Why we’re excited
Collette Marchand left New Orleans and her family's magic ten years ago for Boston. When her mother, the feared conjure matriarch Lady Red, dies for good, Collette returns to bury her and finds that the old woman's power rested on a card stolen out of the Deck of Life. Now that card is Collette's, and keeping it means turning to Téo Baptiste, the man she once loved.
This is Clayton's first novel for adults and opens The Immortal Wards series. She made her name with The Belles and co-wrote Tiny Pretty Things, later a Netflix series. It suits fans of second-chance romance with Southern Gothic magic.
On our most-anticipated list since 29 October 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about Conjure the Bones
We haven’t reviewed Dhonielle Clayton before, so this would be our first look at their work.
At 368 pages it is about the usual length for a fantasy release this month.
From the publisher
New York Times
and #1 indie bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton's adult debut novel, a romantic contemporary fantasy novel set in New Orleans, about a woman whose magical inheritance is threatened when she is pulled back into a forbidden love.
Collette Marchand never wanted to return home to the Immortal Wards of New Orleans, let alone inherit her mother’s blood-soaked business. Collette left magic and a great love behind a decade ago, hiding herself away in Boston. But now, her mother, Lady Red, the living Conjure Saint and matriarch of the most notorious Conjure House, has died for the final time.
Back in New Orleans, Téo Baptiste is stuck. He’s working at the same hospital where, ten years ago, he lost everything – his sobriety and the love of his life, Collette. Nights at the busiest ER in the city help him bury his feelings and ignore his magical destiny to take over the undead, Shadow Immortal Ward. But Lady Red’s death might be his chance to make things right with Collette again, and build a new future for himself.
When Collette is summoned back home to bury her mother, she uncovers Lady Red’s greatest the true source of her power is a stolen card from the Deck of Life. A card that, along with the family business, passes to Collette. Determined to rewrite the past, Collete needs help from the man who shattered her heart, Téo. Will Collette become the next Lady Red and rule over all the Immortal Wards of New Orleans and beyond? Or is her true destiny a second chance at love?
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read Conjure the Bones yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.
