The author created a majestic world with various magical element. The characters were spot on. An enjoyable read.

I‘m positively surprised. I honestly didn’t expect this book to be as good when I started it.

While it’s the second book in two months for me which uses Tarot cards as offensive magic, it’s still unique in its worldbuilding and after some input actually quite dark. The world is complex and I’m totally expecting to get even more details during the sequel, but the first book already gave many information without being too overwhelming in worldbuilding.

The romance plot was predictable but none the less well written. And I’m absolutely here for the fake dating part of it.
Still, it’s nothing new and the main reason why I only give 4 stars and not the full 5.

I definitely did not expect the turn of events around her heritage and family history, I was dumbfounded. Well and heartbroken.
AND I can’t wait for the sequel to be released because the end was making me extremely curious about what’s going on.

Overall a very nice read and absolutely a recommendation for everyone who loves a Romantasy with good worldbuilding.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

4 ⭐

Wow, this book had me on a rollercoaster.

I went from saying it has the potential to be my favourite read of the year, to it feels like I've read about this MMC before (I still very much love him) and a tiny bit bored in the middle to omg I love it again 😂

Firstly, the magic system! Omg! I don't use tarot cards but I absolutely loved the use of them as the magic system in this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed the main female character and a few of the side characters.

The world is so intriguing to me and the different species! I assume the druids are Fae, but having elves, seraphs and druids definitely hooked me in!

The ending! The twists!
I don't cry very often during books but I balled my eyes out in the last parts.

I will say my favourite part involves "written notes" to each other and leave it at that 🤭

Although, slightly predictable for me personally, it was such a fun read and I cannot wait and am so excited for the second book!

Thank you Net Galley & Jaclyn for an Advance Reader Copy!

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez is written in first-person POV, except for the Prologue. Told from Rune's POV.

This is the first book in a series and will end on a cliffhanger, be warned.
A Vow in Vengeance has such stunning world building and the Arcana being the magic system in place... I am literally obsessed. I have never read something with this take/approach.

Rune Ryker is a fierce FMC who embodies feminine rage. She is willing to do whatever it takes to survive and that includes making her journey to the immortal realm to find what happened to her parents. Rune makes her way to a magical school only to learn that not everything is as it seems. Having the setting be in a learning environment allowed for us to learn the systems in place without being overwhelmed by an info dump early on. This makes the journey through the story digestible and easy to fall in love with. Prince Draven, a morally gray MMC with wings–OF COURSE I LOVE HIM! Watching how, despite having his own plans and motives, he still falls for, protects, and supports Rune is absolute perfection.

Vibes: dark academia, dark romantasy, enemies to lovers, fake dating, fated mates (sorta), one bed, tarot magic system, touch her & die.

A slow burn for sure, but Rune and Draven make it so so worth the wait. I just loved them both so much.

A new winged shadow wielding MMC has entered the chat in this debut romantacy. I was initially hooked and intrigued by the unique magic system, but stayed for the witty banter and yearning between Draven and Rune. The relationship between Draven and Rune was a nice reprieve from trying to learn that magic system. It’s so cool that it’s based off tarot cards and the manifestation of the magic depends on the direction of the card when it’s pulled. It took me a while to figure out, but Rune is learning it too which also helps. This book checks so many troupes - forced proximity, one bed, fake relationship, enemies to lovers - and does them well. There’s magic, secrets, betrayal, and plotting. I had such a good time with this read and I’m really looking forward to book 2. If you’re a romantacy girlie this book is for you!

I am obsessed with tarot based magic systems!! THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BEST NEXT FANTASIES. HIGH STAKES. REVENGE. ACADEMY. Fantastic world building.

This was absolutely amazing. Once I started reading, I could barely stop!

