A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance

 

✨The Craft meets a Benoit Blanc mystery✨
Witchcraft, murder, tarot cards, and cults collide in this spooky upper YA supernatural thriller where three friends discover a body—and use magic to unravel a dangerous secret that threatens everything they know.

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

I really enjoyed this eerie, twist-filled story that follows Mazzy and her best friends, Nora and Elliot, as they dive into a dark mystery rooted in the supernatural. 

Mazzy was a standout for me—she’s grounded, likable, and feels like a real teenager. I appreciated how the author balanced her emotional depth and teenage vulnerability with a quiet strength that made her easy to root for. Even though the characters are in high school, their dynamic and the gravity of the situation they're facing brought a surprising level of maturity to the story, while still staying true to that 17-year-old perspective.

The tarot cards were such a fun and mysterious touch, especially with the unique twist of Polaroid-style tarot cards—which I thought was seriously cool 👌. It added an extra layer of visual intrigue and symbolic depth that made the magic feel tactile and modern.

Overall, this book is spooky in the best way—a dark, atmospheric blend of murder mystery and witchy magic that’s both thrilling and heartfelt. If you're into creepy Egyptian cults, spells of the internet, and misfit best friends, this one’s for you. Highly recommend for fans of The Craft, Knives Out, and supernatural thrillers with bite!

 🗸Witches
🗸Murder
🗸Mysterious Cults
🗸Spooky Crabs
🗸Ghosts
🗸Possession
🗸Interesting Tarot Cards
🗸Moody Cape Cod Beaches

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance is out on August 26, 2025—just in time for spooky season 🔮🪄

Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc!