Rating: 4.5⭐️
I believe this was a BookTok read that went viral when it first appeared. It’s Aria Ashbrook’s first series and story and it’s actually a very terrific story.
Novels one through three are released, so it’s easy to binge read right through all the events that happen to the main characters and the magical foundation that the author is creating.
A word of caution, Ashbrook crafts meaningful relationships between her characters that come to mean something to the reader. That will also bring about some heartbreaking moments and scenarios because she’s also not afraid to do away with important characters if she thinks that the narrative calls for it.
That’s a clue.
People who the reader has come to care about won’t make it through to the end of the story. This one or the next. And it will break your heart.
The types of magic is a major storyline that continues throughout the series, even the mystery of the lack of is part of it. There’s even a found family aspect to this that I love even more.
I wasn’t prepared for this to get as complicated as Ashbrook builds it into as it develops, something I appreciated.
The relationship I feel worked against that was with both her sister and the prince. In both cases, an aspect of naïveté from Rose, someone who dealt in the slums and survived being stripped of her magic, felt unrealistic.
For Rose, a person who has suffered unimaginable loss, physical deprivation, been orphaned, there’s instances during the trials where her personality seems stripped of those experiences. It robs her of character reasonable depth and gives her less credibility.
But then again there’s moments where she’s fighting for herself and her new friends, trying to figure out how to win without any powers, and it’s fantastic.
Prince Kyor? He’s the lesser well written character here. It does get somewhat better.However, he’s the standard over jealous, over protective, over everything male figure who wants to control everything, including not letting her make her own decisions. So over these types of MMC .
There’s LGBT characters/couples here. But , with spoilers for this, each couple ends badly, starting with one here. I found this aspect of the series surprising. I wonder if there’s a longer path forward for them.
I’m highly recommending this. I’ve read through the series and am having to wait for book 4 next spring.
Cover design by Christian Bentulan.
The Hirathean Path:
Veil of Web and Ruin – prequel
Web of Vows and Vengeance #1
Vows of Blood and Deception #2
Blood of Truth and Traitors #3
Truth of Fate and Destiny #4 – May 5,2027
Buy link
Book 1 of 4: The Hirathean Path
Blurb
THE BOOKTOK ROMANTASY READERS CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT
A viral BookTok sensation featuring deadly trials, divine magic, a bonded dire wolf, and an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers romance.
Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and Throne of Glass.
“They say vengeance is a blade best kept sharp, and my dagger has been honed with every betrayal.”
BOOKTOK IS OBSESSED:
“This will be the next book to blow up on BookTok. I don’t say that lightly.” — Miranda @Probably Off Reading
“For the BookTok girlies in a reading slump, I raise you Web of Vows and Vengeance.” — Jaimee Johnson @thtgrlreads
“Giving Fourth Wing vibes… I could not put this book down.” — Kaila Anttila @Kaila.books
TROPES:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Deadly Trials
- Slow-Burn Romance
- Underdog Heroine
- Brooding Royal MMC
- Forced Proximity
- Gods & Goddesses
STRIPPED OF POWER. FUELLED BY VENGEANCE.
She lost everything because of his lie. Now the only way to save her sister is to win a deadly competition that could cost her the only thing she has left: her life.
When Prince Kyor twisted the truth about his mother’s death, Rose paid the price. Her family was stripped of their magic, cast into the slums, and abandoned by the kingdom they once served. Now her parents are gone, and her younger sister’s future hangs in the balance.
Rose’s only hope is the Tournament of the Gifting, a brutal competition held once a century, where the victor earns a blessing from the Goddess of Life. The catch? Every other contender wields the very power she was robbed of.
And Prince Kyor is among them. Commander of the armies. Rider of a bonded dire wolf. Wielder of lightning. He doesn’t just want to win for vanity – he wants the gift for himself. But what could a man who has it all possibly want?
Thrown into a world of magic, monsters, and merciless trials, Rose must fight not only for survival but for the chance to reclaim her future. Along the way, she’ll find unlikely allies, ruthless rivals, and a dangerous connection with her greatest enemy – one that could ruin or remake her.
Web of Vows and Vengeance is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy, set in a Nordic-inspired world, featuring deadly trials, found family, gods and goddesses, political intrigue, and an underdog heroine who refuses to stay broken.
This is a story of heartbreak, vengeance, and the kind of power that can never be taken.
AWARD-WINNING ROMANTASY:
Best Fantasy — Independent Publisher Book Awards 2026
Best Fantasy Romance — BookFest Awards 2026
Best Fantasy Read — Pascify Con Awards 2026
Hellhound Press Limited
Publication date
February 27, 2026
Accessibility
Learn more
Language
English
File size
6.7 MB
Screen Reader
Supported
Enhanced typesetting
Enabled
X-Ray
Not Enabled
Word Wise
Enabled
Print length
542 pages
ISBN-13
978-1916833630
Page Flip
Enabled
Book 1 of 4
