Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

26 reviews

margaret_k30's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Suicide

hezthbookcravings's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

While this book didn't blow me away with its story, it was still an enjoyable read and a great pick if you want a unique standalone fantasy (though I doubt it's truly standalone).

I particularly liked the characters, especially Artemisia. As a loner, introvert, and eccentric character, she felt unique and refreshing. Her development throughout the story was compelling—she starts off reserved due to a difficult past but gradually opens up, becomes stronger, and forms friendships. The relationship between Artemisia and Revenant was also a highlight. They start off with a rocky relationship filled with witty banter and heated arguments, but they eventually accept each other's presence and weaknesses, forming a strong alliance. Revenant, though grumpy and prickly, shows a caring side towards its vessel. The side characters were equally amazing and had their own moments of growth.

The world-building was another strong point. The unique spirit and magic system, though initially confusing, became intriguing as I learned about the spirit hierarchy and their powers. The way the cause of death impacts the type of spirit manifested was fascinating. The grim, dark, and somber setting was vividly portrayed through the writing.

While I appreciated the uniqueness of the book, the magic system took time to understand as it wasn't well-explained initially. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts feeling rushed and others drawn out. I wished there had been more action or events in the middle of the book. However, the pace did pick up towards the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Its unique characters, intriguing world-building, and compelling relationships make it a worthwhile read, despite some pacing issues and initial confusion with the magic system. If you're looking for a unique standalone fantasy with well-developed characters and a richly imagined world, I definitely recommend giving this book a try. Just a heads-up, there's no romance in this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

fraeyalise's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I really really liked this book. It hit a little too close to home sometimes but I love how it ended. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Abandonment

sonygaystation's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The character growth in this book was so *chef’s kiss*!!! Also the revenant has my whole heart

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death and Blood

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Suicide, and Grief

charloforce's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Moderate: Torture and Murder

Minor: War

asiamd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was sooooo good. I loved the main character and her revenant!! The way the author added depth and feelings to every character that came on the page was amazing. I really adore books that allow for villians to also be victims of pain and fear and I felt like this book did a great job of incorporating that wit a kind of anti-hero in the revenant as well as all the other spirits throughout the book. I really liked the different take on religion as well, while it was really similar to Christianity(?) with the blind belief of the people, the praying, and the saints, Rogerson also made it unique in the book by adding a more ghostlike twists that in my opinion added way more humanity to what the spirits were. Overall I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day 🤭 so 10/10

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and War

aas's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

marsh_mall0w's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Gore

queenofsteak's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Abandonment

baroo92's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Super interesting worldbuilding! I was fascinated with the hierarchy of ghosts and their abilities. It definitely was a bit more tense and dark than I was expecting, coming straight from SoT- but a very cool narrative overall. 
I really liked the explanation of the MC’s traumas and how they effected her- I personally read her as autistic coded, but that may be just me. The relationship with the revenant had similar tones to the relationship with Silas in SoT- a creature both terrifyingly deadly, and begrudgingly affectionate. It’s always a nice dynamic to see a traumatized kid befriend a centuries-old eldritch being!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment