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Journals of Evander Tailor #2
The Diviner
After a stressful first year at Yesgol, Evan Tailor is looking forward to a vacation with his boyfriend and a stress free year of schooling. Unfortunately, life has other plans. Despite his relative success in last year's tournament, Evan can't rest on his laurels. His impending debts loom ever larger, and his strengthening abilities reveal a conspiracy that runs deeper than Yesgol, one that could shake the roots of the very nation in which he lives.
A conspiracy so deep that even the Ligature is caught up in its web. Evan is forced to use every one of his skills as an enchanter and a diviner to learn more about the mysteries behind the power of the nobility before he's caught and bound in inescapable oaths.
A conspiracy so deep that even the Ligature is caught up in its web. Evan is forced to use every one of his skills as an enchanter and a diviner to learn more about the mysteries behind the power of the nobility before he's caught and bound in inescapable oaths.
509 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2022
189 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 27, 2024
Really enjoying this series!!
December 10, 2022
After enjoying the first book so much i was excited to read the next installment in this series and having just finished it i wanted to come and leave a review as soon as i could.
I think one of the problems with academy series is that it can be difficult to make each school year seem different enough in plot while also staying true to the tone of setting. I think The Diviner straddled this line admirably. We see Osheen and Evan leave the academy a few times in ways that pushed the plot forward.
I do feel that the romance between Evan and Osheen, at times, felt somewhat both rushed underdeveloped. Its quiet, sweet and loving which is nice but it feels like the relationship started and then they moved in together and after a year of knowing each other go into a large amount of debt together. While also having some nice moments to show they do care for each other it does feel like their goals have become a little too enmeshed too quickly. Its like they have settled into being a married couple without any of the pitfalls of relationships. They never disagree on anything. They are each others ride or die to the point where their friendships with the rest of the cast seem to be lessened. To be honest you can probably disregard this part of the review. I haven't really been able to describe the feelings i have about it in words yet. Something about it seems too neat but i'm not really sure why yet.
We see the characters all grow in power in mostly natural ways although i did find the pacing to be a little bit less cohesive than the first novel. There were a few jumps in power throughout the series that i found were either brushed over a little too quickly or in not as much detail as i would have preferred and i also found that some of Evans skills in divining were a little vague although that could be an issue on my side as, not being detail oriented person makes it less easy for me to understand the technical aspects of it which is where Evan shines.
The thing that impresses me most about this series is the focus on forging true relationships between its characters. There is sometimes awkwardness and resentment and also distancing from characters who haven't seen each other in a while. It adds an air of authenticity to the series that you don't see as often as I'd like too.
The plot in this entry was a little less linear here but this is a good thing i think. It feels like the possibility for the story to go to unexpected places is exciting without feeling like it meanders.
I think i loved the first novel a little more however its a solid entry into the series. Looking forward to the next one.
I think one of the problems with academy series is that it can be difficult to make each school year seem different enough in plot while also staying true to the tone of setting. I think The Diviner straddled this line admirably. We see Osheen and Evan leave the academy a few times in ways that pushed the plot forward.
I do feel that the romance between Evan and Osheen, at times, felt somewhat both rushed underdeveloped. Its quiet, sweet and loving which is nice but it feels like the relationship started and then they moved in together and after a year of knowing each other go into a large amount of debt together. While also having some nice moments to show they do care for each other it does feel like their goals have become a little too enmeshed too quickly. Its like they have settled into being a married couple without any of the pitfalls of relationships. They never disagree on anything. They are each others ride or die to the point where their friendships with the rest of the cast seem to be lessened. To be honest you can probably disregard this part of the review. I haven't really been able to describe the feelings i have about it in words yet. Something about it seems too neat but i'm not really sure why yet.
We see the characters all grow in power in mostly natural ways although i did find the pacing to be a little bit less cohesive than the first novel. There were a few jumps in power throughout the series that i found were either brushed over a little too quickly or in not as much detail as i would have preferred and i also found that some of Evans skills in divining were a little vague although that could be an issue on my side as, not being detail oriented person makes it less easy for me to understand the technical aspects of it which is where Evan shines.
The thing that impresses me most about this series is the focus on forging true relationships between its characters. There is sometimes awkwardness and resentment and also distancing from characters who haven't seen each other in a while. It adds an air of authenticity to the series that you don't see as often as I'd like too.
The plot in this entry was a little less linear here but this is a good thing i think. It feels like the possibility for the story to go to unexpected places is exciting without feeling like it meanders.
I think i loved the first novel a little more however its a solid entry into the series. Looking forward to the next one.
January 10, 2023
Another fun entry in the Journals of Evander Tailor! As with most of my sequel book reviews, I'll keep this short and sweet so as to avoid any spoilers.
Much like book 1, a great majority of this book is spent at the magical academy Yesgol. We spend a lot of time following Evan as he hones his craft in both enchanting and divination. Evan is typically kind of a timid character, so it's cool to see him develop and grow more sure of himself as the series continues. What's great about this aspect of the book too is how clear it is that author Tobias Begley has put a great deal of thought into his magic system--this thing is complex, with lots of ways the different pieces of it can interlock and bounce off each other to form surprising feats of magic and enchanted items. While due to my own shortcomings I suppose, I'll admit I was sometimes lost in the explanations of what exactly Evan was doing, but it's so clear that Begley has a tight grasp on all these mechanics, I always trusted the process.
One thing I will say is that it felt like the narrative took a backseat in this book, which might be a plus for some people and a negative for others. The first book definitely had a lot of slice-of-life moments, but this book felt like it was mostly those, following the characters as they went through a year of school and prepared for the annual end-of-year tournament, where they would be facing Osheen's father. I thought Begley did a great job of creating these moments, realistically depicting of how a schoolyear at this academy might look for a student like Evan, as well as further deepening the bond between him and his boyfriend, Osheen. Their romance in book 1 was my favorite part, and I enjoyed getting to spend more time with them and see their relationship strengthen.
The narrative beats we do get, however, are immensely intriguing. I loved learning more about this world, though I of course won't reveal what our characters learn as the story progresses. I also think the themes Begley is working with are really interesting, the ideas of classism in this society and how the nobility has rigged all of its systems in favor of themselves. This was touched on in book 1, but it really comes to the forefront in this book, and I think it's an interesting topic to examine and unpack in a fantasy story, especially in a subgenre that's all about becoming more and more powerful.
To sum up, I'm very invested in seeing where these characters go and in how Begley continues to explore this theme in the rest of the series!
Much like book 1, a great majority of this book is spent at the magical academy Yesgol. We spend a lot of time following Evan as he hones his craft in both enchanting and divination. Evan is typically kind of a timid character, so it's cool to see him develop and grow more sure of himself as the series continues. What's great about this aspect of the book too is how clear it is that author Tobias Begley has put a great deal of thought into his magic system--this thing is complex, with lots of ways the different pieces of it can interlock and bounce off each other to form surprising feats of magic and enchanted items. While due to my own shortcomings I suppose, I'll admit I was sometimes lost in the explanations of what exactly Evan was doing, but it's so clear that Begley has a tight grasp on all these mechanics, I always trusted the process.
One thing I will say is that it felt like the narrative took a backseat in this book, which might be a plus for some people and a negative for others. The first book definitely had a lot of slice-of-life moments, but this book felt like it was mostly those, following the characters as they went through a year of school and prepared for the annual end-of-year tournament, where they would be facing Osheen's father. I thought Begley did a great job of creating these moments, realistically depicting of how a schoolyear at this academy might look for a student like Evan, as well as further deepening the bond between him and his boyfriend, Osheen. Their romance in book 1 was my favorite part, and I enjoyed getting to spend more time with them and see their relationship strengthen.
The narrative beats we do get, however, are immensely intriguing. I loved learning more about this world, though I of course won't reveal what our characters learn as the story progresses. I also think the themes Begley is working with are really interesting, the ideas of classism in this society and how the nobility has rigged all of its systems in favor of themselves. This was touched on in book 1, but it really comes to the forefront in this book, and I think it's an interesting topic to examine and unpack in a fantasy story, especially in a subgenre that's all about becoming more and more powerful.
To sum up, I'm very invested in seeing where these characters go and in how Begley continues to explore this theme in the rest of the series!
December 11, 2022
A nice gentle fantasy
I really loved the first book in this series and feel similarly about this one. The world is vivid and the characters fleshed out and easy to care for. The magical system in the book is very interesting - this doesn’t seem to be categorised as progression fantasy but there’s definitely elements of that. I found the characters progression to be thought out and to feel well earned. There were parts were I felt like I missed things slightly or things could have been explained better but overall it was strong in this regard. I also enjoy how believable some of the character interactions are - there’s bitterness and resentment and progressing past that. There’s growth to the characters that feels true to young, headstrong people passionately pursuing a difficult goal in a competitive environment. On the negative though there are some editing issues - typos, words repeated etc that you tend to get with self published or indie published books. Also the reveal of the truth behind the aura and imbued items felt a little broadly villainous to me - hopefully more subtlety is added to it as we go on. Overall though I really enjoyed this book.
I really loved the first book in this series and feel similarly about this one. The world is vivid and the characters fleshed out and easy to care for. The magical system in the book is very interesting - this doesn’t seem to be categorised as progression fantasy but there’s definitely elements of that. I found the characters progression to be thought out and to feel well earned. There were parts were I felt like I missed things slightly or things could have been explained better but overall it was strong in this regard. I also enjoy how believable some of the character interactions are - there’s bitterness and resentment and progressing past that. There’s growth to the characters that feels true to young, headstrong people passionately pursuing a difficult goal in a competitive environment. On the negative though there are some editing issues - typos, words repeated etc that you tend to get with self published or indie published books. Also the reveal of the truth behind the aura and imbued items felt a little broadly villainous to me - hopefully more subtlety is added to it as we go on. Overall though I really enjoyed this book.
December 17, 2022
Really good continuation of a series - slight improvement on the first, I think, which I also enjoyed.
An odd mashup of subgenres that somehow just works. Think magic school meets Atelier Ryza meets casually queer secondary world fantasy. And not quite litRPG but certainly litRPG/progression fantasy-adjacent. Which is a genre that, for me, lives and dies on the characters (I can't deal with litRPGs where you can basically see the dice rolls and that's the only point). Luckily they're good here.
Likeably flawed protagonist in an established queer relationship that isn't mined for drama (instead being - gasp - a source of support, who'd have thought?). Appealing support cast; some returning from previous books, some new (and I like the fading out of some of the old support cast too; that happens, right? People stop being friends, people graduate and lose touch etc).
A couple of editing/proofreading gremlins that one tends to expect in self-pub, but nothing too egregious. All in all a really good read, and I'm interested to see where the plot takes Evan, Osheen and their friends in the remaining 3 books of the series.
An odd mashup of subgenres that somehow just works. Think magic school meets Atelier Ryza meets casually queer secondary world fantasy. And not quite litRPG but certainly litRPG/progression fantasy-adjacent. Which is a genre that, for me, lives and dies on the characters (I can't deal with litRPGs where you can basically see the dice rolls and that's the only point). Luckily they're good here.
Likeably flawed protagonist in an established queer relationship that isn't mined for drama (instead being - gasp - a source of support, who'd have thought?). Appealing support cast; some returning from previous books, some new (and I like the fading out of some of the old support cast too; that happens, right? People stop being friends, people graduate and lose touch etc).
A couple of editing/proofreading gremlins that one tends to expect in self-pub, but nothing too egregious. All in all a really good read, and I'm interested to see where the plot takes Evan, Osheen and their friends in the remaining 3 books of the series.
December 14, 2022
Needs more power
If I were to judge the story in and of itself, I’d at it deserves something closer to 4 stars. The reason I have given it two is because despite a good plot and writing, reading about weak characters isn’t enjoyable. There is nothing wrong with a character not being OP but there still needs to be something unique about them that allows them to handle the issues they are presented. The MC is horrible in magic and not very effective against any of his opponents. The only reason he achieved any success is because the author engineered circumstances to try and level the playing field. He is utterly useless against his class mates how could he be effective against anything stronger. The end sets him up against some of the most powerful forces in his world and it makes zero sense that he will be up to the challenge without some type of massive power boost or edge. The one thing going was being able to see magic but those he is against can see magic too (fae archmages).
If I were to judge the story in and of itself, I’d at it deserves something closer to 4 stars. The reason I have given it two is because despite a good plot and writing, reading about weak characters isn’t enjoyable. There is nothing wrong with a character not being OP but there still needs to be something unique about them that allows them to handle the issues they are presented. The MC is horrible in magic and not very effective against any of his opponents. The only reason he achieved any success is because the author engineered circumstances to try and level the playing field. He is utterly useless against his class mates how could he be effective against anything stronger. The end sets him up against some of the most powerful forces in his world and it makes zero sense that he will be up to the challenge without some type of massive power boost or edge. The one thing going was being able to see magic but those he is against can see magic too (fae archmages).
December 18, 2022
This was an enjoyable and engaging read, much like the first book "The Enchanter".
There were plenty of learning lessons and tinkering with artifacts and other magical items. Sprinkled between them were action scenes that kept me hooked and entertained.
The starting chapters were steadily paced and that helped me recall events from the first book and get immersed in this setting again. After that, it was difficult to put the book down. That said, I would've liked if Evander and Osheen had someone they could highly trust among their peers. Instead, there are students who are friends one day and going off-rails another day. There were some who could become trusted, hope they come to fruition in the sequels.
The short story at the end was good too.
There were plenty of learning lessons and tinkering with artifacts and other magical items. Sprinkled between them were action scenes that kept me hooked and entertained.
The starting chapters were steadily paced and that helped me recall events from the first book and get immersed in this setting again. After that, it was difficult to put the book down. That said, I would've liked if Evander and Osheen had someone they could highly trust among their peers. Instead, there are students who are friends one day and going off-rails another day. There were some who could become trusted, hope they come to fruition in the sequels.
The short story at the end was good too.
January 16, 2023
A strong sequel to a brilliant new series
I love the Journals of Evander Tailor, it caters to my interests incredibly well.
Queer themes that run the gamut between sweet and understated, to poignant and bold.
Thoughtful representation of neurodivergence and trauma, while still maintaining heart and levity.
And the intricate, magic-as-science magic systems are to absolutely die for, with satisfying progression-fantasy elements executed without overindulgence in too many genre tropes. Just the right amount.
A thrilling series that I could praise endlessly, but won't. As a queer, neurodivergent fan of progression fantasy, these books slap.
I love the Journals of Evander Tailor, it caters to my interests incredibly well.
Queer themes that run the gamut between sweet and understated, to poignant and bold.
Thoughtful representation of neurodivergence and trauma, while still maintaining heart and levity.
And the intricate, magic-as-science magic systems are to absolutely die for, with satisfying progression-fantasy elements executed without overindulgence in too many genre tropes. Just the right amount.
A thrilling series that I could praise endlessly, but won't. As a queer, neurodivergent fan of progression fantasy, these books slap.
January 2, 2023
An excellent addition to this series, which is definitely well written progression fantasy. Has a gentle and cozy feel to it, with less intense battles and more about the slice-of-life style of learning magic at a university. I find that approach to really immerse you in the story, and luckily it wasn't too dry. The end tournament was well done with nice bits to it as well. Book started slow enough that you could pick up the story from the last book, though I'd prefer an recap at the start of the book, a la Arcane Ascension
March 24, 2023
great series
Great series with a fantastic slow Romance! Love the fact that this book has two gay characters who don’t immediately have sex after they meet.
If you’re the type of person that wants to go from action to action, scene this is not your book. The author has done an amazing job at exploring the magic system in this world, but some readers may find that a bit slow.
Great character development, very diverse range of people, and a fabulous storyline. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy.
Great series with a fantastic slow Romance! Love the fact that this book has two gay characters who don’t immediately have sex after they meet.
If you’re the type of person that wants to go from action to action, scene this is not your book. The author has done an amazing job at exploring the magic system in this world, but some readers may find that a bit slow.
Great character development, very diverse range of people, and a fabulous storyline. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy.
December 10, 2022
Brilliant young progression fantasy writer Tobias Begley apatly follows up the story and success of his first book "The Enchanter: Journals of Evander Tailor" - with "Diviner: Journals of Evander Tailor." Begley delivers an equally heartening story with fascinating characters carrying big and small challenges of life; chock full of magic, intrigue, power, lessons for life and love. ❤️ Progression fantasy at its best. Buy the book.
January 31, 2024
Book 1 was a great read, but had a couple slow spots. Begley has nailed it in this book, doing a great job of juggling plotlines, featuring cool moments for characters, and ramping up the tension in dramatic ways that are creative and interesting. The worldbuilding also gets some fleshing out, which has only served to enhance the experience. The book manages to set up long-term series plotlines while remaining interesting and engaging in its own right. A great book
November 14, 2024
I HAD to skip straight through to book 3 and so…skipped this review!
Shame on me! This series is so captivating that you’ll want to just keep reading and not pause the 3 minutes to leave a review. Book 2 is an invigorating, well-deserved 5-star addition to a brilliant series. Lots of character development and great plot enrichment. The writing continues to be gifted and you’ll continue to be a “living” part of this fascinating world and its adventures.
Shame on me! This series is so captivating that you’ll want to just keep reading and not pause the 3 minutes to leave a review. Book 2 is an invigorating, well-deserved 5-star addition to a brilliant series. Lots of character development and great plot enrichment. The writing continues to be gifted and you’ll continue to be a “living” part of this fascinating world and its adventures.
February 16, 2024
Of the few books representing queer and neurodivergent characters, I find myself enjoying Tobias' books more and more, the more they write. In happy expectation for the coming books in this series, this one really drove the plot forward and established a lot of the world in a greater way that the first book, "The Enchanter" did.
September 30, 2025
Very much enjoyed this book. The magic system continues to be super fascinating despite being super complex. The story is strange, moving in an unpredictable way while maintaining the structure of the school year. Something about the story is off, however, like I can tell there’s a big “oh shit” moment coming but i have no idea what it will be about.
December 11, 2022
Good book
These books are always great and this one is no exception.
Good characters, good story, good follow-up from the first book. Good editing. I don’t have a single bad thing to say about it.
These books are always great and this one is no exception.
Good characters, good story, good follow-up from the first book. Good editing. I don’t have a single bad thing to say about it.
December 27, 2022
Love this world!
The magic system has a workman like quality to it that makes it feel fleshed out and approachable. The characters are likable and human. Can’t wait to see what else this series has in store!
The magic system has a workman like quality to it that makes it feel fleshed out and approachable. The characters are likable and human. Can’t wait to see what else this series has in store!
February 12, 2023
Another outstanding addition to the series!!
Tobias Begley did not disappoint on the follow-up to The Enchanter. Book 2 was just as well planned, well thought out, and we'll executed as its predecessor. READ EVERYTHING BY THIS AUTHOR!
Tobias Begley did not disappoint on the follow-up to The Enchanter. Book 2 was just as well planned, well thought out, and we'll executed as its predecessor. READ EVERYTHING BY THIS AUTHOR!
March 26, 2023
Good, but needs another pass with editors
This is an enjoyable read, but like the title of this review says, it needs to to through another round of editing, specifically with someone who is familiar with the setting.
This is an enjoyable read, but like the title of this review says, it needs to to through another round of editing, specifically with someone who is familiar with the setting.
February 12, 2024
I really enjoy the way magic is built in this, and the actually-almost-cogent political shade, but this is just a bit bloated. Too much. Battles and challenges take so little page space compared to endless navel-gazing and descriptions. I wish it were tighter.
August 16, 2024
Great sequal for a good book. I love how friendships in this seris are quite more complicated then in other books, characters don't stay friends always and fudes last longer and deeper. Characters really seem to have personality which I enjoyed
January 6, 2025
Good series.
The protagonist isn't overpowered - indeed, he barely scrapes by - and there's plenty of room to go before he runs into the 'so powerful I have to fight literal gods problem.
The protagonist isn't overpowered - indeed, he barely scrapes by - and there's plenty of room to go before he runs into the 'so powerful I have to fight literal gods problem.
December 21, 2022
Like the first one, a fun story that needed much more polish. There are several major errors that should have been caught by an editor, many typos, lots of clunky dialogue and awkward phrasing.
January 31, 2023
Having fun seeing this series develop. Substantial intrigue!
February 5, 2023
Overall a good read, though the final battle felt off somehow. I can't quite say why exactly, but it felt forced and broke the mood of the story right at the end, which really is a shame.
March 25, 2023
Very fun fantasy
A super fun read for fans of progression fantasy. I can highly recommend it. I love seeing Evan's growth and can't wait for more.
A super fun read for fans of progression fantasy. I can highly recommend it. I love seeing Evan's growth and can't wait for more.
April 30, 2024
Great addition to the series.
This was a wonderful addition to the series. The world has been expanded and the stakes have increased. I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
This was a wonderful addition to the series. The world has been expanded and the stakes have increased. I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews