Review of Spellhacker by M. K. England

In Kyrkarta, maz (magic) was once a common and naturally occurring resource. That is until an earthquake released a plague killing thousands. Since then, maz has been strictly regulated and heavily priced. Diz and her three best friends run a siphoning gig, very dangerous and highly illegal, supplying maz to those willing to pay. They make a great a team and have never made a mistake. That is until their final job. What was supposed to be routine job turned explosive. Diz and her friend are now on the run and trying to clear their names. In the midst of running, they come across a conspiracy that has cataclysmic consequences. It’s up to them to save the world.

M K England has created a new twist on magic in this genre-bending book. Think Avatar Last Airbender/Legend of Korra (haha, bending) in terms of elemental magic, with advanced technology. Additionally, there is some great LGBT+ representation, including a non-binary character who uses they/them pronouns. Diz is headstrong, witty, and a top-notch hacker. While she can sometimes be infuriating, her experiences make it clear that she has her reasons. What’s more, as the conspiracy unfolds, there is a real world message in there.

Read it for: the witty dialogue, relatable characters, a new magic system, and LGBT+ characters.

Read: 12/22/2019-12/31/2019
Release date: January 21st, 2020
Page count: 416
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: SciFi Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult