Awakened

A small coven of queer New York City witches—three trans adults and one 17-year-old trans kid—is confronted with an unprecedented magical AI in Osworth’s whimsical sophomore outing (after We Are Watching Eliza Bright). The four witches—Wilder, Quibble, Artemis, and Mary Margaret—must band together to defeat the AI, who calls himself Hex, after they realize Hex is present in every object connected to the internet and is capable of great harm both to their coven and to the world at large. Osworth’s prose teeters on the edge of twee (each time the witches cast a spell, they begin with “Something amazing is about to happen” and end, “The amazing thing has happened. Fuck yeah”), but their earnestness is endearing—perhaps even capable of winning over reluctant readers—and it’s refreshing to read a fantasy that celebrates its queer, trans protagonists. Osworth dedicates this novel to “everyone who feels betrayed by J.K. Rowling,” and succeeds in filling that niche, creating a story of trans magic, empowerment, and joy. This is good fun. Agent: Ryan Harbage, Fischer-Harbage Agency. (Apr.)