Overall

There was never a doubt in my mind that I needed to read this book. After finishing Sorcery of Thorns and realizing that Margaret Rogerson had another book in the works, I just couldn’t freaking wait! Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I loved this book so much that the only sad thing for me is that it ended.

Vespertine is set in a dark world where the dead rise as spirits and where everyone, including the leaders, have secrets to keep. It’s a fast-paced story with plenty of unexpected twists, sarcastic characters, and a reluctant hero.

There’s a definite Sorcery of Thorns vibe to this book, even though the setting and characters are different, so if you loved that book, definitely check out Vespertine. As much as I enjoyed Sorcery of Thorns, I liked this one even more! There are plenty of plot twists in this book, and while I certainly saw some of them coming, I was pleasantly surprised by several. Either way, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and absolutely did not want to put the book down. I even fell asleep reading it one night because I just refused to stop.

My Thoughts

- Welcome to Loraille, where the dead do not rest. Fasten your seatbelts, because you’re in for quite a ride. Vespertine is fast paced. Not so much that you can’t breathe, but enough where you definitely won’t want to put it down because you need to find out what happens next. I recommend resisting the urge and putting it down, though (pro tip: falling asleep while reading on the couch is not comfortable, even though it definitely should be).

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this world! The dead rise as spirits, and their classification and order depend on how strong they are and the way that they died, which makes good sense. Of course, in order to combat these spirits, other more powerful spirits have been forced into objects and wielded by the clergy with the hopes of holding the restless, sinister spirits at bay. It works . . . well, about as well as you may imagine.

I went in thinking this would be a standalone, like Rogerson’s previous books, and was so excited to realize it’s going to be a series! Thank goodness, because I am not ready to leave this world just yet. If you’re into darker worlds (not scary, just dangerous), then you will love venturing through Loraille.

- Our protagonist, Artemisia’s, social awkwardness is a nice trait to have in a hero (well . . . as a reader. Not so much for the hero, I suppose) and ridiculously relatable. Also a little bit funny, but only because I’ve definitely been there. Despite trying in earnest to say the right thing, the look of horror on your conversation companion’s face shows that you’ve missed the mark. Repeatedly.

If you’ve ever struggled with social interactions, you will definitely relate to Artemisia. Perhaps not the best mark in a hero, but in her defense, she is a reluctant hero, trying desperately to do the right thing. Even though being in the city causes her panic. Even though she shuts down and freezes when too many people crowd around her. As you might imagine, being a hero is a real inconvenience for her.

Reluctant heroes are my favorite, and as you might imagine, it’s pretty easy to root for Artemisia. She’s just a teensy bit broken, like the rest of us, but manages to pull herself together to do amazing things.

- Artemisia isn’t alone on her quest, either. She happens to have a revenant along for the ride, and it’s not entirely happy with humanity at the moment. (And who can blame it, really?) In fact, that’s kind of why Artemisia is in the trouble she’s in. Revenants are powerful spirits, and she’s untrained, which could spell disaster. Especially if the revenant overtakes her and manages to fully possess her, which would allow it to unleash unspeakable things upon humanity. You know, like death, suffering, and horror. Soooo . . . maybe not as unspeakable as I’d thought? Huh.

Anyway, everyone knows the first rule of controlling a revenant is you’re not supposed to talk to it. Except Artemisia. Because she’s untrained. So they’re thrust off together as the most unlikely dynamic duo, neither trusting the other, and boy do I love it. The tension is palpable, the stakes are high, and there are so many ways this can go wrong.

- I know I’ve already mentioned the revenant, but honestly, it is freaking delightful. Powerful, sarcastic, utterly disillusioned with humanity. I mean, what’s not to love about it? Okay, sure, it’s a slightly homicidal spirit who might potentially wipe out swaths of humans because it can. But we all have our flaws, am I right?

It may come as absolutely no surprise at all that the revenant is my favorite character. It’s a little horrified at the idea of needing to spend so much time around humanity again, because humans are stupid and disgusting, and I feel like that’s a pretty fair assessment. Mostly, the revenant just says what we’re all thinking, and I really appreciate his role as voice of the masses. Even if the masses are currently trying to destroy him.

- The thing I love most about Rogerson’s work is the way she plays with the notions of good and evil, and Vespertine is no exception to that. It’s certainly not as simple as black and white. Like all major things in life, it’s complicated. There are no good guys and bad guys in this book, just people (and spirits) stumbling around blindly trying to live their best (undead) lives. Everyone’s suspect, and no one is quite as they seem, which adds a layer of uncertainty and excitement to an already gripping plot.

Books involving ghosts in any way have always appealed to me. Add Margaret Rogerson to that mix, and this book was guaranteed to be a win for me.

4 stars

wow! Rogerson keeps showing me why she one of my favorite YA writers. her books just click for me every single time and this one did not disappoint. I loved how gritty it was and that no one is perfect. the writing was fantastic and I really hope there's more from this world to come.

Brimming with the same magic as Rogerson's other novels, VESPERTINE is a story of saints and sinners and some people who walk the path of both at one time.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it had great pacing and I loved the magic system and world building. I look forward to reading more by the author.

I’m always so enthralled by Margaret Rogerson’ s lush fantasy stories, and this one is no exception. The deep imagery, good pacing, and incredible world building really delivers in this latest book, and I found myself swept away by it in one glorious sitting.

Margarent Rogerson's books have been hit or miss for me. I wasn't a huge fan of AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS, but I was obsessed with A SORCERY OF THORNS. The plot for VESPERTINE had me intrigued and ready to dive in immediately! I enjoyed this book but something felt missing for me. I didn't connected to the plot or characters like I expected to and the ending was a little lackluster. I know this is just the beginning of of the story so things weren't meant to wrap up by the end. I will definitely be reading the sequel.

i think this book is so pretty and i love a powerful woman on a cover!!! the magic system was very cool and i would recommend that it is displayed in the store!

I gave this book 4 stars.

Initially when I first tried to read the book I was very confused as to what was happening. I have never felt that way with a Margaret Rogerson book so it was weird for me. On my second read, I was still having issues but I think this is just going to be one of those books where each time I reread it it will become more clear what exactly is going on. Either way, I enjoyed the parts I did understand and will be rereading this in the future to pick up on what else I have missed.

I was highly anticipating this book ~ it did not disappoint!! Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, however she's always been a little different. She was possessed as a child and they only way to keep the spirit away was to burn herself, so she has many scars. One day when the covenant is attacked a dying Sister passes on the revenant - a extremely powerful spirit. She's then tasked with saving everyone all while making sure the spirit doesn't fully possess her and take over.

Quite the page turner, one that will keep you up at night saying "just one more chapter". The pacing is fast without any dull moments. Twists and turns that blew me away. The characters are all amazing with such diverse personalities. The conclusion was final but with room to expand (I hope it does). It's got that Dark Academia feel to it. Overall I thought it was an amazing book and will definitely read a sequel if and when it comes.

A fun YA fantasy! Plot was well developed and the world felt very believable, but the love story intertwined was not my favorite and wish it had been done away with altogether.

I really enjoyed this story! Pacing was perfection and the plot line kept me intrigued throughout. The second book needs to be released ASAP.

Rogerson writes some of the most unique fantasy books out there. This is the kind of book that young teenage girls read. It is all about expanding your comfort zones and finding your inner power. The world-building, the characters, and the plot all worked together to tell a great story.

I have not had a lot of luck with Rogerson books in the past but this was very well done. I felt the magic was unique, the world building was brilliant, the characters flawed and relatable, and the plot was thrilling. I couldn't get enough.

I can always count on Margaret Rogerson to write a unique, engaging fantasy that draws me in from the first page. Her latest book (hopefully the first in a series) tells the story of Artemisia, a young woman training to live a life of service as a Gray Sister - a nun who cleanses the spirits from the dead. But the spirits are restless and when an army of dead soldiers attacks the convent she lives in, Artemisia unexpectedly saves the convent and those within it by wielding a powerful spirit trapped within a Saint's Relic. No one is more shocked than Artemisia to discover that she possesses the skill of a Vespertine - a priestess trained to wield a high order spirit - a skill that many believe was lost forever. With danger looming and an army of the dead threatening to destroy her world, Artemisia embarks on a journey that will test her confidence, training, and knowledge of the world she knew.

Atmospheric writing, detailed world-building, and a heroine I wanted to root for - what more could I ask for? I feel that Rogerson's brand of YA fantasy is unique and complex without being overwrought and tedious. This story focused more on the complex relationship between Artemisia and the Relic - which was a wonderful character all on its own. I appreciated that this book was less romance heavy than others in this genre. I was so invested in Artemisia's story that I finished this in one sitting.

So far, this is my favorite Rogerson book to date.

I enjoyed this one! I think it will be especially great for students who aren’t particularly interested in romance.

Having read the previous two books by this author, I was excited for another. I will say that the storyline was not what I expected, and I wasn't sure it was something I would like, but the author did not disappoint! Just as An Enchantment of Ravens introduced me to the darker side of the Fae, so this book set me on a journey with a nun who must come together with a spirit, a dark devouring spirit, to save the world and in so doing, save herself.

As a huge fan of Sorcery of Thorns, I was so excited for this book to come out, and it definitely did not disappoint!! Gorgeous writing, very engaging plot, and characters you can’t help fall in love with. My only wish would be for there to have been more romance!

I'm a huge Rogerson fan and also loved this work. I like that each of her books is different so far, yet they still feel like her. Artemisia is an interesting character who was fun to read about, though Elisabeth in Sorcery of Thorns remains my favorite of Rogerson's protagonists. My favroite parts of this book was the magic system and the role of the Gray Sisters, as well as the Revanant! Their dynamic was so much fun. I love stores about spirits and the dead, and snarky spirits/demons (I loved that about Sorcery of Thorns). My biggest critiques is 1) the pacing was a little slow for me sometimes with too much tell instead of show and 2) the lack of romance (which is totally a personal preference). However, I loved the romance in Rogerson's last two books, and while I don't need it in my story, I do prefer it if possible. Still, I remain a huge fan of her work and am exicted what comes next!

I adore everything Margaret Rogerson does and I ended up devoring this book in one sitting.
This the story of a girl named Artemisia, a demon and explores faith and morality and the choices we make based on our beliefs while still being an exciting fantasy adventure. This book is unlike anything I had read before. Even though the conclusion is a satisfying one, I was so excited when I learned there would be a sequel since her books have generally be stand-alones up to this point. I recommend this and all of Rogerson's book wholeheartedly.