I tried so hard to get into this book but unfortunately this one was just not for me. I was not a fan of the FMC and the story just moved too slow for my taste. I was very underwhelmed and disappointed overall.

I give this book three chilis. Meaning, it has 1-3 explicit detailed scenes.

I completed this book in audio format and it was done by one female narrator. At first I did not like the narrator's voice that she gave to the FMC because she sounded a lot like me and no one likes to hear their own voice, right? However, I was able to get past that and I am glad that I did. She did well giving voices to the other characters and it was easy for me to know who was talking in the conversation and the voices fit the characters. Her reading style did bring the text to life and she was able to portray the serious and funny moments spot on based on what was happening in the scene. I thought the pacing was a good, but the jury is still out on the flow because there were times where the slow parts seemed very-very slow.

The beginning of the story was basic story building and delving into the characters a bit and their interactions. It seemed more like adults hanging out around a college and less of a college setting. There were some scenes with classes, but the overall meetings were more on the extra-curricular side. Digging into DOT, the magical AI system, that made things faster and easier was a great way to bring current real life AI concerns and issues into a sci-fi fantasy book making the trials and errors a relatable possibility (if we lived in a magical world as this). It wasn't until I got through the first 20% of the book that it really started to bring my focus in on what was going on. I am glad that I stayed because I wasn't expecting the things that came later in the book.

Thank you, NetGalley & Hachette.

This book was such a fun ride—packed with action, magic, and fantastical creatures, with just a touch of spice woven in. While some parts felt a bit predictable, the ending completely caught me off guard in the best way.

The absolute highlight of this book for me has to be the cast of characters, they are so diverse and loveable. I could read a million more books with these characters. The use of computing language is this book was informative and interesting, it’s something that kept me reading. Dot Slash Magic is epic in every way shape and form, I will simple riot if it’s not given sequel after sequel!

I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately had a hard time getting through it. I like the story line, but just think the use of swear words, slang phrases, and random spicy scenes just didn't do it for me. Thank you so much for the opportunity to listen to this, the narrator did do a great job!

I agree with other reviewers that this story would make an excellent TV show; however, as a book, it didn’t quite work for me. Honestly, I’d give it a 3.75 if the rating scale allowed for that.

The protagonist was unlikable, an unusual but creative choice by the author, and I didn’t mind it. Instead of feeling obligated to sympathize with a messy character, I actually felt something real toward Seven, which was refreshing.

Speaking of creativity, the concept was fantastic: blending magic with coding and reimagining what magic can do beyond the usual tropes (like simply helping dragons fly). That said, I wish the author had explored it more deeply. At times, it felt rushed, the magical creatures being created, for example, could have been developed into something much richer. This is why I kept thinking it would shine more on screen, visually.

I did appreciate the range of characters and the fact that their storylines were fleshed out and woven into the narrative. That’s always a plus in my book.

Overall, while the premise was intriguing and unique, something about the execution left me wanting more.

DOT SLASH MAGIC was an easy DNF, unfortunately. I think I could get 20% of the way through this one before I looked at myself in the mirror and said, "You deserve better than this."

4.5 stars ✨

Wow!! This one blew me away!

We start off being introduced to the main character Seven and her world. From the beginning, I found her experiences and struggles of her 20s and early adulthood to be relatable and authentic. She’s been a bit lost but is starting to feel the pressure to ~figure her shit out~. When she discovers magic, will this be the missing piece she’s been looking for?

The AI element of this story was extremely intriguing. Blending AI and magic felt really fresh and unique! With the help of Dot, the magical AI assistant that Seven creates, she quickly finds out the power magic can have.

While the pacing for the first 60% or so of the book was a little on the slow side for me, it really picks up! Things truly start to get bananas and that ending was fantastic!!

This book combines a few different genres, and I enjoyed the romance subplots as well. It helped make the story more well rounded to a college experience. Team Kurt!!!

