A Vow in Vengeance

Immortal Desires #1

by Jaclyn Rodriguez

Deadly tarot, wicked schemes, dangerous alliances . . . can you survive the Forge?

Sexy, action-packed, and brimming with magic, A Vow in Vengeance is an unputdownable romantasy debut.

Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything’s been stolen by the Immortals—her family, her home, her freedom. But she’s done playing by their rules.

Each year, humans are forced to journey into the Immortal Realms, but twenty-year-old Rune orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and destroy anyone who stands in her way. Rune is used to doing whatever it takes to survive, and now she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. When Rune’s magic reveals itself to be the rarest and most powerful, she must live with its only other wielder—Prince Draven. As arrogant as he is ruthlessly ambitious, he’s the last person she can trust.

Rune’s abilities also draw the eyes of the most dangerous druids in the realms. Some want to use her. More want her dead. Draven offers to train her . . . for a price. As Rune becomes ensnared in Draven’s dangerous games, she learns there are secrets at the heart of the kingdom that some will kill to protect.

And Rune and Draven’s growing attraction may be the spark to ignite a brewing war.


Enemies to Lovers / Dark Academia / Fake fated mates / Forced Proximity / Snark and Banter / Touch her and die / Tarot

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dark Academia, Fantasy Romance, Adult, Enemies To Lovers

Audible Audio

First published January 13, 2026

About the author

Jaclyn Rodriguez is a biracial author of Puerto Rican heritage, and has been madly in love with fantasy since before she could walk, forever drawn to magic and the impossible. If there are high stakes and intricate world-building, she's in, and she adores a strong romantic subplot, the more complicated the better. She spends her non-writing time practicing archery, and deconstructing her favorite tv shows and films. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband, son, and two quirky dogs. She is also a proud member of the ​LGBT community.

Jaclyn can be found online at jaclynrodriguezbooks.com.

A VOW IN VENGEANCE will be her debut.

Reviews

[molly lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑊𝘰𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑦𝘰𝑢 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝘵𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝘵ℎ 𝑠𝘰 𝑙𝑖𝘵𝘵𝑙𝑒 𝘰𝑓 𝑚𝑒?”
“𝐼’𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑔 𝘰𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝑔𝑒𝘵 𝘵ℎ𝑎𝘵 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝘰𝑓 𝑦𝘰𝑢”

4.25 moon-blessed stars. What an impressive debut! A great balance of entertainment and plot, A Vow in Vengeance plunges you into a world of magical tarot cards, winged beasts, and steamy secret alliances - and I was absolutely here for it.

⊹ ₊ »- synopsis ⟢

Rune is dead set on revenge after her family has been ruthlessly taken by the Immortals. To reunite with her family, she has to force her way into the Immortal lands and learn the way of the druids - powerful beings known for their tarot magic. That means enrolling in the Forge, a deadly magical college… or walking the plank. Literally. Rune’s own magic reveals itself to be terrifyingly powerful and having just one other wielder - Prince Draven (you guessed it, her reluctant love interest). He offers to train her, but not without cost. And as Rune’s power grows, the secrets they uncover may just repair the kingdom, or tear it apart forever. cue dramatic music here.

“𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑠𝘵𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑑𝘰𝑚, 𝑚𝑦 𝑙𝘰𝜈𝑒, 𝑚𝑦 𝜈𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝘵ℎ, 𝑏𝑢𝘵 𝑠𝘰 𝑙𝘰𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑠 𝐼 𝑑𝘰 𝑛𝘰𝘵 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝘵ℎ𝑒𝑚, 𝘵ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝘰𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝘰 𝑝𝘰𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝘰𝜈𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑒.“

⊹ ₊ »- characters ⟢

Rune is sharp, snarky and sarcastic. She’s a force to be reckoned with yet also has deeply hidden insecurities ready to be explored. Draven is arrogant, but not in an excruciatingly painful way thank goodness. His and Rune’s witty and mocking yet sexually-charged banter was the absolute highlight of this novel for me. Will it be similar to other romances you’ve read before? Possibly. But I ate it up, sue me.

“𝑇ℎ𝑎𝘵 𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑏𝑒 𝑦𝘰𝑢𝑟𝑠. 𝑈𝑛𝘵𝑖𝑙 𝘵ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝘵𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝘰𝑢𝘵. 𝛨𝑎𝘵𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑑𝘰𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑦, 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝘵 𝑖𝑠 𝑦𝘰𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝘰𝑛𝑒. 𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝘰𝑢 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝘵 𝑖𝘵.”
“𝑊ℎ𝑦, 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝜈𝑒𝑛 𝑉𝘰𝑠 … 𝑌𝘰𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝘰 𝜈𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑎𝘵𝑖𝑐.”
“𝑌𝘰𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝘰𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑅𝑢𝑛𝑒 𝑅𝑦𝑘𝑒𝑟.”

⊹ ₊ »- improvements ⟢

To elevate the book further, I think JR could have built upon a few things: the magic system, world building, character building (mainly side characters), and of course the most important: GIVE ME A SCENE OF DRAVEN SPARRING WITH AND TEACHING RUNE. PLEASE 🙏🏻.

Tarot cards for a magic system is such an intriguing concept, but I think JR could have lent into this even further, especially considering the novel fell victim to the ‘telling but not showing’ trap a few times.

Furthermore, I really enjoyed the romantic tension in the beginning, but I felt it then came a bit too much at full force later on. ‘Cringe’ is absolutely too strong a word to use, but the more elaborate, poetic love confessions towards the end didn’t completely fit for me, possibly because the writing in general wasn’t super flowery or ornate.

There was also an attempt at the found family trope (my absolute favourite) but I do wish friendships were explored a little further. I need ‘FOUND FAMILY’ to be completely screaming at me through the pages. Still definitely room to grow in the second book though! And I’m so excited to see where JR takes this story next 💙.

⊹ ₊ »- conclusion ⟢

Overall not the most innovative but certainly entertaining. The magic system is fun, the setting is grand, the main characters are absolutely loveable. My obsession at the beginning of this novel knew no bounds. If the world as a whole had been expanded upon just that little bit more, my rating would be higher! 💗

━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━

⤿ Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author & Zando Projects for the ARC!

ps. thank you so much to Arushi for reading this with me (you already know how much I love you). We got this ARC in June last year and decided to leave it to the last minute… nope I don’t know why either ✌🏻(it’s like the blind leading the blind at this point 😭).

[may. [angel wings] · Rating 5 out of 5]

“They may steal my freedom, my love, my very breath, but so long as I do not fear them, they hold no power over me.”

𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 .ᐟ review #2

quick note to whomever is reading this: the following review is entirely written in lowercase letters, which is a stylistic and personal choice, not because i do not know how to properly capitalize my sentences <3

𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: january 13th

⤿🌀⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐬𝐲𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬꒦꒷✨ ꒱
rune ryker has one goal-and that is revenge. she has lost everything in her life to the immortals, so she forces her way into their world, determined to find her family and take the revenge she's been dreaming of for years. now, she must endure the Forge, a dangerous school for druids and their deadly tarot magic. when her magic is revealed to be the rarest kind, her enemies are plentiful, and her only ally ends up being infuriatingly handsome-and powerful-prince draven. as sparks fly and secrets start to unravel, rune must survive deadly magic, powerful enemies, betrayal, and a brewing war that could destroy everything as she knew it.

⤿✨⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬꒦꒷🌀 ꒱
let me just start out- this was one of the best reads i've read in the past four months. without any doubt or hesitation i give this book five stars, and i genuinely cannot remember the last time i gave a book five stars. this is surprisingly, jaclyn rodriguez's debut novel, and i am absolutely so impressed. a vow in vengeance was such a masterpiece and that is so impressive for a debut. i know that in the future i will definitely be reading more of rodriguez's books, and when this novel publishes on the thirteenth, i will be rushing to my bookstore to get a physical copy. a vow in vengeance fits everything i ever want in a book. the tarot magic system (i love tarot so much) was intricate, well designed, and understandable. the world building was immaculate and detailed, with wyverns, druids, seraphs, elves, and more. and the romance. absolute perfection. but i'll get to that part later.

⤿✨⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭꒦꒷🌀 ꒱
as someone who has a lot of previous knowledge on tarot cards, i loved the way rodriguez incorporated the tarot magic system into the novel, and how a different type of magic represented a tarot card. i LOVED how each magic really fit the tarot card itself. not to worry if you don't know much about tarot! a vow in vengeance makes the magic understandable and easy to follow, so it's not confusing at all.

the dark academia aesthetic was just wonderful. an edged mix of beauty and danger, sharp uniforms, and magic with consequences, and i just fell in love with the Forge. the tension and action of this book kept me on the edge of my seat, and i could literally not put this story down. the immortal realms are very rich and layered, and the world building was just spectacular.

the plot itself was really interesting, and of course, i have a soft spot for deadly magic schools, but the plot line was really packed with danger, action, and of course the goal of revenge. everything was entertaining and wonderful to read, and was never boring at any point.

⤿✨⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭꒦꒷🌀 ꒱
okay i can't wait any longer i need to talk about this. THE ROMANCE IN THIS. jaclyn rodriguez, you really do know how to write enemies to lovers romantasy. the tension and the push and pull dynamic between rune and draven was delicious, and the enemies to lovers in this is sizzling and so palpable. i totally ate up the forced proximity and reluctant alliance in this, and obviously i was screaming blushing giggling and kicking my feet while reading this book. draven was such a goner for rune the moment he saw her and i totally gobbled it up. the best way to describe how i reacted to the romance in a vow in vengeance is simply imagine as if you haven't eaten in two weeks and suddenly there's a delectable feast in front of you. i devoured every little bit of tension and yearning, and the slow burn was so slow, but i just know it's going to be explosive in the next book. there DEVOTION and YEARNING and literally everything you would want in a romance.

the tropes in this are actually killing me, i'm really not sure if i can survive this slow burn because i'm dying in the tension between the two characters. the banter was BANTERING and it had bite, the forced proximity was really tense, and the slow buildup of trust and attraction had me throwing (mentally of course, it was a digital arc) the book across the room. it was everything i was looking for in an enemies to lovers, and honestly, it's one of the best enemies to lovers books i've read since the cruel prince. if you know me, the cruel prince is like my holy roman empire, so let's just say...this book was mind-blowingly amazing. the chemistry in here was off the charts, and i honestly don't know what jaclyn rodriguez put in this book because i could not stop flipping the pages.

⤿✨⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬꒦꒷🌀 ꒱
𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐲𝐤𝐞𝐫: omg she is everything i want in a romantasy fmc. she is stubborn, fierce, and deeply human, but she's got fire. she will do anything to survive, and doesn't care whether or not she is liked along the way. if survival means making a few enemies or lighting the whole realm on fire, oh well. rune's voice was honest and raw, filled with grief and grit, and her character was really built by these traumatic and harsh experiences of her childhood. she has taken her pain and hatred of the immortals and channeled it into survival and this goal of revenge, which made her journey engaging and extremely emotionally gripping. she was complex and had motives, and her character development was totally on point. rune was so well written, and she never loses sight of revenge, even after prince draven comes into the equation, which i was so glad to see because so many romantasy fmcs just forget about their goals the moment they meet the mmc. rune is very loyal to her missing family, and her relatable and desperate attempts to carve out something in her life that feels like justice just made me root for her even more.

𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧: oh god. what can i even say? i've found a new book boyfriend, and he places right next to cardan greenbriar, xaden riorsen, and jude duarte. is he a little bit like every other booktok romantasy mmc? uh, yes. but i honestly don't care. he's tall, got a cocky grin, and has neck tattoos. okay, okay, but seriously i really loved draven. he's brooding, powerful, darkly passionate, and clearly hiding scars beneath all those shadows. i loved the devotion he had to rune, and he was just so wonderful, and the ENEMIES TO LOVERS (cough but i already said that so i digress). draven, like rune has a lot of shield up, and it was just lovely to see both of them start to lower their walls with each other. the YEARNING from this man was on another level, it's so amazing that any attempt at describing it still pales in comparison to the actual writing. the push and the pull, the way rune got underneath his skin and drove him crazy, the way he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame, and vice versa. I LOVED THAT SO MUCH. the description of prince draven...i mean i knew immediately he would be one of my top favorite mmcs. i was totally giggling every time he came up on the page.

ALSO, the supporting side characters were lovable and they had depth and distinction, which i really appreciated, since i've read far too many romantasy books with side characters that remind me of soggy cardboard.

𐔌🌀 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ✨ˎˊ˗
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ palpable tension
⤿ perfectly executed enemies to lovers
⤿ easily understandable tarot magic system
⤿ intricate world building
⤿ action and danger packed plot line
⤿ stubborn, badass fmc
⤿ one bed trope

⤿✨⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬꒦꒷🌀 ꒱
everyone drop everything NOW because this book is a literal masterpiece. RUN TO BOOKSTORES ON JANUARY THIRTEENTH i promise it's worth it.

╰┈➤ Thank you SO much to Netgalley, the publisher, Zando, and the author, Jaclyn Rodriguez of the eARC of this book! All thoughts are my own <3

"You want power? Prove it. You want magic? Take it."

----------------
⤿✨⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝꒷꒦🌀 ꒱
this book is amazing. an absolute masterpiece. school? homework? sleep? never heard of it–i literally could not put this book down. screaming crying throwing up and extremely happy to say that this is my first five star read of the year!! everyone clear your schedules for january 13, because i promise you this book is soo worth it!! okay, okay, lemme catch some sleep and time to collect my thoughts, and then lemme gush to you all about how good this book was.
-----------------------------------------

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀𐔌✨ preread ⸝⸝ jan. 1st 🌀ˎˊ˗
˖ ࣪જ guys 😬 i procrastinated (what can i say it was the holidays) and now, knowing my reading pace, im cutting it pretty close...12 days to read this book, here we go! this book drew me in immediately, i mean, a magic system revolving around tarot? im totally sat. AND THAT TROPE LIST-enemies to lovers but theres only one bed? SAY NO MORE IM INVESTED

[Liana Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.75 ⭐️ I genuinely don’t remember the last time I gave an ARC and a debut author 5 stars. I’m seriously impressed with how well put the story was for a debut. Jaclyn Rodriguez seriously crushed it. It checked off all my fantasy boxes and I finally found a book with a TAROT magic system that was so well designed and explained. From dragons, wyverns, drakes and druids, seraphs and elves, this romantasy brings delicious snark and banter, unapologetic women, sizzling and palpable enemies to lovers story with an MMC who’s a total goner for her!! Buckle up, you’re in for epic forced proximity and touch her and you die vibes!

In the world of A Vow in Vengeance, Rune is a mortal who wants to cross over a wall into immortal lands to find her family. She’s out for vengeance after what happened to her family when she was a little girl. But in order to do that, she needs to become one of the Selected. The Selection is penance for the uprising that happened fifteen years ago, where 100 mortals are selected by the three Kings of the immortal lands—the Druids, the Seraphs and the Elves. Anyone who avoids the Selection goes to the Destarion, the prison of No Realms. During the Selection, Rune meets the dark and mysterious Draven Vos, the Druid Kings’ son. There is an imminent pull between them and a strong hate-need relationship that eventually formulates out of necessity and forced proximity.

Once Selected, Rune needs to go through a “transition” to become one of the Druid Immortals and plead her loyalty to the King. Rune will do anything to avenge her family and find her parents, so she accepts the transition and enters the academy for more training. There, she learns more about her new acquired tarot magic—she’s The World, the most powerful tarot card in the deck. To her surprise, so is Draven wink wink. Like her, he too has ulterior motives. Knowing that she needs his help, Rune strikes a secret bargain with Draven. Together, they set on a path that’s full of action, secrets, betrayal, you name it!

As someone who knows nothing about tarot magic or cards, I was very impressed with how well Rodriguez incorporated this system into the world building. I think when I read other books (like Arcana Academy) I was left confused by all of it. I was able to follow it all through and through and it never felt tedious to be reading something as complex as Tarot. Rodriguez gave this magic system an edge with all her fun action packed scenes and revenge plot-line, keeping it always entertaining and fresh.

I love how our favorite enemies to lovers trope was drawn out in this one. He was a goner for her from the moment he saw her all whilst she drove him crazy. He’s no cinnamon roll MMC, he’s dark and dangerous, he’s passionate and underneath his shield layers, he’s devoted to her. That devotion was palpable and full of tension and yearning. I loved how the slow burn was really slow, you can just feel how explosive it will be in the next book.

“You are my salvation and my damnation”
“You are my vexation, my obsession and though I would rather cut out my heart than let you continue to hold this power over me, I will always…” read to find out ;)

A great fantasy is nothing without good, supporting characters. Rodriguez didn’t hold back when she gave us enough depth and distinction to each character. I feel that at times side characters never get enough praise but they are just as important in making the story wholesome. She gave us enough to know who is good vs bad and enough to keep questioning everyone’s motives.

The last 15% of the story packs on a lot of information that it seemed a bit rushed. I would rather the author leave me with a cliffhanger and keep me guessing than throw it all out there in the last few pages. Nevertheless, the way it ended made me wonder in which direction the author is planning to take us. Can’t wait for book 2!

Thanks NetGalley, Zando Projects and the author, Jaclyn Rodriguez for sending me this eARC for review !

Publication date: January 13, 2026

[maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ 3 ✰

the second half really saved this book!

I really enjoyed the story and I found it interesting, the writing on the other hand was not my favorite🫣 I had to reread some paragraphs because it was just so hard for me to understand what was going on in some scenes because of how the sentences were written, the magic system was also very complex and I did not appreciated how I had to try and grasp everything in the first chapters just to be able to keep reading😤 (tbh I think it was a me problem but this really tired my mind and now I feel like I cannot read another romantasy for the rest of the month so I’m salty about it hahaha)

I loved Draven, he is very romantic😋 that’s all I can say about him because unfortunately the author does a bad job of describing the characters, all was said over and over again is that his eyes change color and that he had wings and horns. That might have been enough honestly, but I just feel like something was missing to imagine the full picture.
Rune was getting on my nerves at the beginning, I couldn’t tolerate her for the most part but thankfully she got very by the last 20% lol.

This book is also marketed as enemies to lovers, but this wasn’t enemies to lovers at all!!! I refuse to be fooled into believing that. All that happens it’s that Rune was mad at everything and everyone that moved😪 like that girl only lived scowling and screaming and thinking about burning/ killing everyone. Like pleaseee calm down😭😭 anyways, I think that’s the reason why a lot of people are confusing this with enemies to lovers but Draven was already flirting and making hearty eyes to rune by their first interaction lmaooo.

This story had a lot of potential but oh boy, it was dragginggggggg😩 the book is not that long but it felt like an eternity to be able to finish it, I stayed hours and hours reading and I was STILL in the same chapter {ok, I might be being a little bit dramatic but it did felt long}. anyways, I do think a lot of people are going to enjoy this and love it way more than i did specially if you love a really complex magic system.


____________

┆ ⤿ 🀧 ༝ pre-read:

Starting my year with this one 💙
I’m actually so so excited to read this because of the tarot card magic system and dark academia🤭

[Arushi♡ [exam- ia] · Rating 5 out of 5]

5💫

⤿ spoiler free review:

"They may steal my freedom, my love, my very breath, but so long as do not fear them, they hold no power over me."

⋮ ⌗ ┆Synopsis:
Each year humans are forcefully taken into the immortal realms through the selection. Rune had lost her entire family because of this said selection. Left with nothing to lose, Rune orchestrates her own selection to enter the immortal realms and get her family back, or her vengeance. This year's selection performed by the immortal druids, one of the three immortal groups. The druids use tarot magic and when Rune's magic reveals itself to me the rarest and most powerful, she must live with it's only other wielder- Prince Draven. Her abilities draw eyes, where some want to use her; more want her dead. Draven offers to train her... for a price. As they grow closer, many secrets start to unfold. (how many times did i use the world selection there)

"You better get up there. Don't want to get in trouble."
"Oh, but I am trouble."

⋮ ⌗ ┆What to expect:
⤿ enemies to allies to lovers
⤿ fake fated mates/ fake dating
⤿ coming of rage (yes, rage)
⤿ only one bed
⤿ tarot magic
⤿ dark academia
⤿ snarky & witty banter
⤿ touch her/him and die
⤿ badass fmc
⤿ down bad mmc
⤿ insane plot

It's a weakness they don't even know they have- and I am about to exploit the hell out of it.

𝜗𝜚 Rune Ryker: this woman ughhhhh! I've never fallen faster for a fmc before. She's just so fine aaaaahhhhhh. She's for the girls. Back off Draven. I love her (who would have guessed)
She's so strong and badass, knows what she wants. She's snarky and feisty 🤭 and she's ready to be selfish! Uhhhhhh I'm in love.

"Darling, I haven't behaved a day in my life."

𝜗𝜚 Dravin Vos: Hot as fuck winged druid with horns and eyes that change colour? Sign me tf up! Not a fan of arrogant and self obsessed MMCs but when there's an equally badass FMC to put him in place? OUH MAH GAAD ughhh. He's so down bad for her and I love it (same pinch Draven). I mean can I have both of them please? 😩

The worst part about all of it is ... even if she ran a dagger through my gods damned heart, I would likely grasp her hand just to hold it a moment longer.
- Burned page of Draven Vos's person journal

⋮ ⌗ ┆Overall:
If you trust me, read this book. The plot is so good and those twists which were thrown on my face caught me so off guard. I have not behaved this feral over a book in so long! I was constantly giggling and jumping and crying and shouting. I kid you not I was shouting into my pillow and doing literal summersaults because it got out of hand. This book was fucking with blood pressure by the end. This is a debut novel? I refuse to believe it, she's lying. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS PERFECT, CASE CLOSED..

I know this review is so out of place and chaotic but I'm not in my right mind. I want to next book or I'll go insane. Like i said, this review isn't doing any justice to this book. It's so much better! But here are some quotes to convince you.

"Would you be satisfied with so little of me?"
.
.
.
"I'd beg on my knees just to get that much of you," he breathes.
"Then beg." I whisper


"You're actually letting me choose?"
"With me, you always get to choose."


"If anyone touches me, am I allowed to stab them?"
"No, but I can."


"You could stab me in the back, and I'd probably beg you for more."


I'm glad he's not here to see me break.
I'm dying that he's not here to make it better.

Just go read the book atp.

Thank you molly for reading this with me. We had such a blast reading this and omg we're actually idiots 😭 we had this arc since JUNE🙂 biggest idiots ever for not reading this sooner😭 ily bae💋💋

⤿Thank you to NetGalley, the author & Zando Projects for the ARC.

# started: 07/01/2026
# finished: 12/01/2026

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

My review won't do this justice but i must try.
RTC

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

↝Pre-read°｡⁠.ﾟ.⁠｡♡
Another ARC. I don't know what to expect but I'm so excited to do my first buddy read of the year with my twin molly💗 the OG br duo is BACK😝

[Kimberlylovesreadingbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy publication day🥳🥳 Now everyone please go read this book it'll be worth it 😭 🙏🏾


I enjoyed this book so much that I want to shout it out on top of my fucking lungs😭👏🏾.

First of all thank you netgalley and Zando projects for giving me this beautiful Earc.

Do you know how refreshing it is to read a fantasy book that's soooo different from other books????🥹

First of all this is a DEBUT!!! A Debut written so perfectly especially a fantasy👏🏾♥️ Jaclyn should be given her flowers!!!

Every year humans are selected by the immortal realms which are divided into the druids, the seraphs and the elves. This year is the Druid's turn for the selection and Rune Ryker decides that she wants to be selected.

Rune 's family were taken to the immortal realms and she decides you know what I'm going to find them even if it's the last thing I do.👏🏾🙂

She thinks when you're selected you become a worker you know a slave but things are different from what she expects. 🙂.

The magic system of the Druids is different from the other immortals. They use Tarot cards to channel their magic. The author was really thinking out of the box with this one. ✨👏🏾

Rune finds herself attracted to the most powerful Arcana which apart from herself the only other person who has the same power is the prince🤭.

I fell in LOVE with this man the moment he was described 🤭. Who doesn't like a man with wings 😭 🤷🏾‍♀️....and horns....and eyes that change with every emotion he feels💁🏾‍♀️. Prince Draven is now my new current book boyfriend 😮‍💨♥️.

The chemistry between Rune and Draven was off the charts 🤭. Every interaction between them had me smiling and giggling at my phone🤭😍.

Rune the badass girl who's stubborn to her core and won't accept help that easily put in the same room with the hot, brooding, arrogant Prince Draven. 😭✨🎀 What more could a girl ask for honestly 🤷🏾‍♀️.

The BANTER!!!! THE TENSION!!!!😮‍💨♥️. He doesn't even hide how obsessed he is with her and I LOVE THAT!!!!🤷🏾‍♀️.

Quote:

"Would you be satisfied with so little of me?" I ask not ready to answer what is building between us.
"I'd beg on my knees just to get that much if you," he breathes.
"Then beg," I whisper.


THIS SCENE HAD ME FERAL!!!!!!

"But I'm also not a conquest. So tell me Draven....what does that make me to you?"

His gaze is a caress. "It makes you mine,"🤭

ffghffgghfd😮‍💨

I think I quoted every conversation they had because of how cute they were. 🤭🙇🏾‍♀️. They agreed to act like fake fated mates but they ended up falling in love 😭♥️🌸.

It was also so healing to see Rune make friends after years of being alone and how Draven literally wants to take care of her😭✨♥️.

With the way this ended I know book 2 will be GOOOOOOOOD!!!!! 🙇🏾‍♀️. I hope I also get the arc copy of that too when the time comes that is👀!!!

Jaclyn Rodriguez you have a new fan🤝🏾.

If you like dark academia, forced proximity, a MMC who's an asshole but is secretly obsessed with the fmc and if you also like high stakes this is a book you'll enjoy💁🏾‍♀️🙂🌸.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Vow in Vengeance”is the kind of debut that grabs you by the collar and dares you to look away—and I didn’t. I couldn’t. From the very first page, Jaclyn Rodriguez plunges you into a vividly imagined world teeming with magic, vengeance, secrets, and betrayal, and I was hooked like a moth to an unholy, flaming tarot card.

At the heart of it is Rune Ryker, a fierce, stubborn, deeply human heroine with a chip on her shoulder and fire in her veins. She’s the kind of character who isn’t here to be liked—she’s here to survive, and if that means stepping on toes or lighting the whole realm on fire, so be it. Rune’s voice felt raw and honest, filled with grief and grit, which made her journey not just engaging, but emotionally gripping.

The setting—a ruthless magical academy known as the Forge, where immortal druids rule with power drawn from tarot cards—is as eerie and enthralling as it sounds. I loved the dark academia aesthetic here: sharp uniforms, ancient rituals, magic with consequences, and that intoxicating blend of beauty and danger. The tarot-based magic system is unique and brimming with potential, even if I sometimes wished for just a bit more clarity in the mechanics. Still, it never detracted from the thrill of watching Rune unlock her rare and dangerous powers.

Then there’s Draven. Oh, Draven. Brooding, powerful, infuriatingly handsome, and clearly hiding more than just scars under those shadows. I adored the push-pull dynamic between him and Rune. Their banter had bite, their forced proximity was deliciously tense, and the slow unraveling of their trust (and attraction) was everything I look for in an enemies-to-lovers arc. They are two broken people circling each other like predators—both afraid, both drawn in, both unwilling to admit how badly they need one another.

And while I didn’t fall head-over-heels for every single moment—there were parts where I wished for more worldbuilding depth, and a few pacing hiccups in the second half—the emotional core kept me tethered. Rune’s loyalty to her missing family, her growing unease with power, and her desperate attempts to carve out something that feels like justice… it all made me root for her fiercely. The side characters added fun flavor too, especially some who surprised me by the end (and who I hope we’ll see more of in future books).

This is a debut that leans into its tropes—dark prince, rebel girl, dangerous magic school, slow-burn romance—but does so with confidence and heart. I can tell Jaclyn Rodriguez has so much more to say, and I am absolutely coming back for book two. That ending? Yeah… let’s just say I shouted a little.

Final thoughts: If you love dark academia, tarot magic, reluctant alliances, and heroines who punch first and apologize never, A Vow in Vengeance should be next on your romantasy radar.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando/Slowburn for providing me this magical and intriguing romantasy/dark academia novel’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I truly appreciate it!

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[dak ⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ 🃏🌜 🏰 💌 ✨ 🪄 “𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚”

this was such a fun and unique read. i really loved the dark academia aesthetic and the tarot magic a lot🖤💫

𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚎 (a human girl) is on a mission for revenge and to hopefully find her family. she is willing to do anything include going to a deadly school for druid immortals where she will learn to use her new tarot magic. and of course she catches the eye of the our druid prince 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗 hehe. and let me tell you 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗 is just 🤪🤭 every time he called 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 i fell to my knees. i loved their romance!! it’s a slow build up and their banter had me giggling every time they interacted (also those letters hellloooo so cute!!)

✧˖ °. ݁₊ ⊹ “𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝓋𝑒𝓍𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃, 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝒷𝓈𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 ℐ 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒸𝓊𝓉 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝓊𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑜𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓂𝑒, ℐ 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁˖°✧ 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 ℐ 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒷𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈. 𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒷𝓊𝓇𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓉…” ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁˖°✧

the highlight of this book is definitely the romance for me but i did really enjoy the plot. the world was also very interesting, from the 3 immortal groups (druid, elves and seraphs) to the magical creatures all so good!! will definitely be continuing with this duology even though that ending was fucking rude!!!
┆　┆　┆　┆　┆
┆　┆ ࣪ ˖☆ ࣪⭑┆ ݁˖ .☆ . ݁ ˖
☆⊹ ࣪ ┆ ˖ ࣪　⊹ ࣪ ★ ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪
࣪ ˖⋆˚★ ₊ ⊹　 ࣪˖ ࣪ ₊ ࣪ ˖　
. ݁　⊹ ࣪ ˖　　　 ࣪ ˖
　　. ݁　　　 ݁
　　.

