Book: Vervain: A Dark Dystopian Horror Romance by Shaina Anastasi
Reviewed by A Court of Inked Margins
Rating: 4/5
Vervain pulled me straight back into the world of Naylen with an interesting start that quickly reminded me why I liked this world in the first place. Picking up right where Moonflower left off, it expands on the characters, conflicts and world already established in the first book.
I do think I would have benefited from rereading Moonflower beforehand, as I found myself trying to remember some of the smaller details early on.
The worldbuilding was easily one of my favourite parts. It was stunning, and I loved getting to explore more of Naylen and everything within it. Shaina gave us the information we needed without constantly over-explaining, which made everything feel much more natural. The dialogue also felt consistent throughout, and I really appreciated having the pronunciation guide at both the beginning and end, along with the meaning guide at the back.
The character interactions were another highlight, especially Saya and Serun. Their scenes together were some of my favourites, and I loved seeing more of their dynamic. I also liked seeing how they interacted with the other characters throughout the story. Some of those relationships started with quite a bit of tension, so it was interesting watching that slowly ease as the story progressed and the characters began to understand each other more. There was also a great balance of action and suspense, with something always happening or building in the background to keep me interested.
The ending wasn't what I expected, but I liked the direction it took. Overall, this was a strong continuation and a 4.5-star read for me. My biggest regret is not refreshing my memory of Book 1 first.
I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy dark fantasy/dystopian stories with strong worldbuilding, action, suspense and characters whose stories continue across the series.