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Dot Slash Magic
Exploring the power of AI and morality, Dot Slash Magic is a new, spicy urban fantasy from TikTokker Liz Shipton, perfect for fans of Zodiac Academy and I am Number Four.
If a computer could help you wield your own magic... would you use it?
When Seven Jones enrolls at a San Diego community college to appease her parents, the last thing she wants to do is join some stupid club. And she certainly doesn’t expect to walk into an underground magic club. Like, actual freaking wizards.
Seven reluctantly joins the motley crew of magic weirdos and discovers her own power. But she struggles to wield it… until she figures out how to channel her magic through an artificially intelligent computer program she designed.
Unfortunately, there is nothing Seven’s new friends hate more than AI, and when a student mysteriously turns up dead, blame falls on Seven.
With only one person on her side – cute ex-Navy Seal, Logan – Seven fights mythological monsters (Dragon? Check. Kraken? Check) while struggling to convince everyone that her AI has nothing to do with it. But how can she convince her peers when she isn’t totally convinced herself?
If a computer could help you wield your own magic... would you use it?
When Seven Jones enrolls at a San Diego community college to appease her parents, the last thing she wants to do is join some stupid club. And she certainly doesn’t expect to walk into an underground magic club. Like, actual freaking wizards.
Seven reluctantly joins the motley crew of magic weirdos and discovers her own power. But she struggles to wield it… until she figures out how to channel her magic through an artificially intelligent computer program she designed.
Unfortunately, there is nothing Seven’s new friends hate more than AI, and when a student mysteriously turns up dead, blame falls on Seven.
With only one person on her side – cute ex-Navy Seal, Logan – Seven fights mythological monsters (Dragon? Check. Kraken? Check) while struggling to convince everyone that her AI has nothing to do with it. But how can she convince her peers when she isn’t totally convinced herself?
400 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2025
About the author
Liz Shipton
31 books702 followersLiz is a hybrid author best known for her urban fantasy Dot Slash Magic, which received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, and for her viral comedy videos. She lives on a sailboat in the Caribbean with her partner and dog. On the rare occasion Liz isn't writing, you can find her reading, swimming, telling her dog "I love you" for the bazillionth time today, or watching 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
July 5, 2025
🌆🔮
Urban Fantasy Meets Sci-Fi
This is urban fantasy x sci-fi with a dash of romance and plot twists that twist you until the very last page.
I have never read a book that achieved so much, so smoothly, in so few pages while still being incredibly entertaining and fun. This is a page-turner full of genuinely thought-provoking moments.
🤖 When “Magic AI” Meets Ethical Brilliance
When I pick up a book centred around accidentally creating magic AI, I want two things:
• Some technical credibility
• A strong exploration of the ethical side, especially in our current climate
This book did not disappoint. It’s clear from the themes that Liz has done extensive research and has strong knowledge in these topics. She also was a software engineer, which only adds confidence (though she admits to taking some liberties for the sake of fiction).
The most fascinating thing is how she approaches ethical questions that go beyond AI touching on our human values and politics. It never gets too heavy-handed, but the political stances make sense in the context of the story.
🪞 Toxicity, Irony, and Red Flags
Liz also masterfully showcases toxicity in different kinds of relationships, as well as irony hidden under certain labels (like feminism). She points out the red flags we often miss until someone calls them out or until we take a step back and see them clearly.
🧩 Characters You Want to Figure Out
The characters are intriguing. You know enough to stay hooked, but not enough to fully grasp their motivations until the story wants you to. This works brilliantly for the twists; the revelations land hard without feeling like something was missing.
🪄 Seven: Peculiarly Human
Seven herself is as peculiarly human as it gets: quirks, flaws, rebellions, and all. She fumbles through themes and words like “core – humanity – soul - centre” (which she calls hippie mumbo jumbo) because her logic is concrete and scientific. That’s how she sees the world, and it’s fascinating to watch her wrestle with ideas her mind simply doesn’t process that way.
⚡ The Magic AI & Magic System
I won’t say much about the magic AI to avoid spoilers, but the ethical questions -about AI in creative spaces, politics, independence vs. guidance, values, and usability- are handled beautifully. That alone is worth reading this book for.
The magic system itself is unique yet grounded in familiar traditional ones. Everyone is born with magic; it’s a spectrum. You either discover it in yourself and have your moment, or you choose what kind of magic to train in.
📚 Final Thoughts & Rating
I really hope the next books get picked up by Angry Robot so we can keep exploring this world. While the ending could work as a conclusion, it’s also a tantalising cliffhanger for both the plot and the characters.
My rating: 4.5⭐ only slightly because I wanted more clarity on certain things, like what the magic spectrum truly looks like, what it means to be on different ends of it, and more about Seven’s name and background. Still, the biggest plot twist was hidden in plain sight… and I didn’t guess it.
Thank you Netgalley, Angry Robot, and Liz Shipton for the ARC. My thoughts and review are my own and have not been biased by the fact.
--
Pre-read:
Here are a couple of things I never thought I'd need:
Magic AI 👩💻
Spicy Urban Fantasy🔮
Satire 😶🌫️
Murder🥀
Let's see where Liz Shipton takes me
This is urban fantasy x sci-fi with a dash of romance and plot twists that twist you until the very last page.
I have never read a book that achieved so much, so smoothly, in so few pages while still being incredibly entertaining and fun. This is a page-turner full of genuinely thought-provoking moments.
🤖 When “Magic AI” Meets Ethical Brilliance
When I pick up a book centred around accidentally creating magic AI, I want two things:
• Some technical credibility
• A strong exploration of the ethical side, especially in our current climate
This book did not disappoint. It’s clear from the themes that Liz has done extensive research and has strong knowledge in these topics. She also was a software engineer, which only adds confidence (though she admits to taking some liberties for the sake of fiction).
The most fascinating thing is how she approaches ethical questions that go beyond AI touching on our human values and politics. It never gets too heavy-handed, but the political stances make sense in the context of the story.
🪞 Toxicity, Irony, and Red Flags
Liz also masterfully showcases toxicity in different kinds of relationships, as well as irony hidden under certain labels (like feminism). She points out the red flags we often miss until someone calls them out or until we take a step back and see them clearly.
🧩 Characters You Want to Figure Out
The characters are intriguing. You know enough to stay hooked, but not enough to fully grasp their motivations until the story wants you to. This works brilliantly for the twists; the revelations land hard without feeling like something was missing.
🪄 Seven: Peculiarly Human
Seven herself is as peculiarly human as it gets: quirks, flaws, rebellions, and all. She fumbles through themes and words like “core – humanity – soul - centre” (which she calls hippie mumbo jumbo) because her logic is concrete and scientific. That’s how she sees the world, and it’s fascinating to watch her wrestle with ideas her mind simply doesn’t process that way.
⚡ The Magic AI & Magic System
I won’t say much about the magic AI to avoid spoilers, but the ethical questions -about AI in creative spaces, politics, independence vs. guidance, values, and usability- are handled beautifully. That alone is worth reading this book for.
The magic system itself is unique yet grounded in familiar traditional ones. Everyone is born with magic; it’s a spectrum. You either discover it in yourself and have your moment, or you choose what kind of magic to train in.
📚 Final Thoughts & Rating
I really hope the next books get picked up by Angry Robot so we can keep exploring this world. While the ending could work as a conclusion, it’s also a tantalising cliffhanger for both the plot and the characters.
My rating: 4.5⭐ only slightly because I wanted more clarity on certain things, like what the magic spectrum truly looks like, what it means to be on different ends of it, and more about Seven’s name and background. Still, the biggest plot twist was hidden in plain sight… and I didn’t guess it.
Thank you Netgalley, Angry Robot, and Liz Shipton for the ARC. My thoughts and review are my own and have not been biased by the fact.
--
Pre-read:
Here are a couple of things I never thought I'd need:
Magic AI 👩💻
Spicy Urban Fantasy🔮
Satire 😶🌫️
Murder🥀
Let's see where Liz Shipton takes me
July 6, 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!
I have the ALC too and the audio was superb I loved the narrator!! Very well done. Thanks to Tantor media for the gifted audiobook.
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!
I have the ALC too and the audio was superb I loved the narrator!! Very well done. Thanks to Tantor media for the gifted audiobook.
August 6, 2025
I think this would make a cool TV show.
Seven does not want to go back to school at a community college in San Diego in her 20s. She plans on dropping out after the year to fulfil her parents wish. But then she finds out magic exists and turns to a computer programme to help her out. Only thing is, it starts summoning monsters….
This started off promising - a spunky, funny heroine and a great group of outcast friends. Then, it became foot to the pedal with random spicy scenes thrown in and I lost interest in the characters and the storyline.
I think blending technology and magic is such a cool premise, especially in this day and age, but most of it went over my head.
