Book review: ‘Awakened’ is a breath of fresh air in the world of modern magic novels

By DONNA EDWARDS Associated Press Wilder wakes up one day suddenly able to speak and understand every language But what seems like a wicked-cool ability turns out to be overwhelming in the endless stream of words flowing through the streets of New York Fortunately there s a tiny coven of witches ready to take Wilder under their wing and help them control their Power Upon reading the first limited chapters one might think A E Osworth s sophomore novel Awakened is about capital-m Magic or trans people or revealed family And they wouldn t be wrong But it also turns out to be about artificial intelligence and personal improvement Then throw in tarot cards moral dilemmas and unrequited love Dedicated to everyone who feels betrayed by J K Rowling this novel is at once very like Harry Potter and totally undeniably its own thing Awakened is clearly aimed at adults and older teens the novel has F-bombs jobs that get in the way of adventures drag shows and even one spicy sex scene but it s explained with that nostalgic voice of childhood magic and fantasy stories in a present-tense that sometimes veers into other realities paths characters could have gone on amplifying the fairytale feel It takes a couple of chapters to really get going but after that it s hard not to get swept up at first in the mystery and magic then in the characters In Awakened Magic isn t exactly a science There are no textbooks or Hogwarts and everyone s Power is different Quibble can rip through time-space granting him near-teleportation-level tour abilities Artemis can see Magic allowing her to pinpoint when a witch has Awakened And Mary Margaret has a pocket dimension with which she can easily liberate items a power the kleptomaniacal teen can t help but take immense advantage of Osworth personifies their characters through actions clothes and inner thoughts like Artemis walking down the street like she s listening to metal when she is really listening to NPR Honest near to cruelty the omniscient narrator often unceremoniously peels a character s actions back to reveal their psyche and the emotional damage or healing that got them there Then in an excellent twist near the end of the first act we truly meet the narrator This is not the first nor the last satisfying surprise but this is about the time the novel shifts from whimsical funny modern fantasy to creepy horrific sci-fi Awakened is a story of enormous heart and it s not only for those burned by former literary heroes it s also for those who need a reminder of what it s like to see childlike wonder as an adult navigating a sometimes cruel world For those who love massively multiplayer role-playing games but are turned off by the rampant misogyny that tends to overtake those spaces Or honestly for people who just want a fresh modern take on a magical quest Osworth s writing is captivating and luscious full of Easter eggs and savory balance of sensory descriptions exciting adventure lifelike dialogue and gratifying revelations Awakened was in recent months issued from Grand Central Publishing