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natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Continuing the decadently lush and creepy vibes of House of Hollow, Krystal Sutherland’s newest standalone is just as eerie and hauntingly sinister; with protagonists I found just as vividly compelling as the Hollow sisters.
Given how much I LOVED House of Hollow, you can imagine how high my expectations were for this. But I’m glad to say Sutherland absolutely nailed it! The simmering undercurrent of feminine rage, the witchy occultism and satisfyingly phenomenal ending, I was absolutely hooked.
I don’t think my words can truly capture how amazing this was but I will try my best. From the heart-stopping action which never let up, to the mystery surrounding a string of murders, and the skill with which Sutherland effortlessly intertwined the lives of our three protagonists: Emer, Jude and Zara (all from vastly different backgrounds) was nothing short of breathtaking.
I really loved them all and was utterly captivated by the emotionally complex backstories and thought processes that brought each girl to life. The vibrancy of their individual personalities and differences they embody, did briefly have me questioning how they could possibly get along, let alone solve such a complex case.
But watching their relationship shift and evolve as they got to know one another, shared their feelings, experiences, and generally became closer was really uplifting. And did help lighten the mood between all the tense, bloody and (predominantly) gory events the trio find themselves in.
Though I should admit, given I grew up in the London borough this is partially set in, (Zara attends a rival school to the one I graduated from) so my enjoyment is somewhat entwined with nostalgic memories of my own teen years in the area (when my love of all things witchy and paranormal really took off.)
In any case, if you’re eager to delve into something spooky or unapologetically witchy this October. Or yearn for a fiercely badass cast of FMCs (who team up to not only track down a killer, but stop him for good) and live for stories with plenty of plot twisty action — then you absolutely have to consider picking this up.
Though given the subject material I do suggest checking the TWs beforehand (as it does deal in a lot of dark themes.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
black_cat_iiix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexism, Sexual violence, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
meg53's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment
ellie_debney's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Physical abuse, Vomit, and Medical content
frannieman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
ymirfreckles's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Good concept but lukewarm execution. Doesn't really go in-depth about any of its themes and I'm not sure whether that's because it's a YA book but regardless, sometimes it just felt silly.
I did honestly enjoy the depiction of demons though! Except the part where they don't do deals with men, I just generally thought that the overwhelmingly rigid focus on the division of gender in the book was a bit weird. But yeah the author's description of how the demons look and move and interact with the main cast was interesting. Also, I found the author's description of gore/body horror quite good although surprisingly explicit compared to how surface-level everything else felt.
All that being said, I did tear through this book in only a few days and it was overall an enjoyable and easy read!
I did honestly enjoy the depiction of demons though! Except the part where they don't do deals with men, I just generally thought that the overwhelmingly rigid focus on the division of gender in the book was a bit weird. But yeah the author's description of how the demons look and move and interact with the main cast was interesting. Also, I found the author's description of gore/body horror quite good although surprisingly explicit compared to how surface-level everything else felt.
All that being said, I did tear through this book in only a few days and it was overall an enjoyable and easy read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Violence
clowngirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love a witchy book that takes a different approach to magic and The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland is one of the darker, more unique versions of magic I've read. In this world, magic is tied to making a pact with a demon, stamped on the witch's skin, which comes with a cost, and there is no room for mistakes.
The three main POV characters are Jude, Emer, and Zara. The first, Jude, is a novice witch who's made quite a life-changing mistake with her pact and is seeking help to fix it. Zara, grieving her murdered sister, is determined to find answers and a way to bring her sister back. Jude and Zara are brought together while researching the murders of other witches, all of whom were former clients of Emer, the curse writer.
It's a dark, bloody tale, with a significant amount of body horror about three characters trying to track down a murderer targeting witches. I would recommend checking it out if you enjoy witchy books and horror.
The three main POV characters are Jude, Emer, and Zara. The first, Jude, is a novice witch who's made quite a life-changing mistake with her pact and is seeking help to fix it. Zara, grieving her murdered sister, is determined to find answers and a way to bring her sister back. Jude and Zara are brought together while researching the murders of other witches, all of whom were former clients of Emer, the curse writer.
It's a dark, bloody tale, with a significant amount of body horror about three characters trying to track down a murderer targeting witches. I would recommend checking it out if you enjoy witchy books and horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
kassibaby84's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
3 witches come together to solve the mystery of who is killing off witches in London. Zara has been looking for a way to bring her murdered sister back from the dead. Jude is the daughter of a billionaire who is looking for a way to rid herself of the demons who are causing her body to rot away. The two women track down Emer, a witch who helps women invoke demons to solve problems. The 3 women come to the realization that there is a serial killer who is hunting down the women Emer gave invocations. Can the 3 women find the women in danger before they become the next victim? And can they stop the killer before witches are wiped out?
This was a great novel with a lot of female empowerment and societal analogies. We learn that only women can be witches and men are always trying to find ways to steal their powers. Witches have been victims for centuries of male hunters and must be stopped. This book reminded me a bit of "Legendborn" with its ties to the history of female oppression and strength. The MCs are queer and show their identity in different ways. Jude, hitting on all the females around her despite her festering wounds, provides dark humor and comic relief. Each of the MCs is without a family, either through ostracization or murder, and the found family they create with each other is heartwarming.
This was a great novel with a lot of female empowerment and societal analogies. We learn that only women can be witches and men are always trying to find ways to steal their powers. Witches have been victims for centuries of male hunters and must be stopped. This book reminded me a bit of "Legendborn" with its ties to the history of female oppression and strength. The MCs are queer and show their identity in different ways. Jude, hitting on all the females around her despite her festering wounds, provides dark humor and comic relief. Each of the MCs is without a family, either through ostracization or murder, and the found family they create with each other is heartwarming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
ever_dee's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit