The Fake Divination Offense: A Magic & Romance Novel

Author: Sara Raasch

Overview

DELUXE EDITION—featuring stunning yellow sprayed edges!

From New York Times bestseller Sara Raasch, sports romance gets a Dungeons & Dragons makeover with the next book in the Magic and Romance series that follows half-giant Orok, forced into a PR relationship with a feisty, fan-favorite cheerleader.

Characters

• Orok Monroe: Half-giant. Rawball defensive tank on the Philadelphia Hellhounds. Follower of Urzoth...only Orok’s tired of following the god of aggression.
• Alexo Warden: Cheerleader. Human? A dancer with a stadium’s worth of secrets.

When Orok saves Alexo at a bar, fans go feral for the star athlete protecting the pint-size dude-in-distress. The Hellhounds propose that Orok and Alexo start a PR relationship to put a positive spin on Orok’s god. Orok is set to refuse and renounce Urzoth—but that wouldn’t let him see Alexo again.

So, like a sap, he agrees.

As Orok tries to drop the fake part of their fake relationship, Alexo’s dangerous truths emerge. To save him, Orok will have to sacrifice far more than his divine association.

Reading Updates

• Audiobook | DNF: What the River Knows

  • DNFed at: 41%
  • Thoughts: There were parts of this story that interested me. I really liked the setting and I was intrigued by the mystery, magic, and banter between Inez and Whit. Unfortunately, the main character was so insufferable that I couldn't enjoy the story and had to stop reading.

• Paperback | Currently Reading: To Bargain with Mortals

  • Progress: 61%
  • Thoughts: I'm really enjoying To Bargain with Mortals! I really love the way this book is challenging Poppy's character and forcing her to confront her bias and privilege. I am excited (and STRESSED) to see how the characters face the impossible tasks in their future.

• Ebook (ARC) | Finished: The Fake Divination Offense

  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Release Date: May 19, 2026
  • Thoughts: Apparently I only read my ARCs really early or really late lol. This was exactly what I wanted it to be: a fun, sweet, sexy fantasy rom-com. I really love the way that Sara Raasch balances spicy romance plots with emotional character arcs and relationships. I do feel like the story started to feel a little bit too over the top towards the end, but I would eagerly pick up more romance stories set in this world.

• Audiobook + Ebook | Finished: The White Octopus Hotel

  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Thoughts: I loved The White Octopus Hotel. It is a quiet, almost melancholy, story about grief, love, hope, and healing. The emotional weight to the character relationships is profound, and I cannot recommend this enough to fans of The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden.

Future Reading Plans

This past reading week was filled with a lot of unexpected reads so my future reading plans remain very similar, including: The Everlasting, The Sacred Space Between, and Kill The Beast.

One new addition to my immediate TBR is my most recent Illumicrate book: The Isle in the Silver Sea. I admit I'm not as confident that this will be a win for me, but my friends have been giving this glowing reviews so I remain optimistic.

Book Recommendations

Dark/Shadow Magic Recommendations

• Dark Rise: In this historical fantasy world, the ancient magic has long been lost after the destructive war between the Dark and the Light. The character relationships are emotional, and the sequel is even better!

• Book of Night: Follows ex-con artist and thief Charlie, who manipulates shadows in a world of urban fantasy. The characters and romance subplot are compelling.

• The Serpent and the Wolf: A romantic fantasy about an arranged marriage and self-discovery, showcasing emotional healing through magic.

If you have any specific book recommendations you've been looking for, let me know and I'd be happy to include them in the next newsletter. Happy reading!

Samantha (ladybug.books)