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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
“Perhaps the decisions that shaped the course of history weren’t made in scenes worthy of stories and tapestries, but in ordinary places like these, driven by desperation and doubt.”
4.5 stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
I loved almost everything about this book!
Born into a world that, many centuries ago, was briefly joined with the world of the dead and now struggles against the havoc that that brief connection has allowed to continue, Artemisia is a nun with the "sight," or the ability to see the spirits that that other world left behind. When her convent is attacked by spirits, Artemisia, amidst the chaos, is possessed by an ancient spirit that few have ever encountered and survived. At first, this spirit, a "revenant," is only a fearful, monstrous thing that could kill thousands of people without a second thought, using Artemisia as a simple vessel. However, the two, being pursued by a cleric and hundreds of evil spirits at every turn, join forces to discover the truth and, ultimately, protect that world from a much darker magic.
An anti-social nun (with a disability) that starts out preferring dead people to living ones. Five orders of spirits, increasingly powerful as the orders go up. An ancient and very sassy magical being. A world based on medieval France. A clerisy rather than royalty, in a world run by a church that prays to the Lady and her female saints. No romance, but also a very hot and mysterious priest (YAY from me). Found family. Help in unexpected places. A dark, ancient magical creature that has waited centuries to strike. Basically, what's not to like?
This was a little confusing at times, but I think if I reread it, the small holes in the world-building and plot would get filled in. I only took off half a star for the small discrepancies/holes I noticed because I read this over the course of an entire month, so I have a feeling that I just forgot some things as I read, and that the story was actually a lot clearer than my memory allowed it to be for me. In any case, this checks so many boxes: ghosts/spirits, a Christian-like religion, mostly female characters, magic, ancient creatures, death!, medieval setting, no romance. I really, really enjoyed it, and if I hadn't been so busy this past month, I'd have read it a whole lot faster.
If you like Margaret Rogerson's other books, you'll love this one too. Also great for fans of Leigh Bardugo and of other magical stories inspired by the Middle Ages.
4.5 stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
I loved almost everything about this book!
Born into a world that, many centuries ago, was briefly joined with the world of the dead and now struggles against the havoc that that brief connection has allowed to continue, Artemisia is a nun with the "sight," or the ability to see the spirits that that other world left behind. When her convent is attacked by spirits, Artemisia, amidst the chaos, is possessed by an ancient spirit that few have ever encountered and survived. At first, this spirit, a "revenant," is only a fearful, monstrous thing that could kill thousands of people without a second thought, using Artemisia as a simple vessel. However, the two, being pursued by a cleric and hundreds of evil spirits at every turn, join forces to discover the truth and, ultimately, protect that world from a much darker magic.
An anti-social nun (with a disability) that starts out preferring dead people to living ones. Five orders of spirits, increasingly powerful as the orders go up. An ancient and very sassy magical being. A world based on medieval France. A clerisy rather than royalty, in a world run by a church that prays to the Lady and her female saints. No romance, but also a very hot and mysterious priest (YAY from me). Found family. Help in unexpected places. A dark, ancient magical creature that has waited centuries to strike. Basically, what's not to like?
This was a little confusing at times, but I think if I reread it, the small holes in the world-building and plot would get filled in. I only took off half a star for the small discrepancies/holes I noticed because I read this over the course of an entire month, so I have a feeling that I just forgot some things as I read, and that the story was actually a lot clearer than my memory allowed it to be for me. In any case, this checks so many boxes: ghosts/spirits, a Christian-like religion, mostly female characters, magic, ancient creatures, death!, medieval setting, no romance. I really, really enjoyed it, and if I hadn't been so busy this past month, I'd have read it a whole lot faster.
If you like Margaret Rogerson's other books, you'll love this one too. Also great for fans of Leigh Bardugo and of other magical stories inspired by the Middle Ages.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Blood
2025 reread: finally reread this! I loved it do much more this time that i am forever depressed this isnt getting w sequel
I want more!?!??! I NEED MORE !?!?!?! HOW DOES IT JUST END??!!?! HELP
I want more!?!??! I NEED MORE !?!?!?! HOW DOES IT JUST END??!!?! HELP
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have to confess that [a:Margaret Rogerson|1021603|Margaret Rogerson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] has a talent of creating unique worlds. First, [b:An Enchantment of Ravens|30969741|An Enchantment of Ravens|Margaret Rogerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486244049l/30969741._SY75_.jpg|51586838] with it's Fae world and then (even if the story was lacking), [b:Sorcery of Thorns|42201395|Sorcery of Thorns (Sorcery of Thorns, #1)|Margaret Rogerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541621322l/42201395._SY75_.jpg|61425757] with magical grimoires being able to change the world (which was a huge success) and now this, a world full of undead spirits. It is a marvel to see what she comes up with every time, because she takes a fresh look for each of them.
What is missing from all of them is the world-building. Despite the uniqueness of the each work, all of them quite lack the small details that keep the world alive instead of mostly a story. The world of Loraille is very basic with more information trickling in the more you read, but it is never enough. There is not enough backstory even though it is mentioned a lot of times. At first it is basically unknown, but the more you learn about the truth, the more elusive the past gets because by that point, we should have gotten more details of how things went down. However, only convenient details reached our eyes.
After the success of Sorcery of Thorns, my expectations were pretty high up and Vespertive did not rise to the challenge. It all starts with the choice of the main protagonist. I understand the thinking behind Artemisia, but it is laid a bit too thick; she is antisocial, ugly in her own eyes, scary, lonely, useless in her own eyes again and generally a very negative person, yet defiant in unexpected ways. Instead of promoting a more relatable character, we get to have someone who, for the most part of the book, keeps putting herself down in everything. There were only a few times that I could honestly really like her and it didn't have to do with her Revenant.
Which brings us to the next point. This book heavily relies on witty banter, like Sorcery of Thorns. It is not inherently bad (it might even be one of the biggest saving graces of the book), but it leaves a bit of a sour aftertaste since it is as if she is copying her own self. Despite that, the dialogue between her and Revenant are always great to read and their relationship progresses steadily. There are not many other characters in the story that are truly important, but some do exist that come along the way to fill in the unkown gaps in Artemisia's heart.
The story and development of it are decent, yet slow and the opposite of intense. Somehow this was book was categorised as a first book of a series, but it does not seem to be the truth as it has a solid start and end, which makes the slow pace throughout the book a bad experience since this is not an introductory book to a series. And despite the writing being fun to read, there were obvious "traps" for the reader and the conclusion was much too fast.
But what is good about this book? The setting is great, as well as the dialogues between Artemisia and Revenant, as well as the potential of the book is immense. If you are like me, the true downside is that it does not offer more, even though it has a great base.
What is missing from all of them is the world-building. Despite the uniqueness of the each work, all of them quite lack the small details that keep the world alive instead of mostly a story. The world of Loraille is very basic with more information trickling in the more you read, but it is never enough. There is not enough backstory even though it is mentioned a lot of times. At first it is basically unknown, but the more you learn about the truth, the more elusive the past gets because by that point, we should have gotten more details of how things went down. However, only convenient details reached our eyes.
After the success of Sorcery of Thorns, my expectations were pretty high up and Vespertive did not rise to the challenge. It all starts with the choice of the main protagonist. I understand the thinking behind Artemisia, but it is laid a bit too thick; she is antisocial, ugly in her own eyes, scary, lonely, useless in her own eyes again and generally a very negative person, yet defiant in unexpected ways. Instead of promoting a more relatable character, we get to have someone who, for the most part of the book, keeps putting herself down in everything. There were only a few times that I could honestly really like her and it didn't have to do with her Revenant.
Which brings us to the next point. This book heavily relies on witty banter, like Sorcery of Thorns. It is not inherently bad (it might even be one of the biggest saving graces of the book), but it leaves a bit of a sour aftertaste since it is as if she is copying her own self. Despite that, the dialogue between her and Revenant are always great to read and their relationship progresses steadily. There are not many other characters in the story that are truly important, but some do exist that come along the way to fill in the unkown gaps in Artemisia's heart.
The story and development of it are decent, yet slow and the opposite of intense. Somehow this was book was categorised as a first book of a series, but it does not seem to be the truth as it has a solid start and end, which makes the slow pace throughout the book a bad experience since this is not an introductory book to a series. And despite the writing being fun to read, there were obvious "traps" for the reader and the conclusion was much too fast.
