I was so excited for this one but it was so disappointing! I couldn’t get past 20% 😭 i didn’t feel like i knew any of the characters by that point not even the mc, things were happening but it felt very patchworked because the magic wasn’t explained, the setting was pieced together, there was more meditation on tea choices than anything relevant to the plot. I wanted to like it so much but i could barely hang onto the plot/world building let alone enjoy it. I also felt like the romance was forced- it used the cliche trope of her overhearing him say something mean out of context and him liking her all along but didn’t bring anything new to the dynamic so it fell a little flat for me, a shame :(

HOWEVER!! The audiobook was phenomenal- it’s the only reason I believe i got as far in as I did. The narrator did a brilliant job with conveying tone and with the accents, it was no chore to listen to her narrate this story! Will definitely be looking out for other things she’s done 🤭

3.25⭐

I had high hopes for Modern Divination because I loved the character art and I adore rivals to lovers, but while the characters were fine, the story was underwhelming. I felt like I was always waiting for something to happen and I think it needed more magic and action.

It's a book I'll probably forget by the end of the month but I did enjoy the romantic tension.

DNF 60%

I tried I really did. I should have loved this but I just couldn’t get into it. The writing style while poetic at times, was too much for the story that was trying to be told. So you just end up with two main characters going round in circles with each other, seeming to have a conversation then go back to square one with each other. I get that it’s trying to set up the “enemies” part but as it was mostly telling not showing this relationship it felt a bit hollow.

You the reader are just thrown in and expected to understand the magic system and the world set up and while it’s meant to be a lighter magic system I do think more was needed to settle the reader. The start is just lots of purple prose followed by a burst of plot only for there to be a big stretch with nothing really happening.

The characters were quite unlikeable but I can often get onboard with that, I just don’t think it was done well especially in the case of Theodore. Maybe because I often get onboard better with unlikeable female characters but he just felt insufferable, not understanding why some one wouldn’t like him and then keeping lots of important information from Aurelia only to get annoyed when she wasn’t understanding what was going on.

I think there was potential here, the poetic prose just needed to be toned down a bit to suit the story so as not to overpower it all. Maybe making it shorter too would eliminate the feeling of nothing happening, from what I can gather about the ending this is a common thought.

As usual Kristin Atherton is a wonderful narrator, definitely one of my favourites. It’s likely I only got as far in this because I enjoy her narration.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“Because I like it when you are mean.”

#ModernDivination by #IsabelAgajanin is a 3.9⭐️ read and Book one of a duology.

This world of magic, witches, shapeshifters, and humans set in Cambridge gave me chills. And then the rivalry between Aurelia and Teddy had me hooked.

The world building, the magic, the characters, their relationships pulled my imagination in. Such an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this. Academic rivals is something I eat up everytime and for me this was a great way to showcase that trope. I really liked Teddy and Rory as main characters, especially how prickly Rory was and how she weilded it as her defence mechanism. I really liked the atmosphere, it gives a cosy autumnal feel with the quiet sleepy town and coffee shop but my absolute favourite thing about this entire book was the magical, moving bookshop and I kind of need that in my life.

Onto somethings that I was entirel sold on and that was the pacing. For the most part it was fine but it flagged in parts, especially coming to the end. The slow burn in this really is slow and unfortunately that's not something I particularly enjoy. FInally, the prose, at times it was beautifully woven into the story but in some parts I found it distracting. I do think listening to the narration helped with the prose so I did enjoy it for the most part.

If you are a fan of Howls Moving Castle I'd say give this a try.

3.5 Stars. Academic rivals to lovers with witches - a great story. I enjoyed the relationship between the characters but felt as if there was too much time spent on this so that the plot felt secondary and rushed in parts.

I feel like this novel was almost written for me and it was the perfect first audiobook of the year. I love academic settings and an academic rivals to lovers story is just right up my alley. Aurelia and Teddy are both intriguing characters with their own histories which I really appreciated. (It was also pretty clear from the start that Teddy fell first which is a trope I absolutely love.) I’m also a huge fan of witchy stories which definitely drew me in. I think I would have liked a bit more insight into the magic system and maybe a bit more academia which is why it isn’t a 5-stars book for me but I really enjoyed it and it feels like the perfect winter read.
I know a lot of readers complain that the climax happened too early but I actually liked this because of course life goes on and the characters have to deal with the situation and what they want to do. So I actually liked this and the fact that both characters continue growing throughout it. Thank you so much for the ARC!

Before I picked up this book the concept definitely spoke to me and I had some high expectations. Unfortunately this book left me a bit disappointed.
It started with a promising magic system in a contemporary setting. The characters have some great chemistry, starting as enemies, evolving to friends and ending up as lovers. I must admit their banter is great. However, the execution left me wanting more. Instead of getting an immersive exploration of the magic system, you get a narrative heavily focused on the main characters and their interactions. This just wasn't the book for me.

“It's simpler than you think to disappear. It takes effort to be remembered, more effort than being forgotten.”

Shockingly beautiful and entertaining! I started this knowing very little about it and through the first few pages what shocked me the most was the writing. It was, so good. Beautifully written prose, descriptive and a sprinkle of whimsical. And somehow it did not feel forced like so many other very descriptive books do. It feels like it flows perfectly. It reminds me a bit of Olivie Blake’s writings style (who I adore!), maybe a bit more flowery.

I adored the characters, multilayered with their own deep issues, families and sting relationships. Aurelia got her own deep personal problems and maybe she was a bit quick to judge at the beginning but in my opinion it was all within reason. She’s a very strong character that seems to know exactly what she wants from the world, independent and proud of it. Theodore also felt just the right amount of close to the reader, also battling his own demons and very determined to be there for his found family no matter what.

The romance was actually genuinely enjoyable. I’m definitely not usually one for academic rivals to lovers, not even for simple romance but this was just perfectly done. Just the right amount of slow burn to leave you yearning for the hands to touch. Their romance was desperate and devastating and full of past baggage and at the same time hopefully

It’s a dark academia with a touch of whimsical atmosphere, it feels very English in the very grey sense. The magic was exactly what I craved from that title. Traditional and very creative at the same time.

And I know they have most likely very little to do with each other but vibes, magic and atmosphere but this book gave me a relatively similar feeling to The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland and When among Crows by Veronica Roth but with more focus on the romance part.

And last but not least, the narrator did an incredible job of bringing this book to life. Absolutely amazing!!

I’m very interested in the sequel, this really impressed me.👀

This books most interesting parts is right at the beginning, with the murder of Aurelia’s friend happening. Unfortunately, this was the only moment in the book that really ever grasped my full attention. Apart from this the book didn’t really keep all of my attention. It was one of those books where I was listening to the audiobook at 2x speed, while doing other things.

Now, this is a very much vibes over plot book which isn’t something that I typically enjoy even with the best of books, so I will concede that this probably just isn’t my kind of book. But I had other issues with the book, this book has a very bad case of telling not showing.

I left this book with so many questions, and there were so many elements that were setup and not revisited enough for me to be really intrigued and ready to read the follow up book to know the answers to. It felt like most of them needed at least one other point added to them, and there are so many repetitive conversations between the main characters more than one could be removed in order sort it out.

When the “climax” finally happened, it felt abrupt and quickly glazed over. The villain was frankly, cartoonish and I’d be hard pressed to tell you anything about her other than the singular goal she dramatically villain monologued. It also hinges on understanding the magic system which, nope, do not understand at all. There were ‘reveals’ that happened and I was just thinking, what does that mean?

In reading this book I was thinking that this book overall was going to be defined as fine. In reviewing it, I think it’s less than fine, and for me is a 2.5 star read.

3.5 ⭐️

I DNF’d the physical copy due to the LOOOONG chapters and heavy descriptions, I just couldn’t get into it. However, having seen the reviews I decided to give the audio a chance.

Firstly: I loved the narrator!!! Kristen does an amazing job of all the different voices and accents. I’ll be looking out for more of her performances.

As for the book… it was ok. I didn’t hate it but I wasn’t desperate to get back to it either.

From the moment the “rival” (🤨) is introduced I knew he’d be the love interest and although this is a SLOOOOW burn it’s also not at the same time? She likes his aftershave right at the start, she’s having dirty dreams about him fairly early on too…

I was also under the impression that this was dark academia but it’s actually only in an academic setting for the first few chapters.

I wasn’t overly impressed by the twist. I think this book could’ve been a lot shorter the pacing wasn’t the best, we spend a lot of time doing not a great deal.

Also I didn’t understand the point of the last 20%. We had the climax and the twist and for another 3 hours I had to listen to pointless, plotless, dialogue and a bit of smut. I think the structure could do with being reworked here.

I did find the audiobook enjoyable, I was invested enough to not DNF but it’s an average book for me. Nothing overly special.

I’m hoping now that the series is with a publisher that the next will be much better structured so I will give it another go for book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of the audio book ✨

This was a very well written story. I loved the intricacies of the characters and how the powers worked.
I found the writing slow and repetitive at times (very few) and the few chapters we get if MMC the audiobook doesn't clearly tells us which makes it confusing.
I will definitely continue this series.

I was completely sold on this book when I read it was a dark academia fantasy with witches. This was a slow burn, mostly character-driven romance with a splash of fantasy (enter witches and magic). While the start of the book set in Cambridge, the majority of the action isn't there.
I absolutely loved the characters - Aurelia and Ingram - and I loved their relationship!!!
I read the book (thank you Pan Macmillan for sending the physical copy my way!!!) while listening to the audiobook and I think it made total diference in the story.
I was intrigued and couldn't stop reading to learn more about this story, the characters and what was happening. However, I felt that the action of the book was a bit on the slower pace. But it made for the amazing and well developed characters.
Modern Divination felt cosy and very cottage core, winter vibes. I'm rating this 3.5 stars.
I'm still very much intrigued to read the second book in the series!!!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for ARC and ALC.

Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian is an utterly mesmerizing blend of dark academia, mystery, and slow-burn romance. Following the journey of Aurelia Schwartz—a young witch straddling the fragile balance between her human life and a world brimming with magic—the novel plunges into a story of concealed powers, forbidden promises, and precarious alliances. Aurelia’s waning green magic and a dangerous rivalry with another witch set her on a path that intertwines with that of a contentious classmate, forcing them into hiding within a family whose secrets and survival demand breaking all the rules she’s ever known.

What do you say about a book you loved and devoured in two days? This story is perfect and one I won’t soon forget. Agajanian’s writing style is gorgeously emotional, packed with metaphors that felt as if they were crafted just for me. Every line seemed to scratch an itch in my brain, pulling me further into the story and refusing to let go. The characters—imperfect, raw, and unforgettable—are the heart of this novel. Their development felt achingly real, with all the imperfections that make them resonate deeply. Rory and Teddy, the protagonists, were not only relatable but also brilliantly complex. They lingered with me long after I turned the last page, and I couldn’t help but see pieces of myself in them.

While the magic and world-building were incredibly engaging, it was the characters and their relationships that truly hooked me. I pulled countless quotes from this book because so many lines just hit me right in the heart. Modern Divination is an enchanting must-read that manages to be both magical and profoundly human, and I loved every moment of it.

I‘m beyond happy I got this one as an arc on NetGalley but I’ll surely want a physical copy of said masterpiece.

Reminiscent of A Discovery of Witches but in my opinion so much better. I honestly loved this book from start to finish, the dark academia/ rivals to lovers vibes were absolutely perfect and I think I love Teddy a little bit (ok a lot). I’m already desperate for the next book and will definitely be rereading this again in the future. Perfect way to kick off my 2025 reads

This book is very reminiscent of A Discovery of Witches and my feelings about both books are almost the same. It's a long book that doesn't move forward very quickly. There's a lot of time spent in one place, with the characters isolated and hiding away, with vague notions of solving a mystery whilst seemingly not doing too much at all. Whilst watching the relationship between Aurelia and Ingram change was interesting, and seeing them open up to each other whilst still dancing around their feelings after such a long standing rivalry kept things a little interesting, I felt no chemistry between the pair so it left the developments between them a little flat for me. Some side characters are intriguing, and there are also a lot of secrets buried within all the characters' stories that only unravel very slowly, which I did enjoy but overall the pace was much too slow for me with not enough plot progression, before everything seemed to come to a head incredibly quickly. The audio however was well narrated and so in that respect I did enjoy it and would recommend this format for anyone picking up the book!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

This is, at its core, a rather simple story of the 'girl meets boy' variaty, except both the girl and the boy are witches, as well as being academic rivals, and they are also being hunted by a murderous shapeshifter who wants to steal their magic. Where the story truly shines is its characters. They are well-written, with clear arcs, and I enjoyed spending time with them and watching their relationship develop. I also loved the atmosphere, wintry and cosy, in sharp contrast to all the danger, blood, and murder the characters faced. Overall, I had a great time!

If you’re a fan of academic rivals with a touch of magic, then “Modern Divination” might just be the book for you. The novel promises an intriguing blend of competition and supernatural elements, reminiscent of the vibes found in “Divine Rivals.”

However, I found that the book didn’t quite meet my expectations. The constant bickering and immaturity between the two main characters significantly detracted from the overall plot. While some readers might enjoy the tension and banter, I felt it overshadowed the story’s potential depth and complexity.

On a positive note, the author has clearly put a lot of thought and care into the descriptions and character development. The settings are vividly described, and the characters are well-crafted, each with their own unique traits and backstories. It’s evident that a lot of effort went into creating a rich and immersive world.

Despite these strengths, I believe the book would benefit from more mature characters and a greater focus on advancing the plot rather than relying heavily on dialogue. A shift in this direction could enhance the story’s impact and make it more engaging for readers who prefer a more plot-driven narrative.

Teddy is life!

I won't just leave it at that, I'd better explain myself, well I'll try!

Aureila is a witch hiding in plain sight and, when one of her closest witchy friends gets offed, she is taken in and helped by her arch nemesis, Theodore Ingram.

And this is where our story starts.
~ Academic Rivals
~ Rivals to lovers
~ Character driven plot
~ Flawed characters
~ Cozy, unearthly, atmospheric setting.

It felt like it took a long time to get to the ending, maybe too long?

I must admit, I'm not a slow burn type of gal but this slow burn was DELISH (yes, capitals to really emphasise!!)

And now.....Theodore Ingram aka Teddy - my actual heart!

'You'd be surprised by all the things that scare me.
Like what?
You. You terrify me. And torture me a bit too.'

But the ending. That letter. There is more, yes?!

Modern Divination is a slow-burn, character-driven academic rivals-to-lovers story set in our world, but with a rich layer of magic woven throughout. While the book centres around students, the academic rivalry is only a small part of the narrative. Instead of delving deeply into their studies or the origins of their competition, the story focuses more on the evolving relationship between the two protagonists. I did find myself wanting more backstory to help establish a stronger connection with the characters, as they sometimes felt a bit underdeveloped.

The magic system was one of the most intriguing aspects of the story, especially its connection to different senses. However, due to the secretive nature of the witches in this world, I found it took a while to fully grasp the nuances of the magic, and the book doesn’t reveal much about it early on, which left me feeling somewhat lost at times. This added a layer of mystery, but also some frustration, as I struggled to visualise and understand the mechanics of the magic.

In terms of pacing, the book maintains a steady rhythm throughout, with a strong emphasis on character exploration rather than action. For the most part, this worked for me, but by the end, I found myself wishing for a bit more momentum. I suspect this was because I wasn’t as emotionally invested in the characters as I would have liked to be, which made the slower pace feel longer than anticipated.

While the main plot didn’t quite captivate me as much as I’d hoped, I did appreciate the overall atmosphere and was particularly intrigued by some of the side characters. I’m hopeful that these characters will play a larger role in future instalments, as they added depth and intrigue to the story. Ultimately, the lack of clarity around the world-building and magic system prevented me from fully connecting with the book, but I do think it has potential. Now that I have a better sense of the world, I’d be open to exploring more books in this setting and learning more about the magic system.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this eARC to review.