The audiobook format also did not disappoint! The narrator is a great match for voicing Seven and they did a great job with the side characters too!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC!

No rating ⋆˚࿔⟡ˎˊ˗
Dnf at 8% on chapter 4 .𖥔 ݁ ˖🐈‍⬛ ݁ ˖

Trust me I really wanted to like this and I usually wouldn’t dnf a book this early on but I already knew I wasn’t going to enjoy this and so I didn’t want to force myself to continue.

I’m actually really sad since it seems like such a fun concept, girl agrees to go to community college and further her education in exchange for her uncles(?) old boat and a place to stay, meets some interesting people there, and then discovers that her and the others have magical powers. I kinda thought it would be similar to the Raven Boys book series which I was a huge fan of and might’ve been why I didn’t like it since I had higher expectations for it.

I do want to say this wasn’t a bad book by any means it just wasn’t my cup of tea at all. I couldn’t get into the story, kept zoning out while listening to it, didn’t prefer any of the characters, and biggest deal breaker (which is gonna sound dumb) was the cussing. 😭
I’m not a big fan of excessive cussing in books and this one had A LOT. Like I’m talking three sentences in a row just consisting of cuss words. So would I recommend this book? Honestly if you’re into sci-fi/fantasy and don’t mind the cussing then I’d say check it out

LOVED THIS!!! Soooo fun and interesting! Super relevant to the times now and gave an interesting perspective! This was so good!! I really want to read more from this author! I do wish the cover was a bit different since it doesn't stand out too much but the book is so good, you NEED to read it!!

This book was interesting! It had magic with a twist of AI. Lots of plot twists along the way to keep you guessing. This was my first audio done by Mary Pochatko and she did a good job bringing this story to life. Thank you Netgalley amd tantor for the ALC.

“I'm the seventh little fucking wizard to escape...”

Possible subtitles for ‘.Dot/Slash(Magic)’: ‘Transmission, Mission, Omission’ or 'Boldly Making Jokes in the Face of Catastrophe’ (great quotes from the book); or my personal suggestion, 'If a Man Can't Remember You've a Cat, He's Evil'.

I did not know I'd been waiting for this book all my life, but here it is. Yes, these are DEFINITELY the droids I've been looking for!

It’s another stellar Urban Fantasy back-to-back for me, after 'Born of Blood and Magic', but Liz Shipton’s latest novel is more like Fantastic Beasts sliding into the Matrix.

It's not so much Dark Academia as it is Snarky Community-collegeia. It's also somehow computer viruses inside Sci-Fi zombies, and AI doing Harry Potter, in the vein of a Bruce Willis movie...

I expect the expanded library catalogue entry for this book reads 'a study in how men use magic to deny body autonomy to, gatekeep, and gaslight women'. We start from a crummy place because our battered-and-bruised-by-life protagonist, Seven, is the kind of girl who thinks that being called a 'friend' by someone is as perturbing as being called 'sketchy' or a 'basic bitch'.

I didn't wholeheartedly enjoy Mary Pochatko’s narration at the start; I thought it was slightly lacklustre, but perhaps I just needed to adjust to the vaguely monotonous, stalled or stalling tone and pace. I remember feeling at first as though it made me feel in someway lonely, but by the end I was convinced by Pochatko’s trippy voice performance. It fit Seven down to the bone when I got to know the MC really inside-out.

Side note: everybody’s calling this ‘spicy’, but my warning would be for the utter wackiness of the hetero sex scenes, one of which made this lesbian bark-laugh with incredulity, but maybe it'll impress the cishet breeders, as Angel calls them.

Final reflection? I'm no Sci-Fi girl, so - no surprises - I didn't enjoy the ending as much as the Fantasy division of the book’s two realities (give me wizards, fire-breathing dragons and a quest any day):

“I'll be your Samwise fucking Gamgee.”

Stop at 90% for me, please? Anyway, I’m jubilant at having had the chance to review the audiobook for Tantor Media via NetGalley, and it’s out this week. Run to your Libro.fm page and get this now!

