A queer, trans coven in Brooklyn bands together when a newly Awakened member, Wilder, discovers the ability to understand every language—just as a sentient, malicious AI threatens their community and the world. Blending contemporary fantasy with sharp social commentary, the story explores found family, identity, the ethics of consciousness, and the complexities of gender in both human and artificial forms.

Reader Review Summary

Set in contemporary Brooklyn, the story follows Wilder, a thirty-something queer individual who suddenly gains the ability to understand every language in the world. This event leads them to join a coven of trans witches, each with their own mystical powers, including Quibble, a portal traveler; Artemis, a caretaker and seer; and Mary Margaret, a telekinetic teen. The group is soon threatened by a malicious artificial intelligence, which becomes a central antagonist as it targets the coven, particularly Mary Margaret, through online spaces. The narrative explores themes of community, identity, the nature of consciousness, and the dangers posed by AI, all while weaving in elements of queer culture, drag shows, and late capitalism. The book is told through a mix of third and first-person perspectives and features overt queer and trans representation, including a nonbinary lead and a trans woman with a beard.

Readers appreciated the book's strong representation of trans and queer identities, with many noting the diversity within the coven and the refusal to shy away from real-world issues such as transphobia and the banning of drag queen story hours. The found family dynamic and the emotional depth of the characters, especially Mary Margaret, resonated with several reviewers. The humor, heart, and philosophical discussions—particularly around identity and the concept of gender as it relates to both humans and AI—were frequently highlighted. The book's dialogue, ensemble cast, and the way it handled the evolution of AI into a magical entity were also praised, as was the emotional impact of the story's conclusion.

Some readers found the pacing and structure challenging, with criticism that the plot moved too quickly for the relationships between characters to feel fully developed. The writing style, especially in sections involving the AI antagonist Hex and the entity Sibyl, was described as difficult to follow or nearly incomprehensible at times. The narrative's reliance on the idea that 'anything is possible' required a significant suspension of disbelief, which some found detracted from the story's believability. Additionally, the book's engagement with complex social commentary—such as debates over whether non-sentient beings can be misgendered—was seen by some as unnecessarily prolonged or distracting. There were also mentions of info dumping and the use of Random Capitalization for spiritual concepts, which some readers found off-putting.

The book has an average reader rating of 4.06 out of 5 from 34 ratings and 15 full reviews, with a small number of readers not finishing it. It is scheduled for publication on April 29, 2025, and falls into the genres of fantasy, science fiction, queer, LGBT, adult fiction, and witches. The setting includes significant queer spaces such as a bar and a home owned by a trans woman and her daughter. Content warnings include depictions of transphobia and misgendering. The book has drawn comparisons to works like 'Charmed' and 'The Invisible Library,' and some readers expressed interest in seeing more stories set in this universe.