I enjoyed being back in this world Angela created. I love the folklore and fairytale feel of it. It was fun seeing characters from past books make an appearance.

The Gothic vibes were there for sure. And what N interesting vampire concept. I always look forward to seeing the next book from Angela.

My first book by this author, but I loved it! The gothic, historical vibe was fab! I loved the dual perspectives and character themes

this was everything I had ever wanted and needed.

The Crimson Road is like a Grimm fairytale comes to life, a critic of the existence of women in society, and gothic horror all rolled up into one. It is dark, it is grim, it is everything. I cried with Violet and shared joys as she overcame the fate the men in her life had written for her. And the fact it exists in the Sourdough Universe along with Path of Thorns? 10/10.

Thanks Titan Books, A.G. Slatter, and Netgalley for the ARC!

A richly imagined, lushly described gothic setting that takes the heroine on a vampiric tale of familial burden and self determination,

Effing fantastic gothic dark fantasy! Loved the witches and vampires narrative! The author is going to be a repeat author for me! Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.

Another amazing story by A.g Slatter !

I adored this book I only wish I had read the books in order and not this cockeyed way I’ve done things.

If you enjoy violence, crafty street urchins that aren’t all that they seem. A different take on vampires witches and all things supernatural maybe pick up one of slatters books because I couldn’t put it down.

I adored Violet she was such a strong character who really didn’t seem to have a choice in her own fate .

The story is almost backwards forwards all
Timey wimey because you learn back story’s and other characters and places from. Her other books absolutely fascinating.

Angela Slatter is a master of Gothic Fantasy, in which the almost off-hand details can become major plot points two or three books down the road. This book is one of small details, and of connections. One might expect that the way in which Crimson Raid brings in characters from previous Sourdough World novels, as well as some of her short stories that it would be a grand , dramatic, avengers assemble style confrontation. However this is about the small traumas, and the small victories, and the battles not fought, and all the many beautiful details.

This was my first book read by the author, and I have quite enjoyed the story it definitely pulled me in and was very engaging the characters are so well developed and lovable that I found myself wanting to just know more about them and when I finished the book, I missed the characters like they were actually my friends

I have read and loved basically all of the other books in this series, and this very much felt like The Avengers. Our main character goes on a journey of self-realization and ends up meeting all the protagonists from the previous three books. At times, this felt like it short changed this character's journey - because I was so happy to see all the others and what they'd been up to since I'd seen them last - but it was so nice to see old friends, anyway.

I loved the interesting twist on the vampire myth, and as always, AG Slatter does amazing work with the gothic vibes and really making her character's arc be the center of the story.

4/5 stars.

The Crimson Road is a book that has a lot of potential but it doesn’t ever quite reach what it could be.

Let’s start with the positives. It is set in a wonderfully dark and gothic world. It’s very Victorian in tone and you half expect Jack the Ripper to be lurking around the corner. It’s very well constructed.

The story is largely fine. I enjoyed it for the most part but it did start to drag towards the end. The story centres around Violet Zennor, who has been trained to be a fighter by her father. She has been trained to go after the Leeches (vampires) and she is reluctant to face up to her destiny until she has to. It’s a tale as old as time. I did enjoy it for the most part but the pacing was a bit off in places and I was getting a little restless by the end.

The Crimson Road is a good book for the most part. I liked the plot, I enjoyed the characters and the world was fantastic but the story could have been a little tighter, particularly towards the climax. It ended well but the lead up to it was a little boring.

Violet could be completely free after her father's death, but his will gets her in trouble again. She is only to receive her inheritance when she finds her brother. Her stillborn brother, whose body was taken to the dark lands years ago.
The gothic atmosphere of this novel was fantastic. The mysterious, gothic atmosphere oozed from every page. The quest, the creatures, and the narrative itself were well-aligned with the enchanting gothic setting.
Regrettably, I found it challenging to connect with this book. It begins with a compelling premise featuring her father's death and the reading of the will, yet it takes until halfway through for the actual journey to commence. Violet's character struck me as somewhat one-dimensional, and I struggled to find aspects of her personality that resonated with me.
This book beckons invitingly, perfect for those misty November days when the world outside is shrouded in a soft, gray veil. It's a treasure waiting to unfold, ready to envelop you in its warm embrace and awaken your spirit amidst the chill.

Angela Slatter writing vampires? In a story set in her fabulous and sprawling Sourdough universe? Yes, yes, and yes please. Violet Zennor, assassin-in-training and recently bereaved after the death of her father, is a wonderfully bold and brassy protagonist with a penchant for knives. One of the many things I particularly loved about this book is the way it connects to several of Slatter's recent novels, including ALL THE MURMURING BONES, THE PATH OF THORNS, and THE BRIAR BOOK OF THE DEAD. Also, I love how the book puts a decidedly Slatter-esque, dark fantasy twist on vampire lore.

When Hedrek Zennor dies, Violet hopes to finally be free of training, brutality and all the people who have tried to influence her since she was a child.

Her father, however, had other plans for her. Everything comes back to haunt her the day the Zennor mansion is attacked by assassins. The heiress must complete the task for which she was trained. A journey full of obstacles awaits her to the Darklands, where the bloodthirsty Leech lords rule.

I almost laughed when I started writing that this is another book in a row with a slower beginning. However, here this treatment is very thoughtful and inspired by the structure of a classic gothic novel. We are welcomed by a truly foggy and cold atmosphere. From the first pages, Slatter amazingly introduces us to the world into which we have been thrown and with each successive chapter, reveals new mysteries to the reader. On the other hand, the story shines the most when magic systems are introduced into it.

On the one hand, it's a book about vampires, but it focuses most on the character of Violet and her struggle against the expectations imposed on her. I quite liked the characters the heroine met on her way. I later learned that they were cameos from the author's earlier books, as she built up the entire Sourdough universe. Unfamiliarity with those stories did not affect my perception at all. However, I think that people who have knowledge of these characters could have had even more fun than I did.

My only complaint, I think, is that the resolution of the case was too quick and a little anticlimactic. There was a build up throughout the book, and in the end I didn't feel the stakes were that high.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Is there such a thing as cosy adventure? If there is, then The Crimson Road is the perfect example.

Violet Zennor is more than a girl. Tragedy divides her life, there was before, when she was a daughter, and there is after, when she is a tool of her father's penance. Driven to the brink of madness by his guilt, and far too cowardly and self-important to do his own dirty work, Hedrek Zennor transform his child into a weapon. His death frees Violet for the first time in her life. She is her own person. That is, until her father's friends reveal the conditions of his will, and the prophecy he was working to forestall. Now Violet must travel to the far North, beyond the barrier held by the Briar witches, well into the Darklands, where Leeches rule, to find The Anchorhold and put an end to what dwells there... even if its her own brother.

The Crimson Road is a very unusual novel. It is relatively high stakes, packed with magic and danger, brimming with strong, badass women, and yet very cosy, equally brimming with found family, kindly people, affection, and family drama. Violet is in danger almost the entire novel, but we spend idyllic passages in hidden worlds, meeting lovely people, and nicknaming animals. This is the first book I have read in A.G. Slatter's Sourdough Universe, and whilst I worry knowing the end may impact my eventual reading of the others, I did not feel as though I had missed too much. This works as a stand-alone novel because of the strength of Slatter's world building, and the fullness of her characters.

An exceptionally well-penned adventure novel, which will also satisfy a hunger for emotive, whimsical, and fantastical fantasy. 4 stars.

I won't be reading this. I've tried multiple times and haven't gotten into it. Thank you though for the opportunity. If I read it in the future I will come back and change this review.

All the dark and gothic vibes!

I hadn’t read anything by this author before, but received a proof of this book and it sounded intriguing! I didn’t realised until I finished it, that the book is part of a wider established world, but I can definitely confirm that it can still be read as a standalone. Although I am now intrigued to learn more about some of the characters I met along the way!

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The premise:

Set in a gothic fantasy world. Violet’s father has been brutally training her most of her life for a deadly quest. When he dies, she finally feels free of the burden, until she is met with ultimatums from beyond the grave, and starts to have assassins come after her.

She sets off on a quest to the ‘Darklands’, a land ruled by vampiric ‘Leeches’, to kill their ruler and save her world from their inevitable conquering. And whilst on her quest, more about the Leeches is revealed and her own dark family history.

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Firstly, I adored Violet. She’s a fantastic main character. Very feisty and with lots of sassy comebacks. She’s kind of Buffy-esque in a way, terrible prophecy and all!

And the world has such a good mix of loveable characters. Freddie was so intriguing, slowly understanding her secrets. And Rab was adorable. Whilst the book is very much a fantasy, the romantasy reader in me, was very grateful for the little romance sub-plot 🥰🥰

And I loved the fantasy world as a whole. With all these strange fairytale and folk creatures, that we meet during Violet’s quest. The language was very vivid as well, really giving a sense of the gothic nature.

The plot as a whole was very well done. There were a lot of twists that I didn’t see coming. And the way Violet’s background and upbringing was revealed was very well done.

My only frustration is the pacing was slightly frustrating. I felt the start was slow as there was a lot of build up before Violet actually sets out to the dark lands, but once she does I was rather hooked. But then the ending was wrapped up rather swiftly. I would have loved one more chapter!

All in all though, a solid gothic fantasy read. I’d be intrigued to see what the author writes next and may explore some of her older work!

A.G. Slatter’s The Crimson Road weaves a gothic fairy tale filled with witches, and vampires, all set against a dark, atmospheric world teetering on the edge of destruction. At its heart is Violet, a young woman shaped by tragedy and prophecy. After her father trades her stillborn brother’s body for a fortune—believing in a prophecy that foretells the child will unleash monsters trapped beyond their current realm—Violet is raised as a warrior against the very forces her father’s actions may have set in motion. When he dies, she is left with no choice but to try to stop the prophecy from coming true.
Slatter’s writing shines in its rich, haunting prose, crafting a world where danger and magic lurk in every shadow. The gothic elements are well-executed, and the blend of folklore, horror, and dark fantasy makes for a compelling setting. The novel’s strength lies in its atmosphere and its fascinating take on familiar supernatural beings.
However, the pacing felt slow at times, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. The buildup to the climactic confrontation stretched out, yet when the moment of action finally arrived, it was disappointingly brief. Given the novel’s intricate world-building and the weight of Violet’s journey, a more extended and immersive resolution would have balanced the slow progression leading up to it.
Overall, The Crimson Road is an enjoyable read for those who love gothic fantasy with richly drawn characters and an eerie, fairy-tale-like atmosphere.

Diving back into the world of her previous books, dark but magical though that usually has a "red price" to work, another strong woman must fight to make her own path and future, and save the day. I do like the cameos of the return characters (though they have enough back story that it is not confusing if you haven't read the others, but you should, they are also great!) and Violet is an easy character to like and root for. And boy does she have a lot on her plate, having to travel north to shatter a prophecy before a dark power breaks through and destroys the lands not under the leech lords' sway.

There are dark times for sure but Violet's upbringing made her well suited, though I like how despite the awful childhood she had, she is not broken, still capable of caring which you get to see with the love she finds and family she makes along the way. It makes for a fun story watching her use her fantastic fighting skills but also her skill in uncovering secrets to bring down the big bad guy. I did like all the history of how the leech lords came to be and the journals it was written in. I wish it could have been longer, especially since the big climax/showdown seemed a bit lackluster, though still interesting of why it was happening.

But all in all it was a good book, thrilling story, and I loved being able to go back to this world one more time.

Every new book from Angela Slatter becomes my favourite. The Crimson Road is no exception. It has everything I look for in dark fantasy fiction: a strong-willed and perfectly ironic heroine whose wry humour is subtle has me rooting for her from the first chapter, excellent world building, with friends and enemies appearing from unlikely places, along with many recognisable folkloric creatures, and others made all the more frightening with an original spin, eg, the Leech Lords along with the terrifying thing that resides in the Anchorhold. I enjoyed the detailed build up to the novel's conclusion, so many details to make everything about this part of the Sourdough universe and its people feel real. A book I did not want to put down, and left me eagerly awaiting the next adventure set in this fascinating world.