Sarah Henning's THE LIES WE CONJURE is a fun, fast-paced mystery that would appeal to fans of Stephanie Garber and Adalyn Grace. The book is pitched as Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games but it that neglects the magical world that Henning has created. It feels like the best bits of later Harry Potter books with tangled family trees and secret magical gifts only some possess. Overall, a magically good time.

Two sisters are approached by an elderly woman who asks them to pretend to be her granddaughters for a family function. However, when they get there, they realize there is a lot more going on than they thought - including magic.

I loved the premise here, but I don't think the book delivered on it. I was in with the first two chapters, but once they actually got to the manor, it really slowed down for me. It was ultimately just ok - not bad but not really what I was wanting based on the premise.

The magic in the book is super fun and the comps are spot on for this story! The relationship with the sisters was easy to follow and something many can relate to.

When I read Knives out meets Inheritance Games plus witches I was SOLD. I was SO excited to dive into this book, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The beginning moved SO quickly, and I spent more time questioning the sisters than actually getting into the book. They just trusted this old woman and said they'd pretend to be her granddaughters after not even 30 seconds of talking? I was also getting hung up on how none of the cousins noticed these twins had no idea what was happening and that they clearly weren't part of the family. That being said, it felt like so much was going on and at the same time nothing was really happening or progressing. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this eARC.

The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning is an interesting tale of two sisters who get invited to a Clue-esq dinner party where the murder of the host occurs. The sisters and other guests are then forced to detangle the web of lies and magic that hangs over them before anyone finds out they are not witches.

I always go into stories about magic in the modern-day hopeful, but I feel these types of stories are just not for me. The writing was good. The story was interesting. The characters fun. I just wasn't hooked. I've rated the book high because it has everything it needs to be a wonderful read, I just wasn't the audience for it.

I found this book to be a little confusing and kind of hard to get into. Ruby's personality gave me nothing to root for and I hated her sister. I did enjoy finding out the little history that was provided about the Hegemony/Witch dynasty families. Weirdly I kept getting European vibe from the story as if it was meant to be set there. I liked the twist at the end if I did find it sort of predictable. And I was left with way too many holes at the end.

The comp titles of Knives Out (doesn't everyone love Detective Benoit Blanc?) and The Inheritance Games immediately piqued my interest. Add in a locked-room murder and the supernatural angle, and this novel was irresistible.

The story starts off with a bang. Ruby and her sister Wren are paid well to stand in as the granddaughters of an older lady. It's an unusual job, but money is tight, and no one has seen the granddaughters for over a decade so their chances are being outed are slim. The dinner party takes place at Hegemony Manor, a place they've always been curious about. The dinner party is atmospheric and everything is just as they'd imagined in the house. Until it's not. Shortly after arriving, the hostess is murdered, their "grandmother" is nowhere to be found, and Ruby and Wren learn they're in a house full of witches. Unfortunately, the pacing slows considerably for several chapters after an explosive beginning.

With thirteen witches from various families, there are plenty of suspects running around the manor and its grounds as they try to solve the murder and secure power for their family. The murdered matriarch left instructions that her murder must be solved and the relics found in three days, which send the witches, Ruby, and Wren on a kind of treasure hunt. I liked the dynamics between the Hegemony cousins and the gradual reveal of what happened to their parents (they were raised by their grandmother, the murder victim). Ruby and Wren are polar opposites in personality, but they balance each other well in their sibling relationship. There are some twists I didn't see coming, and I admit I didn't guess the murderer until nearly the end.

With its slower pacing, this novel didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped, but that won't keep me from checking out this author's future releases. Recommended for readers who enjoy supernatural mysteries, locked room murders, and extensive suspect lists.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love a good witches story, this book wasn’t a let down I liked that the story was very entering full of mystery. This book has of Magic and there is a spark of romance in it. You’ll find a story full of twists and turns!

I loved all of the tropes in this one! The locked room with witches and games is one of my favorites! I felt this was equally plot and character driven and was easy to read along. My one complaint is that it was a tad long, but overall I had a great time with it!

Ruby and Wren are sisters hired to impersonate the Blackgate sisters at a dinner party—what could go wrong?

This murder mystery with witches was a fun twist, and the sisters’ secret kept me hooked. Perfect for fans of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games.

Great premise and a strong start, but the pacing fell flat. I wanted to love it more!

The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning is a gripping blend of historical mystery and supernatural intrigue that keeps readers on edge until the final page. Set against a richly atmospheric backdrop, the story masterfully weaves themes of deception, loyalty, and the enduring bonds of sisterhood. Henning’s vivid prose and compelling characters make this a must-read for fans of twisty, character-driven tales. A hauntingly beautiful read that lingers long after you close the book!

The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning? Lowkey obsessed. The mix of small-town secrets, witchy vibes, and messy friendships had me hooked. It’s giving mysterious, it’s giving drama, and the twists? Chef’s kiss. The atmosphere was so on point, I could practically feel the tension in the air.

Some parts felt a little predictable, but the strong characters and spooky energy totally made up for it. If you’re into witchy thrillers that keep you guessing, this one’s def worth your time.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book - definitely a fun YA feel to it. I did find it hard to keep track of all the characters and their magical abilities so a family tree of sorts would have been useful. Overall enjoyed the book and would press it into middle grade/high schoolers hands for spooky season!

"Thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly whodunit" I'M SOLD!

OMG this was a house full of witches meets The Inheritance Games. What a fantastic and inventive idea for a story. I really enjoyed this one, loved the characters and would recommend it in a heartbeat.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A fun murder mystery featuring witches, imposters, and a deadline to solve everything or be trapped forever.

I had a good time reading this. The alternate points of view were cool, because we saw things from both an outsider's perspective and from someone with magic who knew the history of the families. There were also some twists I didn't expect and watching Ruby and Wren struggle to stay in character while people kept dropping dead kept my anxiety going.

The reveal at the end wasn't much of a surprise unfortunately, but I kind of think it wasn't supposed to be and it was more about the journey there. I did hope things would go in another direction, but it was still a nice read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the copy.

Sarah Henning gifts readers with a fantastic literary experience in THE LIES WE CONJURE. Beautifully written and simply unputdownable, I fell headfirst into this gripping magical mystery. Ruby and Wren were the perfect focal points for a story that unfolds at a breakneck pace. Perfection.

What an incredibly fun and unique book! I am huge fan of "locked room" mysteries, think "And then there was none," and this delivered with the witchy twist! I found myself immediately intrigued, as it starts off strong right away and goes in directions that I never saw coming. At first, I was a little confused by the different guests and how they were all connected but it slowly started to make sense in my mind, and I was so anxious that the sisters were going to be discovered and have fatal consequences. This would be the absolute perfect book for someone who is trying to read more fantasy but is a big fan of mystery books and thrillers!

Straight up, I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, who dunnit story with a dash of witches.

The Lies We Conjure is a story of two mortal sisters, paid to dress up, pretend to be an eclectic woman's granddaughters, and attend dinner at the town's mysterious and possibly haunted estate. The sisters find themselves lost and confused as the hostess dies, and they are abandoned by their "grandmother." They learn quickly that magic is real, are now trapped on the estate with a bunch of witches, and one of them is a murderer.

I don't think that synopsis of beyond Knives Out X The Inheritance Games really does the book or the plot justice. Lies We Conjure is very much a mystery thriller with power as motive for killing. It was a little gruesome at some points, but overall it was a very age appropriate YA. I do wish that there was a little more information and development on the "relic." However, I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal thriller. It kept me guessing until the end. A book that had me thinking "I know this character has a huge role, but I am really not sure how they did it." It's rare that happens for me! I do recommend this book for a quick and fun read. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley, Tor Publishing Group | Tor Teen, and the author for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I will be posting to social media.

Knives out but with magic is the perfect way to describe this action packed YA novel by Sarah Henning!

This story follows Ruby and Wren who get themselves invited to a dinner party pretending to be two people they’re not, only for it to turn into a magical murder mystery after the host is killed.

I loved the characters especially our narrators, Auden and Ruby. All of the characters felt very well thought out despite it being a big cast. Each had their role to play. I enjoyed learning more about them as the story progressed and secrets came out.

The plot was really engaging with twists and turns throughout. I think it all flowed well including the switching of points of view which helped fill the reader in without too much info dumping. I thought the action was well paced and by the end I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how things would play out. As someone who doesn’t typically read mysteries, I think the blend of that genre and fantasy was done really well and in an engaging way!

The only thing I wish this had was a master list of the characters and their families/magic lines. With how many there were it was a little bit hard to keep track of throughout.

Overall, a highly enjoyable read for those looking for some magic with their mystery! Perfect for the Fall and spooky season!

This book is such a great, easy spooky season read! It’s the perfect mash up of murder mystery, fake identity, magic and intrigue. I am a sucker for books that take place in my home state and this one did not disappoint. I loved how they used the beauty and nature of the Rocky Mountains to bring the story to life. I loved the slow burn between Ruby and Auden, it felt like the right amount of heat for who these characters are and what they were in the middle of. It was so fun to keep trying to guess what was going to happen next and being so surprised by what did happen. The mom in me loved that the whole story was firmly YA, which allowed me to share it with my teens. (They said it was “fine” but both finished it in a weekend and couldn’t put it down.)

Read this if you like:
➡️ Witches
➡️ Murder Mystery
➡️ Captive Audience
➡️ Dual POVs
➡️ Unique Magical Systems
➡️ Fake Identities
➡️ Slow Burn

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#theliesweconjure #SarahHenning #murdermystery #witches #dualPOVs #slowburn #YAreads #netgalley #arcreads