3.14k reviews for:

Vespertine

Margaret Rogerson

4.1 AVERAGE

caspywaspy's review against another edition

3.0

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

vaguelyfunctioning's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 16%

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More on the younger side of YA than I expected and unfortunately just not my vibe.

ktalexis14's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

raylovesya's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

cursedepub's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional 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: No

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This was a GREAT YA fantasy adventure, a delight to read, perfect for fans of The Old Kingdom/Abhorsen series (what if Lirael was fantasy Catholic, and had to house Mogget in her mind?)

Vespertine is a highly cinematic and ultimately heartwarming story with a really cool gothic atmosphere and extremely well-realized neurodivergent-coded main character. 

What stood out to me was the great use of dramatic flourish in the prose - many scenes read like they would look breathtaking on screen, and the ebb and flow of tension and emotional charge throughout the novel was very skillful. 

I also really appreciated how the novel discusses the theme of creation and revision of history (and even current events!) to match an ideology. It was so interesting to watch

the legend of Artemisia the Saint grow and take on its own glamor, completely at odds with Artemisia the real person.

There's this passage where she describes

people hawking supposed holy artefacts that have been touched by her

(TW blood/violence mention): 

"... a dozen voices shouted my name, desperate to own pieces of me, uncaring of the truth. Even if they butchered me like an animal, there wouldn't be enough blood in my body to anoint their holy arrows."

 ... just WOW!

One thing I do wish was

that the Revenant had been a bit more inhuman-seeming at first. It is definitely a major theme of the book that often people (and entities) are not exactly what history and our assumptions have made them out to be, but the Revenant is a bit too obviously unthreatening and honestly kind of cheesy right from the jump, which made Artemisia's suspicion and its posturing/supposed infamy feel a bit silly. At times its character reads a bit too much like one of the classic millennial wish-fulfillment Tumblr posts about the demon possessing your body being more invested in your health than you are, right down to spouting self-care slogans like "Haven't you considered that your body carries you?" ... not that it's wrong about that, it just felt cheesy.

This is really a hidden gem for YA. If you are/were a neurodivergent goth kid or you know a neurodivergent goth kid... please give this a try!

antonella_taylorsversion's review against another edition

3.75

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omg it was so good??? I've never read a book with a magic system quite like this one, and I found it incredibly unique
I need more of these characters pretty please 

akgeekgirl's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

mehru's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

jupiters_bookshelf's review against another edition

5.0

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"I can't accept it...Thats there can be such a thing as....not necessary evil, because evil is never necessary -- it can't be -- but...acceptable evil. Hurt and cruelty that the Lady would allow in service of Her will...she wouldn't make someone 'kick the goat'".

"Nun...isn't that what She's done to you?"

So good! 5 stars

cossty's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes