Vengeance, Betrayal, and Forbidden Magic
A Promised Vengeance and Its Brilliant Monte Cristo Twist
There are retellings… and then there are retellings that make you sit up and say, oh, that’s clever.
A Promised Vengeance by Sara B. Larson is a bold, fantasy-infused reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo—and I absolutely loved how the author wove classic revenge elements into a world of forbidden magic, political oppression, and powerful relics.
The moment I realized Elodie Dantès was this story’s answer to Edmond Dantès? Hooked.
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for sponsoring this book blog and Bookstagram tour. This book was gifted by the publisher for an honest review.
A Familiar Beginning — With a Magical Twist
Like its classic inspiration, the story begins with a farewell. Elodie Dantès says goodbye to her childhood love, Killian, before leaving on a journey connected to her apprenticeship in her uncle’s shipping business. There’s innocence here. Hope. A future that seems promising.
And just like in The Count of Monte Cristo, everything is ripped away.
Elodie returns home only to be falsely accused of murder. Betrayed. Imprisoned. Stripped of her freedom and future.
But this is where Larson’s fantasy twist elevates the story.
Instead of the Château d’If, Elodie is banished to Autremonde—an otherworldly prison poisoned by magic. Instead of hidden treasure maps, there are forbidden relics tied to a Goddess outlawed by a new regime. The artifact Elodie carries—gifted by her uncle and bound to ancient magic—adds a rich, mystical layer to the revenge narrative.
The parallels are intentional and brilliant.
The Old Priest and the Prison Escape
One of my favorite nods to the original comes in the form of an unexpected ally.
Just as Edmond Dantès meets the Abbé Faria in prison, Elodie encounters an older priest-like figure who digs into her cell in an attempt to escape. That moment felt like a love letter to the source material.
But it doesn’t feel copied.
It feels reimagined.
Larson honors the structure of Dumas’s classic while reshaping it for a new generation of fantasy readers. The prison scenes are tense and emotionally charged, and once the escape plan begins to unfold, the pacing sharpens dramatically.
While the book does start slower, that foundational build mirrors the original’s methodical setup—and once Elodie steps fully into her vengeance arc, I could not put it down.
Elodie Dantès: A Worthy Successor
Elodie is not Edmond—but she carries his spirit.
She is wronged. Betrayed by those she trusted most. Manipulated by political forces. Cast aside by a society that fears what it cannot control.
But she is also distinctly her own character.
Her journey is shaped by forbidden magic, internal conflict, and the burden of choice. The question isn’t just how she will enact revenge—but whether vengeance is worth what it will cost her.
That moral tension is where the story truly shines.
Revenge, Romance, and Relics
As someone who doesn’t gravitate toward overly mushy or overly spicy romance, I appreciated how balanced the relationship between Elodie and Killian felt. Their history adds emotional weight without overshadowing the central revenge plot.
The romance raises the stakes in the best way: Will vengeance cost Elodie the love of her life?
And layered beneath it all is the magical relic tied to the forbidden Goddess—a powerful addition that distinguishes this retelling from its predecessor. The suppressed religion, outlawed worship, and political control add depth to the worldbuilding and elevate the story beyond a simple revenge tale.
It becomes about power. Faith. Corruption. Justice.
Why This Retelling Works
Retellings can sometimes feel predictable—but knowing the bones of The Count of Monte Cristo actually enhanced my experience here.
I found myself recognizing character archetypes, anticipating certain twists, and then delighting in how Larson altered them within her fantasy framework. The similarities kept me invested. The differences kept me surprised.
That balance is difficult to achieve—and Larson does it beautifully.
If you love:
Revenge arcs with emotional depth
Classic literature retellings
Forbidden magic and relics
Political intrigue
Prison escape stories
Morally complex heroines
Then this book absolutely deserves your attention.
Final Thoughts
A Promised Vengeance is a smart, engaging fantasy retelling that honors The Count of Monte Cristo while forging its own magical path.
The slower beginning builds essential emotional weight. The prison arc intensifies the stakes. The revenge plot delivers satisfaction. And the internal struggle between vengeance and love gives the story heart.
This was an easy five-star read for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you’ve ever loved Edmond Dantès’ journey, you need to meet Elodie Dantès.
And trust me—you’ll want to follow her all the way to the end.
Have you read A Promised Vengeance yet? Do you love revenge-driven fantasies—or do you prefer redemption arcs? Let’s talk in the comments! 📖✨
Book Details:
Publisher: Jumelle Press
Genre: Adult, Fantasy
Publishing date: October 28, 2025
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Synopsis:
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
Meet the Author:
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.