A critical assessment of the merits of a subject, such as art, film, music, television, food and literature. Reviews are based on the writer鈥檚 informed/expert opinion.
‘Awakened’ is a breath of fresh air in the world of modern magic novels
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鈥檚 a tiny coven of witches ready to take Wilder under their wing and help them control their Power.
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鈥檚 a tiny coven of witches ready to take Wilder under their wing and help them control their Power.
Upon reading the first few chapters, one might think A. E. Osworth鈥檚 sophomore novel, 鈥淎wakened,鈥 is about capital-m Magic or trans people or found family. And they wouldn鈥檛 be wrong. But it also turns out to be about artificial intelligence and personal growth. Then throw in tarot cards, moral dilemmas and unrequited love.
Dedicated to 鈥渆veryone who feels ,鈥 this novel is at once very like 鈥淗arry Potter鈥 and totally, undeniably its own thing.
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鈥淎wakened鈥 is clearly aimed at adults and older teens 鈥 the novel has F-bombs, jobs that get in the way of adventures, drag shows and even one spicy sex scene 鈥 but it’s told 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鈥檚 hard not to get swept up 鈥 at first in the mystery and magic, then in the characters.
In 鈥淎wakened,鈥 Magic isn鈥檛 exactly a science. There are no textbooks or Hogwarts, and everyone鈥檚 Power is different: Quibble can rip through time-space, granting him near-teleportation-level travel 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 鈥渓iberate鈥 items, a power the kleptomaniacal teen can鈥檛 help but take immense advantage of.
Osworth personifies their characters through actions, clothes and inner thoughts, like Artemis walking down the street like she鈥檚 listening to metal when she is really listening to NPR. Honest near to cruelty, the omniscient narrator often unceremoniously peels a character鈥檚 actions back to reveal their psyche and the emotional damage 鈥 or healing 鈥 that got them there.
Then, in an excellent twist near the end of the first act, we actually 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.
鈥淎wakened鈥 is a story of enormous heart, and it鈥檚 not only for those burned by former literary heroes; it鈥檚 also for those who need a reminder of what it鈥檚 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鈥檚 writing is captivating and luscious, full of Easter eggs and savory balance of sensory descriptions, exciting adventure, lifelike dialogue and gratifying revelations.
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鈥淎wakened鈥 is set for release Tuesday from Grand Central Publishing.
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