Andromeda Klein

Andromeda Klein is a young adult novel following a teenage occultist who navigates high school life while practicing ceremonial magic and reading tarot cards. Her world shifts after her best friend's death and her boyfriend's disappearance coincide with a threat to her sanctuary - the occult book collection at her local library. The protagonist deals with multiple challenges: hearing loss that causes frequent misunderstandings, an overbearing mother, a conspiracy-theorist father, and social isolation at school. Her deep knowledge of occult practices and determined defense of the library's esoteric collection form the backbone of her response to these difficulties. The narrative combines supernatural elements with realistic teenage experiences as Andromeda works to decode messages she believes are coming from her deceased friend while also trying to preserve the library's collection of magical texts. She forms unlikely alliances and trades favors to gather information, all while continuing her studies of ceremonial magic. The book explores themes of loss, identity, and the ways people create meaning from chaos - using both traditional and unconventional systems of knowledge to make sense of an unpredictable world.

Readers found this book more complex and challenging than Portman's previous novel "King Dork." Many noted the extensive occult references and terminology make it hard to follow without prior knowledge of tarot and magic. Readers appreciated: - Strong character development of Andromeda - Authentic portrayal of teen life and social dynamics - Thorough research into occult practices - Unique narrative style blending magic with reality Common criticisms: - Dense, overwhelming amount of occult terminology - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Too much internal monologue - Plot can be confusing and hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (40+ reviews) Multiple readers compared reading it to "decoding a puzzle" - some found this engaging while others felt frustrated. One reviewer noted: "You either click with Andromeda's obsessive occult mindset or you don't. There's no middle ground."

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🔮 The novel's portrayal of ceremonial magic is extensively researched, drawing from real occult traditions like the Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley's teachings. 📚 Frank Portman is also known as Dr. Frank, the frontman of the punk rock band Mr. T Experience, and has written other acclaimed YA novels including "King Dork." 🎯 The protagonist's name, Andromeda Klein, is an anagram of "a kind of dreamer," reflecting the character's imaginative nature. 👂 The author consulted with hearing specialists to accurately depict Andromeda's auditory processing disorder, which causes her to mishear words in specific ways. 📖 The library setting was inspired by the author's experiences at the Oakland Public Library in California, where he spent considerable time researching occult literature.