A book that truly fits into the YA genre. Just the right amount of mystery, occult, and spooky vibes.

For those who have a love for magic, witchcraft, and the supernatural, infused with a hint of Egyptian mythology, this book is sure to engage you!

This book had me captivated in an unexpectedly delightful manner. It was honestly really refreshing. Stressful? A little. Haha, but the book was a nice quick read and an immensely rewarding experience, and it may even be one of my favorites of 2025 and potentially one of my all-time favorites.

Mazzy was a highly relatable and expertly crafted character. I appreciated Elliot and Nora, although something about Nora seemed rather lacking to me, and I am not sure why; therefore, I would have preferred a more profound exploration of her character or a greater insight into her character. The interactions among the three were quite engaging; I appreciated their trio, and the subtle romance between Mazzy and Elliot attracted me.

While I typically steer clear of teen fiction for various reasons, this particular book has the potential to shift my perspective. The writing style is simple yet remarkably vivid, and the narrative unfolds with great craftsmanship. From the very first page, I found myself completely intrigued, unable to set the book aside. It proved to be an immensely enjoyable experience from start to finish.

My gratitude is extended to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for providing an eArc, which allowed for an honest review of the work.

An exciting and dark YA mystery/thriller. I was pleasantly surprised with how eerie and sinister this story was given that it’s targeted for younger audiences, but it really delivered in terms of consistent tension and suspense throughout the book. The witchy and cult background felt unique and enticing, and while it didn’t have many shocking twists and turns, it was still a very engaging story from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This book was good. I liked the plot. There is a lot magic in the book to make things harder on the kids. If you don't like feeling like something couldn't be done with magic then you won't like this. There are talks of dead bodies but it isnt too horribly descriptive. I would say it gave the movie "The Craft" vibes at first but once you get into the book it really becomes a whole murder mystery.

A fun spooky YA horror novel with lots of witchy and ghostly vibes. Definitely a fun read for any fans of witchy books.

A Spell to Wake the Dead is a hauntingly atmospheric thriller that masterfully blends witchcraft, mystery, and spine-chilling suspense. Nicole Lesperance weaves an intoxicating tale of friendship and dark secrets that will keep readers spellbound until the very last page.

YA eerie cult thriller

Some of the components are the story are rather DARK. So please be mindful of the age of the reader and what you feel comfortable as a parent letting your child read.

This was so good. From start to finish, it’s fast paced and filled full of a plot I love. Two witches find a bod, and ...... then another ...... and stumble into something worse than they could have imagined. The characters are really great and the story was amazing.

The story builds in intensity the more you read it. This is one book that can be finished in a day. There could have been more focus on the actual witchcraft and spells and the occult world but nonetheless, it did not take away from the story at all.

Thanks NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

A solid witchy thriller. Teen readers who like eerie atmospheres and murder mysteries will enjoy this one! If they're graduating goosebumps and are looking for similar horror lite this would be good

Gloriously witchy, dark, and lyrical—everything I love most about Nicole Lesperance's work. It's the moonlit murder mystery of my beachside dreams, and I adored following Mazzy as she ventured deeper into the strangeness surrounding her. Plus, I mean ... that COVER. Say less!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this incredible book.

It was oh so good!

I am going to go right back an do a reread it was so good.
Can not recommend highly enough. Just incredible.

Five stars plus.

Wow, what a ride! Up and down, all around, this book took me through it.
It kept me on my toes, thats for sure. I wasn't sure where it was going, until we got there and then it all came together so very well.

The first thing that caught my attention in A Spell To Wake The Dead was the gorgeous cover. I'd give it five stars just for that!

However, the book felt a bit slow at the beginning, and by the time I reached the end, everything seemed to happen too quickly. Some parts of the plot didn’t make much sense to me, and others bothered me a little — especially Nora’s actions.

I couldn’t really feel a genuine connection between the two protagonists. Nora always seemed to look down on Mazzy and her more cautious nature, while Mazzy seemed to tolerate Nora, probably because she thought Nora was cooler and more popular. Their friendship felt more like a convenience than a true bond, which became clear in several situations throughout the book. But that didn’t stop me from continuing because I was really curious about how the story would unfold.

As for the romance, I don’t have much to say. It was cute, but it’s not the main focus of the book, which I liked. The romance and the protagonist’s feelings didn’t get in the way of the plot, which made the reading experience lighter and more enjoyable.

Overall, it’s a good book. I’m a big fan of YA stories with supernatural themes, mystery, and suspense, so A Spell To Wake The Dead managed to bring together everything I love in one book.

Best friends Mazzy and Nora are amateur practioners of witchcraft, with the disbelieving third of their friend trio, Elliot, often along for the ride. It's an occasion just such as this that a spell goes wrong, setting a chain of events into motion that has far reaching, and sinister consequences. After discovering a body on Mayflower Beach, and somehow unintentionally tying themselves to its spirit, this trio races against a cult of sinister witches, a detective who may not be on the side of good, and an out of state stalker to solve the mystery of who "May" was, and what got her killed. Set in the spooky, atmospheric Cape Cod in its off-season, this novel gives creeps, chills, and thrills almost from start to finish.

What kept this from being a five-star read for me was the fact that I feel like so many elements were added to the plot of this book that we didn't really get a satisfying resolution to several things. With less elements, additional focus could have been put on developing the character arcs (as we see resolution on the romance arc by the end of the novel, but no growth or resolution really on some of the things that were hurting Mazzy and Nora's friendship).

A Spell to Wake the Dead will leave you hooked from its atmospheric opening to its spell-binding conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam Sons for providing me with an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nicole Lesperance sets up a delightfully eerie premise—witchy teens, ominous omens, and bodies washing up on shore like some kind of morbid beachcomber’s jackpot. There’s a spellbinding (literally) mystery at its core, but getting to the real action feels like wading through knee-deep seaweed. Then, just as you’re finally about to confront the creepy villain—boom—you’re hit with a tidal wave of plot resolution that’s over before you’ve even adjusted your goggles.

Also, there’s a love story? I suppose there is. It’s there, much like that random driftwood on the beach—present, but not exactly necessary.

All in all, the book has great atmosphere, solid supernatural elements, and some genuinely creepy moments. But if you’re looking for a page-turner, just know that most of those pages will be turned at a leisurely pace until you reach the last bit—at which point, you’ll be flipping like you accidentally set your Kindle on fire. 3.5 stars!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest review. While this one didn't hit the spot for me, maybe her next book will!

4.75 stars, rounded up to 5 stars for me! This was just the right amount of creepy and thriling for YA magic/horror with the tiniest pinch of romance. I will definitely be recommending this for October reads!

A Spell to Wake the Dead follows Mazzy and Nora, two teenage girls who just lightly dabble in witchcraft. And they've had some success with minor spells, so why NOT do a spell on the beach that uncovers hidden things? You never know what you'll end up finding....even if it's a dead body :) With this one spell, the girls and their friend Elliot are thrust into the world of the occult, based on Egyptian mythology.

•Definite witchy magic happening - things that can't be explained
•Strong female friendships
•Family ties

Man, this freaked me out and had me jumping at every noise when I was home alone. I LOVED that it wasn't just like a Mythbusters type situation and there actually WERE creepy things happening. Mazzy and Nora's curiosity is so on point as teenagers - would I have been scared to death if I were in their situation? Yes, but I probably would have done the same thing too. Their unwavering belief in each other was perfect for the story. I am no expert in witchcraft, but it also seems like the author took care to research it as a focal point in the story, which I appreciated.

Nora was reaaaaaally frustrating to me as a character a lot of the time. In the end, I understood why she was acting that way, but I really didn't like her at points.

Best friends Mazzy and Nora sneak down to the beach one night to cast a spell. They are not prepared to find a mutilated body washed ashore, missing hands and teeth. This grisly murder is something that wouldn't happen in their small town. The girls can't shake the eerie, supernatural pull they feel to the victim; they turn to spells and divination to uncover the truth.

They unravel a series of disappearances spanning years and start experiencing disturbing occult visions and ghostly whispers. Nora finds a second body and starts receiving eerie directions to more. The girls are caught in a race against time to discover the killer's identity before the police or before they become the next victims.

The gloomy, claustrophobic atmosphere of foggy nights and dark woods enhances the sense of danger lurking at every turn. The supernatural and occult elements create suspense and eerieness. This YA book blends dark magic and a murder mystery to keep you on your toes. It had some genuinely unsettling moments that were exciting. The friendship between Mazzy and Nora is fiercely loyal, but dangerous secrets surface, which strained their relationship. The pacing is fast, making it impossible to stop reading. Some key revelations dropped so quickly that the ending lacked some emotional impact that the rest of the story builds toward. A few more chapters to unpack the aftermath for the friends would have made for a more satisfying conclusion.

The characters and story created a bewitching thriller that had a grip on me that just never let up. The supernatural elements were witchy and creepy, which I am 100% here for. I loved the story of friendship between the two girls and the weight of it. It made the relationship more real. The twisty plot made it a satisfying journey overall.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group, Young Readers Group, and G.P. Putnam's Son for Young Readers, for the opportunity to review the ebook and provide my honest feedback.

4.5/5

This was an absolute spellbinding, spooky, and thrilling read. Mazzy and Nora are two teen witches that attempt an unfamiliar spell only to be met with its dire consequences. It doesn’t slow down from there. This book takes absolutely no time in throwing you into the deep end and taking you along for the ride and I was here for every second of it.

Lesperance manages to blend great thriller elements (perfect timing of plot twists and reveals) with YA elements, like the realistic viewpoints of being a teenager (the awkward, naive, and everything in between).

This was a great read and I cannot wait to see more of what Lesperance has to offer in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Nicole Lesperance for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was engrossed from the first chapter till the very end. Everything from the teen witch coven storyline to the small seaside town murders to the budding romance was just absolutely *chef’s kiss*

Fun read and engaging story! I loved the witchcraft and relationship between the main trio of characters! Just spooky enough to freak me out a little bit too lol.

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance is a delightfully eerie, witchy thriller that blends occult mystery with spine-chilling suspense. From the moment Mazzy and Nora stumble upon the mutilated body on the beach, the novel weaves a dark and atmospheric tale filled with spellwork, ghostly whispers, and gruesome discoveries. Lesperance masterfully balances the horror elements—missing hands and teeth, occult visions, and creeping dread—with a YA-friendly approach, making it unsettling yet never overwhelming. The mystery unfolds at a gripping pace, and the supernatural elements feel both haunting and immersive. Perfect for readers who love dark magic, small-town secrets, and a touch of the macabre, this novel is an unputdownable, spine-tingling read.