THE HIERARCHY OF SPIRITS
FIRST ORDER
THE ORDER OF THE INNOCENTS
Shade
Wisp
SECOND ORDER
SOULS LOST TO THE FORCES OF NATURE
Gaunt—Death by famine Frostfain—Death by exposure Undine—Death by drowning Ashgrim—Death by fire THIRD ORDER
SOULS LOST TO ILLNESS AND DISEASE
Feverling—Death by fever Witherkin—Death by wasting Wretchling—Death by flux Blight wraith—Death by blight Plague specter—Death by pestilence FOURTH ORDER
SOULS LOST TO VIOLENCE
Rivener—Death by battle Fury—Death by murder Penitent—Death by execution White vicar—The spirit of a slain cleric FIFTH ORDER
THE SEVEN REVENANTS
Cimeliarch the Bright Architrave the Dim
Cahethal the Mad
Oremus the Lost
Sarathiel the Obscured Malthas the Hollow
Rathanael the Scorned
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wrote this book during Covid isolation, at a time when, like many people, I felt like Artax drowning in the Swamp of Sadness, the most depressed I’d ever been in my life （which is saying something）， slowly losing my facility with language, chipping away at draft after draft that read as though it had been written by a dismal AI or a committee of bewildered space aliens nervously attempting to mimic human behavior. That is to say, this book was very hard to write and I owe a considerable debt of gratitude to everyone who put up with me during it.
Firstly, I need to thank my agent, Sara Megibow, who is an eternal beacon of light and dragged me out of the swamp many times. Secondly, my wonderful editor, Karen Wojtyla, who waited with great compassion and forbearance as I crept piteously toward my deadlines like a horrible Sméagol. And all the marvelous people at S&S who work so hard normally, and had to work even harder on Vespertine because of our tight schedule: Nicole Fiorica, Bridget Madsen, Elizabeth Blake-Linn, Sonia Chaghatzbanian, Irene Metaxatos, Cassie Malmo, Chantal Gersch, Emily Ritter, Anna Jarzab, Caitlin Sweeney, Nicole Russo, Mandy Veloso, Penina Lopez, and many others whose names I don’t know, but who deserve a lifetime supply of gourmet chocolate for their tireless efforts behind the scenes.
Next I must thank my family and friends, who tolerated an astonishing amount of bizarre behavior as I deteriorated into a primordial ooze-like state—particularly my mom and dad, without whose support I never would have become an author, and also would have died of scurvy. And my dear friends Jes, Rachel, and Jamie, who helped me brainstorm important parts of the book, as well as Ashley Poston, for her much-needed kindness and advice.
I wouldn’t be here today without the support of independent booksellers. I would like to thank everyone at my local indie Joseph-Beth, the first bookstore to feature in my childhood memories, and still my favorite bookstore today. I am also deeply grateful to bookseller Nicole Brinkley, who reached out to me at a time when I desperately needed help.
Last but not least: my profound thanks to Charlie Bowater, the phenomenally skilled artist who illustrates my covers, and hasn’t yet appeared at the stroke of midnight to claim my soul, which I owe her. Truly. It’s in the contract.