This was not what I expected, I went into this book having only read the synopsis. It took a little bit for me to get into the book and I think a lot of that had to do with the writing style.
Things were overly written and the point of the narration would get lost. I found myself wondering what the plot of the book was even supposed be. The relationship between the two main characters did not feel like it developed naturally, it just seemed very random that Teddy wanted to help her. I dia really like the atmosphere of the book and the secret society of witches. I am left with a lot of questions. Overall the pacing was good and the book was not too long, I enjoyed the dialogue between the two characters, I just wish there weren't so many circular conversations and that the narrative would just get to the point.

Round up to 3.5✨

This book was dark, magical, and achingly romantic. The prose was breathtakingly lyrical, weaving together a dark, whimsical atmosphere that felt like I had stepped inside the story. If you love the moody, gothic vibes of Ninth House or A Study in Drowning- but make it witchy- this book needs to be on your radar.

And the romance? My favorite part🤌🏻obviously. 🤌🏻Rivals to reluctant allies to lovers, with so much banter and tension you could cut it with a knife.These characters were so down bad for each other that I was practically screaming at them to just kiss already. Teddy is exactly the kind of book boyfriend I fall for every time 🤌🏻protective, tortured, and yearning🤌🏻. His devotion is the kind that lingers, the kind that burns, and I ate up every second of it. I’ve seen people say he gives Howl vibes, and I SEE IT, he’s absolutely unforgettable.

This is a very character driven story, which means the plot is slow paced and relatively low stakes. To be honest, the plot itself didn’t fully hold my attention and I found myself confused at some of the plot holes, and there were a few gaps that left me scratching my head. But good gracious, this author can write. The prose? Gorgeous. Some of the most lyrical, poetic writing I’ve ever read-there were so many moments where I just sat there, mouth open, in complete awe of how beautifully she weaves words together.

This book is for the annotation lovers, the ones who crave soul deep books that seep into your bones and scorch you with slow burn tension. Do yourself the biggest favor- read this when it’s dark outside, curled under a blanket, with a hot drink in hand. That’s exactly how it was meant to be experienced.

Modern Divination is driven by characters. While you'll hear this on dark academia lists, while the vibe and the aesthetics might match, the actual core of the subgenre isn't really here. Which isn't a bad thing! If you like country homes, sweaters, and armchairs, that's more where this is. Based on the synopsis, you might be expecting this high paced action about what is hunting them. But stop there. It's important you re-evaluate because what Modern Divination really is, is a story about characters, found family, and love. It's about being afraid of what it would be like to let someone in.

Modern Divination is the first installment in author Isabel Agajanian's Spells of Life and Death duology. It is also the authors debut. Key Characters: Aurelia Schwartz, and Theodore Ingram. This story actually begins with a witch on the hunt. She wants to become the rising sun for a new generation of witches, and if that means killing witches, and taking their powers, so be it. Meanwhile, Aurelia, who is allegedly a green witch who can make plants grow, or die, is studying at Cambridge's King's College where she seems to have an antagonist relationship with one Theodore Ingram.

She's a PHD candidate from the US in occult symbolism while also keeping the fact that she's a witch from being discovered by anyone, let alone her nemesis who has treated her badly for years, as well as her confused roommate named Ryan. However, when a friend of Aurelia and Teddy is murdered, Teddy approaches Aurelia of getting away from town for awhile until they can uncover who was responsible. Call it a tentative alliance if you must. Aurelia’s vehement opposition to Ingram seemed so absolute. They lived to be at each other's throats with extended claws and venomous words, him epitomizing everything she hated yet coveted.

There are many things that bothered me about this story, mostly personal, but the main reason for the rating is the distrust and anger that Aurelia seems send towards Teddy, even after he apologizes and offers an olive branch to meet Gemma Eckley and her perky daughter Louisa. Teddy is soon calling her Rory, and the next thing you know, the ice is broken, and the romance seems to be hitting it off. But then Gemma disappears, Rory is attacked by a witch who tells Rory that she is wrong about her magic, that she needs it, and she also needs Teddy's.

To top it off, Teddy seems to actually hate his own parents with a passion, even after he is badly hurt. Most egregious of all was the villain Leona Sum. To be perfectly honest, she's cartoonish in nature. Her motivations are flimsy and almost comically evil, and they don't emerge until the climax, in a dramatic villain monologue. The only character I didn't hate, was Louisa. Also, the ending leaves room for something, and I am not sure I am willing to finish reading this series to find out what happens next.

Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian is a spellbinding fusion of dark academia, fantasy, and romance that captivates from the very first page. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Cambridge University, the story follows Aurelia Schwartz, a 23-year-old witch striving to balance her secret magical life with her human existence. As her green magic begins to wane and a malevolent force threatens witches by stealing their powers, Aurelia reluctantly teams up with her enigmatic and arrogant classmate, Theodore Ingram. Their partnership evolves from rivalry to a slow-burning romance, adding depth to the narrative. Agajanian's prose is rich and immersive, painting vivid scenes that linger in the reader's mind. The novel's intricate plot, combined with its exploration of identity, secrecy, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones, makes it a compelling read. Modern Divination is a must-read for fans of atmospheric fantasy and nuanced character development.

This one is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The writing took me a little while to get into, because it's quite detailed in the language it uses, but once I did I found that I really enjoyed it - the author is clearly very intelligent and has a unique style, which I appreciate! I also like the setting and the characters and the general story, all good stuff. The character development is super insightful and I love how the protagonist becomes more self aware and learns about herself as the book goes on. I also wish I had a Ryan in my life - they really are the definition of love no matter what!!

The settings are great, I could really immerse myself in picturing Cambridge and London and the small village of Townsend. I also adored the bookshop, super fun magic!

On the flip side, I found a lot of the book quite.. dour? I know that is the point of the story, but I think I got a bit tired of the waiting for something to happen. The story gets a bit bogged down in the emotions of the characters and what they're going through mentally, which I guess makes it quite realistic, but for a book I think it needed slightly more action to move the story along. Between about 50% to 80% is where I'm talking about. We spend a lot of time thinking and not much doing. I do believe this can be good, but I think there needs to be a better balance of the internal monologues vs the action of the story. The antagonist only appears ones at the beginning and once at the very end, and for me I felt like I almost forgot about them a little bit. I would have loved a few extra chapters thrown in there from the antagonists perspective, their ranting and raving, or the journey they're taking. Overall I'm giving this 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor/Pan Mac for a free review copy!

I'm gonna be honest when I read Modern Divination, I was completely conflicted. I LOVED the rivals to something more but not yet quite lovers in this book, but I wanted more magic, specifically Aurelia's green magic and even though I adored Teddy I often found Aurelia herself quite insufferable.
On reflection, I can't stop thinking about this book and these characters, and although I'm not often a huge fan of slow, complex character studies, I think it works here in a dark academia setting.

The writing style is beautiful, and there's glimpses of brilliance, but the whole book felt overly long to me. It could have been 100 pages shorter easily not a lot happens however it's also quite clever because even though I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this book it's quite likely I will read the second book when it's released. I feel weirdly compelled to continue with the series. I just hope there's more witchy stuff in the next book, but I'm pretty basic, I guess, and just want magic.

I would say if you're really into Dark Academia, then I'd recommend this one.

"I like it when you're mean. I think that's when I like you best."

Tip-toeing between 3 and 4 stars!

The writing is lovely. The writing did really well in creating a foreboding atmosphere and environment, it managed to create such vivid imagery for the readers and it worked really well in pulling the readers in. The imagery for the magic and how the magic was described, especially Aurelia's, I loved it!

The story was definitely a character driven one. I did enjoy that we got to see different elements to the characters, it made the characters feel more fleshed out and complete. I loved that with the female lead we were able to see more complex emotions and characterisations, the pull between a strong and determined female character and allowing the moments of vulnerability.

I definitely enjoyed the push and pull between the main female and male lead, it was really fun to see them unravel themselves to each other and how that developed the relationship. The progress of the relationship between them also flowed quite well! I always love a good rivals to lovers story and this aspect is definitely what initially brought me in.

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan for sending me a finished copy, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Book Review

What to Love:

-Academic rivals to reluctant allies
-Found family in an English rural countryside
-Slow-burn romance with BUCKETS of tension & witty banter
-The haunted, mysterious love interest™
-Emotionally guarded protagonist learning to trust
-Lush, lyrical prose

Teddy Ingram. That’s it. That is the review. Just kidding – but if you have read this book and loved it as much as I did, you will know exactly what I mean when I profess that I am unwell because the broody, devastatingly poetic love interest in the form of Teddy Ingram has consumed my mind, body and soul.

Modern Divination is a book that completely consumed me. It’s a beautifully tangled, character-driven story with flawed, deeply human protagonists who make mistakes, hold grudges, and build walls so high you wonder if even Rapunzel's hair would be long enough to climb them. And yet, you get them. You see yourself in their messiness, in their fears, in the way they reach for something more even when they don’t believe they deserve it.

I must say, Aurelia is such a fantastic protagonist whom I adored! She is stubborn, sharp, and just the right amount of emotionally oblivious. Watching her navigate a world where the rules are crumbling beneath her feet, battling with the hopes and fears of twenty-something year olds, was both heartbreaking and resonant. And then there’s Teddy. What do I even say about Teddy? He is pure Howl-coded disaster in the best way; broody, mysterious, a whole lot of tragic, and so effortlessly magnetic. Their dynamic? Perfection. The banter, the tension, the slow unravelling of their defences... all of it was so achingly well done.

And the romance? It’s the kind that lingers in your chest long after you’ve experienced it; the kind of love that is rivalry-fuelled, lyrical, and laced with just the right amount of angst and stubbornness and wit. They don’t just fall for each other; they challenge each other, push each other, see each other in ways no one else does. Every glance, every argument, every stolen moment feels earned, and by the end, you’re just as wrecked as they are.

Who needs to read this book, you ask, dearest readers? Well, certainly those who fell in love with Howl’s Moving Castle and never recovered (because the MMC is VERY howl-coded in my opinion), the romantics who say 'love', those who love it when MMCs call their lovers 'darling', and lastly, this is for the readers who just want to curl up with something achingly beautiful on a cold night, dreaming of long-lost love stories whispered in the mists.

Ok but, this was beautiful?! Like, the writing alone is lyrical and poetic and in such an effortless-not-in-your-face way. The writing itself took this book from a 3.75 to a 4.5 star read for me!

A beautiful debut that THANKFULLY is the first book in a duology because, one, I have unanswered questions that I need answers to - specifically with regard to Rory and Teddy 🥹. And two, I need more of these dark yet cosy witchy vibes in my life - and of course the prose, give me more of these effortlessly atmospheric, transport you to , prose, please and thank you!

Our FMC, Aurelia, FMC - is not only a university student in Cambridge, UK, but a witch that has been hiding her abilities her entire life. Until one day another, (previously unbeknownst to her), witch and friend of Aurelia’s is publicly murdered, and now Aurelia is forced to question whether she’s been as hidden as she thought, to confront the fact that she is not the only witch hiding in Cambridge and whether the murderer will be coming for her next. Enter her brooding rival, Theodore Ingram, who has a way to keep Aurelia safe, but will means being forced into very close proximity to each other…

A dark academia, witchy, cosy, haunting fantasy romance set in Cambridge, England. Academic rivals to lovers that is an actual slow burn, as in the dislike to allies, to friends, to lovers feels like it plays out over a realistic timeline - building angst and tension as well as tenderness and genuine fondness that transforms into a heart-achingly poetic romance . This is definitely more character driven, and is slow going for the first half of the book I would say. But it definitely came into its own and found its pace after the halfway mark. There’s murder, mystery, complex and slightly broken characters, difficult family dynamics, a pining and yearning kind be of love and even a little bit of spice sprinkled on top.

The perfect read for fans of the cosy and moody, who love to annotate beautiful prose and enjoy a grumpy MMC and a quietly confident FMC and all of the witchy magic vibes.

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book 🖤

Aurelia has always had to hide the Witch part of herself from her human life, and this has led to a bit of a disconnect

However, when it appears someone is hunting witches she must team up with her insufferable classmate, Theodore Ingram, to try and find out what is going on

She starts to grow closer to Teddy and the killer starts to draw in. What can they do to protect everything they both care about, which also maybe now includes each other....

I really enjoyed this. I like Dark Academia in general but especially when it is interwoven with elements of the supernatural - like Witchcraft

Thank you to PanMacmillian/Tor and Netgalley for the review copy! Out now!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Academic rivals and sworn enemies, Aurelia and Teddy are forced into close proximity when they need to hide from a witch hunter who is after their power. They escape to a cottage near a mysterious town while they try to learn more about the threat to their magic and the people they care about.

This book was such a joy to read and more character driven than I expected which was a great surprise. The writing is wonderful and full of detailed description which I loved. The house and it's isolation and the nearby town with an enchanted bookshop were deliciously cosy and atmospheric. The characters were fabulous - messy and flawed but perfect - and I loved how each of them grew throughout the story. What absolutely stole the show, however, was the relationship between Aurelia and Teddy - their initial rivalry and shared animosity, how their perception of each other changed as they opened up, the development of tentative feelings, every subsequent moment of yearning and desire - it was slow burn done to perfection with an ending that hits hard. My heart was breaking! The characters, the cosy vibes and the romance - they've been lingering in my mind since I read this book in December. I've come back to it again and again and I've got the audiobook lined up this week as just I can't let go!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

This was an atmospheric and slow-paced read. I found the writing style to be very flowery and pretty, although at times, perhaps it was a little too flowery. The magic system wasn't explained much; maybe I just have a preference for hard magic systems, but I would have liked a little more information about how the spellcasting worked.

It's not very plot-heavy, more character-focused, which is nice, as I enjoyed getting to know the characters. However, I wished there was a little more plot; the characters don't really do much in this book. (Until the climax. Then they are doing lots of stuff.)

I saw a lot of reviews calling Ingram "Howl-coded". WRONG. He is nothing like my boy Howl Pendragon!!! Howl would neverrr be mean to his love interest, not even as a joke. And unlike Howl, Ingram has ZERO loser swag. (Aurelia has loser swag though.) He is kind of closed off and mysterious, but he is not even a walking disaster is that too much to ask for! It's not a bad thing that Ingram is not like Howl, I just need to make it clear, in case people get misled by all you LIARS. /j

Also I was not into the enemies-to-lovers bit. I liked the vibes, I liked how slow the slow burn was slow burning. The main issue for me, was the reason for being enemies. Minor spoilers, but Ingram thought they were being academic rivals as a JOKE, he was just being a jerk as part of the bit, which he thought they were both in on, while Aurelia thought that Ingram legit HATED her. I wish the reason for their rivalry was fleshed out more, because this ain't it. Ignoring that, the way their relationship developed over the course of the story was sooo good, I really liked when Aurelia gradually starts calling Ingram Teddy, ahhh so cutee!!🥰

I also loved how Ingram shows his softer side in this relationship with Louisa, it's very sweet, giving big brother energy. Ryan is also a goated housemate to Aurelia frfr🔥🔥💯

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves atmospheric writing and in-depth character profiles.

It's a very character-driven book with significant character development, and I loved that we have a diverse case. While reading this book, we can see one of the substantial points of focus is the character flaws in part of the book. It felt so long, and I struggled to read. I felt there could have been more of a plot. I still don't understand that magic system in this world. It is left unexplained for the most part. I am curious to see where the story will go. It feels more like a cosy fantasy with a hint of romance with the tropes of forced proximity whilst following Auerila, whos curated a perfect human life alongside her serious magical life.

#ModernDivination #BookReview #CozyFantasy #CharacterDriven #DiverseCharacters #FantasyBooks #Romance #ForcedProximity #MagicSystem #BookRecommendations #ReadingStruggles #CharacterFlaws #LiteraryCritique
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The premise of this book immediately caught my eye as it was described as The Atlas Six meets A Discovery of Witches, one of my all time favourite series. While I can see where the similarities lie, I found this book to be far too slow paced as the plot centred around the academic-rivals-to-lovers trope which overshadowed the otherwise intriguing world and setting. The hatred between the two main characters had weak foundations and seemed comically one-sided which made Aurelia come off as whiny and annoying. Overall, The academic rivals-to-lovers trope was used way too heavy handedly for my tastes.

Thank you Pan Macmillan, Isa Agajanian and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of it’s release.

I felt like the book was overwritten : sentences were too long. It was also slow and I was bored at times.
I didn't get the dark academia vibes I was expecting. And I didn't like the male character.

I was intrigued by the description of this book however after reading I felt the magical element of the story was very much in the background in relation to the relationship and emotions of the two main protagonists.
The story introduces us to Aurelia Schwartz, an American who is studying for her Masters in Medieval history at Cambridge University. Aurelia or Rory has another side to her which she keeps hidden from those around her, including her flatmate Ryan, as she is a green witch who is currently struggling with the fading of her powers. The other main character is Theodore Ingram who is Rory's main competitor and arch rival in the academic circles they run in. Theodore (Teddy) is part of the British elite class, has money, poise and all the things that Aureila has not, but would wish to have. There is a definite rivals to lovers vibe but as the story progresses the reader finds that the relationship dynamic is not quite as simple as that.
At an academic dinner, a close friend and fellow student is murdered and leads to Aurelia fleeing with Teddy to a remote village where they will be safe from a power whose aim is to leach the magic from others.
I did find the storyline disjointed in parts with the development of the emotional relationship between the two characters being the main drive and the mystery secondary. I did enjoy the book and we are left on a bittersweet note, I am invested enough that I would read a sequel.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC. All views are my own.

Review: Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this.

Modern Divination was a story I rather enjoyed, albeit a slow one. It wasn’t terrible by any means, nor did it completely captivate me—it sat somewhere in the middle, making for a solid but not outstanding read.

One aspect that left me a little puzzled at the start was Aurelia’s intense dislike for Ingram. While their dynamic became clearer over time, I initially struggled to understand the depth of her resentment. However, as the story progressed, I found myself drawn into the way their relationship evolved, and I appreciated the strong character growth throughout.

The book didn’t offer much in the way of world building, which is something I personally thrive on, but what it lacked in setting, it made up for with a compelling magic system. The intricacies and complexity of the magic were a highlight for me, adding layers of intrigue and depth to the story.

Midway through, the narrative took on a surprisingly cosy feel, which I really enjoyed. There was a warmth to certain interactions that balanced well against the novel’s more serious moments. And while the book didn’t completely blow me away, I was engaged enough that I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel as there’s still so much unfinished business, and I’m eager to see where the story goes next.

Overall, I’d rate Modern Divination 3.5 stars

Enemies or rather rivals to lovers in the best sense. I enjoyed this so much. Loved Aurelia and Theodore to the core and the plot was made for them.
4.25 Stars

"Modern Divination" was a super anticipated read for me, I knew a lot of people who loved it when it published as an indie book. I was not disappointed. "Modern Divination" was heartfelt, emotional, touching, and atmospheric.

This is a book where the prose is doing a lot of the lifting of the emotional and character development. I thought the writing was beautiful, but I did occasionally feel like it was tripping over itself a little. At times it was just a tad heavy handed. While this book had lots of mysterious vibes, I sometimes wanted it to tell me fewer things directly. However, overall I did really liked the writing style. I thought it really added to the overall vibes of the book.

"Modern Divination" is moody, sometimes cozy, and the vibes sometimes felt a little bit like "Divine Rivals" but for adults. I adored the two protagonists and the world they inhabit. I wish we got to learn a little bit more about it, but I hope that comes in future installments. Also the ending absolutely gutted me. That was cruel. I loved it.

Devastating, just devastating. (In a good way)

4 stars

Thank you NegGalley and Tor for the eARC. All opinions are my own.