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The Invocations
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy (2024)Three girls, one supernatural killer on the loose . . .
Zara Jones believes in magic because the alternative is too painful to consider—that her murdered sister is gone forever and there is nothing she can do about it. Rather than grieving and moving on, Zara decides she will do whatever it takes to claw her sister back from the grave—even trading in the occult.
Jude Wolf may be the daughter of a billionaire, but she is also undeniably cursed. After a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, her soul has been slowly turning necrotic. It’s a miserable existence marred by pain, sickness, and monstrous things that taunt her in the night. Now that she’s glimpsed what’s beyond the veil, Jude’s desperate to find someone to undo the damage she’s done to herself.
Enter Emer Byrne, an orphaned witch with a dark past and a deadly power, a.k.a. the solution to both Zara’s and Jude’s problems. Though Emer lives a hardscrabble life, she gives away her most valuable asset—her invocations—to women in desperate situations who are willing to sacrifice a piece of their soul in exchange for a scrap of power. Zara and Jude are willing, but they first have to find Emer.
When Emer’s clients start turning up dead all over London, a vital clue leads Zara and Jude right to her. If a serial killer is targeting her clients, Emer wants to know why—and to stop them. She strikes a tenuous alliance with Zara and Jude to hunt a killer before they are next on his list, even if she can’t give them in return what Zara and Jude want most: a sister and a soul.
Zara Jones believes in magic because the alternative is too painful to consider—that her murdered sister is gone forever and there is nothing she can do about it. Rather than grieving and moving on, Zara decides she will do whatever it takes to claw her sister back from the grave—even trading in the occult.
Jude Wolf may be the daughter of a billionaire, but she is also undeniably cursed. After a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, her soul has been slowly turning necrotic. It’s a miserable existence marred by pain, sickness, and monstrous things that taunt her in the night. Now that she’s glimpsed what’s beyond the veil, Jude’s desperate to find someone to undo the damage she’s done to herself.
Enter Emer Byrne, an orphaned witch with a dark past and a deadly power, a.k.a. the solution to both Zara’s and Jude’s problems. Though Emer lives a hardscrabble life, she gives away her most valuable asset—her invocations—to women in desperate situations who are willing to sacrifice a piece of their soul in exchange for a scrap of power. Zara and Jude are willing, but they first have to find Emer.
When Emer’s clients start turning up dead all over London, a vital clue leads Zara and Jude right to her. If a serial killer is targeting her clients, Emer wants to know why—and to stop them. She strikes a tenuous alliance with Zara and Jude to hunt a killer before they are next on his list, even if she can’t give them in return what Zara and Jude want most: a sister and a soul.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2024
650 people are currently reading
61016 people want to read
About the author
Krystal Sutherland
9 books4,460 followersKrystal Sutherland is an internationally published author. Her latest novel for young adults, House of Hollow, was released by Penguin in April 2021. Sutherland's first novel, Chemical Hearts, was published in over 20 countries and was named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts of 2016. The film adaptation, produced by Amazon Studios, stars Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) and Austin Abrams (Dash & Lily); Sutherland served as an executive producer on the project. Her second novel, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares, was published to critical acclaim in 2017 and has been optioned for adaptation by Yellow Bird US. In 2018, she appeared on the annual Forbes “30 Under 30” list. Originally from Australia, she has lived on four continents and currently calls London home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,110 reviews
Want to read
June 12, 2022i think about house of hollow daily so i need my hands on this
February 12, 2024
magical dark academia horror about scary girls...it felt fated that i would like this book.
and i did. for a while.
in fact, i LOVED!!!! the first pages of this — so atmospheric and intriguing, and unlike anything i'd read since ninth house, a book high i've been chasing for years.
unfortunately i do believe that 3 characters is too many to follow this closely and with unique points of view, that we embarked on our plot too quickly, and that there was so much gore and grossness and vomit as to reduce the impact of the ultimate climax.
similarly the ending was sweet, but these characters leaned too heavy into their stereotypes to be really memorable. that's what happens when we have too many to follow: we end up with The Rebel, The Witch, and The Nerd.
but contrary to all the complaining i just did...i'm going to follow this author.
bottom line: a lot of good! not enough. but a lot.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
and i did. for a while.
in fact, i LOVED!!!! the first pages of this — so atmospheric and intriguing, and unlike anything i'd read since ninth house, a book high i've been chasing for years.
unfortunately i do believe that 3 characters is too many to follow this closely and with unique points of view, that we embarked on our plot too quickly, and that there was so much gore and grossness and vomit as to reduce the impact of the ultimate climax.
similarly the ending was sweet, but these characters leaned too heavy into their stereotypes to be really memorable. that's what happens when we have too many to follow: we end up with The Rebel, The Witch, and The Nerd.
but contrary to all the complaining i just did...i'm going to follow this author.
bottom line: a lot of good! not enough. but a lot.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
Want to read
January 18, 2023the title, the cover, the premise- e v e r y t h i n g!!!
February 3, 2025
Take me seriously when I say this is the new Manifest of Feminism, starting now.
You're not wrong, this is a book about witches and magic, but calling it a metaphor wouldn’t do it justice.
The Invocations is a critic to the world, the mere explanation of how misogynistic the world is and how men are a threat to women for hundreds of reasons, some of which they wouldn't understand even if you’d scream them in their faces.
I doubt this is even a fantasy book: what if a witch ratted the truth about magic to Krystal Sutherland and she wrote a book about it?
Further proof of it is the fact that this type of witchcraft is dark and gruesome and makes you afraid of the dark corners of your bedroom, and not a silly-little-romance type of magic.
I hate to generalize but: if you're a woman, you must read this; to all my non-binary friends, I believe you can also identify with the story; on the contrary, if you're one of those men who think Barbie was pointless, we’ll come for you.
↠ 4.5 stars
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
You're not wrong, this is a book about witches and magic, but calling it a metaphor wouldn’t do it justice.
The Invocations is a critic to the world, the mere explanation of how misogynistic the world is and how men are a threat to women for hundreds of reasons, some of which they wouldn't understand even if you’d scream them in their faces.
I doubt this is even a fantasy book: what if a witch ratted the truth about magic to Krystal Sutherland and she wrote a book about it?
Further proof of it is the fact that this type of witchcraft is dark and gruesome and makes you afraid of the dark corners of your bedroom, and not a silly-little-romance type of magic.
I hate to generalize but: if you're a woman, you must read this; to all my non-binary friends, I believe you can also identify with the story; on the contrary, if you're one of those men who think Barbie was pointless, we’ll come for you.
↠ 4.5 stars
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
December 27, 2024
Krystal Sutherland has undeniably secured her place as my auto-approved author with the extraordinary and unique "House of Hollow"! When I saw her latest release, excitement coursed through me, and without delving into the blurb, I jumped headfirst into the journey solely guided by the captivating cover. I once again entrusted my mind and nervous gray cells to her, confident that she wouldn't disappoint — and she lived up to that confidence!
In "Invocations" Sutherland masterfully brings to life three distinct young women characters: Emer, wielding magical powers and combat skills; Jude, the snarky and sarcastic queen radiating boldness, amusement, cunningness, and charm; and Zara (or Jones, as affectionately called by Jude), the nerdy, quirky brain of the group with a big heart ready to protect her loved ones and face extreme challenges.
This trio converges in unexpected, unusual, and perilous circumstances to thwart a serial killer targeting not ordinary women but those who made a pact with a cursewriter for special talents, exchanging a piece of their soul. Now, a mystic entity or vengeful force is on the hunt.
Zara Jones, recently orphaned and enduring an abusive uncle, is resolute in bringing back her sister Savannah, a victim of the serial killer. In her quest, Zara crosses paths with Jude Wolf, the billionaire Wolf Family's successor, cursed and banished from her family. Meanwhile, Emer Byrne, a cunning identity thief with a dark past, unravels the killer's connection to the women she assisted. To halt the murderer, Emer forges a tenuous alliance with Zara and Jude.
The narrative unfolds with girl power at the forefront — brain, strategy, and combat skills unite to avenge victims and teach a lesson to the vicious killer. The story is action-packed, magical, mystical, and heart-throbbing, leading to a fair and satisfying conclusion. I couldn't stop reading, wishing the journey would never end, yet unable to slow down.
Every chapter, each characterization, and the overall progression of this fantasy tale are praiseworthy. Count me in as a dedicated fangirl of this author! I wholeheartedly recommend "Invocations" as one of the standout fantasy reads of 2024 — don't miss out on this exceptional book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this fantastic book in exchange for my honest thoughts
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In "Invocations" Sutherland masterfully brings to life three distinct young women characters: Emer, wielding magical powers and combat skills; Jude, the snarky and sarcastic queen radiating boldness, amusement, cunningness, and charm; and Zara (or Jones, as affectionately called by Jude), the nerdy, quirky brain of the group with a big heart ready to protect her loved ones and face extreme challenges.
This trio converges in unexpected, unusual, and perilous circumstances to thwart a serial killer targeting not ordinary women but those who made a pact with a cursewriter for special talents, exchanging a piece of their soul. Now, a mystic entity or vengeful force is on the hunt.
Zara Jones, recently orphaned and enduring an abusive uncle, is resolute in bringing back her sister Savannah, a victim of the serial killer. In her quest, Zara crosses paths with Jude Wolf, the billionaire Wolf Family's successor, cursed and banished from her family. Meanwhile, Emer Byrne, a cunning identity thief with a dark past, unravels the killer's connection to the women she assisted. To halt the murderer, Emer forges a tenuous alliance with Zara and Jude.
The narrative unfolds with girl power at the forefront — brain, strategy, and combat skills unite to avenge victims and teach a lesson to the vicious killer. The story is action-packed, magical, mystical, and heart-throbbing, leading to a fair and satisfying conclusion. I couldn't stop reading, wishing the journey would never end, yet unable to slow down.
Every chapter, each characterization, and the overall progression of this fantasy tale are praiseworthy. Count me in as a dedicated fangirl of this author! I wholeheartedly recommend "Invocations" as one of the standout fantasy reads of 2024 — don't miss out on this exceptional book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this fantastic book in exchange for my honest thoughts
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
June 22, 2024
2024 reread- yeah, this is just really damn good!
____________________________________
I liked House of Hollow pretty well, but The Invocations is even better. Queer, witchy, dark, and driven by female rage, this paranormal serial killer mystery goes hard and delivers on the ending.
Three young women from very different backgrounds find themselves working together to uncover the identity of a serial killer targeting witches.
Zara's beloved older sister was one of the victims and now she's determined to figure out how to use necromancy to bring her sister back. She's smart and single-minded and in a lot of pain.
Jude Wolf is the daughter of a billionaire, but after accidentally cursing herself she's living in chronic pain and tethered to demons. She will do anything to track down a curse writer who can help her get her life back.
Emer is a talented curse writer on the run from her past, but she does what she can to help other women who need access to power. The problem? Her former clients are all victims of this serial killer...
This is quite dark and violent with gruesome body horror, but I loved it. These young women are hurt and prickly but they make things happen. This book has a lot to say about misogyny, the harm of toxic masculinity, and the dark side of power. I also LOVE how it uses a very simple couple of lines to be inclusive in it's view of womanhood. In this world only women can use magic and make deals with demons, but someone asks what about trans women. The response? Demons only care about souls, not bodies. THIS is a great example of what I wish more writers would do- it takes so little to avoid a trans-exclusionary view of womanhood in this kind of feminist story. Also it's super queer, and very casually so with an intense and explosive ending. Definitely have this on your radar! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
____________________________________
I liked House of Hollow pretty well, but The Invocations is even better. Queer, witchy, dark, and driven by female rage, this paranormal serial killer mystery goes hard and delivers on the ending.
Three young women from very different backgrounds find themselves working together to uncover the identity of a serial killer targeting witches.
Zara's beloved older sister was one of the victims and now she's determined to figure out how to use necromancy to bring her sister back. She's smart and single-minded and in a lot of pain.
Jude Wolf is the daughter of a billionaire, but after accidentally cursing herself she's living in chronic pain and tethered to demons. She will do anything to track down a curse writer who can help her get her life back.
Emer is a talented curse writer on the run from her past, but she does what she can to help other women who need access to power. The problem? Her former clients are all victims of this serial killer...
This is quite dark and violent with gruesome body horror, but I loved it. These young women are hurt and prickly but they make things happen. This book has a lot to say about misogyny, the harm of toxic masculinity, and the dark side of power. I also LOVE how it uses a very simple couple of lines to be inclusive in it's view of womanhood. In this world only women can use magic and make deals with demons, but someone asks what about trans women. The response? Demons only care about souls, not bodies. THIS is a great example of what I wish more writers would do- it takes so little to avoid a trans-exclusionary view of womanhood in this kind of feminist story. Also it's super queer, and very casually so with an intense and explosive ending. Definitely have this on your radar! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
December 20, 2025
**4.5-stars**
Jude Wolf is the daughter of a billionaire. You'd think she's a girl that has everything, but worries. Sadly, you'd be wrong. Jude has a serious issue that is literally eating her alive.
Dabbling in the occult at the age of 15, Jude cursed herself and now her soul is slowly turning necrotic. After every remedy she's tried has failed, she's been looking for someone to help her purge this blasted curse.
Zara Jones lost her beloved sister, Savannah, to the hands of a vicious serial killer. Savannah was the only person she trusted and now that she's gone, Zara would do anything to bring her back, including turn to occult methods.
Zara feels if she could bring her back, Savannah could identify her killer and he could be brought to justice.
Two girls on a desperate hunt for someone with the abilities to help them, happen by chance upon one another. Instant attraction and a kinship of need follows.
The girls see a potential ally in Emer Byrne, a witch with a tragic past, who sells spells to women looking to escape desperate situations. Emer has a lot of knowledge and power, two things that Jude and Zara hopelessly seek.
They notice women being murdered at an alarming rate in their city of London and after some thought, it seems they all have one thing in common: connections to Emer.
Now Emer, Zara and Jude must team up and figure out the identity of the serial killer before any of them end up next on his list.
I didn't have any expectations when I picked up The Invocations. Although I have House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland, and have heard incredible things about it, I haven't picked it up yet.
I'm so impressed with how this played out. I loved the combination of the intriguing murder mystery mixed with all the vivid occult elements. The character work was fantastic and I truly hope this isn't the last we see of these characters.
I was hooked into this story very quickly. Initially, we are just learning about Jude and Zara. I loved meeting both of them and Sutherland made their personal stories so believable and compelling.
I was interested to see how their paths were going to intersect and what would keep them together. I think they way Sutherland drew out this process and then their meeting, it was so impactful.
Once Emer comes in, I loved how they all needed to band together to work towards a common purpose. Even though they were very distinct individuals, with different end goals, it made sense for them to combine their efforts to achieve everything they wanted.
I found Sutherland's writing to be highly readable. The setting was incredibly atmospheric. I loved how 'our world' it felt, with a touch of dark magic and stellar witchy vibes.
Additionally, I felt like the occult elements were amazing. The concepts were captivating and well thought out. I also feel like this will be accessible to a broad audience, easily enjoyed by Readers of all ages.
The feminist themes were also well presented and in this case, well received. I'm looking forward to reading more from Sutherland. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who thinks the synopsis sounds interesting. It delivers what is promised.
Thank you to the publisher, Nancy Paulsen Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to see what Sutherland creates next!
Jude Wolf is the daughter of a billionaire. You'd think she's a girl that has everything, but worries. Sadly, you'd be wrong. Jude has a serious issue that is literally eating her alive.
Dabbling in the occult at the age of 15, Jude cursed herself and now her soul is slowly turning necrotic. After every remedy she's tried has failed, she's been looking for someone to help her purge this blasted curse.
Zara Jones lost her beloved sister, Savannah, to the hands of a vicious serial killer. Savannah was the only person she trusted and now that she's gone, Zara would do anything to bring her back, including turn to occult methods.
Zara feels if she could bring her back, Savannah could identify her killer and he could be brought to justice.
Two girls on a desperate hunt for someone with the abilities to help them, happen by chance upon one another. Instant attraction and a kinship of need follows.
The girls see a potential ally in Emer Byrne, a witch with a tragic past, who sells spells to women looking to escape desperate situations. Emer has a lot of knowledge and power, two things that Jude and Zara hopelessly seek.
They notice women being murdered at an alarming rate in their city of London and after some thought, it seems they all have one thing in common: connections to Emer.
Now Emer, Zara and Jude must team up and figure out the identity of the serial killer before any of them end up next on his list.
I didn't have any expectations when I picked up The Invocations. Although I have House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland, and have heard incredible things about it, I haven't picked it up yet.
I'm so impressed with how this played out. I loved the combination of the intriguing murder mystery mixed with all the vivid occult elements. The character work was fantastic and I truly hope this isn't the last we see of these characters.
I was hooked into this story very quickly. Initially, we are just learning about Jude and Zara. I loved meeting both of them and Sutherland made their personal stories so believable and compelling.
I was interested to see how their paths were going to intersect and what would keep them together. I think they way Sutherland drew out this process and then their meeting, it was so impactful.
Once Emer comes in, I loved how they all needed to band together to work towards a common purpose. Even though they were very distinct individuals, with different end goals, it made sense for them to combine their efforts to achieve everything they wanted.
I found Sutherland's writing to be highly readable. The setting was incredibly atmospheric. I loved how 'our world' it felt, with a touch of dark magic and stellar witchy vibes.
Additionally, I felt like the occult elements were amazing. The concepts were captivating and well thought out. I also feel like this will be accessible to a broad audience, easily enjoyed by Readers of all ages.
The feminist themes were also well presented and in this case, well received. I'm looking forward to reading more from Sutherland. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who thinks the synopsis sounds interesting. It delivers what is promised.
Thank you to the publisher, Nancy Paulsen Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to see what Sutherland creates next!
May 5, 2024
This was grim, I loved it
Want to read
March 6, 2024Le sigh. So, I really felt that House of Hollow was pretty mid... but this one? This actually sounds good!
Don't trick me 🙏🏻 Please actually be good! 😩
Just dropped into my inbox- let's see what this one's all about!
Don't trick me 🙏🏻 Please actually be good! 😩
Just dropped into my inbox- let's see what this one's all about!
January 22, 2025
3.5 stars.
This book was a wild ride, and I have mixed feelings about it. While I enjoyed it overall, it also had its frustrating moments. There were definitely strong points, but some aspects left a bit to be desired.
The beginning was the strongest part, but as the story progressed, it lost some of its initial appeal. The characters drove the narrative, and although I had a strong connection with most, some moments landed flat. By the end, Zara emerged as my favorite. She was a badass who consistently focused on her goal, and I admire that tremendously. I appreciated her ending but wished she had made a different choice. The author should have devoted more time to her character since she was the most compelling force in the story.
Emer was acceptable, but I wanted to like her more; she just didn’t captivate me, even as the witch. That said, I loved her dynamic with her demons, especially Bael, who was the standout character for me. Jude had an amazing start but became frustratingly clueless, struggling to piece things together. I liked her but expected a stronger character development arc.
Regarding the romance, it was satisfactory, but a polyamorous relationship would have been a better fit. That structure would have made every character feel equally significant. I appreciated that the romance served as a subplot while the mystery remained central.
The ending didn’t shock me—I figured out the killer's identity and the hunters halfway through. Overall, I did like this book, and I’m glad I took the time to read it.
This book was a wild ride, and I have mixed feelings about it. While I enjoyed it overall, it also had its frustrating moments. There were definitely strong points, but some aspects left a bit to be desired.
The beginning was the strongest part, but as the story progressed, it lost some of its initial appeal. The characters drove the narrative, and although I had a strong connection with most, some moments landed flat. By the end, Zara emerged as my favorite. She was a badass who consistently focused on her goal, and I admire that tremendously. I appreciated her ending but wished she had made a different choice. The author should have devoted more time to her character since she was the most compelling force in the story.
Emer was acceptable, but I wanted to like her more; she just didn’t captivate me, even as the witch. That said, I loved her dynamic with her demons, especially Bael, who was the standout character for me. Jude had an amazing start but became frustratingly clueless, struggling to piece things together. I liked her but expected a stronger character development arc.
Regarding the romance, it was satisfactory, but a polyamorous relationship would have been a better fit. That structure would have made every character feel equally significant. I appreciated that the romance served as a subplot while the mystery remained central.
The ending didn’t shock me—I figured out the killer's identity and the hunters halfway through. Overall, I did like this book, and I’m glad I took the time to read it.
November 1, 2023
I really, really wanted to like this, because the cover is gorgeous and the premise is great. But I was just so bored. The plot moved at a snail's pace. And the prose felt weirdly emotionless. I couldn't connect to any of the POV characters. Pretty disappointed with this one.
[Note: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
[Note: I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
November 11, 2024
To dla tych z nas, które w środy ubierają się na czarno, wiedzą, że wiedźma jest niczym bez kowenu, a swoje zwierzaki domowe nazywają imionami upadłych aniołów.
Polecam puścić sobie w tle Czajkowskiego, gdy będziecie czytać finał tej historii.
Polecam puścić sobie w tle Czajkowskiego, gdy będziecie czytać finał tej historii.
January 17, 2026
I’m on BookTube now! =)
”London is full to bursting with magic, dark and dangerous, if you know where to look … and she knows, now, where to look.”
Sometimes you find a book at your library, the blurb looks interesting and you decide to borrow it, not aware you just put a little gem into your backpack. Well, I’m glad to say that for me “The Invocations” turned out to be one of those surprising stories! I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I took this home from my library, but suffice it to say I was in for quite a unique and intriguing ride. This was unlike anything I ever read before and I was so here for it. I think what made this book so interesting was the fact that we didn’t just get three different POVs but also a unique world-building, witches, demons, necromancy, feminism, the found family trope, LGBTQIA+ reps, a mysterious serial killer on the loose and a healthy dose of body horror. Writing it all down, it sounds like such a weird mixture but I swear, Krystal Sutherland made it work somehow!
I think part of what made the book so interesting is the fact that we got three girls and their individual struggles while they are trying to stop a serial killer from finding his next victim. Their lives were already irrevocably connected before they even met each other, but they weren’t aware of this connection before another murder case caused them to stumble upon each other.
Jude Wolf is a rich girl that dabbled in the occult when she was 15 and accidentally tied a demon to herself. Two other attempts to get rid of said demon left her with three demons tied to her body, all of them trying to get the upper hand. None of them succeeded… so far. The problem is, they are eating away at her body and soul and Jude has no idea how much time she has left until what’s left of her succumbs to the pressure. At first glance, Jude looks like she might have it all, good looks, a rich family with lots of money, but beneath the surface we find a girl that’s just tired and broken, hoping to find a way to get rid of all those demons and regretting the choices she made. The body horror was strong with Jude and her character growth was palpable throughout the story. She might have started out as a naïve rich girl but she definitely learned her (rather painful) lesson in the end.
”There’s a battle going on inside Jude. A literal battle for her very soul. Two demons want her alive so they can suck her spirit dry. One wants her dead so it can be free of her for good. She has to live with all three of them fighting for supremacy.”
While Jude wants to find a curse-writer in order to rid herself of her (literal) demons, Zara Jones is just trying to find the murderer of her sister Savannah. A year ago she was killed and after the police discovered another dead girl that died the same way, Zara decides to investigate and to find her sisters murderer no matter what. It’s at one of those murder scenes Zara and Jude cross paths because Jude is paying the police detective to inform her whenever she discovers new murder victims that are linked to the open case. Jude knows the tattoos on the girls are curses that were supposed to bind demons to their bodies in order to protect them and whoever is killing those girls, knows it too. So while Jude wants to find the powerful curse-writer that made the tattoos, Zara is driven by grief and looking for the killer. They strike a tentative alliance, because finding the curse-writer means they might find Savannah’s murderer as well.
”Keep your chin up. Things will get better. It won’t always hurt this much. But it does still hurt, and it never gets any better. Each day is like the first. The wound is not healing – nor does Zara want it to. She will not allow it. The rawness of the pain is what keeps her going.”
Enter Emer Byrne the aforementioned curse-writer who has no idea every girl that asked her for help has died a gruesome death. Emer is the only member of her family that is still alive after a group of men wiped out her entire coven about 10 years ago. Ever since she’s been in hiding, trying to help desperate women by marking them with her invocations. All of them came to her, because men threatened their lives, and Emer made it her mission to give them the means to defend themselves. Unfortunately, somebody is killing every girl that got one of her invocations, a fact Emer was blissfully unaware of until Jude and Zara found her card at the last victim’s murder scene and informed her about the killings. Naturally, Emer isn’t just angry at the murderer, but also feels guilty about the role she played by leading him to his victims. So, our three girls join forces and set out to find the killer before he finds his next prey.
”For three years, demons nourished her. Demons educated her. She was not so foolish to think they did it out of love or caring. It was an investment. Emer was the daughter of a cursewriter, the granddaughter of a cursewriter. Demons needed cursewriters so they could consume souls, and cursewriters were a dying breed.”
That’s basically the plot of the story but of course there’s so much more to it than initially meets the eye. I really enjoyed getting to know those three girls and their problems and struggles felt very real. They were all such different characters but they still found kindred spirits in each other and it was nice to see how they grew closer and turned into a found family that watched out for each other. Jude was a little bit the daredevil of the group while Emer was the considerate one. Well, and Zara? She certainly had her own agenda but still tried to do what was best for the group. Grief is a horrible thing and it turned and twisted Zara into someone Savannah wouldn’t have recognized anymore.
"Don’t you get it?” Savannah said before she left, before she slammed the door behind her, before Zara never saw her alive again. “I sacrificed everything for you. I quit school and got that dead-end job to keep a roof over your head so that you can stay in school. So that you can go to Oxford one day. So that you can follow your dreams. I don't have dreams, Zara, and that doesn't bother me at all - because I gave them all to you."
And speaking of: Zara and Savannah’s sibling relationship was so heart-breaking and the fact they parted ways before Zara could make amends was gnawing at her. Not being able to say goodbye is one of the hardest things and since Savannah was Zara’s whole world it hit even harder than it would have hit if they would have had a family aside of each other. I think that’s what connected those three girls, all of them had no family and felt alone in this world. Well, technically Jude would have had a family but they sort of kicked her out because her demons were following her everywhere and turned everything rotten.
This said, the world building and the magic system were both amazing as well. I never came across a magic system that was similar to what Emer did with her cursewriting and it was such a refreshing approach. To bind demons to people with a tattoo was already interesting, but the demons starting some sort of symbiosis with the person they are tied to? Now THAT was intriguing for sure. Not to mention that Emer uses different languages to write her curses and takes a lot of time to get them right. I mean, everyone knows it’s all about the nuances with languages and Emer, it seems, became a master at making deals with demons. In the end, it’s a trade. A little part of the tattoo bearer’s soul in exchange for a little bit of the demon’s special magic or ability. I suppose in our world there might be many people who’d be interested in a deal like that. <_<
”Cursewriting is a slow trade, existing only in the underbelly and at the edges. For good reason. It is dangerous to whisper beyond the veil and call demons into this realm. It is more dangerous still to bind these demons to desperate women, to let them feed on women’s souls in exchange for a flicker of power.”
Anyway! Of course, there was a little bit of romance as well and Jude and Emer kind of hit it off and felt attracted to each other. I said “a little bit” because it wasn’t the main focus of the plot and the hunt for the killer as well as the mysteries surrounding the victims deaths was what truly mattered. Well, and the fact that our main characters were forced to confront their problems and issues in order to move on with their lives. They had a lot to work through and together they were finally able to do that in a healthy environment. Well, somewhat healthy. But I don’t want to spoil anything. *lol*
"The girl smells of sulfur and woodsmoke from the fire - not a mix Jude would immediately describe as pleasant, but on Emer, with those dark eyes and that red hair, it works somehow. She is the embodiment of autumn with a touch of hell thrown in for a bit of excitement."
Finally yet importantly, I need to mention the amazing short quote the author put into the book. There’s been endless talk about transgender people and apparently a lot of governments feel threatened by the mere existence of people that don’t fit their binary gender system. If you’ve followed my reviews you know my stance and you know on which side I’m at, so all I’ll say is: THIS quote, as short as it is, sums up everything you need to know! The fact that demons (the spawns of hell) don’t care about bodies and only care about the soul that lives in the bodies says it all! If demons in a book can see it that way, why is it so hard to understand for people? It’s never been about the body, it’s about the soul that lives in it. Transgender women are women, transgender men are men and every person that doesn’t fit the gender binary is valid! Period. I won’t say more than that.
"What about trans women?" Zara asks, writing the question in her document. "How does that work?"
"Of course I have written invocations for trans women," Emer says. "Demons do not care about bodies. They only care about souls."
Conclusion:
“The Invocations” turned out to be one of those rare books that thoroughly surprised me and I’m astonished not more people are talking about it. For me this was definitely a win and even though the author addressed so many different topics, she still managed to go full circle and wrote a great, comprehensible and suspenseful ending. I enjoyed this story immensely and I’ll watch out for more books written by Krystal Sutherland now!
”For ten years, Emer has not allowed herself to want much of anything beyond helping desperate women and writing her spell for revenge. Now that she is here, a part of her begins to want this. To come home. To settle in one place. To rebuild what was stolen from her.”
___________________________
This was amazing!
A very unique world-building with witches and demons and three girls you can’t help but root for!
Also the curse-writing and necromancy! I loved every second of it!
Full RTC soon! ;-)
___________________________
I’m not gonna lie: “The Invocations” had me interested ever since I read the blurb!
I mean 3 different women, all searching for something and trying to change their lives.
Add curses, demons, magical powers and a supernatural killer into the mix and you have one hell of a recipe for a horror thriller. XD
Apparently horror has become one of my fave genres after all. *lol*
Let’s see how this one goes!
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”London is full to bursting with magic, dark and dangerous, if you know where to look … and she knows, now, where to look.”
Sometimes you find a book at your library, the blurb looks interesting and you decide to borrow it, not aware you just put a little gem into your backpack. Well, I’m glad to say that for me “The Invocations” turned out to be one of those surprising stories! I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I took this home from my library, but suffice it to say I was in for quite a unique and intriguing ride. This was unlike anything I ever read before and I was so here for it. I think what made this book so interesting was the fact that we didn’t just get three different POVs but also a unique world-building, witches, demons, necromancy, feminism, the found family trope, LGBTQIA+ reps, a mysterious serial killer on the loose and a healthy dose of body horror. Writing it all down, it sounds like such a weird mixture but I swear, Krystal Sutherland made it work somehow!
I think part of what made the book so interesting is the fact that we got three girls and their individual struggles while they are trying to stop a serial killer from finding his next victim. Their lives were already irrevocably connected before they even met each other, but they weren’t aware of this connection before another murder case caused them to stumble upon each other.
Jude Wolf is a rich girl that dabbled in the occult when she was 15 and accidentally tied a demon to herself. Two other attempts to get rid of said demon left her with three demons tied to her body, all of them trying to get the upper hand. None of them succeeded… so far. The problem is, they are eating away at her body and soul and Jude has no idea how much time she has left until what’s left of her succumbs to the pressure. At first glance, Jude looks like she might have it all, good looks, a rich family with lots of money, but beneath the surface we find a girl that’s just tired and broken, hoping to find a way to get rid of all those demons and regretting the choices she made. The body horror was strong with Jude and her character growth was palpable throughout the story. She might have started out as a naïve rich girl but she definitely learned her (rather painful) lesson in the end.
”There’s a battle going on inside Jude. A literal battle for her very soul. Two demons want her alive so they can suck her spirit dry. One wants her dead so it can be free of her for good. She has to live with all three of them fighting for supremacy.”
While Jude wants to find a curse-writer in order to rid herself of her (literal) demons, Zara Jones is just trying to find the murderer of her sister Savannah. A year ago she was killed and after the police discovered another dead girl that died the same way, Zara decides to investigate and to find her sisters murderer no matter what. It’s at one of those murder scenes Zara and Jude cross paths because Jude is paying the police detective to inform her whenever she discovers new murder victims that are linked to the open case. Jude knows the tattoos on the girls are curses that were supposed to bind demons to their bodies in order to protect them and whoever is killing those girls, knows it too. So while Jude wants to find the powerful curse-writer that made the tattoos, Zara is driven by grief and looking for the killer. They strike a tentative alliance, because finding the curse-writer means they might find Savannah’s murderer as well.
”Keep your chin up. Things will get better. It won’t always hurt this much. But it does still hurt, and it never gets any better. Each day is like the first. The wound is not healing – nor does Zara want it to. She will not allow it. The rawness of the pain is what keeps her going.”
Enter Emer Byrne the aforementioned curse-writer who has no idea every girl that asked her for help has died a gruesome death. Emer is the only member of her family that is still alive after a group of men wiped out her entire coven about 10 years ago. Ever since she’s been in hiding, trying to help desperate women by marking them with her invocations. All of them came to her, because men threatened their lives, and Emer made it her mission to give them the means to defend themselves. Unfortunately, somebody is killing every girl that got one of her invocations, a fact Emer was blissfully unaware of until Jude and Zara found her card at the last victim’s murder scene and informed her about the killings. Naturally, Emer isn’t just angry at the murderer, but also feels guilty about the role she played by leading him to his victims. So, our three girls join forces and set out to find the killer before he finds his next prey.
”For three years, demons nourished her. Demons educated her. She was not so foolish to think they did it out of love or caring. It was an investment. Emer was the daughter of a cursewriter, the granddaughter of a cursewriter. Demons needed cursewriters so they could consume souls, and cursewriters were a dying breed.”
That’s basically the plot of the story but of course there’s so much more to it than initially meets the eye. I really enjoyed getting to know those three girls and their problems and struggles felt very real. They were all such different characters but they still found kindred spirits in each other and it was nice to see how they grew closer and turned into a found family that watched out for each other. Jude was a little bit the daredevil of the group while Emer was the considerate one. Well, and Zara? She certainly had her own agenda but still tried to do what was best for the group. Grief is a horrible thing and it turned and twisted Zara into someone Savannah wouldn’t have recognized anymore.
"Don’t you get it?” Savannah said before she left, before she slammed the door behind her, before Zara never saw her alive again. “I sacrificed everything for you. I quit school and got that dead-end job to keep a roof over your head so that you can stay in school. So that you can go to Oxford one day. So that you can follow your dreams. I don't have dreams, Zara, and that doesn't bother me at all - because I gave them all to you."
And speaking of: Zara and Savannah’s sibling relationship was so heart-breaking and the fact they parted ways before Zara could make amends was gnawing at her. Not being able to say goodbye is one of the hardest things and since Savannah was Zara’s whole world it hit even harder than it would have hit if they would have had a family aside of each other. I think that’s what connected those three girls, all of them had no family and felt alone in this world. Well, technically Jude would have had a family but they sort of kicked her out because her demons were following her everywhere and turned everything rotten.
This said, the world building and the magic system were both amazing as well. I never came across a magic system that was similar to what Emer did with her cursewriting and it was such a refreshing approach. To bind demons to people with a tattoo was already interesting, but the demons starting some sort of symbiosis with the person they are tied to? Now THAT was intriguing for sure. Not to mention that Emer uses different languages to write her curses and takes a lot of time to get them right. I mean, everyone knows it’s all about the nuances with languages and Emer, it seems, became a master at making deals with demons. In the end, it’s a trade. A little part of the tattoo bearer’s soul in exchange for a little bit of the demon’s special magic or ability. I suppose in our world there might be many people who’d be interested in a deal like that. <_<
”Cursewriting is a slow trade, existing only in the underbelly and at the edges. For good reason. It is dangerous to whisper beyond the veil and call demons into this realm. It is more dangerous still to bind these demons to desperate women, to let them feed on women’s souls in exchange for a flicker of power.”
Anyway! Of course, there was a little bit of romance as well and Jude and Emer kind of hit it off and felt attracted to each other. I said “a little bit” because it wasn’t the main focus of the plot and the hunt for the killer as well as the mysteries surrounding the victims deaths was what truly mattered. Well, and the fact that our main characters were forced to confront their problems and issues in order to move on with their lives. They had a lot to work through and together they were finally able to do that in a healthy environment. Well, somewhat healthy. But I don’t want to spoil anything. *lol*
"The girl smells of sulfur and woodsmoke from the fire - not a mix Jude would immediately describe as pleasant, but on Emer, with those dark eyes and that red hair, it works somehow. She is the embodiment of autumn with a touch of hell thrown in for a bit of excitement."
Finally yet importantly, I need to mention the amazing short quote the author put into the book. There’s been endless talk about transgender people and apparently a lot of governments feel threatened by the mere existence of people that don’t fit their binary gender system. If you’ve followed my reviews you know my stance and you know on which side I’m at, so all I’ll say is: THIS quote, as short as it is, sums up everything you need to know! The fact that demons (the spawns of hell) don’t care about bodies and only care about the soul that lives in the bodies says it all! If demons in a book can see it that way, why is it so hard to understand for people? It’s never been about the body, it’s about the soul that lives in it. Transgender women are women, transgender men are men and every person that doesn’t fit the gender binary is valid! Period. I won’t say more than that.
"What about trans women?" Zara asks, writing the question in her document. "How does that work?"
"Of course I have written invocations for trans women," Emer says. "Demons do not care about bodies. They only care about souls."
Conclusion:
“The Invocations” turned out to be one of those rare books that thoroughly surprised me and I’m astonished not more people are talking about it. For me this was definitely a win and even though the author addressed so many different topics, she still managed to go full circle and wrote a great, comprehensible and suspenseful ending. I enjoyed this story immensely and I’ll watch out for more books written by Krystal Sutherland now!
”For ten years, Emer has not allowed herself to want much of anything beyond helping desperate women and writing her spell for revenge. Now that she is here, a part of her begins to want this. To come home. To settle in one place. To rebuild what was stolen from her.”
___________________________
This was amazing!
A very unique world-building with witches and demons and three girls you can’t help but root for!
Also the curse-writing and necromancy! I loved every second of it!
Full RTC soon! ;-)
___________________________
I’m not gonna lie: “The Invocations” had me interested ever since I read the blurb!
I mean 3 different women, all searching for something and trying to change their lives.
Add curses, demons, magical powers and a supernatural killer into the mix and you have one hell of a recipe for a horror thriller. XD
Apparently horror has become one of my fave genres after all. *lol*
Let’s see how this one goes!
Find me on:
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March 9, 2025
You've heard of the Red Wedding, now get ready for the Hot Pink Wedding!
January 27, 2024
body horror, necromancy, witchy vibes, demons, sapphic romance, murder mystery... it's all there my dudes🤌🏼
thank you to penguin teen for sending me an ARC!
thank you to penguin teen for sending me an ARC!
June 8, 2024
”Men do not know what it feels like to be hunted. Men do not walk alone on dark streets and think about fingers closing around their throats or their skulls thudding dully against the pavement. They do not think about strangers coming to their house and slaughtering their entire family.”
4.5 ⭐️
with a dark and atmospheric setting, the main theme of this book teeters between female rage and feminism. it’s about women having each other’s backs and fighting against the patriarchy.
THE PLOT
the writing is exquisite and reminiscent of House of Hollow which is one of my fav books. the plot follows a murder mystery and gosh i just love those! the magic and witchy elements are complex but described in easily understandable terms. i’m glad it didn’t take too much brain energy for me to figure out what was going on as the story’s flow was pretty straightforward without confusing the reader. i liked that the book also touched on the topic of grief and how each individual character tackled it based on their personal experiences. i loved how their shared sorrow brought them closer like a sisterhood of sorts.
THE CHARACTERS
all three of the fmcs have such distinct personalities that they feel very realistic to read about.
jude is sarcastic and flirty while being perfectly flippant of her current problem. she hides behind her outwardly jovial nature as a mask to remain tough on the surface without letting her friends know about her inner suffering. she also came off as a little spoiled for wanting her old luxury back but i suppose that’s natural to crave if you’re raised in such an upbringing. her family’s gross display of wealth was a little on the nose too but after learning the context it made more sense.
zara was determined to resurrect her dead sister for the better part of the book because she was completely consumed by grief and denial. i could relate to her the most as someone who is also struggling to come to terms with her own grief. her chapters were moving and emotional. i admired her resilience but i also felt sorry for her.
emer was intimidating and fearless but she was also the smartest in the group. i enjoyed the blooming romance between her and another sapphic character though i didn’t feel the need for any romance in the story (but then again, i never do lol). thankfully, it was just a subplot. she cut a striking character on her own and was definitely very badass.
FINAL THOUGHTS
the message imbued in The Invocations is simple and clear: men ain’t shit. the story is basically everything i’ve wanted in a book and then some. i only have very minor complaints because i think the plot could’ve been more thrilling but i still loved every page that i read and couldn’t wait to get to it everyday. there was also a brief mention of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina which i binge watched recently and absolutely adored! that said, this book is like a dark little treat for fantasy enjoyers and i highly recommend it 😌
February 8, 2024
Fucking horror book turns out to be the saddest thing I've ever read on womanhood. I cried and cried and cried my eyes out, literally from first to last page.
Body horror and gore were on a all time high, for my personal likings, the plot was nicely thought out and, even though I suspected some stuff, it was still a shock to read how it unfolded, and the writing was very beautiful and very well balanced between descriptions, thoughts and actions.
Body horror and gore were on a all time high, for my personal likings, the plot was nicely thought out and, even though I suspected some stuff, it was still a shock to read how it unfolded, and the writing was very beautiful and very well balanced between descriptions, thoughts and actions.
August 18, 2025
Absolute perfection. No notes.
We love feral lesbians who band together to track down a disgusting serial killer.
We love feral lesbians who band together to track down a disgusting serial killer.
September 2, 2024
Demonic lesbian witches? Spectacular, gimme 14 of ‘em right now.
