Awakened

A coven of trans witches battles an evil AI in the magical coming-of-middle-age romp about love, loss, drag shows, and late capitalism. ?

On a morning much like any other, 30-something queer Brooklynite Wilder makes the miraculous discovery: suddenly, as if by magic, they can understand every language in the world. Dazed and disconnected, Wilder is found and taken in by a small coven of trans witches who have all become Awakened with mystical powers of their own. Quibble, a handsome portal traveler, Artemis, the group's caretaker and seer, and Mary Margaret, a smart-ass teen with telekinetic powers all work to make the cagey and suspicious Wilder feel comfortable, both within their group and with the knowledge that magic is, in fact, real.

Just as Wilder is finding their footing, a malicious AI threatens to dismantle the delicate balance of the coven and the world as they know it. Newly assembled and tenuously bound, the group scrambles to stay united as they parse the difference between difficult and dangerous, asking themselves continuously: is any consciousness-be it artificial, material, or magical-too dangerous to exist?

Awakened is an exhilarating, hilarious and thought-provoking reflection on the ways that we are responsible for creating our own realities , a story of finding community, and a meditation on what it means to have a body (and if it might be far worse never to have had one at all).

"Osworth's second novel is the timely answer to readers who require TERF-free witchy fiction and want to ruminate on questions of AI-driven spiritual fantasies. While Awakened is a ridiculously fun read, Osworth contemplates power with great care and attention, making this novel a force to be reckoned with."--The Rumpus
"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."
--Associated Press
"In this genre-straddling novel, a coven of trans witches battles a sadistic artificial intelligence that lives inside every phone, laptop and internet-enabled home appliance. It's thrilling stuff that pushes the limits of both science fiction and fantasy -- but "Awakened" also leans into the relationships among the witches, exploring how they overcome trauma and self-sabotage to embrace their supernatural capabilities."--Washington Post
"[Awakened] is weird and smart and exactly the type of urban fantasy we need in 2025."--Town & Country
"Osworth has crafted a clever, thought-provoking, and surprisingly philosophical tale about the importance of community, the dangers that reliance on AI presents to humanity, and identity in a world that can so often feel homogeneous. Told in a tongue-in-cheek, snappy voice by an omnipresent narrator, this is a compulsively readable novel that hammers home the idea that magic can be found anywhere and everywhere as long as you're looking for it. A charming, magical romp with a focus on the importance of finding and building queer community."--Kirkus, starred review
"This bold, explosive novel is unapologetically and vividly queer, showing the romantic, sexual, and inner and outer lives of trans people, all while painting an intriguing and suspenseful world that brings together sf and fantasy. Fans of Juno Dawson will enjoy this rich story about finding yourself and about what's truly the divide between real and artificial."--Booklist

"[A] refreshing to read a fantasy that celebrates its queer, trans protagonists. . . [Awakened] creat[es] a story of trans magic, empowerment, and joy. This is good fun."

--Publishers Weekly
"Awakened is an absolute delight and a perfect read for the present moment. A beautiful blend of hope and pragmatism, beauty and pain, this novel enchants by delivering well-wrought characters who live bravely in extraordinary circumstances. As I read, I wanted nothing more than to sit down at Cowboy Jaqueline's bar, pick up a pint, and bask in conversations about magic and identity between members of a complicated found family. A joy from cover to cover."--Gwen E. Kirby, author of Shit Cassandra Saw
"I'm almost tempted to say that the world is not ready for Awakened but hot damn this is the novel we need right the hell now. It's thrilling and riotous and enchanting, about the search for selfhood and finding out you're part of something much grander than yourself. To call this inventive tale the queer and trans answer to a certain fantasy series that shall not be named would be both a gross oversimplification and an absolute disservice to the anarchic wonderland Osworth has conjured."--Michelle Hart, author of We Do What We Do in the Dark
"Pay attention! Awakened might change your life. This novel is at once a fantastical queer romp through magic and technology as well as a deep and unforgettable meditation on existence. As with the zany, caring, often hilarious coven of trans witches that populate this story, A.E. Osworth's new novel defies classification: their work is in a league of their own."--Nick White, author of How to Survive a Summer and Sweet and Low
"The magic of A. E. Osworth's writing is in their ability to be witty and hilariously irreverent, all while injecting their characters with the kind of charming earnestness that burrows into your soul. Awakened reminds us that even in our darkest hours, there is joy to be found if we just remain open to it. This is a wonderful, utterly un-put-down-able novel that I won't soon forget." --Denne Michele Norris, author of When the Harvest Comes
"What a generous, dazzling book! Osworth has made us a world of trans witchery, portals and orbs, spectral sex, mystery, wonder, and even conflict resolution models. Awakened lets us imagine ourselves into its coven to find the amazing things at its heart."--Elissa Washuta, author of White Magic
"To call Awakened the queer and trans answer to a certain fantasy series that shall not be named would be both a gross oversimplification and a disservice to the anarchic wonderland Osworth has conjured. It's thrilling and riotous and magical af."--Electric Literature
"Osworth offers a joyously queer urban fantasy about finding power, identity, and family at any age. Perfect for fans of Shaun Hamill's The Dissonance or Annalee Newitz's The Future of Another Timeline."--Library Journal, starred review

A.E. Osworth is a transgender novelist. Their debut, We Are Watching Eliza Bright, was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award and was long listed for The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize, the Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize and The Tournament of Books. They are a lecturer at University of British Columbia's School of Creative Writing where they teach fiction, interactive fiction, and new media.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.