I was extremely excited for Vespertine as I enjoyed Margaret Rogerson’s two previous standalones quite a bit, and I’m pleased to report Vespertine was no different. I’ve heard it’s still undergoing edits so I gave it some slack in regards to the writing as well (because I think that’s what’s being edited, according to the author’s Tweets)

Vespertine follows Artemisia, a nun in training at a convent, that functions as a sort of religious funeral home. Gray Sisters (the nuns) are required to purify bodies so they don’t rise as evil spirits, and Artemisia is happy to fulfill that purpose.
But when the convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia is forced to use a saint’s relic and bind herself to the powerful spirit that lives inside it, using its power to defend the convent. So Artemisia becomes a figure of legend, a Vespertine, a priestess trained (or not, in her case) to wield the relic and revenant inside it. But dark magic is afoot in her land, and as the only Vespertine in ages, Artemisia must defeat it, while making sure the revenant doesn’t overpower and possess her in the process.

I absolutely loved the entire vibe of this book. While I read this over the summer in sweltering South Carolina heat, an October release is such a good choice for this dark, gothic, spooky book. It will be an amazing autumn read. Think: cathedrals and tombs, choirs singing, Will-o-wisps in fields, funerary urns, incense smoke, flickering candles, spirits in the night, doomed saints, and the unbearable weight of divine purpose.

Another thing of note was I absolutely loved the relationship between Artemisia and the revenant. Their banter had me chuckling with delight. However I felt it very weird that while the revenant was functionally a crucial character, and a sentient person in its own right, the revenant was ONLY referred to as “it” the whole book. Personally I would’ve preferred they/them (especially a shift from it to they, as their rapport grew) and it just felt unnatural to me.

I want to make it clear, in case other fans hadn’t seen online, that Vespertine is not a romance book like Rogerson’s previous works. There’s no romance in this book. I repeat: there is no romance in this book. While I’m neutral about romance being included or not, it was surprising to me since her previous works were pretty romance-oriented. I didn’t feel as though the book lacked anything, and loved it, but I would absolutely hate for this book to come out and people rate it poorly since there’s no romance. Romance requirers, move along. Not the book for you. (But there might be romance in the sequel, I think?)

And I can’t say this book had very much representation towards LGBT+ or people of color, either. I think the biggest (only?) rep might be that the main character has a sort of disability, in the form of scarred/disfigured hands (from an injury in her childhood). Would definitely like to see more representation of all forms in Rogerson’s writing in the future.

Margaret Rogerson has this was with words that I'll truly never understand--like, how good can someone be? Are they just good? or are they Margaret Rogerson Good? Because that is the true test. I loved this story so much! It was epic, fairly quick, and so alluring/addictive! I need more and I can't wait for Rogerson to release more books! I devour them!

First, thank you kindly to the publisher for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion

This book was underwhelming and overwhelming if that makes any sense.

I enjoyed The concept of it and the dark unsettling atmosphere. I also liked the characters.

The mc was very relatable. The relationship between her and the revenant was hilarious and also very sweet. I enjoyed her eventually making friends and those friends being honest good people.

What i didn't enjoy was the magic system. It was, in few words, messy.
We have these spirits that emerge from restless dead. There are so many different types of spirits. There is one from drowning victims, one from murdered victims, etc.
We also have human possession. We also have relics that contain spirits and relics that exercise spirits and restore health and multiple other uses.
Halfway through the story the author introduces old magic which then turns everything messy because why?

I slogged through the second half of this book and my enjoyment went down considerably by the conclusion.

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson review:

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun that helps souls pass on. Her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers and Artemisia awakens a powerful spirit to stop them. The spirit is a revenant and it could possess her if she lets her guard down. Artemisia learns of secrets, evil and mysteries around everything she’s ever known and must work with the revenant to save Loraille.

5 reasons to read Vespertine:
1. It’s like Venom but set in medieval times with ghosts.
2. It comes out in October. It’s spooky season. Read it for the vibes.
3. The classic Rogerson plot twists.
4. Meaningful themes, I actually teared up a few times.
5. The revenant.

If you’re a fan of Rogerson’s other books, I would absolutely recommend checking this one out. Also, the cover is gorgeous so it would look great on your shelf.

Artemisia is a fantastic main character. I loved how she is introverted and still shown as strong, brave and capable. She also doesn’t like (living) people, I thought that was a perfect trait for her. It was interesting reading from her perspective because it’s so unlike others that I’ve read. Her character development is beautiful.

There wasn’t any romance in this book which I found really refreshing. Romance at this time wouldn’t have fit with the story. + it gave much more room for the characters to develop amazing friendships!

The reasoning for giving this book 4 stars what that it was a little slow in the beginning and was sometimes confusing with the different relics and saints. But there is a helpful guide in the back about the different spirits!

Trigger warnings (from the author): self-harm, anxiety, disordered eating (minor), child neglect/abuse (past), trauma/PTSD (traumatic experiences in the past). No mentions of abuse or trauma are sexual in nature. Very brief suicide mention concerning a character that doesn’t appear in the book.

4 stars

Sometimes the stars align and you get placed on a tour for a book that is RIGHT in your reading lane.

This is how I feel about Vespertine. Margaret Rogerson has created a wonderful page turning fantasy filled with fantastic characters (main and side), ghostly possessions, underground catacombs, vast world building and a heroine you will love to root for. This feels like a fantasy for historical fiction lovers at some point. It's heavy and meaty with information and I loved it.

Artemisia is a nun, having survived a tormented childhood...she only wants to live out her days in peace at the convent until fate has other plans for her instead. She has been discounted by others and so when she steps up as a hero it only makes it more sweetly satisfying. I love an underdog story.

This book will make you laugh, the banter is witty and I found myself laughing on multiple occasions. I found the plot to be incredibly well paced. Serious tones balanced the light heartedness of this and it made me want to stay immersed in this world as long as possible. My friend Amber mentioned that this has Winternight vibes and I immediately knew thats why I loved it. Also this could be for fans of HIs Fair Assassin series as well.

LOVED. please please please let there be a book 2. I have high hopes for certain developments and will not hesitate to grab the next installment.

*side note: there is no romance in this one, but if you avoid it because of this I think you'd be sad because you'd truly be missing out on a really good book. Now if you'll excuse me i'm off to read Rogersons backlist.

I absolutely loved Sorcery of Thorns when it came out, so I knew I wanted to read Vespertine. And I'm so glad I did - and if you forced me to pick a favorite I would definitely say Vespertine.

The world is so unique in this book, where spirits form from dead humans and are sorted in different orders or strength, and based on how the humans died. The spirits can possess humans and be confined to reliquaries where their powers can be used and controlled by humans who are trained to. When Artemisia's convent is attacked, she desperately opens a revenant's reliquary, one of the strongest & most dangerous spirits, and is possessed by the revenant. With the revenant's help, Artemisia must save the country from the forbidden Old Magic.

Starting with what I loved - the world and writing are very atmospheric, it's super dark and twisty which is great timing for spooky season. There is nothing inherently scary about the plotline, but there is a lot of violence and triggers - so definitely check those out. The author has them listed on Goodreads. Next up, the characters. I loved Artemisia - she's not the typical, cookie cutter YA fantasy heroine, she is super moody, blunt, with an RBF that even scares spirits. The revenant has it's own voice, and it was MY FAVORITE. The sassy/snarky banter between the two was unmatched.

If there is anything to say about downsides to this title, I would say it isn't the best with explaining the world or the spirit system. You catch on over the course of the book, but there isn't a comprehensive introduction in the beginning, or info-dumping as some call it, which will either be a pro or con for people. But truly, I loved this book and was so excited to see it will be a duology. But, it definitely reads as a stand alone.

**Thank you to Simon Teen and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

Big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Ms. Rogerson for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. An honest review was requested but not required.

First of all, before I even GET to the book, just have to give some love to the beautiful Charlie Bowater cover. Absolutely gorgeous art. 😍

OK. I'm a big Margaret Rogerson fan, I happily admit it, having really really loved both Sorcery of Thorns AND Enchantment of Ravens. I had really high expectations for her new book. I've been on a run of really good books lately, not to jinx myself, but the streak definitely continued with Vespertine!

Artemisia is a terrific character; I got some serious Joan of Arc vibes from her. All she really wanted was to be Grey Sister in her hometown of Naimes, purifying the dead and releasing their spirits, and to be left alone. You will not be surprised to find that she got neither of her wishes. Artemisia's dual journeys, both the world-saving journey she undertakes with her bound revenant, and her discovery that she CAN make friends and accept help from others, are equally engrossing. I LOVED the revenant: their salty attitude and sarcastic mindvoice were so refreshing. I wish that they (Artemisia and the revenant) would have used each others' names, other than "revenant" and "stupid nun" but that's really a negligible quibble.

I did struggle a little bit to understand the worldbuilding, especially the magic system. I think having been accustomed to Rogerson's other books, I was expecting more of a complete book instead of a series opener. I'm assuming that more details about how the magic/religion/world in general, etc., works will be explained in book #2. But I can tell you I'll be first in line to get my hands on a copy!

Noooot my favorite of the collection. Sorcery of thorns remains to be my favorite for now. Though I loved the world and the setting of this one a lot.

First off, this cover is so pretty! After having read the book, I love all the little details hidden in there that not only show how creepy and magical this book is, but give a nod to all the moving parts of this story. I love it when covers have hidden clues or scenes from the book hiding in plain sight - it's so fun to realize what they mean later on.

Jumping in, I love the premise of this book. We have a world where spirits turn into demonic beings (basically) and depending on how you died, your soul will morph into a different being if not passed on to the afterlife. To fight these demons, we have convents and monasteries that train nuns to make sure souls get to the afterlife and fight the ones that remain behind. As our main character, Artemisia, experienced as a child, a person with the Sight can be possessed by these beings and exorcism is the only way to save oneself. One day, an army of possessed soldiers arrived at their convent and forced to fight, Artemisia is given a relic of a dangerous demon to help her and her home, and is now living inside her. 

This book was such an excellent mix of intense, gory, and funny. There is a lot of ghoul slaying and fantasy moments that it can feel overwhelming, but the humor, especially from the revenant, breaks through that intensity and helps reset the mood. I loved the premise of this book and Artemisia in general. She's a very misunderstood person in her world, but though she appears cold, she's very selfless and brave. Not only agreeing to team up with the revenant to save her world from someone using Old Magic and the beings that obey it, but also being prepared to sacrifice herself if needed to save everyone. 

Another thing I really like about this book are the different classes of beings and how they come to be. If a soul isn't cleansed and sent to the afterlife, it can turn into these new beings and wreak havoc among the living. Especially those who possess the Sight and can see them. And their different powers and how they're expressed are so cool! And also terrifying. 

Honestly, there wasn't much I didn't like about the book, but I did find the beginning a little confusing. We jump into the story pretty quickly, which is great with all the action in this book, but can feel like we don't have a lot of background knowledge starting off. Though, I do love that there's never a dull moment in this story. 

But seriously, the revenant is my favorite character. I'm not sure how a demonic being can be so sassy and quick witted, but he has so many one liners that I was chuckling every few pages. His dialogue cuts through the action and intensity of this book so well and lightens things up a little bit. Plus, it makes him feel more human (especially since he once was a human at one point) instead of just this demon co-possessing and inhabiting Artemisia (which he also is).

Honestly. I loved this book and once I got passed the beginning and into the plot, I couldn't put this book down. I will warn you though, if you're someone who can't handle scary or gory stuff late at night, do not read this book past sundown. There is some graphic imagery of the ghouls and the magic of this world that I wish I could unsee. So if you're squeamish, you've been warned! Otherwise, feel free to use this book to scare yourself silly!

Overall, I can say this was a favorite and I was hyping the book up to my friends while reading it. Plus I had to share all the sassy quotes! There were more that I saved, but I had so many already, I had to cute a few. So if you're looking for a great spooky read this spooky season, definitely pick up Vespertine and enjoy my favorite spooky, sassy book this Halloween season!

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson is a novel following Artemisia, who is training to be a nun who cleans the bodies of the dead to help them move on to the afterlife and prevent them from rising and hurting the living. Artemisia feels more comfortable among the dead than with the people in her life who spread rumors about her history. However, when her convent is attacked by soldiers possessed by uncleansed souls, Artemisia must protect the convent and wakes a previously bound spirit known as a revenant. Now Artemisia must rely on the knowledge from the evil revenant as the knowledge from the vespertines, priestesses trained to wield a high relic, has been lost in death. Soon, Artemisia finds herself growing closer to the evil spirit, pushing her to every limit imaginable. Will she overcome death and evil, or will it overcome Artemisia?

First, the artwork on this cover is absolutely stunning so kudos to the artist! The premise of this book is captivating and different from many books I've read before. The premise reminds me of when characters carry Horcruxes in Harry Potter and are affected by the power when it is in their possession. The worldbuilding was great and it was fantastic to learn about the intricacies of the revenant. The writing also explained the details without getting unnecessarily detailed or feeling stilted when mentioned.

Artemisia is a selfless character that cares for others, but also finds it difficult to engage with others due to what preconceptions they have. Her background about her experience as a child was intriguing and added a layer to why she was a "chosen one" which I appreciated. I also appreciated the character arc that helped her see she was most powerful when she helped herself as well as others and that she can't always sacrifice herself.

There were some times where I felt like the pace slowed down a bit, but the last third of the book was intense pulling you in to know how everything ends. Overall I enjoyed this book and recommend this to those looking for a bit of fantasy without a romance!

Many thanks to the publisher Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Judge a book by its cover, y'all. This is my first book by this author. It's got those dark spooky vibes. A nun and a ghost are the main characters and I grew to love them. The snark, the nicknames, the personal growth. There's no romance and none was necessary! I didn't realize this is the first of a duology; it reads as a standalone. I liked the secondary characters that became Artemisia's friends. I could definitely see some of them having romance in the next book but I have seen many others indicating Artemisia might be ace.

This book is an excellent read for October and November. It’s all liminal shades of gray and silver instead of bright autumnal colors, but it still perfectly conveys a sense of shades and spirits. The extensive world-building is reminiscent of France during the time of Joan of Arc, with an emphasis on the ecclesiastical elements that make up Artemisia’s world. A glossary in the back details the orders of the spirits encountered in the book, from shades to the seven named revenants.

Artemisia reads as white and several secondary characters are described as having dark skin. In addition to her scarred hands, with limited mobility in the one, Artemisia has PTSD and crippling social anxiety. There’s no romance of any flavor, which some may find a welcome relief when it comes to YA fantasy.

I was initially attracted to this book based on the description and the cover, and bumped it up my (long) TBR list in order to check off a ‘ghost’ box in an online bingo contest. I’m very glad I didn’t let this one linger unread. I really enjoyed this book and am eagerly looking forward to the second half of the duology. It’s a gorgeous adventure in a well-crafted world with engaging characters.

While listed as YA, Vespertine is highly recommended for adult fantasy fans as well, in addition to those who enjoy historical fiction. As the author herself notes, fans of the Marvel character Venom will see the similarities in an ordinary person who finds themself unexpectedly sharing headspace and carrying on conversations with an otherworldly creature.

Trigger warnings, as provided by the author: Self-harm, anxiety, disordered eating (minor), child neglect/abuse (past), trauma/PTSD (traumatic experiences in past). None of the abuse or trauma is sexual in nature. Very brief suicide mention in the epilogue, concerning a character from the past who never appears in the book.

Thank you very much to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

“The revenant might be a monster, but it was my monster.”

Vespertine boasts a strong beginning that immediately draws you in and fast-paced action that didn’t let up from page one.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. Margaret Rogerson is one of my favorite authors and she can never disappoint.

This book was engaging and brilliantly written from start to finish. I honestly had no idea what I was in for. There was no dull moment because every page was action-packed with a dose of fun banter and exciting reveals.

I love the writing. I love the plot. And I absolutely LOVE Artemisia.

“I wished I were better at speaking. All those thoughts were in my head, but I didn’t know how to get them out.”— I found myself relating to her in so many ways and I can’t help but feel that she’s perfectly written for me. She’s socially awkward who gets severe anxiety around people. She prefers solitude over the company of others, and isn’t the best at conversations and making friends. But what she lacks in social skills and interpersonal relationships she more than makes up for in strength of character, endless compassion and bravery. I admire how she never let her lack of experience stop her from stepping up to the role she was entrusted with and saving people. Have I mentioned I love her?!

The bond between Artemisia and the revenant was surprisingly… adorable? I can’t think of a right word for it but it was definitely one source of entertainment for me.

“Whoever it is, they smell like incense, porridge, soul-numbing misery . . . Ah, yes. A nun.”— I enjoyed the revenant’s humor and sass, interspersed with its murderous tendencies. The back and forth between Artemisia and the revenant was utterly delightful. There is so much potential to this developing friendship and I can’t wait to see more. The unlikely partnership between the two brought on by desperation and necessity reminded me a lot of Tatsumi and Hakaimono from Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox trilogy. (Although the latter was a lot less ha-ha fun.)

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding in Vespertine. I found it fascinating to read about the different spirits and their hierarchy, the relics, the Saints, the history of Loraille and the Clerisy. Author Margaret Rogerson created a unique and compelling world that had me forgetting the real one.

Unfortunately for my romance-loving heart, there wasn’t one to speak of. I do think I enjoyed the book more knowing that fact first hand so take this as a PSA I guess. (But you can’t tell me that there isn’t a heap of possibilities with Leander. This has taken root in my brain and no one can convince me otherwise. Lol)

This book is AMAZING. And knowing that there’s going to be a sequel gives me great joy, I’m not kidding.

Please, please read this one asap!

I received an ARC to read and review. Quoted excerpt/s may change in the final print.

So I feel like this review comes across a bit aggressive, but this book very much wasn’t for me. While I liked the blurb and the concept, I didn’t like the execution. I think it was the blend of religion/ nuns and possession into a fantasy novel that put me off, but this one is a no from me.

Overall, Rogerson has a fantastic writing style that is super dynamic and well set for fantasy worlds. The world building is dynamic and interesting. I can get a clear picture of everything happening, and the characters fit right in, I think the characters were engaging and kept me reading, but the concept is a little bit too much for me. With the right audience, though, this book will 100% be another home run for Margaret Rogerson.

Growing up in a convent, Artemisia has dedicated her life as a Gray Sister, purifying the bodies of the dead before they become corrupted spirits that seek to consume the souls of the living. When an opportunity arises for her to leave her small village and begin training in the city, she plans to purposely fail to live a private life. However, when an army of possessed soldiers attack the convent, Artemisia uses a saint's relic to allow a powerful revenant to share a body with her, protecting the monastery.

Yet allowing an all-powerful revenant into her body does not come without its consequences. There are many who will stop at nothing to prevent her from coming into her full powers with her revenant, and even she isn't sure if she can fully trust the revenant. But Artemisia knows that she must work with the revenant to stop this growing evil from taking over the lands.

In this world full of saints, clerics, and spirits, Rogerson creates an intricate magic system and world that has you immersed from the beginning. Although there are places where the worldbuilding got a bit heavy and slowed the pace of the plot, I still found myself fascinated and wanting to learn more about the magic and its intricacies. The plot soon picks up as Artemisia becomes half-possessed by the revenant, which is one of my favorite aspects of the story. The revenant has some highly entertaining banter with Artemisia, and I loved her snarky spirit. Artemisia is also a fascinating protagonist, socially anxious yet determined, which creates some interesting dynamics between her and the revenant.

The cast of characters, particularly those in the convent, are also very well-developed, and it is a joy to see Artemisia as she begins to open up to those around her as the story continues. While the ending of this book was a bit more muted that I would have liked, I can see Rogerson setting the stones in place for the sequel of this duology. I look forward to seeing how this story wraps up in the next book!

I am a big fan of Sorcery of Thorns so I HAD to request this book.

Vespertine was definitely a different style and type of story but I did enjoy it. I am someone who needs a bit of romance in my story and this one does not have it but I still was able to read through this book very quickly!

It has wonderful friendships and touches on mental health. I loved the worldbuilding and magic system. If you are into a darker, spooky fantasy book, pick this one up!

I'm always low key interested in novels that feature necromancy, or any sort of magic tied to death. And because I've had pretty positive experiences with Margaret Rogerson's work, I was excited when Vespertine was announced. In the book, Artemisia is a novice training to become one of the Gray Sisters - nuns who cleanse the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on instead of rising as spirits who hunger for the living. When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia winds up awakening a revenant, a powerful ancient spirit bound to a saint's relic, and wielding its power to defend her home. But the death and destruction don't end there, and Artemisia soon finds herself knee deep in a mystery involving secrets, saints and dark magic.

The first couple of chapters of Vespertine threw me off a bit with how much information is conveyed with regards to the world and the lore. Now, I'm not necessarily completely opposed to 'info dumps', especially in fantasy books that are set in unique worlds. But I worried that this would set the tone for the book as a series starter and I'd find it to be slower paced than I normally like my books to be. Luckily, this didn't end up being the case! The pacing certainly picks up a bit as the situations Artemisia finds herself in escalate, and I ended up flying through the rest of the story with an eagerness to find out what would happen next and how things would wrap up. (That said, there's a repetitiveness to the plot that did frustrate me just a touch a time or two, but since I was curious about where it was all going to go, I had no trouble just moving on past that mild irritation.)

I enjoyed the lore that Rogerson crafted for her story, particularly the details about the origin and abilities of spirits and the history of the Loraille. It's kept fairly simple, and there are a lot of familiarities sprinkled all throughout that mirror other stories featuring spirits, death and that particular brand of dark magic. But everything about the setting, history and magic just felt wholly formed and real to me as a reader; it helped the reading experience be incredibly immersive, which is always something I want out of a fantasy read.

I liked our cast of characters well enough, though I have a clear favorite (and we'll get to that in a minute). There are a whole host of secondary characters that charmed, frustrated or angered me in turn, depending on what their role was in Artemisia's life and this story. They were developed just enough to feel like real individuals, but because their page time was pretty limited, I didn't feel a particularly strong attachment to any of them. (Also, for all my pals looking for reads without romance - this might just be the book for you!)

As you might have guessed, Artemisia and the revenant are the two characters readers spend the most time with since a large chunk of the novel consists of their private interactions and experiences. It took me time to really warm up to Artemisia. But it's pretty clear from the start that she's a good, loyal individual who simply wants to be left to her own comfortable devices, and her unveiled history eventually explains a lot of her choices, thoughts and tendency to keep to herself. While I didn't always find it easy to be in her head, I was rooting for her triumph. As for the revenant, it was a case of meeting a character I instantly liked. The sass! The pushy nurturing! The occasional moments of vulnerability! Despite the fact that the revenant was all about constant threats and insults, and even though there was that constant question of whether they'd betray Artemisia at the back of my mind, I couldn't help but enjoy the revenant.

Despite my minor apprehensions at the beginning, Vespertine wound up being a compelling YA fantasy (and one that I find especially fitting for the autumnal spooky season). I really liked this first installment, and I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what happens next.

the book was full of gothix paranormal vibes , I really live this book , at first when I read the authors work , I was disappointed, but vespertine was so good , Simon teen if you are seeing this please release the sequel ASAP

VESPERTINE is a riveting, thrilling, and enthralling YA fantasy about humanity, human nature, and sacrifice. Artemisia is a novice in a convent, one of the jobs available to someone who has the Sight. In this world, spirits often rise after death as a ruthless being with power based on the manner of their death. To combat this, those with the Sight, who can see- and also be possessed by- the spirits, are trained to fulfill jobs within the religious-based government built around The Lady, their diety.

