The Fake Divination Offense

The Fake Divination Offense (2026) Sara Raasch (Magic and Romance #2)

Orok Monroe just wants to celebrate the lawsuit he and his best friend Seb won against the “Camp” that tortured them, but almost none of his new teammates show up, so he’s left wondering if the Hellhounds feel about him the same way his old team did.

Except I didn’t get traded due to my stats—which is the reason Seb thinks I’m on a brand-new three-year contract with the Hellhounds. I got traded because my old team turned on me for daring to bring down the camp that almost killed me.

He also wants desperately to step away from the patronage of the god who wasn’t there when Orok needed him most.

Call me a traitor to Urzoth, and my stomach sinks, all that beer I chugged shaking up at the sudden lurch.

Because they’re right.

But there is religious upheaval in the world, and some people view the lawsuit as a sign of weakness, so after an encounter in a bar that goes viral, PR decides Orok needs to fake dates the man he seemingly rescued.

When someone from HR hands us each a list of PDA options and gently asks us to circle which acts we’d be comfortable doing for cameras, I swear to all the gods that a blood vessel pops in my brain.

The list is … extensive. From handholding all the way to things no one should do for cameras unless they’re signing up for a whole other type of financial endeavor, and I stare at the list, stupefied.

Despite all the boinking, this was utterly delightful.

Orok–a half giant–isn’t a bumbling oaf.

“I have a Mageus in Theological Evocation. My apartment’s full of relics from various religions.”

It’s high fantasy set in our world with sports cars and cell phones and all our pop music.

And brief “news” asides that I adored.

“I can’t get enough of the way Orok watches him. Fans everywhere have been going wild for them, and I—”

*oooOOOOoooOOOOO*

“No, it’s not invasive to have these photos! And you’re a ghost, don’t you haunt places? How is that not invasive?”

*robot beeping noises*

“Um. That’s awful, Ratchatron. I’m sorry your—uh, Luxo’s wife left him at that restaurant.”

*aggressive robot beeping noises*

I thoroughly enjoyed this and now I am going to go read the first book in the series, which I have, but didn’t realize was a series. (I’d put off reading it because it’s “rivals to lovers” which is often not my jam.)

Characters: Orok Monroe, Sebastian Walsh, Thio, Nick, Mr. Alexo Warden, Marlow Keel, Darian Callabrass, Phei, Aaron Harsaf, Ghorza Monroe, Dave Monroe, Aunt Orla, Mila, Jemma, Roesia Sombercrown, Arthur Riprak, Treva, Maddock Drach, Ilbryen, Gulus, Tem Raussec, Diamanda Blacktalon

Cover art by lilithsaur

Publisher: Bramble

Rating: 8/10

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