Margaret Rogerson is an author I’ve added to my list of authors to keep an eye on. I loved Sorcery of Thorns when I read it last year and once I heard about Vespertine I knew I’d need this book. So when the publisher approached me to see if I wanted to participate on a blog blitz I couldn’t resist. Today I want to give you ten reasons why you should read this book. Keep on reading to find out more.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc!
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.
10 Reasons Why You Should Read Vespertine
- Vespertine is releasing in October and what’s a better time to read a book that focuses on the world of the dead than around Halloween?
- Margaret Rogerson has a way with words and sucked me right into the world of secrets, magic, evil, and the dead. I felt like I was right there with Artemisia.
- The magic in this book is so interesting. The relics and all the magic and things that can go wrong when a spirit doesn’t pass really had my attention.
- Artemisia is an amazing character! After going through quite an amount of trauma as a child she’s still so strong. I love when the main characters of stories aren’t perfect, but also prove that they’re more than the trauma they endured.
- The relationship between Artemisia and her revenant. Definitely not a likely pairing, but the develop of their “friendship” and banter was very interesting.
- Vespertine is pretty dark and keeps you reading, but also has moments of humor. Love the balance the author had with those elements in this book.
- A book’s main character is important, but I’m the type of reader who also feels that side characters are just as important! Margaret Rogerson has a cast of side characters that are amazing and definitely turned out differently than I expected them to be.
- There’s no romance in Vespertine! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of romance, but it was a nice change of pace to have a book not revolved around a love interest.
- You often hear that you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover fits this story so well and is truly stunning. Who doesn’t want this pretty cover on their shelf?!?
- Vespertine left me wanting more and it was a big relief to find out this will be a duology! So if you end up loving the world as much as I did you will be able to dive into this world again when we get the second book.
About the Author
Vespertine releases on October 5th and my full review will be online around release day, so keep an eye out! Will you be reading Vespertine?
Really interesting about the no love interest component. Don’t see that very often in YA. Can’t wait to read it when it comes out!
Oooh! I knew I wanted to read this book before, but knowing it doesn’t have a romance makes it all the more enticing! Do you know if the character is explicitly ace or is it simply not a part of the story?