From page one, you just drop into this vibrant world with a scrappy, stubbornly independent heroine you instantly start rooting for. Rune was everything you could want from a heroine. And Draven? Holy smokes, it was Love at First Smirk for me! He is arrogant, but has a mischievous air that just draws you in, knowing it is going to be a blast peeling back all of his layers and watching him verbally spar with Rune! Then, all of his green flags start going up, and how can anyone resist him?? (Touch her and die, a hangover cure, an iced vanilla latte, and then telling her to not blame herself for an aggressive guy attacking her? I mean, come on!! <3 )

The tension crackles like Tower's lightning between the two of them, hot as all hells, and it is absolutely delicious. The slow burn for this is no joke, but I loved every heated look, muttered curse, and cold shower (ha!). Rune and Draven initially hate one another as they are stuck living in a house together, then fake being fated mates (with one of my favorite "One Bed" scenes I think I've ever read!), before slowly recognizing the depth of their feelings.

Political intrigue with multiple kingdoms of immortals (druids, seraphs, and elves), changelings, and the threat to magic-less mortals abounds. The delicate tensions between them add fantastic depth. The dramas among the other changelings and druids balance out the deeper, higher stakes dramas that occur.

I really enjoyed the creatures in this world, especially the different immortals. The powers each possessed and how they used them, the physical differences, and the cultures being very different... The general diversity of every character, and how it was all just woven into the world, was also something I loved.

The tarot card based magic system of this was unique, and obviously well-researched. Each changeling/immortal has a card that choose them, and then they need to learn how to use the power (which is where the academia part of this fits in). The explanation of it all flowed seemleasly and was very easy to follow.

This entire story was so incredibly rich and well-written, I am absolutely going to have a hell of a book hangover!

I was initially captivated by the world-building and the intriguing premise of the story—it had so much potential. However, as the story progressed, I found myself feeling increasingly detached from the characters, and by the halfway point, my interest had waned. The romance felt forced and lacked emotional depth, making it difficult to invest in the relationship. At times, the story gave off Fourth Wing vibes, but without the same level of development or momentum. While the concept truly shone, the execution felt uneven, and the pacing struggled to keep me engaged. I really wanted to love this one, but in the end, it just didn’t hold me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
eARC
Tropes/themes: Academic setting, arcana/tarot magic, enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, fake relationship, close proximity, secret identities, found family

Firstly, I want to thank NetGalley, Zando/Slowburn, and Jaclyn Rodriguez for allowing me the opportunity to review this eARC. I think this book is going to be very popular when it releases in 2026. I read this book coming right from reading Arcana Academy and apparently Tarot/Arcana magic is the next big thing and I’m not mad about it.

A Vow in Vengeance reminds me of mixing Arcana Academy, Fourth Wing, and maybe a splash of Divergent and the Hunger Games. Definitely has some twists along the way and leaves a lot of twists still hanging for the next book, which I am excited for. It did take me about 30% of the way through this book to really get into it, but once I did it was pretty smooth sailing until the end of the book. Highly recommend for those who like a good enemies to lovers in an academic setting.

Spoiler Alert 🚨- May be plot spoilers below this line - 🚨 turn back now if you don’t want something spoiled. 😉

The story follows Rune who is a mortal growing up in a post war environment following a rebellion by the mortals against the immortals of the land (druids, seraphs, and elves). The mortals lost the rebellion, but put a curse on the immortals before they lost so that they would never again be able to reproduce their own offspring. SO every year, the immortal groups take turns doing a Selection (think Hunger Games) of 100 mortals to take back to their realms that are never heard or seen from again. No mortal knows what happens to them after Selection.

Rune’s mother, father, and twin brother were all taken by the Selection or immortals. Rune gets away and becomes a trained Wraith for a mortal lord, but gets pushed to her limit and burns his house to the ground and decides to try to get selected to save her family.

Enter Prince Draven of the druids. He and his little brother Ansel are the ones selecting the mortals at this years Selection and they take ruin. Rune soon finds out that the immortals offer the mortals a chance to jump off a cliff or pledge allegiance to their immortal ruler/kingdom. If they pledge, they get turned into Changelings (half Druid/half mortal) and then have the opportunity to become full immortal if they pass the Forge, which is their school for young adult druids and changelings. Before they get to the school, they have to be sorted into their Hearths by having a tarot card selection - think Harry Potter sorting hat but with tarot cards.

Of course, Rune picks the highest power tarot card and who is the only other person with that level of Major Arcana? None other than Prince Draven. They live under the same roof/Hearth and begin to discover things about one another and their ambitions. Prince Draven isn’t actually the son of the king, but also a changeling turned immortal and born of the mortal rebellion king. He wants Rune’s help taking over all three immortal realms and making it all better for everyone. Rune wants her family back. They make an arrangement to work together and fall in love along the way.

Now, by book end, Rune’s dad is 💀, we learn Rune’s mom is the one who put the curse on the immortals in the uprising and is wanted everywhere by immortals hoping to lift the curse, and Rune’s brother is in elvish territory but we haven’t met him yet. Although, I speculate he may be the dreaded Elven heir… guess we wait to find out in book 2. Rune and Draven have fallen in love, bonded themselves, and are ready to take on the world together.

It’s a fun and fairly fast paced (once you get past the first 30%). Highly recommend. I think people will love this read! Happy reading friends!

#netgalley #avowinvengeance #bookreview #ARC

Oh my god, this book had everything you could ever want and more. This was such a gripping read from start to finish. The characters were so entertaining and the banter and chemistry was off the charts. Dark Academia, Enemies to lovers, Fated Mates and Tarot Card Magic are just a few things to hook you and it should because these tropes were utilised so well, I'm in awe. Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the ARC!

“Can something made still have a fate?”

I’m OBSESSED.
This book just hit so good and will live rent free in my head for the foreseeable future.
The banter? 🥵 The fmc? Bad ass. The MMC? Yes please.
The magic system is unique and well thought out.

This book checked off everything I want in a Romantasy book. I can’t wait to see it blow up once it publishes!! You will NOT want to miss this one!

🌛 Arc Review 🌜
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Review: this book will be the new BookTok and Booksta will be obsessed with. I can see it now. I have never Pre-ordered a book so fast in my life!! For a debut novel this is an addicting masterpiece in itself. The magic system is very unique and very well done. The academic vibe in this book is again another chef kiss well done part of this plot. I love the school vibes. That is why I was so obsessed with fourth wing, and this feeds my obsession! Rune was an amazing FMC who is classically stubborn at her core and honestly a freaking badass character. Now my man Draven!! An arrogant brooding masterpiece he is! Literally could not think of a more perfect MMC! The tension in the slow burn had me literally burned ALIVE. I need book 2 RIGHT NOW! It’s a blessing and a curse to be an arc reader of such a great book. This book had me absolutely hooked from the dedication to the very final page when I was wishing that there was more. If you haven’t pre-ordered this book yet now would definitely be the time. I promise you this book will be your new obsession.
Thank you so much @netgalley & @zandoprojects and the wonderful @jaclynrodriguezauthor for letting me read this amazing book!

🖤 Vibes:
a curse, slow burn?, forced proximity, lots of banter, fake mates/fake relationship, found family-ish


📖 TL;DR:
👏GIVE👏ME👏MORE👏.
I can't believe this is just a debut and I feel SO BLESSED I got to read as an ARC and at the same time SO CURSED because I have to wait who knows how long for more!
I kept turning page after page completly immerse in the story. I loved that a lot happens and things move forward instead of endless monologues situations that doesn't really advance the plot/story. The magic system, the world building are very creative and well explained whitout being too much. What a gem, honestly. Everything is on the right dose (expect for the spice, if you're in just for the smut then this is not for you. Not yet at least).


