Oaths & Vengeance Review

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya, #1) by Susan Illene
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic, Romantasy
Format: eARC
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Goodreads

Darrow is powerful, ruthless, and her sworn enemy. The wickedly good-looking elf is also cursed never to love.
Aella should stay far away from him, especially considering he could kill her from a distance with little effort. Except that someone close to her is dying, and he is the only person in the realm with the means to help. She has strong powers of her own to offer in exchange, but to her dismay, Darrow wants a secret marriage as part of the bargain.
Fae marriages are forever, so she'd always be his.
With other factors pushing her toward it, she agrees to a private wedding that the king himself officiates while hiding the ceremony from her disapproving family. Aella suspects there is far more to Darrow’s motives if Zadrya's monarch is involved. It isn't long before she discovers that dark forces are circling, and it’s her rare magic they want to use or eradicate by any means necessary. Her new husband has drawn her into a dangerous conflict started centuries ago that could either end in the salvation or destruction of their world. If she wants to survive, she’ll need to trust Darrow with her body, but never her heart.
Note- This novel is an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romantasy. It contains adult content, including violence, foul language, rough spicy scenes, torture, and a sentient murder garden. Also, be aware that this series does not have characters who speak like teenagers on modern Earth. Consider skipping this novel if that's your writing style preference. Otherwise, read Oaths & Vengeance at your own discretion.

 

 Julie’s Review:

 

Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya Book 1):

This first in a series delivers an interesting magical world, troubled complicated characters who grow on you and really aren’t who they seem at first, lots of action (and violence), and a common goal to safe their worlds.

I enjoyed the slow burn romantasy, starting with a bargain to help save someone the FMC cared about, and growing into something that can someday be so much more. The curse keeping the enemy family line from being able to love is very interesting, but compassion, possessiveness, and the drive to take care of “my wife” almost makes up for it. Spice level: 4 chili peppers.

The FMC is controlled by her guardian and forced to help open portals, but she rebels in her small ways, raising amazing intelligent plants that help protect her, and fighting back to save the lives of innocent townspeople every time her uncle attacks the enemy. I also enjoyed the FMC being in her 30s, and not some barely adult child. However, being an unmarried woman in the fae laws meant she still didn’t have control of her life.

A story where the enemy turns out to be the ally, and the real enemy is within, is an added layer of complication that made the initial bargain so much more risky and their connection and working together so much more meaningful. The slow developing trust between former enemies, where one almost killed the other in a battle is quite lovely.

The pacing was good. I devoured it over a handful of days, which says a lot for a full length fantasy book. The world building was just right for me, where I enjoyed learning and experiencing the different lands but didn’t feel an info dump situation.

It ends with a lot of the bigger points tied up, the main goal to be resolved later, and a bit of a cliffhanger on a new developing situation. I’m looking forward to book 2.

Tropes you may enjoy:

• Enemies to lovers
• Secret marriage
• Bargains
• Cursed morally grey MMC
• Cursed FMC who rebels
• Portal magic and fae magic
• Touch her and die
• “My Wife”

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