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A review by jessicaludden
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“The revenant might be a monster, but it was my monster.”
This was an interesting read. I loved the magic system and the whole concept of spirits, nuns, and relics, but I think the world building is lacking. The world in this story feels bigger than one book to me. There were many times while reading that I found myself confused on the logistics of the world and the possibilities of the magic. There were also many times I wished for more detail and backstory. For example, I would’ve loved more time learning about the origins of the revenants and the Old Magic that is constantly referenced throughout the book. It just didn’t feel like the way things happen in this world was explained very clearly at the beginning.
I think the central issue of the story and the big bad was underwhelming. I liked the plot twist that Leander actually had no idea about Sarathiel and it was actually the Divine who was helping him, but I think Sarathiel’s overall purpose got lost in translation between the soldier spirits, him killing the Divine, and the rituals that Artemisia needed to do to save the world (at least I think that’s what she was trying to do). The stakes never felt very high to me and I think it’s due to the lack of detail I had with the world building.
I also think the side characters fell a little flat. The seeds of character complexity were there, but it felt like something was missing in their connection to Artemisia. I think their friendships could’ve been used a lot better and been more important in her story.
What I loved about this story was the dynamic between Artemisia and the revenant. They had really good banter and were both very blunt with each other. The revenant was hilarious, but I also loved seeing it’s softer side as the story progressed. I loved seeing their relationship build and the trust get developed. I especially loved the ending where Artemisia realized Rathanael had decided to sacrifice himself in order to save her and destroy Sarathiel. Their connection was the best part of this book and it’s what occurred for most of the story, which makes sense because she was literally a vessel for it. Overall, I enjoyed reading this. It could’ve been better in terms of the world building, but Artemisia and the revenant’s relationship made it enjoyable.
Favorite Quotes:
“‘You miss feeling things. You like being in a human body.’
‘That doesn’t mean I want to be in yours!’”
“‘Have you ever considered that your body carries you?’”
“‘No, and I don’t see why it matters. Humans are so tedious. Oh, you have dangly bits. Congratulations, you’re going to put on armor and swing a sword about. Oh, you’ve ended up with the other kind. Too bad—time to either have babies or become a nun.’”
“‘I’ll remind you,’ it said finally. ‘Rather than expecting you to remember on your own. When you need to eat, when you’re sick or hurt, and whether it’s serious enough to seek help. But you have to promise that you’ll listen to me.’”
“…the longing I had felt that day and many days since was homesickness. Homesickness for a place I had never been, for the answers to questions I carried in my heart but for which I had no words. I hadn’t recognized it then, because I hadn’t understood what it felt like to have a home.”
“‘I’ll have you know that I’m very good-looking by undead standards…’”
“‘You are the worst vessel I’ve ever had…’”
“If power we’re a measure of worth, Charles wouldn’t have needed me at all.”
“I glanced around at her, Charles, Jean. The people in the hall. I felt the revenant, bristling with impatience. And I realized she was mistaken—I hadn’t been alone, not for some time.”
“Perhaps this was how history treated saints. It didn’t matter what was real, what had truly happened. Even as they lived, their lives passes into legend.”
“…I found myself crouched in an alley with my heart hammering, feeling like an idiot as the revenant flitted through my body searching for injuries, finding nothing.
‘What happened?’ it demanded for the fourth or fifth time. ‘What’s wrong with you?’”
“‘I’m not going to let anyone hurt you again.’”
“I knew then that we really were going to be all right, because I had survived it before, and I would survive it again.”
“The world was radiant. My thoughts were silver fire.”
“‘I don’t want to do it, which in my experience is the surest sign that I need to.’”
“‘Stop drying,’ I told him. A faint smile touched his lips. ‘Is that all?’”
This was an interesting read. I loved the magic system and the whole concept of spirits, nuns, and relics, but I think the world building is lacking. The world in this story feels bigger than one book to me. There were many times while reading that I found myself confused on the logistics of the world and the possibilities of the magic. There were also many times I wished for more detail and backstory. For example, I would’ve loved more time learning about the origins of the revenants and the Old Magic that is constantly referenced throughout the book. It just didn’t feel like the way things happen in this world was explained very clearly at the beginning.
I think the central issue of the story and the big bad was underwhelming. I liked the plot twist that Leander actually had no idea about Sarathiel and it was actually the Divine who was helping him, but I think Sarathiel’s overall purpose got lost in translation between the soldier spirits, him killing the Divine, and the rituals that Artemisia needed to do to save the world (at least I think that’s what she was trying to do). The stakes never felt very high to me and I think it’s due to the lack of detail I had with the world building.
I also think the side characters fell a little flat. The seeds of character complexity were there, but it felt like something was missing in their connection to Artemisia. I think their friendships could’ve been used a lot better and been more important in her story.
What I loved about this story was the dynamic between Artemisia and the revenant. They had really good banter and were both very blunt with each other. The revenant was hilarious, but I also loved seeing it’s softer side as the story progressed. I loved seeing their relationship build and the trust get developed. I especially loved the ending where Artemisia realized Rathanael had decided to sacrifice himself in order to save her and destroy Sarathiel. Their connection was the best part of this book and it’s what occurred for most of the story, which makes sense because she was literally a vessel for it. Overall, I enjoyed reading this. It could’ve been better in terms of the world building, but Artemisia and the revenant’s relationship made it enjoyable.
Favorite Quotes:
“‘You miss feeling things. You like being in a human body.’
‘That doesn’t mean I want to be in yours!’”
“‘Have you ever considered that your body carries you?’”
“‘No, and I don’t see why it matters. Humans are so tedious. Oh, you have dangly bits. Congratulations, you’re going to put on armor and swing a sword about. Oh, you’ve ended up with the other kind. Too bad—time to either have babies or become a nun.’”
“‘I’ll remind you,’ it said finally. ‘Rather than expecting you to remember on your own. When you need to eat, when you’re sick or hurt, and whether it’s serious enough to seek help. But you have to promise that you’ll listen to me.’”
“…the longing I had felt that day and many days since was homesickness. Homesickness for a place I had never been, for the answers to questions I carried in my heart but for which I had no words. I hadn’t recognized it then, because I hadn’t understood what it felt like to have a home.”
“‘I’ll have you know that I’m very good-looking by undead standards…’”
“‘You are the worst vessel I’ve ever had…’”
“If power we’re a measure of worth, Charles wouldn’t have needed me at all.”
“I glanced around at her, Charles, Jean. The people in the hall. I felt the revenant, bristling with impatience. And I realized she was mistaken—I hadn’t been alone, not for some time.”
“Perhaps this was how history treated saints. It didn’t matter what was real, what had truly happened. Even as they lived, their lives passes into legend.”
“…I found myself crouched in an alley with my heart hammering, feeling like an idiot as the revenant flitted through my body searching for injuries, finding nothing.
‘What happened?’ it demanded for the fourth or fifth time. ‘What’s wrong with you?’”
“‘I’m not going to let anyone hurt you again.’”
“I knew then that we really were going to be all right, because I had survived it before, and I would survive it again.”
“The world was radiant. My thoughts were silver fire.”
“‘I don’t want to do it, which in my experience is the surest sign that I need to.’”
“‘Stop drying,’ I told him. A faint smile touched his lips. ‘Is that all?’”
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, and Eating disorder