A Vow in Vengeance is a intriguing fantasy with a unique magic system. If you liked Fourth Wing, Hunger Games and ACOTAR you will love this book. It's got found family, enemies to lovers, mystery, action...there isn't a dull moment.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Rune and Draven. Their banter was comical and I loved how their friendship grew over time. I still am hesitant of who in their friend group they can truly trust and I'm so interested in how things will shake out in the next book.

If you're looking for you next fantasy to dive head first into and have it consume you. This is it!

I received a gifted copy. This review is honest and voluntary.

How am I supposed to move on from this?

I have been absolutely destroyed, and I can't lie... I enjoyed it so very thoroughly.

There wasn't a single thing about this book I disliked, and I would highly recommend it to other fantasy lovers.

This book had a compelling premise and some truly interesting moments that kept me reading. By the halfway point, I was curious enough to see where the plot would go, and there were flashes of creativity that I really appreciated.

That said, the execution wasn’t always consistent. The characters had potential, but at times they felt a bit flat, and I struggled to connect with them on a deeper level. Some of the dialogue and descriptive passages felt overly wordy, which slowed the pacing and made certain scenes drag.

Still, there were elements I enjoyed — the worldbuilding had some intriguing details, and a few plot twists were genuinely surprising. With some tighter editing and more character development, this could easily have been a 4-star read for me. As it stands, it’s a solid middle-of-the-road fantasy that fans of the genre might still find worth exploring.

ARC Review | A Vow in Vengeance by @jaclynrodriguezauthor 💙

This is only my second read through NetGalley and oh my goodness was it a good one! This was absolutely faultless from start to finish. I loved every single second of this book and I honestly could have just kept reading forever. I loved this world, I loved our main characters, I loved everything!

For a very quick synopsis that doesn't give too much away, we follow our feisty main character, Rune. Rune has been through hell in her twenty years, and now she is pissed and looking for vengeance. She wants to know where her family is- every year, the immortal kingdoms take turns to 'select' humans to come with them as punishment. Think of a Hunger Games style 'reaping' but we have no idea where these people go or what happens to them. Rune's family has been picked apart by these selections, and now it's just her. She's got nothing else to lose. She puts herself forward for Selection, and our story kicks in...

The first thing you’ll notice is that we have a magic system based around tarot cards. Now, I’m a practising witch and I teach workshops focusing on tarot, oracle, and runic divination. I am very familiar with tarot and I was so excited for this book, but I also knew my expectations were quite particular for how this was done. Ultimately, I shouldn’t have worried. The abilities of different tarot cards links to how they would be interpreted in actual tarot, but we don’t stop there. Reversed cards are included, as are card combinations. I ADORED this! It was still fun and ‘magical’, while also being true to what the cards mean. The perfect balance.

And the romance? Holy smokes, the yearning? Painfully beautiful. I was in so deep.

Seriously, this one needs to be in your calendar and on your radar. 13th Jan, next year. Amazon currently have a ‘limited first print run featuring gorgeous, spray-painted edges’ available on their website…. Just saying.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Zando Slowburn, and Jaclyn Roriguez. @zandoprojects @netgalley #AVowinVengeance #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this! It does dip in the middle and the worldbuilding does take time to adjust to but it was a thrilling read!

This was a spectacularly well-built debut novel! World building was comprehensive and didn’t ever feel small or boring. In fact, it was so detailed at times that I found myself reading more slowly than usual in an attempt to memorize it all and not leave any small details behind. I’m looking forward to seeing how things get built up in future books and I hope we get to travel more outside of the Forge - I would love to see more of Sedah and the other regions! One cool thing about this world is that it is super diverse, with characters of every color and sexuality, including our main character Rune and her closest friends! There were no token diversity friends and no vague “tan skin” descriptions - our baddest and best ranged from pasty to dark and everything in between. I loved it!

