Verspertine by Margaret Rogerson

 genre: fantasy

Artemisia is most comfortable with the dead. As one of the Gray Sisters, it's her job to cleanse bodies of their lingering spirits - which can wreak havoc possessing the living if not taken care of.  She knows the history of the revenants who destroyed the land when the spirits came unbound and she knows to fear them.  But when an army of the possessed arrive at her convent's door and a battle ensues, it's clear to Artemisia that a revenant's power must be controlled at the risk of its vessel - and that she herself has become one.

This book moved so swiftly, such intriguing world building with different levels of spirits with different powers.  I liked the way that the Sighted living, the spirits themselves and their relics all interplayed in such dance of power.  Artemisia is a really interesting main character - an antiheroine with an atypical way of interacting with the world and with the complex sort of childhood trauma that impacts the rest of your life.  She has to make such hard decisions and so many times when she could have chosen violence and retribution, she chooses mercy and empathy while STILL being badass when it's required.  Her relationship with the revenant is, for me, a highlight of the narrative - such a push and pull of control and capability.  It isn't a perfect book - there is a LOT going on and tracking it all takes effort.  It would have benefited with some backstory but overall, I found this a really enjoyable read.