A mortal wraith finds herself a student in a magical school ran by the ones who took everything from her. Magic, tarot, and an academy…all the fun things that are so hot right now merged into one unforgettable tale.

The world building is perfect and the tarot magic is so unique I was blown away. This magic system has a steep learning curve, luckily we get to walk through it with the FMC at the academy, building our knowledge naturally. There was definitely great banter, chemistry and a slow burn between the main characters that had me hooked. The amount of interruptions these enemies to lovers had was so stressful it kept me up all hours of the night! From unexpected twists and turns to the character development, this romantasy gives a refreshing take on the usual tropes.

Fantastic Romantasy book for fans of Fourth Wing and ACOTAR. Rodriguez has created a brilliant world based on Tarot magic, something I was really unfamiliar with prior to this book, but quickly became enamored with. I absolutely loved the banter between Rune and Draven and can see him quickly becoming the internet's next book boyfriend. I'm just mad that I have to wait until NEXT YEAR for everyone to experience this book. Can't wait to see what how the series unfolds!

Wow wow wow. What a great example of the genre: as others have said, if you love fourth wing or any of the Sarah J Maas books then you’ll love this too. Great world building and relationship development. I couldn’t put it down.

5 stars for me, as it kept me reading until the early morning hours. I was barely functional besides reading…

Is it something completely new?
No, many elements are familiar from other romantasies like „Fourth Wing“s Academy setting or the blackhaired, violet-eyed, broody MMC.
Do I care about that? Not really, there are only so many eye- and hair-colors…and in my head, no matter the description, they all look like a young Henry Cavill anyway.

For me this works as I will never be able to read ACOTAR, The Kindreds Curse or The Empyrean a first time again. So I am happy to find similar tropes in other books.
If I want a complex high fantasy with new complex worlds and mechanics I turn to Brandon Sanderson, but in Romantasy I want to feel at home and I want my heroes to be happy in the end.

New for me was the magic system with a well-developed detailed Tarotcard-basis. At the start that confused me, but obviously the FMC, who is thrown into this realm, has her issues with that too. So, it is kind of mirroring.

Spice level was so far low, but I did not miss it. The story was captivating, lots of banter had me laughing out loud at times.

Jaclyn Rodriguez writing style made for an enjoyable and effortless read.

E. g. in the course of the story, you will encounter the following tropes:

•⁠ ⁠Enemies to Lovers
•⁠ ⁠Slow-burn (still burning)
•⁠ ⁠wings
•⁠ ⁠forced proximity
•⁠ ⁠he trains her
•⁠ ⁠Academy setting
•⁠ ⁠well, no dragons so far, but draken and wyvern

So, readers, who liked „Fourth Wing“, Spark of the Everflame“ or a „Court this Cruel and Lovely“ should put this definitely on their reading list.

I am looking forward to the next book, I am expecting a bit more world building and I really need to know if she gets wings!

A Vow of Vengeance is a dark fantasy romance woven with secrets, simmering tension, and a heroine fueled by revenge. While strong on its own, it echoes several popular fantasy series. Still, it brings action, angst, and a fierce heroine on a deadly path.

Tropes
✅️ Hidden Identity
✅️ Magic School / Training Grounds
✅️ Revenge Quest
✅️ Forbidden Love
✅️ He Falls First
✅️ Found Family
✅️ Fated Mates Vibes
✅️ Enemies-to-Lovers
✅️ Strong Heroine / Warrior FMC

📖Storyline
At just fourteen, the FMC loses everything. Her father and brother are taken during the Selection, a brutal ceremony where one hundred mortals are chosen by the Immortals every ten years. Her mother, in a desperate attempt to avoid the selection and protect the FMC, disappears. Believed to have been taken as well, the FMC is left completely alone.

In this world, mortals live under the oppressive rule of Immortals powerful, near-untouchable beings divided into three distinct castes, each wielding unique forms of magic. When the selection occurs, these Immortals descend like gods, choosing their "tithe" from the mortal population.

Fuelled by grief, rage, and the echo of a family stolen from her, the FMC spends years training in secret. She hardens herself into a weapon, then takes a dangerous step to be selected, joining the very empire that destroyed her life. Disguised and determined, she enters the Immortals’ elite training grounds to dismantle them from within.

But what she didn’t plan for was the connection she feels to her commanding officer, a prince burdened by duty, secrets, and a darkness that mirrors her own. As buried truths emerge and tarot-bound magic stirs, she’s forced to question everything. Her vengeance is no longer a straight path, and she might be far more powerful and less alone than she ever believed.

🎭Characters
Our FMC is all grit and shadows calculated, cunning, and so easy to root for. The MMC? Swoon. Protective but not overbearing, emotionally complex with that tortured softness I crave. Their chemistry is tension-laced perfection.
And the side characters? Chef's kiss. Banter-filled found family vibes, especially between the combatants, gave that siblings-but-not energy that made me laugh and ache at the same time.

✍️ Writing & Pacing
Jaclyn Rodriguez’s writing is sharp and emotionally immersive, especially when it comes to tension, banter, and inner turmoil. The pacing is well balanced, action-packed moments broken up with emotional introspection and slow-burn chemistry that simmers throughout.

That said, the writing style and structure felt heavily inspired by other popular fantasy titles. From chapter openings with communication snippets to familiar character dynamics and academy settings, there were strong Fourth Wing vibes that sometimes pulled me out of the story. It occasionally felt like a blend of Sarah Mass, The Hunger Games, Dark Window, and Fourth Wing in a way that didn’t always feel subtle. The use of tarot cards as a magical tool, while cool, is something I’ve seen repeated across multiple recent ARCs, making it feel less original here.

Still, the worldbuilding is compelling, the emotional beats land, and the story delivers a gripping arc of revenge, power, and unexpected connection.

🧠 Final Thoughts
Vow of Vengeance delivers a gripping, emotional journey packed with vengeance, found family, and forbidden connection. The worldbuilding is rich with lore, magic, and political tension, and I was fully invested in the FMC’s mission and emotional unravelling. While the story stands on its own, the heavy inspiration from other popular fantasies was hard to ignore and occasionally pulled me out of the experience.

Still, I flew through the pages. The banter hit, the tension built beautifully, and the ending left me desperate for more. If you're in the mood for a morally grey romance wrapped in rebellion and magic with familiar beats and a fierce heroine, this one's worth picking up

Overall Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 but rounded up ( mainly due to it being too similar to other popular books in an unsubtle way)

Who Would Love This Book
🖤 Readers obsessed with morally grey leads
🖤 Anyone who screams at enemies-to-lovers tension
🖤 If you want a heroine who is as deadly as she is soft
🖤 Those who live for a story built on vengeance, loyalty, and love that hurts

This book has it all: world building, slow burn, twists and turns... chef's kiss! I was super intrigued by the use of tarot cards throughout, which could have been a flop, but somehow totally worked for this plot. It was a bit slow moving at points, but I have to believe (and hope in all my heart) that the author took her time creating this world and all its fantastic characters to set us up for a thrill-ride of a story in the sequel. I cannot wait! Draven! He is the perfect mix of good and bad boy. MUST READ!

WOWWW!! I loved everything about this book, genuinely. The descriptions of the world, tarot, power system, ETC!! were so unique and fun. I loved both of the main characters as well as the background characters! The banter…. The spice….the action…. I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of the series.

“Until fate has her say, and time washes away the name on my grave… you are mine.”

A Vow in Vengeance is, without hesitation, my book of the year so far. In my opinion, this is everything good and right about the up-and-coming Romantasy genre: the perfect amount of flirty tension and romance mixed with worldbuilding that enhances the main couple rather than detracting from them.

Draven Vos has officially dethroned every other book boyfriend I thought I had. Somewhere between his colour-changing eyes and his "hatefully and adoringly" devotion to Rune, I lost all sense of judgement... and dignity.

The best part about this book? The electric, flirty banter between the main couple. Never before have I laughed and kicked my feet so hard when reading a book. I would struggle to say that this is a slow-burn. The magnetic chemistry between Rune and Draven is immediately palpable and leaves the couple struggling to stay away from each other (not to mention the forced proximity and one-bed trope). I would also argue that, because of this, the book very loosely follows the enemies-to-lovers definition, so readers, take that trope with a pinch of salt.

The magic system is unique, well-explained and surprisingly easy to follow. The magic academy setting is a fun backdrop that facilitates the reader's learning process, but at the end of the book, it left me wanting more. One minor flaw I found was the depth of the side-characters in the overall plotline. I enjoyed reading Rune interacting with her new allies (and potential enemies), but found myself sometimes mixing them up and forgetting their individual backgrounds. However, with the focus being on the romance, this flaw did not detract from the overall emotional experience that was A Vow in Vengeance.

Thank you, Zando and NetGalley, for the privilege of reading this ARC!

this felt like a very formulaic romantasy - a blend of a bunch of different books (one dark window, hunger games, fourth wing...) and I just didn't really care about the world or any of the characters. it didn't feel fresh or original to me. the writing was fine, but I didn't like much else.

thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley & Zando publishing for this arc! I am so absolutely in love with this book. I devoured it from front to back !!! This is definitely my favorite Romantasy of the year !! Jaclyn Rodriguez did such a beautiful job at bringing this fantasy to life. It had all my favorite romance tropes: fated mates, enemies to lovers, forced proximity. The magic system was unique with tarot card magic. Setting took place in a high stakes academy and had different kingdoms. The world building was easy to comprehend and understand. What I loved the most were the plot twists scattered throughout the book. I was on the edge of my seat thinking one thing and then BOOM something else occurred! The author did an amazing job at making it a fantasy with romance and adventure. I cannot wait to recommend this book! The only downside is that it doesn’t come out until January 2025!!

4.5 ⭐️

This was so good!! I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was excellent, the magic system was really unique, and I ate up magic school setting.

Rune and Draven are what made the story for me, the banter and tension was perfect. Rune was bold and vulnerable, I loved seeing her character develop throughout the book. Draven though, i’m OBSESSED. He really made the book for me, he was strong and protective but soft when it came to Rune.

I would have liked more backstory and depth from the side characters but I also don’t feel it took away from the story. so excited to see what happens in book two!

Thank you net galley and the publisher for the arc <3

i loved this book and read it in one sitting! such a gripping and exciting story with breathtaking twists and lovely characters. i had a great time reading it and honestly can't wait for book two. rune and draven have my whole heart. <3

Jaclyn Rodriguez’s romantasy debut includes world-building that hooks you from page one, weaving a gritty, immersive realm that feels alive with danger and intrigue. The magic system is unique and based on tarot cards that funnel the druids power. The pacing is a chef’s kiss—tight, deliberate, and perfectly stoking the slow-burn romance that had me feral for Rune and Draven’s every charged glance. Rune, our fierce FMC, storms in with a blazing quest for vengeance, her pain fueling a “Who Hurt You?” trope that hits like a dagger to the heart. She’s no damsel—she’s a firestorm, wronged by a brutal system and ready to torch it to ashes.

Enter Draven, our winged, morally gray shadow daddy of a prince, who’s all brooding intensity and “I’ll burn the world for you” energy. The sparks between them? Electric, with a one-chili-pepper spice level that builds from enemies-to-lovers tension to a partnership that’s as steamy as it is strategic. Their chemistry thrives on shared wounds and mutual defiance, making their team-up to dismantle the system that scarred them both feel gloriously inevitable. Rodriguez nails the trope balance—fated mates vibes without losing the gritty edge of their rebellion.

