Reviews

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

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e_oneita's review against another edition

5.0

This is my first book of 2022 and a phenomenal one to start the year off on. I read Rogerson's previous book, A Sorcery of Thorns and found it to be enjoyable and cute, but not totally gripping. With Vespertine, however, Rogerson truly hits her stride. The world-building is incredible and there is so much heart and warmth to what is in its raw form quite a bleak story. It is laugh-out-loud funny even while you have pricks of tears in your eyes because something terribly sad has happened or been alluded to.

I'm not sure how to write more without spoiling absolutely everything, so I will just say that I can't recommend Vespertine enough.

tanczaca_z_wilkami's review against another edition

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4.25

Ten tytuł wyskakiwał mi w reklamach na Facebooku, Instagramie i na różnych stronach wydawnictw. Myślałam, że to znowu jakiś hype na coś, co ani nie jest za dobre, ani za porządne, ale skoro mają taki rozmach z reklamą to każdy się na to rzuca, by następnie srogo się zawieść. Nic bardziej mylnego.

Jest to solidnie napisana jednotomówka (choć po cichu liczę na kontynuację). To powiew świeżości w strumieniu fantastyki. Jest tu wisielczy, nieprzesadzony humor, postaci są barwne, możemy wyobrazić je sobie, jakbyśmy co najmniej stali obok nich i uczestniczyli w wydarzeniach. I co najważniejsze: autorka stworzyła świat, który jest AUTENTYCZNY. Czytelnik nie ma wrażenia, że jest to zlepek cząstek z różnych wydanych już pozycji, zmiksowany i wypluty na papier. Jest to historia z intrygą w tle, mrocznymi wątkami i błyskotliwym wykorzystaniem znanych religijnych zasad, osób i atrybutów. Nazwy czy imiona są wyważone, nie wyglądają, jakby ktoś walnął na pełnej petardzie czołem o klawiaturę i stworzył jakiś trudny do odczytania wyraz udający imię bohatera.

Wszystko współgra ze sobą i tworzy malowniczą historię z atmosferą i „żywymi” bohaterami. Takie książki należy chwalić, doceniać, a takich autorów podziwiać i uważać za wzór.

claudiearseneault's review against another edition

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emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

this was everything I wanted it to be. Good shit.

samsbookcase's review against another edition

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4.0

Finished on June 14th, 2023
I liked this book quite a bit. The worldbuilding isn't difficult to understand and it's incredibly interesting, mostly a concept that I haven't seen before. What I absolutely loved was the use of relics to contral and combat spirits. If a story has magic and spirits, you pulled me in.

It touches on traumatic events and how people deal with them. Learning how to start trusting other people again but mostly learning how to start trusting yourself again. Learning how to gain control over yourself and your surroundings, but also how to set boundaries and be able to adjust to them. The main character had so much room to grow in the book and you are really taken on that storyline with her and I think remembering and also discussing the trauma that Artemisia has gone through prior the start of this story, has made it so much better.

I like the banter between Artemisia, our main character, and the Revenant. I loved getting to know the story behind the Revenant and why he is the way that he is and watching the relationship between the two of them grow. I also liked that this book was more focused on a Found Family than a Romantic aspect. If a story has magic, spirits AND a Found Family trope that insists on helping each other no matter what, then you've got me.