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veilchen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You know what? Margaret Rogerson might just become my favourite author. Every single one of her books is incredibly captivating, fantastical and special in their own way, how tf does she keep outdoing herself?
Vespertine is set in a fantasy world inspired by a christian medieval france, using nunneries, monasteries, saints, relics and spirits to create a dark, mythical, kinda goth setting.
As someone who posesses the gift of the sight (being able to see spirits and their effects), Artemisia has been raised as a nun, tasked with caring for the dead and making sure they don't turn into spirits. But as sinister, undead forces come into play, she is forced to team up with one of the most dangerous spirits of all: A revenant.
As always, Rogerson manages to transport the reader into a new world within only a few chapters. Even though I am not really a fan of christianity, she managed to make it work (changing our Lord to a Lady was a big help). Unlike I have experienced in many other fantasy works, there is almost no "time of confusion", where you just try to figure out the world and cannot even concentrate on the story, nor is there any heavy exposition. The reader also immediatly gets a good sense of the main character, Artemisia. She is a very unusual girl, but not in the obnoxious "not-like-other-girls" way or any other stereotype that we all know from YA. She is a quiet, introverted person, with extreme social anxiety, trouble understanding others emotions and some scary-looking demeanor - but underneath all that she is a truly good person you cannot help but like.
But while having a great, well built up plot and a fantastic setting, what this story really lives off is the dynamic between Artemisia and the spirit that posesses her. In an amazing balance of quick-witted humour, raw emotions of pain and love and deep-rooted trust issues on both sides, their banter, character growth and understanding of each other was what made me race through that book in only a few hours.
I mean, who doesnt want to see the anxious goth girl team up with the strangely caring, but also slightly murderous entity?
I could probably gush about this story for days, about the amazing side characters, critique of religion and saint worship and refreshing lack of romance, but I'm just gonna keep it short. If you loved Rogersons other works, character-driven stories with good plots, intense, platonic relationship dynamics and just a little bit of angst, all wrapped in a pretty little medeival goth setting, you will enjoy this book.
Vespertine is set in a fantasy world inspired by a christian medieval france, using nunneries, monasteries, saints, relics and spirits to create a dark, mythical, kinda goth setting.
As someone who posesses the gift of the sight (being able to see spirits and their effects), Artemisia has been raised as a nun, tasked with caring for the dead and making sure they don't turn into spirits. But as sinister, undead forces come into play, she is forced to team up with one of the most dangerous spirits of all: A revenant.
As always, Rogerson manages to transport the reader into a new world within only a few chapters. Even though I am not really a fan of christianity, she managed to make it work (changing our Lord to a Lady was a big help). Unlike I have experienced in many other fantasy works, there is almost no "time of confusion", where you just try to figure out the world and cannot even concentrate on the story, nor is there any heavy exposition. The reader also immediatly gets a good sense of the main character, Artemisia. She is a very unusual girl, but not in the obnoxious "not-like-other-girls" way or any other stereotype that we all know from YA. She is a quiet, introverted person, with extreme social anxiety, trouble understanding others emotions and some scary-looking demeanor - but underneath all that she is a truly good person you cannot help but like.
But while having a great, well built up plot and a fantastic setting, what this story really lives off is the dynamic between Artemisia and the spirit that posesses her. In an amazing balance of quick-witted humour, raw emotions of pain and love and deep-rooted trust issues on both sides, their banter, character growth and understanding of each other was what made me race through that book in only a few hours.
I mean, who doesnt want to see the anxious goth girl team up with the strangely caring, but also slightly murderous entity?
I could probably gush about this story for days, about the amazing side characters, critique of religion and saint worship and refreshing lack of romance, but I'm just gonna keep it short. If you loved Rogersons other works, character-driven stories with good plots, intense, platonic relationship dynamics and just a little bit of angst, all wrapped in a pretty little medeival goth setting, you will enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
valpyre's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
i have been so excited to read this book ever since rogerson announced its existence. i have always appreciated her skill for balancing internal and external detail and exposition, almost seamlessly. the world of loraille (fantasy france, admittedly) was so intriguing with the history that rogerson crafted in and around it. the clerisy was intimately familiar as a higher religious power, but its fantastical origins added depth and made me think about all kinds of theories as i read on.
when i started the book, i was immediately taken in by the protag, artemisia -- so much of her inner monologue was relatable, in the way that she was blunt and didn't socialize or act how others expected her to. i admit that i got a little annoyed when it was revealed how much she had assumed/ignored about the people around her later on, just pushing the boundaries of her surface level "not-like-other-girls" behaviour that i think rogerson had skirted well for most of the book. i think rogerson does a great job of showing us who people are in her books -- there are always wonderful little details dropped throughout, little dots to be connected. i also felt pretty touched as artemisia gained support throughout the book, as she is someone who is so used to being or feeling like she is alone.
the concept of the undead was really interesting to me as well. i often find rigid hierarchies/categories of fantastical beings to grow old quickly, but i think rogerson had enough variety in her undead that i didn't get tired of reading encounters with them. i'm intrigued to see where she will take artemisia and the revenant after this installment -- i loved how their relationship grew as the book went on, and i'm really curious if the revenants origins will ever be revealed.
when i started the book, i was immediately taken in by the protag, artemisia -- so much of her inner monologue was relatable, in the way that she was blunt and didn't socialize or act how others expected her to. i admit that i got a little annoyed when it was revealed how much she had assumed/ignored about the people around her later on, just pushing the boundaries of her surface level "not-like-other-girls" behaviour that i think rogerson had skirted well for most of the book. i think rogerson does a great job of showing us who people are in her books -- there are always wonderful little details dropped throughout, little dots to be connected. i also felt pretty touched as artemisia gained support throughout the book, as she is someone who is so used to being or feeling like she is alone.
the concept of the undead was really interesting to me as well. i often find rigid hierarchies/categories of fantastical beings to grow old quickly, but i think rogerson had enough variety in her undead that i didn't get tired of reading encounters with them. i'm intrigued to see where she will take artemisia and the revenant after this installment -- i loved how their relationship grew as the book went on, and i'm really curious if the revenants origins will ever be revealed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Self harm, Child abuse, Abandonment, Death, Eating disorder, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
readwithrheane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
• The first few chapters were already action packed and it helped me drawn to the story.
• The pacing was okay. It was fast in the beginning and was toned down a bit in the middle (just enough to not let you feel bored). But it picked up until the end.
• The twists??? I didn't know where it will lead me to but I was on edge all the time. Poor Leander. Our misunderstood King. 😔 But we will get to see more of him in the sequel so I'm excited.
“I’ll remind you,” it said finally. “Rather than expecting you to remember on your own. When you need to eat, when you’re sick or hurt, and whether it’s serious enough to seek help. But you have to promise that you’ll listen to me. Nun?”
I had been quiet, wondering whether having an evil spirit inhabiting my body might turn me into a halfway normal person. I turned my face toward the window, letting the sunlight sting my eyes. “Yes,” I answered. “I promise.”
• I really love the dynamic between the revenant and Artemisia. While Artemisia doesn't like talking and pretty much an introverted person with social anxiety and would rather be with the dead than be with the living, the revenant is the complete opposite.
The revenant loves to talk and doesn't like being around other things that are dead. And while it was known to be a powerful and feared fifth order spirit, most of the time it showed a side that probably its previous vessels hadn't been able to appreciate because they were taught not to listen to it. And I just can't help but fall in love with the revenant especially when it shows signs of concerns towards Artemisia. How it would remind her to eat, to rest, to sleep, and there was even a moment when it was trying to cheer her up by saying a sassy remark.
• The banters were definitely my favorite (and Artemisia is lowkey funny too. She had me laughing a few times).
“This is my human,” the revenant snarled through my mouth, and blazed into a torrent of silver flame.
• *wipes tears* I just really love the bond, trust, and friendship they formed.
• I also love the side characters especially Marguerite. Her character development was beautifully written, from being a bully to a friend/an ally. She was pretty consistent in helping Artemisia until the end. I hope to see more of her and Charles and Jean in the sequel.
• The reason why I gave this 4.5 stars was because the ending was anticlimactic. I expected a huge fight between the two powerful revenants and then *boom* Epilogue. 😂 Nevertheless, the ending still had me sobbing and overall, I still pretty much enjoyed this book. I cannot wait for the sequel!
• and oh! There wasn't any romance or any sexual tension throughout the book which is fine with me because I just feel like the last thing on Artemisia's list would be that (and it's totally okay for a YA book to not have any romance).
• BUT if there are any in the sequel, I think I know who it might be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Self harm
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and War
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Suicide, and Vomit
“Adding Trauma/PTSD (traumatic experiences in past). One of the abuse or trauma is not sexual in nature. Very brief suicide mention in the epilogue concerning a character from the past who never appears in the book.”
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