A Vow Of Hate: An Arranged Marriage Romance

Feelings, so many feelings, but the good ones, the type of “OMG this book was so good” feelings. This was my first Lylah James book, and I can honestly say that I wasn’t disappointed, because she gave us such a good, well written book, with great characters. When I first saw the cover and read the blurb and the tropes, I made a few ideas in my mind and I kinda had a view of the story. But oh boy, how wrong was I. This book was nothing like I has imagined, IT WAS AMAZING! The entire book is an emotional rollercoster, so well written, the action was not rushed. Lylah gave us a great book, filled with angst, mystery, hidden secrets and in the end, love. I was such an emotional mess when I finished the book, part of me was so sad that I reached the end. I cried and laugh with the characters, and for more then half the book I was without breath and at the edge of my seat. And that plot twist that dropped halfway through the book had me screaming out loud at 2 am “No way”. I was not expecting that, and in that moment I loved the book ever harder then before. Julianna is not your normal heroine, and I think some of the readers might have a problem in connecting with her and understating why she acted the way she did. I admit, that in the beginning I didn’t empathize with her, but after the first chapters I understood her reasons. There were many moments, when all I wanted was to be able to crawl inside the book and hug her, wrap my arms around her and protect her at all costs. Because she is both strong and fragile, so courageous, brave and kind. She fights for those she loves and tries to protect them at all costs. She was grieving the loss of her sister in her own way, nobody does it the same, and in her mind and broken heart, she though that the best way to do this, was to become a martyr and sacrifice her happiness for someone else’s. Love makes us do so stupid things sometimes. Killian, oh dear Killian. How I wanted to smack some sense into him for most of the book, that my hand started to itch. He is cold, ruthless, heartless and also grieving. But unlike Julianna, he is not a martyr. He channels all his hurt into anger, and has an ultimate goal: revenge. He wants to hurt Julianna, to make her pay for the loss of his love, a love he so desperately wanted and searched for it, and will stop at nothing to achieve that. He does and also says some awful thing to Julianna, he hurts her, but in the end he regrets it. I, for one, wanted to hurt him and hate him, but in the end I couldn’t do it. Because I also understood him, his point of view. He’s been wronged. In the end, I empathized with him also and rooted for the best. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, their story full of angst, secrets, sacrifices, but also love. Both of them play with each others demons. They are the perfect duo, they complete each other. ★ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I normally do not write reviews but considering that this book is the first book in a LONG time to surprise me, I thought I would leave something. I have read through so many books that are just flat and predictable on here. If you've read one you've read them all kind of thing but just with different characters. Well, NOT WITH THIS BOOK. It has multiple twists and even though I did predict a few things and there are things that I did not like about this book, I would still recommend it as a good book to read at the end of the day. It has the right level of spice for the characters, the right level of mystery, it has a good mounting and pace of the story. A good slow burn. In the end I was only left with one loose end and honestly it only bugs me because it was something that pushed the story along for multiple chapters and then just all the sudden I guess didn't matter anymore? Anyway, overall, this book is a good and refreshing switch up. It actually has a plot, (not just spicey scenes with useless filler words in between) and it will definitely be one I read again at some point.

The Blurred Line between Love and Hate During a recent Saturday afternoon, I was held captive reading this book by a new author for me. It was doubly pleasurable because it was a shared experience of a buddy read with the Hotties from Some Like It Hot Discussion Group. The story gripped my heart through my chest and I was wrung out after the read. It put me in a very contemplative state about a few things and I was amazed at the ideas that presented themselves to me. Let me first say it is not a perfect book…yet I gave it 5 stars. I have a few reasons for my high praise. The first is the largeness of the emotions. This writer creates high drama beyond angst…much like the authors of the romantic period of old. The Bronte sisters are good examples. Some reads sound like they have a contemporary pop soundtrack. This read had for me a soundtrack from composers of the romantic era with their lush, swelling crescendo and full-bodied harmonies expressing the depth of sorrow and the tension of the plot points...like the music written by Hector Berlioz, Fryderyck Chopin, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi to name some. Few authors write with this level of reader captivation. Anything that was less than perfect from here can be easily fixed by an editor. “Our story was made out of broken bones, built on a splintered spine; the pages stained with blood and words cursed with devastation. We were battle worn. And perhaps… if we had met in another lifetime, our story would have been different. Less grief and more tenderness. Perhaps in another lifetime… We would have been just Killian and Julianna–without a past to hold us back.” Another idea that kept bouncing around in my psyche was how the heroine of our story was so damaged with a visible limp, a scarred face and a seizure disorder, yet by the end of the novel she was celebrated for her beauty and sex appeal still with her scars, limp and seizures. Yes, our heroine had issues but her appearance was truly not one that was dwelled upon. I was fascinated with my reaction to the heroine. Thinking that she would get plastic surgery or transform somehow into a beauty. Deep in my core, I realize what a wretched perfectionist I am. The hate dynamic between Julianna and Killian was excruciating, painful…horrible even. The hate sex was phenomenal. (The Hotties as a whole wanted more…but that’s the Hotties😄.) The BDSM did not make sense and on some level it did. “There’s a fine line between love and hate. And I just realized that I love you as much as I f***ing hate you, Julianna.” There is a big finish to the arcing plotline of the story and it is exciting. As I said, I could not put the book down. So, if you find yourself with some time and you need to fully escape, this is an excellent choice in a dark romance!

It was good but also aggravatingly confusing at times. The main thing that threw me off throughout the entire book was the time period that this was happening in. It had this weird historical romance kind of vibe that I just couldn’t shake off at all. It is an arranged marriage, which I read in modern romance as well, however, with this one, it was actually very confusing why these people were forced to get married. His family was high up in society, but who was her family that was so important for the two to come together? There was never a clear introduction to that other than they needed to make a baby for the families to be tied by blood. Then, the girl has scars on her face and walks around with a veil on at all times. I get hiding and all that, but she was with the veil on when there were no people around. Then, after he saw her face finally, she ditched it because he had been the only one she was worried about seeing her face. But he had been gone for 6 months, and she still walked around with the veil on like some ghost looking for her Heathcliff around the castle on her island. There were also words thrown in like “rake” which again made me think of a historical romance. But they had cell phones, emails and social media accounts, so... Another thing was that the first half of the book moved soooooo slow. I thought we’d never get anywhere. There was so much back and forth, so much. What saved the whole story is the fact that there are two pretty big twists in it that I didn’t see coming and loved. However, the jump into the past, then back into the present, after the first twist didn’t feel natural. And I don’t know if I misread or what, but after they finally do the sexy times for the first time, he says he’d been a virgin? This man was in his mid 30’s, and his behavior after as far as that was not that of a beginner’s either. Very confusing. All in all, I liked parts of the story, but didn’t love it overall.

Lylah James has done it again. She has written an amazing book with complete shockable plot twists. When I first started reading the first few chapters Killian instantly became my favorite. I also loved had bad ass Julianna is. Everything about their past, their romance, and god the sexual tension was like a drug. I wanted more and more of it. Everything was well written, not one detail was left out, and I definitely could imagine every piece of detail in the story. Killian and Julianna’s love story is electrifying. Even with all the lies, the pain, and the cruelty done in their relationship they stood by each other till the very end. Now for Killian Spencer...whoa. He’s AMAZING. That man is what every women in this world needs. He’s romantic, kind, trust worthy, good as hell in bed ;), and much more. There is no one like Killian out there and that does upset me. I need one of my own. As for the big plots twist of this book. At first you would think, “Oh, both Killian and Julianna are the villains of their own love story.” But, no. Just when we all thought it was happily ever after, we find out Julianna’s father is the true villain. It was a big shocker to me. I had no idea even though half of my theories about this book came out correct. This book has put me through so much emotions...I went from anger to sadness to happiness to shocked to excited all in two days. Lylah James once again has done it perfectly and I cant wait for her future books.

