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Spells for Life and Death #2
Quiet Spells
Not yet published
Expected 3 Feb 26Ghosts passed through the cottage sitting on the peak of Townsend Hill like passengers in a train station. Some, Teddy Ingram knew, stayed longer than others.
More than half a year has passed since the disappearance of Gemma Eakley and Teddy Ingram still has no clue as to whether she is alive, dead or something worse. With Gemma's young daughter left in his care Teddy haunts the rural haven of Townsend like one of its many spirits.
But then Aurelia – his beloved ex-rival – returns with the news that her own mother is dead – and a ghost forms from the pages of her farewell to give the would-be lovers a They won’t let me rest.
One coven's efforts to reverse the looming extinction of witches involves resurrecting the dead. Meredith's old coven wants to know what secrets she took with her to the funeral pyre; did she have the key to fixing their botched attempts at necromancy?
From the acclaimed author of Modern Divination comes the dark and magical concluding part of the Spells for Life and Death duology.
More than half a year has passed since the disappearance of Gemma Eakley and Teddy Ingram still has no clue as to whether she is alive, dead or something worse. With Gemma's young daughter left in his care Teddy haunts the rural haven of Townsend like one of its many spirits.
But then Aurelia – his beloved ex-rival – returns with the news that her own mother is dead – and a ghost forms from the pages of her farewell to give the would-be lovers a They won’t let me rest.
One coven's efforts to reverse the looming extinction of witches involves resurrecting the dead. Meredith's old coven wants to know what secrets she took with her to the funeral pyre; did she have the key to fixing their botched attempts at necromancy?
From the acclaimed author of Modern Divination comes the dark and magical concluding part of the Spells for Life and Death duology.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 3, 2026
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2018 people want to read
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November 8, 2023Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book!
"Imagine that these paper birds were me and you—I’d have folded us together"
Returning to the world of Modern Divination from a new angle, Agajanian once again takes their readers on a journey of hope, love, and loss. In book two we have: less tea, less academia, and less banter, but more swords, more Catholic guilt, and lots more bird content.
CW: grief, emesis, suicide (past), alcohol consumption, death of mother, dead body, blood & gore, blood magic, violence, abusive parents, religious trauma, character death
"Imagine that these paper birds were me and you—I’d have folded us together"
Returning to the world of Modern Divination from a new angle, Agajanian once again takes their readers on a journey of hope, love, and loss. In book two we have: less tea, less academia, and less banter, but more swords, more Catholic guilt, and lots more bird content.
CW: grief, emesis, suicide (past), alcohol consumption, death of mother, dead body, blood & gore, blood magic, violence, abusive parents, religious trauma, character death
October 2, 2025
Quiet Spells managed to be both quiet and loud in the best of ways.
This is a dark academia urban fantasy set in and around Cambridge.
My rival. My torment. My lover.
In book one we had rivals to lovers done right. In Quiet Spells, we had two characters with dark pasts who fit together so well that they are scared to get too close in case they break it.
Add into that Teddy being a caregiver to the cutest little girl and the past rushing up to haunt them (literally).
If you liked the beautiful, bawl-you-over-with-love prose of book one, you will be fed with this.
Imagine that these paper birds were me and you–I’d have folded us together. With sharper creases.
We have everything to make this an emotionally charged duology: letters, emails, yearning and longing and belonging.
Like, tell me that Teddy never expected to miss, Schwartz’s constant white noise doesn’t hit you right in the feels.
Both characters are made to spiral, to self-destruct. Can they find the quiet with each other?
He knew there was love you could die for and love you could kill for, and both would lead him, sword in hand, to his knees in a plea of devotion.
I loved little Lou. She doesn’t play a big role except to bring everyone together. She needs the support and love of those around her. They have to put away their own grief, anxiety, misgivings in order to make the world seem okay for a child.
Also, as someone who had growing pains, especially with shortened calf muscles, I appreciated the inclusion.
One part that did catch my eye again and again was the switching of names our two main characters call each other. From Teddy, to Theo, to Ingram. From Rory, to Aurelia, to Schwartz. Even at the end when you’d think they would settle on a loving nickname.
I had another minor quibble with a reveal that felt underutilised and too convenient and accepting for the character involved. This book was quite long as it was. I wonder if more had been cut.
The ending also felt very sudden compared to the slow-build of the rest of the book. I know a climax is supposed to go out with a bang, but I felt slightly whiplashed and thus, didn’t feel the emotional connection to the fallout.
