so amazing she had nothing to lose in entering the Forge but to find her family she would do anything. Also the Tarot magic was refreshing to read about. When Runes magic turns out to be rare she is moved in with Prince Draven who is the only other one to have it. And he is someone she shouldn't trust lol. The cliffhanger end was so breathtaking and heartbreaking but boy does it have me excited for book 2 which I hope releases soon after book 1 does im going to have a bad book hangover with this one thats for sure.

Review was posted July 1, 2025

This story was STELLAR.
The world building and magic system were one of a kind and seamlessly done. The different social classes and their different purposes and respective magic/powers was intriguing and unique.
I felt fully immersed from start to finish.✨

Many of the side characters left lasting impressions from the first meeting. And we all know I love a found family dynamic. While this was more subtly done, it was incredibly done and still fulfilling.🖤

We can’t forget about our fiery, strong willed, incredible FMC, Rune. Or our absolutely perfect winged princeling MMC, Draven. 🔥
Some moments in this book were absolute nail biters, but I’d relive every tense moment to enjoy it all over again. Plus, the slow burn tension and pining was PERFECTION.😮‍💨🖤 our MC’s are simply electric together.

The twists and turns through the story had me wanting to know more, and I had to physically force myself to take breaks because I was so enthralled with this book.

Releasing Jan 2026, you won’t want to miss this one! ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 STARS — A Book That Owns My Soul Until 2026
There are books that linger in your mind… and then there are books that haunt you until you get your hands on the next one. This book? It wrecked me, in the best way. And the worst part? Book one isn’t even coming out until 2026. If the sequel isn't already in the works, I will personally light a candle and pray to the publishing gods. Because I need more.
This was an easy 6-star read for me, blown away doesn’t even begin to cover it. There’s adventure, peril, three mysterious kingdoms of immortals, forced proximity, fated mates, one bed (YES!), and a magical system inspired by tarot cards that felt fresh, unique, and so well-executed. Oh, and did I mention the slow burn romance? Because wow. It hurt so good.
💥 The World & Premise
Each year, 100 mortals are chosen by immortal kingdoms as punishment for a failed rebellion generations ago. Rune, our fierce and unforgettable heroine, wants to be selected, not out of desperation, but because it’s her only chance to uncover the truth about her missing family. Alone since she was 14, Rune has survived by being sharp, guarded, and completely self-reliant. She doesn’t trust easily, how could she? Survival was her only priority. But beneath that hardened shell is the kind of FMC I live for: smart, scrappy, spirited, and unapologetically strong.
👑 The Romance (and the Prince Who Stole My Heart)
Then there's Draven. Prince of one of the immortal realms. He’s not your typical gray brooder, he’s confident, a little arrogant, and yet still feels like the softest cinnamon roll underneath all that bravado. He’s drawn to Rune immediately but respects her fire. He doesn’t try to smother her independence, he supports it, even when it hurts. Their chemistry? Electric. Their tension? Deliciously unbearable.
🔮 The Magic System
Even if you don’t know a thing about tarot, don’t worry, this book makes the magic system completely accessible. It’s inspired by tarot symbolism, but in a way that adds depth, mystery, and magic without ever feeling confusing or overdone. Every aspect of the worldbuilding, from the lore to the politics to the stakes, feels thoughtful and fully realized.

If you love romantasy with high stakes, emotionally complex characters, an addictive slow burn, and a rich, immersive world, this is the book for you. I’m not just recommending it, I’m begging you to read it. Just be prepared: it will own your heart and leave you screaming for more.
Bring on book two. I’ll be first in line.

Pretty cool debut—I do wish the story was a little bit longer and had some more world building. Rune is a super cool FMC and a total baddie. I think this is perfect for romantasy readers, especially the ones that love a good slow burn!

A Vow in Vengeance is the perfect mix of dark academia and fantasy.

The magic system being built around tarot was fascinating. I've read a lot of books with elemental magic but using it through the lens of the the minor arcana - just yes. The major arcana translating into magical abilities - also yes.

<blockquote> Until fate has her say, and time washes away the name on my grave..you are mine. </blockquote>

The banter. The tension. The romance.

While we have the trope of the dark-and-shadowy mmc, and the special-haired-savior-complex fmc, the heart of them brings a rawness to them adds a deeper layer. Draven has his sarcasm and innuendos but they come across much more charismatic than jerk (which some authors really seem to struggle with). Rune, while hardened by life, hasn't fully closed off her heart. As those around her support her, you see some of the cracks being healed.

I loved the characters, I would have loved a bit more world-building. The magic system was clear and thought out but I would have absolutely loved more immersion into the magic education. Girl, let me go to tarot magic class with you.

Although the take on magic is so different, there are a lot of familiar tropes. I don't think this is a bad thing honestly - they're popular tropes for a reason. Jaclyn Rodriquez was able to deliver the moments I crave (looking at the singular bed) in an unexpected way.

Honestly, a lot of the book was unexpected in the best way. The ending? Took me out. I actually need the next book immediately - I have to know what happens. I also need to know if my theory is right.

A Vow in Vengeance will be one romantasy's next hits. I'm calling it now.

<I>Thank you to Jaclyn Rodriquez, Zando/Slowburn and NetGalley for this digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.</I>

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

A Vow in Vengeance // 4 stars

So I really enjoyed this book! When it first started out I wasn't too sure about it. The creatures in this book are different from your usual vampire/ werewolf/ fae so that sets the book apart in the beggining. I do like the tarot magic in this book. I think it makes things intersting. The best part is the enimies to lovers storyline. I did enjoy the romance and the banter between the two main characters. There were also some twists and turns that I didn't see coming that kept me on my toes and super interested in the story. If you like fun banter/ magic/ and fantasy I think you will really like this book. I am definitely looking forward to book 2 in this series. I feel invested in this story and can't wait to see what happens next.

Very solid 4⭐️! Tarot magic system, dark academic, dark feathered winged MMC? I signed up for that eARC so fast- this was a lot of fun - it just ended a bit too soon!

“We are written into the other’s stars, our paths unbreakably intertwined. You have entangled yourself in my soul, your thorns rooting between my ribs, and I cannot breathe without thinking of how sharply I want you. You are my vexation, my obsession..” Draven is yet another Princeling MMC joining the book boyfriend club 😍

I love a unique magic system and so I had a lot of fun learning this one and there is definitely still so much more to come! We only scratched the surface and for this type of romantasy/fantasy book I need about 100 extra pages which is why it’s not a five star from me.

A solid debut romantasy that I absolutely ate up! I wouldn’t say it’s particularly slow burn but there is tension and angst. Loved the little found family that evolves but really wish we had more time to expand on them along with more in-depth world building.

So exited for the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley, Jaclyn and Zando for the opportunity to review this book!

For a debt book this was really really good!

I enjoyed the world building and the tarot cards magic, I loved learning about Rune and how she got to where she is in the end of the book, I loved the banter between her and the princeling, and a few plot twists thrown in to keep you on the edge!

If you love a slow burn but touch her and die vibes and magic tarot cards you will absolutely love this book!

I was drawn to this book by its intriguing premise of tarot magic, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite work for me.

The main issue I had was the information overload. There were moments when I felt bombarded with details, but then other times when I felt like I was missing crucial information. At the start, I took a screenshot of the tarot cards and their associated magic, and I’m glad I did because there were times I had to refer back to it. The magic system wasn’t always clear, and it was difficult to follow at times.

I also struggled to connect with the characters. Rune was fine, but Prince Draven didn’t resonate with me at all. His character felt off from the beginning, and I never really warmed up to him. Since I couldn’t get invested in their romance, it didn’t do much for me either. Without that emotional connection, the stakes felt flat.

Worldbuilding was another hurdle. The information overload made it hard for me to picture the world clearly. I couldn't remember distinct details about the various creatures or people, and I’m pretty sure the druids are associated with the color red? But beyond that, I was lost. I wanted more clarity to help me visualize the setting and feel immersed in it.

Lastly, the fantasy school setting, something that’s becoming more common, just didn’t appeal to me this time. It’s a trope I’m growing tired of, and it didn’t add much to the story for me.

Overall, while the concept was promising, the execution fell short. I won’t be continuing with the series, unfortunately.

This book was AMAZING! Jaclyn did such a great job with this book. Morally grey mmc? Sign me up!
Tarot Magic with forced proximity? AMAZING.
You must add this book to your TBR, you will not regret it.

Thank you NetGalley, Jaclyn and Zando for the opportunity to review this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️
RELEASE DATE: January 13, 2026 ✨

Quick thought:
A debut romantasy with tarot magic and a winged MMC, highly requested on NetGalley? Sign me up!

My brief summary:
Rune Ryker has lost everything to the Immortals and their Selection. Fueled by grief and rage, she spent years training in the shadows, harnessing herself into a weapon.

Disguised and determined, Rune makes her way to this years’ Selection, hoping to find herself positioned to not only dismantle the Immortal society from within, but also to find her family; taken from her in years’ past.

There’s just a few things she didn’t factor in: taking a blood oath, becoming an Immortal, attending a ruthless magical academy, and the devilishly handsome son of the King of Druids, Prince Draven.

