Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson || Gripping Dark Fantasy With Lots of Twists

Vespertine (Vespertine, #1)

The dead of Loraille do not rest.

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.

When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come to Loraille, and only a vespertine, a priestess trained to wield a high relic, has any chance of stopping it. With all knowledge of vespertines lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.

As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.

Rating:

Content Tags:

Perfect for readers who want:

• A story with a similar feeling to Sorcery of Thorns.
• A unique world where spirits rise into different classes and orders based on their death.
• Plot twists galore that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
• A fast-paced story that sweeps you along and immerses you in this world.
• A reluctant hero who’s more than a little socially awkward.
• An utterly sarcastic revenant that will probably steal your heart anyway.
• (Maybe literally. Maybe not. Who knows? It’s a freaking revenant, silly.)

Many thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books and Turn the Page Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

There was never a doubt in my mind that I needed to read this book. After finishing Sorcery of Thorns and realizing that Margaret Rogerson had another book in the works, I just couldn’t freaking wait! Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I loved this book so much that the only sad thing for me is that it ended.

Vespertine is set in a dark world where the dead rise as spirits and where everyone, including the leaders, have secrets to keep. It’s a fast-paced story with plenty of unexpected twists, sarcastic characters, and a reluctant hero.

There’s a definite Sorcery of Thorns vibe to this book, even though the setting and characters are different, so if you loved that book, definitely check out Vespertine. As much as I enjoyed Sorcery of Thorns, I liked this one even more! There are plenty of plot twists in this book, and while I certainly saw some of them coming, I was pleasantly surprised by several. Either way, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and absolutely did not want to put the book down. I even fell asleep reading it one night because I just refused to stop.

Welcome to Loraille, where the dead do not rest. Fasten your seatbelts, because you’re in for quite a ride.

Vespertine is fast paced. Not so much that you can’t breathe, but enough where you definitely won’t want to put it down because you need to find out what happens next. I recommend resisting the urge and putting it down, though (pro tip: falling asleep while reading on the couch is not comfortable, even though it definitely should be).

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this world! The dead rise as spirits, and their classification and order depend on how strong they are and the way that they died, which makes good sense. Of course, in order to combat these spirits, other more powerful spirits have been forced into objects and wielded by the clergy with the hopes of holding the restless, sinister spirits at bay. It works . . . well, about as well as you may imagine.

I went in thinking this would be a standalone, like Rogerson’s previous books, and was so excited to realize it’s going to be a series! Thank goodness, because I am not ready to leave this world just yet. If you’re into darker worlds (not scary, just dangerous), then you will love venturing through Loraille.

Our protagonist, Artemisia’s, social awkwardness is a nice trait to have in a hero (well . . . as a reader. Not so much for the hero, I suppose) and ridiculously relatable.

Also a little bit funny, but only because I’ve definitely been there. Despite trying in earnest to say the right thing, the look of horror on your conversation companion’s face shows that you’ve missed the mark. Repeatedly.

If you’ve ever struggled with social interactions, you will definitely relate to Artemisia. Perhaps not the best mark in a hero, but in her defense, she is a reluctant hero, trying desperately to do the right thing. Even though being in the city causes her panic. Even though she shuts down and freezes when too many people crowd around her. As you might imagine, being a hero is a real inconvenience for her.

Reluctant heroes are my favorite, and as you might imagine, it’s pretty easy to root for Artemisia. She’s just a teensy bit broken, like the rest of us, but manages to pull herself together to do amazing things.

Artemisia isn’t alone on her quest, either. She happens to have a revenant along for the ride, and it’s not entirely happy with humanity at the moment. (And who can blame it, really?)

In fact, that’s kind of why Artemisia is in the trouble she’s in. Revenants are powerful spirits, and she’s untrained, which could spell disaster. Especially if the revenant overtakes her and manages to fully possess her, which would allow it to unleash unspeakable things upon humanity. You know, like death, suffering, and horror. Soooo . . . maybe not as unspeakable as I’d thought? Huh.

Anyway, everyone knows the first rule of controlling a revenant is you’re not supposed to talk to it. Except Artemisia. Because she’s untrained. So they’re thrust off together as the most unlikely dynamic duo, neither trusting the other, and boy do I love it. The tension is palpable, the stakes are high, and there are so many ways this can go wrong.

I know I’ve already mentioned the revenant, but honestly, it is freaking delightful. Powerful, sarcastic, utterly disillusioned with humanity. I mean, what’s not to love about it?

Okay, sure, it’s a slightly homicidal spirit who might potentially wipe out swaths of humans because it can. But we all have our flaws, am I right?

It may come as absolutely no surprise at all that the revenant is my favorite character. It’s a little horrified at the idea of needing to spend so much time around humanity again, because humans are stupid and disgusting, and I feel like that’s a pretty fair assessment. Mostly, the revenant just says what we’re all thinking, and I really appreciate his role as voice of the masses. Even if the masses are currently trying to destroy him.

The thing I love most about Rogerson’s work is the way she plays with the notions of good and evil, and Vespertine is no exception to that.

It’s certainly not as simple as black and white. Like all major things in life, it’s complicated. There are no good guys and bad guys in this book, just people (and spirits) stumbling around blindly trying to live their best (undead) lives. Everyone’s suspect, and no one is quite as they seem, which adds a layer of uncertainty and excitement to an already gripping plot.

About Margaret Rogerson

Margaret Rogerson is the author of theNew York TimesbestsellersAn Enchantment of RavensandSorcery of Thorns. She has a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Miami University. When not reading or writing she enjoys sketching, gaming, making pudding, and watching more documentaries than is socially acceptable (according to some). She lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, beside a garden full of hummingbirds and roses. Visit her at MargaretRogerson.com.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

Up for grabs on the book blog tour is two (2) copies of VESPERTINE by Margaret Rogerson, one a physical finished copy and one a digital copy. Open USA only.

You can find the full tour schedule here.

September 27

Turn the Page Tours – Welcome Post/Author Interview
Dear Rivarie – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
The Tattooed Librarian – Book Review
Tralyns Book Bag – Book Review, Favorite Things About Vespertine

September 28

Emelie’s Books – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Chasing Chapters – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
A Gingerly Review – Book Review
Devouring Books – Book Review

September 29

We Write at Dawn – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Owl Abridged – Book Review, Favorite Things About Vespertine
Brinn’s Books – Book Review
Sheaf and Ink – Book Review

September 30

A Bookish Dream – Book Review
Book Briefs – Book Review
Bookwrm Bonomini – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
I Dream in Books – Book Review, Favorite Quotes

October 1

Jena Brown Writes – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Upon the Book Tower – Book Review, Favorite Things About Vespertine
Vivaciously Vintage – Book Review
My World of Books – Book Review

October 2

Stuck in the Stacks – Book Review
The Reading Corner for All – Book Review, Favorite Things About Vespertine
Justice for Readers – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Book Lover’s Book Reviews – Book Review

October 3

A Bronx Latina Reads – Book Review
Avni Reads – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Jenerally Reading – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Sara Mackenzi Reads – Book Review

October 4

Books Over Everything – Book Review
Pop the Butterfly – Book Review
Stephanie’s Reads – Book Review
Stuck in Fiction – Book Review, Favorite Quotes

October 5

Moonlight Rendezvous – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Thind Books – Book Review
Kait Plus Books – Book Review
Whimsical Dragonette – Book Review, Favorite Quotes

October 6

Celia’s Reads – Book Review
Balancing Books and Beauties – Book Review, Favorite Things About Vespertine
Confessions of a Reading Addict – Book Review
Dana’s Book Garden – Book Review1, Favorite Quotes

October 7

The Bookwrym’s Den – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Quill Tree Fox – Book Review
The Momma Spot – Book Review
Lady Readsalot Reviews – Book Review

October 8

Reading Stewardess – Book Review
Baltimore Bibliophile – Book Review
Hardcover Haven – Book Review, Favorite Quotes
Literary Delirium – Book Review