snap_dragon's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.25
sarita_nagesar's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
maaike96's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
artbysmashley's review
3.0
listened to the audiobook. enjoyed the narrator a lot, got very easily distracted from what was happening though. this one just didn’t fully grab me. i wonder if reading a copy would’ve made me more into it. but i also think this author just might not be for me. enchantment of ravens was a 3/3.5 for me. like, the books aren’t bad and i can see the appeal and i think she has nice prose. but i just struggle to connect with them and that’s ok!
rebhlee's review
2.0
At the very end of last year I had a sudden appetite for YA books, despite that I haven’t enjoyed most of the ones I have read in recent years. I had assumed I had graduated from them. But as a teen I was an avid consumer and was feeling nostalgic during the holidays.
I was doing some self-analysis as to why a YA has to go overtime to suspend my disbelief. A lot of times they really simplify complicated issues, like how the government runs, or human nature, or romantic relationships. But also honestly, I don’t believe 17 year olds could be as competent as to save the world or become a war hero or reform society—which is not true. As a HS teacher I should believe more in young people so I’m challenging myself to read some more YA this year.
Composite Rating: 2.13 / 5 Stars TLDR: Chosen one trope with some interesting necromancy themes. I have some specific gripes, but I didn’t hate it.
Writing style: 2.5/5
There were a few choice sentences, but overall not the most stunning writing… but also not the worst.
Characterization: 2/5
I could not be convinced that Artemesia was a real human. For someone who really dislikes interacting with people, she was very willing to throw away all human self-preservation for their sake. The conceit that she could push herself to starvation or fatigue and not notice/not care was kind of absurd. The reasoning was that she had learned that behavior as a result of surviving gross neglect as a child but… I think if anything that causes MORE self-preserving tendencies for fear of scarcity? But I’m no psychologist!
Maybe making her able to endure self-inflicted physiologically traumatic conditions was intentional to highlight her saintliness, but I was unconvinced. Overall the characters felt more like personality traits more than people, so I didn’t really attach to anyone.
World Immersion: 2/5
This book had the unfortunate burden of being compared to Garth Nix’s Sabriel from the moment I read the synopsis. I think Sabriel handled Death magic & spirits in a more sophisticated system, but in Vespertine I thought the Clerisy as an institution and the death spirit origins were really interesting, probably the most interesting aspect of the book.
However, I thought the aspect of the common people falling over themselves in adoration of Artemesia was unnecessary. Her savior status was unearned imo… I don’t think it added anything useful or true to the story. Maybe I’m being insufferably cynical, but I don’t think peoples’ devotions are that easy to win over.
Intrigue: 2/5
I was a lot more interested at the beginning of the story, but as it went on and the MC became increasingly overpowered/righteous, started to lose investment. I don't think I'll pick up any subsequent books in the series.
I was doing some self-analysis as to why a YA has to go overtime to suspend my disbelief. A lot of times they really simplify complicated issues, like how the government runs, or human nature, or romantic relationships. But also honestly, I don’t believe 17 year olds could be as competent as to save the world or become a war hero or reform society—which is not true. As a HS teacher I should believe more in young people so I’m challenging myself to read some more YA this year.
Composite Rating: 2.13 / 5 Stars TLDR: Chosen one trope with some interesting necromancy themes. I have some specific gripes, but I didn’t hate it.
Writing style: 2.5/5
There were a few choice sentences, but overall not the most stunning writing… but also not the worst.
Characterization: 2/5
I could not be convinced that Artemesia was a real human. For someone who really dislikes interacting with people, she was very willing to throw away all human self-preservation for their sake. The conceit that she could push herself to starvation or fatigue and not notice/not care was kind of absurd. The reasoning was that she had learned that behavior as a result of surviving gross neglect as a child but… I think if anything that causes MORE self-preserving tendencies for fear of scarcity? But I’m no psychologist!
Maybe making her able to endure self-inflicted physiologically traumatic conditions was intentional to highlight her saintliness, but I was unconvinced. Overall the characters felt more like personality traits more than people, so I didn’t really attach to anyone.
World Immersion: 2/5
This book had the unfortunate burden of being compared to Garth Nix’s Sabriel from the moment I read the synopsis. I think Sabriel handled Death magic & spirits in a more sophisticated system, but in Vespertine I thought the Clerisy as an institution and the death spirit origins were really interesting, probably the most interesting aspect of the book.
However, I thought the aspect of the common people falling over themselves in adoration of Artemesia was unnecessary. Her savior status was unearned imo… I don’t think it added anything useful or true to the story. Maybe I’m being insufferably cynical, but I don’t think peoples’ devotions are that easy to win over.
Intrigue: 2/5
I was a lot more interested at the beginning of the story, but as it went on and the MC became increasingly overpowered/righteous, started to lose investment. I don't think I'll pick up any subsequent books in the series.
cassandramt17's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
vagorsol's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
michellemm85's review
5.0
5.5/6
I really loved this book!!! Spent my entire birthday reading this!
God I wish there was a map though. I was glad there was one in SoT, so I was surprised that there wasn't one here. I'm really glad that this is listed as "Vespertine #1" because it leaves off with a cliffhanger not dissimilar to SoT.
I really loved this book!!! Spent my entire birthday reading this!
God I wish there was a map though. I was glad there was one in SoT, so I was surprised that there wasn't one here. I'm really glad that this is listed as "Vespertine #1" because it leaves off with a cliffhanger not dissimilar to SoT.
chamomilla's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
samarah's review
WOW 🤩 what a fantastic book. Full of adventure. Explosive 🧨 ending. Brilliant 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. YA at one of its BEST