DNF pg 60

I think I’m the wrong audience for the book, because I’m finding the narrative choices irritating rather than incentivizing the reading process. There’s a lot of breaking the fourth wall almost with Nesbit explicitly mentioning future events as a form of foreshadowing, but it’s not working for me. Maybe if I’d managed to glom Now, Conjurers in a single sitting I would have been able to push past the irritation, but because I took a break I’m not inclined to pick it back up. Definitely a case of narrative choices being the wrong ones for my personal enjoyment.

Now, Conjurers is a story about a group of teenage witches trying to figure out what killed their friend and how to stop it before it kills again. Not only was the head of their coven suddenly found brutally murdered, but now nobody—other than them—seems to remember that he even existed. To put a stop to the madness before more innocent people are harmed, the group will be forced to explore whether their powers are actually strong enough to kill the thing that probably gave it to them in the first place.

It took a while for me to get into this book because it’s got a more gothic-feel than what I normally read. The narration is also written in a way that it feels like Nesbit (the narrator) is talking directly to the reader, which is another thing I’m not used to experiencing. Throughout the book he even gives you specific hints as to what’s about to happen and which characters will pop back up again later. I would say that things picked up for me around the 60% mark as the background story of what exactly happened to Bastion really began to unwind around that point.

This book had very similar vibes to to the darker paranormal/supernatural teenage shows that I’ve watched before (think: Scream, Sabrina, Riverdale), leading me to believe that it would do really well as a series adaptation. I have a hard time narrowing the story down to one specific genre because I think it’s much more involved than a classic YA horror. There is a lot of witty banter, a non-linear timeline, a haunting murder mystery, and the nostalgia that often comes along with moody stories that take place in the 90s.

I would have to say that the best part of this novel was the characters variety and depth. The cast is a mixture of teenagers and adults from various ethnicities, religions, social positions, and sexualities. As the reader, you are told everything through Nesbit’s point of view, but you still learn so much about the people that surround him: their personalities, their relationships, their humor, their strengths/weaknesses, and their motivations. The ending is a bit open, but I’m hoping for the best for every last one of them.

Highlights:
✨Queer Found Family: these friends love and support each other as they navigate first loves, grief, identity, and toxic relationships
✨Setting: 90s - full of nostalgia - Y2K, Nokia phones, CD players, video stores, movie references, and Neverending Story nods
✨Paranormal: witches, spells, demons, historical legends, and deals with the devil

I struggled a little initially because the story slowly lays the groundwork for the plot and characters. However, I found it impossible to put the book down by midpoint. Now, Conjurers is a great choice for older YA readers or adult YA readers due to graphic body horror (which might be unsettling even for some adults), references to parental child abuse (mostly off-page), and open discussions about sex within peer groups.

In the best way possible, it’s a little bit hard to know what to expect from this book. It takes a little from several genres (the time and place of historical, fantasy, horror, and thriller) all rolled up into one, and makes it feel slightly uneasy to read home alone after dark. Early on in reading I was excited because I felt like I was figuring out the idea behind the title and the cover, and while that was technically true, the mystery of NOW, CONJURERS unravels throughout the whole book and takes you by surprise along the way. We start with a dead boy(friend) and a coven, a veritable murder mystery, and progress to an unknowable demon monster thing that lives in the town. It’s kind of the vibes of Stranger Things but with 90s witches and a majority of the main characters being queer. But what isn’t a mystery is that I really enjoyed reading this one and I definitely recommend checking it out.

Before anyone attacks me, I know that 1999 isn’t technically historical fiction, but I think this book acts as historical fiction in the sense that it relies on specific factors of time and place to shape the characters (like a pivotal Y2K party). But it’s also a sort of magical horror that’s very present from the first page. The story is told primarily as it’s happening, but there’s flashbacks to the past and a somewhat non-linear narrative that kept me on my toes and read a little bit like a confession. It’s also undeniably, with the main character being gay and two of the biggest supporting characters being bisexual and lesbian! I really fell in love with all the main characters and that’s part of what takes the story up a notch in a way that feels so authentic and genuine in the telling of the story.

And honestly what really made this book stand out was the writing. From balancing timelines to certain characters only being able to act and speak in certain ways, it really helped to weave the story together. I really enjoyed reading this book and I feel like it has a sense of unease in horror without being too scary to read (although maybe keep the lights on). Kölsch has created a really vivid story and I’m excited to see what she writes next!

This upper YA novel gives The Craft vibes with a touch of paranormal suspenseful horror. I stepped out of my comfort zone for this book and I really enjoyed it. LGBTQ characters, a good plot and murder mystery. A coven that isn’t just females. A diabolical supernatural villain. Intriguing and well written.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fun book! I really loved the main friend group and how each character was very well built. They all had very interesting personalities! The writing was also quite interesting. I wasn't the biggest fan of the foreshadowing with the narrator/Nesbit telling the reader, "Remember this. It will be important later. " This happened quite many times, and I would have liked to figure out the twists/connection more on my own.

I really enjoyed the plot and how everything progressed. The ending was quite good, and the book really pulled me in!

I really recommend this to those looking for a witchy YA horror/mystery book!

I had a fun horror-filled time reading Now, Conjurers. Which completely gave me Are You Afraid of the Dark? vibes! One of my favorite 90s tv shows.
We start out strong right out of the gate with the murder of Bastian and meeting our other coven members all of whom now have a special place in my heart don't slow down as our group investigates Bastian's death and uncovers the reason he was the way he was. I loved the journey the coven took, and that ending had me feeling all the feels. (insert crying emoji)

Freddie Kolsch did an amazing job of bringing these characters and this story to life. These are people I would love to get to know and be friends with, inside a world filled with magic and monsters. I can't wait to see what this author is going to come out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I loved this book. Getting a nifty box of goodies with my physical ARC was awesome and I knew I would enjoy this.

When I first started this book, I was worried about getting lost in the story. There was so much talk about paying attention to clues and keeping up with the story I was sure I wouldn’t understand what was going on. Thankfully, it’s easy to keep up with and the writing is done so well that it reminds you if you missed anything. As the clues came together I was gasping.

The whole coven was such a delightful group. I found myself wanting to be their friends too. Of course Bastion was my favorite. Poor Bastion. I felt so bad for him. Holding in my tears for him made my head hurt. I also have a soft spot for Jules. He was a real one. Cameron also crept up on me, the little asshole. The whole coven was too sweet for words. I love a good YA tight friend group.

The scene with Bastion & Nez at the end. Like you didn’t have to rip my heart out with that. This was such an awesome debut and I saw on another site that it says book one but not on Goodreads??? So if there’s more I would love to read it!!

I hate to say it but I DNF'd this book. I actually liked the style of writing, but it was more content for me. I don't love things about witches so that was completely on me for not reading the description better!!

This book is excellent all the way through. Now, Conjurers is about a coven of witches in 1999 trying to solve the gruesome murder of one of their own and save their town and themselves. Are you not sold yet? Then I will continue to extol its virtues. Our narrator, Nesbit, is a junior in high school who is living a pretty decent life. He has friends who love him, a boyfriend who's a total hotshot, and literal magic. His coven is capable of bending the world to their will. And then everything comes crashing down around him when his boyfriend and the default leader of the coven is found shredded. At first, they decide to launch a murder investigation but it quickly becomes apparent that a human person did not kill Bastion, making their investigation that much more dangerous.
I loved it. It kept me on my toes, it was fast paced, it was really well-written, the characters were fantastic. Granted, the 90s pop culture references were a little overboard sometimes, but at least it was a horror book not set in the 80s. This book is fantastic. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I was snagging bits of it between my classes. It was great.

This young adult novel did not hold back on the suspenseful horror! WOW, this was an intense and gripping read that hooked me from the start! Bastian Attia’s gruesomely murdered body is discovered in the woods of a local cemetery and it bears shocking similarities to another murder nine years ago. Now, Conjurers is a beautifully written novel that perfectly pairs teen issues with the occult for a deliciously dark read! A captivating story with nonstop action and amazing portrayal the teen angst and emotion! Kudos to Freddie Kölsch for setting this book in the late 1990’s because geriatric millenials like myself will thoroughly enjoy this time travel back to our own youth in the height of Y2K before deciding whether or not their own children are ready to read this book yet!

I really enjoyed the writing in Now, Conjurers. The narrator was strong and voicy and very conversational; I liked the framing of the story in the past tense with asides to the reader. It was fast-paced—I think I read it in a single day—and while there were some moments of tension, I found it more spooky than scary. I loved Nesbit & Bastion and the found family of the coven, and I appreciated the ending. The only thing I didn’t love is how predictable a lot of the story was, but then again, it’s not really set up to be full of shock twists. to me, this was more about the characters and understanding their choices than it was about anything else.

I would absolutely read another book by this author.

If this were a normal case I would just throw a funny one liner and go.
But it is not.
I was super excited for reading Now, Conjurers, even when i really didn't know why, like I didn't even pay attention to the synopsis I just saw a cool cover a read two lines of the description and went for it.
But boy was it worth it.
This was amazingly crafted and constructed, and I love every single one of the characters and how much they grow and change during this two week turned the same twice.
The romance is heartbreaking and the friendship is so hopeful.
The setting is stunning and the concept very enthralling.
It's like Stephen King's It, with a dash of Coraline, and Something Wicked this Way Comes, with a lil bit of murder mystery solving all coated in 90s nostalgia and witchcraft.
Highly highly recommended.

May contain topics that may hurt sensitive readers like: gore, swearing, abuse, supernatural entities, death and light sexual situations.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5 ⭐️
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🩸 Queer Horror
🩸 1990s Nostalgia
🩸 Witch/Demon Vibes
🩸 Found Family
🩸 Dark Fantasy/Mystery

𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚-𝙩𝙤-𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙚’𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣’𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙖 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨. 𝙃𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙.

Set in a small town in the late 1990s, Freddie Kölsch’s debut novel brought all the nostalgia and horror vibes we craved during that time.

Nesbit Nuñez’s secret star quarterback boyfriend, Bastion Attia, is discovered in a cemetery early one morning by another student. What follows is a harrowing, horrifying, and thrilling suspenseful story that kept me glued to the pages. With an outstanding and diverse supporting cast, I devoured this story!

The nostalgia hit me so hard with this one. We’ve got portable cd players, Nokia phones, night time drives, and all the delicious witchy vibes a la The Craft. We’ve got The Neverending Story and some amazing music interludes. The author NAILED the vibes.

It’s hard to get into the story without giving anything away. Just know from the very first chapter you’re thrown into this red-tinged world of horror and mystery. A coven of young witches seeking out the truth to Bastian’s death while navigating grief and the loss of a first, true love. My heart ached for Nesbit. His character was flawed but beautifully depicted. The relationships were well thought out and rounded. The sense of found family is superb.

I do agree with another reviewer that I felt like this could have been better, maybe, as a duet. The author spent such detail in establishing characters and the plot was SO GOOD that I wanted just a bit MORE in the end. Regardless, I’m blown away by this debut author and novel!

𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: June 4, 2024
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

Bastion is an all-around great guy, but most of his and his friends success is due to the work of their coven. With spells cast to change the behavior of an abusive parent, become the football star, and star in the school play, their coven seems to have it all. That is, until the coven finds Bastion’s dead body that has been brutally mutilated. While grieving and investigating his death, things get even stranger when the coven realizes that no one remembers Bastion, and now another kid at school has replaced Bastion in every way.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice: 🌶️ 0/5

Tropes:
Unrequited Love
Alternate Realities
Love after Death

Triggers:
Child Abuse (off page)
Body Gore
Murder/Death

My Thoughts:
This book kept me up at night with all of its gory, surprising, twists and turns! Going on a adventure with group of friends while they problem solve and defeat a big bad when no adults believe them was refreshing to read and unlike anything I have read in a while. This book is perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Buffy and Supernatural. Just be sure to sleep with the light on.

OMG NOW CONJURERS WAS MY TEENAGE HEARTS DREAM! This story about a teenage coven set right before Y2K follows a group of teens (all dealing with their own issues) as they investigate something weird in their town that led to the death of one of their friends. Perfect for fans of the Craft and Stranger Things.

I really enjoyed this story! It was clever, funny, emotional, and unique. I was hooked from the first few lines and it delivered all the way through to the end. The pacing was consistent, I was never bored!

The setting, backstory, and atmosphere were all there for me. I loved the friend group characters. Especially getting to know Bastion, it broke my heart knowing that he was already gone the more I learned of his story. The kids finding and exploring their powers was fun to read.

This is 4.5 stars rounded up, there was a little too much foreshadowing (telling, really) for me on things that I think I would have rather just found out when they were revealed.

Rep: LQBTQIA+

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook ARC and Union Square & Co for the finished advance copy!

Genuinely my favourite YA book I've read in a few years. The description of the magic, the very real-feeling threat of the villain, the dynamics between the characters, I could heap praise on this book for hours.

One note I want to make is that there is a scene early on where the characters use a box cutter to cut their arms as part of a magic ritual, which I thought was just a bit too reminiscent of a real-life self-harm scenario. I understand it's a horror novel, and scary stuff should be expected, but that specific scene hit in a way that nothing else in the book did. If I were the publisher, I'd consider a trigger warning in the front of the book.

Would recommend to those who enjoy the occult, the tragic, and creepy circuses.

This was such a creative story with great characters, real emotion, and a setting that felt real and affected the story, too. Such a great read. Cannot say enough good things about it.

From page one, this book grabbed me and never let go. I devoured it in one weekend, and it left me wanting for more of this strange and intriguing setting where witches are real and monsters lurk behind our deepest desires and wishes.

This is a good horror story, but it’s also an excellent dark-fantasy story and even a good mystery. Add to the mix a crew of well-developed characters—each one unique in personality, identity, and goals—that grow to become more life-like with each passing page, and you have an excellent YA novel.

It all starts in 1999 with the discovery of the dismembered body of all-star student and athlete Bastion Attia by his classmate and self-proclaimed nemesis in the woods surrounding the small town of North Dana, Massachusetts.

From there, we get to know Nesbit—Bastion boyfriend— and Dove—Bastion sister—who along with Brandy and Drea, their two good friends, form the North Coven. Yes, Bastion and the coven are all witches, real ones, who for the past five years, long before Nesbit (a.k.a. Nez moved to North Dad), had been working hard, casting spells to make their wishes come true. Problem is, while the coven members do have real magic within them, a dark force has been acting on their behalf and without their knowledge.

Kolsch has managed to write an excellent debut novel, where the supernatural mixes with the mysterious but very down to earth, to gift the reader a new experience as we move along the characters trying to understand what really happened to Bastion, who killed him and what does his dead mean for the surviving members of the North Coven?

For the not so YA reading this book, Now, Conjurers also does a good job at tugging at our nostalgia strings with various bits and pieces of what it meant to be a teen in the late 1999s, from the panic of the 2YK to the total absence of smartphones. That Kolsch integrates The Neverending Story as a constant reference within the story, and that the references are to the book more than the movie, only won her a bunch of bonus points from me, because that book is one of my all-time favorites MG novels.

This is a story that manages to lift the hairs at the back of one's neck, keeping us in a heightened state of suspense and suspicions, while also offering a heartfelt look at grief and love and how teens navigate the hard corners of their young lives.

A really entertaining story. A scary story at times. A fun and emotional story as well.