This a great fantasy read with gothic vibes, morally grey choices, and a heroine who refuses to be broken.

This book follows Violet Zennor, who’s been trained to fight for her life by a father who sees her as nothing more than a weapon. But when he dies, she’s forced onto a dangerous path through the eerie, witch filled Darklands filled with creepy forests, blood-soaked bargains, and ancient magic with a serious grudge.

Violet is everything you want in a protagonist; tough, smart, and constantly battling the line between vengeance and freedom. The world Slatter builds is darkly magical and dripping in atmosphere. It feels like wandering through a haunted fairytale.

There’s no insta love here, just a slow, simmering story of survival, power, and finding your own voice in a world that keeps trying to silence it. Plus, if you're into rich lore, deadly ladies, and stories that feel both classic and totally fresh, this one will be perfect.

The Crimson Road was a bloody and suspensful story that I absolutely ate up. It was bloody, it was brutal and it was gothic horror at it's finest! I love the Sourdough Universe and this book did not disappoint. Violet was a lovable character you root for the whole way through as she faces supernatural horrors and a quest not of her own making. Readers that love the other books in the Sourdough universe are bound to love this one too.

Thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this novel. Here are my thoughts!

Violet’s upbringing is unusual. Her mother and brother tragically died when she was born, so her father raised her to be a smart, strong and skillful fighter. Someone who is ready for anything. One day, Violet’s father dies, and she thinks she is free from his strange ways until she learns of the mess he has made and the adventure she will have to go on into the Darklands to clean it up.

This is my first book in the Sourdough Universe, and it will not be the last. At first, I thought the writing was a little too detailed and that it was going to be a little too slow for me. Not the case, at all. Violet meets so many interesting, unique and highly entertaining creatures, people and monsters on her travels and I couldn’t wait to read more of her story. Some of the tales, such as the ogre one, will stick with me. It was so creatively spun.

I’m sure there were characters and Easter Eggs from other books in this universe and I wish I had read them first so I could pick up on them. I have added the other books in the universe to my TBR and this may be a new fantasy author I’ll need to keep an eye out for! This series leans more into the cozy realm than the high fantasy realm, which I really enjoyed. I feel like these books would be perfect for reading in the fall, when you can cozy up with a cup of tea on the couch.

It was reminiscent of The Witcher short stories as there is an overarching plot, but a lot of fun side stories happening at the same time. It also sprinkles in a little romance, horror, mystery and just human stuff. So, if you like that kind of thing, you should check out this book and the rest of the Sourdough Universe. I certainly plan to!

The Crimson Road
The Sourdough Universe Series
2⭐️

Pub Date: 2/11/2025

Uhm. Unfortunately, not for me.
The premise was interesting- FMC gaining her freedom after her father's death but she can't get her fortune unless she does one last task, something sinister. It has so much potential in my opinion and I actually was very excited to dive deeper. However it was soooooo slow 😭 This has vampires in it, but nothing was really happening. She didn't even encounter one until way later in the book. There wasn't really any crazy action, just small spurts of trouble here and there.

I do admit that the writing style is good. The atmosphere it painted was gothic and mesmerizing and that's what kept me going. I didn't realize that it's part of a series, although upon further checking, it seems like they're all standalones. I might have enjoyed this better (maybe) if I knew more of the actual established universe. Eitherway, for fans of gothic fantasy and for people already familiar with this universe, this may appeal more to you.

Thank you @netgalley and Titan Books for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I couldn't get into this book. I tried, but in the end I didn't finish it, I dnfed around 70%. I just couldn't get on with the writing style, which is definitely a me problem and not that the book isn't well written. In the end, it just wasn't my book, even though the idea behind it really spoke to me.

This was an okay book! Liked it better than I thought. It was slow in some parts but overall a decent read! Would suggest! :)

The Crimson Road by A.G. Slatter is a dark and immersive fantasy that blends rich world-building with complex characters and intense emotional depth. The story follows a strong-willed protagonist navigating a world filled with magic, danger, and personal struggles. Slatter's writing is atmospheric and captivating, with a blend of mystery and tension that keeps readers hooked. This novel is perfect for fans of dark fantasy and character-driven narratives.

I enjoyed being back in this world Angela created. I love the folklore and fairytale feel of it. It was fun seeing characters from past books make an appearance.

The Gothic vibes were there for sure. And what N interesting vampire concept. I always look forward to seeing the next book from Angela.

My first book by this author, but I loved it! The gothic, historical vibe was fab! I loved the dual perspectives and character themes

this was everything I had ever wanted and needed.

The Crimson Road is like a Grimm fairytale comes to life, a critic of the existence of women in society, and gothic horror all rolled up into one. It is dark, it is grim, it is everything. I cried with Violet and shared joys as she overcame the fate the men in her life had written for her. And the fact it exists in the Sourdough Universe along with Path of Thorns? 10/10.

Thanks Titan Books, A.G. Slatter, and Netgalley for the ARC!

A richly imagined, lushly described gothic setting that takes the heroine on a vampiric tale of familial burden and self determination,

Effing fantastic gothic dark fantasy! Loved the witches and vampires narrative! The author is going to be a repeat author for me! Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.

Another amazing story by A.g Slatter !

I adored this book I only wish I had read the books in order and not this cockeyed way I’ve done things.

If you enjoy violence, crafty street urchins that aren’t all that they seem. A different take on vampires witches and all things supernatural maybe pick up one of slatters books because I couldn’t put it down.

I adored Violet she was such a strong character who really didn’t seem to have a choice in her own fate .

The story is almost backwards forwards all
Timey wimey because you learn back story’s and other characters and places from. Her other books absolutely fascinating.

Angela Slatter is a master of Gothic Fantasy, in which the almost off-hand details can become major plot points two or three books down the road. This book is one of small details, and of connections. One might expect that the way in which Crimson Raid brings in characters from previous Sourdough World novels, as well as some of her short stories that it would be a grand , dramatic, avengers assemble style confrontation. However this is about the small traumas, and the small victories, and the battles not fought, and all the many beautiful details.

This was my first book read by the author, and I have quite enjoyed the story it definitely pulled me in and was very engaging the characters are so well developed and lovable that I found myself wanting to just know more about them and when I finished the book, I missed the characters like they were actually my friends

I have read and loved basically all of the other books in this series, and this very much felt like The Avengers. Our main character goes on a journey of self-realization and ends up meeting all the protagonists from the previous three books. At times, this felt like it short changed this character's journey - because I was so happy to see all the others and what they'd been up to since I'd seen them last - but it was so nice to see old friends, anyway.

I loved the interesting twist on the vampire myth, and as always, AG Slatter does amazing work with the gothic vibes and really making her character's arc be the center of the story.

4/5 stars.

The Crimson Road is a book that has a lot of potential but it doesn’t ever quite reach what it could be.

Let’s start with the positives. It is set in a wonderfully dark and gothic world. It’s very Victorian in tone and you half expect Jack the Ripper to be lurking around the corner. It’s very well constructed.

The story is largely fine. I enjoyed it for the most part but it did start to drag towards the end. The story centres around Violet Zennor, who has been trained to be a fighter by her father. She has been trained to go after the Leeches (vampires) and she is reluctant to face up to her destiny until she has to. It’s a tale as old as time. I did enjoy it for the most part but the pacing was a bit off in places and I was getting a little restless by the end.

The Crimson Road is a good book for the most part. I liked the plot, I enjoyed the characters and the world was fantastic but the story could have been a little tighter, particularly towards the climax. It ended well but the lead up to it was a little boring.

Violet could be completely free after her father's death, but his will gets her in trouble again. She is only to receive her inheritance when she finds her brother. Her stillborn brother, whose body was taken to the dark lands years ago.
The gothic atmosphere of this novel was fantastic. The mysterious, gothic atmosphere oozed from every page. The quest, the creatures, and the narrative itself were well-aligned with the enchanting gothic setting.
Regrettably, I found it challenging to connect with this book. It begins with a compelling premise featuring her father's death and the reading of the will, yet it takes until halfway through for the actual journey to commence. Violet's character struck me as somewhat one-dimensional, and I struggled to find aspects of her personality that resonated with me.
This book beckons invitingly, perfect for those misty November days when the world outside is shrouded in a soft, gray veil. It's a treasure waiting to unfold, ready to envelop you in its warm embrace and awaken your spirit amidst the chill.

Angela Slatter writing vampires? In a story set in her fabulous and sprawling Sourdough universe? Yes, yes, and yes please. Violet Zennor, assassin-in-training and recently bereaved after the death of her father, is a wonderfully bold and brassy protagonist with a penchant for knives. One of the many things I particularly loved about this book is the way it connects to several of Slatter's recent novels, including ALL THE MURMURING BONES, THE PATH OF THORNS, and THE BRIAR BOOK OF THE DEAD. Also, I love how the book puts a decidedly Slatter-esque, dark fantasy twist on vampire lore.

When Hedrek Zennor dies, Violet hopes to finally be free of training, brutality and all the people who have tried to influence her since she was a child.

Her father, however, had other plans for her. Everything comes back to haunt her the day the Zennor mansion is attacked by assassins. The heiress must complete the task for which she was trained. A journey full of obstacles awaits her to the Darklands, where the bloodthirsty Leech lords rule.

I almost laughed when I started writing that this is another book in a row with a slower beginning. However, here this treatment is very thoughtful and inspired by the structure of a classic gothic novel. We are welcomed by a truly foggy and cold atmosphere. From the first pages, Slatter amazingly introduces us to the world into which we have been thrown and with each successive chapter, reveals new mysteries to the reader. On the other hand, the story shines the most when magic systems are introduced into it.

On the one hand, it's a book about vampires, but it focuses most on the character of Violet and her struggle against the expectations imposed on her. I quite liked the characters the heroine met on her way. I later learned that they were cameos from the author's earlier books, as she built up the entire Sourdough universe. Unfamiliarity with those stories did not affect my perception at all. However, I think that people who have knowledge of these characters could have had even more fun than I did.

My only complaint, I think, is that the resolution of the case was too quick and a little anticlimactic. There was a build up throughout the book, and in the end I didn't feel the stakes were that high.