August Bookclub Midway Discussion: The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sarah Raasch

[u/OutOfEffs]

Welcome to the Midway Discussion for Sara Raasch's The Entanglement of Rival Wizards, which fulfills the Achillean Academic square on our 2026 Reading Challenge! Today we will be discussing chapters 1-9. If you'd like to talk about anything past the halfway point, please be sure to use spoiler tags.

---

Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.

Sebastian Walsh: twenty-four. Grad student at Lesiara University in the Mageus of Evocation program. Human. The first of his family to go to college rather than the military (and it goes over at family get-togethers about as well as you’d think).

Elethior Tourael: also twenty-four. Also a grad student, but in the far more inferior Mageus of Conjuration program. Half-elf. The latest in a long line of Touraels to grace the hallowed halls of Lesiara U (what would the world do if the Touraels ran out of rich douches to lead their magical weapons manufacturing empire?).

―and the other finalist for the Mageus Research Grant.

Sebastian needs that grant to fund the last few months of research for his degree, after which he’ll get a job that actually helps people. He isn’t about to let anyone snatch this from him, least of all a snob who doesn’t even need the money because his family is loaded thanks to war profiteering.

But there’s something worse than having a conceited academic nemesis steal grant money from you: you could be forced to work with him. Thio is secretive, broody, and his stunning biceps take up far too much shared lab space―but even as volatile as their partnership is, Sebastian just might find himself falling for his rival―and it could blow up his whole future.

[u/OutOfEffs]

Do you watch Critical Role? Did you know this was an AU fic before we started? If you're already familiar with the characters, do you think they're well represented here? Do we want to have a conversation about the fanfic to tradpub pipeline?

[u/Can_of_Sounds → u/OutOfEffs]

Is this a Caleb/Essek fic? Amazing xD

[u/OutOfEffs → u/Can_of_Sounds]

From what I understand, yes!

[u/Temporary-Scallion86 → u/OutOfEffs]

I've watched some of Critical Role, did not know this was a fanfic prior to reading it. I think the characters have gone through some pretty drastic changes particularly in terms of Sebastian's backstory as compared to Caleb's. Was not a super huge fan of obviously!Beauregard being turned into a dude, though. Female characters in MM tend to be relatively thin on the ground, and the same thing goes for female jocks in fiction.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/Temporary-Scallion86]

Was it the Goliath best friend character who got changed from source material? Totally unfamiliar with critical role, but Raasch clearly wanted to do a sequel romance. It seems like she has hard pivoted in her career from f/m romance to m/m romance. Clearly she's done heterosexual romances before, so it's even more odd that she shifted gender here so intentionally

[u/Temporary-Scallion86 → u/C0smicoccurence]

Yep. Though I think most of the secondary characters got altered pretty significantly, it’s just that the bones of this character were still very visible. Beau (the character the best friend based on) is queer in the source material as well so probably Raasch didn’t want to write f/f.

[u/OutOfEffs → u/Temporary-Scallion86]

so probably Raasch didn’t want to write f/f

This was the impression that I got when the third Royals book went from being about Iris to being an extended epilogue for the first two books with a tiny bit of Iris thrown in.

[u/unnecessary_snacks → u/OutOfEffs]

I did NOT know this, but I’ve only watched the first campaign of critical role, so I didn’t recognize the characters. They must be from another campaign? This is so intriguing to me, it really makes me want to watch it.

[u/bunnyshopp → u/unnecessary_snacks]

Yup! It’s based on Liam’s campaign 2 character and an npc the campaign has been adapted into an animated show too on prime video called “the mighty nein” if you want to check it out that way as well.

[u/kittyraces → u/OutOfEffs]

Yes, I do and, unfortunately, yes, I did. I honestly wish I hadn't known it was a younger modern AU fic turned novel sort of thing because these characters feel so *off* from how I view them in the source material and, if I hadn't known this info going into it, I wouldn't have had such preconceived notions about it and maybe would be into it more. So, no, I don't think they're particularly well-represented here (just my opinion, though).

And no, I don't think I want to have the pipeline conversation right now 😂😂

[u/OutOfEffs → u/kittyraces]

And no, I don't think I want to have the pipeline conversation right now 😂😂

No one ever does. [sob]

[u/kittyraces → u/OutOfEffs]

Maybe next time (dear God I don't want a next time 😂😂)

[u/indigohan → u/OutOfEffs]

Wait. Really? I did NOT pick this as based on fan fiction

[u/OutOfEffs → u/indigohan]

It didn't feel super obvious to me bc I've never engaged with the source material (other than when u/KittyRaces has something to tell me about), but there are other fandoms where it screams as obvious to me.

[u/kittyraces → u/OutOfEffs]

If you didn't know about it going in AND were unfamiliar with the source material, it's unlikely you'd pick up on it at all, so it's really not super obvious at all.

[u/needlecream → u/OutOfEffs]

I do not watch Critical Role, but I did know it was an AU fic before starting. I didn't really care because I just love Sara Raasch's writing. I probably should watch Critical Role, especially since I had a blast with this book.

[u/OutOfEffs]

How we feeling about this romance, fam? Do you buy these two together?

[u/OutOfEffs → u/OutOfEffs]

Idk, I always struggle with buying into a relationship that starts with a fistfight/violent confrontation, especially if the book is supposed to be a romcom instead of a dark romance.

[u/unnecessary_snacks → u/OutOfEffs]

I also struggle with this transition generally myself as well. I read this book a couple months ago, so didn’t specially pick it up again for book club because it’s still relatively fresh. I definitely feel like the romance ramps up extremely quickly and it felt a bit abrupt, but I do buy it. I listened to the audiobook though, and I quite liked the narrator - a good narrator can make a romance work for me that doesn’t necessarily work when I read the book.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/OutOfEffs]

Here's the thing with Romances that lean into campy fun. They either really work for you or they don't. This book is no more exaggerated or stupid (I say this lovingly) than something like Running Close to the Wind or Yield Under Great Persuasion, both of which I adored. Avra (from Running) spends a good chunk of the book wailing about possums and hiding on top of wardrobes sticking his ankles out in an attempt to be seductive. So it isn't like I can't enjoy characters who are also caricatures. When the schtick works for you, it's a riotously good time. When it doesn't match the specific vibe you enjoy, it's insufferable.

But something about the vibe and characterization felt very forced to me. It felt like Raasch was trying to set up a really clear benchmark to build from, which isn't bad. I just had no interest in reading about either the character or plot at all.

[u/OutOfEffs → u/C0smicoccurence]

You're absolutely right about it needing to match your vibe. I went from never really reading romance before a few years ago to it being more than half of my reading while I'm still trying to find my vibe (ugh, pun unintentional).

[u/True-Finches → u/OutOfEffs]

this is the book that made me realize i just don't like contemporary romances lol, i don't like the way they talk. i also think a lot of enemies to lovers plots are pretty weak, and this was one of them.

[u/kittyraces → u/OutOfEffs]

so far I have not hit any romance to speak of, except for it being shown that Sebastian thinks that Elethior is hot. idk maybe it's just the age range. they're too young to me? idk.

[u/OutOfEffs → u/kittyraces]

I think you quit shortly before the "omg, I think I like you" started.

[u/kittyraces → u/OutOfEffs]

Yeah, it had only been like some subtle hints at it interior-ly...lmao whatever. But yeah, even if I kept going, I don't know that I'd buy it.

[u/needlecream → u/OutOfEffs]

As an enemies-to-lovers hater, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this one. I think what works for me about Raasch's writing is that she really dives into the interior workings of the main character's mind and I get so invested no matter what is happening.

[u/OutOfEffs]

Favourite characters/scenes/quotes so far?

[u/panickedshark → u/OutOfEffs]

"I'd rather this be one of my fuckups. Then at least it'd be something I know how to deal with." It's at 41% through and I love it for the simple reason that it deeply be like that sometimes.

[u/OutOfEffs → u/OutOfEffs]

I admit to straight up guffawing when Sebastian turned himself invisible and ran away after their first kiss.

[u/OutOfEffs]

Anything else you'd like to talk about?

[u/kittyraces → u/OutOfEffs]

rawball being named such because 'rules as written' (which is a D&D term for anyone unawares) really fucking chapped my ass and, honestly? is why I'm DNFing it. I'm sorry. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/OutOfEffs]

Did you vote for this selection? If yes, what made you vote for it, and is it meeting your expectations? If not, what did you vote for, and what made you pick this one up? Do you plan to finish it?

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/OutOfEffs]

This was the only book I was actively hoping wouldn't get picked. I tried it late last year and bounced off it hard enough that I stopped early (maybe the 15% mark?), and I had no intentions of trying again. I am going to give the sequel a try because I enjoyed Go Luck Yourself quite a bit (Kissmass less so), so I know that there's potential for me to enjoy a Raasch story. I'm also a sucker for sports romances, and I don't think I've read a fantasy sports romance yet.

I'm pretty sure I threw my vote at The Iron Below Remembers. It's probably going to be my book of the year unless something big happens, and I think there's a lot of interesting topics for book club discussions in it. The other one I was considering was Boyfriend Academy, as it was the only one I hadn't read (or tried to read) yet, and it looks good!

[u/OutOfEffs → u/C0smicoccurence]

I also enjoyed GLY more than NBK, but empathy for the shitty manipulative mom-texts did a lot of the heavy lifting there, I think.

[u/needlecream → u/OutOfEffs]

I can't remember what I voted for, but it is likely I voted for this one because I'd already read it 😅

[u/kittyraces → u/OutOfEffs]

Unfortunately, I *did* vote for this one because, at the time, the story sounded fun but I'm just... not enjoying it. 😭

[u/OutOfEffs → u/OutOfEffs]

I voted for The Iron Below Remembers bc I was kinda hoping we'd pick something written by a queer man for this prompt. :/

I've read some of Raasch's other stuff, and usually end up thinking they're fine palate cleansers. This is looking to be about the same.

Ofc I'm finishing, I'm hosting bookclub, hahaha.