You had me at witchcraft and murder mystery! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this read. I was hooked from page one. Excellently creepy YA book, strong character development, interesting dip into the witchy world of two young women, and I appreciated that LGBTQ characters were treated the same as straight characters (refreshing!).

A Spell to Wake the Dead is a witchy thriller that delivers an eerie atmosphere, supernatural intrigue, and dark magic, making it a compelling read for fans of YA occult mysteries. The story follows Mazzy and her best friend Nora, who, after casting a spell on the beach one night, stumble upon a horrifying discovery - a woman’s body missing hands and teeth. Their attempts to investigate through spellwork uncover a sinister history of disappearances in their Cape Cod town, pulling them deeper into a web of dangers that threaten their lives.

One of the most surprising aspects of this book is how deeply it leans into magic. Rather than treating it as something hidden, magic is woven into the world in a way that feels natural and totally accepted.

The eerie tone and chilling twists kept me quickly turning pages, but the book falters when it comes to character development and plot cohesion. While Mazzy and Nora are likable (although Nora tested my patience at times), they lack the depth to make me feel truly invested in their journey. The fast pacing sacrifices a deeper emotional exploration, leaving many of the side characters feeling like mere plot devices rather than fully realized individuals. This lack of connection becomes especially apparent in the climax, where the impact of a certain reveal fell flat for me due to the minimal backstory given to this person.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, dark and magical thriller, A Spell to Wake the Dead offers an entertaining ride. However, for readers who crave more emotional depth and character-driven storytelling, it may not leave a lasting impression. Overall, I had a lot of fun and it was a quick read!

Nora and Mazzy performing actual magic to solve a murder in Cape Cod. This was a cute book, but it felt more like a slightly fleshed-out outline, rather than a full blown YA. I felt some of the plotlines were far-fetched. But I loved the characters and the magical themes. It was a quick and fast-paced read. I may seek out other books by the author.

Thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A dead body right off the rip!? Loooove it. Can you imagine the anxiety of casting a spell and then mutilated bodies start appearing! Eeeeeek!

And of course, give me all the evil covens.

I sometimes get worried that in my mid thirties I’m getting too old to read books that include high schoolers, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it!! Would recommend to my friends 🖤

Wait, this was so cute? Haha I don’t think cute is the write word for this dark witchy book but it gave the same feels all the same. I am actually obessed with this concept. I am a sucker for a good thriller and this book gives a great sense of mystery! I liked the world but wish there was more detail about the characters so I could become attached to them a little more. I found myself having trouble connecting to the characters (not saying there isn’t a good development of them; just wish there was more) I love that it’s two besties just doing what they do but felt tension sometimes. Reminded me of how my friend and I sometimes butt heads but our head and hearts are in the right place. This is a great spooky time read. I want to get my hands on a physical copy so I can cuddle up and read this on a rainy autumn evening.

A Spell to Wake the Dead is a fast-paced, witchy, YA thriller. The storyline felt a little rushed, but I guess that's better than having it drag out. This book didn't quite do it for me, but I think there will be a lot of other readers who love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released August 26, 2025.

Dead bodies, mystery, teenage witches, tarot cards, and a secret Egyptian occult group…

Everything about A Spell to Wake the Dead was written really well!! The mystery was fast-paced, the witchcraft and occult aspects were intriguing, I enjoyed the strong friendships, the little bit of innocent romance, and the atmosphere was on point too!

I just wish there was even more background information on the HoN! I was really, really wanting more about them. Fingers crossed in the future we get a book all about the HoN. I think there is a lot more than can be explored! Maybe if we all ask the author very, very nicely? :)

A Spell to Wake the Dead is a wonderfully spooky, mysterious, witchy, atmospheric and absolutely spellbinding read!! I loved it!

Sometimes you and your bestie stumble across a dead body and decide you need to solve the mystery of her death and with magic! Just normal things for young girls to experience.

This was a fun and rather quick read! I found the pacing to be pretty fast and captivating, it felt like things were always happening. And I really like that in this spookier kind of book, don't let me get bored.

I just wish that the characters were a little bit more developed, they didn't feel super complete to me. And they didn't really get much of an arc and I really do love seeing characters get a full arc. I feel like finding a dead body, doing magic with dead people and dealing with a secret society would give a person some character development.

I had a good time with this and I can definitely see its YA audience LOVING it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Mazzy and Nora are best friends, who like to dabble in a little magic. Unfortunately, they are thrown into a series of murders at the hands of occult magic and secrets. Things get shaken up in this small Cape Cod beach town.

I am on a YA thriller kick at the moment. This book brought a wonderful supernatural/murder mystery thrill. At first, this story moved a tad slowly, but as we progressed things got a little faster. I didn’t get that best friend connection or vibe that I like. It was more like they just tolerated one another just by some of the actions of the characters. I love good, strong bestie relationships in books. This is definitely a good book to check out if you are in the mood for a witchy murder mystery.

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in August. Yeah this was definitely a solid thriller! It had more twists than a game of twister and kept me guessing. Everyone was suspicious.

A book that truly fits into the YA genre. Just the right amount of mystery, occult, and spooky vibes.

For those who have a love for magic, witchcraft, and the supernatural, infused with a hint of Egyptian mythology, this book is sure to engage you!

This book had me captivated in an unexpectedly delightful manner. It was honestly really refreshing. Stressful? A little. Haha, but the book was a nice quick read and an immensely rewarding experience, and it may even be one of my favorites of 2025 and potentially one of my all-time favorites.

Mazzy was a highly relatable and expertly crafted character. I appreciated Elliot and Nora, although something about Nora seemed rather lacking to me, and I am not sure why; therefore, I would have preferred a more profound exploration of her character or a greater insight into her character. The interactions among the three were quite engaging; I appreciated their trio, and the subtle romance between Mazzy and Elliot attracted me.

While I typically steer clear of teen fiction for various reasons, this particular book has the potential to shift my perspective. The writing style is simple yet remarkably vivid, and the narrative unfolds with great craftsmanship. From the very first page, I found myself completely intrigued, unable to set the book aside. It proved to be an immensely enjoyable experience from start to finish.

My gratitude is extended to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for providing an eArc, which allowed for an honest review of the work.

An exciting and dark YA mystery/thriller. I was pleasantly surprised with how eerie and sinister this story was given that it’s targeted for younger audiences, but it really delivered in terms of consistent tension and suspense throughout the book. The witchy and cult background felt unique and enticing, and while it didn’t have many shocking twists and turns, it was still a very engaging story from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This book was good. I liked the plot. There is a lot magic in the book to make things harder on the kids. If you don't like feeling like something couldn't be done with magic then you won't like this. There are talks of dead bodies but it isnt too horribly descriptive. I would say it gave the movie "The Craft" vibes at first but once you get into the book it really becomes a whole murder mystery.

A fun spooky YA horror novel with lots of witchy and ghostly vibes. Definitely a fun read for any fans of witchy books.

A Spell to Wake the Dead is a hauntingly atmospheric thriller that masterfully blends witchcraft, mystery, and spine-chilling suspense. Nicole Lesperance weaves an intoxicating tale of friendship and dark secrets that will keep readers spellbound until the very last page.

YA eerie cult thriller

Some of the components are the story are rather DARK. So please be mindful of the age of the reader and what you feel comfortable as a parent letting your child read.

This was so good. From start to finish, it’s fast paced and filled full of a plot I love. Two witches find a bod, and ...... then another ...... and stumble into something worse than they could have imagined. The characters are really great and the story was amazing.

The story builds in intensity the more you read it. This is one book that can be finished in a day. There could have been more focus on the actual witchcraft and spells and the occult world but nonetheless, it did not take away from the story at all.

Thanks NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

A solid witchy thriller. Teen readers who like eerie atmospheres and murder mysteries will enjoy this one! If they're graduating goosebumps and are looking for similar horror lite this would be good

Gloriously witchy, dark, and lyrical—everything I love most about Nicole Lesperance's work. It's the moonlit murder mystery of my beachside dreams, and I adored following Mazzy as she ventured deeper into the strangeness surrounding her. Plus, I mean ... that COVER. Say less!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this incredible book.

It was oh so good!

I am going to go right back an do a reread it was so good.
Can not recommend highly enough. Just incredible.

Five stars plus.