3.5 stars It was a fun time, especially at the end.

The beginning moves a little slowly, as it has to introduce 3 different protagonists and their own goals, peculiarities, etc.

* There's a witch (or a curse-writer, as they call her here) who helps women in need bargain with demons in exchange for the power to get out of danger.

* There's a grieving girl who wants, more than anything, to prove that magic is real... or else she'll never be able to talk to her sister again.

* And there's a rich girl who tried to make a deal with a demon and it went horribly wrong...

These three women must work together to save each other and stop the mass-murdering of witches all over the city.

And speaking of demons, they were really fun to read about! They only make deals with women as they don't trust men (they acknowledge that trans women are women) and they can be really bloodthirsty, but in a fun-horror-movie way.

I wasn't as captivated with this novel as I was with House of Hollow though, the writing was good, but didn't hit the same way...

However, I did love the feminist message interwoven in this story told through women's rage and sorority. For example, it illustrates different ways in which men abuse their power over women: physically, politically, socially, etc.

This is one of those, “I’m not really sure what I read… But I liked it” kind of books. I liked the dark academia and occult elements of this book. At times it was hard for me to follow what was going on. I also, wasn’t very connected to the characters.

House of Hollow made me fall in love with Krystal Sutherland’s writing so I was so excited to read The Invocations. Murder mystery? Witches? Sapphic rep? Dark, horror vibes? AMAZING.

Emer, Jude and Zara are major feminist icons and Bael is my new comfort character. I personally would have loved it if the characters were aged up but I think this is the perfect book for a teenage audience.

I was so stressed reading this book. The last 100 or so pages were so intense and fast paced. You have to suspend disbelief at some points in the book and I saw the ending coming but it’s really just good fun and vibes. Good fun and vibes that includes body horror, demons and necromancy.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @penguinteen for this ARC! The Invocations releases on January 30th.

A girl walks home alone at night.

The Invocations had everything I was looking for in this book; a murder mystery, an interesting magic system that has a steep price and imperfect characters that had their own agendas. I enjoyed reading about these characters finding out what or who is killing other witches and had an ending that fit perfectly but wasn't expecting. This book was darker than I was expecting for a young adult book, but I loved it. However, I would recommend this for older teens as this not only goes into gruesome scenes including corpses and bodily functions but also goes into the well-written topic of women holding on to their power.

The Invocations comes out on January 30th.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Publishing for the opportunity to review The Invocations. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked that book has major themes of feminism and show young women that misogyny is not ok. I like the who submit horror themes. It was a bit slow though. The pacing may throw some readers off.

The Invocations
by Krystal Sutherland
YA Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: January 30, 2024
Penguin
14+

Zara wants to use magic to raise her murdered sister from the dead.
Jude needs to find a witch to reverse the curse she had placed upon herself before it finishes off killing her.
Emer is a curse writer, selling spells with the cost of a part of their souls to women so they can save their own lives, and she could be the person the two girls are desperately searching for.

But a serial killer is roaming the streets, killing women and stealing their curses.


Witches, demons, and a serial killer; who couldn't be curious, especially about Jude who cursed herself and it ended badly. Zara, I could understand her grief, but Emer, her story I felt was a little flat.

And while the plot stayed on track, the pacing was slow, but most of that was due to two things. The writing... There was something off about it. It seemed to go from present to past tense within the same paragraph, and when it was in the present tense, it was boring; no deep descriptions, just went from A to C without any pizzazz.

The other issue was with the eARC copy I was given. The 'fs' were missing from the middle words, not the first letter, but the middle. O(f), no f: I(f) no f: o(ff)er, no fs: a(ff)ect, no f's: you get the idea, and it made for a very tedious read, having to go back to figure out what a word was. I don't know i it was an attempt by the publisher to make it un-re-sellable, but it did in luence my opinion of the story because it was very irritating, and it showed the little trust the publisher has for their reviewers!

I did like the magic system, how the curses/spells were created, and the cost of them. The demons were very interesting. But sadly, they, along with the other characters were missing character depth, meaning descriptions and history. What was given was vague so I was never able to get a picture of the characters in my head.

Even though the writing wasn't satisfying because of the fluctuation in tense, missing letters in the middle of words, and slim descriptions, the idea of the magic and its history was very intriguing and more would've made the story better!

3 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advanced copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

The Invocations is about three young women who each have something driving them to need supernatural intervention. Zara, grieving her sister’s death, wants a way to bring her back. Jude, cursed, is seeking a cure. Emer, is just trying to make it out in the world. Their paths converge as a serial killer targets women with magic.

What I liked: the sisterhood, the found family, women working together for each other, Sutherland’s writing.

What I disliked: predictable plot, gory, the magic system is very dark: demons and blood magic, there are no “good” men.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy magic, witchcraft stories, horror, a strong sisterhood bond, sapphic romance

Ultimately, this book wasn’t for me, but those interested in the themes may enjoy it more.

This was such a cool, dark, and twisted take on witches. I loved how in order to get magic, they had to give up a part of their soul to a demon that gets tethered to them. It is such a unique twist. I really liked the characters and how each had their own individual motivations. The story did start off a bit slow and took till around the 40% mark till I really got into it. That's what kept this from being a full five star read.

I really liked this book. After reading the authors previous book, House of Hollow, I was excited to see that this one was available. Sutherland does spooky and borderline horror really well.

Honestly, what I liked most about this book was that the mystery and minor mysteries that came with or along side it (who was killing the women, who killed Emer's family, etc.) were not difficult to understand. A lot of books I read that contain mysteries at the forefront, like the Hawthorne or Truly Devious series', I get to a point where I'm like "I don't really understand what's going on, but I'm enjoying everything else, so I guess I'll keep going." This wasn't the case for this book -- I understood each plot point, clue, and reveal that happened, which lead me to enjoy and appreciate the book so much more than similar ones I've read.

Note: every case of a 'f' and 't' together, and two 'f's together in my digital ARC were missing, as well as some other letters.

Demons. Witchcraft. The occult. Faustian bargains. Girl power. All that to say, I absolutely LOVED this book.

With a serial killer on the lose targeting women who have traded bits of their soul in exchange for spells that grant them magical abilities, three women, each with their own skin in the game (pun intended), team up to catch the murderer and exact retribution. Resilient and brilliant Emer, crass and innovative Jude, resourceful and loyal Zara. Three incredible characters I thoroughly enjoyed every moment with.

Filled with witty banter, heartbreaking histories, and a bucket load of body horror, The Invocations checks all the boxes if you’re looking for a dark and twisty feminist manifesto that offers just as much of a punch as it does a warm embrace. I loved how unexpectedly tender it was in the midst of so much horror.

Ahhh! I am obsessed with this book and these characters! I think I'm in the minority but I loved Zara. I think I found her most relatable personally. The witchy vibes and dark atmosphere were spot on. The way the girls lives intertwine is done perfectly and I love their dynamics and being a part of their journey. The ending was emotional and I couldn't have pictured it any other way. I think overall this book is a little more light-hearted than 'House of Hollow', by the same author, but I still loved it just as much.

When I saw this book I was hella excited. Idk what it is about this cover, but it sucked me in. And tho I liked it, I did think the amount of POVs is what made me give this what I did. It wasn’t bad, but I think it could have been better.

I think the amount of POVs is what killed this for me. Normally I wouldn’t mind multiple POVs as I’m a character driven reader, but with this one, they all started sounding the same. Bitter, and angry, and wanting revenge. I need some kind of difference between them. And again, normally that would be cool with me, but this just didn’t work for me.

The mystery was well written tho which is why I kept reading this. I didn’t guess who it was and I remember being like WTF and rewinding it like 4 times when I got to the reveal. I was not expecting it at all. Definitely caught me off guard and had me wondering if I had missed some info in the book that could have clued me in because Lordt knows it’s been a long time since I was THAT blindsided by a reveal. And for me, that means it was legit because I usually always catch them lol

I DID like the way it was dark and atmospheric, but I wish there was more descriptive language. She didn’t go into detail until the was about the body horror and the spells. And while that’s cool, it made the rest of the book feel slow and boring. Like they weren’t always doing a spell or whatever, so it didn’t have the same thrill. I guess I needed more world-building. It was doing all of these spells and magic, and there’s slayers and stuff, but what about the rest of the world? I just never felt completely encompassed in the story. Is this something that all people think about when reading? Am I just supposed to make up the rules on my own? It just seemed too open ended for me lol

This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I was expecting either. I loved some aspects and thought some others were lacking. Don’t let what I say deter you from reading it. It was fine, just wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.

"It is much more pleasant to not see the horrors that live alongside humans."

There's a haunting familiarity to The Invocations, but Sutherland delivers something unique and unforgettable. This is a perfectly executed story about rearing against the fear and powerlessness of being a woman. A true 'f*** the patriarchy' narrative brimming with female rage and badass witchy vibes.

I was instantly intrigued by our main characters and how their differing motivations and backgrounds drew them together to fight a common enemy. Zara, Emer and Jude are all so likeable and painfully relatable throughout; I'm obsessed with their dynamics.

The storytelling was dark and deliciously atmospheric, and the horror?? The vividness of the gore had me physically shivering and I couldn't pull myself away. I was genuinely so immersed in the stakes of this demonic world that I read with all the lights on.

Sutherland has woven an intricate tapestry of common themes but has reimagined them in such a magically creepy way. She even managed a balance of truly heart wrenching moments, unbelievably scary shit and laugh-out-loud humor.

My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed considering the overall pacing, but my captivation with these characters and their world probably makes me biased. I didn't want their story to end.

A huge 4.25⭐ coming from a reader who usually avoids this genre!

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland was an interesting and compelling YA novel.
This book was absolutely phenomenal! I was hooked right from the start.
The imagery in The Invocations was phenomenal, and it was suspenseful and well-paced, with an intriguing mystery.
The multiple PoVs really set the tone for the characters.
The plot is fast-paced with elements of witchy gothic vibes and horror.
The characters are mysterious and engaging.
This book has demons, witches, magic and murder. It was absolutely phenomenal.
Krystal Sutherland takes you on an epic adventure with these characters and it was one I didn’t want to leave.

Thank You NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers; Nancy Paulsen Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book was really good! I enjoyed the witchy vibes and inclusion of the LGBTQ community. I think Krystal Sutherland is just getting better and better

This book. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. The Invocations is for the girls who are unapologetically 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺. It's for the girls who have been wronged and hurt and blamed for it. It's for the girls who have fought back in the only way they know how. It's for the girls who want to survive in a world that doesn't want them to.

I adored every single one of our main characters, but especially adored Emer and wish I had gotten more of her. I could honestly read an entire book about Emer. I loved how dark and gritty and witchy The Invocations was. That paired up with female rage and unapologetic queerness made for a perfect book. It genuinely feels like this book was written for me and a lot of parts hit extremely close to home. Especially Abby Ghallager's story. I'm so happy this books exists.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read an online arc of The Invocations.

The Invocations was the first book I have read by Krystal Sutherland but certainly will not be the last. I was intrigued after reading a sneak peek and learning a bit about the plot online. I am not typically a YA reader and in my opinion the story reads more adult than I originally expected. (I was surprised when the content was far darker and gorier than I would expect in a YA book, heed all trigger warnings.) That said, I enjoyed the depth of the story and getting to know the three main characters, past and present. Each survives in the wake of a tragedy: poor little rich girl Jude, who carries on after bringing a curse on herself, book smart Zara, who cannot move forward after her sister’s tragic death and budding witch Emer, who lives on the fringes of the Oxford community trying to aid powerless women in memory of her lost family. Each girl has their own demons (literally and figuratively) and a great deal of trust issues. But they quickly form an alliance toward mutual goals. I found this bond to be believable, which gives the book its heart. I also thoroughly enjoyed the way “magic” is introduced and used throughout the story. It was realistic to believe that it exists in present day London.

I am loathe to provide any further details here least spoiling the way the story unfolds. I will just say that the story sucks you in from the initial chapter, which provides a good entry point into the world of invocations, to a satisfying ending. I have my hopes that we will not leave these characters behind…sequel please! 5/5 read

Short and Sweet Review
The Invocations, centers around three girls, Zara, Jude, and Emer. After the death of her sister Savannah, Zara feels as if she has no choice but to believe in magic because she plans on bringing her sister back from the dead. Jude is looking for a witch to undo the damage she did to herself when she unsuccessfully tried a spell to attach her soul to a demon. Emer is a witch and she’s helped plenty of women by giving them invocations, but the women she’s helped are ending up murdered. The three girls end up connecting over their need to believe in something bigger than them and also to stop a killer.
This book is jam packed with action and we have three strong female characters that are at the forefront. Jude is somehow friends with an officer that lets Jude come in and look at some of the crime scenes and consult. Zara ends up finding Jude and together they find Emer who seems to be connected to all of the women being murdered. The three try to piece everything together and end up finding that the person behind this isn’t going to stop and he has it out for witches. I liked how dark this book was tone wise. Jude is dealing with some nasty stuff and because of that she’s been isolated from her family, this is why Jude is seeking out Emer, she needs a curse writer to get ride of the chronic pain she’s in by being tethered to demons. Zara believes that everything will be better if she just has her sister back which is why she also needs Emer. Emer is a talented curse writer and because of that her clients have become targets. Each girl brings something special to the book and they have a different personality. We get to read from all three POVs. This feels like one of those books where the characters start off with rocky family situations but end up finding family with the people who are now surrounding them. It was interesting to see how magic and demons worked in this book, it was also cool that only women were able to do magic.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the dark tone of it. The demons, magic, and characters really brought everything to life.

If you are looking for a Sapphic Witch story look no further. The Invocations is a beautiful story about the occult, friends, and magic.

I just love Krystal Sutherland’s writing style so much. It’s so unique and beautiful. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. They were each uniquely different and interesting. I also really loved the magic system and witch lore.
I’m really hoping this might become a series or duet! Please I need a book two with Ember and Jude!
4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an Arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

Well, I'm sad. The Invocations really wasn't the book for me. I was looking forward to reading about witches and demons and curses, but Sutherland decided to take this in a direction that was simply not for me.

I didn't like the world-building regarding the magic/demons/witches. It was needlessly complicated in the beginning and some of the major twists involving this element could have been better developed. I also wasn't a fan that the big conflict here relied so much on a trope we've seen over and over again. It did seem like the author was trying something new with the magic, but then forgot to try something new with who the bad guys were in the story.

There were 3 distinct perspectives, which were well written, but I didn't connect to any of them. I outright couldn't stand Jude. Emer was a non-entity throughout most of the book. Zara did have an interesting character arc, to a point, but it was predictable. The romance also didn't work for me.

The plot was pretty straight-forward, overall. There weren't that many characters around so it became preeeetty obvious who was behind everything and what had happened. There was no sense of discovery or surprise, personally. It was only a matter of time of me reading to reach the end. Disappointing.