Now, Conjurers by Freddie Kölsch Review

Title: Now, Conjurers

Author: Freddie Kölsch

Genre: YA Horror

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Pages: 448

Release Date: 6 June 2024

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Hello fellow booklovers! Today I’m sharing my review for Now, Conjurers by Freddie Kölsch. A The Craft meets Stephen King’s IT-style, occult-based YA Horror that I found both fascinating and creepy in equal measure.

Synopsis

A heart-breaking, LGBTQ dark romance for young adults, with star-crossed lovers – perfect for fans of V.E.Schwab and 90s cult-classic The Craft.

November 1999, North Dana, Massachusetts. The body of Bastion Attia – high school quarterback, secret witch, and Nesbit Nuñez’s even-more-secret boyfriend – is discovered at the edge of Stepwood Cemetery. As Nesbit and his coven of queer misfits investigate Bastion’s death they discover local folktales of Mr. Nous, a terrifying wish-granting creature, one whose gifts come at a terrible price.The coven must do battle against an age-old evil before it strikes again …

Review

Bursting with 90s nostalgia and a spine-chilling coming of age premise Freddie Kölsch has crafted an angsty, poignant, queer 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) 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!

Exploring grief, identity, toxic relationships and the importance of friendship—I can totally see this becoming a cult classic in its own right.

So, 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.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

About The Author 

Freddie Kölsch is a connoisseur and crafter of frightful fiction (with a dash of hope) for teens and former teens.

She lives in Salem, New England with her high school sweetheart-turned-wife, a handful of cats, a houseful of art, and a mind's eye full of ghosts.

Now, Conjurers is her first novel.

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