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Rune, you are by far the biggest danger to me.”
“You could stab me in the back and I’d probably beg you for more.”

i think the highlight of this book is definitely the romance, it’s a slower burn for a while but Rune and Draven had more than enough tension and banter to carry it through. Rune hates the immortals, but she makes sure she’s chosen by them to join the forge (magical school) and potentially find her family. the longer she’s there, her magic starts to reveal itself and it puts a target on her back.. as the only one who has the same magic as her would be prince Draven himself.

“They may steal my freedom, my love, my very breath, but so long as I do not fear them, they hold no power over me.”

i love tarot card magic systems, the one in this book is also linked to tattoos. i think there’s A LOT to remember and understand with this magic system though and it falls victim to telling instead of showing occasionally. i was constantly engaged, needing to know what everyone was hiding and whether Rune could actually trust Draven. i really liked him though, he’s witty and always goes out of his way to make sure Rune understands where he’s coming from. it was also hilarious seeing them struggling to keep up their front.

“That I will be yours. Until the stars burn out. Hatefully and adoringly, my wicked heart is yours alone.”

even though Rune doesn’t have control over her magic, she’s a very skilled fighter and the author did a great job with the fight scenes. one thing that got on my nerves were the info dumps.. i didn’t notice any until the latter half of the book when a few things were rushed but i don’t think we needed all that thrown at us just because there were reveals about certain characters. i’m actually surprised by the brutality, but I’m glad all the characters didn’t have plot armor. this is not a perfect book, it reminded me a lot of Arcana Academy.. but i had fun.

➵ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Zando Projects for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[°❀⋆.monica ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘a vow in vengeance’ is a story of a determined mortal woman, dead set of exacting revenge on those who wronged her and her family. but the more she becomes entrenched in the politics of this world, she learns that things may not be exactly what she has assumed.

for a debut novel and the first book in a series, I think this is a strong start! I thought the magic system was really unique and I’m a huge fan of tarot based magic. I also really enjoy reading an academic based novel when it comes to exploring potentially complicated magic, as it’s much more entertaining to learn alongside the main character rather than info dumping a bunch of lore.

there was a lot of action and intriguing politics, with some reveals that I didn’t see coming! there were a few moments of “oh wow that is not what I was expecting!” that had me quickly flipping the page to continue reading on.

although I did enjoy these aspects of the story, there were other parts that brought down my rating. I thought the romance was just fine - the characters had chemistry and I was a fan of the fake dating moment, but I don’t feel like I ever got to know these characters past surface level, making them feel very one-dimensional, especially the main male character. this lack of connection to the characters didn’t make me feel very moved over objectively really sweet and thoughtful love declarations.

ultimately, this was a fast-paced romantasy with a fun magic system that I had a good time with! I don’t regret my time reading it, but I’m undecided if I will be continuing on with the series or not.

thank you to NetGalley, Zando Slowburn Publishing, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lis ~Cheese Fairy~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/14: ✴︎ 2.5, moon-blessed and moon-cursed, stars ✴︎

(This rating was tough. Better than 2, but worse than 3. My 2’s lately have been rougher than this, so 3 it is. Just know it’s rocky on Mount 3.)

Okay, alright. I’m bummed. You know when an idea is really good? And you see potential? But then things just…don’t go to plan. That’s what happened here. So much potential, but my brain had to put in overtime trying to make sense of it. This was a confusing few hours, I know nothing about tarot cards, or Druid’s, but I felt like I was expected to have a prerequisite level of understanding first.

I want to be clear that this review is written with a lot of hope and love. I’m optimistic that some things can be addressed before publishing. If adjustments are made, this book will be fire. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. I don’t write fluffy arc reviews; mainly because I don’t think they’re helpful. While this book is good, it isn’t the best, and that’s okay. She’s got time, let her stew.

My first issue is VERY unlike me! I found A Vow in Vengeance needed to be at least 100-150 more pages (arc is 385). For a romantsy, this is light reading, and you can tell when it comes to the lore, world building, and explanations. The concept is so interesting, but it felt like I missed a books worth of backstory before this. Everything is ‘told’ and nothing is ‘shown.’ Honestly? The academic setting is used as a cop out because the characters are learning with you.

Second major issue, is generic romantsy MMC. Draven is as ‘meh’ as they come, but damn did I like how HE (not his looks) was written! The dialogue, and inner-character development was incredible. Really, all the characters in this are bomb! But. BUT you get so bogged down with the lackluster character descriptions. This book idea is fucking cool, and the magic structure is unique-why, WHY make your characters so unmemorable? I’m so confused by authors lately. You do something so incredible by imagining and creating a wonderful world/story, but you can’t uniquely define your characters? Baffled. Befuddled. Stumped. You did the hard part already! I genuinely can’t wrap my head around this. It would be like using the Mona Lisa’s face over and over and over again. Everyone knows where it came from. Paint your own masterpiece! You’re an ar~ti~st.

There are certain fundamental cracks, in writing, that can’t be fixed. You can twist a story, you can tweak characters, you can edit in and out information, but you can’t force a book to feel alive. Writers either have this skill, or they don’t. A Vow in Vengeance has the almost-impossible-task done; this feels living and breathing. It could get up on two legs, and walk around. Things just need a bit of refining and expansion. I say this with my heart, because I want to purchase and covet this in private. Girly just needs another dress fitting; then she’ll be ready for the ball.

Also, for a debut…I’m not mad at this. But! I’ve said it in previous reviews, so I’ll say it again. I don’t want to read a book and immediately know it’s a debut. My goal is to hold this next to a previously published author, and not know which is which. I’m pleased to report A Vow in Vengeance isn’t far from that point.

TLDR: Please. PLEASE. Add length and flesh-out the world. This could be amazing. This could be a top 5 book of the year for me. Give the Rhys knockoff a makeover. Drop the ACOTAR coat-riding. Add more background/critical information. Take over the world. Rinse and repeat with the next masterpiece. ~Lis, the non-authors, oversimplified guide to success ™️~

✴︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ✴︎ ✴︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ✴︎

15% update: Tall with dark hair. Stupidly handsome- with a cocky grin. Neck tattoos. Fuck me. Scrap Draven and redesign. Why are all these MMC’s the exact same? I’m starting to get heated about this. I’m reading 5-10 romantsy novels a year, and it’s literally the SAME guy! Please. For the love of god. Have a shred of originality. Please. I am begging. On my knees. Give me something different. “But…but this guy has horns!” That’s literally the equivalent of giving a girl a hair-clip. It’s an accessory, not a defining character trait. Rhysand with horns is still fucking Rhysand. This stuff just kills my reading mood. 😭 I’m mad because it’s really good other than this recycled-character nonsense.

✴︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ✴︎ ✴︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ✴︎

5/13: Pre-read for this mysterious book. No cover, no problem…but like…could I get a hint? Just a teeny, tiny hint?

Thank you NetGalley and Zando for the arc!

6/20: edited because I’m an absolute idiot and thought NetGalley was spelled NetGallery. 😭 You can give the girl her glasses, but you can’t make her wear them.

✴︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ✴︎ ✴︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ✴︎

[Jaclyn Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Readers,

As early copies of A Vow in Vengeance find their way into your hands and onto your kindles, I wanted to leave behind a note before I summon the Hermit and disappear for good <3 After all, Goodreads is a reader space, and I want to respect this space best by letting you all express yourselves!

A Vow in Vengeance is my debut novel, and I put a lot of myself into this book. In so many ways, it’s the book my heart has always wanted and the story my grieving heart needed, and because of that, a piece of me remains tucked inside of it, pressed like flower petals between its pages.

In a time when we have the most media available at our fingertips, you took a chance on me and my book, and for that, I am deeply thankful. I hope you enjoy it, and that this community continues to stay kind and have fun together.

Welcome to the Forge, dear mortals. If you want power—prove it. If you want magic—take it.

P.S. It may seem odd to give myself a five-star rating, but I fought through a sea of grief, obstacles, and crushing insecurity to make this dream come true. My journey to get here has spanned decades. So that version of me that didn’t give up, that loves this book, and wrote it with all she had, five stars for her.

Lastly, because my e-ARCs don’t have a content warning page I wanted to include those below, hidden unless you need them:
-nonconsensual kissing and touching
-attempted sexual assault
-on-page suicide of an unnamed character (non-gory)
-slavery
-death
-diaspora
-grief and loss
-forced assimilation
-drug use and alcohol consumption
-forced assimilation
-violence and death
-explicit consensual sexual content detailed on the page (open-door)
It is always my hope that I’ve handled these elements with care.

[tanvi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had such a promising start. By 18%, I was convinced it might become my next fantasy obsession. Unfortunately, I ultimately had to set it aside at 70%.

There were a number of small issues that gradually piled up for me. The characters, for instance, felt flat and one-dimensional. While I usually give characters time to develop, by the time I reached the 70% mark, I still felt no real connection to them. Their growth was minimal, and I never got a sense of who they truly were beyond surface-level traits. The writing style also proved to be a major hurdle. It was often clunky and overly wordy, making it difficult to stay immersed. I found myself rereading passages just to grasp the meaning. Another round of edits could significantly improve the pacing and clarity of this book.

What makes this DNF particularly disappointing is that the magic system had real potential. The book initially gives off a vibe that reminded me of Fourth Wing meets One Dark Window, but the execution just didn’t live up to the concept. The romance felt forced and lacked chemistry, and while there seemed to be an attempt at a found family dynamic, it didn’t land. That emotional thread could’ve added a much-needed layer to the story, but instead, it felt underdeveloped and disconnected.

I really wanted to love this, but I just don't and won't be continuing this. Thank you Netgalley & Zando Projects for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely thrilling from start to finish! The worldbuilding is incredible, with a unique magic system where druids draw their power from tarot cards, and the immortal realms feel rich and layered.

Rune is a fierce and determined heroine, and her relationship with Draven is full of tension and sparks without being overly explicit. I loved the mix of action, romance, and high stakes drama, and the supporting cast of characters all felt authentic and memorable.

The story keeps you turning pages, and the combination of danger, magic, and romance makes it a standout in fantasy. I can’t wait to continue this series and dive deeper into this amazing world!

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The aviation insults made me giggle

This book felt familiar and also fresh. It does much of the standard romantasy tropes but I enjoyed the unique world building and magic system!

I’ll definitely read the next one. The cliffhanger isn’t terrible but I’m ready for the next one!

4.25/5

[Gabi Koz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Okay was this groundbreaking for the genre???? No but it was still a GREAT time !! I had so much fun with A Vow in Vengeance & will ABSOLUTELY be continuing the series. I anticipated one of the twists at the end but didn’t mind that at all!

I LOVED the tarot card magic system in this one. Some other books with tarot have not worked for me, but this one , I loved. I also thought the spin on fated mates/fake dating - fake mates was different and fun!! The banter and tension was 10/10 !!!

Edit 1/15–
Okay I keep thinking about this book & the more I think my mood impacted things. THIS BOOK WAS SO FUN I LOVED IT

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vow in Vengeance (Immortal Desires #1) by Jaclyn Rodriguez

Book Blurb: Rune Ryker has nothing left to lose. Everything’s been stolen by the Immortals—her family, her home, her freedom. But she’s done playing by their rules.
Deadly tarot, wicked schemes, dangerous alliances . . . can you survive the Forge?

Rating: *****
Feels: Sparked, Intrigued, Amused, Enthralled
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dark Academia, Fantasy Romance
First published January 13, 2026: 368 pages

I devoured this book. The magic, the world, the tension .. it was all so very delicious. I always love a good dark academia and with the addition of tarot battle magic I was totally pulled in and left cheering !!! This book was such a level of fun you need to read to see !! The setting of humans vrs immortals (elves, druids and angels ..) with distinct lands and customs was fascinating. I loved that every race had a different style of magic and there was so much variety of magic even within each race. The slow burn tension between Rune and Draven ... Mmmmm. Did I mention Draven has wings?? Yes Please !!! The two of them thrown together, the forced proximity was just so delicious. The academic setting was full of so much fun, so many amazing side characters rounding out some amazing found family vibes !! I was just here for every part of this book and so ready for the next book already !!!

Favorite Quote: Then in one slow, movement, he leans into the nape of my neck, his whisper a prayer for only my ears, "Everything about you is distracting Rune Ryker."

This book has:
Dark Academy
Forced Proximity
Tarot magic
Slow Burn
Found Family
Enemies to Lovers
Fake Fated Mates
Snarky Banter
Touch her and Die
Elves, Druids, Humans and Immortals
Only One Bed

[Karly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great debut—welcome to the romantasy world, Jaclyn Rodriguez!

📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: January 13, 2026

🖤 Romantasy
🖤 1st person POV
🖤 Magic college
🖤 Tarot-based magic system
🖤 Fake dating
🖤 Reluctant allies

Spice rating: 🌶🌶

A Vow in Vengeance sucked me in from the very beginning. I immediately fell in love with Rune's character. She's fierce, resilient, and clever.

Prince Draven is arrogant and flirty. My favorite combo. I definitely believe in the chemistry between these two and am curious to see how his character will be further developed in book 2.

While I would consider this a slow burn because of when the spice happens, these two are immediately attracted to one another so there is a heavy dose of insta lust. That personally doesn't bother me as a reader, but it made them feel less like true enemies.

I am a SUCKER for a tarot-based magic system, so it's no surprise I'm loving the makings of this magic system. I'm happy with what we've received so far in terms of development, but I still have some remaining questions I hope the author will dive into more in book 2.

My biggest reason for not giving this book the full five stars comes down to the writing. It may be because this is a debut and Jaclyn Rodriguez is still refining her craft, but something happened between the first half of the book and the second half of the book. Things felt really strong then got a little wonky with the pacing at the end. I also felt there were some random tone shifts, especially with our MMC—his dialogue will be very casual then very formal, which was a bit disjointed. This odd blend also happened within the world—some things were very modern while others were historical—making it hard to clearly picture things at times.

This duology has a ton of potential, so I'm excited to see where Jaclyn Rodriguez takes this story in book 2!

A sincere thank you to Slowburn for gifting me an ARC ahead of its release.

[♡❀Caroline. K❀♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like many other romantasy books, it takes a little bit of time to fully understand what’s going on. But once I did...boy, was I hooked. The world-building was intriguing, and the plot is something I’m very excited to explore more of.

The characters felt like they had a natural, fluid dynamic with one another. Draven is broody and powerful, yet he has a softer side where he allows himself to be vulnerable. Rune, on the other hand, is feisty and strong, but it’s harder for her to truly rely on anyone other than herself.

I will say this is a softer take on enemies-to-lovers. There’s plenty of banter and tension, with the spice leaning more on the mild side, just fyi. Overall, this was a solid book, and I’m very excited to see what’s to come next.

I want to thank Netgalley, Jaclyn Rodriguez, and Zando | Slowburn for the ARC. All options expressed in this review are my own.

[My Dark Romantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to @prhaudio for my copy of A Vow in Vengeance

Romantasy lovers, this was a good one!
Out today A Vow in Vengeance

I’ve been super fussy about Romantasy books lately. A lot of them have been feeling like they are trying to tick the boxes of certain tropes to get attention instead of making the tropes fit within the world they create. And this one did a better job than most!

I loved the MMC (he has wings and calls her “love”) and he is down bad for our FMC. The FMC is very head strong maybe a little too much so, but the plot made up for it. So many exciting things are happening in A Vow in Vengeance to keep you interested.

Definitely worth checking out!

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a new bombshell has entered the villa!!! romantasy girls, gays and theys we are SOOOOO BACK. i am in complete awe of how this is a debut novel. i was captivated by this book from start to finish, i quite literally dropped everything i was currently in the middle of reading because i just couldnt focus on anything else but reading/listening to this!! 😩

while i was super excited to find out about and try this book i was a little nervous going into it thinking that it may resemble another magic/tarot school based book — i dont know much about tarot so i wasnt sure how easy or difficult it could be to make a book with this magic system stand out and different from the other but i was absolutely THRILLED to find out it was very easy for jaclyn to do!!! this new universe felt so immersive and otherworldly, it felt fresh and new which is something that in my personal opinion is hard to accomplish in this genre these days. i felt impressed by every single aspect of this book, i cant think of a single thing i didnt enjoy during my time reading/listening to this!!

rune & draven were SO much fun, separately and together as a couple. the second rune threw her shoe at draven’s head i was smitten with her LOL. there is nothing i love more than a spitfire take no shit fmc in my fantasy books, i loved how driven she was to meet her goals and learn all of the magic and knowledge she did, i loved that even though she went into the selection with revenge on her mind only to have this insane thing dumped on her during she didnt let it become her entire personality. yes she kept her plots for revenge but she also was smart enough to not dwell on what she couldnt change and used her new body and magic to move forward instead of letting it set her back!! draven, i mean he is the hottest thing since sliced bread, that mans arrogance is quite possibly the hottest thing lol, he made this book SO much fun with his playfulness and banter with rune. i think he did a phenomenal job at guiding her through all of the bs she now has to deal with all while getting her to lower her guard a bit and let him in. i loved how protective he was of her at every turn, i love how it was acknowledged eventually that he is the only one to truly take care of her and care her needs and wants.

i simply could not be more excited to see where this series takes us and whats to come! just on this book alone jaclyn rodriguez will be an auto buy/read author for me moving forward! i truly cannot recommend doing an immersive read of reading and listening at the same time, the narrators did a wonderful job bringing this story to life and i think it will really enhance everyones experience!! now to (im)patiently wait for news of book two and pace the gates of my enclosure

[Sue Miz · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You are my salvation...and my damnation," he whispers
"Whether I spend my life hating to love you or loving to hate I would never choose another.

First, a thank you from Netgalley, the author, and the publication company for the eARC.

The book caught my attention for several reasons.

1- The author is Puerto Rican 💜
2- The magic system is based on Tarrot Cards...something very rare to see (the only one I can think of is One Dark Window)
3- and because of that, the magic system is considered Hard Magic. There are rules and restrictions ... again, something very rare in the world of fantasy.

A war broke out between the mortals and immortals, and, shocking, guess who won! To punish the mortals, every year a Selection happens where the Seraphs, Elves, and Druids pick human people of different ages to go to their realm. No one knows what happens to them. All of Rune's, our main protagonist, family has been taken before leaving her alone. This year, she vows to be selected and look for them. This year, it's the Druid's turn to pick. Rune has to go to an Academy-like place called the Forge, survive not only training, conspiracies, and being murdered, but also the brooding Heir Prince Draven.

As a positive, the story is intriguing, the magic system is very well-thought off, and the writing style is excellent.
After the first half, the book picks up so much speed that you just want to turn page after page to read what happens next. The ending gave me whiplash, in a good way, with how fast it was.

The chemistry between Rune and Draven was off the charts, and I loved that it was a mild-slow burn with very little spice, allowing their relationship to brew and happen.

The twists and reveals in the storyline were superb, and, in my opinion, the best thing about the book.
I do think this book would be popular with romantacy lovers.

However, it was so far from perfect, though it has a lot of potntial.

For one, there are a lot of snippits from very popular books that were supposed to act like familiar but came off as copying, to be honest.

the brooding tall dark and hadsome male lead
the chosen female lead for reasons who is subpar to the hero and has white hair!
the need for training
the hidden powers/talents that we never see until the very end
the punishment of the children of the rebels by integrating them into the system
the need to descend at the end of education for the powers to manifest
and so many more...

The marketing of the book will be "enemies to lovers" - "one bed trope" - "dark academia" 🙄 and I am sorry, but this is not that, not even close...well! except the one bed thing because that is the lamest trope ever.

But my biggest issue for me was Rune herself. She is the sole narrator of the book, thus, she carries the burden.
Rune introduces herself at the beginning of the book as the Wraith, a well-trained spy, who has brutally murdered her master. We are told that she is very skilled, resourceful, and smart. So please explain to me how such a person is easily held down by a man, beat up, and almost raped with very little resistance and needed rescuing from the dashing prince!
Throughout the book, I was waiting to be impressed by Rune, for her to show a bit of the smartness we kept hearing about, the spy techniques she bragged about over and over. Alas, non of that happened.
She is undertrained, underwhelmed and borderline insufferable sometimes.
Her only quality is that the World card chose her for....reasons!

Personally, I wished there was no love in this book because how it ended. Because of the "love", I was expecting a betrayal...and I don't know how book 2 will go because the romance part will be boring.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read

⚜ rating: 3.5 🌟🌟🌟 🔅
⚜Genre: High Fantasy
⚜Theme: Fantasy Romance
⚜Targeted audience: 16+
⚜Characters: Rune, Draven
⚜Representation: LGBTQ+
⚜ driven: Plot driven
⚜Pace: medium
⚜TW: death, attempted SA
⚜ tropes: medium-burn, one bed, chosen one, forced proximity
⚜ POV: one sided first person
⚜ spice 🌶 one tiny scene that doesn't go all the way
⚜standalone: no
⚜Ending: setting the mood for the next book
⚜Book read: eARC

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really solid romantasy that kept me engaged from start to finish. The world-building is one of the strongest parts of the book rich, immersive, and clearly well thought out. The immortal realms, the history between mortals and immortals, and the overall political tension made this feel like a fully realized world rather than just a backdrop for the romance.

The magic system is incredibly unique and honestly one of the most interesting concepts I’ve read recently. Tarot based magic is such a creative idea, and I appreciated how much depth and intention went into it. That said, it is complicated. There’s a lot to take in, and at times it felt a bit dense, but I still admired the ambition behind it.

Rune was a compelling main character, driven by grief, determination, and a need to reclaim what was taken from her. Her dynamic with Draven was a highlight for me, forced proximity, tension, and that slow-building pull between them absolutely worked. I loved the shared space, the reluctant alliance, and how their relationship developed alongside the plot.

Overall, this book delivered strong world-building, a fresh magic system, and a romance trope I’ll never get tired of. Even with a few moments where the magic felt overwhelming, I really enjoyed this one and I’m definitely continuing the series. Looking forward to book two! Thanks to Zando for the gifted arc

[Livlyy ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

⟢ “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞,𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲, 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞.”⟢


ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜɪɴɢ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ January 20 , 2026


⋮ ⋆｡˚꒰ঌ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 ໒꒱˚｡⋆

Rune Ryker has one goal: revenge. After losing everything to the Immortals, she forces her way into their world—straight into the Forge, a deadly school of tarot-based magic. Her power is rare, her enemies are many, and her only ally is the infuriatingly powerful Prince Draven. As sparks fly and secrets unravel, Rune must survive betrayal, deadly magic, and a brewing war that could burn the realms to the ground.

⋮ ⋆｡˚꒰ঌ ࣪𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ࣪ ໒꒱˚｡

⋆ Woah! I seriously DID NOT realise that this book was like 400 pages , I STILL WANT MORE! Honestly the ending made me curious about what will happen in the next book. Moreover, I LOVE the writing style ( and you’re telling me that this book is the author’s debut novel?) The magic system is very unique but at the same time a little difficult to remember , because there’s a whole lotta information.It has a bit of Insta love ( which is a trope I hate) but I love the banter! Kind of powerless and hunger games concept like there’s selections , BUT there are Major cruel Prince vibes. The characters were likeable but that the same time I did not feel MUCH connection with them , but I’m sure it’ll change as I get to read the next book. I can already sense that this book is gonna be popular in booktok because of sooooo many aspects! ALSO I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT THE ONE BED SCENEEEE!! This book got me giggling and kicking my feet ( YES THERE I SAID IT)



𐔌 . ⋮ 𝐂ɦα𝗋α𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

⋮ ⋆˚࿔ 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐲𝐤𝐞𝐫 ⋆ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

Our Fierce FMC!! She is a bit of a complex character but loved her nonetheless. Also this book was written in her POV and it was really fun.She has white hairs which reminded me of awful book Powerless , but thankfully she is nothing like Paedyn gray 😌 She’s so well written and might as well one of my favourite FMC ♥️ This couple is literally so cute and their love is so pure!


⋮ ⋆˚࿔ 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐬 ⋆ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

⟢ “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧”⟢

DAYUMMMMM! I just KNOW he’s gonna be the next trending bf in booktok except the fact that he’s tall , is very handsome and has a cocky grin like any other fictional men in fantasy book Like I love whenever he flirted with Rune and most of all , how he’s not always grumpy and cold. HES JUST SO CUTEEE AHHHHH. ( and yes I added him to my list of Book bf🤭)



𐔌 . ⋮ 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

• Enemies to Lovers
• One Bed
• Fake dating
• He Falls first and harder
• Found Family
• Enemies to lovers ( Kinda)
• Spice : 🌶️ 🌶️/ Age rating : 15+



⋆.˚✮ 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 ✮˚ I love this book even though it’s not a five star. I cannot wait for this book to be published and for y’all to read this 😍 Really looking forward to the next book in the series ! Thank you NetGalley , Zando and Jaclyn Rodriguez for the E arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Vow in Vengeance - ARC Review

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.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Thank you Zando publishing company for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I ATE this one up!! This is everything I love in a dark academia romantasy. 

This story follows Rune Ryker, a mortal 21 year old woman, who has lost everything to the immortals and their annual selection. She orchestrates her own selection, determined to find her family and learns that she has rare and powerful magic. She and the immortal prince Draven are the only two with this magic and he offers to train her, for a price.

I really loved the world building and the magic system! I don't have a ton of experience with tarot cards but the magic system was well explained even for those new to fantasy or tarot cards. The academia setting was fun and exciting with an extra level of danger. The side characters are lovable and I liked seeing Rune & Draven have their own friends and Rune finally having friends who care about her.

On release day I also purchased the audiobook so I didn't have to stop reading as often. The narration by Raquel Beattie & Gregory Salinas was excellent! If you like audiobooks I highly recommend this one! (I don't always recommend fantasy audiobooks with complex magic systems but this was a good one!)

I had such a fun time reading and listening to this one! I don't think I'll shut up about this one for a LONG time. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here!

A huge thank you to NetGalley & Zando for the eARC. All opinions are my own. 

[elizabeth rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping blend of magic, danger, and sizzling tension—I devoured this in one sitting! 🔥

A Vow in Vengeance delivers everything I crave in a romantasy: a cutthroat academy, high-stakes magic, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic crackling with tension. Fans of Throne of Glass will recognize some familiar elements—an elite training school, a sharp-tongued heroine, and a dangerously charming prince—but the tarot-based magic system brings a fresh and intriguing twist that kept me hooked.

One of the most compelling parts of the book was Rune’s relentless search for her family, scattered across this dangerous world. Her determination and the emotional depth of her journey added so much heart to the story, making every discovery and setback feel intensely personal.

The worldbuilding is rich and immersive - every lesson Rune takes pulls the reader deeper into the complexities of the magic system. And then there’s Prince Draven—infuriating, cunning, and impossible to ignore. His dynamic with Rune is pure fire, with sharp banter and electric chemistry that had me devouring this book in one sitting.

While seasoned fantasy readers may spot some familiar tropes, Jaclyn Rodriguez delivers them with flair, crafting a gripping, fast-paced read that’s impossible to put down. For a debut, this is outstanding—I’m dying for a sequel! If you love high-stakes magic, dangerous alliances, and romance laced with tension, A Vow in Vengeance is an absolute must-read!

3.5 ⭐️

[handy.hannahbookishrecs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a debut the beginning of this book had me hooked.

In a world of Immortal Elves Druids and Seraphs a wall separates them from the humans but because of a curse that was placed on the immortals preventing them from bearing any children they are forced to subject humans to a selection. Humans are picked against their will to be turned into changelings to further each immortal species.
Our FMC Rune is a human that wants to be picked however in hopes of finding her family that was taken in past years as well as hopes to enact revenge on the immortals that took them.
She is picked by the druids and taken to what’s called the Forge a magical academy where she has to learn how to utilize her new body and now this new magic she possesses using Tarot cards. She’s also forced to be roommates with the arrogant prince Draven and eventually is forced to agree to an alliance with him as she finds both of their interests align with changing the world they live in and in order to get her family back she’ll need the power Draven offers to get what she wants.

I overall had a great time reading this one I will say from the 40-60% part of this book it did slow down quite a bit and I don’t think I would label this an enemies to lovers maybe more of a one sided hate to love? But after that 60% mark it picked right back up and the shocking plot twists and betrayals at the end had me gasping.

Tropes
Training academy
Forced proximity
FMC Revenge arc
Power Struggles
Fake Dating/Engagement
Winged MMC
Touch her and die
Tarot Based Magic System
Cultural Elements woven into the story
Political intrigue

[Rachel | rachelsreading_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly such an amazing debut. I was in awe.

Rune is a mortal that is looking to cross over the wall that sits between the mortal and immortal lands in order to search for her family. It's been years since the last of her family was taken from her and she's ready to take her revenge. But she can't cross over the wall until she goes through the Selection. As she sits through the Selection as each mortal is selected, it gets to the last pick. And when the prince and his younger brother stop near her, she tells them to pick her. What she wasn't ready for was the transition she would need to make after crossing over.

When her and Prince Draven are thrown together as the only two with their power, they're forced into each other's space and lives. As they spend more and more time together between training and living together, they discover the truths they're both hiding.

“You are my vexation, my obsession and though I would rather cut out my heart than let you continue to hold this power over me, I will always…”

I think Jaclyn did SUCH a great job teaching the reader about tarot magic. It's something I've always been interested in and this helped me learn so much. It was also such a unique magic system that you don't often see in books.

She also did an amazing job with a slow burn, enemies to lovers. They love to bicker, they're both a little morally grey, but they're both ready to fight for what they believe is right. I can't wait for the second book. These two are so special.

"Would you be satisfied with so little of me?" "I'd beg on my knees just to get that much of you."

thank you Zando for the early copy of this book ✨