But what is good about this book? The setting is great, as well as the dialogues between Artemisia and Revenant, as well as the potential of the book is immense. If you are like me, the true downside is that it does not offer more, even though it has a great base.
rating: 3.5; rounded up for goodreads:
Artemisia is studying in a convent that gets attacked by possessed soldiers—in the fight, she ends up awakening an old (evil?) spirit, a revenant, that shares her body. This all sounds so confusing, but made sense within the book, I swear!
I'll start with the fact that I was happy this book didn't have a romance. She's sharing her body with the revenant (very the Host) and she can't trust it...why would there be a romance??
The descriptions were very atmospheric and I felt immersed; however, I felt a slight disconnect occationally and I'm just not sure why. This made it take a while for me to get through the book.
Overall, I enjoyed it and think it was a fun fantasy/paranormal read.
Artemisia is studying in a convent that gets attacked by possessed soldiers—in the fight, she ends up awakening an old (evil?) spirit, a revenant, that shares her body. This all sounds so confusing, but made sense within the book, I swear!
I'll start with the fact that I was happy this book didn't have a romance. She's sharing her body with the revenant (very the Host) and she can't trust it...why would there be a romance??
The descriptions were very atmospheric and I felt immersed; however, I felt a slight disconnect occationally and I'm just not sure why. This made it take a while for me to get through the book.
Overall, I enjoyed it and think it was a fun fantasy/paranormal read.
This book would make an excellent movie one day. A nice Barnes and Nobles lady recommended this book to me. I enjoyed it a lot, but it was a little hard to read for me. It was a cool experience tho, and if a movie is ever made based on this book, I'd be the first one at the theater.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Having previously enjoyed both An Enchantment of Ravens and Sorcery of Thorns, I was really excited to read another book by Margaret Rogerson. And I was not disappointed. The author has an incredible ability to take morally complex characters and make them loveable without losing any of the darker side of them.
We start the story with Artemisia, who is currently with the Gray Sisters who tend to the dead so that they do not become malevolent spirits and possess those with the sight. But when her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, she is forced to team up with a revenant, one of the highest order of spirits that are usually impossible to fight. However Artemisia had been possessed by a lower order spirit in childhood and develops a working relationship with the revenant, and together they work to uncover why so many spirits are suddenly possessing people and how to stop it.
The revenant quickly became one of my favourite characters. It is so sassy, and yet it is clear from very early on that whilst it suggests distain for Artemisia it actually cares about her, enough to ensure she looks after herself. This is something Artemisia is particularly bad at, thanks to previous trauma, and I love that it was so well explored throughout the book and became a real starting point for their bond.
Along the way we also meet other characters that we, and Artemisia, think we understand but actually don't. Marguerite, for instance, had shared a room with Artemisia for years and yet she didn't know her at all. And Leander has you guessing about his intentions pretty much right to the end of the book.
I will admit that there were a few points at which I felt a little lost, just because there was so much depth to the world-building and characters, and I think I need another read to fully grasp all the details. But I quickly got back on track each time, it is definitely a story I want to read again at some point. Especially because I really enjoyed the exploration of religion within this story, and just how much Artemisia ends up questioning everything she once knew and how much of such "history" could have been embellished.
Finally, the narration was really good.
We start the story with Artemisia, who is currently with the Gray Sisters who tend to the dead so that they do not become malevolent spirits and possess those with the sight. But when her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, she is forced to team up with a revenant, one of the highest order of spirits that are usually impossible to fight. However Artemisia had been possessed by a lower order spirit in childhood and develops a working relationship with the revenant, and together they work to uncover why so many spirits are suddenly possessing people and how to stop it.
The revenant quickly became one of my favourite characters. It is so sassy, and yet it is clear from very early on that whilst it suggests distain for Artemisia it actually cares about her, enough to ensure she looks after herself. This is something Artemisia is particularly bad at, thanks to previous trauma, and I love that it was so well explored throughout the book and became a real starting point for their bond.
Along the way we also meet other characters that we, and Artemisia, think we understand but actually don't. Marguerite, for instance, had shared a room with Artemisia for years and yet she didn't know her at all. And Leander has you guessing about his intentions pretty much right to the end of the book.
I will admit that there were a few points at which I felt a little lost, just because there was so much depth to the world-building and characters, and I think I need another read to fully grasp all the details. But I quickly got back on track each time, it is definitely a story I want to read again at some point. Especially because I really enjoyed the exploration of religion within this story, and just how much Artemisia ends up questioning everything she once knew and how much of such "history" could have been embellished.
Finally, the narration was really good.