Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I enjoyed this "locked room" mystery. I was intrigued from the beginning. This action packed mystery was fun and kept me guessing. I will be purchasing it for our high school library..

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

I love a good Knives Out comparison book. They will all be my downfall. I’m also all in for a good magical murder mystery. Neither the cover nor the description on Goodreads gives too much away so you’re left pretty much blind going in.

While the beginning was slower, it really picked up. The 4th part was amazing. I was on the edge of my seat reading and anticipating the next move. There were times I wasn’t sure about everyone’s motives and the obvious bad guys and red herrings were done in a way where you aren’t too sure who’s at fault. You feel bad for Ruby and Wren and want them to survive this wacky situation they’ve gotten themselves into. The romance in this seemed really random and put there just to make relationships, but you can’t have everything be perfect. I mean they only knew these people for 3 days.

This was a solid book with plenty of action and suspense to keep me invested. I actually enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.

Thank you to Tor Teen & NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

The Lies We Conjure is a YA mystery/thriller reminiscent of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes but done in a locked room mystery style with the added element of an escape room twist plus witches. The story is told in the POVs of Ruby, a clueless outsider to the Four Lines families, and Auden, who belongs to the Hegemony family. I love how Ruby provides the perspective of the reader who is just learning of the magical families but also flicks over to Auden for inside peeks into the witchy world and a full understanding of the "game's" stakes. Wren balances Ruby's serious side, but the sisters fall into the stereotypical dynamic of responsible older sister and fun, carefree younger sister; I find that dynamic over-played in YA. Exposition in the beginning explaining the magic and how the families and relics work is needed but felt info-dumpy. The cousins of Auden, Winter, and Evander play off each other well without one feeling more "in charge" than the others due to responsibilities and knowledge shared. With every twist I had suspicions of what/who could be behind the murder and strange occurrences, but ultimate answers remained surprising. The concept of a "soul's truth" fit into the world but felt like a convenient plot device at times. I like how the ending leaves wonder open about how everyone left standing moves forward.

After reading Henning’s other series, Sea Witch and The Kingdoms of Sand and Sky, I greatly looked forward to trying her latest standalone, The Lies We Conjure. This story follows sisters, Ruby and Wren, who were working at a Colorado Renaissance Faire when they are approached by a mysterious woman, Marsyas, who asks them to impersonate her grandchildren, Lavinia and Kaysa Blackgate. As they will receive a substantial payout, they agree and head to Hegemony Manor for the dinner party. When the host, Ursula, dies, they are left to figure out the murderer and how to escape. Ruby provides one POV while Auden Hegmony, one of the guests, is the other narrator. Ruby does not have magic while Auden does, so they provide the parallels of the story.

As Ruby and Wren do not have magic, but they are in a house full of it, the reader, and them, get to learn about everything. In this story, there are the Hegemony family that practice Elemental magic, the Starwood family that practice Celestial magic, the Cereis family that practice Blood magic, and the Blackgate family practices Death Magic. There is a lot of information for the reader to process and Ruby and Wren need to learn all the background to move forward, so it does become a bit much at times. Since there are tons of pieces to learn, it did feel like an info dump at times, and I wish the information was introduced a little more naturally. The characters were interesting, but, again, there was a lot to understand in a short amount of time. There is the mystery to solve and as a standalone, it does wrap up fairly nicely. Some readers may prefer more from it while others may be satisfied. I prefer a little more messiness compared to tied up nicely, but it was nice. Overall, this was a decent novel and I look forward to reading another Henning novel in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Tor Teen, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

everything about this book was absolutely perfect. i loved the who done it aspect, the magical components, the mystery. i was quite literally on the edge of my seat the entire time! i don’t even have the words to describe how perfect this book is, i loved every second.

This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the combination of mystery thriller but with fantasy, magic, and witches. I’m a huge fan of locked room mysteries and this one was engaging and interesting. The magic system wasn’t the most unique but I did love the way the author used each type of magic (elemental, blood, death, and celestial). The characters were fun and I always love stories with dual POV’s. Ruby and Auden were easily distinguishable and I enjoyed their interactions and personalities. The small romance brought a nice side element to the story without being the sole focus of the story. I honestly wouldn’t even really classify this as a romance because it was such a small side element. I thought the twists and turns and the lies and reveals were all entertaining. The riddles/ clues were fun and made it feel more like we were part of the game. I did find some of the reveals a bit predictable at times but still found the story entertaining. In regards to the Knives Out comparison I thought that in some aspects it was comparable but Knives Out to me was more of a satire on income, class and race inequality and The Lies We Conjure briefly touches on income inequality for a second but doesn’t really ever dive into a deeper discussion on any of those topics. I would say this gave me more of Inheritance Games vibes with magic, murder, and deadly magic and more of a power struggle between the four elite families.

Over all this was fun mash up of all the tropes I enjoy. I think fans of magic, witches, and mystery thrillers will want to read this and it’s perfect for fall.

Thank you Tor Teen for gifting me an ARC

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, it sounded so good and right up my alley. It started off intriguing enough but that intrigued eventually fizzled out which sucks because this should have been the perfect book for me.

