Blog Tour A Promised Vengeance by Sara B. Larson. Review

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for A Promised Vengeance by Sara B. Larson. This tour is being hosted by Toppling Stacks Tours.

Genre: Adult, Fantasy
Publishing date: October 28, 2025

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From the author of the DEFY trilogy, get ready to immerse yourself in this romantasy reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo!

Falsely accused of murder, impoverished Elodie Dantès is torn from her childhood love, Killian, stripped of her most valuable possession—a forbidden artifact that wields ancient power—and banished to the otherworldly prison of Autremonde.

Awaiting certain death in a world poisoned by magic, Elodie meets an unexpected ally, and together they begin digging for an escape. However, once Elodie is finally free, she discovers that the very people who betrayed her are those she trusted the most. Consumed by vengeance, Elodie develops a plan to ruthlessly destroy them all.

But all too soon Elodie is forced to choose whether vengeance is worth the price, especially if it means losing the love of her life forever.

Content Warning: violence

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers..

A Promised Vengeance absolutely swept me away. A gender-switched reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo, this book delivers betrayal, revenge, and redemption with all the emotional punch of a classic but the magic and heart of a modern romantasy.

Elodie Dantès is a heroine who commands the page. Wrongfully imprisoned and stripped of everything she holds dear, she refuses to break. Watching her rise from the depths of despair to become the architect of her own justice was thrilling and empowering. She’s beautifully complex—strong, imperfect, and capable of both vengeance and love—and I adored every layer of her journey.

The relationship between Elodie and the priest absolutely stole my heart. Their bond is tender and deeply human, a bright spark of hope amid a dark and dangerous world. It grounded the story and made me care even more about Elodie’s fight to reclaim her life.

Sara B. Larson’s writing shines here—emotional, immersive, and full of tension. The pacing builds steadily toward an explosive second half that had me completely hooked. The world-building feels lush and imaginative, and the romance is perfectly balanced—swoony but never overshadowing the plot.

What impressed me most, though, was the emotional depth. This story isn’t just about revenge—it’s about power, forgiveness, and the painful but beautiful process of becoming whole again. It feels epic and intimate at the same time, and I’m still thinking about it long after finishing.

A Promised Vengeance is everything I want in a romantasy: a strong, morally grey heroine, a high-stakes plot, slow-burn tension, and emotional catharsis. It’s brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable. This is one of those books that reminds me why I love this genre so much.

Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy DEFY trilogy (DEFY, IGNITE, and ENDURE), the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN duology (DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT), and SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT DUOLOGY. Her new releases include a YA fantasy coming Fall 2025, and EVERY BEAT AFTER (adult debut) coming spring 2026. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook.Sara lives in Utah with her husband, their four children, and their dogs, Loki the Maltese and Bindi the English Cream Retriever. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction.

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