I originally wanted to pick this book up just based on the cover alone but after reading the description I knew it would be a good one! I was so hooked- this was such an interesting and entertaining read. Without giving any spoilers I think the ending wrapped up this dynamic plot perfectly! Love this authors writing style and definitely would want to read more.

I loved that these two unknowing girls ended up in the midst of a witch power struggle! The characters were all interesting and worked within the plot. I liked the alternating chapters as a device to share the points of view. Reading as a middle/high school librarian, I did feel like it got a little convoluted. I struggled to keep track of why certain things were happening, why the father of the girls was killed, which family’s magic did what, etc. I wasn’t even clear on how having all of the relics of power for each line let the owner control all of the other witches. I feel like if I was confused by certain aspects of this my students absolutely will be. Aside from that, I enjoyed the story and was glad the girls went back at the end for a reunion. I will purchase for my school but will tell readers that they might get lost at points and to power through.

Thank you Netgallet and Tor for the ARC of The Lies We Conjur.
What's not to love abput this book. Dual POV, witches, and a murder mystery! Not to mention the beautiful cover.

"A suggestion of power isn't a replacement for power."

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's not usually a genre I read often, but this one was really interesting with the witches aspect turning the murder mystery upside down. It really could've been anyone considering they had magic on their side.

Without spoiling the book, the main characters were well written and fleshed out, the world building was pretty good, and I liked that we were only in one setting for the entirety of the book to help you really dive into the story without much confusion. The world building was enough that I actually wonder if Henning will take us back into this world in the future with different characters or even different time settings—she definitely could. I'd be excited to read about these witches and families again. She did a wonderful job setting all of these up, which is why I suspect it won't be the last we see of this universe.

The only reason I'm not giving it 4.5 or 5 stars is because it's dual POV, which I already dislike, but it's also first person dual POV, which is even worse to me. I get confused about whose chapter I'm on if I take a break between reads, plus the sudden change in whose thoughts I'm in takes me out of the immersion of the book. It's just my personal preference, though I do think that the switching of POVs in this book could be less often than it is and still give the desired outcome/effect.

Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games with magic in this standalone supernatural thriller by Sarah Henning: thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly whodunit.

If it’s possible to feel in love with a book,
then that is how I am feeling right now

Thirteen witches and two non-magical sisters caught up in the middle. A large ancestral Manor with a vast estate. A fascinating plot that moved quickly and in unexpected ways. Magic and a bewitching magical system. A locked-room type mystery. Secrets, lies, riddles, a quest…and the clock is ticking.

Publication date: September 17, 2024
Tor Publishing Group

#secrets #murder #mystery #lockedroomystery
#Magic #Witches #arc #netgalley #thriller#Torpublishinggroup #TorTeen #Teens #YA #theliesweconjure #macmillan #SarahHenning #supernatural #whodunit
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5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: dual POVS, witchy reads, murder mysteries

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 6/21 and will be posted to my review blog on 7/4 and to Instagram on 7/31.

First off, I absolutely love this cover! It's so vivid and gory and I love the little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout it. It really gives off the perfect vibes for this book.

I love the mashup of SFF and a murder mystery, and I like that it's been more of a thing in recent years. I feel like 2024 in particular has had a good streak of SFF murder mysteries, and this definitely belongs in their ranks. It's got a nice Clue/Agatha Christie/Knives Out vibe with the old-fashioned but elaborately rich manor, the family members all decked out and all with ulterior motives, and, of course, the murder itself. The addition of magic really adds a nice edge to things since there are things witches do that your ordinary everyday murder suspect can't. It also adds an additional element of danger to the investigation, because the murderer doesn't necessarily need to do something physically to you...they can just use their magic to make something happen.

In this story, or at least with this family, there are four different kinds (Lines) of magic: Elemental, Celestial, Blood, and Death. Each of them do roughly what you imagine they do and each family specializes in a particular kind. The Hegemonys practice Elemental magic, the Starwoods practice Celestial magic, the Cerises practice Blood magic, and the the Blackgates Death magic. For the past 400 years, The Hegemonys and their Elemental magic have held the title of high Sorcerer, but with their matriarch's murder, the spot is now up for grabs, and no matter how close they were (or seemed) before the dinner party, everyone has something to gain from the title.

I liked learning the magic system of the book, and it was helpful that Ruby and Wren didn't know about magic at all since it meant they were interested in asking questions and researching more about it. On the flip side, the other POV is Auden Hegemony, and his innate knowledge of magic provides the finer details to Ruby's overview. It was a good balance and I thought it was a clever way to provide all the information readers needed to know about the magic of the world.

Of the two sisters, Ruby is the more practical and careful one. She takes everything seriously, perhaps a bit too seriously at times, and is immediately concerned about what will happen if the rest of the group finds out they're imposters. At times her anxiety could be annoying, but I also get where she's coming from. These people are not only rich, they're magical, and they won't take kindly to someone intruding on their secrets. But her practicality also means she's resourceful and she's determined to get herself and Wren through the weekend alive. Despite everything that's been thrown at her, she handles herself pretty well and actually has good instincts, with people, with magic, and with the mystery.

Wren is a non-POV character, and is in many ways Ruby's opposite. She's outgoing and personable, and with dreams of the stage, she's quite the actress and improvisor. She immediately takes to whatever role is provided to her, be it a long-absent granddaughter or a witch with longstanding ties to Hegemony Manor. She's also more impulsive than Ruby, which for a while works out in their favor (well...not the dinner party invite part, lol) since Wren rolls with the punches and can make decisions quickly. But like Ruby warns, Wren's split-second decisions aren't always good, and the two do end up in trouble in a few instances because of it.

Auden is the middle Hegemony cousin and the other POV narrator. He's serious and clearly has his own secrets, but it's also clear he loves his family and is determined to ensure they also make it through this weekend, and this tragedy. While serious, he also has a mischievous streak, and can't help but poke fun at Lavinia, aka Ruby. But when things take a turn for the worse, he immediately begins strategizing and trying to figure out a way to find the murderer and the relics, while at the same time protecting the people who need it.

Evander is the oldest Hegemony cousin and the one set to inherit it all. He's fairly obnoxious in his arrogance, but he gets more tolerable as things progress, and it's clear that though he clings to his position, he's both unsure and determined to figure out what's gone wrong in the family. Winter is the youngest (I think, Evander is said to be the oldest, but Winter and Auden are the same age). She has wit sharp enough to cut and is clever enough to use it. She's more than willing to put her cousins in their place when they need it, but she also quickly gets tired of the powerplay that occurs after their grandmother's death, both between the three of them and with everyone at large. I liked Winter quite a bit and wish we saw more of her.

The Starwoods who are present at the manor are Luna, the ancient matriarch, and Infinity. The two of them are on the gentler side of things, with Luna wanting to solve the murder and the puzzle, but not interested in the power struggle that begins to occur. Infinity takes Luna's lead and is mostly interested in staying out of the way and helping their grandmother.

Unlike the Starwoods, the Cerises are a nasty bunch. Sanguine and Hector are the parents and put on a well-coiffed front, but underneath it's clear they're slimier than they let on. The twins, Ada and Hex, are around the same age as the rest of the 'main' characters and while Hex can be antagonistic, it's clear he's more of a friend to the group than his parents are. Ada is frequently quiet in group settings, so it's harder to get a read on her, sometimes she seeps as sharp as her mother and other times she's more like Hex.

Then, the Blackgates. Ruby and Wren are impersonating the next generation of Blackgates: Lavinia and Kaysa. The grandmother who hired them is Marsyas and has a matter-of-factness about her that hides her stubborn persistence. We don't get a lot of information on the Blackgates up front, but it's clear there's a reason Lavinia and Kaysa haven't been back to Hegemony Manor in a decade, and it's even more clear that there's a terrible terrible secret behind that reason.

The murder mystery part of the novel was interesting and it kept me hooked. There's an immediate suspect, but as things progress, the suspect changes and bounces around. Everyone looks good for it at different points (mostly) and, as I said above, everyone has motive and means. The other aspect of the mystery, which actually takes up a lot more time than the murder investigation, is trying to solve the riddles and find the Relics, four powerful items that will decide the next High Sorcerer. Each Relic is hidden around the Hegemony property, and the 'clues' are short riddles designed to guide the witches to the items. For some, following the riddles is a good way to keep an eye on the others and solve the murder. For others, the draw of power is too much to resist.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and think it's a great witchy murder mystery. I liked trying to figure out the various mysteries and puzzles in the novel, and it was interesting to see how Ruby and Auden reacted to each new bump in the road.

Ruby and Wren are two sisters doing their best to save money for college when an elderly woman recruits them to act as her granddaughters for a family reunion. The money she offers is quite a lot and the two decided to go forward with the job even when the woman request specific outfits, and accents.

When the big night comes, the sisters find themselves at the famous Hegemony Manor and amongst the family they feel true anger, fear and...magic. It's not long before the host of the night is murdered and the gates are locked until. the murder is solved. The two sisters have no choice but to continue the ruse and fight to stay alive!

A truly original plot that kept me locked in and up all night. Not too YA at all, and a great locked room (mansion) murder mystery!
#topublishing #theliesweconjue #sarahhenning

This book was SO good! It follows the pov of both ruby and auden and it was just a whole-hearted who done it story with a magical twist. I was captivated from the start and so nervous to see how things were going to play out for ruby and her sister wren ! I also really liked the plot and how all of the people involved came together to work as one even though they all come from different magical lines! The ending was also perfect! 10/10 this book was great and i would highly recommend it.

Ruby and her sister Wren are asked to impersonate her long-absent grandchildren at a fancy party for $2000 each. They agreeed happily. BUT the hostess is dead, all the guests are witches and a curse ensures that no one leaves until the murder is solved in 3 days.

I like this magical world. The mystery is good. Lots of threads and characters though. Very fast paced. A fun read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

A mysterious;, eccentric woman asks two sisters to impersonate her granddaughters at a dinner. The girls agree when money is offered, but they don’t realize this is not an ordinary family dinner.

I absolutely loved this book! It has a unique plot, fascinating magic system, as well as amazing characters. 400 pages flew by with multiple points of view.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance. I look forward to recommending!

I wasn't sure when I first started The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it ended up quickly pulling me in and kept me hooked until the end.

We follow sisters Ruby and Wren (with chapters from Ruby's POV) as they're hired by a mystery woman to impersonate her long unseen granddaughters at a dinner party in a nearby mansion. At first, I questioned why a couple teenagers would agree to this with a complete stranger, but then I realized, yes, I too would impersonate someone at a dinner for $4,000! Events quickly go awry and the sisters find themselves trapped on the mansion grounds. And everyone else trapped with them is a witch who could kill them quite easily. They're left trying to help solve the riddles and mystery so the grounds can be unlocked, all while trying to keep their real identities a secret. We also get dual POV chapters from Auden, one of the witches who lives in the mansion.

I thought the magic system was really interesting, and leaves room to grow other books in the same world. The pacing really picks up and keeps things moving, so it's a quick read even at 400 pages. I found myself preferring the chapters from Auden, because he has more of an insight into the mansion grounds, the witches and backstory, and his own family, so it was more conducive to solving the riddles and motives, and moving the plot along. The sisters, as outsiders, were more reactionary characters, truly plucked at random (unlike its comparison, Inheritance Games, where the MC isn't as random as she first seems.)

Overall, The Lies We Conjure is a magical and fast-paced YA mystery thriller that will appeal to a large audience. The 'Knives Out meets Inheritance Games' comparison is an apt descriptor, so if that sounds like your ideal read, you won't be disappointed when picking this up.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Lies We Conjure" by Sarah Henning is a bewitching (pun intended) tale filled with intrigue and familial secrets as the book takes you into a murder mystery filled with magic and mayhem. I absolutely loved the concept of this book as well as the cover, and I couldn’t wait to dive into this supernatural YA book.

As stated, the premise of the book is very unique. A chance encounter thrusts Ruby and Wren into a deadly game of deception when they are hired to impersonate granddaughters at a dinner party hosted by an eccentric old woman. However, as the night unfolds and the hostess meets a sudden demise, the sisters find themselves trapped in a house full of witches, their identities at risk of being exposed. You are given two perspectives in this book: Ruby’s perspective as she masquerades as a witch as well as Auden’s perspective as the grandson of the witch who is murdered. You are given both an insider and outsider perspective on the witch family and all the drama and intricacies within.

Henning skillfully crafts a world brimming with magic and mystery, drawing you into a web of family politics and supernatural suspense. The background on the witch families is given a lot of development as each family gets their own “magical tool” as well as their own development. Despite the main focus being on the magical family, we are mainly focused on the viewpoint of Ruby who didn’t even know magic existed before being trapped in this murder mystery. While While this outsider perspective adds a unique angle to the story, it did leave me a bit disconnected from the story because all the magical elements and family drama had to essentially be spoon-fed to Ruby, leaving some moments feeling like an info-dump. And I felt like Ruby/Wren didn’t contribute a lot to the actual mystery. I actually much preferred Auden’s perspective as I was reading.

I did enjoy the murder mystery elements of the book as well as the hunt for the various magical tools. I thought the world-building was unique, and I thought it was given plenty of development, especially since this is a standalone book. However, there almost seemed to be too much going on with all the different plot points and different motivations of the characters. I sometimes lost track of what was going on, but I still quite enjoyed reading the book. I liked the relationship building between Auden and Ruby (though it was mainly built on lies). Their romance offers a sweet lightening of the mood as the mystery continued to develop. The ending wrapped everything up nicely, and I like how everything came together at the end.

Overall, "The Lies We Conjure" offers an entertaining read for fans of magical mysteries. The fast-paced plot and engaging protagonists keeps you hooked until the final reveal, making it a worthwhile pick for those seeking a spellbinding blend of mystery and magic.

Ruby and Wren are just trying to get by when the chance of a lifetime presents itself, a eccentric old lady invites them to impersonate her granddaughters for the night in exchange for a payout they can’t resist.

However, less than an hour into the dinner event, she dies. The house goes into lockdown and it won’t lift until the mystery of her death is solved. Everyone at the party, except Ruby and Wren are witches. Can Ruby and Wren survive? Can they keep their identities a secret?


The cover on this book is gorgeous, but does the book live up?

YES! I think that it did. This one was most definitely like “Knives Out” except with magic. I found myself drawn into the story right from the start, though it was a hasty beginning and I wish that it was a little more flushed out. However, the drama and intrigue quickly started, and the action took off. The fact that everyone was a witch except Ruby and Wren was a lot of fun, they really fumbled along, and their blunders were interesting to read about. As with “Knives Out” this is a book that you really have to pay attention to. There is a lot going on and lots of moving pieces. I’m usually one for simpler tales, but this one had me hooked and on the edge of my seat wondering whodunit and boy did I have a million guesses. This was a wild and entertaining ride, and I’d recommend it for those who love a good engaging mystery, but with magic!

A Whodunit with a magical spin! A mysterious older lady hires Wren and Ruby to impersonate her granddaughters for an upcoming dinner party but leaves out some important information...like the fact that all of the other guests are witches! The house is placed under a magical curse after the hostess dies and chaos ensues as the remaining guests start dying one by one. Will Wren and Ruby be able to keep their wits about them so they can make it out alive?

A fast-paced mystery that kept me hooked to the end! I loved it!