A review by natashaleighton_
Now, Conjurers by Freddie Kölsch

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Strange, unusual and so very very addictive! The Craft meets Stephen King’s IT in this occult-based, YA Horror debut that I found both fascinating and creepy in equal measure. 

Bursting with 90s nostalgia and a spine-chilling coming of age premise, we follow a group of queer, witchy teens who reconvene their secret coven in the hopes of solving the murder of their leader (and protagonist Nesbit’s boyfriend), Bastion. 

However, in their search for answers they inadvertently uncover their small town’s dark, bloody history and the sinister, supernatural figure at the centre of it all. To avenge Bastion they must now confront the red gloved entity and find a way to destroy it for good, or risk the lives of everyone (and everything) they hold most dear…

Exploring grief, identity, toxic relationships and the importance of friendship —via its ensemble cast of compelling yet flawed characters. Freddie Kölsch has crafted an angsty, poignant and vividly descriptive tale that, though dark and deliciously frightful in tone, still manages to evoke a sense of hope that propelled the narrative (and had me on the edge of my seat rooting for North Coven) until the very end.

I loved the Kölsch’s writing style which was effortlessly pacy and reminded me very strongly of a few of my fave childhood shows: Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of The Dark and Black Hole High (all of which had a chokehold on me in the late 90s/early 00s.) As did The Neverending Story which gets quite a few mentions throughout the book. 

But it’s the depth and nuance explored in our complex young characters (Nesbit, Dove, Drea, Brandy, Bastion and Cameron); as well as the found family-esque bonds and revelations surrounding Bastion’s idiosyncrasies (and rather tragic backstory) that really made this a worthwhile read. 

The coming of age elements are blended into the detailed, small town setting really well. And I was impressed with how relatable the personal struggles we explore were—pairing perfectly with the simmering (sinister) current that weaves through the entire narrative. 

Honestly, the only thing I found disappointing was the single POV, as I had hoped to explore Bastion’s life a little more. Though I will say, the way in which Kölsch drip feeds us info about Bastion and the ancient Mr. Nous was exceptionally intriguing and never slowed the paced or felt too info dumpy. An impressive feat for a story that revolves around mystery and uncovering secrets. 

I don’t want to accidentally spoil any of the plot but I will say the ending and the rollercoaster of emotions it had me on was phenomenal! I can totally see this becoming a cult classic in its own right, but if you love your stories full of shocking twists, witchy goodness or peak “We are the weirdos” energy then you should definitely consider checking this out! 

Also, thank you to Electric Monkey for the proof and PR goodies. 
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