So I'll be honest, this book was in my TBR...for like ever. I just was unsure if it was my thing(at the time at least) and I did struggle with understanding what was happening in this book at times. But soon the pieces started falling into place, my love/hate for the couple & their antics. With knowing how much I've loved Lylah's past books, I knew I wanted to understand what she was writing here! Once this story was starting to come together, I stuck it out and LOVED this book! It's full of so much emotion! Some sad & shocking others empathic and with so so much love! I can't promise you will love this book like myself, but I can promise it will give you quite a tale. A very twisty turny tale of lies & love & hate & forgiveness! This is one of those books that you want to reread once you discover the truth, just to see how it all makes sense afterwards!

"We are toxic together. Poison" "I agree" ~book review ahead, just my honest thoughts~ When Lylah revealed that this was an arranged marriage I was so in! Then she revealed that the heroin, Killian, was in love with the heroines' sister. I was a little hesitant to read it, but I'm so happy I did! Not what it expected. This book blew my mind with the storyline, and SO MANY feelings! The novel follows the story of Killian & Julianna who have an arranged marriage after Gracelyn--whom Killian was supposed to marry--has died. It's a rocky start to say the least, a lot of hate and guilt. Julianna is consumed by guilt for her sister's death while Killian is full of hatred toward Julianna. As the book proceeds, we see that Julianna is not only holding on to guilt but so many secrets! SO MANY SECRETS! Once we know these secrets, the book gets even more interesting. Julianna & Killian's relationship is very explosive; their interactions are everything. So much steam between them! Killian & Julianna are both strong-willed and tormented by the past that keeps them from happiness. But once they put the past behind it's a beautiful fairytale ending, one they both deserve. If you are into arrange marriage, hot alpha heroin, & strong-willed heroine this book is for you! Happy reading!

The prologue shocked me right away then I got emotional, so I knew it was going to be a wild ride. I felt for Julianna right away. She felt she was the villain of the story, and I was curious if that was going to be true. Killian was mean and cruel to her, and I couldn’t wait to have his layers peeled. Things quickly turned intriguing, and I was riveted to the pages. I was so riveted to the pages that it felt like nothing else existed. Julianna showed herself to be a spitfire, yet she was broken and filled with guilt, regret, secrets and mistakes. Killian was filled with rage, hatred and sorrow, but underneath he was broken too. Will their broken selves fit together or drift apart? This story was a wild ride full of warped love, unrelenting pain and heartache, shocking twists and exquisite redemption. It was beautifully raw at its core with tears falling down my cheeks throughout it, and by the end I vowed to forever love this book. I highly recommend it!

I have been a great fan of her books since I read her first book on Wattpad and I have been in love. Story of Killian and Jules! Full of twists and turns and rage and wit and sex and ugh!! What not!! This book kept me on my toes and I finished it in one night !!!! Waiting for more of her books! Definitely worth the purchase !

The book was everything, the plot twists was insane I never even expected it. Keeping you on your toes. Relationship is all about communication and trust. Without trust, there won’t be love ❤️ it’s okay to feel guilty for things sometimes but don’t let the guilt take over you to the point you start hurting yourself. Jules did that but I’m happy she and killian found love and happy ending ❤️🔥

One of my favourite books, the betrayal the story everything!

Ho iniziato a leggerlo per curiosità ma ben presto non sono riuscita a metterlo giù finché non è terminato... semplicemente stupendo...❤️ Lo raccomando sicuramente! 🥰

From the very first page, A Vow of Hate grips you with its raw emotional pull and refuses to let go. Lylah James crafts a world where every glance, every word left unsaid, hums with tension. Her prose is immersive and evocative, pulling the reader deep into a romance that burns as fiercely as the wounds of its past. The characters feel intensely real — flawed, layered, and irresistibly human. Their chemistry is undeniable, sparking in moments of tenderness and colliding in bursts of conflict that keep the story’s heartbeat pounding. The atmosphere is charged, blending vulnerability with an undercurrent of danger, creating a narrative rhythm that’s as addictive as it is haunting. What makes this book stand out is its ability to balance passion and pain, offering moments of light amid the shadows. It’s a journey that stirs the heart, lingers in the mind, and leaves you craving just one more chapter. If you’re drawn to stories where the line between love and hate blurs into something unforgettable, this limited edition is a treasure for your shelves.