The Invocations

By: Krystal Sutherland

Narrated by: Kit Griffiths

Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of New York Times bestseller House of Hollow comes a darkly seductive witchy thriller where, though both men and demons lurk in shadows, girls refuse to go quietly into the night.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Three girls, one supernatural killer on the loose . . .

Zara Jones believes in magic because the alternative is too painful to consider—that her murdered sister is gone forever and there is nothing she can do about it. Rather than grieving and moving on, Zara decides she will do whatever it takes to claw her sister back from the grave—even trading in the occult.

Jude Wolf may be the daughter of a billionaire, but she is also undeniably cursed. After a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, her soul has been slowly turning necrotic. It’s a miserable existence marred by pain, sickness, and monstrous things that taunt her in the night. Now that she’s glimpsed what’s beyond the veil, Jude’s desperate to find someone to undo the damage she’s done to herself.

Enter Emer Byrne, an orphaned witch with a dark past and a deadly power, a.k.a. the solution to both Zara’s and Jude’s problems. Though Emer lives a hardscrabble life, she gives away her most valuable asset—her invocations—to women in desperate situations who are willing to sacrifice a piece of their soul in exchange for a scrap of power. Zara and Jude are willing, but they first have to find Emer.

When Emer’s clients start turning up dead all over London, a vital clue leads Zara and Jude right to her. If a serial killer is targeting her clients, Emer wants to know why—and to stop them. She strikes a tenuous alliance with Zara and Jude to hunt a killer before they are next on his list, even if she can’t give them in return what Zara and Jude want most: a sister and a soul.

©2023 Krystal Sutherland (P)2023 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“A gorgeously twisted modern fairy tale that shimmers with magic and mystery, The Invocations is thrilling, irresistible, and unforgettable.” —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

"This is pitch-dark academia at its best and most captivatingly haunted: by demons and dead languages, occult magic and richly imagined supernatural disaster. If you’ve ever dreamed of leading a magic-touched double life in England’s most history-heavy places, The Invocations is your next obsession." —Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

“Lyrical, grotesque and pulsing with feminist rage, this is sapphic horror at its very finest. Sutherland is a luminous (albeit slightly terrifying) talent.” —Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls

punches above it's weight

really great narrator on this one. interesting story and well developed characters. the book becomes a little belabored at the beginning of the third act, with some baffling choices by the characters at that point. by the end, the plot doesn't hold together that well, but I still enjoyed it. very exciting and bold climax.

5☆ read!

Loved it! Great story and characters. Well worth the read/listen, will definitely be reading again closer to Halloween as it has those spooky vibes. Thank you for my first 5☆ read of 2024!!

Dark, Full Descriptions, Horror Academia, CAOS Fans Rejoice

This novel is not for the faint of heart as far as how dark it is. The subject matter might turn off or downright offend some readers. Fans of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, true crime podcasts, and horror should like this, and bonus if you like a dash of (queer) romance.

It’s very different from Sutherland’s House of Hollows which felt truly like a modern, dark fairytale, which I loved! This feels closer to dark academia/horror or adjacent. At times it can be a bit heavy handed with its symbolism of the witch and depictions of the patriarchy. This makes things a little predictable. I also felt that the beginning of the book took awhile to really start. The first several chapters/hours of the book read like an introduction. There is just something about the perspective that made me feel I was just observing the story rather than in the story/characters until a few hours in the book.

Oddly enough, my absolute favorite part is the descriptions. I mean, talk about explaining things down to the details in a way that would make most readers feel someTHING. Even if that something is uncomfortable or unsavory. I could close my eyes and visualize everything. The narrator does a great job and differentiating between the characters too.

If all caps GORE and HORROR aren’t your thing, you might want to skip this, but I really enjoyed it! You have been warned!

Lovable Characters, interesting story

Love the characters- love the voice actor as well. Great storytelling and details. Really enjoyed :).

Finally a Five Star

When fate draws three young women together, it must be magic. A story that makes you see, hear, taste, and smell by description. That makes for a very good tale.

Fun Fantasy Romp w/ all the Modern trappings

Strong, intelligent, interesting women who have all the odds stacked against them, thrown together by life-threatening circumstances that they cannot escape. Will they band together and save themselves? Or divide and fall one by one? Plus dark magic, murder mystery & contemporary references. What’s not to like?!

Lovable authentically human characters , a brilliant magic system, clever and seamless twists and turns.

Every time I pick up a new book by Krystal Sutherland I become more obsessed with her ability to tell a story. House of Hollow was one of my favourite books of the last few years but this book, I think may be even more captivating. I feel sure that these characters and their story will continue to stay with me just as those before them and that this is a book I will re-visit again and again In the years to come.
This is more than a five start read.

This book was brutal and beautiful

I literally loved every second and the ending was perfect! I highly recommend to all my witchy sapphics and queers!

Intense

This was such a grabbing story. Listened to it in a day and a half!

Great Witch / Demon / Necromancy Story

wow great read it has a little bit of everything love how they come together to help each other with a little help with Demons