A beautiful and gripping story that I am thankful to have read. But the characters need more development. Thank you Netgalley for giving me this ARC

Five, blood-soaked, necrotic, hard-won stars.

Wow, all I can honestly say after finishing this book is that I LOVED it. It was simply stunning in all its black magic-necromancy- “good-for-her” glory. This novel is dark and unflinching. It was a lot more horrific than I thought it was going to be. And While I am sad to say that I have not read House of Hollow yet, it skyrocketed up the list of books I am going to be reading soon. Krystal Sutherland is going to be one of my auto-buy authors, I can feel it.

I think this novel was made for me, with the exceptionally dark elements, the strength of the female characters and the underlying message of the novel, it was a fast and enjoyable read. I think this novel is coming at a very interesting time as well, with the Barbie Movie making waves, and really speaking out to what it means to be a woman in a man’s world. The incredible thing about this novel, while the magic is black and gruesome. There are elements that are simply horrifying. All these women took on these curses to just protect themselves from the ministrations of men. Women harnessed all this power at their fingertips just to simply survive –and are painted as evil, vile horrible creatures. Creatures to be purified and corrected by men. When all they are seeking is to not be molested, to not be beaten, asking for power in exchange to help another person. And what happens as soon as men realize women are doing this – they murder them. They try to steal the women’s power to lord over others, to elevate self, while all the while screaming that the women, they killed were evil, it was justified. I thought there was an extremely powerful message in this novel, and I loved every second of it.

I adored Jude and Emer, (Zara had to grow on me if I’m honest), And while I figured early on who the killer was, there were plenty of other surprises ahead that I did not see coming. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a very long time.


>>>>>

"Abby Gallagher had been fifteen years old when she found Emer and asked her for an invocation that would allow her hands to melt through flesh. There had been an abusive uncle, parents who refused to believe her story, and a younger sister she wanted to protect. So, Abby had decided to take the matter into her own hands. Literally."

"Abby had sent a news article some weeks later about a man named Greg Gallagher whose genitals had melted off in horrific and mysterious circumstances. The journalists theorized about spontaneous human combustion. Little did they know."

"There had been fighting in the Gallagher family. Abby had dropped out of school, could not hold down a job, drank in secret and then no longer bothered to hide it. The family was out of town for the week, visiting relatives. They left their eldest daughter at home alone because she refused to join them. They said her depression prevented her from leaving the house much. Emer is doubly sad for this. That the power she gave her was not enough to change what had already happened. That becoming the hero of your own story does not always mean you get a happy ending."

There is a visceral quality to Sutherland's words, in the way they pull you in and keep you hooked throughout the entirety of a story, unable to look away though other real life priorities may call to you. Jude, Emer, and Zara have very distinct personalities and it was fun to see how they played off of each other throughout the story.
I do feel like the girls were given pretty young ages given the way they acted and moved about in the world, but other times their adolescence was perfectly characterized. The concept of witches acquiring magic by tethering beings that eat their very souls was so interesting to me, I wish there had been more plot dedicated to explaining the history of how that came to be.
Overall, the dark tale of these 3 girls pulled me in and had me riveted until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a eARC of this book!

An amazing book by Krystal Sutherland. Many of my friends have also extremely enjoyed this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley

“You have never been alone” Bael
“I didn’t come this far to come this far.” Zara
“Look they have come for you. They always come for you.” Bael

I don’t believe I’ve ever loved a demon, ever, until Bael. This book is about three girls who have decided to find a serial killer in London.
A girl who’s took magic into her own hands (did not go so well), another whose sister is a victim of the killer, and a witch with vengeance.
The story had the perfect amount of suspense, action, and gore with just the right amount of humor. Sutherland can write a great young adult horror story.

The writing was not my cup of tea. It felt choppy and a little disjointed and it was honestly slower than anything I’ve read in a long time. I will not be picking it back up nor will I be reading anything else by this author.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!! I really enjoyed this book; definitely something I will tell my friends about!

I was really anticipating this book and had high hopes. I tried to pick it up three different times and I just had a hard time getting through it. I think it had to do with the formatting of arc and the missing letters. The story was good, but the three different voices seemed to be blended together. Just be aware of the trigger warnings. It did not read like a YA book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc of this.
3/5 stars

After reading “house of hollow” by Sutherland I knew she would become an auto read/buy. I do have to say that “The invocation” did grab my interest a little fast than house of hollow. I couldn’t put this book down, and even when I had to (for sleep) I couldn’t stop thinking about it, I woke up ready to start reading again. If it wasn’t for work I would have finished it way faster.

I loved the story and message, I loved all the characters. My favorite was Jude wolf. She was funny and had a fiery personality. It’s told in 3 pov and I believe this was in third person omniscient (although I can be wrong)

The ending was something I was not expecting, when the truth is finally being found out I was in complete shock. It was a plot twister for sure. I feel like this would make a great doulogy, not becuase the ending was unfinished but becuase the world building and storyline can do with a sequel. I want some more of Jude, Emer and Zara. Without spoiling Emer story is just beginning and I would like to have a follow up.

3.5 stars

Totally gruesome vibes

Women dying left and right and who better to save them than 3 witches.

I did like the story i did feel that it dragged out a little to long for my liking. I found some parts to be really predictable but over all an enjoyable easy read

I recommend it to lovers of horror books

Obsessed! Love this raging feminist witchy book. It was very fast paced. Sometimes a bit predictable but didn’t mind.
“You’re a goddamn vegan influencer!” This line made me laugh. Loved the bit of humor throw in.

Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC

Serial killers. An original magic system and demons. Necromancy. This book has it all. The three main characters are all smart and powerful women in their own right. Jude comes in with the wit and sarcasm while Emer is strong and serious and Zara is thoughtful and intelligent. Their lives are woven together when they try to catch a killer and release a curse.

The pacing is good I never was bored and constantly was intrigued as the story unfolded. The magic system was new and captivated my attention. Couldn’t stop reading once I started

Did not finish.
Did not have a trigger warning for self harm. The book is impossible to read due to the formatting. Letters are missing from multiple words. I have no idea what it says. I thought I would like this book after House of Hollow, I did not.
There was no trigger warnings for animal death or abuse either.

To start, thank you to Netgalley for early access to this title! Moving along, The Invocations is Krystal Sutherland’s new novel that deals with all things occult. If you’re like me, you probably loved Sutherland’s previous title House of Hollow, which touches on similar topics. As someone who loved said book, I had high hopes for this book and I will say they weren’t entirely met. Sutherland’s book is more character driven than plot driven, which wouldn’t be an issue if the characters were slightly more developed. She gives us exciting and relatable characters, but their relationships and stories seem to lack a bit of depth. Emer, Jude, and Zara are interesting characters and I wish would’ve gotten a little more of them somehow. The witchcraft and sapphic parts of this book are the meat and potatoes, and I do think they keep the story afloat. Jude, her sexuality, and the way she presents herself to the word is reminiscent of Cassandra Clare’s Anna Lightwood. In simpler terms, Jude is a lot of fun. Emer and Zara each bring their own flavor to the story which is appreciated. Sutherland’s best work in this book is her descriptions of grief through the eyes of each character. The way she describes the all over heaviness of dealing with loss is very real and human. It is some of her best writing here. All in all, this book was entertaining and did satisfy its promised plot. However, I wish Sutherland gave us a bit more of from the characters and their relationships with themselves and each other.

“The Invocations” by New York Times bestselling author Krystal Sutherland is a dark, witchy thriller about the women who refused to be afraid of the men and demons who lurk in the night.

The book follows three girls from very different backgrounds: Zara Jones, Jude Wolf, and Emmer Bryne:

Zara doggedly believes in magic because it’s the solution she needs to bring her sister back after she was murdered by a serial killer. If dabbling in the occult will bring her sister back, then that’s what Zara will do. But she needs a guide to show her how to do real magic.

In sharp opposition to Zara, Jed Wolf, is an heiress who has had life served to her on a silver platter. That is, until a deal with a demon went awry and her soul began decaying. Flowers wither, insects drop dead, and monstrous things haunt her nights. If Jude can’t find someone with the skill to undo her mistake, she knows her time is limited.

Emer Bryne is the person both Zara and Jude are looking for. The self-trained daughter of a witch, Emer crafts spells for women in desperate situations that sacrifice part of their soul for enough magic to change their circumstances. Emer has her own dark past, which she fears has caught up with her as her former clients are being found murdered.

Once the three girls’ paths cross, they team up to catch the London Ripper before they end up his next victims.

I’ve seen “The Invocations” everywhere since I attended YALLFest in 2023 and was so excited to read it. I was expecting a clever, spooky tale with witches trying to solve a murder. While “The Invocations” technically delivered, I personally think it’s been overhyped. The style came across as disjointed and it was very difficult to keep track of which POV the chapters changed to.

The three main characters were all distinct in their personalities and had compelling backgrounds. They stayed true to their motivations the whole time and had compelling personal arcs. The plot was interesting and the stakes were high…but it was mostly lackluster. It seemed like it was trying too hard to be dark and edgy, and the characters slid into completely trusting each other a little too fast.

While I didn’t dislike “The Invocations,” I was definitely disappointed. It had all the right parts, but the execution was just slightly off, in my opinion.

Thank you Penguin for this ARC!
Krystal Sutherland truly never misses. The Invocations is haunting, magical, and full of rage, and Sutherland's writing style makes it impossible to put down!
Demons, magic, and so much blood, I don't even know where to start with what I love the most. The characters are all so fleshed out and well explored. Over the course of the story we see each one open up more as they begin to trust each other, and share their stories. There is so much female rage in this, and so much wonderful queer representation. Everyone who has been scared to walk home alone, or has pepper spray on their keychain will easily relate and see themselves in this story. I will say this isn't a book to eat and read at the same time, the imagery in this book had me gagging from how horrific and disgusting Sutherland described it.
Each one of the characters has lost something, and they are on a quest to achieve their goal, no matter the cost. (Also guys, lots of daddy issues in this, you know I love to see that!)
I love every second of this book, I have yet to read a book of hers I didn't thoroughly enjoy. There is something about her writing style that manages to tread the line between grotesque imagery, and mystery. I never know where her books are going to take me, but I always know I am going to have a fantastic time on the journey.
This is definitely one to check your triggers for! There is a lot of blood, injuries, and heavy topics that will make this difficult to read for many people, so please make sure you check that before you read this.
This is easily my favorite book of hers so far. I HIGHLY recommend this one! Perfect for fans of dark witchy reads with badass sapphic rep at the forefront.
One final note, I learned way more then I ever wanted to about body decomposition.

I was so excited to be accepted for a reading of this ARC and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!! I fell in love with Sutherland when I read House of Hollow and The Invactions has confirmed that fact.

This story follows 3 young women in their paths in search of answers and a witch-killer. Which isn't the best to be on the loose, considering all three ladies aren't quite "normal" themselves.

This story sucked me in immediately, and I completely devoured it! The twists! The ending! It was all just... *chef's kiss*

4.5 stars! I love Krystal Sutherland’s writing style and how she creates such an atmospheric story. Witches and witch hunters but done in a creative and new way. The beginning was a bit slow but definitely made up for by the explosive ending. Female rage reads for life.

Thanks to NetGalley and penguin teen for this advanced copy.

I typically don't love a story that is heavy handed with it's depiction of feminine rage. I am happy to report that The Invocations is the exception! The concept is so cleverly bound to the story and drives the characters down such an addictive and gritty path that is impossible to put this book down!

If you were taken with Sutherland's dark and whimsical style in House of Hollow, I think The Invocations is a must read! Just like in HOH, the author uses the clever juxtaposition of beauty and horror in a masterful way. Highlighting each makes the other feel so sharp and evocative.

Sutherland has easily become an auto-buy author for me with this offering, I simply can not wait to see what she gives us next!

A dark witchy thriller about three young women working together to stop a serial killer and fix some of their own problems along the way.
Emer is a witch who helps other women make invocations, or deals with demons in exchange for magic, but the women she's helped are now being killed off one by one by a killer who seems to be targeting witches.
Jude is a billionaire's daughter who was recently exiled from her family after making some shoddy invocations which ended up causing more harm than good, and she needs Emer's help to fix them before they drain her completely.
Zara desperately wants magic so she can resurrect her sister who was killed, no matter how much she knows that bringing people back from the dead is never a good idea.

This book was such a satisfying journey about women claiming power in a world that tries to keep it from them at every turn. There is an undercurrent of rage and desperation, and the events of the story are appropriately dark and brutal.
The three main characters illustrate how even women with wildly different backgrounds experience so much of the same hardship in the world.
I also appreciated that in a story with such a gendered concept (demons will only give magic to and make deals with women), the author made it clear that "women" means ALL women (demons only care about the soul, not the body).
The plot started out a bit slow, and the first half of the book felt a bit meandering, but the last half was a huge payoff in terms of action, reveals, and resolutions. I really enjoyed my time reading.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC!