Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all doing well. Today I will be doing a full rundown of all the books I read in 2025, starting with my least favourite book that I read and ending with my number one book of the year. What are some of your favourite and least favourite books of 2025?
The Veiled Kingdom by Holly Renee A Novel Murder by E C Nevin The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid The Village Library Demon Hunting Society The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie To Sway A Bard The White Queen by Philippa Gregory Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonje Odette The Ripper of Whitechapel by Yvette Fielding The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman This is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen Traitors Legacy by S J Parris Graveyard Shift by M L Rio Phantasma by Kaylie Smith The Murder Hypothesis by Sarah Wishart The Coven by Harper L Woods I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrews The Painted Dragon The Austen Christmas Murders by Jessica Bull Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson Pages and Co 3 by Anna James A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore Us In Ruins by Rachel Moore A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas Murder at Christmas The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson Grimstone Close to Death by Antony Horowitz Fearful by Lauren Roberts The Agency of Scandal by Laura Wood Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man The Guest List by Lucy Foley Murder at the Wedding Murder in First Class Murder at Midwinter Farm Murder at the Country Club Murder on Board Murder at the Charity Ball Murder at the Beauty Pageant Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood Murder at the Village Fair Murder at the Highland Castle Murder at the Island Hotel Murder on the French Riviera Murder in the Countryside Murder in New York Murder on the Cornish Coast Murder in Paris Murder at the English Manor Murder at Traitor’s Gate by Irina Shapiro A Quiet Life in the Country by T E Kinsey Murder at the Foundlings Hospital by Irina Shapiro The Dog Sitter Detective Christmas Tail by Antony Johnston The Highgate Cemetary Murder by Irina Shapiro In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price Powerful by Lauren Roberts The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead by Antony Johnston The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristin Perrin Reckless by Lauren Roberts Fearless by Lauren Roberts The Mythmakers by Tamzin Merchant A Deadly Night at the Theatre by Katy Watson A Corruption of Blood by Ambrose Parry Murder at the Orpheus Theatre by Irina Shapiro Unravel Me by Taherah Mafi Ignite Me by Taherah Mafi The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis A Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco The Killer Question by Janice Hallett Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera Fate of the Argosi Fall of the Argosi Way of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell The Protest by Rob Rinder Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano A Dangerous Train of Thought by Faith Martin Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Crown of Midnight Heir of Fire Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson The Last Word is Death by Faith Martin Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Murder by Candlelight by Faith Martin Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a wonderful day today. Today, I will be sharing some of the book releases in January. Are there any books you are excited for their release this month?
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins – 6th
St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.
When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.
As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…
The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi – 8th
In this lush and romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi, a prince is only as good as his beating heart and a maiden is only as good as her honest word. But when love and the truth become impossibly tangled, the two must figure out how to survive together, or fall completely apart.
To find love is a curse …
Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.
Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris’s parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.
Until he meets Demelza.
As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.
While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibanez – 15th
In 15th-century Volterra, sculptress Ravenna Maffei enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor. Desperate to win so she can save her brother, Ravenna reveals a rare magical talent–a dangerous act in a city where magic is forbidden. Her revelation makes her a target, and she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, a city of breathtaking beauty and cutthroat ambition.
There, Ravenna is forced into an impossible task where failure means certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the family’s enigmatic and merciless heir. But under his cold reserve hides a vulnerability that draws her closer than she ever intended.
Meanwhile, Ravenna’s forbidden magic does not go unnoticed. The Pope, waging war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, has his own interest in her abilities, seeing her as a potential weapon in his ruthless campaign.
As alliances shift and war brews on the horizon, Ravenna must navigate the treacherous line between survival and betrayal, between love and duty. With time running out and her every move watched, the choices she makes will determine the fate of not just her own life, but the fragile balance of magic and power that could unravel Florence itself.
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston – 20th
Everyone at Chantilly’s Bar noticed out-of-towner Camille Bayliss. Red lips, designer heels, sipping a Negroni. But that woman wasn’t Camille Bayliss. It was Aubrey Price.
Camille Bayliss appears to have the picture-perfect life; she’s married to hotshot lawyer Ben and is the daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family. Only nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets for years, but she can’t find proof because he tracks her every move.
Aubrey Price has been haunted by the terrible night that changed her life a decade ago, and she’s convinced Benjamin Bayliss knows something about it. Living in a house full of criminals, Aubrey understands there’s more than one way to get to the truth—and she may have found the best way in.
Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. It sounds simple: For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille’s place. Camille will spy on Ben, and the two women will get the answers they desperately seek.
Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered. Both women need an airtight alibi, but only one of them has it. And one false step is all it takes for everything to come undone.
Half His Age by Jeannette McCurdy – 20th
Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. Is it his passion? His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar filter with which they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps, it’s just enough that he sees her when no one else does.
Startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant, Half His Age is a rich character study of a yearning seventeen-year-old who disregards all obstacles—or attempts to overcome them—in her effort to be seen, to be desired, to be loved.
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St James – 22nd
Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.
Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother’s shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.
As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.
Dear Debbie by Frieda McFadden -27th
Sometimes, enough is enough…
Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.
Or at least, she did.
These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.
And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney – 27th
Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.
One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.
Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.
My Husband’s Wife is a tangled web of deception, obsession, and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.
Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova – 29th
The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…
Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains standing: Vingard.
But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.
Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.
And I’m terrified that I might be next.
There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.
Because Lucan definitely knows something.
And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a wonderful day today. Can you believe it is already time to be sharing my TBR for January 2026?! This year, in my reading journal, I have a 100 book challenge so I tried to fill it with books I am really excited to read and I will be trying to choose from that sheet when I am building my monthly TBR’s.
What I will be reading in January:
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
A Season of Scandal by Laura Wood
Book of Night by Holly Black
A Disaster in Three Acts by Kelsey Rodkey
Restore Me by Taherah Mafi
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
A Matter of Murder by Tirzah Price
The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood
What’s on your January TBR? What are you excited about reading?
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today, and Happy New Year! For this, my first post of 2026, I am bringing you the usual monthly wrap up for December, but later in the month I will be sharing an all-encompassing 2025 Wrap Up that covers genres, favourite books etc. Check back later for that if you are interested.
December was a month that felt insanely busy and yet, I couldn’t tell you what I spent the month doing, it is all just a blur. Plus, I was sick for the whole month with different things. Hopefully January will be better.
From my December TBR:
Murder at the Orpheus Theatre by Irina Shapiro – I did read this.
Pages and Co: Tilly and the Lost Fairytales by Anna James – I did read this.
The Dog Sitter Detective: Christmas Tails by Antony Johnston – I read this too.
Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd – I did start to read this but unfortunately, I ended up DNF’ing it quite early on. I did not enjoy the writing style of this book and I struggled to be able to tell which time period it was set in.
Traitor’s Legacy by S J Parris – I did read this.
Fearful by Lauren Roberts – I did read this.
Death and the Harlot by Georgina Clarke – I did not read this.
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards – I did read this.
A Quiet Life in the Country by T E Kinsey – I did read this.
So, from my TBR I read 7 books from my TBR, DNF’d 1 and I did not manage to read 1. Overall, that’s pretty good, even though I did not complete my TBR. Outside my TBR, I read The Austen Christmas Murders, The Mythmakers by Tamzin Merchant, Murder at Christmas, A Dangerous Train of Thought by Faith Martin and, I FINALLY read Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas.
That means, in December, I read a total of 12 books and I DNF’d 1.
What did you read in December? What did you think of the books you read?
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a lovely day today. Today I am bringing you my review for the first book in Laura Wood’s series, The Agency for Scandal.
An all-female detective agency righting wrongs at the end of the nineteenth century; infiltrating a scandalous upper class world straight out of Bridgerton and using their wit and bravery to unmask a villain.
Eighteen-year-old Isobel Stanhope is keeping a lot of secrets. There’s the fact that she’s head over heels in love with a Duke who doesn’t know she exists; there’s the fact that her family is penniless but nobody in society knows about it; and then there’s her job at the Aviary, an investigative agency run by women that specializes in digging up scandal on powerful men.
When Izzy finds herself pulled into a case that involves gaslighting, blackmail, and missing jewels, as well as the Duke who holds her heart, can she and her friends untangle the web of secrets and lies to uncover the truth and protect the innocent? And when the stakes are so high, what happens when the crush she’s been hiding begins to turn into so much more?
‘Incredibly charming’ Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting
Bridgerton meets Charlie’s Angels – the most romantic, exciting, empowering YA of the year.
A smart, charming, brilliantly plotted and swooningly romantic story about a collective of bold women changing their world.
My Review:
First, I have to say that what I liked most about this book was its characters. A headstrong, fiercely independent female lead and a gentleman who is actually a bit of a rogue male lead. That is my kind of team. It gave great banter and chance for tension built in different encounters, I don’t want to say too much and spoilt it but there’s the only one bed trope in this and that gets so many of us every time. The plot was also interesting and full of high stakes. I loved that throughout the novel I was not sure who I could trust at any given time, it made the solving of the mystery more interesting. It looks like a long book but it flew by while reading it, so fast paced and full of adventure.
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I have been doing something a bit different this year. In my reading journal there is a space to put your favourite and least favourite read of each month and I thought today I would share my least favourite reads this year.
January – An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
This book had a stronger romantic element rather than plot element, compared to margaret rogerson’s other books – both Vespertine and Sorcery of Thorns are some of my favourite books. I enjoyed Isobel, the main character and I liked how the story and the romance progressed but as I say, compared to the author’s other books I went into it with higher expectations.
February – This Is Not A Game by Kelly Mullen
I used this book for a chapter in my PhD, however I did not enjoy it. I felt it was trying to take elements of the cosy and the traditional mysteries but did not mesh them well.
March – The Village Library Demon Hunting Society
This book has to be one of my least favoruite of the year, even now in November of the same year I read it I can’t remember much of it, all I remember is how much I disliked reading it, I remember being both frustrated and confused and thinking there was no plot.
April – The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Having seen the TV show for this book and loving it, I had high expectations for this book and this author who I have read and enjoyed previously. However, I did not love it, I thought it was okay but a little but clumpy and dragged put in places.
May – The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
This is probably my least favourite Agatha Christie book, there’s not much I can say other than I found it a little bit boring.
June – How to Sway A Bard
This book was too short. The premise was excellent, but it wasn’t given enough time and attention to make it amazing.
July – The Mystery of the Painted Dragon
This is a young, middle grade mystery series and it is the third book in that series. I enjoyed the series but I decided to not continue with the fourth book after this one.
August – A Novel Murder
Honestly, I didn’t even reach 100 pages into this book, I did not like the self-pitying main character and I couldn’t imagine growing to like them so this was easily one of my least favourite books of the year.
September – I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan
I finished more than half of this book but I struggled with getting into the story, it just didn’t hold my interest.
October – The Coven by Harper L Woods
This book had a very intriguing premise, it lacked substance for me and felt very rushed but it was still quite enjoyable.
November – The Ripper of Whitechapel by Yvette Fielding
This was a short, engaging, middle grade book which I found good but maybe only a three star read while everything else I read in November was a four or above.
I do not have an answer for December yet as I am still reading for this month, but this is the least favourite books for each month so far this year.
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a lovely day today. It is December and so it is time to share some of the books that are being released this month. As always, I am nowhere near a complete list, most of the time I have only seen a couple but I am glad to share any that I can.
Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson – 9th December
Spanning the genres of fantasy and science fiction, this collection features stories from beyond the bounds of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe.
Along with the never-before-seen novella ‘Moment Zero’, Tailored Realities will include ‘Snapshot’, ‘Perfect State’, ‘Defending Elysium’ (a novella set within the world of Skyward), and five other stories that were originally published individually elsewhere – never before collected into one volume, and many never before available in print.
