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Reviewed by: Heather Maneiro, High School Librarian Title: The Invocations Author: Krystal Sutherland Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 10-12 Genre/Type of Book: Paranormal
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: LGBTQ+ Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Cybils YA Speculative Fiction Review If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: The witch hunters think they have won, covens are few and far between and magic seems to be disappearing, but three girls band together to push back.
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Review:
Jude is the girl born with the silver spoon in her mouth. She has everything until she decides to dabble in the occult. Now she is cursed, tied to three demons, and basically exiled from her family and home. It is just her youngest brother who still allows her in his life.
Zara believes there is no one left who really loves or understands her. School is a mess; her uncle is horrendous. Zara starts looking into the occult and necromancy in the hopes of bringing her sister back.
Emer saw her entire coven perish in an attack by a band of witch hunters as a child. Emer now seeks to use her magic to help women who can find help nowhere else. Emer soon discovers though that the beneficiaries of her magic are now becoming targets of a serial killer.
These three ladies must band together to find the serial killer and prevent further destruction by witch hunters. Through their odyssey the girls learn that not everyone who pretends to be a friend is really on their side, and indeed, sometimes those who push their boundaries are really doing it in their best interest.
An excellent entry into witch fiction appropriate for the teen/YA space. Less romance/romantasy, but a good alternative for the younger population not yet ready for the Mayfair Chronicles.
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Reviewed by: Taylor Coonelly, Elementary School Librarian Title: The Invocations
Author: Krystal Sutherland
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 10-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Fantasy/Thriller
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Mentions of death, blood, graphic murder/danger to the body, LGBTQIA+ themes (love them but just to be aware), the occult
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Concept was really intriguing
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
Three girls, from different walks of life, bound together by a rich history of magic. A serial killer, on the loose, killing women.
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Review:
This book was incredible - I recommend it to anyone who loves witches, the occult, friendship, love, revenge - it has got it ALL.
Three girls, from different walks of life, bound together by a rich history of magic. A serial killer, on the loose, killing women. The Invocations is told from the perspective of three different girls, each with their own history with magic and the occult. Zara, a straight A student turned magic obsessed in hopes of bringing back to life her murdered sister. Jude, a rich socialite who played with magic one too many times, and is suffering the consequences. Emer, a cursewriter (a writer of invocations) from a coven of witches who were brutally murdered, and just the person Zara and Jude need. But there is a serial killer at large, killing women on the streets of London, all of whom are clients of Emer's. The girls must work together if they plan to find the killer, and plan to achieve their own needs.
I ATE this book up - London fall setting, witches, murder - it is a wonderful fall read. The world building is atmospheric, and lays the foundations for magic and the occult that seem real and tangible. The three main characters are unique in their personalities and back stories, and their relationships were real and raw. The plot of the story, the murder and the quest for each girl to achieve something with the use of magic, propelled the story and kept at a fast pace. I really don't have any notes on what I wish was different, I felt like Krystal Sutherland really nailed this book.
As far as curriculum usage, I have a hard time imaging this book being used in an educational context, but instead see it as an amazing high school read.
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