Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by pdxpagemaster
Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this new edition, soon to be published by TOR, in exchange for my honest review.
—
When I first read the indie version of this book my only complaint was that I felt the author had been a bit too precious with some of the prose, I had otherwise loved every bit of this book.
This new edition has really beautifully simplified the still incredibly lush and poetic prose so effectively - capturing emotion without distracting the reader from the subtle relationships and very real danger happening around the main characters.
Modern Divination follows two academic rivals, each secretly burdened with magic in a world unaware of the presence of witches. After a horrifying event at their university, the two rivals flee to the English countryside where they hope to uncover what, or who, is hunting them.
I think of this book as a romantic fantasy, where the slow burning rivals-to-lovers and forces proximity tropes typically found in romance novels are present here without the rest of the plot depending on the romance (though the yearning is DELICIOUS).
Rory and Teddy are magnificently moody and delicate characters who each have internalized so much because of their academic obsessions - but also who become fierce to protect their found families.
This book is poetic, the prose creates an atmosphere near tangible for the reader. The character driven narratives make you feel like you are really getting to know Teddy and Rory, especially, and then you’re suddenly gripped by the throat as the plot sweeps you away.
I am so impressed with this debut and grateful to revisit Modern Divination under this new edit - it is elevated, has remarkable rhythm, well paced, with a really gut twisting slow burn of a romance which really pays off.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed academic fantasy books in the past that also really hopes the characters will kiss a little.
—
When I first read the indie version of this book my only complaint was that I felt the author had been a bit too precious with some of the prose, I had otherwise loved every bit of this book.
This new edition has really beautifully simplified the still incredibly lush and poetic prose so effectively - capturing emotion without distracting the reader from the subtle relationships and very real danger happening around the main characters.
Modern Divination follows two academic rivals, each secretly burdened with magic in a world unaware of the presence of witches. After a horrifying event at their university, the two rivals flee to the English countryside where they hope to uncover what, or who, is hunting them.
I think of this book as a romantic fantasy, where the slow burning rivals-to-lovers and forces proximity tropes typically found in romance novels are present here without the rest of the plot depending on the romance (though the yearning is DELICIOUS).
Rory and Teddy are magnificently moody and delicate characters who each have internalized so much because of their academic obsessions - but also who become fierce to protect their found families.
This book is poetic, the prose creates an atmosphere near tangible for the reader. The character driven narratives make you feel like you are really getting to know Teddy and Rory, especially, and then you’re suddenly gripped by the throat as the plot sweeps you away.
I am so impressed with this debut and grateful to revisit Modern Divination under this new edit - it is elevated, has remarkable rhythm, well paced, with a really gut twisting slow burn of a romance which really pays off.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed academic fantasy books in the past that also really hopes the characters will kiss a little.