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams – 30th December
🥕 Chef x Farmer 🥕 Brother’s Best Friend 🥕 He Fell First 🥕 Friends to Lovers 🥕 Meddling Townsfolk
Madison Walker was determined to make it in the culinary world of New York. But with her dreams shattered, she returns home to Rome, Kentucky, where an unexpected chance to rebuild her life awaits her – a head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant.
Better In Black by Cassandra Clare – 4th December
Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger.
Jace and Clary seek out an exiled Shadowhunter and learn that love can save the world – or destroy it. Will and Tessa are enjoying their honeymoon in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy are together in New York when they observe increased demonic activity.
These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with:
Anna and Ari Emma and Julian Kieran, Mark, and Cristina James and Cordelia Thomas and Alastair Sebastian and the Seelie Queen Jocelyn andLuke
A love letter to every Shadowhunter fan, and perfect for any romantasy lover, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series.
Relive the love stories that started it all or begin your Shadowhunters obsession with the first in each series: City of Bones, Clockwork Angel or Chain of Gold.
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a lovely day today. It is now December and that means it is time to talk about what books we will be reading this month.
What books do you hope to read in December and before the end of 2025?
December TBR
Murder at the Orpheus Theatre by Irina Shapiro
Pages and Co: Tilly and the Map of Stories by Anna James
Dog Sitter Detective Christmas Tails by Antony Johnston
Miss Beetons Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd
Traitors Legacy by S J Parris
Fearful by Lauren Roberts
Death and the Harlot by Georgina Clarke
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a lovely day. It is the end of the month and that means it is time to discuss the books that I did and did not read in November.
What books did you read this month? Did you enjoy them?
From my November TBR:
Immortality by Dana Schwartz – I did not get around to reading it this month
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead – I decided, after putting two on my November TBR, not to do any rereads this month so I did not read this one
The Guest List by Lucy Foley – I did read this book. I have been putting it off for a long time but I have finally read it and I thought it was good, not amazing but good enough.
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrews – I did read this.
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco – this was the second book that I put on my November TBR as a reread, so I did not read this.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies – I did read this.
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft – I did not read this
To Steal From Thieves by M K Lobb – I did not read this.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna – I did read this.
Agency of Scandal by Laura Wood – I did read this.
Fate of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell – I did read this.
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas – I am writing this a little early, I have a week left of November and in that time I plan on finishing Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
Outside of my TBR I also read The Ripper of Whitechapel by Yvette Fielding and A Quiet Life in the Country by TE Kinsey.
That means in November, I read a total of 8 books so far this month, but I might be able to add three more to this if I manage to read the three Sarah J Maas books.
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope that you’re all having a good day today.
Today, I am bringing you my book review for Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson.
Blurb/Synopsis:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling new YA fantasy about a teen girl with mythic abilities who must defend her world against restless spirits of the dead.
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.
My Review:
The first thing I will say about this book is that it is an underrated masterpiece. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, I had read both of Margaret Rogerson’s other books: Sorcery of Thorns which I loved, and An Enchantment of Ravens which I thought was okay but ended up being my least favourite book that I read in January of this year. Having mixed feelings about her books I was shocked to enjoy this one so much. An Enchantment of Ravens is very romance heavy, very little plot, Vespertine is all plot and no romance, and Sorcery of Thorns is in the middle as a mix of both of them.
Vespertine follows Artemisia and basically it is her and the voice of the being that has supposedly ‘posessed’ her as they attempt to solve the mystery of what is happening in their land. I loved the banter between the two characters, both of them are willful and stubborn and they slowly reveal their backstories to each other as they are forced into a working relationship. You are also slowly introduced to other characters who you become both trusting and nervous about, I especially loved the Captain Enguerrand.
This novel focuses a lot on the challenge of Artemisia having the weight of all these people on her, every choice she makes has an impact and being inside her head you see how her thoughts are battling, it is deeply emotional.
The other thing I loved is that it is written in a way that Margaret Rogerson could return to this world and I hope that she does.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?