Can Rune truly forge her path to vengeance? Or will the blurred lines between right and wrong, love and hate, force her to fail?

Highlights/Tropes:
👤 Single POV
🃏 Tarot magic system
☄️ Forced proximity
👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻 Fake relationship
🛏️ Only one bed
🔮 Prophecy
☠️ Touch her and 💀
🪄 Magical items

Characters:
FMC:
Rune
Fierce, vengeful, and isolated.
The former Wraith of Westfall. Moon-cursed. The second in centuries to pull the ‘World’ Arcana. A former mortal, made Druid-changeling.
Rune is a good FMC. She’s strong and determined, and would rather burn the world down than admit defeat. Thrust into an entirely new world, with magic she doesn’t understand, it was interesting to watch her navigate the different situations. Her love and devotion to her family was pure, and watching her untangle her feelings towards Draven made me giggle. Interested to see where her journey will continue in book 2!

MMC:
Draven
Ambitious, determined, and tortured.
The crown prince of Sedah. Holder of the ‘World’ Arcana. A powerful, dangerous, and ruthlessly ambitious Immortal with horns, wings and color-changing eyes.
I liked Draven. He had good emotional depth, and secrets of his own. To me, he felt a little extra Rhysand coded, especially with his physical description and emphasis on the importance of choice, but I feel like that’s true for most MMCs these days. Overall he was a good character, it would be interesting to see his POV for a couple of these chapters though! 🤭

Quotes:
Holding off at this time in respect for the author! But just know: I have quite a few highlighted quotes 🤭

Romance/Spice:
The romance was okay. It was more insta-love than a true enemies-to-lovers. Some moments of tension and some sweet sentiments, but nothing that really wow’d me in the romance department. In terms of spice, two open door(ish) scenes, then fade to black. A couple of kisses. Some steamy language passed via notes. Nothing too crazy!

Overall thoughts:
A solid debut romantasy novel! I have a lot of thoughts and feelings on this one, so I’ll try to summarize them all below.

Pros:
The magic system was super cool:
- though having absolutely 0 understanding of tarot cards or Druids going into this made things pretty difficult 😅 (my own fault). The included list of ‘Major Arcana Powers’ was definitely useful and frequently referred to while I was reading.

Interesting mix of ‘Immortals’:
- Druids, seraphs, elves and mortals. A different mix of ‘immortals’ for a newer romantasy book. A nice stray from the fae/vamp/dragon/wolf-shifter stories that have been taking up the limelight.

The concept of the plot was interesting:
- a magical curse, leading to a messed up world for mortals and Immortals alike. a potential prophecy, and missing magical items. rebellions and secrets in the shadows. definitely cool concepts, and I’m excited to see where the rest of the story will go in book 2!

Cons:
The world building could have been better:
- I felt like some things were rushed. The ARC version of the book was only 385 pages (371 pages of story content) and I honestly feel like it was an injustice.

The politics could have been hashed out better:
- There’s details about a past revolution attempt, though I felt like it could have been much clearer. I know things were left relatively vague for a ~big reveal~, and that the FMC is in the dark so we, as readers, are also in the dark - but the delivery felt flat.

Some minor notes: there were some slight grammatical errors, which hopefully get addressed prior to publishing. and no map was provided in the ARC version, which made it a little more difficult to follow some of the storytelling.

Overall:
I liked it! A solid 4-star romantasy debut. Will be looking forward to picking up book 2 whenever it comes out! Would recommend!

TLDR; A debut romantasy with tarot magic, fake dating, and a dark academia setting. Coming out January 2026!

Huge thank you to NetGalley & Zando for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own ✨

This is a debut novel! Wow, I am excited to see what else this author has to offer us! I really enjoyed this read, it was well paced and the MMC was everything.

A magic system based on tarot cards? Dark academia? I'm here for it.

There were so many things that I enjoyed about this book. I really loved the writing and the characters, but the pacing occasionally felt strange. I would forget a certain aspect of the plot that was supposedly SUPER important because it hadn't been mentioned in a long time. I wanted a bit more yearning and animosity between Rune and Draven. Enemies to lovers this book is not. Maybe it's just me, but it never felt like they considered each other enemies at any point. There was a big of bad blood between them initially, but they were never like sworn enemies. Which is a vital part of ENEMIES to lovers tropes. Ignoring that though, I really enjoyed Rune and Draven.

I felt like there were a lot of side characters that weren't expanded upon enough. Someone died and I had no clue who they were. I didn't make any connections to them so I felt nothing. The characters were compelling, I just would've liked to get to know them more.

I will absolutely pick up the sequel because there is so much potential to this story.