*That cover!!* Margaret wasn't messing around with this one! I have enjoyed her other books, but this one is a step above. I was impressed with how fleshed out the world-building, magic system, and characters are. I normally like a bit of romance added but this delivered in all the other areas, I was actually surprised. Excited to booktalk this one!

Let me just start off by saying this book had me instantly hooked. Like I was going on vacation when I started reading it, and part of me wanted to just stay in my hotel until I had finished it…

This is my favorite book by the author so far. I thought the pace was good, loved the plot and also kind of enjoyed the fact that there was no romance in the book. (Which is different than her other two stand alones that had a strong romance focus) There was a lot of world building as well which could be confusing at times but came together nicely in the end.

The book follows Artemisia, a gray sister with a troubled past who helps assist the nuns with cleansing the bodies of the dead so they can be put to rest and not come back as spirits who hunt the living. This world suits her as she would rather deal with the dead than the living, but all that changes when her convent is attacked and she wields an ancient spirit bound in a saints relic as a weapon in defense of the nuns around her. The Revenant (the ancient spirit) is a malevolent being, whom she barely can control but she finds herself becoming more and more reliant on its knowledge and even its companionship as they venture out to fight an even greater evil that has surfaced.

Now I do have to note that I am a total wimp when it comes to anything supernatural or having to do with ghosts/spirits etc and I did not find this book to be creepy or scary in any way.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I've heard of this author, but I've never read anything prior to this book. The summary sounded quite interesting.

The worldbuilding was massive, and at times, that led to some confusion. I really enjoyed Artemisia and Marguerite--very well drawn. I'm not a huge fan of romance, so I loved the fact that Rogerson didn't feel the need to throw that it!! However, this is a large book, and there were some lulls that had me skimming at times. There were a number of spirits mentioned early on that were never seen again, which was a bit odd and even disappointing. Thankfully, things picked up for the last part of the book.

The first in the series Vespertine, this book of the same name introduces readers to Artemisia who is in training to become a Gray Sisters whose job is to assist with the dead. With scarred hands and a troubled past, Artemisia avoids interacting with others as much as possible - at least those who are living. Her future as a Gray Sister seemingly set, an invasion by possessed soldiers changes everything. Suddenly she finds herself the new owner of a revenant, a malevolent spirit that tries to take over her body every chance it gets. What begins as a horrendous event becomes an unexpected alliance as Artemisia and the revenant find themselves working together to solve a mystery and save her people before it is too late. A fast paced, fantastical page-turner, Margaret Rogerson has begun a series that is sure to leave readers guessing and longing for more.

I really loved this authors other books and was excited for this one. It did not disappoint! This is going to be the perfect book to read in the fall. I loved the magic, the darker broody vibe for it that makes for a perfect autumn read, and the ending?! Can't wait for the next book.

Being a first time reader of this author, I came to this book with a fresh mind and willing to enjoy. Rogerson did not disappoint. This is a complex and meticulously created world, based on lore regarding saints, clerisy, and spirits to build the religion. While complex, it is a exciting and riveting read - Artemisia, the main character, is a flawed hero - not great with people and content to stay in her life without progressing further in the church. Of course, events have other things in store for her and she is thrust into the world in order to save herself and those around her. Despite - or perhaps because of! - her reluctance and lack of ability to relate to others easily, Artemisia is a likable character that you will truly want to succeed. Her 'sidekick' - the revenant that shares her mind - is an intriguing character, wonderfully developed from an untrustworthy and almost 'evil' character into a key player. The relationship that develops between Artemisia and the revenant is entertaining and sometimes laugh out loud funny, providing tension release from the action. While there are clearly plans for a continuation of the series, the book reads well as a stand alone. I am looking forward to more from this author!

Is it really a surprise that Rogerson does it again? This world feels fresh and different from the ones featured in her previous books, but somehow all are cohesive and feel like they're one portal away from the other. The world of "Vespertine" is ruled by relics, religious orders, and dangerous spirits, who can easily hunt the living. Artemisia, however, prefers the company of the dead because they don't gossip about her mangled hands.

This all changes, when possessed soldiers attack the convent and Artemisia comes into possession of a relic. The relic houses a revenant, an ancient spirit that threatens to possess her every moment of her waking life. As a result, a confessor named Leander takes Artemisia captive with the intent of exorcising her However, as they travel through the countryside, Artemisia realizes that she can use the power of the Revenant to help her country and escapes from Leander. As her bond with the revenant grows stronger, Artemisia slowly untangles the mystery around the saints and old magic, which reveals a hidden dark plot that endangers all she's been taught.

"Vespertine" presents a world entirely infused in religion and its different factions, which we only see a glimpse of. At the start, we learn there is a school, where individuals with an affinity for relics are taught to harness the powers of the spirits trapped within them. However, the world-building of the religious orders and hierarchy is placed in the background in favor of exploring how the spirits are affecting the common people. I really liked this tease of a more complex world-building and the story's divergence from an academic-centered narrative.

Another quality that I liked about "Vespertine" was how Rogerson handled the conclusion. You can read this book as a standalone and walk away satisfied with the resolution. The main story presented with its various challenges and character arcs are completed, but there's potential for continued growth in the world and characters. This is a quality that I have really only seen in mystery series and Rogerson pulls it off brilliantly.

Like many others, I loved Margaret Rogerson’s last book, Sorcery of Thorns, so naturally I was so excited about her next release! I jumped at the chance to read it early. Vespertine untangles the secrets of saints and spirits, ultimately discovering the true bond of friendship.

Despite her high affinity to control spirits, Artemisia wants nothing more than to be a Gray Sister, an order that cleanses corpses so that their spirits do not become malevolent spirits that will possess those with the Sight. When possessed soldiers attack her convent, she is forced to accept the power of a saint’s relic, containing a revenant, the highest order of spirit. There are so few of these relics that no one alive knows how to control these spirits; however, with time running out to discover why more and more spirits are possessing people, Artemisia must team up with the revenant in her relic to solve this mystery.

The worldbuilding was really cool! I always enjoy stories that focus on saints and holiness, and this book was no exception. I also feel like Rogerson has a talent for immersing you in a world without overexplaining or info-dumping. The different orders of spirits are explained seamlessly with the plot.

I really liked Artemisia’s character arc. She was possessed by a low spirit as a child; as a consequence of this, she has a talent for controlling higher order spirits. This also contributed to her selfless nature: She rarely thinks of herself in any situation, instead always wanting to protect others, even if they’re afraid of her. Over time, the revenant helps her realize that sometimes she needs to think of herself first in order to really help others.

Her relationships with the other characters were also well fleshed out. I feel like a common factor in Rogerson’s story is the “immortal figure who begrudgingly grows to like the protagonist” character, which here is the revenant. As much as it threatens Artemisia, you can tell that it cares for her and they gradually form a friendship.

Artemisia also forms a stronger friendship with Marguerite, another novice at her convent that she previously thought hated her. It was nice to see how other characters continue to care about Artemisia when she so obviously cares for others, even if they don’t realize it at first.

In case anyone was wondering, there’s no romance in this book! This wasn’t a mark against the book; I just wanted to clarify for anyone who was expecting one.

My one real complaint about this book is that it’s so interesting in the first 50 pages…and then nothing happens for the next 250 pages. Okay, events happen, but I feel like it dragged so much that I began skimming some parts. The last 100 pages were thrilling though; we finally get the bulk of the action here, and this last quarter made me enjoy the book so much more.

Vespertine was an intriguing book that explored a world of saints and spirits. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the characters, as well as the protagonist’s friendships with the other characters. If you enjoyed either of this author’s previous works, I think you’ll like Vespertine!

3.5/5 Stars. To be released October 2021.

I'll be honest. It was hard for me to get into this book. The world building in the first 20% is massive and intense and often left me confused. There are so many different types of shades, thralls, riveners, etc. that I felt overwhelmed and lost. Once the book progressed and the plot picked up, it got better, but I never felt completely confident with all the different orders. There is a list at the end of the book that details all the orders and how they became those types of spirits, but of course I did not see that until I had finished the book. Overall, I still enjoyed the book. The majority of the book was very fast paced. The epilogue left it open to explore more in future books (which looks like there will be). If you have enjoyed any of Rogerson’s previous books then you will enjoy this one as well.

4.5 stars

Thank you Simon and Schuster for my digital ARC!

" Perhaps deep down inside everyone was just a scared animal afraid of getting hurt, and that explained every confusing and mean and terrible thing we did"

I am a huge fan of Margaret Rogerson's Sorcery of Thorns and ever since the announcement of Vespertine I have been desperate to read an early copy-well I was not disappointed and the wait is completely worth it. Before I share my thoughts I want to point out two things 1)On contrary to MR's other works which are Romance centric plots, Vespertine does NOT have romance and if you read the book you would know that expecting romance from any of the MC's would be quite uncharacteristic. I personally don't mind lack of romance if the plot really doesn't have a scope for it but I wanted to say this because I don't want to see people rating the book low going in with other expectations than what is promised 2)If you are reading an advanced copy, you should know that the author said further edits are being made hence keep in mind that the minor inconsistencies or redundancies with prose will be taken care of

Vespertine doesn't beat around the bush about serving you with darkish world, it begins on an exciting note where a 17 year old Grey sister Artemisia fights with spirits trying to rescue a novice stuck in the convent's creepy tunnel. Gray sisters are nuns in training governed by the Clerisy, that are responsible for purifying dead bodies so they won't become corrupted evil spirits. Artemisia resides in a convent at Loraille that doubles as a funeral home where nuns have different roles to play depending on their training, she is more than happy to oblige with her duties because she very much prefers the company of the dead to living due to her childhood trauma. All her plans to live a fulfilling life as Grey sister are interrupted when a group of possessed soldiers attack the convent during which time she is forced to wield an ancient holy relic (powerful spirits bound to bones of saints worn as a jewel)to save her people.

However using a relic as powerful as this is not an easy task because it involves a terrible old magic- to the point that there is no history in the records or training in the books to help Artemisia, thus she becomes a legend that only existed in stories thus far- A Vespertine! and only her and the revenant that's currently using her body as a vessel are the only hope to stop an impending doom, but the catch? Artemisia needs to trust the revenant and turn towards it for help while not allowing it to possess her at any cost because it will only lead to more disasters

What I loved the most in the book is the brilliant world and magic system Margaret Rogerson has created, it is complex, unique and detailed, there is an info dump in the beginning and could be confusing until you get the hang of it. Vespertine is set in somewhat gothic setting that involves cathedral with gothic architecture, spooky underground tunnels with traps, Mausoleums with cob webs, spirits at every turn- you get the picture! Rogerson brought the renaissance world to life with her writing and this would be a perfect Autumn read that you want to add to your Fall TBR

The next best thing in the book is the Revenant's character- a separate crucial entity of its own that's addressed as "it" making it somewhat gender fluid. Revanant's character is witty, hilarious and gleefully impertinent,I loved the revanant's dialogue's, banter between Artemisia and "it" had me giggling on many accounts. The friendship(?)that's bloomed between them is so heartwarming, here is one of my favorite quote by the Revenant

"Idiots.Humans simply love inventing superstitions and then getting killed because of
them.Or better yet, using them as an excuse to kill others"

Artemisia's on other hand is a story of a girl who is shunned due to her past, she is broken and hardened and finds solace in the unusual company of the Revenant, her character is an ode to leap first and think later to the Revenant's constant dismay, this contrast created a great dynamic between them and the other characters were also entertaining through out.I knocked off half a star because I felt like the last 15-20% dragged a bit and the final battle didn't live to the buildup of the plot, that being said I ended up enjoying the book so much and am certainly looking forward to jump back into the world when the sequel arrives!

