Vespertine
In Margaret Rogerson’s Vespertine, the dead don’t 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. 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. 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.
Every book Rogerson has written I’ve enjoyed, but Vespertine is definitely my favourite. I loved the world she created, where the dead don’t rest and it’s up to a special kind of nun to protect the world from the spirits. It makes the reader think about life after death, about what an eternity of unrest would be like. Similar to Artemisia, as the story progressed, I felt sympathy for the trapped spirits, especially ones like the revenant who were forced inside a relic, unable to truly experience anything for centuries. I liked how at the end of the book Artemisia and her revenant decided to work together as friends and partners. I’m excited to see what adventures the two get up to in the next book!
In addition to being my favourite book, this was also the first book of Rogerson’s that didn’t have a love interest for the main character, or really any romance at all. I do enjoy a good romantic subplot, but I feel like this book didn’t need one. Artemisia came across as autistic, and it was clear she had such a hard time making friends that it was more important that she gained friendship instead of a romance. Perhaps in the next book she will fall in love, but if she doesn’t, I won’t be disappointed.
The first in a series, Vespertine is a thrilling story that is perfect to curl up with on a chilly autumn night.
Vespertine Rating: ★★★★
Every book Rogerson has written I’ve enjoyed, but Vespertine is definitely my favourite. I loved the world she created, where the dead don’t rest and it’s up to a special kind of nun to protect the world from the spirits. It makes the reader think about life after death, about what an eternity of unrest would be like. Similar to Artemisia, as the story progressed, I felt sympathy for the trapped spirits, especially ones like the revenant who were forced inside a relic, unable to truly experience anything for centuries. I liked how at the end of the book Artemisia and her revenant decided to work together as friends and partners. I’m excited to see what adventures the two get up to in the next book!
In addition to being my favourite book, this was also the first book of Rogerson’s that didn’t have a love interest for the main character, or really any romance at all. I do enjoy a good romantic subplot, but I feel like this book didn’t need one. Artemisia came across as autistic, and it was clear she had such a hard time making friends that it was more important that she gained friendship instead of a romance. Perhaps in the next book she will fall in love, but if she doesn’t, I won’t be disappointed.
The first in a series, Vespertine is a thrilling story that is perfect to curl up with on a chilly autumn night.
Vespertine Rating: ★★★★