The magic system was unique and took a bit to understand (I’m not deeply familiar with tarot so I kept getting lost and having to re-read descriptions) but was built-out beautifully and made for robust fight scenes. I can’t wait to watch Rune learn more about her powers and see what cool tricks she can unlock.

Loved Rune and Draven’s relationship and all its ups and downs and fights and love. The way they built together from frenemies to lovers was beautiful and Draven’s love confession near the end was MAJESTIC and you best believe it’s highlighted on my kindle.

I can’t wait to see where things go in book 2 (I have theories) and I’m deeply appreciative for Ms. Rodriguez, NetGalley and Zando/Slowburn for giving me the chance to read early in exchange for my review!

This was such a fun read! I was hooked from beginning to end and I can’t believe that this is the author’s debut novel.

Rune is driven by the loss of her family and seeks vengeance against the Immortals who took them from her. She gains entry to the Immortal realms via the yearly selection, but life amongst the druids is not what she expected.

This book felt like home with everything I love in a romantasy. A high stakes world brimming with danger, the slowest of slow-burns, secrets and betrayal, a fierce FMC and a dark, brooding MMC, banter, friendships, tension that you could cut with a knife - I’m obsessed!

I loved the tarot card magic - it felt unique and well thought out. I also really liked the dark academia setting which was the perfect backdrop for the political games, rivalries and dangerous alliances in a book with vengeance at its core.

Overall, this book ticked all of the boxes. I’m just sad that I have to wait so long for book 2

Amazing 😍 really loved this story and can't wait to read the next book!
I really enjoyed the banter between Rune and Draven. Great world building and a captivating story. Everything I need in a fantasy book.

This story is truly incredible. Every time I read a new romantasy I’m just pleasantly surprised about how unique each author is in crafting their own world. There is a prominent romance in this novel and it does progress. I feel that it moves forward, a little more clumsily compared to the war and the friendships that follow a parallel path throughout the novel.

This one is for fans of love and war, more evolved world building, and family dramas. There is wrath and backstabbing. Unrequited attraction and misled hearts.

I am very excited for the next book in this series.

I devoured this debut. Revenge, tarot magic, forced proximity, and a brooding morally grey prince—what’s not to love?
Rune, a fierce former Wraith, enters the Immortal realms to find her stolen family and meets Prince Draven, the only other wielder of a rare tarot card.
The tension and banter between them kept me hooked, though I wish their slow-burn romance had lasted longer.
The tarot and druid magic system is surprisingly well-crafted, the worldbuilding layered, and the pacing addictive.
If you enjoy slow burn enemies-to-lovers, strong heroines, and magic that feels fresh, this book is a must-read. Can’t wait for book two!

I really enjoyed this book, it took me a while to get into it as I am a slow reader and new to fantasy, but this book was amazing and I enjoyed it, definitely a different read than what’s I’ve seen talked about and highly recommend it

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75/5)

A Vow in Vengeance follows Rune, our FMC, who’s determined to reunite with her family. To do so, she enters the Selection—a once-a-year event that grants chosen mortals passage beyond the wall into the immortal lands. Rune is selected and becomes a druid, wielding a unique tarot-based magic system. I really enjoyed how creative this magic system was, though at times, the heavy information dumps—especially about the three immortal kingdoms—felt a bit overwhelming.

Along the way, she meets Draven, our MMC, who shares her rare Arcane power, end up striking a bargain together. The banter between them kept me hooked! ❤️ I did wish there was a bit more spice, but I guess I’ll have to wait and see what book two brings!

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc! ❤️

Wow, what a great first book for Jaclyn Rodriguez. If this is where she begins, I can not wait to see what comes next. This fantasy takes place in a world of Seraphs, Druids, and Elves and humans. Rune, has lost her family to these immortals and is on a mission for get revenge for growing up without them. What she finds out in the immortal world opens her eyes in a whole new way. Imbued with new powers in the Druid world Rune is challenged mentally and physically while she continues to search for her lost family. This story is a page turner from the beginning and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Rating - ☆☆☆☆☆

This book delivered in so many ways. I loved following Rune’s journey. The pacing seemed somewhat slow at the beginning, but picked up quick and kept me invested the entire time. I liked meeting Draven and seeing their interactions.
The plot twists and secrets made this all the more enjoyable.
This was such a great read!

