Spellhacker Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Spellhacker
Author: M.K. England 
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: January 21, 2020
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Synopsis:

From the author of The Disasters, this genre-bending YA fantasy heist story is perfect for fans of Marie Lu and Amie Kaufman.

In Kyrkarta, magic—known as maz—was once a freely available natural resource. Then an earthquake released a magical plague, killing thousands and opening the door for a greedy corporation to make maz a commodity that’s tightly controlled—and, of course, outrageously expensive.

Which is why Diz and her three best friends run a highly lucrative, highly illegal maz siphoning gig on the side. Their next job is supposed to be their last heist ever.

But when their plan turns up a powerful new strain of maz that (literally) blows up in their faces, they’re driven to unravel a conspiracy at the very center of the spellplague—and possibly save the world.

No pressure.

Spellhacker was an exciting blend of genres that readers of all types are sure to enjoy. I read the description and since I absolutely love anything that has to do with magic - I knew I had to read this book ASAP. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it strangely exceeded any hopes I had. It's a great story that's not just a mix of genres, but one that also touches on very real topics in society - like friendship, family, trust, loyalty, love, and so much more.

The setting was fascinating and I was able to slip right inside Diz's world. I loved learning about their world - the history, the different places, the science fiction type technology that feels like it could appear in our culture at any minute (the decks and lenses mostly). And, of course, I wanted to learn everything about maz. I found that aspect of the story to be pretty refreshing - the whole control of maz and having to pay for it, so obviously people will steal it and sell it on the black market. I haven't really come across anything like that recently, so it definitely made the story stand out from others in similar genres. The plot was a little bit predictable but loads of fun entwined with important emotions, topics, and emotions.

Our main character - Diz - is pretty awesome. I connected with her almost immediately and felt like I was right beside her throughout the story. Diz is complex and well rounded with obvious flaws - making her incredibly realistic. We really get to know her during the book and I liked seeing the different sides of her emerge as the story went along. The rest of the gang - Ania, Remi, and Jaesin - are all great characters that I loved getting to know. They were all realistic and had their positive traits and flaws, which made them easy to empathize with. I loved seeing them all together as a group, but I also liked seeing what happened between characters too. Watching their friendships grow, change, and mature was both interesting and emotional. Overall, I'm really glad I decided to give this book a shot. It's a great story with fantastic characters and an exciting plot. I definitely recommend it to fans of YA fiction, fantasy, science fiction, action and adventure, and even romance.

 

M.K. England is an author and librarian who grew up on the Space Coast of Florida and now calls rural Virginia home. When she’s not writing or librarianing, MK can be found drowning in fandom, rolling dice at the gaming table, digging in the garden, or feeding her video game addiction. She loves Star Wars with a desperate, heedless passion. It’s best if you never speak of Sherlock Holmes in her presence. You’ll regret it. 

THE DISASTERS is her debut novel. Follow her at www.mkengland.com.

Win a signed hardcover of SPELLHACKER (US only), and one swag pack including a sticker, postcard, signed bookplate, and bookmark (INT)

 STARTS: January 15, 2020

ENDS: January 19, 2020

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