This book was everything I could have asked for and even more. And I am sorry because I won’t be able to do it justice. It is a thing of beauty, and it is unique. And there is so much going on between these pages.
This is the first book I read from this author but it won’t be the last. I had another one on my TBR, The Briar Book Of The Dead, but this one sounded so intriguing that I decided to request it and use this one as my first try in this universe (if I understood things correctly, they are not books in a series, but they are all set in the same universe, and I can’t really say, but I think that the books are lightly connected to each other) and I was blown away!

The writing is beautiful. It is not purple; it is not complex, but from time to time, it is poetic, and it is so perfect for the story it’s told here. And the atmosphere is unique. The author has such a delicate hand with it all. It is a dark book, and I can see why it’s cataloged as horror too, but it is the strangest thing because it is dark, it is horror, but it is not.
I mean, it is not all rainbow and singing birds, but while you read it, you are not so aware of the darkness. At least until the author slaps your face with it. I know that I am not doing a good job here, but I am trying.
This book has dark magic and dark creatures. But the worst darkness is not from them (they help a lot, mind me) but as always, the humans are worse than the monsters. And it is a sneaky thing. You know that things aren’t good, and you know that some people are bad, but the “how much” is what will sneak upon you.
I think that this atmosphere (and the fairy tale bits, more in this right away!) are what made me love this book so much. And there is a lot to love here!
But back to the fairy tale bits. This book feels like low fantasy because all seems so ordinary, in a sense, so normal, and yet, it is like reading a dark fairy tale with enchanted creatures and magic and wonders. And it’s not all thrown in your face. It is woven slowly around you, almost seamlessly, it’s like watching a familiar landscape and then, suddenly, realizing that it is not as ordinary as you always thought.
There is a sense of wonder in this book that is priceless. The author has such a mastery of her trade that she creates a thing of beauty.

As I was saying, there is a lot to appreciate in this book, aside from the atmosphere (and the talent of the author). Violet is an amazing MC. I loved her! I loved how kick-ass she is. How strong and determined. But she is also caring and considerate. She is so relatable, in some ways. And she is an amazing young woman.
She could burn the world down, and to be honest, I would have loved to see her doing it, because she is just so strong. But I have to say that I loved this story (even if she didn’t set the world on fire) and Violet is really amazing.
And then we have Freddie. She is just adorable! She is a really talented urchin, and she is an amazing young girl in her own right.
We met other interesting characters, but my favorite was a couple of older ladies (I won’t say anything about them because it would be a spoiler). They were amazing, and this book is worth a read for the two of them. (They reminded me a bit of Kingfisher’s books, mostly because we have some adorable older ladies ready to take the world down, too).

And last but not least, the story. I think it’s pretty safe to say that this book is neither fast-paced nor slow-paced, and this equilibrium is the perfect pace for this story. It is just so hard to put down. It is complex, it is full of magic and lovable tropes (Found Family is one of my favorites, and here I really loved how it was developed) but it is also dark and with some deeper themes.
I have only some mixed feelings for the ending. But this is a minor thing. On one hand, I think that the author chose the perfect ending for this story, but on the other, I think it may be a tad rushed. Let’s say that I am a tad undecided, but I tend toward the first idea. Because honestly, it is satisfying, and it is the perfect one for this book.

When I started writing this review, I was thinking about rating the book 4.5 stars, but I am trying to give 5 stars a bit more. I really think that this book is amazing; it is a thing of beauty, and it is well worth your time, so I will go with the 5 stars rating!

Toda la vida de Violet ha estado controlada por su padre. Todo lo que hacía, lo que aprendía, con quién se relacionaba, etc., debía ser aprobado por él, ya que no la veía como a su hija, sino como una herramienta. Cuando su padre muere, ella piensa que finalmente será libre, pero no esperaba descubrir que él había vendido el cuerpo de su hermano a cambio de riquezas inimaginables. Sin embargo, esto desató una serie de acontecimientos que ponen en peligro a la humanidad. Ahora, Violet debe encontrar a su hermano y matarlo, o, de lo contrario, el Rey de las Sanguijuelas invadirá el mundo.

~


Me gustó la historia, pero hubo partes que me aburrieron.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So full honesty I didn't like this book. This is not my typical type of book, and if I'd know more about this book I don't know that I would have picked it. So this feels like it's a bit of it's just me, and a bit of needing a more accurate description to find this book's audience that will appreciate it.

After reading the blurb I was expecting a book that was high-action fast paced fantasy world filled with assassins and badass FMCs, However despite Violet being trained in combat and other peculiarities, this book is not that at all. In fact it is very very slow. The main story line doesn't really even pick up until 25% in which for me is a really long time to wait for the buy-in. Every fight scene is generally anti-climatic, and the slow pacing meant I was always trying to not skim pages. The world building is more infodumping which may be because this is part of a larger universe that I haven't read, but if this is meant as a standalone it should be able to -- stand alone. But it made it had to hold on to the information and what was important and what was just background (which is more common in high fantasy and why I tend not to like high fantasy).

I know that there are readers who will love this, it reminds me of another book that just wasn't for me: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - in style more than general plot. So I think that if the right readers find this they will adore it, but I am just not one of them.

This is my first venture into the Sourdough Universe but it won't be the last.

In this book, we follow Violet, a young woman torn between duty and her desire for freedom. Upon her father's death, she learns that he intends her to right his wrongs and to travel to the Darklands and eliminate her brother before he fulfills a terrifying prophecy. There she will need to face the Leech Lords that inhabit these lands (i.e. vampires) and perhaps an even greater evil brewing in the Anchorhold fortress.

This dark gothic fantasy was so much fun to read. The plucky heroine is compelling and the dangers she faces are convincing. I was a little disappointed by the romance side plot which felt a little to hurried to me, although it was developed more in the second part of the book. The world-building was well laid out, although I imagine it may be more developed in other books in this series.

A recommended read for fans of Alix E Harrow, Buffy, and strong female characters facing ancient evils.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first venture into the Sourdough Universe. I've not read the other books although I do own them. The Crimson Road is my sign to go back and read them.
It was full of Witches, assassins and vampires. A fantastic gothic fantasy. I liked Violet as a character and would love to see how her life panned out after the events in this book. With everything she's endured, I'd say she more than deserves some peace.

Violet Zennor has been training to hone her fighting skills as long as she can remember. Her father has been overseeing her training for one mission: go into the Darklands where the Leech Lords reign and rescue her dead brother. When Violet’s father dies, she thinks she is finally free of her obligations, but unfortunately it appears she will have to see it through to the end.

The Crimson Road, set in the Sourdough Universe, follows a young woman whose life revolves around saving a sibling despite the fact that she likely won’t live. Her brother was stillborn, his body taken in exchange for her father’s greed. Upon realizing his mistake, Violet is trained to fix his error before it’s too late. On the road Violet meets several other characters from Slater’s previous stories which was such a nice tie-in within universe. I have read most of her books, so it was fun to see these characters again and get a little look at where they are now that their stories have ended. Although this was not my favorite novel by this author, it was still a very charming and fun read. I would definitely recommend this for fans of her works, especially if they have read previous novels in this universe.

When offered the chance to return to the worlds of All The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns and The Briar Book of the Dead, who am I to say no! The Crimson Road is another captivating, dark Gothic fantasy that delivers an engrossing tale of vampires, prophecy, witches and assassins. Once again AG Slatter delivers a story that will set the chill in your bones and keep you awake at night, unable to put this book down until like Violet you have completed your journey on The Crimson Road.

Violet Zennor has spent the majorly of her life in training, fighting, honing her skills to defend, attack and ultimately kill. Trained by her father, her childhood ended far too soon, as she was shaped into Hedrick Zennor’s weapon, ready to travel to the Darklands on her father’s mission to end the reign of the Leech Lords.

Rooted in events that took place after the birth of Violet's still-born brother, Violet is trapped until the death of her father, when she has the opportunity to change her life and turn down her father’s mission, until two assassins attempt to murder her and she realises she must complete the mission to resolve her father’s actions.

Violet is in turns self centred and selfless, unaware at times of the needs of those around her but, ultimately also aware of what she must do and why, even if she desperately doesn’t want to do it. Her story is truly enthralling and I found myself falling into this world of religion, witchcraft and monsters, compelled to join Violet as she traverses The Crimson Road.

Whilst not action packed, this is a tale that pulls you in, with a range of characters that bring depth and empathy to Violet’s mission and once again I was not disappointed as I took this journey into the terrifying land of the Darklands and the Leech Lords.

This was such a great read. Violet is a great lead character and so brave. A well built world full of delightfully gothic characters.

A dark gothic fantasy about a girl forced to face off against vampires, assassins, ancient witches, and broken promises as she is forced to fulfill a prophecy that she never wanted to after her father's death. Violet Zennor has been trained as an assassin all her life, ever since her father sold her younger brother, Violet has been forced to fight against murderers and thieves as her father trains her to kill. When her father unexpectedly dies, Violet thinks she is finally free to live a normal life... only the catch is she won't get any of the inheritance, land or money, unless she goes to fulfill the prophecy her father set up for her: she must wander into the Darklands where the Leech Lords reign and get her still-born brother back while destroying the vampires. Violet wants no part of it but when assassins begin coming after her and those she loves, she knows she's going to be forced to do the quest her father wanted. Violet is thrust into a world of danger, vampires, and being forced to become the one thing she never wanted... but if she survives she might finally have the chance at the freedom she's been denied all her life. I've been a long time fan of A.G. Slatter's gothic books and this was perfectly weaves gothic fantasy with vampire story, told in such a unique way and with a light dash of romance. It's a fantastic fairytale read and wraps everything up perfectly. The things Violet had to endure, her resilience, her strength, she was a fantastic lead. Violet is not afraid to do what needs to be done, I was rooting for her from the start and just wanted her to finally have her hard earned peace and safety. Seriously, this was a really fun read and one I will recommending for anyone who loves a gothic read or wants a unique vampire story!!

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Titan Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I didn't read the whole book because I realized it was interconnected to other books, but what I DID read was INCREDIBLE. I will report back once I finish the first few books, but this is shaping up to be really exciting!

"A captivating dark Gothic fantasy set in the same universe as the award-winning author's All The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns and The Briar Book of the Dead. A tale of vampires, assassins, ancient witches and broken promises, perfect for readers of Alix E. Harrow, Hannah Whitten and Alexis Henderson.

Violet Zennor has had a peculiar upbringing. Training as a fighter in underground arenas, honing her skills against the worst scum, murderers and thieves her father could pit her against, she has learned to be ruthless. To kill.

Until the day Hedrek Zennor dies. Violet thinks she's free - then she learns that her father planned to send her into the Darklands, where the Leech Lords reign. Where Violet's still-born brother was taken years ago. Violet steadfastly refuses. Until one night two assassins attempt to slaughter her - and it becomes clear: she's going to have to clean up the mess her father made.

By turns gripping and bewitching, sharp and audacious, this mesmerising story takes you on a journey into the dark heart of Slatter's sinister and compelling fantasy world in a tale of vampires, assassins, ancient witches and broken promises."

Yeah, I wouldn't want to go to the Darklands with a Leech Lords either.

The Crimson Road by A.G. Slatter
Release Date: Feb 11

A.G. Slatter has been an auto-read author for me since I first read All the Murmuring Bones and The Path of Thorns in close succession a couple of years ago. It has been fantastic to return to the Sourdough Universe last year with The Briar Book of the Dead, and this year with The Crimson Road.
I was so glad that we got to revisit the characters of prior stories in The Crimson Road!

I enjoyed following Violet on her adventure for freedom in The Crimson Road. Violet is a character who knows her own heart and is willing to fight for it, even if it is on a path that she does not want to travel.

I enjoyed the side characters in this book, especially Freddie (can we please get more Freddie!!), Ned the Nondescript horse, + love interest (no spoilers but I am so happy about it!!).

I did find the pacing a bit slow at times, but honestly, I was just glad to be back in Sourdough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Crimson Road is an enchantingly dark gothic journey with all sorts of creatures that go bump in the night!

I did find portions a bit slow for me, but that is a completely personal opinion, and I’m sure it will find its readers.

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Unfortunately, I am not the best to talk about the crimson road.
I don't think the problem is the book, in fact I found the storytelling interesting, and same goes for the ideas behind the book.
But I didn't succeed at caring about the characters and the story, I found it difficult to enter in the book. I think it clearly is just a "me" problem, it wasn't for me at the moment and that's okay.
I am sure this book will be enjoyed by a lot of people, the writing is great, the end is a bit rushed (for me) and perhaps there was moments it was a little bit too slow but it has great potential!

When Violet was just a child, her mother died while giving birth to her brother. In her father’s grief he sells the body of her dead brother to a mysterious man in black for a fortune, based on a prophecy that the child could set monsters free from the part of the world they are trapped in. Out of guilt, Violet’s father raises her to be a weapon against these monsters and as soon as her father dies, she finds that she has no choice but to attempt to stop the prophecy.
A gothic fairy tail with witches, vampires, and ever a mermaid.

I overall enjoyed the book, but the pacing for me was slow and the epic scene was way too short.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for this ARC!

Review Coph

I loved, loved, loved THE CRIMSON ROAD. I would dare anyone to call this a gothic vampire novel. Angela Slatter does NOT write tired trope stories.

Now that we have that out of the way, let me tell you what it IS.

ROAD is set in an alternate universe with no electricity, cars, phones or megalopolises. There are trolls, fairies other beasties.

Beautifully written and richly imagined it is the story of a girl whose mother died while giving birth to her stillborn child. She sets forts forth on a quest. Isn't that the way of fantasy? There must needs be a quest.

And with said quest comes heroes and danger and love and redemption.

5 flashing red stars.

This book was one that sounded super good from the description and then the reviews I read about it. But when I read it it took a while to feel like I wasn’t just pushing through to read the book. I fell asleep twice while reading which I don’t do often. I feel like the characters weren’t bad and they kept things interesting but there wasn’t as much to it to keep me interested long term. I think I expected more than what I was given and even though it wasn’t a bad read, it just wasn’t something I could get into as much.

A.G. Slatter's The Crimson Road is a darkly enchanting journey through the gothic Sourdough Universe, blending grim fairy tale sensibilities with richly detailed world-building and a razor-sharp protagonist. Fans of Slatter’s previous works like All the Murmuring Bones and The Path of Thorns will relish this foray into the ominous Darklands, a setting teeming with vampires, witches, and the echoes of broken promises. While accessible to newcomers, the book rewards long-time readers with satisfying ties to the larger universe.

The story follows Violet Zennor, a hardened fighter shaped by her father’s brutal upbringing, who finds herself trapped in his shadow even after his death. Tasked with venturing into the Darklands to untangle the mystery of her stillborn brother and the ominous Anchorhold, Violet’s journey is one of self-discovery, grit, and navigating a world where betrayal is often closer than trust. The setting’s vivid horrors—ranging from vampire Leech Lords to spectral dangers—bring a captivating, albeit terrifying, energy to the narrative.

Slatter excels at crafting complex characters and evocative prose. Violet’s mix of resilience and vulnerability anchors the story, and her interactions with returning figures like Miren O'Malley and Ellie Briar offer a deeper appreciation for fans familiar with the universe. The pacing, however, can be uneven. While the middle sections simmer with intrigue and lush world-building, the ending feels slightly rushed, leaving some threads underdeveloped.

The gothic elements shine brightest in the atmospheric descriptions of the Darklands and its macabre inhabitants, but the novel also explores universal themes of familial duty, identity, and the cost of freedom. The Crimson Road’s narrative doesn’t shy away from darkness, both literal and emotional, making it a brooding, immersive read.

Though not without flaws—minor characters could be more fleshed out, and first-time readers may find the dense lore daunting—The Crimson Road is a rewarding tale for those willing to venture into its shadowy depths. It’s a testament to Slatter’s ability to weave intricate, haunting worlds while keeping her characters’ humanity at the forefront.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It is no secret how much I adore the books in the Sourdough Universe - and this was such an incredible ending to an arc that began with Miren O'Malley in All The Murmuring Bones, brought us Asher Todd (The Path of Thorns) and Ellie Briar (The Briar Book of the Dead), and then tied everything together with Violet Zennor's story. With cameos from beloved characters from the aforementioned books, The Crimson Road takes us on a perilous journey to the terrifying and mysterious Darklands, ruled over by the Leech Lords. Following familiar themes of found family, female empowerment and self discovery, this fourth book is a perfect ending to a beautiful world of stories - and stories are truly a running theme throughout. While The Crimson Road is a standalone - as all the Sourdough books are - a reader who has consumed the earlier books will get maximum enjoyment out of it. The subject matter in this book feels darker than the others in many ways, perhaps the addition of vampires and the bodies they leave in their wake, all the blood spilled seeps across the pages. A delightful, dangerous read, at once cozy and high stakes if something can be such an oxymoron!

If there are more books set in this universe to come, you can be sure I'll be reading them.

2.5 ⭐️

thank you to net galley and a.g. slatter for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

this book was honestly really disappointing. the premise itself didn’t explain much, but it was said to be a dark gothic fantasy and had the cover of dreams, so i was immediately intrigued.

positives first. this book was dark, and had an all-consuming, but also very whimsical, forest setting for the majority of the book, and high i enjoyed. i also looooove anything to do with quests, which i think a lot of this story centred, but i don’t know if it completely delivered in the way i wanted it to.

there were pirates, witches, ogres, redcaps, vampires (of a sort)…so many different characters that were all barely fleshed out, and as we didn’t get to spend much time with any of them i ended up feeling really disconnected. however, after reading some other reviews of people who have been long time fans of slatter’s sourdough universe it made clear to me that this book tried to connect all the characters from previous books into this one, so that may be the reason for me feeling so confused. BUT this book is marketed as a standalone!!! i should not be feeling like this!!!

i also felt this book was really heavy on the info dumping, which is rare for me to say, and i couldn’t really process the world and lore because of that. i’d say the vast majority of events or plot progressing scenes in this book happened so quickly, and were kind of forgotten and moved on from in an instant. there were points where i felt quite bored, waiting for something major to happen, and when it did, it was extremely anticlimactic, and had no genuine impact on me or my enjoyment of the story, unfortunately!