The epilogue was lovely.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
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This is a dark academia urban fantasy set in and around Cambridge.
My rival. My torment. My lover.
In book one we had rivals to lovers done right. In Quiet Spells, we had two characters with dark pasts who fit together so well that they are scared to get too close in case they break it.
Add into that Teddy being a caregiver to the cutest little girl and the past rushing up to haunt them (literally).
If you liked the beautiful, bawl-you-over-with-love prose of book one, you will be fed with this.
Imagine that these paper birds were me and you–I’d have folded us together. With sharper creases.
We have everything to make this an emotionally charged duology: letters, emails, yearning and longing and belonging.
Like, tell me that Teddy never expected to miss, Schwartz’s constant white noise doesn’t hit you right in the feels.
Both characters are made to spiral, to self-destruct. Can they find the quiet with each other?
He knew there was love you could die for and love you could kill for, and both would lead him, sword in hand, to his knees in a plea of devotion.
I loved little Lou. She doesn’t play a big role except to bring everyone together. She needs the support and love of those around her. They have to put away their own grief, anxiety, misgivings in order to make the world seem okay for a child.
Also, as someone who had growing pains, especially with shortened calf muscles, I appreciated the inclusion.
One part that did catch my eye again and again was the switching of names our two main characters call each other. From Teddy, to Theo, to Ingram. From Rory, to Aurelia, to Schwartz. Even at the end when you’d think they would settle on a loving nickname.
I had another minor quibble with a reveal that felt underutilised and too convenient and accepting for the character involved. This book was quite long as it was. I wonder if more had been cut.
The ending also felt very sudden compared to the slow-build of the rest of the book. I know a climax is supposed to go out with a bang, but I felt slightly whiplashed and thus, didn’t feel the emotional connection to the fallout.
The epilogue was lovely.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
October 22, 2025
A bitter sweet ending to the conclusion of, perhaps, my new favourite duology.
To say I love these characters doesn’t quite do justice to how I feel. Teddy and Rory are beautiful and timeless characters with a love story that is so delicate, I’d be afraid to touch. Modern Divination gave me yearning and Quiet Spells delivered moments of pure loveliness.
I want to live in Isa Agajanian’s words. Every description and thought was crisp and intentional. Their writing really itches every part of my brain and wraps me up in a blanket. Whether it was moments of high intensity or small quiet scenes, it didn’t matter because the writing in this book is my favourite thing. I want to read every love letter hidden in Rory’s drawer. I want to hear all the private confessions Teddy whispers into Rory’s neck at night. I just want to live forever with these words and characters…
but I can’t because it’s OVER!
The ending was perfect and heartbreaking and I’ll need weeks to recover. I won’t spoil it but how dare you Isa!?! I was not prepared to cry the way I did.
This duology has made me love love. I’m so happy I get to live with this story in my heart for the rest of my life because it’s everything to me.
5/5 ⭐️
Release Date: 22nd January 2026
[ Thankyou my loves @bookbreakuk / @torbooksuk for gifting me an early proof ]
To say I love these characters doesn’t quite do justice to how I feel. Teddy and Rory are beautiful and timeless characters with a love story that is so delicate, I’d be afraid to touch. Modern Divination gave me yearning and Quiet Spells delivered moments of pure loveliness.
I want to live in Isa Agajanian’s words. Every description and thought was crisp and intentional. Their writing really itches every part of my brain and wraps me up in a blanket. Whether it was moments of high intensity or small quiet scenes, it didn’t matter because the writing in this book is my favourite thing. I want to read every love letter hidden in Rory’s drawer. I want to hear all the private confessions Teddy whispers into Rory’s neck at night. I just want to live forever with these words and characters…
but I can’t because it’s OVER!
The ending was perfect and heartbreaking and I’ll need weeks to recover. I won’t spoil it but how dare you Isa!?! I was not prepared to cry the way I did.
This duology has made me love love. I’m so happy I get to live with this story in my heart for the rest of my life because it’s everything to me.
5/5 ⭐️
Release Date: 22nd January 2026
[ Thankyou my loves @bookbreakuk / @torbooksuk for gifting me an early proof ]
Want to read
November 13, 2025I cannot wait for this bloody book to be released
Want to read
August 4, 2023Want it... Need it... Must have it... Give it to me 🤚🏻
December 6, 2025
Modern Divination is one of my favorite contemporary fantasy romances, so picking up the sequel was a must for me. Sadly, Quiet Spells didn’t enchant me the way the first book did. It was still an enjoyable reading experience, very beautifully written, and I was happy to be back with Rory and Teddy, but ultimately there were several elements that let me down.
In short, Quiet Spells is a story about people longing for one another, not always able to reconcile what they want with what they are obligated to do. It is about emotions that are not easy for either Aurelia or Theodore to express. I knew it was not going to be a fast-paced book (the first one was not either), but the pacing still lost me at times. The first half of the novel felt extremely prolonged. I loved the focus on yearning. Teddy’s and Aurelia’s struggles and internal monologues were beautifully written and emotional, but the amount of effort it took for them to voice their feelings and reach out to one another made me question their character development at the end of book one.
The second half felt more dynamic, with the characters spending more time together, which aligned better with what I expected from this installment. Plot-wise, some elements felt a bit too convenient, especially toward the end. The ending itself felt quite rushed, though that may be partly because the rest of the book moved so slowly by comparison.
All in all, if you loved the first book, you should definitely pick up the sequel. This might simply be a me thing, and you may end up loving Quiet Spells far more than I did. I still consider this duology a very strong debut and will gladly read more from Isa Agajanian.
Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
In short, Quiet Spells is a story about people longing for one another, not always able to reconcile what they want with what they are obligated to do. It is about emotions that are not easy for either Aurelia or Theodore to express. I knew it was not going to be a fast-paced book (the first one was not either), but the pacing still lost me at times. The first half of the novel felt extremely prolonged. I loved the focus on yearning. Teddy’s and Aurelia’s struggles and internal monologues were beautifully written and emotional, but the amount of effort it took for them to voice their feelings and reach out to one another made me question their character development at the end of book one.
The second half felt more dynamic, with the characters spending more time together, which aligned better with what I expected from this installment. Plot-wise, some elements felt a bit too convenient, especially toward the end. The ending itself felt quite rushed, though that may be partly because the rest of the book moved so slowly by comparison.
All in all, if you loved the first book, you should definitely pick up the sequel. This might simply be a me thing, and you may end up loving Quiet Spells far more than I did. I still consider this duology a very strong debut and will gladly read more from Isa Agajanian.
Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
July 18, 2025I am confused... is this out?????
Hello?????
Hello?????
December 1, 2025
Give me a minute to pick up the pieces of my soul…
Want to read
January 26, 2024can the author send me the arc or just a copy please trust me i need this so bad… also i just think i deserve it im promoting this book so hard PLEASE
November 23, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC!!
If I had to sum up this duology, I’d say it’s about people giving things to other people—love, attention, time, and yes, magic. Our antagonist is someone who tried to just take; the central relationship is one where the two main characters learn the beauty of reciprocity.
Teddy is a MMC with so much depth to him which was really lovely to read.
The exploration of parenthood/caring was done with such tenderness and nuance, I really felt Teddy’s struggles and insecurities.
As with the first book, the pace is slow, and the tension is led by characters and relationships. Though I normally prefer a faster plot, something about this writing just worked for me. Honestly my favourite scenes were the conversations, the lulls in the tension, the spaces to breathe.
There is more I’d love to know about the world of these characters, space to explore in future books, but I was nonetheless satisfied with the ending. If there are more sequels, I’d love to read them. If not, the duology still works as is.
Overall, I’d recommend Quiet Spells as a thoughtful, luscious sequel to one of my favourite books this year. I definitely plan to reread, maybe once the audiobook is released, but I will take my time—this isn’t a book to swallow, but one to savour.
If I had to sum up this duology, I’d say it’s about people giving things to other people—love, attention, time, and yes, magic. Our antagonist is someone who tried to just take; the central relationship is one where the two main characters learn the beauty of reciprocity.
Teddy is a MMC with so much depth to him which was really lovely to read.
The exploration of parenthood/caring was done with such tenderness and nuance, I really felt Teddy’s struggles and insecurities.
As with the first book, the pace is slow, and the tension is led by characters and relationships. Though I normally prefer a faster plot, something about this writing just worked for me. Honestly my favourite scenes were the conversations, the lulls in the tension, the spaces to breathe.
There is more I’d love to know about the world of these characters, space to explore in future books, but I was nonetheless satisfied with the ending. If there are more sequels, I’d love to read them. If not, the duology still works as is.
Overall, I’d recommend Quiet Spells as a thoughtful, luscious sequel to one of my favourite books this year. I definitely plan to reread, maybe once the audiobook is released, but I will take my time—this isn’t a book to swallow, but one to savour.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2025
Quiet spells is such an addictive read, I read Modern Divination and Quiet spells back to back over just a few days.
The writing is beautiful and lyrical, the story has a cozy and comforting feeling to it even though it deals with difficult themes including grief, trauma and issues with self esteem and belonging.
The descriptions of the cottage, library and locations within the book are so detailed and atmospheric that you feel as if you are there.
The plot continued from the first book answering all the questions that were left unanswered, new characters were introduced and we learnt more about our favourite characters from book one.
The yearning in this book is everything, Rory and Teddy’s relationship is so sweet and their chemistry is perfect. They lean on each other through their grief and give each other space when needed. These characters will stay with me for a long time.
It had a beautiful satisfying ending and the epilogue tied everything up perfectly.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the E-arc of this book.
The writing is beautiful and lyrical, the story has a cozy and comforting feeling to it even though it deals with difficult themes including grief, trauma and issues with self esteem and belonging.
The descriptions of the cottage, library and locations within the book are so detailed and atmospheric that you feel as if you are there.
The plot continued from the first book answering all the questions that were left unanswered, new characters were introduced and we learnt more about our favourite characters from book one.
The yearning in this book is everything, Rory and Teddy’s relationship is so sweet and their chemistry is perfect. They lean on each other through their grief and give each other space when needed. These characters will stay with me for a long time.
It had a beautiful satisfying ending and the epilogue tied everything up perfectly.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the E-arc of this book.
November 22, 2025
Ever since reading MODERN DIVINATION, the characters have continued to live in my mind, and I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of QUIET SPELLS, one of my most-anticipated books of the year because of how much I loved the first one. QUIET SPELLS brings the same charm as the first book, picking up six months later and told from Teddy's perspective this time (with a few asides from Aurelia throughout). What I love most about this duology is that it's not afraid to take its time and really let us spend time with the characters, who are rich, complicated, and so 3D that sometimes I expected them to just walk into my living room and start brooding. I love the moody atmosphere, found family, realistic portrayal of trauma, and casual queerness. The Spells for Life and Death duology has secured a place as one of my favorite duologies of all time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Modern Divination was my top 5* reads of 2024, not gonna lie, it shocked me that Quiet Spells didn't capture me as much. Do I love both of the books? Yes. Do I love Aurora and Teddy? Hell yeah. Teddy's little yearning did annoy me up to halfway until everything started to pick up.
I do feel that the first half was a little tad slow that it put me off reading for few weeks. But it picked up well after. If you are wondering if you still should pick up the sequel, I would say absolutely. Despite the drag-ness of the book, Teddy and Aurora's story were so beautifully woven despite their dark past. The ending, abrupt but I think deserved, idk I always see them to be the kind who would (iykyk). Love, everlasting definitely phrase meant for them
I do feel that the first half was a little tad slow that it put me off reading for few weeks. But it picked up well after. If you are wondering if you still should pick up the sequel, I would say absolutely. Despite the drag-ness of the book, Teddy and Aurora's story were so beautifully woven despite their dark past. The ending, abrupt but I think deserved, idk I always see them to be the kind who would (iykyk). Love, everlasting definitely phrase meant for them
March 19, 2024
Just learned that the first book was bought by tor uk, and it's probably getting published next year...
I am quite sad I won't be able to read the continuation of the masterpiece that was the first book, but I'm so happy for the author, Isabel deserves the fame she is set to have...
Congrats Isa 👏 👏
I am quite sad I won't be able to read the continuation of the masterpiece that was the first book, but I'm so happy for the author, Isabel deserves the fame she is set to have...
Congrats Isa 👏 👏
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed Modern Divination so was very much looking forward to continuing this story in Quiet Spells. The writing style is lovely a lilting, and I continued to enjoy the dynamic between Aurelia and Teddy as I did in the first book, but I found the plot itself a bit unexciting and as such found my attention wandering, which pulled my rating down
Currently reading
December 26, 2025slow start so far but I am loving the writing
November 17, 2025
A fantastic conclusion to this duology, following Teddy and Aurelia on their continued adventures together. Agajanian’s lovely, lyrical writing and beautiful prose shine throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though I found the plot a bit meandering at times and slightly overlong.
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