The Lies We Conjure

Starred review from June 24, 2024
While working at Ren Fest in a small Colorado town, sisters Ruby and Wren Jourdain—17 and 16, respectively—
are approached by a mysterious elderly woman. She offers them a cash reward to impersonate her grandchildren, who live abroad, at a private dinner hosted by Ursula Hegemony in the Hegemony Manor. Eager to peek into the beautiful gothic venue, the sisters agree, and don expensive evening wear and rabbit-foot bracelets to become Lavinia and Kaysa Blackgate. But when the host is murdered, Ruby and Wren discover that this was no ordinary gathering of reclusive
millionaires: the Hegemonies are leaders of a secret witch society, and Ursula’s untimely demise has magically trapped all the guests in the estate until her killer is found. The siblings struggle to navigate the ensuing power struggle while maintaining their false identities, a task made more challenging by the scrutiny of distractingly attractive heirs Auden and Evander Hegemony. Ruby and Auden’s alternating POVs drive this propulsive drama, giving tantalizing insight into contrasting pieces of the puzzle and the complicated web of relationships between the devious and compellingly wrought cast. Most characters read as white; Evander is described as having “warm brown skin.” Ages 13–up.

August 1, 2024
Thirteen guests. Two imposters. Two directives. Three days. One murder. When a mysterious woman approaches high schoolers Ruby and Wren while they're working at Ye Olde Falafel Shoppe at the local Renaissance festival, her offer seems too good to be true. Wannabe starlet Wren is thrilled by the intrigue, but sober Ruby is cautious. Their task seems simple: impersonate the woman's absent granddaughters at a dinner party at the infamous Hegemony Manor in exchange for $2,000 each. But events quickly spiral out of control when the Hegemony family matriarch collapses and the girls are thrown into a game that involves fighting for their lives in a world where nothing is as it seems and secrets and lies abound. This novel offers a compelling take on the classic locked-room mystery. The plot unfolds at a measured pace, and well-developed clues and red herrings keep readers guessing until the very end. Moments of levity and tenderness balance out scenes of high emotional tensions and darkness, and Henning's command of figurative and situationally informal language is masterful. Although the characters feel a bit flat at times--their innermost thoughts and motivations occasionally obscured by the narrative--and the romances sometimes feel like an afterthought, it's easy to become invested in their struggles as they come together to unravel the web of truths and lies. Ruby and Wren are cued white; there's some racial diversity in the supporting cast. A well-crafted, fantastical thriller.(Supernatural thriller. 14-18)

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September 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-Twins Ruby and Wren are working at the Grand County Renaissance Festival when they are hired by a woman to impersonate her granddaughters at a dinner party at the infamous Hegemony Manor. The twins soon learn that this event involves descendants of the Four Lines of Elemental Witches who have controlled vital magical relics in North America for four centuries. The narrative alternates between Ruby and Auden, the grandson of Ursula Hegemony-the event's hostess, who is murdered. A curse allows no one to leave, and amid the suspense and danger, a romance blossoms between Ruby and Auden. This relationship adds an emotional layer to the plot, making the characters' struggles and triumphs more poignant. The adults in the story make questionable decisions that often endanger their young relatives, adding a layer of realism and unpredictability to the plot. Hegemony Manor itself plays a crucial role, with the isolated Gothic mansion functioning like an elaborate and deadly escape room. The constant danger and rising death toll create a gripping atmosphere, making it increasingly difficult for Ruby and Wren to maintain their charade. However, the frequent need to explain the magical elements and family histories to the clueless twins sometimes feels like spoon-feeding, which can pull readers out of the story. The themes of deception, power struggles, family legacy, and survival are reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, which is referenced in the narrative. VERDICT Despite some moments of heavy exposition, this blend of magical elements, family drama, and murder mystery wraps up neatly, providing a satisfying standalone read.-Lynne Stover

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 Seventeen-year-old Ruby and her sister Wren are slinging falafel and ye olde English accents at Ren Fest when an elderly woman, Marsyas Blackgate, offers them an unusual opportunity: $2,000 each to pose as her granddaughters for a dinner party at Hegemony Manor, the gorgeous mansion on the hill. Cautious Ruby worries the offer is too good to be true, but impulsive Wren is delighted to stretch her improv chops. At the party, Ruby's suspicions prove correct when the host, Ursula Hegemony, is murdered and Marsyas disappears. The event is actually a gathering of four powerful witch families. Now everyone is trapped until two conditions are met: Ursula's killer is found and the four master relics (hidden on the grounds) are held by one family. Narrated in alternating chapters by Ruby and Auden Hegemony, one of the heirs, this magical murder-mystery has plenty of dramatic twists as the families jockey for position and reveal hidden motives, while Ruby and Wren navigate their cover identities without the magic everyone thinks they possess. Pure entertainment.

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