Sarah Henning's "The Lies We Conjure" is an exciting mix of mystery and magic. It follows sisters Ruby and Wren, just regular high school students, who get caught up in a dangerous situation at a grand mansion. They agree to pretend to be long-lost relatives at a fancy dinner party, only to find themselves trapped by a deadly curse after a shocking murder occurs. As they navigate through puzzles and secrets, surrounded by powerful witches, the suspense keeps mounting. Henning's storytelling is gripping, with a richly detailed world and characters you can't help but root for. "The Lies We Conjure" is a thrilling read that will keep you hooked until the very end.

The Inheritance Games meets Magic in this thrilling new YA Fantasy from Sarah Henning. Two sisters are inticed by a mysterious woman who promises to pay them $2,000 to impersonate her granddaughters at a fancy family dinner. The sisters accept but get more than they bargain for when the family matriarch is killed right in front of them at the dinner and their mysterious benefactor disappears. The girls soon realize they are surrounded by witches and are trapped in the mysterious manner. In order to escape, the girls must keep up their facade and work together with the witches to figure out who murdered the head of the family and find the family relics. This is a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish.

Ruby and Wren are sisters that are paid to impersonate the Blackgate sisters at a dinner party. They are hired by the girls Grandmother one day while they are working at the Renfare and youre probably thinking, what could possibly go wrong? Well a lot actually! This murder mystery was definitely different with the addition of witches (was not expecting magical realism), but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. This is perfect for fans of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lies We Conjure is marketed as Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games and I can see where the comparisons come into play, but this one just didn't do it for me. I jumped ship at about 20% because of the following:

1. The MCs-two sisters. who I couldn't remember if they were twins or not twins, but the sisters they were paid to impersonate weren't twins or were they? You get my point.
2. So many characters to keep track of...there were cousins, parents, granparents, sisters, brothers.. You get my point
3. Some sort of magic that is related to the Salem With Trials, because I guess?

I couldn't stick this one out to see if it got better. Perhaps a reader more patient than I am will enjoy it, but it wasn't for me.

I wanted this to be better than it was. It wasn't bad, but it felt a bit slow. I didn't really get sucked in until halfway through. The biggest issue was a lack of connection to the characters — I honestly couldn't tell the voices apart in the two points of view, and I didn't feel like I knew or cared much as much about anyone as I'd like.

I did enjoy the Knives Out-ness of it all, and the witchiness, but I just wanted more depth.

Thank you Tor Teen / Tor Publishing for allowing me to read and review The Lies We Conjure! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Find my murderer. Find the relics. You have three days."

While working a summer job at a Renaissance Fair, Ruby and Wren are approached by Marsyas, a mysterious older woman, with an enticing invitation: she will give Ruby and Wren two-thousand dollars each if they impersonate Marsyas's grandchildren at a fancy party. With information about each of the guests and fake accents they enter the party unaware of the horrors to come. The host is murdered, the guest are witches, and imposters Ruby and Wren are stuck in a lockdown where they have to find the killer and four magical relics to lift the spell. If they do not complete the tasks and follow the rules of the will made by the High Sorcerer, they'll be forever locked in the estate and possibly killed for impersonating witches.

"We're trapped on an estate with nine witches, and someone-possibly one of those nine witches-was willing to murder an old lady in her own backyard to trigger some magical Easter egg hunt."

The Lies We Conjure is a mixture of Knives Out, Clue, and The Inheritance Games but with witches and magical elements. There are Four Lines: Elemental, Celestial, Death, and Blood magic. The Four Lines are in charge of finding the master relics of their magic following clues left by Ursula, the High Sorcerer, who was murdered at the dinner table. There is a bigger plot at hand, which I won't get into because of spoilers, but it makes for an interesting story I enjoyed reading about. There are two points of views: we follow Ruby with her sister Wren and Auden, one of the witches of the Hegemony Manor and grandson of Ursula.

"I can't believe our lives hang in the balance of what sounds exactly like the magical equivalent of a mood ring."

Marsyas abandoned Ruby and Wren, leaving them to figure out how to survive the three days and how to escape an inescapable barrier triggered by the death of Ursula. I really liked reading from Ruby's point of view and her sisterly bond with Wren as they try to navigate each day. Ruby and Wren are relatable and their decisions made were realistic for their age.

I did enjoy Auden's point of view as well. Ruby gave us an outsiders view whereas Auden allows us to see what the witches were up to in this murder mystery. Auden and Ruby begin to work together to try to find the hidden relics. In the time frame they have they feel an attraction to one another. I kind of wish the romance was either fleshed out more or non-existent. I might be leaning more towards non-existent only because I don't think the story truly called for one. I did like their moments together though.

The story-telling and build-up to the reveals were entertaining and kept me hooked. I liked the magic system, and the way it was used. The murder mystery itself made me think of a very cool Escape Room, that I wish was real except for the dying part of course. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and I love the haunting Easter eggs the cover artist put in.

I recommend checking out The Lies We Conjure for those who love witchy tales, fast-paced murder mysteries, and constant paranoia.

4.75 stars

Title: The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning
Genre: Supernatural Thriller
Pub Date: September 17, 2024

Dual POV (1st Person)
Family of Witches
Unique Magic System
Murder Mystery "Whodunit"

My Review:

The Lies We Conjure is a locked room murder mystery/whodunit with a witchy twist! This was an entertaining, quick read, perfect if you love Clue, or murder mysteries in general!

🚨 repeated use of "JC" and "g**d**n"

3.5/5

Thank you so much NetGalley and Tor Publishing/Tor Teen for the digital review copy ❣️

Ruby and Wren are sisters that are pulled into a magical dilemma they never expected. It all begins when they're paid to impersonate the Blackgate sisters at a dinner party. What could go wrong?

This murder mystery was definitely different with the addition of witches, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Add on the sisters' secret (they're imposters), and I was on my toes! For fans of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games.

Absolutely incredible! Knives out meets clue but add witches. This story hooked me from the very first page. Two sisters looking to make some quick college fund money make a bargain they will quickly come to regret. An ancient mansion, a gathering of magical families and a murder mystery lead to the girls having to use their wits to stay alive.

This was so good. I couldn't put the book down, I just needed to know everything. If this book sounds like your genre then definitely grab, no matter your age

When Ruby and Wren agree to attend a dinner party and masquerade as an elderly lady's grand-daughters, they never expected to wind up in the middle of a magical murder mystery, surrounded by witches. Can they figure out who killed their hostess without revealing their own deception?

I loved this book. The mystery plot was well-developed, the magic system was innovative and the ending was completely unexpected. If you like Jennifer Lynn Barnes, here is another great book for you!

I felt like I was reading Knives out almost! It was such a great read with a good mix of magical and non magical characters caught up together in this dual POV story. I did get a big confused as to who's POV I was reading but that only lasted the first few chapters, as it does for me with any multiple POV. I loved that we were in one location the whole story. I felt that it really gave you the chance to grow the idea and mental pictures and really understand where you were in the story and what was happening.

I originally wanted to pick this book up just based on the cover alone but after reading the description I knew it would be a good one! I was so hooked- this was such an interesting and entertaining read. Without giving any spoilers I think the ending wrapped up this dynamic plot perfectly! Love this authors writing style and definitely would want to read more.

I loved that these two unknowing girls ended up in the midst of a witch power struggle! The characters were all interesting and worked within the plot. I liked the alternating chapters as a device to share the points of view. Reading as a middle/high school librarian, I did feel like it got a little convoluted. I struggled to keep track of why certain things were happening, why the father of the girls was killed, which family’s magic did what, etc. I wasn’t even clear on how having all of the relics of power for each line let the owner control all of the other witches. I feel like if I was confused by certain aspects of this my students absolutely will be. Aside from that, I enjoyed the story and was glad the girls went back at the end for a reunion. I will purchase for my school but will tell readers that they might get lost at points and to power through.

Thank you Netgallet and Tor for the ARC of The Lies We Conjur.
What's not to love abput this book. Dual POV, witches, and a murder mystery! Not to mention the beautiful cover.

"A suggestion of power isn't a replacement for power."

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's not usually a genre I read often, but this one was really interesting with the witches aspect turning the murder mystery upside down. It really could've been anyone considering they had magic on their side.

Without spoiling the book, the main characters were well written and fleshed out, the world building was pretty good, and I liked that we were only in one setting for the entirety of the book to help you really dive into the story without much confusion. The world building was enough that I actually wonder if Henning will take us back into this world in the future with different characters or even different time settings—she definitely could. I'd be excited to read about these witches and families again. She did a wonderful job setting all of these up, which is why I suspect it won't be the last we see of this universe.

The only reason I'm not giving it 4.5 or 5 stars is because it's dual POV, which I already dislike, but it's also first person dual POV, which is even worse to me. I get confused about whose chapter I'm on if I take a break between reads, plus the sudden change in whose thoughts I'm in takes me out of the immersion of the book. It's just my personal preference, though I do think that the switching of POVs in this book could be less often than it is and still give the desired outcome/effect.

Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games with magic in this standalone supernatural thriller by Sarah Henning: thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly whodunit.

If it’s possible to feel in love with a book,
then that is how I am feeling right now

Thirteen witches and two non-magical sisters caught up in the middle. A large ancestral Manor with a vast estate. A fascinating plot that moved quickly and in unexpected ways. Magic and a bewitching magical system. A locked-room type mystery. Secrets, lies, riddles, a quest…and the clock is ticking.

Publication date: September 17, 2024
Tor Publishing Group

#secrets #murder #mystery #lockedroomystery
#Magic #Witches #arc #netgalley #thriller#Torpublishinggroup #TorTeen #Teens #YA #theliesweconjure #macmillan #SarahHenning #supernatural #whodunit
#Brightbookreviews #bookstagram #Instagram #facebook

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: dual POVS, witchy reads, murder mysteries

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 6/21 and will be posted to my review blog on 7/4 and to Instagram on 7/31.

First off, I absolutely love this cover! It's so vivid and gory and I love the little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout it. It really gives off the perfect vibes for this book.

I love the mashup of SFF and a murder mystery, and I like that it's been more of a thing in recent years. I feel like 2024 in particular has had a good streak of SFF murder mysteries, and this definitely belongs in their ranks. It's got a nice Clue/Agatha Christie/Knives Out vibe with the old-fashioned but elaborately rich manor, the family members all decked out and all with ulterior motives, and, of course, the murder itself. The addition of magic really adds a nice edge to things since there are things witches do that your ordinary everyday murder suspect can't. It also adds an additional element of danger to the investigation, because the murderer doesn't necessarily need to do something physically to you...they can just use their magic to make something happen.

In this story, or at least with this family, there are four different kinds (Lines) of magic: Elemental, Celestial, Blood, and Death. Each of them do roughly what you imagine they do and each family specializes in a particular kind. The Hegemonys practice Elemental magic, the Starwoods practice Celestial magic, the Cerises practice Blood magic, and the the Blackgates Death magic. For the past 400 years, The Hegemonys and their Elemental magic have held the title of high Sorcerer, but with their matriarch's murder, the spot is now up for grabs, and no matter how close they were (or seemed) before the dinner party, everyone has something to gain from the title.

I liked learning the magic system of the book, and it was helpful that Ruby and Wren didn't know about magic at all since it meant they were interested in asking questions and researching more about it. On the flip side, the other POV is Auden Hegemony, and his innate knowledge of magic provides the finer details to Ruby's overview. It was a good balance and I thought it was a clever way to provide all the information readers needed to know about the magic of the world.

Of the two sisters, Ruby is the more practical and careful one. She takes everything seriously, perhaps a bit too seriously at times, and is immediately concerned about what will happen if the rest of the group finds out they're imposters. At times her anxiety could be annoying, but I also get where she's coming from. These people are not only rich, they're magical, and they won't take kindly to someone intruding on their secrets. But her practicality also means she's resourceful and she's determined to get herself and Wren through the weekend alive. Despite everything that's been thrown at her, she handles herself pretty well and actually has good instincts, with people, with magic, and with the mystery.

Wren is a non-POV character, and is in many ways Ruby's opposite. She's outgoing and personable, and with dreams of the stage, she's quite the actress and improvisor. She immediately takes to whatever role is provided to her, be it a long-absent granddaughter or a witch with longstanding ties to Hegemony Manor. She's also more impulsive than Ruby, which for a while works out in their favor (well...not the dinner party invite part, lol) since Wren rolls with the punches and can make decisions quickly. But like Ruby warns, Wren's split-second decisions aren't always good, and the two do end up in trouble in a few instances because of it.

Auden is the middle Hegemony cousin and the other POV narrator. He's serious and clearly has his own secrets, but it's also clear he loves his family and is determined to ensure they also make it through this weekend, and this tragedy. While serious, he also has a mischievous streak, and can't help but poke fun at Lavinia, aka Ruby. But when things take a turn for the worse, he immediately begins strategizing and trying to figure out a way to find the murderer and the relics, while at the same time protecting the people who need it.

Evander is the oldest Hegemony cousin and the one set to inherit it all. He's fairly obnoxious in his arrogance, but he gets more tolerable as things progress, and it's clear that though he clings to his position, he's both unsure and determined to figure out what's gone wrong in the family. Winter is the youngest (I think, Evander is said to be the oldest, but Winter and Auden are the same age). She has wit sharp enough to cut and is clever enough to use it. She's more than willing to put her cousins in their place when they need it, but she also quickly gets tired of the powerplay that occurs after their grandmother's death, both between the three of them and with everyone at large. I liked Winter quite a bit and wish we saw more of her.

The Starwoods who are present at the manor are Luna, the ancient matriarch, and Infinity. The two of them are on the gentler side of things, with Luna wanting to solve the murder and the puzzle, but not interested in the power struggle that begins to occur. Infinity takes Luna's lead and is mostly interested in staying out of the way and helping their grandmother.

Unlike the Starwoods, the Cerises are a nasty bunch. Sanguine and Hector are the parents and put on a well-coiffed front, but underneath it's clear they're slimier than they let on. The twins, Ada and Hex, are around the same age as the rest of the 'main' characters and while Hex can be antagonistic, it's clear he's more of a friend to the group than his parents are. Ada is frequently quiet in group settings, so it's harder to get a read on her, sometimes she seeps as sharp as her mother and other times she's more like Hex.

Then, the Blackgates. Ruby and Wren are impersonating the next generation of Blackgates: Lavinia and Kaysa. The grandmother who hired them is Marsyas and has a matter-of-factness about her that hides her stubborn persistence. We don't get a lot of information on the Blackgates up front, but it's clear there's a reason Lavinia and Kaysa haven't been back to Hegemony Manor in a decade, and it's even more clear that there's a terrible terrible secret behind that reason.

The murder mystery part of the novel was interesting and it kept me hooked. There's an immediate suspect, but as things progress, the suspect changes and bounces around. Everyone looks good for it at different points (mostly) and, as I said above, everyone has motive and means. The other aspect of the mystery, which actually takes up a lot more time than the murder investigation, is trying to solve the riddles and find the Relics, four powerful items that will decide the next High Sorcerer. Each Relic is hidden around the Hegemony property, and the 'clues' are short riddles designed to guide the witches to the items. For some, following the riddles is a good way to keep an eye on the others and solve the murder. For others, the draw of power is too much to resist.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and think it's a great witchy murder mystery. I liked trying to figure out the various mysteries and puzzles in the novel, and it was interesting to see how Ruby and Auden reacted to each new bump in the road.

Ruby and Wren are two sisters doing their best to save money for college when an elderly woman recruits them to act as her granddaughters for a family reunion. The money she offers is quite a lot and the two decided to go forward with the job even when the woman request specific outfits, and accents.

When the big night comes, the sisters find themselves at the famous Hegemony Manor and amongst the family they feel true anger, fear and...magic. It's not long before the host of the night is murdered and the gates are locked until. the murder is solved. The two sisters have no choice but to continue the ruse and fight to stay alive!

A truly original plot that kept me locked in and up all night. Not too YA at all, and a great locked room (mansion) murder mystery!
#topublishing #theliesweconjue #sarahhenning

This book was SO good! It follows the pov of both ruby and auden and it was just a whole-hearted who done it story with a magical twist. I was captivated from the start and so nervous to see how things were going to play out for ruby and her sister wren ! I also really liked the plot and how all of the people involved came together to work as one even though they all come from different magical lines! The ending was also perfect! 10/10 this book was great and i would highly recommend it.