A parent might reach for this book when their teen is fascinated by dark fantasy, mysteries, and stories of empowerment, especially if they are navigating feelings of being an outsider or grappling with family secrets. "The Invocations" follows Zara, a teen girl who must confront a terrifying family curse after her sister's murder. Teaming up with Jude, who can communicate with ghosts, and Emer, a fellow witch, Zara delves into the dangerous world of magic to save herself and uncover the truth. The book explores themes of grief, bravery, and finding your own power. It's a gripping read for older teens who enjoy supernatural thrillers with strong female friendships at their core.
Features demonic entities, curses, unsettling rituals, and high-stakes supernatural threats.
Sad ThemesModerate
Deals heavily with grief, loss of a sibling, and generational trauma.
LanguageMild
Some occasional strong language appropriate for the older YA audience.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the profound grief of losing a sibling to murder. This trauma is a central and raw part of the protagonist's journey. Magic and the occult are portrayed as powerful and dangerous, involving rituals, demonic entities, and pacts. The approach is entirely secular within a fantasy context. The resolution is hard-won and ultimately hopeful, but acknowledges the lasting scars of trauma.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 15-18, who loves dark urban fantasy, occult themes, and murder mysteries. This reader appreciates a fast-paced plot but also wants complex characters and strong relationship dynamics, particularly female friendships. It's perfect for a teen who feels like an outsider or is wrestling with a family legacy they didn't choose.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware of the mature themes. The book contains descriptions of violence, murder, occult rituals, and demonic entities. It is best suited for a mature YA reader comfortable with the horror and thriller genres. The book can be read cold, but a parent might want to be available to discuss the heavy themes of grief and loss. A parent notices their teen is reading a lot of dark fantasy or showing interest in witchcraft and the occult. The teen might be expressing feelings of powerlessness against family issues or wishing they could change their circumstances with some kind of power.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) will likely be captivated by the high-stakes mystery, the magical system, and the romantic subplot. An older teen (16-18) will more deeply appreciate the exploration of generational trauma, female rage as a source of power, and the complex morality of the characters' choices.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA fantasies, this book masterfully blends a gritty, grounded murder mystery with a complex and lore-rich magical system. Its core strength is the powerful triumvirate of female friendship, positioning loyalty and trust between Zara and Emer as the ultimate weapon against a patriarchal curse. This focus provides a fresh and empowering take within the genre.
Read plot summary
Haunted by the unsolved murder of her older sister, Zara Jones lives in fear of the ancient curse that dooms the women in her family to violent deaths. To save herself, she must join forces with two other magically gifted teens: Jude, a boy who can see and speak to ghosts, and Emer, a fellow witch from a rival family. Together, they must perform three dangerous magical invocations to break the curse. Their quest uncovers dark secrets about their town, their families, and the true nature of the evil they face.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Zara, Jude, and Emer all feel like outsiders for different reasons. How do their individual struggles and powers help them form a stronger bond as a group?
2
The book explores the idea of curses passed down through generations. Do you think Zara was right to use such dangerous magic to break hers? What other kinds of non-magical 'curses' or legacies do families pass down?
3
Jude's ability to see ghosts is both a gift and a burden. How does his relationship with ghosts, especially his mother's, change from the beginning of the story to the end?
4
The magical system in the book requires sacrifice. Discuss a moment where a character made a significant sacrifice. Do you think the cost was worth the outcome?
