This was by far one of my favorite books that I read last year and it got me out of such a huge reading slump. And yes, here I am finally writing the review I should have written last year 🤦🏻‍♀️

As I said above, this books was a favorite for me. It’s not my usual cup of tea but something about this book had me in a chokehold until I finished it. My only pet peeve was that the book followed way too many characters. I found myself getting the three main protagonists confused with the others quite frequently. One the other hand, the craftsmanship of this book was out of this world. Krystal Sutherland painted such a clear (and gross) picture with her descriptions, that it was like I was watching a movie play out in my head.

I will say that the body horror threw me off when I first started reading this book. Like I said, not my usual cup of tea. I would highly recommend going into this book with a strong stomach.

Thank you so much to @km_sutherland and @netgalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland is a thought-provoking and hauntingly atmospheric novel that explores themes of grief, family, and the supernatural. The story follows a young woman who, after the sudden death of her brother, begins to unravel dark secrets about her family’s mysterious past. Sutherland’s writing is both lyrical and chilling, creating a gripping narrative filled with tension and emotion. The novel’s blend of realism and magical elements creates a compelling atmosphere, while its deeply complex characters and their emotional journeys make it a powerful and unforgettable read. The Invocations is a perfect choice for fans of gothic fiction and stories that delve into the mysteries of love, loss, and the supernatural.

Krystal Sutherland's latest novel is a witchy story with thriller elements. It alternates between the 3rd person POVs of 3 girls--a young witch named Emer, Zara who wants to resurrect her older sister, and Jude, who just wants her normal life back after accidentally yolking her soul to a demon. All of them feel compelled to track down an unidentified serial killer who is targeting women in London. While this book does have the thriller piece, the main focus is really on the relationship between our 3 main characters.
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I liked how even though these girls were very different, they were drawn to each other from their mutual involvement/association with witchcraft (however warranted). Each girl is intriguing in her own right, and I appreciate that Sutherland gave each of them backstories, and the ways that they end up intertwining (to an extent) was really well done. In fact, I found myself more invested in learning about these 3 girls and their budding relationship that I almost forgot to focus on the whole serial killer thing. This meant that I didn't really theorize about who the killer might have been as I normally would, so when the truth was revealed, it was genuinely shocking.
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Overall, an intriguing read.

I loved House of Hollow so I was really excited about The Invocations! The Invocations was delightfully spooky and wonderfully unique. I was sad to finish because I loved the world and the characters so much.

I really enjoyed this. In all honesty, while the entire book was entertaining, it got REALLY good at about the 75% mark. Like I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next. That’s when I fell in love with the story.

Thank you to the publisher for letting me have a chance to read this ARC.

I enjoyed this. I will be honest though I thought it was too long. I think it could have been shortened by 50-75 pages. I lot of description that was repetitive throughout the book.

What I did like was the horror elements and the suspenseful moments. The character development was great too.

Three girls come together to defeat a powerful being.

I gave this 3.5/5

I loved House of Hollow and I am not sure why I waited so long to read this one. The characters in this book felt so real and fleshed out, while not bogging down the story. Jude, Emer, and Zara had such a great found family aspect, and the romance while not overly developed became clearer and clearer through actions rather than lust and declarations of love. The gore was well done, especially for being a YA novel, Sutherland wasn't afraid to really go for it. The twist gagged me a little even though in retrospect it was not that shocking, but I was just letting the story play out without forming predictions.
Jude, I love you my necrotic little witch, I hope you love your new life.

I love Sutherland’s writing! From the very first page, I was drawn in by the familiarity of her style and the way she crafts such vivid and atmospheric settings. Her ability to immerse readers in the world she creates is remarkable.

One of the book’s strongest aspects was its character development. I felt like I truly got to know Zara, Jude, and Emer, and their motivations and decisions were consistent and authentic. This made their actions and choices throughout the story feel natural and true to who they were, which I really appreciated.

That said, I struggled with the pacing at times. The first half of the book felt sluggish, and I found myself questioning how invested I was in the story. However, once I passed the 60% mark, the narrative’s tempo picked up significantly. The climax was gripping and packed with intensity, which made it hard to put the book down. Unfortunately, the conclusion didn’t quite live up to the buildup for me. It felt flat and left me a little disappointed after the thrilling final act.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and Sutherland’s talent shines through. While it wasn’t perfect, I’d still recommend it, especially to fans of dark, atmospheric stories with complex characters. A solid 4-star read for me!

This book was definitely not what I was expecting, in the best way possible. It kept me engaged, I loved the characters, and I really dug the themes of standing up against the patriarchy while also entertaining the reader with the more macabre and esoteric aspects of the story.

Krystal Sutherland has done it again. The Invocations is a wonderfully eerie and somewhat dark and witchy tale that will captivate readers the way it did to me.

Solid 4 stars from me! This book intrigued me from the prologue. I was on the edge of my seat! This book IS for the angry girls and it goes SO HARD.

This was my first Krystal Sutherland book and I was not disappointed. The writing was excellent and it transported me into the story easily. It was atmospheric and had multiple POVs. These three different MCs were VERY compelling and I was riveted to see how they would deal with the situation. The situation being that they have to figure out who is murdering Emer’s clients. This book is a mystery but doesn’t shy away from hitting some heavier topics such as misogyny. This book IS female rage and I loved it.

This was a great sapphic and witchy book that is a great fall read. I don’t normally read much along the horror or thriller veins, but this one is worth picking up if you don’t normally find yourself picking up these types of stories. Thank you to Penguin Teen for the advanced reading copy!

"The Invocations" is a captivating and atmospheric novel that delves into themes of mystery, magic, and the supernatural. The author’s prose is both lyrical and haunting, drawing readers into a world where reality and the mystical blur. The characters are well-developed, with compelling motivations and struggles that make them relatable. The plot unfolds slowly but steadily, with moments of intense suspense and intrigue. However, at times, the pacing can feel a bit uneven, slowing down the story’s momentum. Despite this, the rich world-building and emotional depth make it an engaging read, perfect for fans of dark, immersive fiction.

I got a copy of this from NetGalley and it did not disappoint. It’s sapphic and atmospheric and an amazing read to sink your teeth into.

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it. Thank to you NetGalley for the ARC!

Why is it always f/f books that have the best written stories about witches? Probably because they are in-tune to each other. Female witches have power that male witches lack. The list could go on.

This book is a murder mystery that unites three girls (three different girls) t0gether to take down men. The banter, the slow hesitance to friendship all of them shared? I loved it. Absolutely loved it! I had no idea where the story was going and that was the joy behind it all.

Gave it a star less because I wanted more background behind the culprits and their issues and if any more of these idiots exist in real life. I felt like if the author wanted to write another story in the same universe she could.

All in all - if you want a jolly good time with witches, read this book.

Love books about female rage and this one was oozing with it out of every decaying crevice. I adored the story, the mystery, the writing and the characters. Their found family of 3 misfits whose stories intertwined was just perfect. The relationships, the banter, the feeling of wanting to be loved and seen, they were all so stunning. I enjoyed reading each one of their stories and loved that the mystery kept you guessing till the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the perfect spooky season read and I loved the magic or invocations in this book. I loved the three women and their different stories and how they came together to solve the murders of other women. I really enjoyed this whole book and how multi layered this book was and all of the reveals within the book. I really want to learn more about the magic in this world as it was fascinating.

This book is everything you could ever want out of a sapphic witchy book! Krystal Sutherland continues to impress me with her writing! I am a life long fan of hers and I can’t wait to reread this one!

This is the kind of witchy, atmospheric book that makes my insides tingle. If you thought House of Hollow was good, then strap in because The Invocations is BETTER. It tackles themes of misogyny, intersectional feminism, and toxic masculinity without being too preachy AND it’s creepy as hell.

4 solid stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Krystal Sutherland does it again! I loved her book House of Hollows. So of course, I had to give this one a shot. And again, it was magic. She’s great at weaving magic and reality together.