Customer Reviews
I received a digital advance copy of A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance via NetGalley. A Spell to Wake the Dead was released on August 26, 2025.A Spell to Wake the Dead follows two teenage girls who accidentally summon a dead body out of the ocean when their moonlit beach spell goes wrong. As they follow the supernatural clues to figure out who the dead woman is and why she came out of the sea, Mazzy finds herself worried more and more about the effect the body is having on Nora. Nora hears a whispering voice that directs her to a second body which sets of a dangerous chain of events. Mazzy has to figure out how to sever the supernatural connection before she and Nora end up as the next bodies found on the beach.This was a very fun witchy young adult horror/mystery with a solid plot and characters. Mazzy is our narrator, dealing with her own family issues, a crush that she wishes was more, and the witch practice that has put herself and her best friend in danger. While we get to know the characters around her less well, they all felt believable, with hints of issues of their own that affect how they interact with Mazzy.The mystery of the bodies drives the plot of the story, and has enough complications and misdirections to keep you from solving the puzzle before Mazzy does. Once the story is resolved, though, it makes sense with the events and clues of the story.Overall, A Spell to Wake the Dead is a solid supernatural tale that will appeal to fans of The Invocations and The Craft.
Two high school girls and their best friend, Nora, Mazzy and Elliot, have been dabbling in witchcraft since their early teens. They’ve found a new spell online and one night under a full moon, they cast the spell for finding things. Right away they find a dead woman’s mutilated body in the surf. Curiosity gets the best of them and soon they’re in over their heads.This is the story of a creepy cult and three young heroes. Well paced this tense and spooky tale of the occult and the young adults seeking to expose their evil deeds will have you flying through the pages. Finely crafted story, you can easily picture the waves lapping the shore, the long winding roads of Cape Cod, and the terror felt by the three friends. Loved how the three were there for each other and the budding romance between two of them. 4.25 stars
This book grabs you right from the start and doesn't let go. The action starts right away when 2 teenagers, Mazzy and Nora, are doing a spell on a secluded beach, under a full moon, to find things that are lost, and find something they do. Unfortunately for them, and their friend Elliot who rounds out the trio, they find a dead body, but one without hands or teeth. They do end up finding some random teeth scattered around, which only adds to the mystery. When Nora begins to feel a very strong connection with the dead woman, and Mazzy has an ominous vision related to her, she and her friends are pulled into a mystery that could have very deadly consequences, especially when the bodies start to pile up.There were so many things I loved about this book. You get some serious atmospheric chills and thrills, great characters, a friendship that goes beyond the average high school friendship, and a possible romance. But the best part, and the thing that draws y0u in immediately, is the unique premise and the sheer spookiness of the story. The setting is described so well you can feel the spray of the ocean on your face and taste the salt on your skin. The whole book is very well written and mesmerizing. I really enjoyed it and will be looking for other works by Nicole Lesperance to read.5/5 stars.*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Nicole Lesperance for the opportunity to read and review A Spell to Wake the Dead
Best friends Mazzy and Nora have been dabbling in witchcraft throughout much of their friendship. But as much as Mazzy enjoys the process, she is not the believer Nora inherently is. When the girls venture to the beach one night to perform a special ritual, they stumble upon a corpse of an unidentified woman who is missing both of her hands as well as her teeth. And as strange occurrences continue following the friends, Mazzy becomes increasingly more convinced of the veracity of the situation. With each new discovery comes the potential for ever greater danger, and the girls must tread carefully in order to avenge the dead and keep themselves alive. This riveting young adult novel is the perfect spooky story to usher in the Halloween season. Though initially lighthearted in nature, the narrative quickly pivots into a sinister and paranormal plot arc that is as engaging as it is frightening. Mazzy is the focus of the story, so the transition she experiences from skeptic to believer is tangible for the reader. And on more than one occasion, readers will find themselves looking over their own shoulders to make sure they are safe. Brief chapters end with intentional intrigue, giving the narrative a rhythm that ebbs and flows like the ocean surrounding the characters’ Cape Cod home. Each chapter tumbles into the next, and the momentum of the story continues to be strong throughout the novel. One part spooky ghost story, one part small town mystery, and one part young adult relationship exploration blend together to create a captivating tale that is perfect for fans of the macabre and paranormal. This is a high quality addition to library collections for mature young adult readers.
A Spell to Wake the Dead is a great, spooky, witchy story. Despite the fact that this a YA book, I was pretty fearful in some places. I’m not a big horror fan, but I found that I really enjoyed this book despite some of the scary scenes.The atmosphere of the book was nice and creepy, the magic spells performed by the two main characters well crafted, and the story itself very engaging and entertaining. I was really hoping there wouldn’t be a neatly tied up ending where the FMC was just imaging things, and I was not disappointed. Overall, this book delivers. Great read!