Oh, and RIP Kurt.

*2.5, rounded down*
RECAP: At community college, coder Seven Jones discovers magic & learns to channel it through AI. But when monsters strike and a student dies, suspicion falls on her, forcing Seven to fight dragons, krakens and her own doubts to prove her innocence.

REVIEW: This story ended up going totally off the rails. I also think it used a lot more tech language than I was comfortable with at the beginning, to the point where I almost DNFed. I don’t really understand the ending, and it felt like it didn’t really flow with the rest of the book.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration and the pace.
The story itself however, was a bit of a roller coaster. I liked the idea but parts felt very confusing. I truly did not expect the turn of events, so maybe that was why I felt so confused? Usually I’m pretty good at guessing that sort of thing and was pretty surprised at the ending. The basis of the story was awesome and felt unique. I just felt like it was missing something to truly make it great.

2,5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 🎧

This audiobook had such a quirky, nerdy charm at the start! 💻✨ I loved the concept of coding mixed with magic, and the narrator did a great job giving different voices to each character, which made the story engaging. Neo the cat 🐈 was such a highlight for me — though he barely appeared, I found myself wishing he had played a bigger role.

The mystery and monster elements kept me intrigued, but I was hoping for more magical depth overall. The romance, however… 😬 let’s just say it was not for me. It felt unsatisfying, though probably the most realistic part of the whole story. And while I enjoyed much of the journey, the ending left me confused and frustrated 😕, making the earlier parts of the story feel less impactful in hindsight. It feels like it needs a sequel to answer all the questions.

Would I recommend it?
Maybe. If you’re looking for something quirky and offbeat with coding, monsters, and a touch of magic, you might enjoy it — just be prepared for an ending (and romance) that may not land.

#DotSlashMagic #NetGalley

Reading Journal Details
Book: Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton
Format Read: Audiobook (~14 hours, 2 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

My Quick Take Review
A clever mix of logic, skepticism, and sorcery with a memorable protagonist and a satisfying twisty end. Some side characters and spicy moments could be sharper, but Liz Shipton's world begs for a sequel.

Some Key Features
✨ Magic
⌚ “Watch" your time
💻 Tech meets witchcraft
🌶️ Spicy sci-fi
🧠 Logic vs soul

My Full Review
Dot Slash Magic combines logic, a dash of skepticism, and the surprising allure of magic through the eyes of a fiercely rational and science-minded protagonist. It was entertaining watching her explore a world with spells and soul searching.

Kurt really comes across as a wonderfully flawed and genuinely authentic character who quickly became one of my favorite supporting characters. Liz Shipton does a fantastic job highlighting the complexity of various relationships and dynamics, going beyond just surface levels and romance.

I do wish some side characters had been given more depth, as they had the potential to leave an even bigger mark. That said, the ending of the novel delivers an interesting twist that certainly, and excitingly, opens the door for a potential sequel.

While the spice worked in some places, a few scenes felt more aimed at simply satisfying spice-seeking readers as opposed to serving the story. Even so, I was invested in the journey, as the story isn't about mastering magic, it's about wrestling with it and finding the meaning within the friction.

Thank you Tantor Media, Liz Shipton, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced listener's copy (ALC) of this absolutely unique and grounded take on magic in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.

I have literally never been so stunned, impressed, and scared of a book in my entire life. This was the WILDEST ride. I don’t want to say too much because you NEED to go in blind. Absolutely bonkers, bat-sh*t crazy, and so full of truth and heart. 100/5 stars! - additionally the narrator was fantastic!
A massive thank you to NetGalley & Tantor Media for the advanced listener copy!!

He has a magic dick.

Okay, now that I have your attention, if you love women in STEM, action-adventure, monster battles, a cute cat AND unconventional magic, this is for you. Oh and also there's spice, because every book is made better with spice.

I am a long-time Liz Shipton fan, so I knew this book was going to be for me and OMG I was right. Liz has this dry sense of humour and this way of nudge-nudge-wink-winking readers without ever taking you out of the story. She's a readers writer. She knows what makes a good story and has a great sense of pacing.

I can't say too much about our MMC (cute ex-Navy seal Logan), because his character arc is WILD, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE what Liz did with this character. I want more books to do this with the MMCs honestly. Liz you know what you did and I love you for it.

Mary Pochatko did a great job narrating, especially with Logan's voice. Logan is able to make his voice 'magical' and Mary captures that really well here. Great job.

Pick this up if you love
✨ Women in STEM
✨ Fast-paced
✨ Sarcastic FMC
✨ He has a magic 🍆
✨ The ENDING!?!?!
✨ Laugh out loud
✨ Battling myth monsters

This book is best read while using AI to search OF for ✨magic✨ and ✨dick✨

This is a very interesting dystopian New Adult dark romance. Set in a world where there are people with magic ("makers") and people without magic ("nescients"), we start with the FMC, Seven, who enters a new school, only to meet new friends and discover she has magic.

I loved the cast of characters - quirky, interesting, passionate - and the adventures they have are captivating. This is a great balance for a New Adult dark romance - crazy dark magic and some spice but without getting too gory or explicit. The relationships and spice were fun to read and easy to become immersed in. There are twists and turns both expected and unexpected, and by the end it's a wild ride.

As any good dystopian book does, this story helps the reader evaluate the potential - both good and bad - of progress, in particular for AI. As the story evolves, you start to understand how wonderful AI can be to rapidly increase progress, but then you also understand the potential implications of that progress and what sacrifices that entails. At the end, the overwhelming sentiment is pro-creativity, pro-humanity, and highlights the major drawbacks of AI taking over things that are dominated by creatives currently. I'm not sure that I agree with where the story lands along the spectrum of pro- vs. anti-AI, but in the realm of the story, it feels right.

I listened to this on audio, and I think it was pretty well-done. I did find myself wishing for a multi-character narration at times, but the single narrator does her best to differentiate voices, and it's clear who's speaking.

Overall a great story and an entertaining read!

3.5 stars ✨

I was super excited to dive into Dot Slash Magic, I’m part of the upcoming Insta tour, so I was lucky enough to snag a physical copy, and I also received the audiobook (which made for a fun mix of both formats). Magic and coding together sounded right up my alley… not to mention the cat!

I wasn’t sure how I felt for the first bit of the book, but once the magic system was properly introduced, I started to enjoy it a lot more. The story really picked up around the first spicy scene, I think those were great additions and added some spark! They were written well and some of the scenes were funny to match the overall tone of the book.

That said, a few moments felt a little out of place (like the octopus scene, I know it makes sense in the long run, but?) Overall, I would say I enjoyed about 65–70% of the book, while the rest didn’t quite grip me.

Seven was definitely a highlight. Funny, trying to play the baddie, but not always to her advantage. I loved Kurt, but really didn’t care for Logan. The female characters in general frustrated me; they came across as super self absorbed. Everyone’s a girls’ girl until another girl actually needs some trust or a heads-up. The coding was explained well, I especially loved the Dot Slash Magic moment where the title finally made perfect sense. The element of having higher ups making sure magic runs smoothly was interesting, and I enjoyed that a lot. I do wish the elephant in the room with Seven’s mum would’ve been explored a bit more.

The last four chapters really flipped my experience. Up until then, this was easily tracking toward a strong 4-star read. But then came an unpredictable plot twist that changed the trajectory of the entire book. It was intriguing, but there just wasn’t enough time left to fully explain or execute it. Too much was told through discussions rather than shown, and the ending felt a bit rushed. I wanted more, it just left a bit too many questions in me.

Overall, I had fun with this story and would definitely recommend it, especially if you’re intrigued by the mix of coding, magic, and a bit of spice!

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Media for the audiobook, and thank you Angry Robot Books for the physical copy!