Spellhacker

November 25, 2019
In a world where 14 strains of magic, called maz, are regulated by Maz Management Corporation, 18-year-old tech genius Dizmon “Diz” Hela and her best friends are pulling off their final maz siphoning heist before the latter leave Kyrkarta for Jattapore. A decade ago, an earthquake released the spellplague, or contaminated maz, into the world, killing thousands and infecting many others with a chronic illness that worsens with time. MMC stepped in to clean up and now charges for maz. Orphaned by the spellplague, Diz, caretaker Jaesin, and nonbinary spellweaver Remi formed a family, adopting wealthy techwitch Ania though her parents are still alive. The group began siphoning maz from MMC to make money, but they quickly find themselves in the middle of a larger conspiracy involving the spellplague and a new kind of maz called maz-15. England (The Disasters) creates a well-rounded, multicultural crew in a world that blends fantasy and science fiction. Though some plot twists are predictable, England successfully develops the intrigue surrounding maz-15, and the will-they/won’t-they nature of Remi and Diz’s relationship keeps the story engaging. Ages 14–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Agency.

November 1, 2019
A close-knit team of magic thieves attempts one last job only to uncover a dangerous conspiracy. Science fiction melds with fantasy in the futuristic city of Kyrkarta, where people use both advanced technology and magical energy, called maz. The Maz Management Corporation heavily regulates maz, leading teenage hacker Diz to illegally siphon the valuable resource with her best friends: spellweaver Remi, techwitch Ania, and muscle Jaesin. When the group's final job ends disastrously, it leads to a shocking discovery--and it's vital that Diz and her crew stop things before there is further damage. Action and humor combine in a compelling narrative that is rooted in Diz's complex relationship to her found family. Over the course of their adventures, Diz struggles to let her walls down, hindered by trauma from her childhood. In particular, she slowly learns to give room to her romantic feelings for Remi, who uses they/them pronouns and has a chronic illness caused by contaminated maz. Readers will be hooked by the high stakes throughout, though a linear plot and a sense of inevitable success deflate moments of tension. The cast is racially diverse and joyfully queer. Readers will want to buckle in for this high-speed, bighearted sci-fi/fantasy adventure. (Speculative fiction. 13-17)

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December 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 Diz and her friends are in the business of stealing magic?or maz, in this world?and selling it to clients who request their services. It's illegal and very dangerous, but it's worth the steep price people are willing to pay for maz, a resource that was readily available until a disaster wiped out much of the city. What's supposed to be the four friends' last job before they part ways and start college turns out to be a repeat of the catastrophe that killed their parents. Now, on the run from the law, they must get to the bottom of what really happened in order to clear their names and uncover a carefully buried truth. This humorous mix of sf and fantasy explores the complexities of friendship with a diverse cast of strong personalities. Although a bit exaggerated, the youthful lingo of England's (The Disasters, 2018) writing style will be easily accessible for today's teens, balanced out with action that carries on right to the end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)