⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆
Content Warning: death (including that of a child), violence, self-harm, parental neglect, parental abuse, disordered eating, PTSD, anxiety/depression, suicide mention.
In Loraille, the spirits of the dead rise again. Artemisia has lived in a convent since her childhood, gifted with the Sight, and destined therefore to a life in the clergy. She wants to be a Gray Sister, a nun who works with the bodies of the deceased in order to prevent their spirits from becoming corrupted, a lifestyle that suits her just fine. But when disaster strikes first Artemisia's little convent on the edge of the world -- and then, later, the entirety of Loraille -- she is forced to awaken a dark spirit that has been trapped in a saint's relic for centuries. The revenant possesses an extraordinary power, but Artemisia is untrained to wield such a creature -- and now, when it seems that the end of their world may be nigh, it's up to Artemisia and her unlikely friends (including the revenant itself) to stop evil from destroying everything.
I knew from the very first page of this book that I would love it. Narrated by a dark, wry young woman named Artemisia, who has escaped a painful childhood to live in a convent, the world that Rogerson has created blooms with fascinating lore and a depth that makes you truly believe in Loraille and its spirits. There's also a wonderfully rich history of saints, relics and a powerful religion similar in many ways to Catholicism, leaving it feeling as if there's truly life even beyond the times we're witnessing Artemisia struggle through. Much of this is obviously achieved through Rogerson's writing, which is easy to read but also flourishing with lovely descriptions and similes, but it would be nothing without Rogerson's enviable creativity!
It's Artemisia, though, that really makes this book shine -- as well as the revenant, who is full of quips and witticisms that were annoyingly clever and amusing. Although Artemisia could fall easily into the trap of being 'not like the other girls', especially when you consider that she's only seventeen and this book is in the YA category, she never does: she's weird, different, and sometimes has a dislike for those that are more bubbly than she is, but it's never presented as something that makes her superior to anyone else. Her touching friendship with a few characters that become unexpected allies was heartwarming, and also shows us a softer, more tender side of Artemisia (who is usually so delightfully abrasive).
The relationship she develops with the revenant is gorgeously crafted. It teems with tension and strife, but on the other hand, there is this understanding between them -- and Artemisia struggles with the feeling that they might not be so different after all, regardless of the fact that the revenant is a timeless, dark being. There's another relationship I would love to delve into, but can't without spoiling so many exciting things, so I'll just say this: the entire cast of characters captured my heart, but this dynamic was hands-down my favorite. So, so good, and the kind of thing I could read forever and never grow sick of.
Look, this novel is simply something you should experience on your own. It's magnificently done, with just enough subtlety and just enough grimness to leave you wanting more. I'm thrilled that this will have a second book, and I can't wait to see where Artemisia's journey takes her next.
Highly recommended!
No comments:
Post a Comment