Artemisia is one such person, who is content where she is with the Gray Sisters, those who cleanse the bodies of the deceased to prevent them from becoming spirits, and longs to stay away from people in general. However, when possessed soldiers arrive at the convent, Artemisia is handed a task by the head of the Gray Sisters, and in doing so, opens a box with a magical artifact - one containing a revenant, the strongest and most powerful of the spirits - and the most dangerous. As she unleashes its power, making her a vespertine, she loses control of herself and sight of the things she values most. In the struggles that follow, Artemisia is soon to learn humanity is on the line and left to determine her own role in the events to come.

What I loved: This was a consuming and atmospheric read that transports the reader to this magical and dangerous other world. The premise and the plot are tightly constructed with many twists and unexpected turns along the way. This fascinating world raises important themes around politics, religion, benevolent (or not) deities, twisted motives, humanity, and morality. These thought-provoking elements leave readers to consider which actions can be defined as good and who gets to determine the morality of them, as well as the ways in which they can be corrupted or skewed by the audience.

Artemisia is swept into this battle she did not ask for and does not desire, and the consequences change how others view her and what they want from her. The religion to which she ascribes is also interesting in how it relates to the deity the people worship and how the characters interpret signs and the influence in their own lives. There may be an element of choice in fate, but the significance of divine destiny/intervention is a frequent one. There are many questions raised around this worship, the power structures, and the way that it has developed. Between these intriguing topics, the book is certainly one worth pondering further and would make for a great book club pick.

The characters in the book are endlessly compelling, and beyond Artemisia, who is flawed and often seems to be muddling her way through the mantle she carries, there are several side characters who are beautifully constructed and felt so real. Marguerite, Leander, Charles, and Jean are particularly complex and well-developed. I appreciated the depth of their characters and the way that understanding changes how they are viewed by the reader. Some of the other/older nuns were also fascinating, and I would have loved to have spent even more time with them. Additionally, the revenant that is possessing Artemisia becomes one of the most endearing characters, and as she gets to know it, so does the reader, endearing it to them. Through Artemisia's eyes, there are so many the reader will come to love, and the power of the writing is in gaining these insights, understandings, and allowances that bring these characters to life. I'm hoping to see more of all these characters in future books.

The lack of romance was intriguing and not often seen. Notably, it was not missed in this action-filled read. This story is a stand-out with an intriguing and unexpected plot, twists that you don't see coming, and characters that leap off the pages.

Final verdict: With masterful world-building, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes, VESPERTINE is a stunning and riveting YA fantasy read. Highly recommend for fans of THE MERCIFUL CROW, THE PRISON HEALER, WHAT WE DEVOUR, and DANCE OF THIEVES.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

“The dead of Loraille do not rest...”

Haunted convents, ghostly encounters, and divine interventions inhabit this new alluring tale about an outcast girl finding her place in a world overtaken by the dead.

Rogerson sweeps readers away in another beautiful story filled with her magical, lyrical prose and witty banter. I absolutely LOVED this book! From the very first page, I knew this was a read for me. I adored the main character, Artemisia (how cool is that name?!), and how Rogerson celebrated a heroine who has relatable internal struggles and demons to overcome. I also loved the theme of the misunderstood being the underdogs and how everyone at some point in their lives feels lost and out of place. And the way she wove in the duality of light and dark, old and new, and right and wrong between two characters, in particular, was brilliant!

Overall, the character development was top-notch, the complexity of the story and its characters meticulously written, and the banter made me chuckle like crazy. This story is completely unique, and I loved that!! It kept me on my toes and has me anxiously awaiting what is going to happen next. (And it gave me a touch of Winternight vibes!)

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*