Fantasy• YA

Review: Deadly Vows by Nichole Heydenburg

June 4, 2026

Synopsis:

Enter the shadows. Unleash your power. Embrace your fate.

Taylor Windsor is only fifteen when her parents die in a tragic fire. During her grieving, she’s sent to live with her Aunt Mel in the small town of Grimwood, North Carolina. Taylor struggles to adjust to her new reality, and strange occurrences unfold.

After being forbidden from entering a locked room, Taylor’s curiosity leads her and her new friend Kylie to an ancient steamer trunk filled with dark secrets. She soon uncovers a shocking Aunt Mel made a deadly pact with a demon. The demon has come to collect a soul, and Taylor is the only one who can stop him.

As Taylor pieces her family’s past together, she realizes she can’t escape her destiny. Determined to save Mel and confront the demon who tricked her aunt, Taylor steps into her parents’ world, embracing the role they sought to deny her. With time running out, Taylor must master her newfound abilities and navigate a treacherous path to break the deadly vow.

Review:

After losing her parents, Taylor is forced to leave her old life behind and move in with an aunt she barely knows. As she slowly begins to adjust to this “new normal” and forms a new friendship, it feels as though a fresh start might finally be within reach. Of course, that would be far too simple, and not nearly as engaging for a story.

The writing makes it clear that the book is aimed at a younger audience, which I didn’t mind. The world-building remains approachable, with details introduced gradually and in a way that’s easy to follow. The characters are likeable, and although the teenagers can be overly curious at times, they behave in ways that feel entirely believable for their age.

Mel’s struggle to adjust to suddenly caring for her niece feels genuine, and her occasional missteps make her all the more relatable. On top of that, her life is far from ordinary, and Taylor’s naturally curious nature leads her to uncover just how unusual things really are. Rather than shying away from it, she leans in – despite the risks.
Overall, this is exactly what I expect from a Young Adult novel: not overly complex, fast-paced, and genuinely enjoyable in the moment, even if it doesn’t linger long afterwards. A solid and well-executed read.

🌙 Recension: Deadly Vows (The Shadow Bound Chronicles #1) by Nichole Heydenburg
📚 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
📅 Release Date: June 17, 2025
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 301
⭐️ 4/5