Violet Zennor has recently lost her father, a man who spent most of her life training her in secret to be an expert fighter against vampires/leeches. After finally being free of his influence and rules, she plans to leave St Sinwins, the place she's grown up and suffered various losses through her life. Her stepmother returns after hunting for a mysterious book for the last couple of years and it turns out that Violet cannot be free to make her own path, even in the absence of her contolling Dad, as she has another job to do - head to the homeland of the vampires and destroy them before her estranged brother turns 13 and allows them to leave the place they are currently trapped.

The story is really interesting, Violet is an interesting main character, and all the side characters she meets along her epic journey are all distinct and well fleshed out. I loved Freddie, her young sidekick from her hometown, turning up whenever Violet needed her.

The journey to the Darklands takes up the majority of the book and the conclusion feels like it was dealt with quite quickly, but the writing and characterisations and the history and lore of the world were excellent! I loved the appearance by the Briar Witches from her previous book.

I am a huge fan of vampire fiction, and I really enjoyed Slatter's take on it with her Leech Lords and dayrunners. I was fully immersed in the dark world she creates which feels real and detailed with its own folklore, curses and prophecies.

I loved the descriptions of the landscape and towns, but particularly the specifics when describing the intricacies of moving within the rooms of houses.

The characters are richly drawn with so many strong women - physically, mentally, emotionally - who show different facets of feminity. Violet is great, as is her bond with Freddie, and I really warmed to Rikke.

I also enjoyed the emphasis on the power of knowledge, scholarly pursuits and books.

I've had All The Murmuring Bones sat on my TBR pile since publication and now I'm eager to jump back into this gothic yet welcoming world!

I adore A.G. Slater’s works and the world she has created. The Crimson Road is another stellar novel with the rich gothic themes and beautiful prose. As with her other novels Slater creates a lush and vivid world and atmosphere that drags you into the novel and doesn’t let you go. The characters are beautifully crafted and believable.

I won’t spoil the plot but I will say Slater is an instant buy author for mixing fantasy and gothic with beautiful prose and stunning atmosphere.

As always thank you to Titan Books for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Many stories in fantasy rely on someone delivering their destiny. There is some message about us relaising our inner potential but the idea of our fates being laid out even before we are born can also suggest everything was already pre-ordained. How can we make certainty interesting? What about if you don’t at all want that fate? This spin on the Chosen One is delivered really well in AG Slatter’s new novel The Crimson Road where a young woman has decided the last thing she ever wants to do is deliver her father’s greatest wish – to battle vampires. Things do not go well from that point on and it’s an engrossing ride into danger.

In the port town of St Sinwin’s 17-year old Violet Zennor finds that her father is finally dead and her own life may finally be allowed to begin. Expecting to inherit the family fortune however she finds that is off limits to her, as is simply escaping out of town and that Hedrek Zennor has made a condition of the will that she voyage to the Darklands of the North and perform the duty. Violet was trained half her life to be able to battle Leech Lords, those undead who feast on blood but she wants no part of it. Only when it is clear the Leech lords themselves are aware of her and will put any she care about in extreme danger does she begin a long journey that will take her across the world and meet other women who also had to decide their own paths before eventually meeting the power that has been influencing her own life so so many years.

So do not worry there will be battles with many vampires in this story but what makes it work is that Violet goes on a fascinating journey across the lands and in the process discovers quite a few things about herself making one of Slatter’s most interesting characters.

Told by Violet she sounds a much older woman and as we discover she’s from an early age been pulled into constant training. A fighter who can be disguised as a lady of wealth and with a fair degree of knowledge about the Leech Lords. What though comes apparent is her father is not a gruff mentor but pretty much a single minded man bent on revenge and thought nothing of making his daughter the tool of that however much abuse he could through at her. Understandably this makes her relationships fraught and she is suspicious of everyone. The first part of the book follows her desperate attempts to get out of this life and the many obstacles a dead man can throw at her. It demonstrates her resourcefulness but also how dangerous a place she had grown up is. She finally learns more family history and we as the reader will feel more than sorry she is stuck in this path once again. What I loved though is these sections are filled with colour from deadly assassins, gothic funerals, mysterious secrets and family revelations the world of Violet is created first and feels fully realised. She is capable but she is up against an ancient and powerful set of foes.

A big part of the fun of this story is nothing quite goes in the direction you’d expect. The Sourdough novels that this is part of have created a land created out of myth, folk lore and the occasional dark echo of fairy tales but Slatter plays with them into new shapes. This is an author not afraid to take a story into a new direction a battle with an ogre may become something unexpected. To aid Violet she needs information and weapons so this means she needs to travel across the lands before the Darklands are reached.

While our inner Vampire lovers may initially feel that’s a shame the good news is that instead we get several other adventures for Violet all serving the major story. If you’re new to Slatter this will mean we visit sone fascinating places and meet the women in charge of them. We find other women thrust into roles of responsibility and trying to make their own lives and live with family secrets. If though you’re familiar with Slatter’s other novels in this world then you’re going to recognise these names and place from the other books and find out what happened next. These links work very well and remind us how big and interesting the land these tales take place in. They all shape Violet’s story and perhaps remind her she is in charge of her life and no one else is. I hugely enjoyed these journeys but it’s also interesting how many character in this series are shown to have defied the rules of the game to make their own paths. It’s a firm challenge to the idea of a chosen one which this tale also takes on.

The main plot though comes calling and I really enjoyed the build up. We delve into the history of the Leech Lords how they came about and in a land of magic are see themselves as something very different I all other creatures. The mix of lore and story about them builds them up and even our first encounter shows one alone is dangerous. Now imagine a land governed by them. They’re a group filled with intrigue, some even could be seen as good from one point of view and yet Vuoletbis up against a truly nasty one and when we encounter them and what they’re capable of it’s a proper battle of equals that erupts and the stakes are personal.

The Crimson Road was a deliciously dark read. Filled with adventures, a touch of horror and dark fantasy mixed with a fascinating cast and storyline there was nothing I didn’t enjoy. Fans of Slatter’s novels are going to appreciate the bigger world this story goes back to but if you’re new then this is a great place to start and will open up many more stories for you. It is strongly recommended!

This book was a great comfort read that just happened to have vampires in it. I loved it up until the end. I was certain that it would end on a cliffhanger that would be continued in a sequel, but the ending did not live up to the build up. It was too easy for the hero.

After immersing myself in The Path of Thorns upon its release, A.G. Slatter quickly became one of my favorite authors. The Crimson Road continues to build on that admiration, showcasing her exceptional world-building. We are given a story about making your own path in the world; a story of resistance against a growing darkness.

I’m eager to revisit the other stories within The Sourdough Universe and look forward to the future works Slatter will bring to life.

Two of Slatter's books have been translated to Dutch and were published in truly beautiful editions. I loved both of them. As a reader it feels like you've got binoculars and are allowed to watch people for a short while in their lives. So, when I saw this book on Netgalley I couldn't stop myself and had to request a copy, although I do hope it will also get such a wonderful special Dutch edition. Luckily Titan Books granted me a digital review copy and I could start reading.

What I absolutely loved about this book is how connected it feels to the other two books I've read. All books by this author take place in the same world, although I'm sure that you can read this book perfectly well without having read the others, and it was quite nice to see some familiar faces and to revisit some familiar locations. And yet, those cameos didn't take anything away from this story. It was very clear whose story this was and why this story was told.

I have to admit that I didn't click as well with this book as with the other two books I've read, though. I guess that has to do with the heroine who is very unlike me. Our heroine is a strong fighter, has been prepared for this one single task for her entire life and is only now discovering what task is waiting for her. Her journey is more of a quest and less of a personal journey and although I enjoyed reading the tale, I was less touched than by the other two stories.

That's not because this book isn't good. On the contrary. It's clear the book is well thought out, the world building is well done, the connections to the other books and stories feels natural and never forced. It's a matter of personal taste. If you like this author's writing and worldbuilding, but didn't connect with the previous heroines, you might wanna give this book a chance. This heroine might be your kind of heroine and you might fall in love with this book, like I did with the other two.

A.G. Slatter’s The Crimson Road is another exquisite thread in the ever-expanding tapestry of the Sourdough world—a place of sharp-toothed magic, quiet resilience, and stories that interlock like puzzle pieces, each whole on its own yet richer together. Slatter’s world is one of hearth spirits and hindgirls, leech lords and werewolves, creatures that lurk in the sea and shadows, all seamlessly woven into a universe that feels as if it has always existed.

At its heart is Violet, a woman caught between the echoes of her father’s cruel intentions and the price of defying them. Her journey is one of self-determination, of choosing between the burdens of the past and the people she loves in the present. Beside her is Freddie, a scrappy street urchin with a sharp mind and a fierceness that belies her size—a reminder that strength in this world comes in many forms, and so often from the hands of women.

Slatter’s gift is in the details, the breadcrumbs that tie her books together without force but with the ease of a master storyteller who always intended for them to fit. The Sourdough world is a place I love returning to, as comforting as it is darkly enchanting, and The Crimson Road is a path I would gladly walk again.

It’s such a pleasure to read fantasy well told from a woman’s point of view. I’m old enough to remember when everything was about the heroes, and while that’s fine, Violet is far beyond the ‘fiesty heroine’ often found in the genre - and she’s by no means the only strong female in this excellent novel.

Yes, this is a story about vampires and magic, but the author takes her time setting up the world and its characters before Violet even sets foot outside her hometown. I was worried that this might slow things down, but on the contrary, it allows the reader to get to know her history, frustrations and friends. Her initial encounter is with pirates and smugglers virtually on her doorstep, quickly followed by an assassination attempt - all before she finally accepts her hero’s destiny! It’s a pleasure to be swept up in events along with our protagonist, and I was immediately along for the ride.

As Violet visits different communities my grasp of society grew with her, gently unfolding with truly relatable characters and issues. It’s not a matter of ‘Goodies/Baddies’, but real people in difficult situations. I loved that Violet isn’t afraid to admit her fears, nor strike back when challenged - I’d go so far as to say she’s one of the most well-rounded heroes I’ve ever read.

While I had heard of this author’s work, ‘The Crimson Road’ was my first encounter with her world, and I’m glad to say that I never felt lost. There’s no deluge of fantasy names or exposition, with history coming in the form of ancient diaries that are explanatory without stopping the story in its tracks. Also yes, inevitably there’s some romance, but it’s introduced naturally and never gets in the way of the main plot.

I must mention a particular ‘side-quest’ that was over far too soon. What would you say to two crotchety old vampire women living together in a cottage full of books, keeping the local bandit population down for food? Oh gods, I wanted more of these fantastic ladies (and when I realized who one in particular was… I admit to a gasp).

And I absolutely adored Freddie, Professional Street Urchin and someone I’d love to see develop in a future tale.

This is a story about memorable, likeable people battling through the tides of life - albeit with vampires and magic! After all, there are monsters and class-battles in our world too, and the fact that Violet faces her challenges in such a relatable way endeared her hugely to me.

I’ll be off to look up the author’s back catalogue now.

This was such a great books, and reads well as a standalone even though it is in an interconnected series.

In a world of gothic creatures, vampires, witches, assassins, this world was completely immersive and I felt like I fully disappeared into it.

Even though Violet is a very flawed character, she was so brave, and obviously cares deeply for some of the side characters in this story. I feel like side characters make or break a story, but the ones in this book were very well written.

I think the only flaw that I found was that the pacing felt a little off at times, but other than that, it was a great read, and I’m now off to catch up and read more from this author!

Some books whisper their magic - The Crimson Road drags you in and never lets go. A dazzling, darkly twisted fairy tale brought to life with lush world building, a fierce heroine and vampires like you've never seen before. A.G. Slatter's gothic fantasy The Crimson Road is pure magic.

Violet Zennor is everything you want in a protagonist, cunning, determined and utterly human. Forced onto a path she thought she'd finally escaped after the death of her father she's not the kind of heroine blessed by fate; she's a survivor who fights tooth and nail for her freedom. Slatter crafts her with so much heart that you can't help but root for her as she concedes to her duty and battles monsters both literal and metaphorical.

The world itself is a masterpiece of dark fantasy, both wondrous and sinister, mysterious and steeped in folklore. You can almost smell the rain on cobblestone streets and feel the chill of the forest at your back. The narrative unfolds like an old folktale, the kind told by firelight, filled with shadows, secrets, the ever present hum of danger and magic around every corner.

And then there are the Leech Lords. Slatter's take on vampires blends myth and invention to create something wholly original. Seeing their story unfold as Violet pieces together what she needs is fascinating and every encounter with them is a thrill.

Here's the kicker: I've never read any of Slatter's other Sourdough books and it didn't matter one bit. The Crimson Road stands on its own while hinting at a larger world that feels rich and fully realised. I understand from other reviews that there are cameo's of characters from the previous books but this never detracted from my enjoyment. If anything it's made me eager to go back and discover everything I've missed!

If you love your fantasy dark and deliciously dangerous, filled with fierce women, and a world that feels like a forgotten legend brought to life, then trust me - The Crimson Road will leave you spellbound.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and A.G. Slatter for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Crimson Road coming out February 11, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m not sure if this book is part of a series or just set in the same universe. I haven’t read the other books, so maybe I was missing some info. I really enjoyed the first half of the book. I love supernatural and fantasy. Violet is an interesting character. There were some things about the plot that weren’t as interesting to me. I would check out other books by this author though.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys supernatural stories!

Fans of The Sourdough Universe won't be surprised to hear that A.G Slatter's newest offering is yet another masterclass in world building. The Crimson Road is deliciously dark and gritty. It's studded with otherworldly creatures who feel familiar but are constantly subverting readers' expectations. Like the authors' other offerings, beloved characters of stories past are woven meticulously throughout helping create a rich and fulfilling world. In short, it's brilliant!

It's something else entirely, too, though. It's a story of resistance, of groups of good folks, strewn across universe and generations, fighting a growing darkness. And that, my friends, is the sort of story we desperately need in this particular moment.

I don't know if it was the book or if it was me, but I didn't fell immersed in it.
I read that is part of a "universe" so maybe I was missing something, but I'm not sure.
Maybe I will revisit it in the future and give it another chance.

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.