Synopsis
The spirits of the dead 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 ravenous, hungry spirits. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who whisper 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 whose extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come, 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, Artemisia discovers that facing this hidden evil might require her to betray everything she believes—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.
Review
I was very hesitant about starting this book but since it was a monthly buddy read with some good friends, I gave it a try anyways. And I’m really glad I did! I was hesitant because it’s marketed as YA and those are so often just not for me anymore. I also saw it described as horror but for me personally it felt like a normal fantasy book rather than horror.
I really enjoyed the character development and the world. The story had good depth too. Some things were more predictable while others were fun surprises, but they were all handled pretty well even if I did expect them. I also enjoyed some of the misleading and twists and how everything was resolved. There were some small details that were a little questionable but they didn’t really affect my overall enjoyment very much. My standout favorite part was the main spirit of the story. He was absolutely hilarious and added some great levity.
While it does have potential for continuation, I personally hope this stays a standalone. I like how it ended with some loose threads but the big questions answered. I personally like it when it’s not all neat and tidy at the end. I’m really happy I gave this book a try and already have another of requested at the library from the same author.
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