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.

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.