Listen, I am a Sarah Henning fan, and all of the magic that makes me love her is on full, luscious display in this book. She called this one ‘Knives Out with Magic’ for a while, and it lives up to the comp. A shocking murder, power struggle, magical inheritance, and a ticking clock to end all ticking clocks means the stakes for this one are HIGH. Our POV characters are Ruby—a girl who is hired along with her sister to accompany an elderly woman to a dinner party posing as her granddaughters—and Auden—the middle grandson of the HWIC of a secret coven of witches. When Auden’s grandmother is murdered presumably by the woman that hires Ruby, the house goes into magical lockdown until the culprit can be found. Problem? Nona appears to have left the building, and her fake granddaughters in it to take the heat.

Ruby is a quietly compelling character, bookish and careful, with tons of heart and kindness that makes her easy to root for. Auden is perhaps a bit less immediately compelling, but his brand of quiet care matches Ruby’s in a way that makes you want to ship them like fedex from jump. The cast of young supporting characters are varied, rich, and interesting in unique ways that makes you legitimately want all of to thrive even in the hellish circumstances they find themselves in.

As usual, Henning is a master of creating environments that feel lush and ideal and aspirational. Extra props to her here for also creating a world that is credible. I was literally at the renaissance faire mentioned two weeks ago, and could visualise the hills and mountains of the rockies in her words.

My literal only beef with this one is in the copyedits. This book is a prime example of why human eyes are VITAL to the editing process. There were countless examples of missed homophones in the text (suggesting Sarah may use some speech-to-text software in her drafting— totally normal and a vital tool for accessibility that should not count against her EVER.) off the top of my head I noticed a welp that should have been whelp, a ring that should have been wring, a shutters that was supposed to be shudders, and strangely, a Columbine (proper noun) when it should have been columbine (plant). There were more examples of this, as well as sentences that felt like they meant nothing that clearly needed editing. I hope the team can catch and rectify this before the book hits shelves, because it’s legitimately a spectacular YA magical mystery offering that deserves all the success and sales it can get. This is the only reason I’m withholding a five star review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was similar to the inheritance games but with magic. I know it looked like it was advertised as a YA read, but it did have the f word a few more times than I expected. However, the book was fun and it wasn’t too easy to figure out the clues ahead of time. I do wish I understood more about the driver being the door for Nona to enter, but it’s fine.

I plan to share this book on my Instagram on Sept 15.

https://www.instagram.com/robinashleyreads?igsh=MXczYmd6bmszdXN2Nw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Thank you to Sarah Henning, Giselle Gonzalez, Tor Teen for providing with both a print and digital arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this book the premises and synopsis really stood out to me when I first read it. However at about the 30% when there was still very litt progress made on the story I was worried. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters I think I found that Auden stood out a little more than Wren and Ruby. And while I can understand the big reveal of the killer and their motives I was kind of hopeful for something more for the girls.

Knives Out/Inheritance Games with a family of witches and two unsuspecting sisters who get unknowingly embroiled in a plan for one line of the witches to grab all the power? Sign me up. Fantastic book that made me stay up too late reading.

Thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. Opinions/review are my own.

Thank you Sarah Henning, Giselle Gonzales, and Tor Teen for an ARC of The Lies We Conjure. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As soon as I heard that The Lies We Conjure is like Knives Out with magic, I knew I had to read it 😍! Add mysteries, a gothic mansion, witches, hidden objects, riddles, and secrets and you’ve got a book that’s a perfect YA read for spooky season!

I was hooked from chapter 1 when sisters Ruby and Wren receive a “too good to be true” offer to attend a fancy party at the alluring, but moody, Hegemony Manor. Almost as soon as they walk through the ornate arched gates of the mansion, they find themselves trapped until they solve a gruesome mystery with the help of the other party goers…who just happen to be powerful witches!

I don’t want to give too much away because discovering the plot is half the fun! Let’s just say that I had a great time reading about the characters solving the riddles and following the clues throughout Hegemony Manor. I was on the edge of my seat each time they made a new discovery about the overall mystery, and each other. I simply could not wait to see how all the pieces of the puzzle would fall into place at the end!

If you’re looking for an intriguing magical mystery with a dash of clean romance, you’ll want to add The Lies We Conjure to your tbr!

In the pages, you will find:

👗A mysterious party
🧙‍♀️Witches
🔎A puzzling mystery
🪄Magic
🫣Hidden identities
❓A hunt for missing objects
❤️A bit of clean romance
🤯A shocking conclusion
🕸️A perfect YA read for spooky season!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning is a spellbinding tale that masterfully blends elements of magic and deception. Henning's evocative world-building and complex characters create an engrossing narrative filled with twists and emotional depth. While the pacing occasionally dips, the novel’s imaginative storytelling and intriguing plot make it a compelling read.

The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning is a gripping and unexpected read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The blend of witches, murder, and a deadly twist on a classic game of Clue creates a thrilling narrative that's both captivating and intense. The plot is straightforward yet compelling, quickly drawing you into its suspenseful world. The characters are intriguing and well-developed, making their reactions to the unfolding events both engaging and relatable. Henning's storytelling ensures that you'll be hooked from start to finish, eagerly turning pages to unravel the mystery.

Magia✔️
Traición ✔️
Asesinato✔️
Ambición ✔️
Viejas enemistades✔️
Romance ✔️
Alianzas ✔️




Las hermanas Ruby y Wren son contratadas por una señora llamada Marsyas Blackgate para hacerse pasar por sus nietas en una fiesta. Pero las chicas no saben que se van a meter a la cueva del lobo.

La que parece una fiesta resulta una reunión de brujas que termina con un asesinato y las principales sospechosas son las hermanas.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Net Galley and Tor Publishing for the ARC! This book definitely lived up to the Knives Out and Inheritance Game vibes with a cool touch of magic. I found myself engulfed in the story to the point where I didn't see most of the twists and turns coming- especially towards the end. I loved how every character was well thought out and they all had their own personalities and growth. It did take me a little while to really remember who was who though and which family line they were with. I had this same issue with Inheritance Games so i think i either need minimal characters or they have to be so different that they stand out easily. The beginning took me a little while to get through but once all the action started happening it was like a rollercoaster. Also love some solid closure at the end with a pretty little bow and I think we got that!

The Lies We Conjure is a pretty evenly-paced mystery full of magic and intrigue. It's got a lot to offer for fans of fantasy and mysteries both, with a sliver of YA romance to hit all the major beats.

The major plot follows a couple of sisters who take on the roles of an old lady's daughters for a family dinner, who are then mistaken as members of a coven of witches all vying for power over one another's family lines. Along the way, they meet some hunky heirs to a witch line, and gather together to hunt some magical relics and solve a murder. It's all fun and games, but the real story here is about identity--whether it be trying to mask who you are out of fear of rejection (or, like, murder), or trying to determine your role in a dynastic future.

It's the latter elements that kept me solidly hooked on this book, working through what Sarah Henning is trying to explore as it regards growing up and negotiating one's place in a complicated future. Like a lot of YA, it's very much concerned with making sense of what we inherit, and there's a lot of power (and hope!) in that exploration. The genre trappings--witches and magic and murder and clue-solving--were all there to keep pages flying, but those elements only serve that central thematic premise, which works really well.

I am not a YA fantasy reader per se, but I found this one to be a whole lot of fun, and my closing thoughts were that I really wouldn't mind revisiting these characters as they negotiate the world they've built for themselves. The genre blending was great, but it's the emotional core of these characters and their thematic stakes that really makes this book sparkle.

Disclosure Statement: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. My thoughts and opinions of the book are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way by either author or publisher.

First off, let me start by saying I probably shouldn't have started this book when I did because I had a few other books going at the time. I'm thinking if I only read this book, I would have gotten through it faster and maybe wouldn't have been as disconnected as I felt in the beginning. That being said, it was a solid read and a fantastic mystery. But in the beginning, I'm not sure why but it took me til about 30% into the book to really start getting into it and actually understand all the families and magic system that was in play.

I really do enjoy the characters. Each family had a diverse cast and I liked that we got two perspectives throughout the book. I love Ruby and Wren and how it all ended made me very happy.

I almost hope there is a sequel so we can see how things develop but if there is a sequel, please put I'm a recap lol cause I feel like I will be lost all over again if not.

Book:
THE LIES WE CONJURE by Sarah Henning
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc (Sept 17)

Review:
3⭐
THE LIES WE CONJURE follows Ruby and Wren who were pulled into a world of trouble when asked to pretend to be someone else at an dinner at Hegemony Manner
I'm not entirely sure how I felt about this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I was more neutral---a little bit of both.
From page one, I wasn't pulled in the way I wanted to be. Yes, I was intrigued, but for awhile the most that happened was a d*ath. Then there were a hundred+ pages of what felt like nothing. However...the pacing of THE LIES WE CONJURE eventually picked up. The second half of this book had me hooked in a way that I didn't think was possible. The action picked up, the magic picked up---and it eventually turned into something that was kind of worth the read. Honestly, if this had the first few chapters, plus the last half, minus the middle, it may have been a five star read for me.

It's been a minute since I've dived fully into fantasy, but I had so much fun with Sarah Henning's The Lies We Conjure. While there were moments that didn't quite work and that felt a little out of place, I stayed up until 2am trying to to finish the novel—which is always a good sign.

The murder-mystery keep me on my toes and once we got into the thick of it, I was in deep. I did slightly wish for a more complex —it felt a little too on the nose near the end. Or, maybe a little expansion to it. The mystery itself got wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly near the end. I also found that the language and dialogue felt off at time. It was almost as if she put key words into a thesaurus and plugged words in. The sentence would read normal and then all of a sudden, there was something that just didn't sound natural or out of place for the character speaking.

But, I did enjoy the twists along the way and about the world Henning built. The romance itself was cute—again, some of the side romance felt a little out-of-nowhere. Even with everything that didn't quite work, I still had fun reading and lost sleep wanting to finish so, I can't rate it too low.