Very ambitious novel that I enjoyed reading.

Really interesting magical system and rules. Having to explain the magical rules felt very exposition heavy - but it was very conversational so while that part took awhile to get through it was interesting.

I was engrossed in Seven Jones’ character development and trying to find her purpose. She felt like a real person who discovers she can do magic and there’s a system with RULES and she needs to decide if she wants to break them.

I loved all the supporting characters - they felt real with true character motivations and I appreciated they had different powers.

I felt like there were too many current references, but it kinda worked in context since these are college kids but still annoying.

If there’s a sequel (yes please), I would be down to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Publication date: August 19, 2025.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s a spicy urban fantasy set in an academia setting, and it delivered on so many levels. The found family dynamic was one of my favorite elements, it was heartfelt, messy, and so well done. The magic system was incredibly unique, especially the way Seven integrates it with AI technology. It added such a fresh and fascinating layer to the world.

It starts off a little slow as it leans into the character development, but stick with it, the payoff is so worth it. The tension just keeps building until it explodes into a wild, high-stakes ending with a final twist that completely blew my mind.

And the spice? Let’s just say… there are some very memorable moments. If you know, you know.

I had such a great time reading this and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a character-driven urban fantasy with strong worldbuilding, slow burn tension, and some seriously bold spice.

Huge thanks to Angry Robot for the gifted ARC!

3.5/5 stars.

I had such high hopes for this and while it doesn’t necessarily fall flat, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I was so excited to read this - coding, magic and monsters summoned by AI? Count me in! And while it wasn’t fantastic, I absolutely enjoyed the story and was completely sucked in.

I loved the concept for the story, and the plot was really, genuinely fun. Lots of banter and fun characters introduced, but I don’t feel like I connected with them, especially Seven. She had some really kickass FMC moments, but I didn’t really like her as a person… but I guess I’d probably be a bit cynical too if I was turned down on my luck and suddenly discovered magic was real.

The pacing was a little disjointed, but I enjoyed the story for what it was. It was gritty with a little horror thrown in, and there was some romance sprinkled in as well. Overall, super fun book, wickedly unique concept, and I enjoyed the change of pace!

Thank you so much to Angry Robot publishing for the eARC of this book!

I absolutely loved it. It was witty, funny and very creative. Liz is a brilliant writer! I really enjoyed the role of technology and AI in this story and Dot was so sassy that I hoped they got their redemption after going rogue. Speaking of arcs, I loved Seven’s character arc and her development. The ending was a huge surprise but very fitting for the story. I’m totally going to buy a physical copy of this book.

Was this a masterpiece? No. But did I have a fan-bloody-tastic time reading this? Hell yeah!

Once this book got going I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading the last 300 pages in one sitting (which for someone who has been in a slump lately is super impressive).
The characters, while frustrating, were believable. Seven was flawed and relatable and some of the things that came out of her mouth had me making that single ha sound out loud. The romance subplot was definitely interesting and I’m curious to know where it will go in future books especially after that ending. And boy was the ending spectacular.

I enjoyed this book and did enjoy the different characters. The main character, Seven is easy to follow but sometimes there were times she’d say or do something which made no sense to me at all. The coding and magic system seems really interesting but just sometimes got a little confusing for me.
Overall a good idea but just a little slow sometimes, I just wanted more world building

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an ARC of this soon-to-be-published book.

Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton is firmly rooted in urban fantasy, though with its heavy use of A.I., I’d say it dips confidently into sci-fi territory as well.

Overall, I enjoyed the read. That said, I did find the constant snark from Seven a bit much at times (sorry!). But hey—if you love witty banter or the quick-fire sass typical of young adult protagonists, this character will likely be a hit for you. Seven also came off as an ADHD fueled adrenaline ride at times as well.

What I really appreciated was the rich diversity of the cast. It felt authentic and refreshingly free from stereotypes.

The worldbuilding was clever and often amusing, though there were moments where the pacing lagged and I wished for a bit more focus. Still, the twist near the end caught me off guard—in a good way—and it sets the stage well for a sequel.

