Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Vespertine  By  cover art

Vespertine

By: Margaret Rogerson
Narrated by: Caitlin Davies
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.99

Buy for $17.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

An international best seller!

From the New York Times best-selling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling, “dark coming-of-age adventure” (Culturess) about a teen girl with mythic abilities who must defend her world against restless spirits of the dead.

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.

©2021 Margaret Rogerson. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Featured Article: The Best Dark Fantasy Audiobooks


If your favorite genres are fantasy and horror, and you can't get enough of terrifying scenarios with high-stakes action, then you need to explore the winding world of dark fantasy. When the mystic, magic, and incredible world-building of fantasy are combined with elements of grim horror and the supernatural, the result is something truly pause-resistant. But with such a rich variety of titles to choose from, it can be impossible to know where to begin. We've rounded up the best dark fantasy listens that explore chilling settings, morally grey characters, and twisting plots alongside dark magic.

What listeners say about Vespertine

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    175
  • 4 Stars
    74
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    181
  • 4 Stars
    45
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    153
  • 4 Stars
    59
  • 3 Stars
    21
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOVE this book!

I was hooked from the 1st chapter. Absolutely beautiful performance and story with thrilling takes on familiar elements and wonderful characters. I dearly hope there will be a sequel. These characters deserve to continue their story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

What a treat this book was! Excellent world building. Absolutely drama free, well grounded heroine. Plot was paced perfectly. Character growth was consistent but organic, so noticing our mc's growth from adolescent to adult happened effortlessly too. The narration was. very good, missing excellence only because of the narrators penchant for changing her voice volume overmuch when she changed characters. This excellent book is a rare event which I strongly encourage you to enjoy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

So creative and such a great performance by the narrator! I’m a little skeptical of fantasy YA, but this exceeded expectations in every way a book can! Def recommend :)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

I am a huge fan of this author. All her books are wonderful. I enjoyed reading about a main character who seems to be on the spectrum. She's strong in different ways than your average leading character. Rogerson shows that even though she's the type of person society treats as less than because she's different, she, and anyone who identifies with her, has a lot to offer the world. Once prejudices and preconceived notions are let go, the person underneath shines.
The Revenant was another wonderful character, and I'm glad its part wasn't as minimal.

I enjoyed the narrator, who is very talented. However, she wasn't quite the right fit for this book or cast of characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Nuns of death/joan of arc/neurodiversity representation

Read it. So metal, yet so soft. You want a joan of arc novel? We got you. You want autism and anxiety representation? We got you. You want a YA without a romance in it? We got you. You want NUNS of DEATH?? We. Got. You.
Just read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely story , will never forget it

This book drew my attention from chapter one. I believe for me, I had bit of difficulty understanding the religious phrases or objects in story but eventually I caught on.
There was a very parallel relationship forming with her revenant . A “unlikely friendship” story is always lovely to read. I also noticed that the main character Was described to be on the Autism Spectrum, which I found really unique about her. She was very intelligent but disliked socializing, which is why I found it so pure when she formed a bond to her revenant.
She saw herself in the revenant, something that felt it couldn’t be cared for or truly loved. She was willing, despite the revenants countering, to put her own life on the line to save him. And he to her..
it was so lovely to witness however I do wish the story didn’t end right after they realized how much they could care for each other and make each other whole. It was a little saddening to see things end suddenly after a huge realization. I can’t wait to see more of their friendship tested and developed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story, perfected by Davies!

This story was one of those books you can’t put down. The author wrote a great story, however it was the talent of Caitlin Davies that brought the story to brilliant life!

There are so many really good audio books that could have been great if read by Caitlin.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I didn't know this was a ya book at first

I was pleasantly surpised. There is some dope stuff in here. Good characters. Tight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I loved it. I loved the characters and their story. I can't wait to listen to more by this author. The narration was excellent also.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!!

This is by far one of the best books I have ever read/ listened to!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful