In A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance, two young witches, Mazzy and Nora, discover the body of a woman washed ashore during a ritual, leading them into a mystery filled with supernatural elements and occult secrets. As they uncover a series of local disappearances and delve into spellwork, they begin to experience ghostly visions and strange occurrences.

The writing is smooth, and the pace quick in this book. The mystery, the suspense, the chemistry between characters was so good! If you like witchy vibes with pretty good mystery, this is one to be read for sure!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

This YA thriller was an interesting and somewhat dark read involving two novice spellcasters who find themselves in the middle of a much larger and more deadly supernatural conflict. Not knowing who to trust and how to navigate the supernatural issues, these teens have to lean on each other and rely on their own strengths and intuition to help them through this time. The story was far from predictable, having me guessing at every turn. I do feel like there could be more character development for the FMC, but perhaps since this is more YA this could be more of a personal preference. Overall, this was an enjoyable read for those who enjoy the paranormal!

This was the perfect balance of witchy and teen angst. Kind of The Craft meets My So Called Life and you can tell by my references I am GenX and not the target audience, but I love witchy YA books. I loved Mazzy and Nora's friendship and their exploration of their abilities. I would love to see this turned into a series to learn more about how they hone their craft and I want to know if Mazzy's little brother develops any additional skills. It was a fun and fast read with lots of humor and action. I will read more from Nicole Lesperance.

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance is an atmospheric and imaginative story that blends magic, grief, and mystery. The setting is beautifully eerie, and the concept is intriguing—a spell to bring back the dead always promises a mix of danger and emotion, and the book delivers on that front.

Lesperance’s writing is strong, especially when it comes to creating mood and tone. The characters have depth, and the story raises thoughtful questions about loss, love, and letting go. However, the pacing sometimes drags, and a few plot twists feel predictable or underdeveloped. It read a little too YA at times, which is not exactly my cup of tea. While the magical elements are creative, some readers may wish for more clarity or higher stakes.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read with a lot of heart, but it may not leave a lasting impression on everyone. If you like quiet, emotionally driven fantasy with a spooky edge and young characters, it’s worth checking out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

A fun read with all the eerie, fun, and spooky touchstones of a read you’d expect around the autumn. With mystery and occult appeal there’s so much to grab the readers attention. The writing is smooth, the characters are easy to follow along the journey, and the atmosphere is such a key aspect that overall I vibed with all of it so much. Fun read, very recommended!

This book will make for the perfect fall read, its spooky, witchy, and the setting of Cape Cod in the fall/winter is perfect for the plot. I thought the chapters were the perfect length. They all ended on cliff hanger which made me not want to stop reading. I did get a bit confused with the details of the plot towards the ending, however it wrapped up nicely. I liked the addition of a cute little romance. A must add to TBR lists around Halloween.

This will be a reread in the fall. This is exactly the book to be at the top of your TBR for October. Perfect blend of spooky and mystery. I enjoyed every second of this!

A Spell to Wake the Dead follows a trio of best friends for a short portion of their senior year of high school. Nora and Mazzy (POV) are both practicing baby witches and then there's Elliot, who watches from the sidelines, trying to keep them out of trouble. Of course, trouble follows anyway when Nora convinces Mazzy to do a spell that she found online. They end up looped into a mystery with danger lurking behind them.

This book is definitely eerie but also has a bit of coziness to the setting. It's very easy to read and jumps into the storyline right away. The characters are introduced quickly, but the author does a wonderful job of getting you connected to them at the beginning. It is YA for sure, with a small romance intertwined, but it doesn't take up much the story at all. I will say, for a YA book, I was surprised at some of the twists and turns.

If you like books that are a little creepy and want to be spooked but not terrified, or if you are new to the thriller/mystery genre and want to try it out, this would be a great pick for you. I recommend it as an early October read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Nicole Lesperance for allowing me to read this book!

This was technically good, but I am not the audience for it, and I thought I would be. Gay and bisexual teenagers dabbling in the occult and navigating confusing crushes kind of twists what would have otherwise been a tidy, spooky, little Cape Cod murder mystery.

In A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance, two young witches, Mazzy and Nora, discover the body of a woman washed ashore during a ritual, leading them into a mystery filled with supernatural elements and occult secrets. As they uncover a series of local disappearances and delve into spellwork, they begin to experience ghostly visions and strange occurrences. With its eerie Cape Cod setting, suspenseful plot, and well-developed protagonists, the novel blends witchcraft, mystery, and the supernatural seamlessly. Though secondary characters could be more fleshed out and the romantic subplot feels underdeveloped, Lesperance delivers a gripping, atmospheric read for fans of supernatural thrillers.

Mazzy and her best friend Nora are young witches. When they sneak down to the beach one moonlit night to cast a spell, they don’t expect to find a dead body. But the tides carry in the remains of a woman, and the end of their innocence as teenagers. Mazzy is all cool logic and wants to leave the investigation to the police. Nora is all fiery passion and feels a supernatural desire to help the dead woman. The girls know they should leave it alone, but things rapidly spiral out of their control as they delve deeper into the mystery of murder in Cape Cod.