The world’s vivid stakes and Rune’s complex mix of strength and vulnerability elevate this beyond typical romantasy. Draven’s layered darkness, teetering between protector and destroyer and vulnerable lover, kept me glued to every page.This ARC was a five-star knockout, and I’m already salivating for Book 2 to see how their revolution—and romance—ignites further.

A Vow in Vengeance is an epic world of humans and immortals with deep seeded hatred toward eachother, both looking for vengeance and to find a way to right the past wrongs.

I felt immersed in the world, truly, from the prologue. Such detail went into giving characters raw emotions , good and bad, and I could feel it on every page. Rune can be heartbreakingly relatable.

I love the way the magic is used and presented. There are many different kinds and it can be open to all people in a way. It was interesting to see Tarot blend with the magic of this world.

There's always a soft spot in my heart for any kind of romance built off a friendship, albeit a rocky one. This one is no different. Such a longing between the characters.

What a fantasy setting! A big 5/5 for me.
I'm excited to see where this series contiues!

Rune lost her family to the Immortals. She wants her revenge and makes sure she is Selected for the Wall. She makes it over the Wall and gets into the Forge. Tarot cards are magic and Rune got the rarest of all. At the beginning of classes, the magic doesn't work for her. The cards have different magical powers. Rune and Draven end up working together to get what they both want, after they learn each other's secrets. I felt as if the characters weren't really developed, so it was really hard to get into their story and feel much for them or feel like I wanted to be a part of their story.

The book seems to move slowly. It was hard to want to keep going. The author added too much extra fluff to the book and it was stagnant at times, as it didn't move the story forward fast enough. This book wasn't what I expected it to be.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC preview and give my review voluntarily.

Is Tarot the new Romantasy theme?!?! Because this is my third new 2025 Romantasy that is using Tarot as their magic system. Not that there’s anything wrong with using it, but I’m seeing a trend here. I’ll be honest I’m not quite sure if I’m a fan of it. Now that’s not the authors fault, but as someone who has never dabbled with Tarot I feel like for a new Romantasy book. We should give a brief overview so the reader can understand. However, in Vow in Vengeance your tossed right into it and expect to just figure it out. Which as a reader really threw me and found me more confused then I’d care to admit.

Once we got past that hurdle the res of this book was a ton of fun to read. We've got a magical school, an enemies to lovers relationship, a sarcastic FMC who has no filter, plus prince shenanigans. Like what more can you ask for.

My absolute favorite part of this entire book was Rune, our MFC. She definitely gives off Bryce Quinlan vibes. Her sass and sarcasm carried this book. Runes journey to find her family, balance her school training and throw in a romance. Our girl is clearly going through it. I honestly don’t know how she managed it all.

Our MMC on the other hand honestly felt like a Rhys rip off. Now don’t get me wrong I love a good shadow daddy as much as the next book reviewer but could we maybe give him a little more depth. Hopefully in book 2 we’ll see his character more flushed out and less annoying. I will admit his banter with Rune was top notch.

Overall, for a first book in a new Romantasy series I enjoyed it. I will also be continuing on with the series. Plus I would recommend this book for anyone who’s fans of ACOTAR & Fourth Wing. Lastly big thank you to NetGalley & Zando publishing for providing an arc for me to read and review!

The concept for this A Vow in Vengeance really intrigued me, I loved the tarot idea - it reminded me of One Dark Window. However I really struggled once reading. The pace was slow and it felt hard to get though, the reader learnt things through the FMC (which can work) but it fell a bit flat just telling us rather than showing.

Found family is another fave of mine but I just couldn’t get behind the side characters - they were also flat and not really fleshed out.

Again it was such an interesting concept, but not something for me.

I absolutely devoured it! This book grabbed me from the very first page and didn't let go. If you're a fan of dark fantasy, revenge plots, and an incredibly satisfying slow burn romance, you need this book in your life.

First off, I have to shout out how well done the tarot elements were! As someone who reads tarot casually, it always bugs me when books just throw in cards without any real understanding of their meanings. Not here! The way the author wove in the cards — from The Tower to The High Priestess — felt intentional and true to their real-life symbolism. The way they guided the story and reflected the emotional arc of the characters was just chef's kiss. It added such a mystical depth and grounded the magic in a way that felt authentic.

And speaking of characters — the chemistry between the FMC and MMC?? HELLO?? That slow burn was the kind that keeps you flipping pages at 2am. It's the perfect mix of tension, longing, banter, and emotional growth. You can feel the pull between them, and the pacing was so well done that when things finally ignited, it felt earned. Ugh, I’m still not over it!

This book is everything I love in a fantasy romance: lush worldbuilding, morally gray choices, magic that actually matters to the plot, and a romance that makes your heart ache in the best way. I already can’t wait to re-read it when it officially comes out.

Highly recommend for fans of slow burns, powerful heroines, and a touch of the arcane.✨

Fourth Wing fans do not miss this one!

4.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️
I would like to thank Netgalley and Zando Publishing for the opportunity to arc read ‘A Vow in Vengeance’ and in return her is my honest unbiased review

This almost gave a little Hunger Games at the beginning, mixed with a little Dark Window (magic) and Zodiac Academy with side of Fourth Wing.

A dark Romantasy with enemies to lovers vibes, fake dating and found family with all the tension and banter you love between the two main characters. The book is written in third person following Rune’s (FMC) perspective. The book is character based and was easy to read.

I want to give this book 5 plus stars but there is just a few things keeping me from doing that but I hope by the time the book is published maybe the editing team has caught some of things that could make this book perfection.

1. The world is made up of Mortal, Seraphs, Elven and Druids. If you are a beginner fantasy reader you may feel a little lost has an explanation of what the different immortals are isn’t explained.
Besides that I felt the world building was well done and is done is such away that you has the reader are learning about it has the FMC is learning.

2. The main magic system we learn about is unique and is used by tarot cards but again if you were a beginner fantasy reader an explanation of what tarot cards are would help the reader. The explanation of what each card does is well done and there is a helpful glossary at the beginning of the books too. Each immortal kingdom has their own magic but it’s the Druid magic that is in the forefront of this book.

3. There is a section later in the book were the two main characters are writing letters to each other, it starts of in letter form but switches to looking like they are speaking mind to mind but they are still writing the letters it was confusing and I had to back track to make sure they were still actually writing letters. This could have been a simple formatting mistake that was hopefully caught with editing.

With those threes things aside, I feel if you read this book you are either going to love it or hate it and I for one loved it. ❤️‍🔥 Although it feels like a lot of other Romantasy type books I do feel it has a unique story line that I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. I was captivated from the first page to the last. I didn’t want to put it down, this book held my attention 100%.

I love Rune she is a strong Female main character, she has sass and stands up for herself. Rune had some self-confidence issues at the start but she had really good character growth in this book and I can’t wait to see what the author does with her character.

Draven is your typical Dark brooding MMC but under all the tough exterior he has a certain vulnerability to him that makes it easy to fall in love with him.

Rune and Draven have the perfect amount of tension and banter between and loves seeing the progress of their relationship towards each other. Although there is an instant attraction to one another I would consider this a slow burn because it hasn’t caught fire yet, if you know what I mean 😉.

I loved the side characters, well at least most of them.
I would like to see more from the side characters maybe explore some of their back stories in the following books just to feel a little more attached to them.

The book ends on a small cliffhanger, nothing too dramatic.
I can’t wait for book two.

A Vow in Vengeance was a super fast paced, intriguing read. It had high stakes magic, with a unique tarot based magic system that almost reminded me of the Shepherd King duology? My favourite aspect of this was Rune however, she was fiery, stood on business, and her quest for a found family made my heart ache at time.

There was a gorgeous amount of world building that made it feel so easy to get lost in this world, especially for a debut novel, and the slow burn was buuuurning!!

If youre looking for your next romantasy read with all your favourite tropes but a unique magic system, look no further.