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Augury
The people of an ancient city awaken one night to find the earth beneath them trembling. At the Emperor’s Palace, though, the feasting goes on. Even as the omens multiply, the High Priest insists that the gods’ favour can be bought as it always has been — with gold and ritual sacrifice.
Only the Augur — fearless, ageless, a prophetess who was once the power behind the throne — can see what is coming. Around her, an unlikely resistance gathers: Saba and Aemilia, her two young acolytes, stolen from distant homelands long ago; Myloxenes, the truth-seeking son of the High Priest, in flight from his savage father; and Antonus, pain-wracked and exiled, raising his family far from the depravity of the Palace he once called home.
Only the Augur — fearless, ageless, a prophetess who was once the power behind the throne — can see what is coming. Around her, an unlikely resistance gathers: Saba and Aemilia, her two young acolytes, stolen from distant homelands long ago; Myloxenes, the truth-seeking son of the High Priest, in flight from his savage father; and Antonus, pain-wracked and exiled, raising his family far from the depravity of the Palace he once called home.
320 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2020
5 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Lister
3 books21 followersS. E. Lister grew up in Gloucestershire, and studied Creative Writing at Warwick University.
She has been reading stories since she was old enough to pick up a book, and writing them almost as long. Alongside her creative writing, she has written for various magazines and websites about philosophy and film.
She loves vintage clothes, art-house cinemas and growing her own courgettes.
She has been reading stories since she was old enough to pick up a book, and writing them almost as long. Alongside her creative writing, she has written for various magazines and websites about philosophy and film.
She loves vintage clothes, art-house cinemas and growing her own courgettes.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 1, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
This book blew me away. It takes a little bit to get a feel for the setting and prose, but once you have acclimatised it’s hard to put down. It follows the reactions of several characters in the weeks following a prophet’s declaration that their city is doomed. It features two rival religious factions and political corruption, but what’s hard to describe is the complexity and detail of the story that make it so compelling.
I’m not sure whether it’s based on an actual Ancient Greek/Roman city (I have a theory, but it would be a spoiler) or a fictionalised version of the era, but the setting is classically based. Research has been done into the mundane aspects of life in that era as well as archaic societal views towards sexuality and women. As frustrating as this old mindset can be, the complicity of some female characters to these views feels authentic. There are also a few women who push back against the system in subtle ways, but it does not feel anachronistic.
Likewise, the male characters are either likeable or repugnant. The latter’s motivations are clear, which contributes greatly to the tension. This is a story about power and corruption, about fear and control. It’s fascinating from a distance as much as it still has relevance today.
At first, the lack of a main protagonist gave the novel a disjointed feel, but you realise quickly that different viewpoints provide a broad and complex impression of the society.
Where the novel really shines is the slow build-up of tension – it’s fabulously foreboding in tone. In a mimetic fashion to how the characters feel, we the reader sense that something bad is going to happen, but when and what is unclear.
Another interesting aspect about this novel is that we’re never sure if the “gods” are real or not. This was a great surprise, as I expected magical realism or fantasy. Instead, we again experience the same uncertainty the characters do, but this time about the existence of a furious deity demanding retribution.
The last quarter of the novel is fantastic. It builds to a frenzy of action that left me breathless. The Epilogue is perfect – it is satisfying but does not go too far with exposition.
All I can say is this book is fantastic.
This book blew me away. It takes a little bit to get a feel for the setting and prose, but once you have acclimatised it’s hard to put down. It follows the reactions of several characters in the weeks following a prophet’s declaration that their city is doomed. It features two rival religious factions and political corruption, but what’s hard to describe is the complexity and detail of the story that make it so compelling.
I’m not sure whether it’s based on an actual Ancient Greek/Roman city (I have a theory, but it would be a spoiler) or a fictionalised version of the era, but the setting is classically based. Research has been done into the mundane aspects of life in that era as well as archaic societal views towards sexuality and women. As frustrating as this old mindset can be, the complicity of some female characters to these views feels authentic. There are also a few women who push back against the system in subtle ways, but it does not feel anachronistic.
Likewise, the male characters are either likeable or repugnant. The latter’s motivations are clear, which contributes greatly to the tension. This is a story about power and corruption, about fear and control. It’s fascinating from a distance as much as it still has relevance today.
At first, the lack of a main protagonist gave the novel a disjointed feel, but you realise quickly that different viewpoints provide a broad and complex impression of the society.
Where the novel really shines is the slow build-up of tension – it’s fabulously foreboding in tone. In a mimetic fashion to how the characters feel, we the reader sense that something bad is going to happen, but when and what is unclear.
Another interesting aspect about this novel is that we’re never sure if the “gods” are real or not. This was a great surprise, as I expected magical realism or fantasy. Instead, we again experience the same uncertainty the characters do, but this time about the existence of a furious deity demanding retribution.
The last quarter of the novel is fantastic. It builds to a frenzy of action that left me breathless. The Epilogue is perfect – it is satisfying but does not go too far with exposition.
All I can say is this book is fantastic.
April 4, 2023
what can i say i love a narrative that interrogates the vast silence of god
October 24, 2020
Okay, I did not like this book. Nope. I am going to have to break with all of the super positive 4-5 star reviews up here. My 2 stars are generous. Sorry,
Augury,
you are unfortunately not my one true book love.
Things that were fine:
-Really great cover. Kudos to the artist who designed it!
-The Augur was a little badass old lady, despite being underdeveloped and getting little “airtime”
Things that were not fine:
-The characters are shallow, soulless, flat. Pick which adjective you will. The characters lack character
-The story is far too long told at far too slow a pace
-Does too much telling, not showing
- Overwrought description completely unnecessary to advance the plot. None of it warranted appreciation
- Writing in one character's perspective but then jumps into the inner thoughts of a different character within the scene… or second person, speaking to the character. Incredibly off-putting (like made me want to throw the book out a window ‘off-putting’)
-No intrigue or suspense. Everything is plainly spelled out for the reader as you are dragged upon a boring journey through a plot that it would simply be false to call unique
I could write more but I feel I have probably already gotten the point across. I will leave you for other readers, Augury . May they find you more of a match than I did.
Things that were fine:
-Really great cover. Kudos to the artist who designed it!
-The Augur was a little badass old lady, despite being underdeveloped and getting little “airtime”
Things that were not fine:
-The characters are shallow, soulless, flat. Pick which adjective you will. The characters lack character
-The story is far too long told at far too slow a pace
-Does too much telling, not showing
- Overwrought description completely unnecessary to advance the plot. None of it warranted appreciation
- Writing in one character's perspective but then jumps into the inner thoughts of a different character within the scene… or second person, speaking to the character. Incredibly off-putting (like made me want to throw the book out a window ‘off-putting’)
-No intrigue or suspense. Everything is plainly spelled out for the reader as you are dragged upon a boring journey through a plot that it would simply be false to call unique
I could write more but I feel I have probably already gotten the point across. I will leave you for other readers, Augury . May they find you more of a match than I did.
April 7, 2022
Book 3 from my Mr B’s Emporium reading subscription.
Lister’s choice of words and phrases is beguiling throughout. Although the plot borrows from familiar historical events, the tale of political intrigue and patriarchy feels fresh.
Really enjoyed this.
Lister’s choice of words and phrases is beguiling throughout. Although the plot borrows from familiar historical events, the tale of political intrigue and patriarchy feels fresh.
Really enjoyed this.
Read
April 16, 2022DNF but I want to another time. I’ve been reading this for 2 months and I’m not even 100 pages through. The story just really isn’t interesting for me, at least not in the way I want it to be, and I feel like it just lacks genuine conflict. The conflict has been introduced, but it’s just not… interesting enough. I din’t know, I don’t dislike it but when i’m sitting down to read I never reach for it and if I do I read 5 pages and get bored.
May 23, 2020
Augury is a bold, ambitious, utterly convincing and enthralling novel. Set in an unnamed city that could be anywhere in the ancient world, two rival temples vie for the people’s trust, the Emperor’s ear, and for power: the Dark Temple, led by brutal, sinister Athraxus and the Augur’s Temple led by a woman who came to the city as a slave. As a prophecy of the city’s destruction spreads, a disparate group of outsiders come together to avert impending disaster.
SE Lister’s world-building is phenomenal; the reader feels totally immersed in a world where life hangs on the whim of a cruel emperor, a fanatical High Priest, or the ever-present gods.
The characters are memorable and vivid: the tender friendships of Saba and Aemilia, Rufus and Myloxenes are particularly moving. The prose is lyrical and beautiful.
It is a stunning, all-consuming read, and a thought-provoking exploration of religion and belief, corruption and brutality, power and misogyny.
One of those books you finish and return immediately to the start to begin again!
SE Lister’s world-building is phenomenal; the reader feels totally immersed in a world where life hangs on the whim of a cruel emperor, a fanatical High Priest, or the ever-present gods.
The characters are memorable and vivid: the tender friendships of Saba and Aemilia, Rufus and Myloxenes are particularly moving. The prose is lyrical and beautiful.
It is a stunning, all-consuming read, and a thought-provoking exploration of religion and belief, corruption and brutality, power and misogyny.
One of those books you finish and return immediately to the start to begin again!
January 31, 2023
This book is so incredible but so so underrated!
I loved everything about this book, from the story to the characters, the setting to the prose. Everything about it was lyrical and beautiful.
As a kid I was morbidly obsessed with Pompeii and this story definitely had a Pompeii “aesthetic” to it. It’s set in a city obviously inspired by (or meant to be) a roman city, and there are terrible prophecies afoot, with earthquakes and ash falling from the sky. But few want to heed the warning, preferring instead to continue in their excessive and hedonistic lifestyles, none more so than the Emperor himself.
I loved the characters, which were well rounded and complex and likeable (or distinctly unlikable, in the case of the Emperor and the High Priest Arthraxas). Myloxenes and Saba were my favourites.
If you want a hidden gem, definitely try this one out! It starts slow, and actually continues slowly as well, but it’s meandering and meditative. It’s not an action story, it’s a reflection on prophecy, grace, and impending doom, and most of all sacrificial love.
I loved everything about this book, from the story to the characters, the setting to the prose. Everything about it was lyrical and beautiful.
As a kid I was morbidly obsessed with Pompeii and this story definitely had a Pompeii “aesthetic” to it. It’s set in a city obviously inspired by (or meant to be) a roman city, and there are terrible prophecies afoot, with earthquakes and ash falling from the sky. But few want to heed the warning, preferring instead to continue in their excessive and hedonistic lifestyles, none more so than the Emperor himself.
I loved the characters, which were well rounded and complex and likeable (or distinctly unlikable, in the case of the Emperor and the High Priest Arthraxas). Myloxenes and Saba were my favourites.
If you want a hidden gem, definitely try this one out! It starts slow, and actually continues slowly as well, but it’s meandering and meditative. It’s not an action story, it’s a reflection on prophecy, grace, and impending doom, and most of all sacrificial love.
January 11, 2023
Well I didn't pick the best book to start off 2023 with. To sum it up, I was pretty bored throughout the entire book as it was a slog to get through. All the characters felt lifeless and flat like they were carbon copies of each other. The whole plot was slow, and just felt like it dragged on for far too long. This book should have been a lot shorter.
There are some positives; the writing was clear and concise and the setting was nice, although the ending reminded me a little bit of the mount Vesuvius Eruption and Pompeii which could have been the inspiration for the ending. In short, I had a very boring experience with this book.
There are some positives; the writing was clear and concise and the setting was nice, although the ending reminded me a little bit of the mount Vesuvius Eruption and Pompeii which could have been the inspiration for the ending. In short, I had a very boring experience with this book.
July 7, 2020
Atmospheric and immersive, threaded through with memory, myth and dream. Compelling characters. A slow burn... much of the novel is the calm before the storm, with the tension slowly, slowly building. The questions in my mind throughout: Should I hope? Should I expect destruction? I read this unusually slowly, enjoying the rich atmosphere. I loved it.
February 13, 2021
Brilliantly imagined story.
August 23, 2023
Beauitfully written tale about family, suffering, justice and love, set in an intriguing ancient city on the brink of major change...
May 28, 2020
‘A tour-de-force of imagination and literary craft from a young author whose star is rising. The setting is ancient, yet its conflicts, fears – and its hopes – are our own.'
(Publisher)
‘Can those who see the future also change it?’
Augury by S.E. Lister is published by Old Street Publishing. It is currently available in digital format, with paperback publication expected September 7th. Augury has been described as ‘literary fiction with strong female protagonists driving a plot with powerful contemporary relevance’ and is a book that is recommended for fans of Neil Gaiman, Natasha Pulley and Claire Evans.
Augury is a book that I would not normally gravitate toward but I decided to try something a little different and with S.E. Lister’s writing described as ‘literary fiction with a magical twist' I was intrigued.
I was not familiar with the term ‘Augury’ so a little research had to be done and here is what I discovered….
‘Prophetic divining of the future by observation of natural phenomena—particularly the behaviour of birds and animals and the examination of their entrails and other parts, but also by scrutiny of man-made objects and situations. The term derives from the official Roman augurs, whose constitutional function was not to foretell the future but to discover whether or not the gods approved of a proposed course of action, especially political or military'
Source – Britannica
Augury is set in ancient times, very strongly conjuring up images from a period in history when societies believed in many gods and were heavily influenced by prophetic messages and multiple signs.
In an ancient city there lives an old priestess, an Augur, who has watched over the city for many years. But she has enemies. She used to have the ear of the Emperor but he is now more affected by the words of the High Priest, a menacing individual who sees the Augur as dangerous and a bad influence. When the earth literally moves, the Augur foresees danger for the people of the city but her words are now only listened to by a few. Far from the Palace walls lives a man, Antonus, who once knew a different life. Born inside the Palace, tragedy redirected his path and he now resides outside the walls away from the feasting, the gluttony and the depravity of the royal lifestyle. Antonus feels the earth tremors, he believes that trouble is nigh and when a court official publicly recalls a devastating prophesy, Antonus knows that his world is about to be upended.
Meanwhile the Augur and her young priestesses work together to raise awareness of what lies ahead but the backlash is fierce. The city lives an excessive lifestyle and there are those who have no wish to change their ways. This is a society that has a lavish and excessive hedonistic way of life. There are very few who wish to give up the feasting, and treat both the Augur, and Antonus, with disrespect and malevolence.
Augury, although set in ancient times, carries many themes that are still relevant today. Humanity’s greed, and ability to be blindsided by corruption and money, is always a struggle to overcome. The signs are there, whether through nature or otherwise and it is how we choose to interpret them determines our behaviour. The High Priest believed that a few gold coins and a sacrifice was all that was needed but as the city began it’s descent into chaos, life was to change forever……
I must admit I did struggle a little with the initial chapters of Augury. The language used and some of the descriptions were new to me but as I read on I began to have a better understanding of what this mystical read was about.
Augury is unlike any book I have ever read before. It is quite prophetic in it’s message and, although set in ancient times, the sense of doom is palpable today. It is a fascinating and intriguing read with quite frightening consequences of what happens when the signs are ignored. Augury itself may be an ancient practice but perhaps we, as a society today, could learn something from these old ways and pay more heed to what nature is telling us. The underlying message is very strong in this book, this contemporary work of fiction.
Augury is a provocative and, at times, challenging read. It is an incredibly imaginative and well-researched work of fiction, a book that will most definitely earn many rave reviews for this young and extremely talented author.
‘Can those who see the future also change it?’
Augury by S.E. Lister is published by Old Street Publishing. It is currently available in digital format, with paperback publication expected September 7th. Augury has been described as ‘literary fiction with strong female protagonists driving a plot with powerful contemporary relevance’ and is a book that is recommended for fans of Neil Gaiman, Natasha Pulley and Claire Evans.
Augury is a book that I would not normally gravitate toward but I decided to try something a little different and with S.E. Lister’s writing described as ‘literary fiction with a magical twist' I was intrigued.
I was not familiar with the term ‘Augury’ so a little research had to be done and here is what I discovered….
‘Prophetic divining of the future by observation of natural phenomena—particularly the behaviour of birds and animals and the examination of their entrails and other parts, but also by scrutiny of man-made objects and situations. The term derives from the official Roman augurs, whose constitutional function was not to foretell the future but to discover whether or not the gods approved of a proposed course of action, especially political or military'
Source – Britannica
Augury is set in ancient times, very strongly conjuring up images from a period in history when societies believed in many gods and were heavily influenced by prophetic messages and multiple signs.
In an ancient city there lives an old priestess, an Augur, who has watched over the city for many years. But she has enemies. She used to have the ear of the Emperor but he is now more affected by the words of the High Priest, a menacing individual who sees the Augur as dangerous and a bad influence. When the earth literally moves, the Augur foresees danger for the people of the city but her words are now only listened to by a few. Far from the Palace walls lives a man, Antonus, who once knew a different life. Born inside the Palace, tragedy redirected his path and he now resides outside the walls away from the feasting, the gluttony and the depravity of the royal lifestyle. Antonus feels the earth tremors, he believes that trouble is nigh and when a court official publicly recalls a devastating prophesy, Antonus knows that his world is about to be upended.
Meanwhile the Augur and her young priestesses work together to raise awareness of what lies ahead but the backlash is fierce. The city lives an excessive lifestyle and there are those who have no wish to change their ways. This is a society that has a lavish and excessive hedonistic way of life. There are very few who wish to give up the feasting, and treat both the Augur, and Antonus, with disrespect and malevolence.
Augury, although set in ancient times, carries many themes that are still relevant today. Humanity’s greed, and ability to be blindsided by corruption and money, is always a struggle to overcome. The signs are there, whether through nature or otherwise and it is how we choose to interpret them determines our behaviour. The High Priest believed that a few gold coins and a sacrifice was all that was needed but as the city began it’s descent into chaos, life was to change forever……
I must admit I did struggle a little with the initial chapters of Augury. The language used and some of the descriptions were new to me but as I read on I began to have a better understanding of what this mystical read was about.
Augury is unlike any book I have ever read before. It is quite prophetic in it’s message and, although set in ancient times, the sense of doom is palpable today. It is a fascinating and intriguing read with quite frightening consequences of what happens when the signs are ignored. Augury itself may be an ancient practice but perhaps we, as a society today, could learn something from these old ways and pay more heed to what nature is telling us. The underlying message is very strong in this book, this contemporary work of fiction.
Augury is a provocative and, at times, challenging read. It is an incredibly imaginative and well-researched work of fiction, a book that will most definitely earn many rave reviews for this young and extremely talented author.
October 28, 2020
Lister's Augury is a stunning tale delving into complexities of human belief vs disbelief, love vs hatred, and loyalty vs betrayal, set against the backdrop of an ancient city torn between two religious orders. The details of everyday life lend a richness to the story that brings the characters (and their struggles) to life. The writing builds the tension wonderfully throughout the book, leaving the reader constantly doubting, hoping, and fearing, along with the protagonists. This is the very best of fiction.
March 28, 2023
I can see why this might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed this one a lot. There’s multiple POVs and the characters are all interesting if a bit difficult in their own way. The story starts off slow and up until almost the very end I wasn’t sure if the big catastrophe would even hit. It does give off a bit of Game of Thrones vibes in that there’s lots of political machinations going on that the characters end up realising were completely irrelevant in the face of disaster. My only complaints would be that the main villain is, well, very villainous with hardly any depth to him and that
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews