Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
This review is long overdue. Vespertine is one of the best fantasy novels I have read recently, and I really hope you decide to pick it up.
Artemisia is the hero we all need. She’s strong, independent, and 100 percent over the bullshit. She’s training to become a Gray Sister, a nun who works to cleanse spirits of the dead so they can pass peacefully. Without the Gray Sisters, the dead would return to torment the people of Loraille.
When possessed soldiers attack Artemisia’s convent, she uses the power of an ancient spirit bound into a sacred relic. Artemisia knows there are risks to utilizing this power. The Revenant is capable of taking over completely if she isn’t careful. But a partnership forms between the pair as they work together to fight back against the evil spreading throughout Loraille.
We have ancient religious secrets, dark magic, and unlikely friendship – what’s not to love about this story.
We love a badass heroine (with no love interest, which in my opinion really makes the story) who is putting her life on the line for people she knows would murder her if she makes the slightest misstep. But regardless she follows her intuition, revives magic long forgotten and forbidden, and saves the people who will likely be her downfall one day.
Artemisia has always been an outsider and knows that isn’t going to change no matter how many lives she saves. You will be cheering for her from the moment her name appears on the page.
Margaret Rogerson wrote a reluctant hero in the best way possible. I fell in love with Artemisia and you will too.
Read my full review at the Disappear Here Book Blog: https://disappearherebookblog.com/2022/05/10/book-review-vespertine-by-margaret-rogerson/
Artemisia is the hero we all need. She’s strong, independent, and 100 percent over the bullshit. She’s training to become a Gray Sister, a nun who works to cleanse spirits of the dead so they can pass peacefully. Without the Gray Sisters, the dead would return to torment the people of Loraille.
When possessed soldiers attack Artemisia’s convent, she uses the power of an ancient spirit bound into a sacred relic. Artemisia knows there are risks to utilizing this power. The Revenant is capable of taking over completely if she isn’t careful. But a partnership forms between the pair as they work together to fight back against the evil spreading throughout Loraille.
We have ancient religious secrets, dark magic, and unlikely friendship – what’s not to love about this story.
We love a badass heroine (with no love interest, which in my opinion really makes the story) who is putting her life on the line for people she knows would murder her if she makes the slightest misstep. But regardless she follows her intuition, revives magic long forgotten and forbidden, and saves the people who will likely be her downfall one day.
Artemisia has always been an outsider and knows that isn’t going to change no matter how many lives she saves. You will be cheering for her from the moment her name appears on the page.
Margaret Rogerson wrote a reluctant hero in the best way possible. I fell in love with Artemisia and you will too.
Read my full review at the Disappear Here Book Blog: https://disappearherebookblog.com/2022/05/10/book-review-vespertine-by-margaret-rogerson/
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5⭐️
First off, I adore Margaret Rogerson’s writing style. I said this when I read Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens, but her writing is absolutely stunning and has such a magical quality to it that lends really well to the epic fantasy worlds that she creates. The worldbuilding in this book was immaculate and I hope more of the magic of this world is explored in later books. Each character has so much depth and trauma that was explored really well. I loved Artemisia and the Revenant’s banter and adored their friendship. My only criticism is that I was slightly unsure of what the plot was for the first half of the book, though that might have been a me problem as I read the first half whilst I was ill
First off, I adore Margaret Rogerson’s writing style. I said this when I read Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens, but her writing is absolutely stunning and has such a magical quality to it that lends really well to the epic fantasy worlds that she creates. The worldbuilding in this book was immaculate and I hope more of the magic of this world is explored in later books. Each character has so much depth and trauma that was explored really well. I loved Artemisia and the Revenant’s banter and adored their friendship. My only criticism is that I was slightly unsure of what the plot was for the first half of the book, though that might have been a me problem as I read the first half whilst I was ill
I LOVED this one! Something about nuns in fantasy medieval France always gets me! More than that even, I am a very devoted Margaret Rogerson reader!! I NEED a sequel to this one!
I wanted to like this book so much more, but I honestly thought some parts were super boring to read. By the end, I just didn't care what happened and didn't really feel any emotional attachment to any of the characters. I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt, and just blame it on me and my little reading slump. I thought the premise was an interesting and unique idea, I just think it didn't catch my attention the way that I wanted it to.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world of Vespertine. Spirits are an underutilized mythology (in my opinion), so when I can sink my teeth into a story about ghouls and ghosts and their place in the world, I do it without hesitation.
And in this case, I was not disappointed.
Besides the fact that her name is fucking IMPOSSIBLE for me to read without tripping all over the vowels, Artemisia is a strong female lead. But not “strong” in the tough-as-nails sense (which is unbearably overplayed in YA fantasy). She’s just a level-headed girl who isn’t enamored with her own level-headedness.
What a refreshing concept.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the world-building. The power dynamics of the clergy (a necessary thing, in a land filled with malevolent spirits of the dead) were fascinating, without being cumbersome to the storyline. It was clear that even beyond these pages, an entire world exists here, with its own laws and rules and cultures and customs. Just waiting to be explored.
Again. WHAT A REFRESHING CONCEPT. World-building? In this day and age? HERESAY.
All that to say: I hope we get to see more of this heroine and her revenant.
3.5 / 5 stars
And in this case, I was not disappointed.
