This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities. ** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. This does seem to be a standalone, however - just like their debut - so it might be worth checking out if you like fantasy and queer representation and heists. Potential was there, and I enjoyed England's debut, so I kept pushing on. I just didn't love the characters? The plot, and the Big Bad, seemed a little. The fact that not everyone could use it, and there were different levels of ability, but there didn't seem to be any classism or jealousy between those who could and couldn't was an interesting mix.

But unlike another recent read, at least I didn't hate this one? And also, unlike that same book, at least this author prefaced the novel with definitions for the magic system?Īnd speaking of the magic system, it felt. Here is another story that has a great concept that just didn't quite win in execution. I've not really had the best luck with queer fantasy lately and that is such a shame. First word always goes to my newsletter subscribers! Wanna be in on that? Sign up at bit.ly/MKEnews.

I can't wait to tell you more about this book as details become available. Queer (primarily sapphic) MC, non-binary love interest, bi secondary character, widowed lesbian bakery owner, elderly science husbands. Diz and feelings are broken up tbh.Ī: Nope! It's a futuristic world with magic, so it's fantasy with some hi-tech.Ī: Nope! Standalone. To show you how much the editor of this book just totally gets it, here's her quote: 'This book is a kick-ass page-turner of a genre mashup that was a thrill to work on and, I hope, even more of a thrill to read! Diz IS a cactus secretly filled with marshmallow and she's GOT JOKES and I love her, even though she would not know wtf to do with that or any feeling 😇' I love the magic system, setting, and found family dynamics in this book, and I hope you do, too! ✨ Diz is joined by her NB childhood friend Remi (who she is definitely not dating), her fierce bestie Ania, and her dad-friend Jaesin. I'm so thrilled to announce my second stand-alone book with HarperTeen, SPELLHACKER! It's the story of a heist gone wrong in a futuristic world with magic, starring a girl named Diz who is basically a cactus secretly filled with marshmallow.

Spellhacker by M.K. England