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A review by wordsbychiara
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
5.0
VESPERTINE was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and though I was hoping to love it, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It has very different elements from the fantasy books I’m used to reading, and it feels very different from Margaret Rogerson’s previous works, but all the elements work so perfectly that it might just be my favorite book yet from this author!
The story follows Artemisia, a young novice training to become a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the dead so their souls may pass on and not turn into spirits with a hunger for human lives. Unlike many of the other novices, Artemisia actually enjoys her role. She feels much more at ease with the dead than the living, who don’t miss an opportunity to look at her with suspicion because of her complicated past. However, when the convent is attacked, Artemisia doesn’t shy away from trying to save all her sisters, and in doing so, she summons a revenant—one of the most powerful and dangerous of all spirits. The revenant possesses her body and becomes a constant voice in Artemisia’s mind, threatening to consume her with each passing second. However, Artemisia’s only hope to protect the living from the army of the dead is to learn to wield the revenant’s power, and the only one who can help her do so is the revenant itself.
If you love worlds with lore based on saints and spirits, then you’ll be as fascinated by this world as I was. There is so much to learn about the spirits, the saints and the revenants, and while much of it is woven within this novel, there are so many more mysteries to uncover and questions that need answers. The world of Vespertine is one that offers the potential for many interesting storylines, and I can’t wait to see where the author is taking it all!
My favorite part of the book, however, was the characters. Now, usually when I say this, I mean that there’s a romance between two incredible characters that kept me reading like an addict. Well, this is only partially true. While there is the possibility of a romance in the future book(s) with a character I was very intrigued by, romance was not a component of this novel! And I did not miss it. Why? Because the blooming friendship and incredible banter between Artemisia and the Revenant was all-consuming! I’m of the idea that romance is great when it makes sense, but a good friendship and found family bond can be just as beautiful and exciting. This book proves it! There was never a dull moment, and whether Artemisia and the Revenant were sassying each other or having a more profound moment, I was fully invested. I laughed, I shed a few tears, and both of them lodged themselves in my heart as one of my new favorite friendships!
In short, this book was amazing. Definitely a bit darker than the author’s previous works, but if you’ve enjoyed her previous books or are interested in a more mature YA story, than I definitely recommend this oen!
The story follows Artemisia, a young novice training to become a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the dead so their souls may pass on and not turn into spirits with a hunger for human lives. Unlike many of the other novices, Artemisia actually enjoys her role. She feels much more at ease with the dead than the living, who don’t miss an opportunity to look at her with suspicion because of her complicated past. However, when the convent is attacked, Artemisia doesn’t shy away from trying to save all her sisters, and in doing so, she summons a revenant—one of the most powerful and dangerous of all spirits. The revenant possesses her body and becomes a constant voice in Artemisia’s mind, threatening to consume her with each passing second. However, Artemisia’s only hope to protect the living from the army of the dead is to learn to wield the revenant’s power, and the only one who can help her do so is the revenant itself.
If you love worlds with lore based on saints and spirits, then you’ll be as fascinated by this world as I was. There is so much to learn about the spirits, the saints and the revenants, and while much of it is woven within this novel, there are so many more mysteries to uncover and questions that need answers. The world of Vespertine is one that offers the potential for many interesting storylines, and I can’t wait to see where the author is taking it all!
My favorite part of the book, however, was the characters. Now, usually when I say this, I mean that there’s a romance between two incredible characters that kept me reading like an addict. Well, this is only partially true. While there is the possibility of a romance in the future book(s) with a character I was very intrigued by, romance was not a component of this novel! And I did not miss it. Why? Because the blooming friendship and incredible banter between Artemisia and the Revenant was all-consuming! I’m of the idea that romance is great when it makes sense, but a good friendship and found family bond can be just as beautiful and exciting. This book proves it! There was never a dull moment, and whether Artemisia and the Revenant were sassying each other or having a more profound moment, I was fully invested. I laughed, I shed a few tears, and both of them lodged themselves in my heart as one of my new favorite friendships!
In short, this book was amazing. Definitely a bit darker than the author’s previous works, but if you’ve enjoyed her previous books or are interested in a more mature YA story, than I definitely recommend this oen!