Modern Divination

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is it! This is what rivals to lovers should be; no miscommunication, but a lot of personal growth, apologies and a healthy amount of coincidence. The beautiful writing had me flying through it at an astounding pace, and I found myself thinking about it almost constantly when I was not reading.

We follow Aurelia and Theodore, rival PhD students at Cambridge, who are left reeling after the murder of a fellow classmate. Aurelia is a green witch, which means she has power over nature, and not only has she been hiding this from everyone for years, her powers are starting to betray her. Theodore is an arrogant, aggravating mystery that Aurelia is frustratingly obsessed with (sorry Aurelia, you just are), and when the university closes down in the aftermath of the murder, Theodore invites Aurelia to stay with his family, rather than remain alone in Cambridge, after realising that she may also be a target.

The characters are where this book shines the brightest, and as a character driven reader this made the book for me. I loved these characters with my whole entire heart; they are young, and messy, and oh-so-relatable. Fellow over-sharers will love Aurelia; she is incessantly curious, and extremely uncomfortable with silence. The way that they pushed each other to grow, and through this grew closer to each other, was a joy to read. The care Theodore takes over his family was beautiful, his trauma broke my heart, and I would love to see more from his perspective in the second book, although I absolutely adored spending the majority of this story with Aurelia. The moments where she would catch him looking at her a certain way and not entirely know what to make of it were delicious as a reader.

The plot was less of a focus, so plot driven readers may struggle a little more with this one. There is a witchy mystery at the heart of the story, which our characters work together to unravel and eventually confront, but there are extended sections of the book where the plot does not move forward very much, and the majority of the book takes place is one location. Personally, I did not mind this; the witchy vibes were immaculate and the character relationships and banter were a joy to read. There was just enough plot to keep me ticking along, and I did feel like the slower pace at the start gave me a sense of security that then meant when things started to happen, they had a bigger impact.

I would have liked a bit more worldbuilding and lore, and perhaps to have seen a bit more of both MC's parents. They were so influential in the state in which we meet Aurelia and Theodore, so I would have liked to get a full circle moment of growth or confrontation, but I suspect this may be something addressed in the second book. Similarly, I have been left with many questions about the world and lore of this book; we are told that witches fear humans but it is unclear what exactly has led to this extreme fear. I would love to know more, but again suspect this will be addressed in the second book, and from the epilogue I believe we may get to see some locations too, as well as a better understanding of the antagonist in this book. Ultimately my only criticism is that I wanted more!

Overall, I loved this book, and I particularly loved how the ending left room for the sequel but wrapped up the main plot threads without feeling the need to leave us on a massive cliff-hanger. I'll definitely be recommending to character driven readers looking for an academic rivals to lovers or a witchy mystery.

Modern Divination is a stunning exploration of identity and the struggle to balance two worlds. Aurelia's journey is both thrilling and deeply emotional, capturing the essence of friendship, sacrifice, and the complexities of magic. The writing is enchanting, and the characters are beautifully developed, pulling you into a world where every choice has profound consequences. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a rich blend of magic and heartfelt storytelling.

I made quite a few brilliant decisions in the past year when it comes to my arc request, but none was better than asking for Modern Divination.

Brilliant. That's the only way to describe this book to do it justice and leave the review mysterious enough for the reader to be intrigued. It’s like tasting magic - fresh and dark and all-consuming. An experience like no other.

Teddy and Aurelia have my heart for eternity - both complex and flawed and just troublesome enough to be real and utterly lovable.

And while the ending broke my heart just a little bit I wouldn't change it for the world. Instead, I'm impatiently waiting for the sequel and convincing everyone that the book is more than worth reading.

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.

I first read (and loved) Modern Divination as an indie-published book, and I was thrilled to hear that it had been picked up by Macmillan for traditional publication. I'm happy to report that Isabel Agajanian has achieved what seemed impossible: this new version is even better than the original, which was already excellent. The prose feels richer, more emotional, and more mature. I immediately noticed the new sections and revisions compared to the indie version, and I’m amazed at how Isabel has elevated the book to such an extraordinary level.

Modern Divination is a contemporary fantasy featuring academic rivals at Cambridge, Aurelia Schwartz and Teddy Ingram. Without giving too much away to avoid spoilers, I'll just say that both possess magic, and at some point, they're forced to work together to save not only themselves but others as well. The plot masterfully balances mystery, a touch of dark academia, magic, and romance. It also delivers one of the most delicious slow burns in fantasy — the amount of pining between the two characters is indescribable. Isabel’s portrayal of Teddy and Aurelia’s evolving relationship — how they slowly realize they need each other and are stronger and better together than apart — is simply brilliant. They’ve become one of my all-time favorite fantasy couples.

That said, I have to spotlight just how wonderful Teddy is as a character. While Aurelia is fantastic in her own right, Teddy completely stole my heart. I’m so weak for Howl-coded characters in turtlenecks!!!!

You might think it’s impossible to experience the thrill of reading a favorite book for the first time again, but that’s exactly how it felt reading the traditionally published version of Modern Divination. This book is perfect for those who already know Isa’s work from their indie days, as well as new readers looking for an exquisitely written, atmospheric fantasy with characters you wish you could meet and a romance that stirs all the best emotions.