Content warning: blood & gore, forced sterilization, abortion, talk of sexual assault, death by childbirth

Slatter has done it again! Violet Zennor made for the perfectly flawed protagonist and I really enjoyed how this plot plays out. Freddie and dear, loyal, reliable Ned need to be protected at all costs.

I love that you don't have to necessarily read the novels within the Sourdough Universe in order, but that they all subtly tie into each other. I appreciated the author's note at the end explaining why these vampires are called something different, and I really liked the thought process behind how in this world, the undead who feed off of the blood of the living are made (and destroyed). The surprises of who Violet encounters in the Darklands (and how the beings there knew of her existence) were brilliant.

Overall, this was a solid read with the perfect mix of Gothic Fiction and Buffy vibes all wrapped up in a fairy tale.

The cover art on this one is stunning too.

The Crimson Road by A. G. Slatter is the latest novel set in her Sourdough Universe. While The Crimson Road is another standalone novel, I would suggest reading the previous novels before this one. Unlike the previous Sourdough Universe novels, this one contains characters from previous books and contains spoilers for their story arcs. Those who have read Slatter’s other books will recognise their names in the synopsis. I had read all of them, except The Murmuring Bones, and received minor spoilers.

As a fan of vampires, I’ve been interested in the tidbits about Leech Lords, the Sourdough version of vampires that Slatter has included in her previous Sourdough stories. In The Crimson Road Slatter finally focuses on the Leech Lords, answering readers’ questions. From their mysterious origins, to how they became locked away in the Darklands, this book is a wonderful addition to vampire mythos.

Slatter’s heroine this time is Violet Zennor, a young woman raised by her father to undo a mistake he made: a bargain to a Leech Lord that triggered a terrible prophecy. Trained from a young age to be an assassin, she is relieved to have her life back when her father dies. Unfortunately, she soon learns the extent of her father’s mess and realises she can’t escape the path he set her on.

I’m a huge fan of revisiting characters after their main story has ended, and Violet’s journey to the Darklands allows Slatter to do just that. As mentioned if you’ve not read the previous novels there are some minor spoilers, or “easter eggs” as the author calls them.

I enjoyed The Crimson Road immensely and I’m looking forward to seeing what adventures Slatter brings to her Sourdough universe next.

Unfortunately, this is a DnF for me (at least for now). I made it 30%, and that was an absolute struggle. I wasn’t aware that this book takes place in an established universe. Perhaps had I known to read other books first, this would have been more enjoyable.

Right off the bat we are introduced to Aelin Galathynius’ dark romantasy double, and then we slap the name Violet on her. The FMC is extremely unlikable. For someone who’s supposed to be a badass, she whines an awful lot.

So much info-dumping! You are bombarded with it. The dialogue is also choppy and shallow. I’m sure it gets better, but I can’t force myself to push through at this time. I’ve read this story already, but more cleverly done.

Violet Zennor was trained to fight and kill for nearly thirteen years and hoped she would be free of it when her father died. He planned to send her into the Darklands after the Leech Lords and the stillborn brother that had been brought there soon after his birth. Violet plans to refuse and escape, but assassins are after her and a prophecy predicts that her stillborn brother is key to the Leech Lords escaping. Now she must clean up the mess her father made.

The Crimson Road is in the same universe as Slatter's other novels (Briar Book of the Dead and The Path of Thorns), but you don't need to have read those to understand this one. They're mentioned as vague things that Violet is told about her world, and she lives far enough away that the individual issues from those novels haven't impacted her. The Leech Lords are essentially vampires, jockeying among themselves for power and kept at bay by location, the power of witches, and treaties, but there might be a loophole now.

Violet, like many other characters in this world, is trapped by the mistakes, promises, and machinations of the prior generations. She's being used to keep the Leech Lords in place, so she's better equipped for violence and travel than most. Very little was known about what she would face, so we learn about it as she does. She doesn't trust easily, and the Leech Lords have a long reach with their infinitely long lives, Some of the stories she hears along the way have meaning, and we find out exactly what the Prophecy is. She has a surprising number of allies, and I found the finale to be very satisfying. It's fitting for her character and the world she lives in. I'm sure there will be other tales in this world, given how readily magic and mayhem seem to coincide.

5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/02/17/review-the-crimson-road-by-ag-slatter/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Six out of Five Stars

Seriously, if I could give this book more than five stars – I would.

This is my favourite so far, which is saying something considering I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author to date. I’ve not read everything in the Sourdough Universe but this is my fourth story and it just grabbed my attention from the get go and held it for the duration. I couldn’t be more enamoured with this book even if I tried.

It’s almost like I had a cunning plan because characters from the last three books I read by AG Slatter (All The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns and The Briar Book of the Dead, which were coincidentally all great reads) all conspired to put in appearances in The Crimson Road, and in fact played key roles. I loved the way these books all fed into each other, it was an absolute treat – BUT – I think that all the books by this author work as standalones so if you haven’t read the other books I mention here I really don’t think you’d struggle picking up The Crimson Road and enjoying it immensely.

The Crimson Road brings to us another winning character in the form of Violent Zennor. Violet has been in training from a very young age, her father has ensured that she has been honed into a deadly weapon to fulfil his long awaited wishes. Violet’s father passes away almost as the story begins so we don’t witness his cruel deeds but Violet shares some of her past as the story progresses and it’s easy to see that her’s was an unhappy childhood. Even with the death of her father she is still being held tight within the snare of his desires and although she hopes to escape from his final ultimatum, in the end, it doesn’t prove possible. And, so Violet sets forth on a, without doubt, impossible task.

What did I love about this book. Everything.

It’s beautifully written with chillingly delicious gothic vibes. This is a story that will finally take us into the lands where the Leech Lords reign (vampires by another name but with their own twisted lore and strange beginnings). Violet has a difficult path and in that respect the title of the book is very appropriate indeed. This is a darker story than the others but I still loved the fairytale feel spun throughout.

Slatter manages to conjure characters that you can easily form attachments to. Violet is a great character in her own right and I loved revisiting three of the women from past stories but we also have Freddie, a street urchin and pickpocket who shadows Violet at every turn. There are fae and ogres, assassins, witches and shapeshifters, twists and treachery and a thimble full of love. I simply adore this world. It’s so well explored and it just works.

I think my only problem with The Crimson Road is that it has an ‘end of’ feel to it. I sincerely hope that isn’t the case because I desperately need some more Sourdough in my life.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating: An absolutely resounding 5 of 5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so so glad I stumbled upon A G Slatter and the Sourdough Universe of books. Every one so far has been such an amazing blend of cozy and adventurous, fun and exciting but with an intermingled lighter tone that just makes these a joy to read. The Crimson Road is very much a standalone book but the extra layer, having read most of the other books and so picking up on characters and Easter eggs, was pure delight. But I’m confident this can be read with tons of enjoyment without having read the others too. The characters are well developed and likable, the relationships are well developed, and the universe as a whole is so well thought through and developed. All in all this book adds to a great catalogue of stories by the author and I’m excited to read more whenever it’s written.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i didn’t realize this book took place within an established world when i requested it, and while i don’t think one needs to read the others to enjoy this one, i do personally feel like i would have enjoyed it better if i had read the previous works.

i also listened to the audio, and the narrator did a great job!

The Crimson Road was one of my most-anticipated reads for the first quarter of 2025. I loved The Path of Thorns and I love Slatter’s grim, violent fantasy storytelling.

Sadly, I really needed this story to get up and going much sooner than it did. I loved the writing style and the story the book was trying to tell, but ultimately it just took too long to get to the actual story, in my opinion, and by then I was thoroughly frustrated at all the hurry-up-and-wait I had been forced to sit through. I would have much rather read the story about the journey than the story of everything prior to journey.

This isn’t a hard and fast ruling, though. I might come back to this book after I’ve read more Sourdough books and seen how the books interlock a little more. That’s always a fun endeavor.

I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews rated three stars or under will not appear on my social media. Thank you.

The Crimson Road by A.G Slatter is the first book I've read by this author and I didn't realize that this book was part of a larger series of books. That said, having read only this one, I don't think I missed anything not reading the others that have connected characters. I did, however go back and find out the titles and add them to be tbr shelf so I can go back and read them as they are all interesting characters.

I found this book to be interesting and the characters were as well. Violet Zennor has been brought up trained to fight and kill. As a young woman of the time, this is not the norm but her father was also not normal after the death of her mother and brother. But when Hedrek Zennor (her father) dies, Violet finally thinks she is free and as a rich, young heiress, able to do whatever she would like but when assassins show up to her home and then end up killing close friends of her father's, she knows she needs to clean up his mess or she will never be free.

Violet is tasked with going into the Darklands and along the way she crosses paths with a number of characters - some of these are those that tie into the stories of other books. That said, it's a hard and dangerous journey and at the end of the road is where she will supposedly find her brother. See, what I didn't mention is that when her brother died, a strange man paid her father a lot of money for his body and that is how they became wealthy. But there is a prophecy that Violet is linked to and now her destiny is tied to the Anchorhold and she needs to "do what must be done."

