Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read A Vow in Vengeance in exchange for my honest review.
Jaclyn Rodriguez’s A Vow in Vengeance is a fast-paced and addictive romantasy debut that pulls readers into a world of deadly magic, political intrigue, and enemies-to-lovers tension. Rune Ryker is a fierce and determined heroine with a sharp edge, driven by loss and revenge as she risks everything to infiltrate the Immortal Realms and survive the brutal Forge academy. The tarot-based magic system is a unique and intriguing twist that adds depth to the world-building, while the cutthroat environment of the Forge keeps the stakes high. Prince Draven is the perfect morally gray counterpart to Rune. Their relationship is filled with banter, dangerous alliances, and just the right amount of slow-burn chemistry.
This book offers all the tropes romantasy fans love, including fake dating, forced proximity, and a thrilling enemies-to-lovers arc that crackles with tension. The twists and betrayals keep the pages turning, and the vivid magic system adds a fresh layer to the genre. While this is a story packed with action and romance, it also explores themes of power, sacrifice, and survival in a world where trust is a dangerous game. A Vow in Vengeance is perfect for readers who enjoy ruthless heroines, complex love interests, and magical realms full of danger. It earns a solid 4 stars from me, and I am eager to see where this series goes next.

3.5 stars

A Vow in Vengeance started off really strong following our FMC, Rune, who is hoping to be reunited with her family by being chosen during the “Selection,” a once-a-year event where the immortals come to the mortal world and take 100 humans back to their lands. Rune had no idea what was waiting for her on the other side, but she certainly didn’t expect to be turned into a Druid changeling and dropped into a magical academy to master her new, powerful tarot magic. Rune is desperate to reunite with her family, but the immortal lands are vast, spread across 3 kingdoms, so she strikes a secret bargain with the devastatingly charming Druid Prince, Draven. If she can help him secure his throne, he can help her find her family.

I really enjoyed the world-building and history between mortal and immortal kingdoms. I also found the chemistry between Rune and Draven to be very strong and palpable. But I ultimately feel that this book tried to accomplish too much in 400 pages. With such a complex history and magic system, there ended up being a lot of info-dumping, which became hard to digest. I also found the tarot card magic to be overly complicated and a lot to learn. The Academy setting has a lot of potential, but we spent almost no time experiencing it. When Rune is developing her tarot magic skills, we’re told about her progress rather than experiencing it alongside her. The theme of vengeance never really came to fruition, in my opinion. We’re told that Rune wants vengeance for her family being taken, but this idea seems to abandoned fairly early on in the story as new information comes to light, which makes the title of the book a bit misleading.

I think the concept of this book, along with its world and characters, is strong, and with a better execution it could be a 4-5 star read. Nevertheless, I did enjoy my reading experience and will likely be picking up book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars arghhhh! Let me explain… (and grab a cup of tea cos this is a bit of a chaotic rant). This review does contain book spoilers marked by <spoiler>

Firstly, I loved reading this book! I can’t wait for the sequel and I would recommend it to others. However, I do have a couple of issues (which I think could be fixed!) and I hope to see some edits made before it is published.

This book has SO MUCH potential and could easily become 5 stars!

The book started off so well!

Our FMC is Rune, a former Wraith who enters the Immortal realms to find her stolen family and ends up meeting our dark and handsome brooding Prince Draven, the only other wielder of the rarest tarot card… let me explain…

This book has a magic system that is unique to me, and very refreshing from a lot of other books. The magic is based on hierarchical wielding of tarot cards! I enjoyed it greatly and look forward to seeing it in later books!

The romance in this was good-ish! The tension was there along with the banter. It had some of my fav tropes (forced proximity, enemies to lovers) however, I felt it got rushed. It was set up as such a good slow-burn and then suddenly it wasn’t anymore.

I think where this stems from is that I found that from maybe 70% (?) through, the whole book felt rushed which impacted a multitude of things including the romance. Give me more tension, will-they-won't-they moments for longer. This is the first in the series, they do not need to be <spoiler> lovey-dovey </spoiler> by the end.

Plot wise, we have a good setup to start with. Introduction to the druids, their powers, the other immortals (little less on that part) and then suddenly BAM its all happening and I’m still getting confused between Kings and groups. When we went searching for <spoiler> one of the artifacts </spoiler> that’s when it all started feeling rushed. Like there is so much potential it just needs more umph and experiencing the information rather than being told it. For example when the MCs find <spoiler> 2 artifacts, the first showed a bit more action with the fighting in the cave, however so much so I completely missed Ruin grabbing the wand till after. And then with the cup I was SO dissapointed, like what do you mean he went and grabbed it and we heard about it by pen? It felt very anticlimatic. I want more umph with these given how important they seem? I also need more emotional impact to Rune's family. It also felt rather handed to her on a platter about her dad, mum, and brother. I would've assumed they would be harder to find/interact with. Additionally after that chaos, 11 months just suddenly skip by?? </spoiler> This impacted the world/political plot building as it felt rushed.

What I wish was like another 100-150 more pages to flesh this out. Show me more rather than tell. Spend more time in the other kingdoms (?places). More pages would also give me more connection to our side characters (friends and family). And then I feel like this would be an incredible book!

The ending was a little better but also felt rushed. Again I needed more time with the characters for the betrayal to have more shock factor. I need more emotional connection to those who die. Instead I was just a bit eh.

Overall I think the author writes scenes/action really well! I love the magic, the world, the romance, and the plot - it just really needs more fleshing out and slowing down in the last third.

Huge thanks to the Zando, Jaclyn Rodriguez, and NetGalley for the ARC!

For me, there were several minor problems that accumulated over time. For example, the characters seemed one-dimensional and bland. Even though I normally give characters time to grow, I still didn't have a strong connection to them by the time I got to the 70% mark. They didn't grow much, and I never really understood them beyond their outward appearance. Another significant obstacle was the writing style. It was frequently awkward and verbose, which made it hard to focus.

Trope: Academia, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity

Spice: 3/5 (only one intimate written scene for about a page though)

I will preface this review with the fact that the academia trope is not my favorite, and that I took a chance on this book due to the publisher. I was slightly intrigued by the summary, but I kept my expectations low overall. The market for romance and fantasy is expanding rapidly beyond our control; thus, I feel that a lot of new books being released read as fanfictions of previous authors. I do not want to claim that this book is or has been taking anything from other stories, but I felt as if I was reading a merger of Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J Maas for about 80% of the story. In addition to that feeling, it was one long love letter to tarot.

This book has been set up to either have a direct sequel or be a part of a series. A lot had been thrown into this first book and I feel that a lot of exposition was lost. I did not feel emotionally invested with any of the characters. I felt that the author was telling me what I should be feeling, but the actual writing did not bring forth those emotions. If I am going to read a story that is set in academia, then I want a good portion of the story to be within the classes and doing homework and speaking with/about the teachers. With this book, we had the first two days of classes and then massive time jumps. I do not know anything about tarot itself but three of the classes were centered around it. Upon finishing, I may have learned 2%.

There were a lot of names and characters introduced to us that were never mentioned again, ranging from animals to professors. I would hope that they would appear in future books, but I also feel that they are forgotten threads. I really wanted a history lesson on why these species hated each other. We were given a brief history, but I was actually confused by the events and the general timeline of the story. I wish a character had asked more questions pertaining to that history, or that it took three more pages to explain. If that had happened, then later plot twists would have actually surprised me instead of confused me.

I could critique a lot more about this, but I would also feel bad about doing so. If you enjoy tarot and druid mythology, then this book may be for you. This book would be safe for young adults. The spicy scene is descriptive (and also kind of poorly written) but is less than a page. The subject content is VERY reminiscent of Fourth Wing or ACOTAR or even Harry Potter. Once again, I felt that this was equitable to fanfiction but I will also attribute that thought to the saturated market.

This book is an absolute must read, right from the first page it just consumes you. From forced proximity to dark academia this is the perfect romantasy to read next. The magic and world building Jaclyn has throughout this book are beautifully done the characters feel so real and just overall seamlessly done.

3.75⭐️s. I enjoyed this book and found the story fun and entertaining. There was just something missing to make me love it. I don’t know if it was angsty enough for me between them but I did feel like there were some large time leaps and wanted to read more about the academy itself and the learning

This was an absolutely electrifying read! From the very first page, I was completely swept away by the intricate world-building and the sheer intensity of the narrative.

The characters are incredibly well-developed, each with layers of complexity that make them feel remarkably real. Rodriguez masterfully weaves together suspense, emotion, and action, creating a story that is both gripping and deeply satisfying. The tarot magic system is so well done!

This book is a true triumph, a thrilling journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last word. A must-read for anyone looking for a powerful and unforgettable romantasy experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and Slowburn for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun, sharp romantasy read! Rune is a total badass, entering the Immortal academy for revenge, not romance- but of course there’s a broody, arrogant prince (hi, Draven 👀) and a fake-fated-mates situation that delivers.

The tarot-based magic system is super unique, and the vibes are giving dark academia meets Fourth Wing. If you’re into slow-burn enemies-to-lovers with high stakes and serious spice, this one’s 100% worth the hype.

A Vow in Vengeance is a thrilling ride packed with revenge, magic, and some seriously intense emotions. Jaclyn Rodriguez delivers a story that’s both fierce and heartbreaking, with a heroine who’s laser-focused but struggles with her own demons.
The worldbuilding is vivid, and the stakes feel high from the start. I loved the slow-burn romance and the way the characters evolved through pain and trust. If you like dark fantasy with complex characters and lots of tension, this one’s worth a read.

I had such a great time with *A Vow in Vengeance*! Thanks for the ARC NetGalley, and I honestly didn’t expect to get sucked in so quickly, but the world Jaclyn Rodriguez created completely hooked me. The magic system, especially the way tarot is woven into the story, is so fresh and cool—it gave the whole thing a dark, mysterious vibe that I really loved. I was especially drawn to the way the Forge functions and how brutal and high-stakes everything felt without being overwhelming.

The plot is fast-paced and packed with tension, and even though there are a few familiar tropes, the execution felt new and compelling. Rune is a fierce and stubborn lead, and I really admired her grit and determination. Her dynamic with Draven is intriguing—there’s a definite spark there—but I’ll admit their relationship still feels like it’s missing just a bit of emotional depth for me. That said, I’m definitely invested enough to want to see how their connection evolves in future books.

This is a powerful romantasy debut with the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay in its world just a little longer. I’m already looking forward to the sequel and can’t wait to see where the story goes next. If you love tarot-based magic, dangerous schools, and morally gray characters with slow-burn tension, definitely give this one a shot.

For those wanting a book with more inclusion and diversity, underlying political themes, pride in heritage, mixed with fantasy - this is the book to do it. The sentence structure is clunky on occasion, with spelling and grammar errors every so often that pulled me from the storytelling.

The book itself starts slow. It took awhile to truly grasp my attention. It was pretty clear this was a debut novel that pulled from a lot of the popular fantasy novels (ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, LOTR, etc), but the plot is worth the read. A unique magic system, by way of Tarot cards. An interesting take on mortals vs fae/immortals. I was fully invested in the story by the end, and will absolutely be reading the rest of the series. I need to know how Rune and Draven fix their world!

Loved this! It was fun, engaging and easy to dive into. The Tarot based system was really exciting to read about.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez

This book had me torn in the best way—equal parts intrigued and overwhelmed. The characters are the shining stars here: deeply compelling, emotionally layered, and easy to root for (or against 👀). Jaclyn Rodriguez does a phenomenal job of crafting personalities that stay with you long after the final page.

That said, the plot itself was a bit convoluted. There were moments where it felt like things were made unnecessarily complicated or stretched just beyond believability, which pulled me out of the story at times. Still, the tension and emotional stakes kept me turning pages.

If you love character-driven stories with drama, secrets, and a dash of vengeance, this one’s worth the ride—even if the road gets a little twisty.

Jaclyn Rodriguez’s A Vow in Vengeance is an intense and atmospheric fantasy debut that throws you into a magical world of druids, seraphs, and elves -- all while weaving in familiar (but fresh) threads reminiscent of Fourth Wing, Six of Crows, ACOTAR, and The Hunger Games. It’s fast-paced, high-stakes, and full of moments that had me on the edge of my seat.

The world-building is absolutely one of the book’s strengths. I loved the structure of the selection, the different magical races, and most of all, the tarot-based magic system. It’s such a unique and intriguing concept, and something I haven’t really seen explored in other fantasy novels. The use of tarot as a form of spellwork was super cool, and I hope we see it deepen in future books.

The romance was another standout for me. Draven is an excellent love interest. He is mysterious but not in an annoying, emotionally unavailable way. There’s real depth to his character, and he is a dreamer which I also appreciate (*cough *cough rhys) and the slow-burn tension between him and the protagonist worked so well. It felt earned and steady rather than rushed or forced, and I genuinely cared about their connection.

I really liked Wynter. He’s sweet, protective, and just… a cutie. Meanwhile, Morgan can choke. And Kaspar?? I don’t even know what to say about Kaspar. Both gave me the heeby-jeebies from the beginning and I was def not wrong about that.

The artifact quest portions were fun, though I do wish we had actually seen Draven retrieve the Cup as it felt a little anticlimactic compared to the Wand retrieval, which had a lot more build-up and intensity. The action scenes overall were solid, though, and a few plot twists genuinely caught me off guard.

The only thing that occasionally pulled me out of the story was the dialogue. At times, it felt a little unnatural or stilted, like the characters were speaking in rehearsed lines rather than flowing conversation. Not a dealbreaker, but it made certain emotional moments less impactful than they could have been.

Also: shoutout to the bi baddie energy, loved that.

In all, A Vow in Vengeance is a strong start to what promises to be a dark, romantic, magic-filled series. The tarot magic is a standout element, the romance is chef’s kiss, and I cannot wait to see what’s next. I’ll definitely be grabbing the sequel!

*SPOILER FREE, as per usual*

Genuinely feel blessed that my last few ARCs have been absolute bangers. This one is no exception.

First off, the magic. Wow. Maybe I haven't read as many fantasy/romantasy books as some people but I haven't come across something like this yet. I feel like it might have fleeting glances at a few others at some points - for example, the card magic gave me One Dark Window vibes. There was one scene (that I wont describe so I don't spoilt, but it gave me a mild Harry Potter feeling. The magic system itself is quite complex, but I found towards the last third of the book, I was understanding which card meant what when used in a dramatic situation. Also remember that this is the first in a series (duology, I believe?) so the second book has so much potential to dive deeper in this system and the world building.

Which brings me to the next point - the world. I loved the way Jaclyn described the different areas/zones/factions to a point where I was visualising what I thought it would look like, but not pages of descriptions (I tend to get bored with too much descriptive narrative, I want to imagine it, that's why I read the book - give me something to work with then let my mind crack on). I could see the different types of magic folk, their features, their gait etc. I think she did an excellent job here.

That leads me nicely into the characters. Supporting cast first. The friends she meets along the way.... to be fair, I could gauge who was going to be a goody and who was going to be a grade A asshole, pretty early on and I have a few predictions on this for book two. However, that being said, one character flip flops between friend and foe and the last switch took me out (again, no further input on that so I don't spoil anything!).
The MMC Draven, is not quite your typical hunky lead man, I personally don't think. I do love how he wasn't the jacked 6"9, bulging muscled, gym-bro-esque usual love interest (don't get me wrong, 10000% my vibe), but the way he was written and portrayed, I definitely fell for him anyway. Yes, he is the textbook cocky, swoon worthy, popular guy but he also knew when he was being a dick, wasn't as impenetrable and untouchable as some MMCs are shown to be and I think he had the most growth in this book, maybe joint 1st place with Rune.
Rune, our FMC. Badass. Who doesn't love a badass. But again, same as Draven, she was hard and ruthless but she wasn't completely shut down, she learned to deal with her trauma and grow instead of it becoming her personality until the final 3 pages. She is tenacious and, despite all the shit thrown at her, has a goal and pushes towards it, adapting as and when her plans hit the fan. Also, love her representation. All of the book has a great mix and its nice not reading about a petite, blonde, reluctant heroine. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for her.

All in all, awesome read. It did take me a little longer than I'd hoped to get going on it as I was finishing another ARC then work, kids, birthday and illness hit me but man, I could NOT put it down once I got going.
Anyone who's read any of my reviews before will know that I read purely for vibes. This book had ALL the vibes. It was unique, the characters were great, the world was well thought out and interesting and the plot was captivating. It had me picking it up constantly, reading it where I could (literally read a chapter whilst mildly drunk and out with friends because I couldn't wait to see what happened) and just generally drawn in by it.

I whole heartedly recommend this book and cannot wait until I can buy my trophy copy. I'm just sad that book two is so far away!

Thank you to Zando Projects, NetGalley and, of course, Jaclyn Rodriguez for the ARC copy of this book. What a fabulous debut.

HOOOOOOOO BOY. this book. The magic system. The world building. Unmatched. Absolutely obsessed with the storytelling and just the general feel of the book. Plus we love a solid enemies to lovers.

This book is phenomenal. I loved the tarot cards as power assigning tools, it's such a creative idea.
Rune and Draven are to die for, the slow burn, the banter was just perfect. Really loved that Rune was a strong FMC and Draven never tried to make her a damsel in distress.
The world building was very interesting and well done.
I would definitely read another book of this story.
Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for providing me an Arc copy so that i could give this an honest review.

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez
adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0 stars

Wow... Just wow! This book made me laugh and cry. For a debut, this is top tier! If you love romantasy, dark academia, then this one is for you!

Beautiful world building, well developed characters and some epic sass and banter. To say I was hooked from the start is not an overstatement. I just hope that Jaclyn Rodriguez doesn't make us wait too long for book 2!

Many thanks to Net Galley, Zando and Jaclyn Rodriguez for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my review.

𝘼 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙡. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙚.

No notes. Just pure, feral perfection.

This book checked every single box:
Enemies to lovers. Dark academia. Fake (or are they?) fated mates. Forced proximity. Tarot magic. Shadow daddy energy. Touch-her-and-die vibes. Snark. Banter. Court intrigue. Found family. Possessive MMC. Stabby FMC. Wyverns?? Yes, wyverns. I mean… it has it all and then some.

Draven and Rune are absolute 🔥 together; the kind of pairing that ruins you for other couples. I’m not okay and I don’t want to be. The tension, the world-building, the quotes I wish I could post here (SO many highlights)… I’m obsessed. Truly. I am semi-sorry for all of the messages I sent to Jaclyn as I was reading this… but kind of not at all.

This is one of those books you finish and just stare at the ceiling, wondering how you’re supposed to move on. Jaclyn Rodriguez, you’ve created chaos in the best way. May I have some more, please?