Nesbit is pleased to be accepted by a group of kids at his new high school. They are different from anyone he’s known and even into witchery. In fact, when they invite him to become one of their coven, he’s surprised how well he fits in. There’s (Andrea) Drea, and Brandy – a couple and completely open with it. There’s Dove and her brother Bastion. They are polar opposites – Dove is a goth and likes to be bad, and Bastion is all round nice guy and high achiever. Bastion is also who Nesbit falls for.

They have been a couple for a while when the unthinkable happens and Bastion’s body is found in a local graveyard. Not only are his face, fingers and other bits missing, it’s in the same area where something terrible has happened before. The person who found Bastion is Bastion’s nemesis – at least in his own mind.

Cameron has always seen Bastion as a rival, with all that he wanted. Popularity, good looks and the quarterback spot on the school football team. Nesbit and his friends are in shock and wonder whether Cameron could have anything to do with Bastion’s death? They begin to look into their friend’s murder, Nesbit now like a robot in his grief. Not only do the police not investigate, it seems Bastion’s body and more has vanished.

Completely mystified with what’s going on, they dig further into Bastion’s disappearance, discovering a past murder and links between it all. Bastion had more power within their coven that he was letting on. Was he solely responsible for strange events in their lives?

The more they uncover, the more they realise that Bastion’s strange ticks of not saying his own name, and starting every sentence with N, were not just psychological, but part of something else in control.

This entity is ancient, toying with the town’s lives at will, and Nesbit’s coven is in its way.

I love a good horror novel and Now, Conjurers is GOOD! Really good.

I enjoyed getting to know Nesbit, and his boyfriend’s nemesis, Cameron. I loved the character called Dove who was kickass, and would do anything to get what she needed to solve her brother’s murder. The dynamics between the coven / group of friends was mouthy and loyal and often funny as they gave as good as they got. The fact that they all have flaws made them even easier to like and understand.

Their grief and frustration over the loss of their friend drives their need to know more about why or who murdered him, taking them places even these teen witches can hardly comprehend.

The conclusion is grabbed-by-the-throat gripping, and reminded me of Stephen King’s IT. Although, these kids are older, in love, dealing with new grief, past murders and running for their lives.

An excellent read and talking about it in the bookstore I work in, has people keen to preorder here in NZ already.

(Course language and sexual content makes it more appropriate for older teens)

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for the ARC of this novel

Author – Freddie Kölsch

Age – 16+

(2024, Harper Collins, Action, Betrayal, Courage, Friendship, Grief, Horror, Love, Magic, Murder, Mystery, Revenge, High School, Secret, Funeral, Demon, Entity, Disappearance, Witches, Coven, LGBTQ+, Gay, Bisexual, Father Son relationship, 1990’s, Y2K, Countdown)