I binged the heck out of this. So spooky and eerie. Like actually obsessed with Nicole's writing. She's descriptive in a way that doesn't feel annoying to read. 100% recommend if it sounds like a book you'd be into.

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance is the kind of book you want to curl up with on a chilly autumn night, wrapped in a blanket with a mug of something warm. It’s atmospheric, eerie in all the right ways, and brimming with gothic vibes that practically scream fall read. If you love witchy stories and a touch of the macabre, A Spell to Wake the Dead is the perfect addition to your fall TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Cape Cod teenage witches cast a spell that causes them to start finding dead bodies. A very twisty mystery as they try to discover why this is happening to them and how to make it stop. This is supposed to be a YA novel but I’m not gonna lie, I was freaked out the entire time as it was pretty spooky (and I read before bed with all the lights off).

The perfect read for a cool fall night - eerie, well-written and absolutely binge-worthy. This book captures readers from the first pages. This is a book that goes from childish exploration to a murder mystery and secret societies. Honestly written in a way that captures the audience and entrances the reader.

A Spell to Wake the Dead is about two witchy teens who discover a dead body during a night of magic on the beach and, consequently, get wrapped up in the workings of a mysterious cult.

As an adult reader, the story felt young, even for a YA read. It wasn’t really spooky until the midway point, and I didn’t see enough elements of horror to describe it in that way. Although not incredibly complex, it does have a mysterious tone that might resonate better with younger readers looking for a lighter thriller.

What I like about the story was how woman-centric it is and the way that it speaks to the power of sisterhood and female friendship. The characters weren’t my favorite, nor did I find them highly-developed, but their connections with each other were interesting and drove the story forward.

Lastly, the magic system lacked cohesion and coherence for me. It seemed to pull from many traditions, although that’s sort of addressed in the story. However, I did like the integration of the tarot and believe the story will be most powerful to people who come in with an understanding of the cards.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read, and I think it will be even better for witchy teenage YA readers.

such an interesting and eerie book where a murder investigation meets witchy spooky vibes. i will say it was such a unique twist to a sometimes overdone trope and it was done so well! i was actually hooked reading this and finished the whole thing in pretty much one sitting. i could not put it down and there was nothing that could pry my eyes away from it.

thank you netgalley and penguin group for this arc in exchange for my honest review!!

this is literally a perfect fall book, i beg you all to read this when it comes out!!! a perfect mix of mystery and spooky with an eerie atmosphere, and writing that will keep you hooked and bingeing the entire 300+ pages. like seriously, when you start pulling out gilmore girls and pumpkin spice drinks this year, pick this book up too.

thank you to netgalley & penguin group for the arc! all opinions are my own <3

For some reason I was expecting this to be an adult book, which is me being dumb - it's YA! I really liked the characters and it was all really believable - they TRIED to ask adults for help. The mystery was fascinating, the setting was well written - another banger from Nicole!

One of my most anticipated books of 2025 and happy to say it was wonderful!

Spooky atmosphere
Murder mystery
Divination
Witchcraft
And creepy whispering voices?!?!

A really good spooky time!

What could go wrong with using spells you find on the internet?
A lot.

From magical mystery to horror, this is book can be a lot.
I personally enjoyed the first part of the book, when it was still in the realm of mystery with the touches of magic. However about halfway through the book, it became very uncomfortable for me when it shifted into more horror and more with the supernatural.

For some this may be the perfect fall read with all of the magic and supernatural.

This book is exceptionally well-crafted. The atmosphere is hauntingly effective, with the Tarot and magical elements portrayed with precision. The dynamics among the girls and their friend Elliot are genuine and relatable. The storyline is both thrilling and dark. It offers a richly immersive experience into the shadows of humanity and the realm of magic. With its witchy undertones, moments of spine-chilling suspense, and heartwarming themes of friendship, it elevates the reading experience. Add a touch of romance, and you have an ideal addition to your reading list. If you seek something eerie with unexpected twists that will keep you intrigued until the final page, this book is a must-read. I would love to add that I wish I had read this around the fall time.

A small town supernatural murder mystery that will hook you from the very start! Loved how atmospheric this was and the mystery and witchy elements. I loved the two main characters but wish the side characters had been developed more. This book fully transports you to the autumn season and romanticizes everything about it so I will definitely be coming back to it when autumn hits

Rating 4 / 5 ⭐

This is it. I’ve found your October read.

Nora and Mazzy are best friends who are both fascinated by magick and the occult. While you see glimpses of depth, overall they fell a little bit flat overall. There was potential for them to fleshed out more, especially with Mazzy having at least one side hobby to make her more multi-faceted.

The vibes were simply perfectly spooky. It takes place in the fall which definitely added to the darker vibes. The different locations they go to for rituals and research lend a lot to the overall eeriness which grows as they uncover more information. What starts as a potential coming-of-age story grows into something more complex and dangerous.

As their story progressed, I was hooked and felt like I was spiraling with them. I had a lot of questions about whether or not the narrator was reliable or not. I’ve never felt gaslit by a book before but here we are.

The magick was (mostly) based in real occult practices which I found fascinating. It definitely reads like the author did research or practices. I especially liked the contrast of how the girls approach magick and its safety.

As far as the budding romance side plot, it was sweet but felt unneeded. I liked him well enough but the book would have been complete even without it. Not everything needs romance and there was enough to keep me interested as they solved the mystery of what was happening. The ending also felt kind of rushed and the “who done it” reveal was slightly lackluster.

All that being said, I did highly enjoy this book. I’ll most likely reread it during Spooky Season as its an amazing YA witchy read. Honestly, this is one of the best YA books I’ve read in a while.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Spell to Wake the Dead is a darkly magical, emotionally-charged journey into the heart of grief, love, and the consequences of messing with death—because let’s be honest, no spellbook ever ends well when it starts with “Do not attempt.”

The story follows Selene Vire, a young witch reeling from the loss of her sister, who turns to forbidden necromancy in a desperate attempt to bring her back. What unfolds is part gothic horror, part coming-of-age story, and all wrapped in lush, eerie atmosphere. The worldbuilding is immersive (hello, haunted libraries and spirit markets), and the side characters add so much charm and depth—especially the dry-humored crow and the delightfully unbothered necromancer.

What stood out most for me was how well Blackmoor captured the rawness of grief while still delivering a plot full of magic, mystery, and genuinely unexpected twists. The pacing lagged just a bit in the middle, but the emotional payoff made it more than worth it.

Final thoughts: If you love witchy reads with heart, haunted aesthetics, and a little danger in your magic, this one's for you. I’ll be keeping an eye on whatever Blackmoor writes next.

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Desperate is an absolute masterpiece that gripped me from beginning to end. The storytelling is rich, atmospheric, and hauntingly beautiful, with an enchanting blend of magic, mystery, and emotional depth. Desperate’s world-building is immersive, creating a captivating setting where the supernatural feels both otherworldly and intimately real. The characters are wonderfully complex, and their journeys are deeply compelling. The plot is expertly paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat with every twist and turn. A Spell to Wake the Dead is a truly unforgettable read—magical, emotional, and absolutely deserving of five stars. Highly recommend!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This books starts out creepy, witchy and downright spooky and I love it! Look, this is firmly in the YA category. (Not the borderline adult-level explicit fantasy/romance that sometimes hides in YA either. I would feel 100% comfortable if my 13 year old kiddo wanted to read this.) The two main characters are 17-year old girls and they act like it. They take risks, dabble in things with not enough knowledge of the consequences, and think moving away from each other is the worst thing ever. It’s authentic behavior for that age group. This was a refreshing escapist read. I loved the mystery, the use of the witchcraft and occult elements, and the overall friendship between Mazzy and Nora. Even the romance with Elliot was very PG adorable and sweet.

I really loved this! Is it outlandish? Absolutely. But I don’t think anyone is going to confuse reality here when there’s people using spells to light candles and paralyze enemies. That’s why it’s fantasy. I will definitely be buying a copy of this book! I highly recommend picking this up when it comes out at the end of August 2025. It would make the perfect start to spooky season!

This book was made for spooky season. Even though I read it early, it completely transported me to crisp fall nights, sleepy woods, and that cozy-but-creepy small town vibe. It’s more of a magical murder mystery than full-on horror, but the atmosphere? Immaculate. Ghosts, secret societies, ritual clues—it has it all. The writing is super visual too; I felt like I was right there with the girls unraveling it all. A perfect pick for autumn reading.

I loved this book.

Mazzy and Nora are 17, they’re best friends, and they’re witches. When they go to perform a spell Nora has found on the internet, things get weird.

The girls end up in a crazy whirlwind of cults, magic, and murder as they find bodies washed up near bodies of water with missing hearts, teeth, and hands.

They go to the local witch/apothecary and ask for a spell to undo the damage done by a previous spell, only to be thrust further into the vast darkness they’ve found. When Nora goes missing, Mazzy and the boy she likes go looking, and they find more than they bargained for.

This book felt YA but was unputdownable. I loved the simplicity of the romance and the bonds of friendship. The characters were well written and the twist was fantastic.

A beautifully written story that will keep the pages turning until they run out.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Young Readers for the ARC and the ability to leave an honest review.

Mazzy and her friend Nora like to dabble in the occult... just little spells with small successes. But when they go to a beach to perform a ritual, they find a corpse with missing hands and teeth and they become a part of a creepy cult of sisters trying to wake the dead.

I thought the girls were kind of not that smart to get more involved after finding the first body. This was just a story full of not nice feelings and the dark side of what the occult is. They have Elliot by their side who is not a believer but I think this boy was smarter than the girls and kept them safer than they would have been on their own.

The first half of this book was good. The second half spiraled way too out of control and felt like an entirely different genre. We go from a magical realism mystery to just outright supernatural horror. I really liked the tone of the first half and was disappointed by the final climax.