This is a spoiler free review.
Vespertine
Written by Margaret Rogerson
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: October 5, 2021
Pages: 400
Source: Bought
Source: Bought
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 14 and up!
Summary:
The dead of Loraille do not rest.
Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.
When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come to Loraille, and only a vespertine, a priestess trained to wield a high relic, has any chance of stopping it. With all knowledge of vespertines lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.
As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
Vespertine is the third book by Margaret Rogerson who earned a spot on my favorites list when I read An Enchantment of Ravens, her debut novel.
COVER
Every cover of Margaret Rogerson's so beautifully convey the lyrical writing and the very essence of the story and what it is about.
WORLD-BUILDING
The world and magic system took a little bit of time to learn and get used to but I loved all of it. Learning the different castes and how the hierarchy of spirits worked (including their powers) was so interesting and done in a way that never left me bored. Rogerson was able to describe both the politics of the world, as well as the magic system in the prose in a way that was understandable and not info-dumping. In all of her previous books, she absolutely excels at world-building and it is very clear in this one as well.
Then there are the characters.
ARTEMISIA
Artemisia is a young woman who lives with the Gray Sisters, nuns who are devoted to the goddess named the Gray Lady. She posesses the sight which is the ability to see numerous different kinds of undead spirits. Although Artemisia could have easily fell into so many YA cliches, since she is a bit of a grump and wants to be alone, she didn't. Artemisia is closed off and reserved but doesn't fall into the "not like other girls" trope. She doesn't think she's special because of her powers or her task at hand. Artemisia also closely resembles many actual medieval holy women/saints such as Joan of Arc, and she frequently denies being a saint as she's scared of how other people will view her.
THE REVENANT
The revenant who was possessing Artemisia, was one of my favorite parts of the book. The revenant was very sassy and the banter between it and Artemisia was very entertaining and enjoyable. The revenant also had a hidden side, much like Artemisia, and that was revealed over the course of the book.
FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY
The relationship between Artemisia and the revenant was the most important one shown over the course of the novel. Over the course of the book they develop a friendship and trust in one another and learn to respect each other's boundaries.
PLOT
Vespertine follows Artemisia who is a Grey Sister, who works alongside nuns at a convent. When she was a child she was forced to use extreme measures in order to purge a revenant who was possessing her causing her to have scarred hands and because of this past, she mostly keeps to herself. However, when an army of possessed soldiers intrude upon her home, she is forced to use a saint's relic that allows a very powerful revenant to share her body, and helps her to protect the monastery. However, she realizes that these soldiers aren't the only people possessed and the only hope for her world is her and the revenant in her own body. I loved how Margaret Rogerson incorporated research about medieval women saints and nuns and took matters of religion and Artemisia's own concerns and doubts very seriously. The plot was so unpredictable and unique and quite unlike anything I've read in the YA fantasy genre lately.
ROMANCE
There is no romance in this book.
WRITING
Margaret Rogerson's writing is always beautiful. Her prose is gorgeous but isn't confusing or pretentious and is understandable to YA audiences. It gives the writing and the book an overall Gothic feel to it which makes it more immersive and intriguing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Vespertine was such a beautiful book full of complex characters, beautiful writing and an intriguing storyline. I highly recommend this one for so many reasons.
“Sometimes, if you want to save other people, you need to remember to save yourself first.”
“They would martyr me themselves just to satisfy their hunger for a saint.”
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Crowns