3.75 ⭐️

The pacing was quite slow up until 45% mark for me personally. I enjoyed the story overall and the unique magic system and world. It definitely picked up and I loved the banter between Rune and Draven.

I just want to thank NetGalley and Jaclyn Rodriguez for allowing me to read an arc of A Vow of Vengeance. I was influenced off TicTok to read the book, and the plot line caught my attention immediately. When I found out it was not even published yet I couldn’t wait to see if I was lucky enough to read it early. The story started out slow for me and I thought I was never going to like the book. Once I read further in and was familiar with the world building and fell in love with the characters, I was hooked. I was reading the book and could not put it down, finishing it in a few days’ time. The banter between the two main characters, enemies to lovers, fated mates, and found family tropes are all my favorites and my brain could not read fast enough. The plot twist at the end I never saw coming. I was sad when I was done reading and am desperately wanting the next book in the series. Great read. Thank you again!

I can't believe how glued I was to this book!
It has a very high enjoyability rate and I liked the world and the magic a lot. I think what kept me reading was the banter with the mmc, top tier :)
Unfortunately there were some things that annoyed me a bit.
Especially the beginning of this book. It felt really forced and fást between the mmc and the fmc from the moment they locked eyes. Normally I don't mind (no I like!) the common tropes etc, but I was snorting and rolling my eyes at the beginning of this book with second hand embarrassment for the fmc. It was too much and very predictable. The predictability stayed but connection between the fmc and mmc improved after the first 100 pages and it had me hooked!
I mean, read these quotes that I loved!:
- "I know you’re thirsty, but try and leave some for everyone"
- "with me, you always get to choose"
- "Well… at one point, Rune, you’ll need to release some tension. I’m patient..."
I am feral for prince Draven ieeh.
Anyways, below are some of the vibes and defintely check out this fantastic debut if this interests you!:
- Enemies to lovers
- Tarot magic
- fake dating
- magical academy

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Zando and Jaclyn for the e-ARC!

I think I just found my favorite read so far this year? And it’s a debut.?! I’m blown away by how hooked I was throughout this entire story! Jaclyn did a wonderful job immersing the reader in an intricate and complex world full of magic and betrayal! Rune was the type of character that, while she was imperfect, she was so easy to root for.

I cannot wait for more! Thank you so much!

4.5 ⭐️ A trope-filled fantasy romance that I devoured.

This gave me serious Fourth Wing vibes. It was intense, romantic, and totally addictive.

I loved A Vow in Vengeance. The plot was fast-paced, the world-building was immersive, and the romance was filled with all the best tropes:
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Fake fated mates
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 One bed
🖤”Touch her and you die”
🖤 Shadow daddy
🖤 Mind-to-mind communication
🖤 Wings AND Horns
🖤 Tension and banter

Rune is a total badass with a sharp tongue and a fierce heart, and I loved her. Draven had me instantly intrigued and their chemistry and slow-burn dynamic was so well done. I was literally squealing!! Plus the side characters were genuinely compelling, and the history, the curses, the magic system, the politics! The world felt fully fleshed out.

I didn’t quite get that 5-star feeling, but honestly? That’s probably more about my current reading mood and Kindle formatting than the book itself. I think I would’ve loved it even more in physical form, and I can’t wait to continue the series. I have already preordered my physical copy :D

This book was so good. I am so glad I received this ARC. I really enjoyed the plot, the storyline, and how it was paced. I think this is a good book for anyone who is into Romantasy. It was an easy read to follow along.

I am so excited for the next book!