January 7, 2024
I loved House of Hollow and I was ready for something similar so I was excited to see this author had another one coming out. This book was nothing like that, but it was wonderfully dark in its own way. I did think this one took longer to catch my interest but once it did I was swept away in this world of demons. I loved the idea that only women can bargain with demons to gain the power inherently denied them. The characters were all a bit flatter than I was hoping and I didn’t get as invested in them as I wanted to be, but by the end I felt they were fleshed out. Zara and Jude are both searching for a witch for very different reasons. Zara wants to bring her sister back to life so she can apologize for some stupid things she said. Jude accidentally tied a demon to herself poorly and it’s killing her so she wants the invocation removed. When they meet Emer they a re thrilled as they are sure she can help them, but the three of them are soon distracted by a serial killer who is hunting demon bound witches for their power.
dnf
February 1, 2024dnf @ 50%
rarely do i dnf books this far 'in' but The Invocations is sadly proving to be a profoundly boilerplate affair.
disclaimer: the below opinions are entirely subjective and you should not let my negative review of this novel dissuade you from giving it a shot.
having really liked one of Sutherland's previous novels, House of Hollow, my expectations for The Invocations were quite high. but, from its very prologue, i could see that The Invocations wouldn't be as unique and tantalizing a read as House of Hollow. the prologue depicts the kind of scenario that is de rigueur in the horror genre, (a girl walks home alone at night) but gives it such a bland CW-esque spin that it took me awhile to actually get through it. but i told myself it was just one of those weak-prologue cases, and that the rest of the novel would deliver...turns out the first chapter was even harder to get through than the prologue. it was trying so hard to be gritty and edgy, but in a way that made it and its focal character seem like Ninth House ripe-offs. we have these clumsily inserted flashbacks and every other sentence is stressing how 'different' this girl is from other people. there were too many scenes showing her stealing things that were particularly eye-roll worthy because they came off as being included more for edginess sake than for realism. the other two girls are also edgy, one, formerly a goodie-two-shoes, is the brains, the other one is the messy flirt (while i can get behind this type of character, for instance
Rachel Sennott's PJ in Bottoms, here the character's incessant flirting seemed out-of-place). there were so many plot points that really did not make sense and seemed to have been included merely to push the plot forward. plot-points that require readers to switch off or temporarily mute their critical thinking. for one, we have a member of the police force allowing girls to visit murder sites in exchange for cash (as if there would only be one officer left to their own devices on a 'fresh' crime scene). then we have one of the girls distracting the quintessential 'grunt-grunt' man by talking about sports (which would work if this was an absurdist comedy, like Bottoms or Barbie). there is a scene when these three are meeting in a public space and one of them gets physically thrown around like a rag doll but no one notices (yet they get shushed later for raising their voices?). the list goes on. make it make sense. the book's portrayal of violence against women, femicide, and misogyny are insultingly simplistic and it can be basically boiled down to all/most men are trash. i just kept noticing a lot of similarities between this novel and Ninth House, but whereas i completely bought into the dark paranormal storyline of the latter, Sutherland's take on this type of story never managed to convince me. whereas her writing in House of Hollow was lush, and delivered on being effortlessly creepy and deliciously fairy-talesque, here Sutherland's prose felt dry and repetitive. the three main characters lacked chemistry, their banter seemed rehearsed, their edgy quips predictable, their supposed comradeship sudden, and i could predict where the story was going from the get go (a quick peak at the end confirmed my suspicions). Sutherland's UK setting just doesn't ring true to me, it comes across as a cheap filmset, that relies on 'props' (like name-dropping places like Boots). sure maybe young British people's frame of reference might include Hallmark movies and they might opt for bougie instead of posh as a descriptor, but if you combine these things with a consistent lack of vernaculars/accents (one of the character suppodsly spent time in ireland..? sure), results in a vague setting that seems aimed at an american readership.
the lore another disappointing aspect of the story. characters who aren't acquainted with the supernatural are far too ready to believe in it or to seek supernatural solutions to their problems. all in all, this was a messy book starring cringey dialogues and characters, too much edgy posturing, and a storyline that has the mere trappings of a dark supernatural mystery.
rarely do i dnf books this far 'in' but The Invocations is sadly proving to be a profoundly boilerplate affair.
disclaimer: the below opinions are entirely subjective and you should not let my negative review of this novel dissuade you from giving it a shot.
having really liked one of Sutherland's previous novels, House of Hollow, my expectations for The Invocations were quite high. but, from its very prologue, i could see that The Invocations wouldn't be as unique and tantalizing a read as House of Hollow. the prologue depicts the kind of scenario that is de rigueur in the horror genre, (a girl walks home alone at night) but gives it such a bland CW-esque spin that it took me awhile to actually get through it. but i told myself it was just one of those weak-prologue cases, and that the rest of the novel would deliver...turns out the first chapter was even harder to get through than the prologue. it was trying so hard to be gritty and edgy, but in a way that made it and its focal character seem like Ninth House ripe-offs. we have these clumsily inserted flashbacks and every other sentence is stressing how 'different' this girl is from other people. there were too many scenes showing her stealing things that were particularly eye-roll worthy because they came off as being included more for edginess sake than for realism. the other two girls are also edgy, one, formerly a goodie-two-shoes, is the brains, the other one is the messy flirt (while i can get behind this type of character, for instance
Rachel Sennott's PJ in Bottoms, here the character's incessant flirting seemed out-of-place). there were so many plot points that really did not make sense and seemed to have been included merely to push the plot forward. plot-points that require readers to switch off or temporarily mute their critical thinking. for one, we have a member of the police force allowing girls to visit murder sites in exchange for cash (as if there would only be one officer left to their own devices on a 'fresh' crime scene). then we have one of the girls distracting the quintessential 'grunt-grunt' man by talking about sports (which would work if this was an absurdist comedy, like Bottoms or Barbie). there is a scene when these three are meeting in a public space and one of them gets physically thrown around like a rag doll but no one notices (yet they get shushed later for raising their voices?). the list goes on. make it make sense. the book's portrayal of violence against women, femicide, and misogyny are insultingly simplistic and it can be basically boiled down to all/most men are trash. i just kept noticing a lot of similarities between this novel and Ninth House, but whereas i completely bought into the dark paranormal storyline of the latter, Sutherland's take on this type of story never managed to convince me. whereas her writing in House of Hollow was lush, and delivered on being effortlessly creepy and deliciously fairy-talesque, here Sutherland's prose felt dry and repetitive. the three main characters lacked chemistry, their banter seemed rehearsed, their edgy quips predictable, their supposed comradeship sudden, and i could predict where the story was going from the get go (a quick peak at the end confirmed my suspicions). Sutherland's UK setting just doesn't ring true to me, it comes across as a cheap filmset, that relies on 'props' (like name-dropping places like Boots). sure maybe young British people's frame of reference might include Hallmark movies and they might opt for bougie instead of posh as a descriptor, but if you combine these things with a consistent lack of vernaculars/accents (one of the character suppodsly spent time in ireland..? sure), results in a vague setting that seems aimed at an american readership.
the lore another disappointing aspect of the story. characters who aren't acquainted with the supernatural are far too ready to believe in it or to seek supernatural solutions to their problems. all in all, this was a messy book starring cringey dialogues and characters, too much edgy posturing, and a storyline that has the mere trappings of a dark supernatural mystery.
Want to read
August 15, 2022So excited about this one! I loved House of Hollow and I'm in the mood for something similar. (But hopefully not too similar.)
August 7, 2025
I loved this book sooo much! From its coven of cheeky, badass, feminist witches to its pitch black humor and addictive mystery thriller plot filled with twists & turns that kept me on the edge of my seat! I was hooked by its eerie opening and gripping introductions to our three main POVs: Jude, Emer, & Zara. Krystal Sutherland’s immersive writing made me gasp, laugh, rage, and cry all the way to its well earned conclusion. I sure hope this becomes a series because I don’t want to say goodbye to this darkly gory magical world of cursewriting witches.
February 21, 2024
3.25/5
In a world where only women can wield magic three girls will cross paths thanks to a serial killer targetting witches. Jude is a rich heiress who accidentally cursed herself and is now suffering from a rotting soul. A pariah to her family and constantly in pain she will do anything and pay whatever steep price to fix the damage and go back to her normal life, and if she has to track down a killer then so be it. Zara is looking for a way to bring back her sister, Savannah, from the dead and if magic is the answer then she'll stop at nothing, including finding her sister's murderer. When they find themselves down the same path they start working together and come across Emer, an actual witch and the girl who gave Zara's sister her magic. She could cure Jude and maybe even reanimate Savannah, but there's a more pressing situation: her clients are slowly being killed one by one. Bound together by what they know the three of them will try to catch this serial killer before he comes for them.
I thought this would be such an easy 5 stars. A book about witches! With a serial killer! By the same author of House of Hollow! Saying I was hype is an understatement, I was genuinely counting down the days and yet... this did not hit 😔 and trust me, it hurts. Some of my frustration might be due to how much I loved House of Hollow, which I read twice last year, and to that I say my bad, sure, but even separating this from previous books I still think it's weak and not up to standard. There were still elements that I enjoyed so let's start with the good.
The prose was excellent in general. Easy to read, very descriptive without boring the reader, non repetitive. Nobody does gruesome in such an enjoyable way as Krystal Sutherland, tasteful amount of gore I would say. The central idea was solid, I was particulary captivated by the magic system in this world. Magic has a price, magic hurts, it's disgusting, it cannot do it all, it demands a sacrifice. Giving away part of your soul in exchange for power ties up nicely to the medieval beliefs of witches consorting with the devil. Emer's family history made sense in this universe and was fascinating to think about. The central mystery had some terrific elements,
Now to the bad parts. I knew this wasn't a 5 stars when I realized there were three points of view. It made the beginning too slow because we had to meet all of them, learn about their situation, and then connect them to the main plot and eventually each other. The pacing was a big issue, slow start that then picks up only to slump again to then pack all the action in the last 30%. At some points the girls were too similar and difficult to separate, at others some of them felt like they were just there and didn't contribute much to the storycough Zara cough. Picking one character to be the only POV would have been better, in fact that's what I believed from the cover and I do think only Jude narrating would have made a ton on sense. I never felt a strong connection to any of them because it was too hard to get to know them properly. Slightly related to that, I also never felt anything for the villains of this story. They were too obvious and also too cartoony. Superficial means and motive, just mustache twirling villain behaviour. Listen, I am never beating the misandrist allegations but this book actually has me beat. In an either "my first foray into feminism" or "radical extreme feminism" way all men here were evil and irredeemable, just a flat interpretation of the world that hurt the narrative by not letting any grey area exist. It rubbed me the wrong way. The plot also had these contrived coincidences that existed only to help the girls out or to conveniently make things easier
Then there's the... romance.
I said a lot of shit for a book that I still ranked 3.25 but I stand by it all. I did enjoy it! Which makes everything I didn't enjoy so important for me to talk about. Even with all this if Krystal Sutherland handed me a new book in a similar vein I would sit my ass down and thank her for the meal. TL;DR: yeah you can still read this and enjoy it.
A girl walks home alone, but not alone.
In a world where only women can wield magic three girls will cross paths thanks to a serial killer targetting witches. Jude is a rich heiress who accidentally cursed herself and is now suffering from a rotting soul. A pariah to her family and constantly in pain she will do anything and pay whatever steep price to fix the damage and go back to her normal life, and if she has to track down a killer then so be it. Zara is looking for a way to bring back her sister, Savannah, from the dead and if magic is the answer then she'll stop at nothing, including finding her sister's murderer. When they find themselves down the same path they start working together and come across Emer, an actual witch and the girl who gave Zara's sister her magic. She could cure Jude and maybe even reanimate Savannah, but there's a more pressing situation: her clients are slowly being killed one by one. Bound together by what they know the three of them will try to catch this serial killer before he comes for them.
I thought this would be such an easy 5 stars. A book about witches! With a serial killer! By the same author of House of Hollow! Saying I was hype is an understatement, I was genuinely counting down the days and yet... this did not hit 😔 and trust me, it hurts. Some of my frustration might be due to how much I loved House of Hollow, which I read twice last year, and to that I say my bad, sure, but even separating this from previous books I still think it's weak and not up to standard. There were still elements that I enjoyed so let's start with the good.
The prose was excellent in general. Easy to read, very descriptive without boring the reader, non repetitive. Nobody does gruesome in such an enjoyable way as Krystal Sutherland, tasteful amount of gore I would say. The central idea was solid, I was particulary captivated by the magic system in this world. Magic has a price, magic hurts, it's disgusting, it cannot do it all, it demands a sacrifice. Giving away part of your soul in exchange for power ties up nicely to the medieval beliefs of witches consorting with the devil. Emer's family history made sense in this universe and was fascinating to think about. The central mystery had some terrific elements,
Now to the bad parts. I knew this wasn't a 5 stars when I realized there were three points of view. It made the beginning too slow because we had to meet all of them, learn about their situation, and then connect them to the main plot and eventually each other. The pacing was a big issue, slow start that then picks up only to slump again to then pack all the action in the last 30%. At some points the girls were too similar and difficult to separate, at others some of them felt like they were just there and didn't contribute much to the story
Then there's the... romance.
I said a lot of shit for a book that I still ranked 3.25 but I stand by it all. I did enjoy it! Which makes everything I didn't enjoy so important for me to talk about. Even with all this if Krystal Sutherland handed me a new book in a similar vein I would sit my ass down and thank her for the meal. TL;DR: yeah you can still read this and enjoy it.
January 23, 2024
The ending was really good but there were parts in the middle that really dragged
November 3, 2025
4.25⭐️
If you want witches, witch hunters & demons and REALLY good character work then this is a spooky good time 👻
This follows 3 women Emer, Jude and Zara, who’s paths all cross when women start to be killed who have been given power through Emer burns who is curse writer, the women’s powers are being stolen and they embark on a hunt to find out the man who is killing these women and stealing their powers.
The pacing was brilliant, the plot twists I didn’t see coming, it has secret society elements and a cute slow burn romance as well, the writing was perfect and I just found myself so gripped by the 3 characters who could not be more different from one another coming together to work out the answers to this mystery!
The magical realism was intriguing I loved the way the curses worked, the way the demons were a part of the story and the modern day spin on witches and witch hunting, highly recommend
If you want witches, witch hunters & demons and REALLY good character work then this is a spooky good time 👻
This follows 3 women Emer, Jude and Zara, who’s paths all cross when women start to be killed who have been given power through Emer burns who is curse writer, the women’s powers are being stolen and they embark on a hunt to find out the man who is killing these women and stealing their powers.
The pacing was brilliant, the plot twists I didn’t see coming, it has secret society elements and a cute slow burn romance as well, the writing was perfect and I just found myself so gripped by the 3 characters who could not be more different from one another coming together to work out the answers to this mystery!
The magical realism was intriguing I loved the way the curses worked, the way the demons were a part of the story and the modern day spin on witches and witch hunting, highly recommend
July 22, 2025
Страх и студ се крият в мракът по улиците Лондон. Преследват жени. Виковете винаги са на жени.
Кристъл Съдърланд ще накара читателя да чуе техните гласове. “Ловът на вещици” не е умрял. Векове наред, млади момичета са преследвани и убивани, и сякаш миналото не е достатъчно.
Серия кървави убийства преплита пътищата на три девойки. Всяка повлечена от своите проблеми. Вещерство, окултно, ритуали и преследване от демони са малка част от нещата, които свързват Джуд, Емер и Зара. Скоро те ще разберат, че е било неизбежно пътищата им да се срещнат. Ще намерят може би утеха една в друга, помощ и обща воля да се изправят срещу злото, което ги дебне в тъмното. Вещица, богата и красива наследница и млада студентка, всяка със своите мотиви ще се обединят.
Много силна женска енергия. Много подтекст в текста около този така вълнуващ сюжет, който ме изненада. Историята крие първоначално сякаш своят потенциал, но напредвайки все повече бях като омагьосана. Марка и да ме побиха ледени тръпки на няколко места 💀
“Заклинания” е силно феминистично ориентиран. Това не ме подразни някъде дори за миг. Беше голямо забавление да съм в главата на Джуд. Автентична, забавна, красива, гнила и все пак толкова човечна. Чувствата, които я запратиха в серия от неприятности включващи и обладаването на душата ѝ, не са непознати за никое момиче.
Зара. Непреклонна. Упорита. Просто момиче, което иска прошка от сестра си. От починалата си сестра. Пф, каква каша само. И Емер, детето измъкнало се от ужасно клане. Спасило се от преследване на хладнокръвни убийци. Търсещо отплата. Идващо с компания от Ада.
Отмъщение, Изкупление и много тъмен фолклор ще ви държат на нокти. Общите интереси на момичетата ще се превърнат в страхотна и силна женска дружба. Дори любов. Намира се и много чувство за хумор (макар и черно). Сцени на напрежение, кръвопролитие и жестоко насилие. Има LGBt мотиви. Финалът демонично як.
На мен книгата страшно ми хареса. Авторката вече веднъж ме спечели с историята си в “Домът на Холоу”. Знаех че ще има зловещи моменти, но тук беше много повече от всичко. Така че, аз все така ще се оглеждам за нейното име сред книгите и сенките 👻💀
Кристъл Съдърланд ще накара читателя да чуе техните гласове. “Ловът на вещици” не е умрял. Векове наред, млади момичета са преследвани и убивани, и сякаш миналото не е достатъчно.
Серия кървави убийства преплита пътищата на три девойки. Всяка повлечена от своите проблеми. Вещерство, окултно, ритуали и преследване от демони са малка част от нещата, които свързват Джуд, Емер и Зара. Скоро те ще разберат, че е било неизбежно пътищата им да се срещнат. Ще намерят може би утеха една в друга, помощ и обща воля да се изправят срещу злото, което ги дебне в тъмното. Вещица, богата и красива наследница и млада студентка, всяка със своите мотиви ще се обединят.
Много силна женска енергия. Много подтекст в текста около този така вълнуващ сюжет, който ме изненада. Историята крие първоначално сякаш своят потенциал, но напредвайки все повече бях като омагьосана. Марка и да ме побиха ледени тръпки на няколко места 💀
“Заклинания” е силно феминистично ориентиран. Това не ме подразни някъде дори за миг. Беше голямо забавление да съм в главата на Джуд. Автентична, забавна, красива, гнила и все пак толкова човечна. Чувствата, които я запратиха в серия от неприятности включващи и обладаването на душата ѝ, не са непознати за никое момиче.
Зара. Непреклонна. Упорита. Просто момиче, което иска прошка от сестра си. От починалата си сестра. Пф, каква каша само. И Емер, детето измъкнало се от ужасно клане. Спасило се от преследване на хладнокръвни убийци. Търсещо отплата. Идващо с компания от Ада.
Отмъщение, Изкупление и много тъмен фолклор ще ви държат на нокти. Общите интереси на момичетата ще се превърнат в страхотна и силна женска дружба. Дори любов. Намира се и много чувство за хумор (макар и черно). Сцени на напрежение, кръвопролитие и жестоко насилие. Има LGBt мотиви. Финалът демонично як.
На мен книгата страшно ми хареса. Авторката вече веднъж ме спечели с историята си в “Домът на Холоу”. Знаех че ще има зловещи моменти, но тук беше много повече от всичко. Така че, аз все така ще се оглеждам за нейното име сред книгите и сенките 👻💀
September 27, 2024
I could be nit-picky about my rating cuz I did predict some twists along the way, but I loved the characters and journey sm! And this was exactly what I wanted to start my fall reading with.🍂
Give me a spooky read that also has murder mystery aspect, and I'd eat it up everytime!!! As an added bonus, I also got one of my all time fav tropes - found family. So what more could I ask for!!😌🥰
Give me a spooky read that also has murder mystery aspect, and I'd eat it up everytime!!! As an added bonus, I also got one of my all time fav tropes - found family. So what more could I ask for!!😌🥰
June 11, 2025
4.5
“Even the devil does not trust men to honour a bargain, so it does not deal with them. It offers power only to women.”
In 2023, I read Krystal Sutherland’s House of Hollow and was completely enamoured — the lush prose, the eerie atmosphere, the sisterhood threaded through horror. It instantly became a favourite, and a four-star read for me. So, when I heard Sutherland was working on a new novel called The Invocations, it shot straight to the top of my TBR. I didn’t need a synopsis — her name alone was enough. And now that I’ve read it, I can confidently say: she’s done it again. This book is everything.
This is a story about girlhood — not the soft, pastel kind we often see romanticised, but the dangerous, bloody, sharp-edged kind. It’s about women reclaiming power in a world that constantly tries to strip it from them. The anger in this novel is palpable and earned. If you’ve ever wanted a story that leans fully into female rage, this is it. But it’s also tender — showing the depth of female friendship, the strength found in vulnerability, and the hope that can bloom even in the darkest corners.
What hit me hardest was the way Sutherland explores fear. Not just supernatural fear, but the real kind — the everyday terror that comes from walking home alone, from trusting the wrong person, from knowing the world isn’t made to protect you. The detail that stuck with me most was how in this universe, only women can perform invocations. And what do most of them wish for? Not love, not power, not riches — safety. That gutted me. It’s a quiet, devastating truth that Sutherland handles with grace and fury.
The dynamic between Zara, Jude, and Emer is one of the book’s strongest points. They’re wildly different — in personality, background, and world-view — but their bond grows organically, forged in blood and trust and defiance. I adored watching them evolve from reluctant allies to something resembling a found family. They didn’t always agree, but they chose each other, and that made every moment they shared even more meaningful.
If you loved House of Hollow or Ninth House, I think you’ll devour this one. It’s already one of my favourite reads of the year — and possibly a new all-time favourite.
“Even the devil does not trust men to honour a bargain, so it does not deal with them. It offers power only to women.”
In 2023, I read Krystal Sutherland’s House of Hollow and was completely enamoured — the lush prose, the eerie atmosphere, the sisterhood threaded through horror. It instantly became a favourite, and a four-star read for me. So, when I heard Sutherland was working on a new novel called The Invocations, it shot straight to the top of my TBR. I didn’t need a synopsis — her name alone was enough. And now that I’ve read it, I can confidently say: she’s done it again. This book is everything.
This is a story about girlhood — not the soft, pastel kind we often see romanticised, but the dangerous, bloody, sharp-edged kind. It’s about women reclaiming power in a world that constantly tries to strip it from them. The anger in this novel is palpable and earned. If you’ve ever wanted a story that leans fully into female rage, this is it. But it’s also tender — showing the depth of female friendship, the strength found in vulnerability, and the hope that can bloom even in the darkest corners.
What hit me hardest was the way Sutherland explores fear. Not just supernatural fear, but the real kind — the everyday terror that comes from walking home alone, from trusting the wrong person, from knowing the world isn’t made to protect you. The detail that stuck with me most was how in this universe, only women can perform invocations. And what do most of them wish for? Not love, not power, not riches — safety. That gutted me. It’s a quiet, devastating truth that Sutherland handles with grace and fury.
The dynamic between Zara, Jude, and Emer is one of the book’s strongest points. They’re wildly different — in personality, background, and world-view — but their bond grows organically, forged in blood and trust and defiance. I adored watching them evolve from reluctant allies to something resembling a found family. They didn’t always agree, but they chose each other, and that made every moment they shared even more meaningful.
If you loved House of Hollow or Ninth House, I think you’ll devour this one. It’s already one of my favourite reads of the year — and possibly a new all-time favourite.
January 30, 2024
Happy pub day to an instant fave!
Honestly, I love how this book is unapologetically anti-patriarchy. Barbie vibes forever~
Some might think the feminist themes are heavy-handed since it's more focused on women (yes, all women) taking back their agency, but you know what? I don't really give a fuck. I enjoyed Iron Widow for those vibes, and I feel the same way about this arc.
I absolutely loved all three FMCs: Zara, Jude, and Emer. All three story arcs were interesting as hell, and I'm someone who's usually nitpicky when it comes to multiple POVs. (There's usually one or two POVs that are weaker than the rest.) Hell, if you can make a rich spoiled brat like Jude likeable, then I'm all in. I want to be besties with all three of them. *insert Steve Buscemi "How do you do, fellow kids?" meme*
I loved loved loved how dark this was! Ngl, the cover screamed YA, but I was surprised by all the demons, deaths, and goddamn necromancy. I love all things witches (Scarlet Witch, Nico Minoru, and Magik from Marvel are my ride or die) and to see it all play out in a contemporary London was fantastic.
Sure, the plot twists weren't all that twisty if you actually paid attention, but I was vibing so hard I didn't even think about how everything was all related. The ending was wild and gave me Mexican Gothic vibes. I had to suspend my disbelief for parts of it, but eh, I had fun reading this so I'll forgive the absurdity.
Just one con though: I think this would've made more sense if the characters were aged up to 18+. It made no sense that a bunch of under 18 teens were running around London trying to figure out murders, stalkers, witchcraft, etc.
Also, I'm super excited to learn that this is featured in a book box I'm subscribed to! Take my money, goddamnit.
Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for this arc.
Honestly, I love how this book is unapologetically anti-patriarchy. Barbie vibes forever~
Some might think the feminist themes are heavy-handed since it's more focused on women (yes, all women) taking back their agency, but you know what? I don't really give a fuck. I enjoyed Iron Widow for those vibes, and I feel the same way about this arc.
I absolutely loved all three FMCs: Zara, Jude, and Emer. All three story arcs were interesting as hell, and I'm someone who's usually nitpicky when it comes to multiple POVs. (There's usually one or two POVs that are weaker than the rest.) Hell, if you can make a rich spoiled brat like Jude likeable, then I'm all in. I want to be besties with all three of them. *insert Steve Buscemi "How do you do, fellow kids?" meme*
I loved loved loved how dark this was! Ngl, the cover screamed YA, but I was surprised by all the demons, deaths, and goddamn necromancy. I love all things witches (Scarlet Witch, Nico Minoru, and Magik from Marvel are my ride or die) and to see it all play out in a contemporary London was fantastic.
Sure, the plot twists weren't all that twisty if you actually paid attention, but I was vibing so hard I didn't even think about how everything was all related. The ending was wild and gave me Mexican Gothic vibes. I had to suspend my disbelief for parts of it, but eh, I had fun reading this so I'll forgive the absurdity.
Just one con though: I think this would've made more sense if the characters were aged up to 18+. It made no sense that a bunch of under 18 teens were running around London trying to figure out murders, stalkers, witchcraft, etc.
Also, I'm super excited to learn that this is featured in a book box I'm subscribed to! Take my money, goddamnit.
Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for this arc.
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