Seventeen year old Artemisia is in training to become a gray sister. A nun who’s responsibility it is to dress and cleanse the dead so their souls can pass on safely to the afterlife. For souls who cannot move on become angry and hunger for the living. One day her world comes crashing down as her convent is attacked by evil spirits and she accidentally releases a revenant trying to protect it. Can Artemisia master the malevolent spirit and become a Vespertine? Because death has come to the city of Loraille and a hidden evil has started to surface.

Vespertine is both spellbinding and atmospheric. From the very first page Rogerson waste no time immersing the reader in the meticulous world she has created. The lore regarding the saints, clerisy, spirits and religion was fascinating. However, this book truly shines in its characters and their relationships.

Artemisia is both aloof and socially awkward in the very beginning of the story. She doesn’t talk much and wants to live her life quietly as a nun preparing the dead and being left alone. Throughout the story she becomes more confident, allowing herself more grace to trust herself and the people around her. She becomes stronger than she even knew and allows herself to move past her tortured past and form relationships she never dreamed of.

The Revenant was my absolute favorite character. They were so unpleasant and untrustworthy in the beginning having spent centuries trapped alone in the dark. However, through the story we get to see them soften and take to Artemisia. The banter between the two of them was top notch and the highlight of the book.

The only criticism I have for the book is the plot seemed to lose me a little in the middle. I honestly didn’t know what Artemisia was doing and why but I was so engrossed in the book that I just kept going hoping my brain would catch up with the plot.

Overall, this was a surprising delight and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved Margaret's previous works, and I expected to enjoy this one too! I was not mistaken!!
Full review closer to publication date!

I'd like to thank the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this book. The plot and characters were well thought out and vivid. I would recommend this book to others and can't wait to read what the author does next.

Artemisia is a young nun who worships the Grey Lady of Naimes and wants to become a Grey Sister. Grey Sisters cleanse the souls of the dead in order for them to pass on. Ever since the gate between the living and dead was obliterated, long ago by Old Magic, if the nuns don’t help the dead crossover they viciously rise and wreak havoc in Loraille. They can consume or possess the living and the creature they turn into is poetically a reflection of how they died.

The Clerisy is the system of nuns who rely on incense, symbols, and consecrated objects to fight the vengeful spirits. The nuns can bind spirits to saint relics to channel their power into it and then use their power. The most powerful spirits that can be bound to a relic are called revenants (and there are seven of them.)

When a priest comes to test all the girls, Artemisia does her best to hide that she can feel the spirits and power in the relics--a rare gift. After her covenant is attacked by a possessed army, she is forced to take on a high relic that contains a powerful revenant. The revenant becomes a part of her and wants to use her as a vessel. Artemisia is able to subdue it, but for how long and at what price?

Together with help from the revenant, she has to figure out how to navigate a world outside of Naimes to help the Grey Lady and to help save her world from dark spirits. This journey, however, has her questioning everything.

This story was such a treat. I loved spending time with Artemisia and coming to know the revenant. This book doesn’t have much romance but it made up for it with extraordinary friendship. Typically nuns are trained how to wield a high relic. This includes training to never listen to or interact with the revenants or spirits attached. The connection Artemisia forms with the revenant wouldn’t have been possible if she had been brainwashed to believe it would only deceive her and that it’s pure evil. Because she has a more open mind she can decide for herself. Artemisia is a well-rounded character. She is sweet in such an odd way-- she lacks a sweet presentation but she is, at heart, a good person with good intentions.

Rogerson’s choice of language was sometimes hard to get around. Most of it was probably to help build the setting but, at times, it came across as excessive and interrupted the story. I had to re-read the first chapter a few times before I was able to enter the world. Thank goodness for Kindle’s built-in dictionary!

Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to fans of Sorcery of Thorns!

This was EVERYTHING I wanted and more! Perfect for fans of Sabriel, Seraphina, and Tess of the Road. This book is a perfect stand alone but I dearly hope Rogerson writes more in this world later. Iove stories that reveal old systems of myth/religion along the way and this book had it in spades. Artemisia's struggle with PTSD and the characters surrounding her with their own battles grounded this story of dead things and spirits in a high religious world. I cannot recommend this book enough and this further cements Rogerson as a must read author for me!

"Me, the goat, the revenant, we weren't very different from each other in the end. Perhaps deep down inside everyone was just a scared animal afraid of getting hurt, and that explained every confusing and mean and terrible thing we did."

Maragaret.... I did NOT see this book coming.

Let me start this by saying that I received this ARC and was so excited to read MR's next fantasy with a side of dashing romance.... but at bout 45% I gave up and the romance hope and shifted my mental state. That is the advice I give you right now. THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE

This is a story of a broken and battered young woman who finds friendship in a place least expected, with a ghost.

Vespertine is dark and full of meaning as you navigated a nun and revenant's journey to save themselves and the living from the dead and the unrest.

What I loved:
-the renaissance setting
-the pacing was beautiful and consistent throughout the entire book
-I learned ALOT... almost to the point I thought "should this be YA?"
-I loved the REVANENT. they were snarky, sarcastic and by far the best of this story-
-the artfulness and creativity of MR writing two main characters as one and making it flow and seamless is incredible!
-the friendships
-battle... war....FOR FREEEEDOM
-ghosties and ghouls, perfect for all the fall feels
-it was a bit creepy with the church and exorcism setting, however it was not unsettling or satanic and would easily recommend to all.

TRIGGER WARNINGS- depression, possession, eating disorder, trauma and ptsd

Rating:
story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
characters⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
romance- I will repeat... this story is about a NUN....

Song-True Colors by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick

Being a huge fan of Rogerson's Sorcery of Thorns, this was one of my anticipated reads this year. And though readers will for sure really behind nun-in-training Artemisia, the story does start of slow and can be a little difficult to get through. I didn't love it as much as Sorcery, but it's still a solid good read and I'll be getting a copy for our collection.

Once again I find myself falling in love with a book by Margaret Rogerson. I loved the characters and the story and the wonderfully rich and yet dark world that she has created. This is unlike her previous two books in that there is no romance in this one and it will be a series, we just don’t know how many books in that series yet.

Artemisia is a wonderfully complex character. I just adored her. She has a complex and very hard past and she basically wants to be left alone to do a job that she likes and does well at the convent where she has found solace and security. But of course the world has other plans for her, and when she is suddenly thrust into a life she never wanted, she does eventually find herself to be more than she thought.

The revenant was also a very interesting character. Neither male or female, but a presence in Artemisia that gives her powers to destroy dark magic and other evil beings. I loved the banter between the two of them and how they start off as sort of enemies but eventually become allies that truly care for each other.

The world building was of course phenomenal. There is a rich history that is revealed throughout the story of demons and saints and an ancient magic that could destroy the world. The setting feels a bit like medieval europe but there is magic and demons and other things that possess people. But there is also good magic too, that can heal and help. It was a nice mixture of good and evil and there were times that you weren’t sure which was which.

The writing for the most part was also beautiful. There were a few points in the story that felt a bit off, and others that were slow and plodding. The author has a comment on Goodreads that she is still editing even after the ARC’s were sent out, so I am hoping that some of these issues will be sorted out in the end.

If you enjoyed this author’s other books, I am sure you will find this one just as good. And with it being a series even more so. The book did have a definitive yet open ending that will lead nicely into a sequel. That is one book that I will be looking forward to reading in the future.

A teen training to be a nun discovers new strength and purpose when an ancient evilarises once more. In order to protect her world, she must defy convention and possibly embrace evil.

Beautiful writing, interesting characters, and rich and original worldbuilding make this a must read!!!

I loved Sorcery of Thorns, and loved Vespertine even more. Artemisia is complex and interesting, as are the characters she surrounds herself with. I love the magic system that relies heavily on bound spirits, and the logical, scientific way in which the spirits come about and can be used. I’m so glad Vespertine is part of a series. I just finished and I’m already itching to return to Loraille.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me early access to an eGalley of this book.