What do you think?
Rate this book
Vows of Unity #2
A Vow of Vengeance
On the verge of losing his position within the mysterious Order of Twilight, elven assassin Alwyn Alara is charged by his mentor with a secret, dangerous infiltrate a mission to capture the rebel orc warlord Zesh, and kill him before he’s brought to face the justice of King Zorvut. Though Alwyn is used to working alone, he finds himself annoyed and charmed in equal measure by the orc spy Krujha of the Shifting Sands.
Krujha has devoted his life to ending the war that now threatens to engulf his homeland once again. But as their mission reaches a tipping point, for the first time he dreams of a life in an era of peace. Though he and Alwyn seem to have little in common, they can’t deny their attraction to each other, even as the fate of two nations weighs on their shoulders.
As they learn to work together, Alwyn and Krujha find in each other a kindred soul, as a life of duty and violence is all they’ve ever known. With the mission and their newfound romance on the line, they must choose to share their secrets and learn to trust each other—or die trying.
A Vow of Vengeance is an MM, slow burn, grumpy/sunshine fantasy romance featuring a prickly elf assassin and a charismatic orc spy. This 18+ novel contains light omegaverse elements (male pregnancy is mentioned as an in-world possibility for elves, but does not occur on page) and other adult situations.
⚠ Content Animal death, mentions of kidnapping and slavery, mentions of parental & sibling death, emotional manipulation/abuse from a parental figure, fantasy violence.
Krujha has devoted his life to ending the war that now threatens to engulf his homeland once again. But as their mission reaches a tipping point, for the first time he dreams of a life in an era of peace. Though he and Alwyn seem to have little in common, they can’t deny their attraction to each other, even as the fate of two nations weighs on their shoulders.
As they learn to work together, Alwyn and Krujha find in each other a kindred soul, as a life of duty and violence is all they’ve ever known. With the mission and their newfound romance on the line, they must choose to share their secrets and learn to trust each other—or die trying.
A Vow of Vengeance is an MM, slow burn, grumpy/sunshine fantasy romance featuring a prickly elf assassin and a charismatic orc spy. This 18+ novel contains light omegaverse elements (male pregnancy is mentioned as an in-world possibility for elves, but does not occur on page) and other adult situations.
⚠ Content Animal death, mentions of kidnapping and slavery, mentions of parental & sibling death, emotional manipulation/abuse from a parental figure, fantasy violence.
- GenresFantasy
443 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all:
THANK YOU LIONEL HART FOR ALLOWING ME TO READ THIS!!
I received an ARC of this book and immediately dove into A Vow to Heal because I needed a refresher after finishing The Orc Prince Trilogy last year, and honestly, I’m so glad I did.
This is a spin-off, so while you can read it on its own for the romance, I highly recommend starting with Claimed by the Orc Prince, working through the trilogy, and then picking up A Vow to Heal. If you’re anything like me and love fully immersing yourself in a world, it’s 100% worth it.
Now, let’s talk characters.
Krujha? Whew. This man was giving strong “calm, patient, slightly exasperated daddy energy” at times, especially when dealing with Alwyn’s stubborn streak. He doesn’t just follow the crowd, and even with his own insecurities, he’s very much the steady anchor in their relationship.
And Alwyn… oh, Alwyn. My fiery, frustrating, lovable spitfire. His loyalty and sense of duty are admirable, but there were multiple moments where I wanted to reach into the book, grab him by the shoulders, and shake some sense into him. That said, his character development?It is easily the most dramatic and satisfying. Watching him grow and seeing how much Krujha influenced that was satisfying 😌
The side characters added a lot to the story, but let’s be honest, the antagonists are always who we love to hate.
Zesh: LISTEN. We met him in the original trilogy and kept hearing about him in AVtH, but finally, seeing more of him here? Obsessed. Yes, he’s exactly the bloodthirsty orc you expect, but there’s something about his interactions with the main characters that had my brain spinning with theories. I loved every second he was on the page. I kind of wanted to have him for longer, though! 🙃
Yarug: If you’ve read AVtH, you already know. I was practically yelling at Krujha and Alwyn during certain scenes, iykyk... Also, druids? It's always a win.
Not having more of them is criminally offensive 😅 lol
As for the romance, this is a true slow burn. The relationship between Krujha and Alwyn develops gradually, giving every moment space to breathe. You really get to feel their connection grow, which makes the payoff that much sweeter. And yes, they earn their HEA, but not without consequences. Seeing Alwyn face those and actually work through them (something his old self never could have done) felt like such a victory.
A lot happened in this book, but it never felt rushed to me. The pacing worked, the emotional beats landed, and the worldbuilding continued to shine. That said, I do think already being familiar with the world enhanced my experience.
Overall, I had such a great time with this. Strong characters, meaningful development, engaging plot, and a world that feels alive without overwhelming you. It leans more toward high fantasy with a romantic subplot rather than full romantasy, but honestly, that worked perfectly for me.
If you love slow burn, rich fantasy worlds, magic, and a very satisfying size difference 😉… definitely give this one a try.
THANK YOU LIONEL HART FOR ALLOWING ME TO READ THIS!!
I received an ARC of this book and immediately dove into A Vow to Heal because I needed a refresher after finishing The Orc Prince Trilogy last year, and honestly, I’m so glad I did.
This is a spin-off, so while you can read it on its own for the romance, I highly recommend starting with Claimed by the Orc Prince, working through the trilogy, and then picking up A Vow to Heal. If you’re anything like me and love fully immersing yourself in a world, it’s 100% worth it.
Now, let’s talk characters.
Krujha? Whew. This man was giving strong “calm, patient, slightly exasperated daddy energy” at times, especially when dealing with Alwyn’s stubborn streak. He doesn’t just follow the crowd, and even with his own insecurities, he’s very much the steady anchor in their relationship.
And Alwyn… oh, Alwyn. My fiery, frustrating, lovable spitfire. His loyalty and sense of duty are admirable, but there were multiple moments where I wanted to reach into the book, grab him by the shoulders, and shake some sense into him. That said, his character development?It is easily the most dramatic and satisfying. Watching him grow and seeing how much Krujha influenced that was satisfying 😌
The side characters added a lot to the story, but let’s be honest, the antagonists are always who we love to hate.
Zesh: LISTEN. We met him in the original trilogy and kept hearing about him in AVtH, but finally, seeing more of him here? Obsessed. Yes, he’s exactly the bloodthirsty orc you expect, but there’s something about his interactions with the main characters that had my brain spinning with theories. I loved every second he was on the page. I kind of wanted to have him for longer, though! 🙃
Yarug: If you’ve read AVtH, you already know. I was practically yelling at Krujha and Alwyn during certain scenes, iykyk... Also, druids? It's always a win.
Not having more of them is criminally offensive 😅 lol
As for the romance, this is a true slow burn. The relationship between Krujha and Alwyn develops gradually, giving every moment space to breathe. You really get to feel their connection grow, which makes the payoff that much sweeter. And yes, they earn their HEA, but not without consequences. Seeing Alwyn face those and actually work through them (something his old self never could have done) felt like such a victory.
A lot happened in this book, but it never felt rushed to me. The pacing worked, the emotional beats landed, and the worldbuilding continued to shine. That said, I do think already being familiar with the world enhanced my experience.
Overall, I had such a great time with this. Strong characters, meaningful development, engaging plot, and a world that feels alive without overwhelming you. It leans more toward high fantasy with a romantic subplot rather than full romantasy, but honestly, that worked perfectly for me.
If you love slow burn, rich fantasy worlds, magic, and a very satisfying size difference 😉… definitely give this one a try.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Maybe we could find out what it is we want to do together.”
Alwyn, an elven assassin, failed his last mission and when his mentor gave him a chance with another secret mission, he vows to do everything to succeed. He didn’t factor in orc spy, Krujha, who shown him kindness in ways he never felt. Together, they embarked on an adventure to take down the rebel orc warlord.
Lionel Hart, I have been sleeping on your books.
I saw the cover and immediately want to read it so I did, in a span of a few hours which was surprising considering fantasy is not my usual genre.
This is the second book in the series but I have no problems understanding the world, the politics and the people. It took me maybe 3 chapters in before I got the gist, and the writing style is easy to understand so the whole experience became very enjoyable for me.
I have been enjoying fantasy books with queer protagonists on it so I am open to reading more Lionel Hart’s books especially with this whole universe.
Characters, both Alwyn and Krujha are endearing with their own strong skillsets that were interesting to see. Alwyn’s a sorcerer assasin which was very intriguing to follow, and even Krujha’s ability to immediately locked in switching personalities to keep up as a spy was amazing.
I usually say this but the travel aspect in books is not something that I like or prefer reading, but in this one, there’s no dull moment or ‘dead air’ as everything was gearing towards an end goal. It doesn’t feel stagnant, if you know what I mean.
Plot-wise, I was so gripped and this book was basically a page-turner because I wanted to see how they’ll deal with the situation, how they’ll accomplish the their mission and how they’ll work together despite their obvious differences. It was very high stake right from the start.
Once I finished the book, I had this question about Alwyn’s past that I wished was addressed or given the resolution because I want to know but hey maybe it’ll be resolved in the upcoming books (if there are any more).
Overall, my reading experience with this was great. I love every part of the book, I love the world and the characters and would love to go back soon.
And by soon, I mean, I’m reading another book by Lionel Hart.
Alwyn, an elven assassin, failed his last mission and when his mentor gave him a chance with another secret mission, he vows to do everything to succeed. He didn’t factor in orc spy, Krujha, who shown him kindness in ways he never felt. Together, they embarked on an adventure to take down the rebel orc warlord.
Lionel Hart, I have been sleeping on your books.
I saw the cover and immediately want to read it so I did, in a span of a few hours which was surprising considering fantasy is not my usual genre.
This is the second book in the series but I have no problems understanding the world, the politics and the people. It took me maybe 3 chapters in before I got the gist, and the writing style is easy to understand so the whole experience became very enjoyable for me.
I have been enjoying fantasy books with queer protagonists on it so I am open to reading more Lionel Hart’s books especially with this whole universe.
Characters, both Alwyn and Krujha are endearing with their own strong skillsets that were interesting to see. Alwyn’s a sorcerer assasin which was very intriguing to follow, and even Krujha’s ability to immediately locked in switching personalities to keep up as a spy was amazing.
I usually say this but the travel aspect in books is not something that I like or prefer reading, but in this one, there’s no dull moment or ‘dead air’ as everything was gearing towards an end goal. It doesn’t feel stagnant, if you know what I mean.
Plot-wise, I was so gripped and this book was basically a page-turner because I wanted to see how they’ll deal with the situation, how they’ll accomplish the their mission and how they’ll work together despite their obvious differences. It was very high stake right from the start.
Once I finished the book, I had this question about Alwyn’s past that I wished was addressed or given the resolution because I want to know but hey maybe it’ll be resolved in the upcoming books (if there are any more).
Overall, my reading experience with this was great. I love every part of the book, I love the world and the characters and would love to go back soon.
And by soon, I mean, I’m reading another book by Lionel Hart.
Review of advance copy received from Author
☼I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book directly from the author. Thank you, Lionel Hart for giving me early access!☼
~Spoiler-free review~
This book is the second in a series, but I can confirm that it works well as a stand-alone with no prior knowledge of the larger world. This was the first book I read in Lionel Hart's universe, and it gave enough context to understand the larger story and where this fits inside of it. I could see hints of previous stories, but it just made me curious to check out the other books he has written.
This is a grumpy x sunshine, interspecies, medium-slow burn romantasy with a BIG size difference! It's got spice with some explicit open-door scenes and a "we can fuck but kissing is too intimate" vibe. It's got themes of the importance of interpersonal connection and defying others' expectations to find your own happiness.
The story will work well for readers who want the aesthetics of danger without heavy intensity. I'd describe it as a cozy romantasy in high-stakes clothing. The premise of an assassin infiltrating the camp of an orckish warlord sounds gritty, but it leans much softer. If you dislike stories that have you stressed for MCs, you'll vibe with this gentler take. Even the heavier, potentially trauma-laden topics have a softer handling. There are moments of high-intensity without flooding the whole narrative.
Similarly, this is great for readers that prefer harmony between characters rather than interpersonal conflict, where the friction is in the slow-burn development of feelings rather than the butting of heads. Not that every character has good intentions, certainly not, but the relationship that is the core focus leans into that gradual slide into comfort and familiarity.
If you prefer lite worldbuilding over heavy and intricate lore, this will be your vibe. This is also for you if you prefer a more straight-forward plot with a journeying, character-led narrative.
Readers are rewarded at the end with a chance to witness how happily after looks for the two MCs and the life they choose to create after the climax (innuendo not intended, but not NOT intended).
~Spoiler-free review~
This book is the second in a series, but I can confirm that it works well as a stand-alone with no prior knowledge of the larger world. This was the first book I read in Lionel Hart's universe, and it gave enough context to understand the larger story and where this fits inside of it. I could see hints of previous stories, but it just made me curious to check out the other books he has written.
This is a grumpy x sunshine, interspecies, medium-slow burn romantasy with a BIG size difference! It's got spice with some explicit open-door scenes and a "we can fuck but kissing is too intimate" vibe. It's got themes of the importance of interpersonal connection and defying others' expectations to find your own happiness.
The story will work well for readers who want the aesthetics of danger without heavy intensity. I'd describe it as a cozy romantasy in high-stakes clothing. The premise of an assassin infiltrating the camp of an orckish warlord sounds gritty, but it leans much softer. If you dislike stories that have you stressed for MCs, you'll vibe with this gentler take. Even the heavier, potentially trauma-laden topics have a softer handling. There are moments of high-intensity without flooding the whole narrative.
Similarly, this is great for readers that prefer harmony between characters rather than interpersonal conflict, where the friction is in the slow-burn development of feelings rather than the butting of heads. Not that every character has good intentions, certainly not, but the relationship that is the core focus leans into that gradual slide into comfort and familiarity.
If you prefer lite worldbuilding over heavy and intricate lore, this will be your vibe. This is also for you if you prefer a more straight-forward plot with a journeying, character-led narrative.
Readers are rewarded at the end with a chance to witness how happily after looks for the two MCs and the life they choose to create after the climax (innuendo not intended, but not NOT intended).
May 21, 2026
Back in the land of orcs and elves as we follow two spys Alwyn and Krujha on a mission to end the rebellion before it starts a war. As the story rolls on the stakes get higher and the pair become closer and rely more on each other.
Over the last 4 books from the previous series and the previous book from this series, the world building had always been solid and it's great to recognise places and bits of knowledge given. The world has a good depth and feels loved in, the set up from the previous stories flows into this one creating the direction of the main pair.
Enjoy the sweet build up of the relationship between Alwyn and Krujha, they slowly gain each others trust and open up about their backstories. Giving them a lovely full relationship, the way both go from mistrust to love was sweet.
Over the last 4 books from the previous series and the previous book from this series, the world building had always been solid and it's great to recognise places and bits of knowledge given. The world has a good depth and feels loved in, the set up from the previous stories flows into this one creating the direction of the main pair.
Enjoy the sweet build up of the relationship between Alwyn and Krujha, they slowly gain each others trust and open up about their backstories. Giving them a lovely full relationship, the way both go from mistrust to love was sweet.
May 16, 2026
A Vow of Vengeance is the perfect second installation of the Vows of Unity series. The number one rule of spycraft is not to fall in love with another spy but damned if Alwyn and Krujha are going to follow the rules. Honestly, Lionel Hart is a master of creating a world you can just get lost in. While it is a delicious slow burn romance at its heart, the political machinations bring you twists and turns so fast it leaves your head spinning. There were several moments where you think the happily ever after is right around the corner, then you look down at your percentage read and realize "Oh no, what else can happen to our darling MCs?" The finish of the book leaves you both sated and eager for the next installment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
After reading A Vow to Heal I was really hoping Alwyn would get a book! Alwyn and Krujha were so perfect together.
This was an epic slow burn as the two of them go on their journey. I just loved learning Allyn’s story and what happened after the events in A Vow to Heal. He is so very loyal, to a fault and just wants to prove himself. Krujha is a very calming presence, he’s strong in every sense of the word.
I could read so much more about these two. I can’t wait to see what Lionel writes next!
This was an epic slow burn as the two of them go on their journey. I just loved learning Allyn’s story and what happened after the events in A Vow to Heal. He is so very loyal, to a fault and just wants to prove himself. Krujha is a very calming presence, he’s strong in every sense of the word.
I could read so much more about these two. I can’t wait to see what Lionel writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was so sweet. A slow burn romance with fairly fast burn lust. My favourite! I loved that the relationship was built on trust, especially when Alwyn was so reluctant to rely anyone at all. If you’re looking for a sweet romantasy comfort read, with a MASSIVE size difference, omegaverse tropes and skulduggery, this is definitely the one! 🧝⚔️🏹🍑💦
May 14, 2026
I have been reading this series for over 3 years now and Lionel continues to have hooked with each new character and story.
10/10 I love the characters, its magic system and world
Building.
The couple was sweet with some grumpy x sunshine vibes. A fantastic fantasy series and I can’t wait for more!
10/10 I love the characters, its magic system and world
Building.
The couple was sweet with some grumpy x sunshine vibes. A fantastic fantasy series and I can’t wait for more!
May 18, 2026
I thought the world building and storytelling was very good with this one, I just didnt feel like the romance was very believable.
Good story overall .
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Good story overall .
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 18, 2026
Love love love!!!! Alwyn & Krujha’s adventure and romance is perfect. The slow burn sweetness that builds between them is so well done. The character growth is fantastic! Alwyn finding his freedom and happiness with Krujha and vise versa is exactly what I wanted.
Want to Read
April 30, 2026I'm SO excited to read this. I can always count on Lionel Hart to fulfill my elf x orc craving <333
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews