I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Stella Bohdan is never alone—never—and yet she is the loneliest person she knows, dead or alive. A gifted psychic who can hear the voices of spirits, all Stella wants is to con enough people to survive on the brutal New York City streets and find a way to deal with the tragic death of her sister.

Performing seances in parlor rooms and tarot readings by candlelight, Stella is barely holding on. Until she meets Pax, a mysterious young man who offers Stella an invitation and a promise: Join a secret group of talented mystics who explore the darker realms of spiritualism, and together they will get revenge on her sister’s killer.

But how can Stella admit she is the reason her sister is dead?

In the hope of righting past wrongs, Stella joins Pax and his team of mystics. It’s soon clear there is more behind their partnership than just vengeance.

They must tread carefully though, because in the world of spiritualism, not everything is what it seems—especially when communing with the unknown.

Short and Sweet Review

The Spiritualists follows Stella, a teenage psychic living in early 1900s New York who survives by performing séances and tarot readings while struggling with the guilt and grief surrounding her sister’s death. When a mysterious boy named Pax invites her to join a secret group of mystics determined to uncover the truth behind her sister’s murder, Stella is drawn into a dangerous world of spirits, revenge, and hidden secrets.

The atmosphere was easily my favorite part of this book. The spiritualist movement, ghostly encounters, séances, and historical New York setting created a moody and immersive backdrop that felt unique. I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding Stella’s sister’s death and found myself wanting to know how everything would come together. Pax was an intriguing character, and I liked the found-family dynamic that developed among the group of mystics.
That said, the pacing was slower than I expected. While the premise promised a lot of mystery, danger, and supernatural intrigue, there were several stretches where the story felt like it was taking a long time to get where it was going. I also struggled to fully connect with Stella at times because she often jumped to conclusions and pushed people away, which occasionally became frustrating. I would have loved more character development and deeper exploration of the magical elements as well.

Overall, The Spiritualists had a fascinating concept, a strong atmosphere, and some compelling characters, but the slower pacing and lack of depth in certain areas kept me from loving it as much as I hoped. Still, if you enjoy historical fantasy mixed with ghosts, mysteries, and spiritualism, this may be worth picking up.