🔥 Spice Level:
1/5 - there's only one scene I would put on the spicy label + sloooow burn


⭐ Things I give a thumbs up:

» THE MAGIC SYSTEM
» An MMC with horns and wings 😏
» The plot plots
» A bit of academia vibe
» THE PLOT TWIST (Call me naive, but I didn't see it coming at all)

🤷🏻‍♀️ Things that made me want to hit my head against the wall:

» It moves so fast that I kinda hoped a bit some things moved slower to enjoy (or suffer them) better.
» I'm just being picky here because not a real complain, but a bit more of drama could have enhaced the experience

🎯 Would I recommend it?:
OF COURSE! Absolutely worthy! You all have to put this on your TBR right now.

The first in a new duology, A Vow in Vengeance is Jaclyn Rodriguez’s debut novel but you’d be surprised to hear that. This New Adult Romantasy ticks all the boxes for me with the tropes I like and a writing style and plot that just drew me in from the offset with a unique magic system and a unique enough world.

Drawing on enough dystopian novels that have this premise, after a rebellion 15 years ago - a ‘Selection’ occurs every year where mortals are taken by one of 3 immortal races as punishment. Rune Ryman is taken by the Druids, a group not dissimilar to Fae from most Romantasy, who all weird magic via tarot decks and she happens to draw the most powerful; originally she’s pushing to be selected to find her family who have all been taken in the selections of the past. The only other to currently draw The World is Draven and the two already have gained a form of dislike to eachother (I wouldn’t call them enemies truly, though they could kill eachother I don’t think even at the start either would try) and after a few inciting moments end up posing as fated mates.

So we’ve definitely got Romantasy Bingo in all of this, with a winged boy with shadow powers in an enemies-ish to lovers relationship with a stabby bisexual FMC. We get court balls, we get secret missions, we get a magic school and we get them sharing a bed so people believe their ‘fake relationship’ more. And of course we get the whole “touch her and die” scenes and banter and flirting that is just very strong throughout. But I can easily point out tropes, and I will say each are done well.

Rune and Draven’s relationship feels so organic, with each reveal about their past and present so natural. We at this point cant really tell if their fated mates ruse is true, mostly because Rune can’t tell either, but their relationship is definitely the heart of the novel. They help each other, they flirt, banter and joke so naturally, they yearn for each other when the other is not around, and each element and new development doesn’t feel arbitrary to check a trope off of a list but a natural development of where the characters are at that point. Emphasising that, there’s only one sex scene and it’s as much about plot and character development as it is about their relationship. (Can you tell I’m fed up of pointless smut in Romantasy?)

Some parts did feel a little rushed and left me a bit unsure of why we needed to do things in the main plot but not enough to take away from the whole experience. I didn’t suffer from Arc 3 Romantasy frustrations that I normally get, a phenomenon where plot gets rushed in the final act to get you to care about the next book or to just have something finally happen, as the plot pacing was still strong throughout with reveals and action happening constantly.

Overall, I really really enjoyed my time with this and look forward to the next in the duology.

Thank you NetGalley and Zando/Slowburn for the ARC. My review is my own honest opinion.

A Vow in Vengeance had me absolutely hooked from the first page. It’s the perfect blend of action, romance, and rich magical worldbuilding, with just the right amount of spice and danger. Rune Ryker is a fierce, no-nonsense survivor who’s willing to burn the world down to find the truth and I loved every second of her journey.

The setting of the Forge, a brutal training ground for immortal druids, is both cutthroat and captivating, and the tarot-based magic system is unique and so well thought out. Every magical moment felt earned and added to the tension of the plot.

And let’s talk about Draven…broody, morally gray, infuriatingly hot, and just the right amount of dangerous. The enemies-to-lovers tension was perfection, and yes, there’s only one bed. 😏 The fake dating/fated mates twist added an extra layer of drama I couldn’t get enough of.

Would I recommend this book to you? YES YES YES

Expected Release Date: 01/13/2026

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I want to thank Zando Publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"A Vow in Vengeance" tells the story of Rune Ryker, an orphan-turned-Wraith, as she finds her place among the druids alongside the captivating Prince Draven. Chosen as one of the hundred mortals during the annual 'Selection' which claimed her family, Rune enters the druid world as a changeling, gifted with powerful magic that she and the others must learn to control at the Forge through various classes. Here, she faces the dual challenge of mastering her new abilities and navigating her growing attraction to the Prince.

Overall, I found this book to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. Initially, I saw similarities to books like "The Shepherd King" duology mixed with elements of "ACOTAR," but "A Vow in Vengeance" quickly establishes itself with its own unique merits. The magic system was inventive and engaging, and even with my limited background in tarot reading, I found it accessible and easy to follow. The twist near the end was genuinely surprising and well-executed – kudos to the author!

That being said, I believe some minor improvements and expansions could be made to the plot and character development before publication. Rune's initial introduction felt a bit abrupt; I often wondered why she was so cocky and abrasive without a clear reason. Perhaps expanding on this in the introduction or even providing a standalone 0.5 novella would help flesh out her backstory and give the reader more context. The quest itself was pretty neat, however, it just felt a little rushed. Exploring that a bit more (why do these objects exist? Were they used before in creating a unified kingdom? etc) would help for context and to add an additional layer to the story. Also, the bond between Rune and Prince Draven sometimes leaned more on exposition than organic development. Delving deeper into their interactions would amplify their chemistry and deepen the reader's emotional investment.

In conclusion, I'm giving this book a solid 4/5 stars. It was a pleasure to read, and with some strategic enhancements, it has all the ingredients to become a flawless 5/5 star experience. Looking forward to the next installment, and hats off to a great debut.

Thank you for allowing me to read this advanced copy.. This book had me hooked from the first page. I loved how A Vow of Vengeance is a dark, emotional fantasy full of magic, betrayal, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. Jacqueline Rodriguez creates a rich world with deep characters and plot twists that kept me guessing. I love revenge stories with heart and high stakes, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

I enjoyed this so much that I stopped halfway through to preorder the physical copy, and then it somehow got better? Incredible. The story so nicely balances elements of romance and fantasy, both description and action are in good supply, and it uses the tropes very effectively as well. The pacing is also very pleasant and the book never feels too long. I can see this shaping into a very well constructed duology. The magic system was a little complicated to get my head around, but it helps that Rune is also learning it at the same time. Speaking of Rune - if you’re a Nesta girlie like me, I think you’ll love her. Her and Draven have insane on page chemistry.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for this ARC*

This is a debut novel, and I think it’s 100% worth reading! This story delivers a fresh spin on a magical academy with a unique tarot-based magic system and what originally starts as four kingdoms. The tension and banter between Rune (our FMC) and Prince Draven (our MMC), the only other magic user at her level, crackle with energy thanks to their forced proximity and killer dynamic.

I’ll admit, the tarot magic system was a bit tricky to grasp at first, but since Rune was struggling too, I happily jumped on the struggle bus with her. It made her journey feel even more real and immersive. I hope we get some pictures or reels to help bring this piece to life. At certain points, I was imagining Pokeman/ Yu-Gi-Oh! card style battles with the magic system.

What truly resonated with me was Rune’s motivation—her fierce love and sacrifices for her family really struck a chord as an eldest daughter. Her determination to become the strongest in an unfamiliar, dangerous world felt deeply authentic and heartfelt.

The plot unfolds with well-paced twists, layered friendships, and emotional stakes that tug at your heartstrings without relying on heavy brooding. The romance stays low on the spice scale (around a 1), favoring simmering chemistry and slow burn tension.

If you’re a fan of Fourth Wing but crave something a little lighter, easier and just as gripping, this book is definitely worth a read.

I loved it. Totally completely utterly loved it. Can't wait to see what happens in book 2. Enemies to lovers is totally my style so I completely devoured this book.