Besides the fact that her name is fucking IMPOSSIBLE for me to read without tripping all over the vowels, Artemisia is a strong female lead. But not “strong” in the tough-as-nails sense (which is unbearably overplayed in YA fantasy). She’s just a level-headed girl who isn’t enamored with her own level-headedness.
What a refreshing concept.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the world-building. The power dynamics of the clergy (a necessary thing, in a land filled with malevolent spirits of the dead) were fascinating, without being cumbersome to the storyline. It was clear that even beyond these pages, an entire world exists here, with its own laws and rules and cultures and customs. Just waiting to be explored.
Again. WHAT A REFRESHING CONCEPT. World-building? In this day and age? HERESAY.
All that to say: I hope we get to see more of this heroine and her revenant.
3.5 / 5 stars
Cela fait des années que Vespertine attend sagement dans ma PAL. Et cet automne, ayant décidé de ne lire que des one-shot de fantasy, je l’ai enfin sorti. Il faut dire que je regrette de ne pas l’avoir fait plus tôt !
Vespertine est un roman formidable avec un world-building très bien fait. Il s’agit d’un livre sur les esprits, et sur comment les contrôler ou s’en débarrasser (en fonction de leur niveau). Un livre parfait donc pour l'automne ! J’ai adoré le personnage d’Artemisia, personnage recluse qui devient sans le vouloir une sorte de Sainte. J’ai beaucoup aimé le Revenant, l’esprit puissant qu’elle essaye de contrôler pour sauver le monde, et leur relation qui s’installe petit à petit.
J’ai trouvé le roman plein d’action et de rebondissements, et je l’ai lu en quelques jours car j’avais hâte d’avoir le fin mot de l’histoire. L’autrice explique dans ses remerciements que l’intrigue lui est apparue pendant le confinement, et je dois dire que j’ai bien ressenti la peur de l’enfermement dans la manière dont fonctionnent les reliques et les esprits qui y sont enchainés, ainsi que le côté épidémie de fantôme (qui ressemble à une épidémie de zombie).
Les personnages sont tous très bien écrits, Artemisia est profonde et son passé, révèle petit à petit, ne la rend que plus intéressante. Le Revenant est tout aussi bien construit, on sent le conflit interne entre la vengeance et l’aide, on le sent s’apaiser tout au long du roman. Les personnages secondaires comme Marguerite, Charles, Leander et Mère Doulours sont tous aussi bien faits, on apprend à apprécier les uns et détester les autres. Ils sont totalement équilibrés, jamais foncièrement bons ou mauvais, et c’est un aspect que j’ai adoré.
L’intrigue est très originale, et le système de possession des esprits très bien construit. Il est vrai que par moment j’ai dû relire plusieurs fois les explications car elles peuvent paraître complexes, mais il faut dire que j’adore les world-buildings bien travaillés.
La fin ouverte est appréciable, elle laisse entendre que cela peut être un one-shot, ce qui conviendrait parfaitement, mais laisse aussi la possibilité à une suite, que je lirais absolument !
Hâte de découvrir les autre romans de l’autrice, dont Sorcery of Thorns.
4 étoiles
Vespertine est un roman formidable avec un world-building très bien fait. Il s’agit d’un livre sur les esprits, et sur comment les contrôler ou s’en débarrasser (en fonction de leur niveau). Un livre parfait donc pour l'automne ! J’ai adoré le personnage d’Artemisia, personnage recluse qui devient sans le vouloir une sorte de Sainte. J’ai beaucoup aimé le Revenant, l’esprit puissant qu’elle essaye de contrôler pour sauver le monde, et leur relation qui s’installe petit à petit.
J’ai trouvé le roman plein d’action et de rebondissements, et je l’ai lu en quelques jours car j’avais hâte d’avoir le fin mot de l’histoire. L’autrice explique dans ses remerciements que l’intrigue lui est apparue pendant le confinement, et je dois dire que j’ai bien ressenti la peur de l’enfermement dans la manière dont fonctionnent les reliques et les esprits qui y sont enchainés, ainsi que le côté épidémie de fantôme (qui ressemble à une épidémie de zombie).
Les personnages sont tous très bien écrits, Artemisia est profonde et son passé, révèle petit à petit, ne la rend que plus intéressante. Le Revenant est tout aussi bien construit, on sent le conflit interne entre la vengeance et l’aide, on le sent s’apaiser tout au long du roman. Les personnages secondaires comme Marguerite, Charles, Leander et Mère Doulours sont tous aussi bien faits, on apprend à apprécier les uns et détester les autres. Ils sont totalement équilibrés, jamais foncièrement bons ou mauvais, et c’est un aspect que j’ai adoré.
L’intrigue est très originale, et le système de possession des esprits très bien construit. Il est vrai que par moment j’ai dû relire plusieurs fois les explications car elles peuvent paraître complexes, mais il faut dire que j’adore les world-buildings bien travaillés.
La fin ouverte est appréciable, elle laisse entendre que cela peut être un one-shot, ce qui conviendrait parfaitement, mais laisse aussi la possibilité à une suite, que je lirais absolument !
Hâte de découvrir les autre romans de l’autrice, dont Sorcery of Thorns.
4 étoiles
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I continue to love everything Margaret Rogerson writes, I can't wait to reread this in November!