The writing is smooth, and the pace quick in this book. It combines mystery, suspense and the love binding best friends in only that special way teenagers have. There was enough mystery in the series of events that I wanted to keep reading just to know out if I had solved it right myself. The clues were doled out in delightful ways, and not so easily that it gave away the ending before we got there.

The book being geared towards YA means that the characters’ lack of depth was justifiable. I feel like there was too much time spent on the budding romance, and the whole book would have been better with leaving it out. It was like the book was trying to hit all the major genres in one go, and it got distracting. The spooky, occult parts were so well written!

I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves murder mysteries, small town secrets, and witchy teens.

Thank you NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP for allowing me to review this ARC, this is my own opinion and honest review.

This book is intense. There were many times that I was scared while reading it! The mystery, the suspense, the chemistry between characters 10/10. Of course there were times that I wanted to yell at the main characters, because they are obviously teenagers that shouldn’t be trying to handle something so intense on their own.

Overall, a FANTASTIC read!

This was my first book by the author and it was an interesting experience! The writing is engaging and the storyline moved quickly, which is how I like these types of stories. I really liked the relationship between the three main characters. The magic was interesting, in that sense that it was almost realistic. The way the girls practiced it was very tangible. I basically predicted everything, but it was still interesting to read. I'll definitely be reading more by the author!

It’s all good witchy fun and murder! Nora and Mazzy are two novice witches who crave a good spell until a body turns up after a random spell . Then another then another soon the girls are wrapped up in a murder mystery thriller filled with cults, possessions and some romance. I loved this book, it had humor and horror like elements. I’m curious for what the future holds for Nora and Mazzy.

A SPELL TO WAKE THE DEAD
By: Nicole Lesperance
Expected: 08//26//2025
YA, Mystery & Thrillers

A spell to wake the dead is a sharp witchy thriller with just enough darkness to keep you hooked. I’m glad I signed up for this ARC because it did not disappoint.

The story follows Mazzy, Norah and their friend Elliott as they embark in a very mysterious series of events because the girls like to dabble in a bit of “witchcraft”. They ended up doing a ritual that led them to find a dead body and in hopes to figure out what happened, they end up going in a very interesting ride filled with kidnapping, killing and even possession.

I liked that the story was enough to keep me wanting to read more, that’s always a good sign. The building of the characters could have used a bit more umph, but for a YA this is very fitting.

The romance I think could have been left out, especially because it wasn’t talked a lot, just longing for one another the entirety of the book, this left a little to be desired in my opinion.

If you like witchy vibes with pretty good mystery, this is one to be read for sure!
I will definitely read what Nicole Lesperance writes next and will be adding this to my library once it releases!

Thank you Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP for allowing me to review this ARC, this is my own opinions and honest review.

This is one that I was very excited to read, I love witches and mysteries so this sounded right up my alley. However, I just couldn’t connect with the characters.

4.5 ⭐️
This book put me in a death grip from the start.
Mazzy and Nora are practicing witchcraft, practicing being the main word. After attempting to clear up acne or ace a test without studying, who would have thought that they end up speaking to the dead?!

Traumatic events unfold after their latest spell and the hits keep coming.

I enjoyed all of the themes in this book
Murder Mystery? Perfect
Paranormal and Occult? Excellent
The author really created a spooky environment and a great read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you so much to Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC

This is the first fantasy book I have read in a while and it did not disappoint!

Three friends, two of which dabble in the occult, stumble across a body and the aftermath sends them on a journey to find out who and what has brought this chaotic aftermath into their lives.

Putting this book down to do other things was so hard, I couldn’t wait to see who or what was involved. I loved the three friends so much and couldn’t wait to discover their fates.

It is more of a young adult book (no spice but a little romance) so fair warning to those who may steer clear of YA; although I feel like this is a book where that is overlookable.

I can’t wait to buy this book when it is released, it is definitely shelf worthy and if the author decides to bring more Massy, Nora and Elliot to the world, I hope to be first in line again.

(4.5/5 stars)
A Spell to Wake the Dead is a gorgeously eerie, magic-laced thriller that sinks its claws in early and never lets go. From the moment Mazzy and Nora discover a mutilated body under the moonlight, the story unfolds like a fever dream—equal parts murder mystery and atmospheric witch tale.

This book nails the blend of teenage curiosity, danger, and the seductive pull of the occult. Mazzy and Nora’s friendship feels raw and real, layered with the kind of emotional complexities that only deepen when the supernatural starts seeping into the real world. Their growing obsession with the mystery—and with the whispers of something darker at work—makes their descent both terrifying and fascinating to watch.

The Cape Cod setting is moody and haunting, the perfect backdrop for a story about ancient secrets and ghostly visions. The way St. James weaves together old spells, ghost lore, and generational silence gives the story a bone-deep chill. You’ll be second-guessing everyone and everything, right up until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

My only slight critique is that some of the magical mechanics could’ve used a little more grounding—but honestly, the dreamy, off-kilter atmosphere kind of works in the book’s favor. This is less about hard logic and more about vibes and dread, and it works.

If you love witchy thrillers with real stakes, toxic secrets, and just the right amount of supernatural horror, this one will absolutely cast a spell on you.

I appreciate the opportunity but unfortunately I will not be finishing this one. Nothing in particular is bad about this, I just don't think it was the story for me. The cover is stunning though!