Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

18 reviews

nnniro411's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

A beautifully written story with characters that jumped off the page. I just have to say I adored the revenant so much, it was hilarious, dark, endearing, sarcastic and a little bit of a mother hen. I immediately loved this disembodied demonic spirit as soon as it spoke. Revenant and Artemisia’s banter was fun to listen to and seeing them go from adversaries to friends was so much fun. I also loved the side characters and enjoyed the mystery that they gave. 
The world felt lived in and the world building was well done. We didn’t need exposition and instead taken into the world where we picked up the mythology as the adventure unfolded. I would not mind going back into this world if Roberson ever decided to continue the story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Bullying, War, Abandonment, Torture, and Gore

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Blood, Child abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: War, Self harm, Ableism, and Vomit

Minor: Bullying and Suicide

Descriptions of human bodies being used as vessels for spirits (or possessed), torture by magical means, use of human bones as relics for spirits, necromancy, anxiety. Author also states (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3883340977?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1) the book includes instances of disordered eating

sunlit_music's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Vespertine is a unique and deeply moving book about neurodivergent teen Artemisia, training to become a nun. Her peaceful life is tragically turned upside down when undead soldiers kill people at the nunnery where she lives. After accidentally awakening a deadly spirit, a revenant, Artemisia travels to the city of Bonsaint to find and defeat whoever is creating an army of of undead that can harm innocent humans. But Artemisia must be vigilant, for the revenant can possess her and take over her mind and body if she's not careful. 

My favourite parts are when

Artemisia becomes friends with the revenant and finds out that previous saints treated their spirits/revenants as friends.

The part where Artemisia finds out who the different spirits are is absolutely amazing. I felt like I was reading a historical adventure. Artemisia was sympathetic, likable, and relatable. My all time favourite character is Marguerite, oh my god. She goes through so much character development, and becomes so much braver and smarter! I love how she is underestimated, how Artemisia empathises with her, even though they are so different. I know this sounds kind of funny, but my other favourite character is the priest's horse! The horse was very charming, and their bond with Artemisia was sweet. I also liked the soldier Enguerrand. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder

thewildmageslibrary's review

dark tense

5.0

Oh, this book was a delight. IDK if it was intentional, but you could read this as a commentary on the Catholic Church and doctrine. I grew up Catholic and it didn't bother me, but I've also learned a lot more about the Church and its history since then so...? Anyway, Artemisia is so freaking relatable! Love an aroace protagonist, and the banter with the revenant was the cherry on top. The side characters are also great! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Self harm, Confinement, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Suicide

bibliomania's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, and Abandonment

starlessnights's review

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Murder

foreverinastory's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Agh this was so fun! I'm really glad this is a series!

Rep: White aroace (author confirmed) female MC with scarred hands, anxiety and possibly neurodivergent, BIPOC male side character.

CWs: Abandonment, body horror (possession by spirits), past mentions of child abuse, confinement, death, fire and fire injury, injury/injury detail, mental illness (anxiety), murder, panic attacks, violence. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

elderflower's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Another highly anticipated book.  The first third was really dull. I thought about dnfing it a bit, but thankfully it got better. I did like the dedication though. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Self harm

Minor: Murder and Suicidal thoughts

more content warnings: demons, demon possession, dead bodies, anxiety