A Vow in Vengeance

"They may steal my freedom,my love, myvery breath, but so long as I do not fear them, they hold no power over me." (page XV) Jaclyn Rodriguez has written a debut that is more than just promising. The plot captivates the reader from the beginning and the magic system involving tarot cards is also cleverly constructed. There is the classic revenge storyline with alliances where nothing is as it seems and where the characters usually have more than one agenda and are all persuing their own goals. The two main characters are very likeable and convincing thanks to their backstories and the resulting character development - not to mention their banter, which was refreshing and definitely one of the books highlights. In my opinion the author could have explored the tarot magic and word-building (I love great worldbuilding) in greater depth, but this hardly takes anything away from the plot and so, despite these minor criticisms, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will certainly be reading the second installment.