Tag: Rowan Beddows

Posted on by

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland: Review

The Invocations

The Invocations is an enthralling book about witches and witch hunters in the modern world. Sutherland intertwines the lives of three girls as they embark on a mission to find a serial killer of witches. Each girl is well-developed with their flaws, voice, and unique goal; Zara wants to raise the dead, Jude wants to cure herself of a debilitating curse, and Emer wants to help desperate women, using her gift as a curse writer. Not only does Sutherland weave a tale of mystery into a paranormal thriller, but she also does not shy away from topical issues about women living in a patriarchal society.

The characters are easy to feel empathy for, making the tone of the book quite tense as the stakes grow and grow. The pacing is excellent and decorated with jaw-dropping plot twists to keep you on your toes. The way emotions are described makes it easy for the reader to set themselves right in the action. The only issue is that Zara quickly becomes a third wheel as a romance arises between Emer and Jude. This is redeemed by Zara’s wit and determination in her goals as well as the beautiful love story developing amongst demons, murderers, and hunters (oh my!). How does Sutherland fit it all in?

For anyone who is a fan of witchcraft and the occult, this book is for you. Believe me when I say that once you pick up The Invocations, you won’t be able to put it back down.

Rowan Beddows, 18

The Invocations
Krystal Sutherland
Hot Key Books, January 2024
Paperback, €10.99
ISBN 9781471410932

Posted on by

Review: The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

The Falling in Love Montage
Ciara Smyth
Andersen Press, June 2020
Paperback, £7.99

Saoirse has no desire to get into another relationship but when she meets super-cute, rom-com lover Ruby, she decides to break her number one rule: no relationships. They agree to have a summer of fun together, following all the clichés of the falling in love montages in Ruby’s favourite films. However, they both forget that at the end of every montage, the characters fall in love.

Ciara Smyth cleverly includes every ingredient of your classic rom-com while incorporating Saoirse’s family issues. Saoirse’s mother lives in a care home with dementia and, at times, it was hard to read about the reality of her illness and how it affected Saoirse. Saoirse and her father also have an interesting dynamic owing to his new relationship and the impact of her mother’s illness.

In parts, the book is serious but you’ll find yourself grinning at Saoirse’s sass and the utter adorableness of Ruby and Saoirse’s relationship. The characters were quirky in their own way but all had flaws to make them seem even more human. Saoirse was the perfect narrator with her witty and sarcastic tone, making her sound like a real teenager. She was easily likable and relatable, even when she made mistakes. It was hard not to love the heartwarming Ruby, who was such an optimistic character and wasn’t afraid to call Saoirse out. Overall, great representation, writing and characters. The book left me smiling bitter-sweetly at the end and wishing for more.

Rowan Beddows, 16