A lot happens in this book and I can't even begin to tell you about it. Just trust me when I say you should just pick this one up and dive right in. The world building and character development for Violet was done well. I'm hoping that when I pick up the other books in this world, I will learn more about those she crossed paths with.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I will definitely be picking up more books by this author. Consider reading this one if you are looking for something with a Gothic, Horror feel to it. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Violet Zennor has recently lost her father, a man who spent most of her life training her in secret to be an expert fighter against vampires/leeches. After finally being free of his influence and rules, she plans to leave St Sinwins, the place she's grown up and suffered various losses through her life. Her stepmother returns after hunting for a mysterious book for the last couple of years and it turns out that Violet cannot be free to make her own path, even in the absence of her contolling Dad, as she has another job to do - head to the homeland of the vampires and destroy them before her estranged brother turns 13 and allows them to leave the place they are currently trapped.

The story is really interesting, Violet is an interesting main character, and all the side characters she meets along her epic journey are all distinct and well fleshed out. I loved Freddie, her young sidekick from her hometown, turning up whenever Violet needed her.

The journey to the Darklands takes up the majority of the book and the conclusion feels like it was dealt with quite quickly, but the writing and characterisations and the history and lore of the world were excellent! I loved the appearance by the Briar Witches from her previous book.

I am a huge fan of vampire fiction, and I really enjoyed Slatter's take on it with her Leech Lords and dayrunners. I was fully immersed in the dark world she creates which feels real and detailed with its own folklore, curses and prophecies.

I loved the descriptions of the landscape and towns, but particularly the specifics when describing the intricacies of moving within the rooms of houses.

The characters are richly drawn with so many strong women - physically, mentally, emotionally - who show different facets of feminity. Violet is great, as is her bond with Freddie, and I really warmed to Rikke.

I also enjoyed the emphasis on the power of knowledge, scholarly pursuits and books.

I've had All The Murmuring Bones sat on my TBR pile since publication and now I'm eager to jump back into this gothic yet welcoming world!

I adore A.G. Slater’s works and the world she has created. The Crimson Road is another stellar novel with the rich gothic themes and beautiful prose. As with her other novels Slater creates a lush and vivid world and atmosphere that drags you into the novel and doesn’t let you go. The characters are beautifully crafted and believable.

I won’t spoil the plot but I will say Slater is an instant buy author for mixing fantasy and gothic with beautiful prose and stunning atmosphere.

As always thank you to Titan Books for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Many stories in fantasy rely on someone delivering their destiny. There is some message about us relaising our inner potential but the idea of our fates being laid out even before we are born can also suggest everything was already pre-ordained. How can we make certainty interesting? What about if you don’t at all want that fate? This spin on the Chosen One is delivered really well in AG Slatter’s new novel The Crimson Road where a young woman has decided the last thing she ever wants to do is deliver her father’s greatest wish – to battle vampires. Things do not go well from that point on and it’s an engrossing ride into danger.

In the port town of St Sinwin’s 17-year old Violet Zennor finds that her father is finally dead and her own life may finally be allowed to begin. Expecting to inherit the family fortune however she finds that is off limits to her, as is simply escaping out of town and that Hedrek Zennor has made a condition of the will that she voyage to the Darklands of the North and perform the duty. Violet was trained half her life to be able to battle Leech Lords, those undead who feast on blood but she wants no part of it. Only when it is clear the Leech lords themselves are aware of her and will put any she care about in extreme danger does she begin a long journey that will take her across the world and meet other women who also had to decide their own paths before eventually meeting the power that has been influencing her own life so so many years.

So do not worry there will be battles with many vampires in this story but what makes it work is that Violet goes on a fascinating journey across the lands and in the process discovers quite a few things about herself making one of Slatter’s most interesting characters.

Told by Violet she sounds a much older woman and as we discover she’s from an early age been pulled into constant training. A fighter who can be disguised as a lady of wealth and with a fair degree of knowledge about the Leech Lords. What though comes apparent is her father is not a gruff mentor but pretty much a single minded man bent on revenge and thought nothing of making his daughter the tool of that however much abuse he could through at her. Understandably this makes her relationships fraught and she is suspicious of everyone. The first part of the book follows her desperate attempts to get out of this life and the many obstacles a dead man can throw at her. It demonstrates her resourcefulness but also how dangerous a place she had grown up is. She finally learns more family history and we as the reader will feel more than sorry she is stuck in this path once again. What I loved though is these sections are filled with colour from deadly assassins, gothic funerals, mysterious secrets and family revelations the world of Violet is created first and feels fully realised. She is capable but she is up against an ancient and powerful set of foes.

A big part of the fun of this story is nothing quite goes in the direction you’d expect. The Sourdough novels that this is part of have created a land created out of myth, folk lore and the occasional dark echo of fairy tales but Slatter plays with them into new shapes. This is an author not afraid to take a story into a new direction a battle with an ogre may become something unexpected. To aid Violet she needs information and weapons so this means she needs to travel across the lands before the Darklands are reached.

While our inner Vampire lovers may initially feel that’s a shame the good news is that instead we get several other adventures for Violet all serving the major story. If you’re new to Slatter this will mean we visit sone fascinating places and meet the women in charge of them. We find other women thrust into roles of responsibility and trying to make their own lives and live with family secrets. If though you’re familiar with Slatter’s other novels in this world then you’re going to recognise these names and place from the other books and find out what happened next. These links work very well and remind us how big and interesting the land these tales take place in. They all shape Violet’s story and perhaps remind her she is in charge of her life and no one else is. I hugely enjoyed these journeys but it’s also interesting how many character in this series are shown to have defied the rules of the game to make their own paths. It’s a firm challenge to the idea of a chosen one which this tale also takes on.

The main plot though comes calling and I really enjoyed the build up. We delve into the history of the Leech Lords how they came about and in a land of magic are see themselves as something very different I all other creatures. The mix of lore and story about them builds them up and even our first encounter shows one alone is dangerous. Now imagine a land governed by them. They’re a group filled with intrigue, some even could be seen as good from one point of view and yet Vuoletbis up against a truly nasty one and when we encounter them and what they’re capable of it’s a proper battle of equals that erupts and the stakes are personal.

The Crimson Road was a deliciously dark read. Filled with adventures, a touch of horror and dark fantasy mixed with a fascinating cast and storyline there was nothing I didn’t enjoy. Fans of Slatter’s novels are going to appreciate the bigger world this story goes back to but if you’re new then this is a great place to start and will open up many more stories for you. It is strongly recommended!

This book was a great comfort read that just happened to have vampires in it. I loved it up until the end. I was certain that it would end on a cliffhanger that would be continued in a sequel, but the ending did not live up to the build up. It was too easy for the hero.

After immersing myself in The Path of Thorns upon its release, A.G. Slatter quickly became one of my favorite authors. The Crimson Road continues to build on that admiration, showcasing her exceptional world-building. We are given a story about making your own path in the world; a story of resistance against a growing darkness.

I’m eager to revisit the other stories within The Sourdough Universe and look forward to the future works Slatter will bring to life.

Two of Slatter's books have been translated to Dutch and were published in truly beautiful editions. I loved both of them. As a reader it feels like you've got binoculars and are allowed to watch people for a short while in their lives. So, when I saw this book on Netgalley I couldn't stop myself and had to request a copy, although I do hope it will also get such a wonderful special Dutch edition. Luckily Titan Books granted me a digital review copy and I could start reading.

What I absolutely loved about this book is how connected it feels to the other two books I've read. All books by this author take place in the same world, although I'm sure that you can read this book perfectly well without having read the others, and it was quite nice to see some familiar faces and to revisit some familiar locations. And yet, those cameos didn't take anything away from this story. It was very clear whose story this was and why this story was told.

I have to admit that I didn't click as well with this book as with the other two books I've read, though. I guess that has to do with the heroine who is very unlike me. Our heroine is a strong fighter, has been prepared for this one single task for her entire life and is only now discovering what task is waiting for her. Her journey is more of a quest and less of a personal journey and although I enjoyed reading the tale, I was less touched than by the other two stories.

That's not because this book isn't good. On the contrary. It's clear the book is well thought out, the world building is well done, the connections to the other books and stories feels natural and never forced. It's a matter of personal taste. If you like this author's writing and worldbuilding, but didn't connect with the previous heroines, you might wanna give this book a chance. This heroine might be your kind of heroine and you might fall in love with this book, like I did with the other two.

A.G. Slatter’s The Crimson Road is another exquisite thread in the ever-expanding tapestry of the Sourdough world—a place of sharp-toothed magic, quiet resilience, and stories that interlock like puzzle pieces, each whole on its own yet richer together. Slatter’s world is one of hearth spirits and hindgirls, leech lords and werewolves, creatures that lurk in the sea and shadows, all seamlessly woven into a universe that feels as if it has always existed.

At its heart is Violet, a woman caught between the echoes of her father’s cruel intentions and the price of defying them. Her journey is one of self-determination, of choosing between the burdens of the past and the people she loves in the present. Beside her is Freddie, a scrappy street urchin with a sharp mind and a fierceness that belies her size—a reminder that strength in this world comes in many forms, and so often from the hands of women.

Slatter’s gift is in the details, the breadcrumbs that tie her books together without force but with the ease of a master storyteller who always intended for them to fit. The Sourdough world is a place I love returning to, as comforting as it is darkly enchanting, and The Crimson Road is a path I would gladly walk again.

It’s such a pleasure to read fantasy well told from a woman’s point of view. I’m old enough to remember when everything was about the heroes, and while that’s fine, Violet is far beyond the ‘fiesty heroine’ often found in the genre - and she’s by no means the only strong female in this excellent novel.

Yes, this is a story about vampires and magic, but the author takes her time setting up the world and its characters before Violet even sets foot outside her hometown. I was worried that this might slow things down, but on the contrary, it allows the reader to get to know her history, frustrations and friends. Her initial encounter is with pirates and smugglers virtually on her doorstep, quickly followed by an assassination attempt - all before she finally accepts her hero’s destiny! It’s a pleasure to be swept up in events along with our protagonist, and I was immediately along for the ride.

As Violet visits different communities my grasp of society grew with her, gently unfolding with truly relatable characters and issues. It’s not a matter of ‘Goodies/Baddies’, but real people in difficult situations. I loved that Violet isn’t afraid to admit her fears, nor strike back when challenged - I’d go so far as to say she’s one of the most well-rounded heroes I’ve ever read.

While I had heard of this author’s work, ‘The Crimson Road’ was my first encounter with her world, and I’m glad to say that I never felt lost. There’s no deluge of fantasy names or exposition, with history coming in the form of ancient diaries that are explanatory without stopping the story in its tracks. Also yes, inevitably there’s some romance, but it’s introduced naturally and never gets in the way of the main plot.

I must mention a particular ‘side-quest’ that was over far too soon. What would you say to two crotchety old vampire women living together in a cottage full of books, keeping the local bandit population down for food? Oh gods, I wanted more of these fantastic ladies (and when I realized who one in particular was… I admit to a gasp).

And I absolutely adored Freddie, Professional Street Urchin and someone I’d love to see develop in a future tale.

This is a story about memorable, likeable people battling through the tides of life - albeit with vampires and magic! After all, there are monsters and class-battles in our world too, and the fact that Violet faces her challenges in such a relatable way endeared her hugely to me.

I’ll be off to look up the author’s back catalogue now.

This was such a great books, and reads well as a standalone even though it is in an interconnected series.

In a world of gothic creatures, vampires, witches, assassins, this world was completely immersive and I felt like I fully disappeared into it.

Even though Violet is a very flawed character, she was so brave, and obviously cares deeply for some of the side characters in this story. I feel like side characters make or break a story, but the ones in this book were very well written.

I think the only flaw that I found was that the pacing felt a little off at times, but other than that, it was a great read, and I’m now off to catch up and read more from this author!

Some books whisper their magic - The Crimson Road drags you in and never lets go. A dazzling, darkly twisted fairy tale brought to life with lush world building, a fierce heroine and vampires like you've never seen before. A.G. Slatter's gothic fantasy The Crimson Road is pure magic.

Violet Zennor is everything you want in a protagonist, cunning, determined and utterly human. Forced onto a path she thought she'd finally escaped after the death of her father she's not the kind of heroine blessed by fate; she's a survivor who fights tooth and nail for her freedom. Slatter crafts her with so much heart that you can't help but root for her as she concedes to her duty and battles monsters both literal and metaphorical.

The world itself is a masterpiece of dark fantasy, both wondrous and sinister, mysterious and steeped in folklore. You can almost smell the rain on cobblestone streets and feel the chill of the forest at your back. The narrative unfolds like an old folktale, the kind told by firelight, filled with shadows, secrets, the ever present hum of danger and magic around every corner.

And then there are the Leech Lords. Slatter's take on vampires blends myth and invention to create something wholly original. Seeing their story unfold as Violet pieces together what she needs is fascinating and every encounter with them is a thrill.

Here's the kicker: I've never read any of Slatter's other Sourdough books and it didn't matter one bit. The Crimson Road stands on its own while hinting at a larger world that feels rich and fully realised. I understand from other reviews that there are cameo's of characters from the previous books but this never detracted from my enjoyment. If anything it's made me eager to go back and discover everything I've missed!

If you love your fantasy dark and deliciously dangerous, filled with fierce women, and a world that feels like a forgotten legend brought to life, then trust me - The Crimson Road will leave you spellbound.