Seven is adrift. Her parents have convinced her to go to a local college in exchange for her uncle's boat to live on. She signs up for a few classes to keep them happy, including a course on creating and optimising AI, where she meets 'Kurt Cobain', a fellow student. On a night out, smoking some weed, Seven bumbles her way into a meeting of 'Makers', who channel magic through their conduits in a calling (typically arts or athletics). After an accident with her cat altering a coding exercise to create a scraping software, Seven begins to use this program as her own conduit to perform magic far beyond her level, in a way that threatens the safety of herself and those around her.
Mixed feelings on this book. The premise was exciting, and the escalating stakes and unravelling mysteries kept interest. The magic system is expanded on as the book continues, with the audience learning alongside Seven how the Makers operate. However, the reveals in the final confrontation and last part were uncomfortable and undermined the rest of the story. The discovery that <<spoiler>>Logan was using magic to manipulate Seven and force a sexual relationship<<spoiler>> had concerning implications that were then diminished by the <<spoiler>>"it was all a simulation"<<spoiler>> twist. The complicated interpersonal relationships also suffered for the confrontations and uncertainty throughout, which then became fruitless and frustrating at the end.
I would recommend this book to those interested in the cross section between magic and technology, or those interested to see a take on the implications of AI in urban fantasy. I would not however be recommending this as a romance when the twist has the romantic element cast into a far more sinister light that could be triggering to readers unprepared for its arrival.

I’m a little conflicted about Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton. There were times while I was reading that I found it interesting and couldn’t put it down. Then there were times that it didn’t make a lot of sense and it seemed riddled with problems. In the end, I had a fun time with it, but…it comes with some strings attached.

Shipton’s latest work is billed as a spicy urban fantasy, and…that’s true. Mostly. There is spice -- more than I’m used to, but I didn’t mind. It was presented in a comedic way, adapting to the tone of the book, so it kinda worked for me. While I was reading, I had a few different books, movies, and cartoons that kept springing to mind. If I were to tell someone about it, I think I would say…Dot Slash Magic is a fun fantasy book in the vein of The Magicians by Lev Grossman with a shot of Mickey Mouse in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice with a chaser of Neo in The Matrix.

If that sounds wild but intriguing to you -- then this is the book for you.

Our protagonist is Seven Jones (I don’t think it's ever explained why she goes by Seven, but after a while you get used to it. Her parents manage to convince her to come home and at least take some classes at the local community college, but within a few days she discovers a magic club and her own magical abilities. Her classes at the college merge with her new club and before long she’s somehow created a Computer Artificial Intelligence that she funnels her magical spells through.

In a short amount of time, she proves to be as proficient with magic as others who have dedicated years of their life to it -- so of course there are hard feeling with other members of the club. But along with the tension she finds romance as well.

But all isn’t what it seems in more ways than one.

*SPOILERS…nothing specific, but about general tone for the last part of the book*

So I was cruising right along, enjoying myself and then with about 10 percent left to the book…the rug was pulled out from under me. There is a HUGE game changer close to the end and it drastically alters what the book was about, going back almost to page 1. Of course, you have to judge books by all the words between the covers, so I can’t say if Dot Slash Magic would be a better book without the last tenth…but I can certainly see why some readers would be unhappy after putting the book down. I won’t ruin the ending, but it just about shifts the entire genre of the book with what happens at the end. I will say that some of the problems and seeming plot holes I referenced earlier are basically smoothed over by this last act, but I wasn’t sure if it was needed or not.

Even with the last tenth (which again, I’m not sure if I liked or not), I had a great time with Dot Slash Magic and I appreciate the big swings that Liz Shipton took with her latest novel. It’s a fun and fascinating look at fantasy with an eye on the plague of A.I. technology in society and schools.

Thank you to Angry Robot for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I finished this to see if it could redeem itself in my eyes, but it did not.
What I think are pros: interesting 'magic' system; The cat lives; Some steamy but silly scenes, which I would say were 2/5 on the spice scale; CH leaves it open for a second book, so maybe that's a pro; Good music references; I can appreciate the AI dilemma/philosophy discussions this story touches upon
My personal cons: the TW lists 'trust & betrayal', but what it read to me was extensive/varied events of abuse to the FMC by the one of the MMC and 'friends.' Ok, yes, this is about magic, and we are expected to have some form of suspension of disbelief with the dark romance/romantasy genre. I get that. But this book did not include proper TW, and did not respect the actions taken against the FMC in this regard. It goes beyond the typical 'bully' trope that is often used. There is not a third act resolution for this. And the book's reference/mirroring of the classic movie The Matrix in the end seemed completely wrong when coupled with these issues.

The story follows Seven, a mid-twenty woman, who has so far drifted or mainly sailed more or less aimlessly through life until her parents make her a deal: return home to San Diego and attend a community college to find her way in life in exchange for the family’s sailing boat.
What starts as a reluctant self-discovery takes a wild turn when she stumbles into a magic gathering of college students and discovers her own ability to wield magic, alas, only via an AI App, she developed herself accidentally or not. From there, things escalate quickly, especially when mythical creatures begin to appear.

The concept is refreshingly original - melding technology and magic in a way that feels inventive and surprisingly thoughtful, though I didn’t grasp all the technical details the amalgamation of AI and sorcery was fun and well-executed.

Seven‘s behavior in the first half tested my patience- she is stubborn and obstinate- but it later becomes clear that this resistance to conformity is part of her arc.
The book explores the ethical and moral boundaries of AI and the basic principles of humanity in an entertaining way.

It leans more toward dystopian fantasy with negligible romance, rather than anything you‘d call romantasy, anyway the magic trick for the d*** had me laughing out loud.

There where a few minor plot holes, where I would have loved a bit more depth or follow-up, but that did not detract from my overall enjoyment.

Bonus Points for the many clever and funny references to 90s pop culture from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings to the fifth Element plus some literary Easter Eggs for Shakespeare aficionados.

For me there where some minor plot holes, where I missed a follow-up or deeper insight. But that did not lessen my overall very positive impression.

The twist in the last part caught me offguard and left me eager for the sequel, I will definitely pick it up!

Wow, hold onto your hats, fellow readers, because I've just stumbled upon my new obsession! Get ready for Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton, and trust me, you NEED to read this!
Imagine a world where magic, AI, and punk culture smash together in an explosion of pure brilliance! This isn't just a book; it's a vibrant, spicy, urban fantasy thrill ride that will hook fans of all genres from the very first page. Liz Shipton has truly outdone herself!

Ever wondered what would happen if your magic computer program suddenly started summoning actual monsters?
That's just the beginning for Seven Jones, our reluctant hero. This community college coder from San Diego just wants to avoid anything exciting, especially some "stupid" magic club. But fate, and an underground magic club with bizarre wizards and whatnot, has other plans for her!

Dot Slash Magic is an absolute must-read that will leave you breathless and begging for more! Don't walk, RUN to Amazon and preorder this masterpiece!

Hmm you know what, I was like 20% in and wasn’t sure I was even into it. But I’m glad I kept going, because it definitely redeemed itself!

I really don’t feel like the blurb is accurate or the way that it’s being marketed. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. This was my first read by this author and it won’t be the last, I’m looking forward to checking out her backlog.

Seven is a woman that’s a little lost in the world, not knowing what she’s doing with herself. Minus freelance coding and living on a beach. That is until she discovers magic and learns that Wizards are actually Makers. While learning about magic, she accidentally creates an AI that knows everything about magic, and her Maker friends aren’t happy with her. While learning to harness her magic, and use her AI, she learns that nothing is what she thought

This was a new and fresh plot for me, and pretty interesting. AI is a big thing these days, and it was nice to see a new magical take on it, had me chuckling a few times.

𝘼 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙍𝘾

Okay, so the vibes were there. Coding + magic? Yes, chef. Summoning monsters with your laptop? Inject it into my veins. But unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite match the pitch. I didn’t hate it—but I also didn’t feel it. And that’s what kept it sitting squarely in “decent but not dazzling” territory.

I loved the concept of tech-meets-witchcraft, and the world had a lot of fun, chaotic energy. The cast gave me found-family potential, and the idea of a reluctant coder stumbling into a literal underground wizard club is chef’s kiss on paper. It just never fully gripped me the way I hoped. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d be like, “Ohhh okay HERE we go,” and it just…never happened.

Some of the pacing felt off, and while Seven had moments of badassery, I didn’t emotionally attach to her or her journey. Like, I was reading the words but not feeling the stakes. The romance subplot had some spark (ex–Navy SEAL boyfriend energy, anyone?) but it wasn’t enough to anchor me.

All that said—this is one of those reads I could easily see being someone else’s 5-star hyperfixation. Especially if you’re into spicy urban fantasy with hacker-witch vibes and magical academia chaos. It just didn’t cast the right spell on me. More of a ping than a boom.

The book description had me instantly add this to my TBR. It sounded like a perfect blend of magic and technology with tons or pop culture/nerdy references, and I was NOT disappointed. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. I laughed so much, and got giddy every time there was a reference I knew (insert Captain America GIF here). Also REALLY loved the variety of monsters, it made the book so much fun. And that ending?! I'm addicted, this is definitely going into my top 5 reads for June. I am also definitely checking out more of this author's work.

Thanks NetGalley and Angry Robot for letting me be one of the lucky ARC readers!

I love Liz Shipton, she is hilarious and an entertaining writer. I did a happy dance when I got approved for this book.

Here are my thoughts:

Love all the nerdy references (Hp, LOTR, Star Wars, Matrix )
I live in SD and the references are spot on!
Love the mythological creatures from all over
Musical references on point
Growing certain body parts lol
Love Kurt/Remy

While I liked Seven’s (the FMC) story, she wasn’t particularly likable. She was a bit of an ass and had that stubborn streak that made me yell at her multiple times.

The ending was woah, I was not expecting it.

Overall I really enjoyed this book

Sincere thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!! I have posted to Goodreads today, 06/05/2025 to the link below. I will post to Amazon and Barnes and Noble when requested. I added a link of my video review on Instagram on 06/06/2025 that I've collaborated with Liz to get more traction.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint. When I was invited to review the ARC I was so excited. I neglected everything in my life and devoured this book in approximately 10 seconds.

Despite loving this book and rating 5 stars, I do have some concerns:

I think this book has a very specific target audience, and I'm worried that audience is not who it's being marketed to. The synopsis, stated themes and comparisons (Wreck It Ralph??) don't line up with the book I just read. Thankfully for me I am the target audience, but I don't know how the average booktokker will feel about the type of humor in this book.

Here is what I would say: Are you a fan of Sam Raimi? Are you a fan of John Dies at the End or Jason Pargin? Are you unoffended by gratuitous swearing, crass humor or over the top gore? Then congratulations! This is the perfect book for you!

Now: on to the actual book. Our FMC is Seven, a mid twenties screw up that's aimlessly doing freelance coding. First off, YASSSSS. I was so excited to see a FMC that's not a fresh as a daisy 18 year old. We're tired of the teenagers going on all the adventures, okay? If you've read Liz Shipton's other series, Salt/Thalassic, there's a lot of parallels between Seven and Bird. Although in both series the FMC is frustrating, I like seeing this dynamic. If I wanted an unreasonably overskilled teenager that's super hot and hates wearing dresses and also she's 5'2 and weighs 90 pounds soaking wet, I would read one of the five billion books like that rolling around tiktok right now. Seven is definitely stumbling through life, figuring it out on the fly, and no, it does not always turn out well.

That being said, I do hope that in future series, Liz is able to shift away from this personality type a little bit. Now that she's explored this character a lot in two different books, I would hate to see her slipping into an almost Mary-Sue-opposite-archetype with her FMCs.

The story itself: love. Love love love. Culturally relevant with society absolutely being BOMBARDED with AI, and a real exploration of what that means, while being done in a very funny and out there way. This story is weird. There's no way around it. I would finish a chapter and just be sitting there going, what did I just read? Liz did not pull her punches. The publisher did not force her to tone it down. And I am so glad for that!

I was a big fan of the Thalassic series, and now I've been shoved straight into super fan status. I loved this book. I hope so so hard that it finds the audience that I know exists and will love it. I hope Liz keeps writing her weird, crazy books because I'll be lining up to read them!

I really love the idea of this book but I feel the execution is lacking, I've had to DNF for now, it's a bit slow and all over the place for me personally, I feel mean as the concept is really good, maybe its a me problem!

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc copy, due to TikTok I keep hearing about the author but unfortunately this book just isn’t for me. The pacing is off and I had a hard time getting into the story. DNF at 30% for now

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars!

I liked Dot Slash Magic, mostly because the concept is so cool and original. The book isn’t perfect and took what felt like a long time to get started but once it got going it was well worth the wait.

What I loved in particular:
- The fresh take on the magic school story. Seven discovers a magic club at her existing school.
- the magic system, the idea of a magical AI system really appealed to the coding geek in me. I also loved the detail the author put into Seven’s process of learning how to use it, enter a slight variation on the code like 20 times till it works, that was exactly my experience of learning python 😂
- I loved some of the magical mistakes seven makes, in particular the encounter with the Kraken.

I think this book will suit anyone looking for something a bit different to read. Liz Shipton is definitely an author I will be looking out for more from.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read this ARC.