The pacing felt off. Some parts were rushed over and then others were drawn out with small time jumps that messed with my perception of the story.
I looked at other reviews and many mentioned an ending that made it worth it. I just couldn’t push myself through and ended up DNF’ing at 60%.
Audiobook and physical arc gifted by Angry Robot.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Seven does not want to go back to school at a community college in San Diego in her 20s. She plans on dropping out after the year to fulfil her parents wish. But then she finds out magic exists and turns to a computer programme to help her out. Only thing is, it starts summoning monsters….
This started off promising - a spunky, funny heroine and a great group of outcast friends. Then, it became foot to the pedal with random spicy scenes thrown in and I lost interest in the characters and the storyline.
I think blending technology and magic is such a cool premise, especially in this day and age, but most of it went over my head.
The pacing felt off. Some parts were rushed over and then others were drawn out with small time jumps that messed with my perception of the story.
I looked at other reviews and many mentioned an ending that made it worth it. I just couldn’t push myself through and ended up DNF’ing at 60%.
Audiobook and physical arc gifted by Angry Robot.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
July 9, 2025
5⭐️
$ python ./review
Thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for letting me fall headfirst down the rabbit hole and catch a glimpse of The Network. Honestly, I’m not sure if I came out wiser or if I’ve just become aware of the Matrix and I’m about to have my own Neo moment….
Dot Slash Magic was such a chaotic little experiment powered by AI, walking red flags, and straight-up hippie nonsense, and honestly? I loved every second of it.
The plot was wildly entertaining. Like, laughing until it hurts entertaining. Liz’s take on modern-day cognizance is the kind of thing that should be studied in a lab. The whole premise was just one big, beautiful headfuck that kept me on my god damn toes.
This book was so far left-field that I had no idea what to expect going into it, and yet something about it pulled me in like Icarus flying directly into that flaming ball in the sky. The mix of feminine rage, mythical creatures, untapped magic potential and Y2K-level chaos? *Chef’s kiss*. Deranged in the best way.
The ending absolutely shattered something human in me. Like, thanks for that Liz. From the very beginning, I was fully invested in Kurt/Sherlock/Remy (yes, all of his identities, thank you very much), and the tension between him and Seven? That was the kind of beautiful slow burn chaos that deserved to be nurtured, watered, and talked to softly, unlike Seven’s decrepit succulents (rip)- so it could finally blossom into some full blown FREAKING WIZARD MEETS SHERLOCK HOLMES SHIT. But no. We got a whole lot of pain and suffering instead. As always. But I’m so excited to see where this story goes next 😭
Final thoughts:
I asked ChatGPT how many times the letter R appears in the word strawberry. And, shockingly, it said three - which was correct. Sorry Angel, I guess AI isn’t just hype anymore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve been dying to get my hands on this arc, Liz Shipton you had me at magic, AI, & punk culture
Something about that cover art and title just screamed ‘analyze me like your life depends on it’ - and honestly, who am I to deny fate?
$ python ./review
Thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for letting me fall headfirst down the rabbit hole and catch a glimpse of The Network. Honestly, I’m not sure if I came out wiser or if I’ve just become aware of the Matrix and I’m about to have my own Neo moment….
Dot Slash Magic was such a chaotic little experiment powered by AI, walking red flags, and straight-up hippie nonsense, and honestly? I loved every second of it.
The plot was wildly entertaining. Like, laughing until it hurts entertaining. Liz’s take on modern-day cognizance is the kind of thing that should be studied in a lab. The whole premise was just one big, beautiful headfuck that kept me on my god damn toes.
This book was so far left-field that I had no idea what to expect going into it, and yet something about it pulled me in like Icarus flying directly into that flaming ball in the sky. The mix of feminine rage, mythical creatures, untapped magic potential and Y2K-level chaos? *Chef’s kiss*. Deranged in the best way.
The ending absolutely shattered something human in me. Like, thanks for that Liz. From the very beginning, I was fully invested in Kurt/Sherlock/Remy (yes, all of his identities, thank you very much), and the tension between him and Seven? That was the kind of beautiful slow burn chaos that deserved to be nurtured, watered, and talked to softly, unlike Seven’s decrepit succulents (rip)- so it could finally blossom into some full blown FREAKING WIZARD MEETS SHERLOCK HOLMES SHIT. But no. We got a whole lot of pain and suffering instead. As always. But I’m so excited to see where this story goes next 😭
”It was magic, Seven.”
“What was?”
“Making you laugh was fucking magic.”
Final thoughts:
I asked ChatGPT how many times the letter R appears in the word strawberry. And, shockingly, it said three - which was correct. Sorry Angel, I guess AI isn’t just hype anymore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve been dying to get my hands on this arc, Liz Shipton you had me at magic, AI, & punk culture
Something about that cover art and title just screamed ‘analyze me like your life depends on it’ - and honestly, who am I to deny fate?
August 22, 2025
“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 vocal 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.
January 3, 2026
This book was fun. Messy, ambitious, chaotic fun. That’s kind of why it worked for me.
This is an urban fantasy that throws coding, magic, monsters, and AI into a blender. Seven is a genuinely engaging lead: impulsive, reckless, funny, and very much making things worse before she makes them better. I loved her. She feels like the kind of protagonist who charges forward first and processes consequences later, which absolutely fuels both the plot and the tension. And she throws around inappropriate jokes whenever emotions get involved. Love an emotionally constipated lead.
The magic-via-code concept is original, and Shipton clearly has interesting ideas. Watching Seven navigate power through something as structured and dangerous as an AI program was fascinating, especially since the book doesn’t stop to lecture about AI ethics. The harm is there, the discomfort is there, but the story trusts the reader to connect the dots instead of spelling everything out.
Where the book stumbles a bit is structure. The first half and the ending feel like they belong to two different novels. The tonal shift makes sense in retrospect, but in the moment it’s jarring, and the late-game reveal doesn’t quite have enough runway to land with maximum impact. Some emotional beats breeze past when they should have lingered, and the pacing occasionally undercuts moments that deserved more weight.
That said, I’m impressed. This is one of the most inventive urban fantasies I’ve read in a while, and even when it’s uneven, it’s never boring. The risks it takes absolutely outweigh the missteps for me, and I’m more curious than ever to see where the series goes next.
Flawed? Yes. But bold, a little weird, spicy, and refreshingly different and I’ll happily keep reading.
Thank you to R&R Booktours, the author, and Angry Robot for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This is an urban fantasy that throws coding, magic, monsters, and AI into a blender. Seven is a genuinely engaging lead: impulsive, reckless, funny, and very much making things worse before she makes them better. I loved her. She feels like the kind of protagonist who charges forward first and processes consequences later, which absolutely fuels both the plot and the tension. And she throws around inappropriate jokes whenever emotions get involved. Love an emotionally constipated lead.
The magic-via-code concept is original, and Shipton clearly has interesting ideas. Watching Seven navigate power through something as structured and dangerous as an AI program was fascinating, especially since the book doesn’t stop to lecture about AI ethics. The harm is there, the discomfort is there, but the story trusts the reader to connect the dots instead of spelling everything out.
Where the book stumbles a bit is structure. The first half and the ending feel like they belong to two different novels. The tonal shift makes sense in retrospect, but in the moment it’s jarring, and the late-game reveal doesn’t quite have enough runway to land with maximum impact. Some emotional beats breeze past when they should have lingered, and the pacing occasionally undercuts moments that deserved more weight.
That said, I’m impressed. This is one of the most inventive urban fantasies I’ve read in a while, and even when it’s uneven, it’s never boring. The risks it takes absolutely outweigh the missteps for me, and I’m more curious than ever to see where the series goes next.
Flawed? Yes. But bold, a little weird, spicy, and refreshingly different and I’ll happily keep reading.
Thank you to R&R Booktours, the author, and Angry Robot for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
July 16, 2025
This was such a fun surprise!
I went in not fully knowing what to expect and ended up totally invested.
The whole concept??? Coding magic into an AI program??? This is so unique and refreshing, and honestly? I loved every minute of it!
I’m a sucker for urban fantasy that plays with modern tech in new ways, and this totally hit the spot.
Seven Jones was exactly my kind of FMC; snarky, introverted, skeptical, and not trying to be anyone’s chosen one. Her dry humour kept me entertained, and I loved watching her slowly find her footing in the strange magical world she accidentally joins. I really related to her resistance to group settings (hello, awkward club meetings), and her bond with the AI she creates felt oddly emotional by the end.
The mystery of the summoned monsters added some great tension, and I appreciated how it kept me guessing.
NOW let’s talk about Logan. The ex-Navy SEAL love interest who somehow makes grumpy supportiveness look very hot? Yes please.
My only small critique is that some of the side characters could've used a bit more depth but honestly, the pacing and originality made up for it. I was turning pages fast, wanting to see where it all went.
A modern, magical ride that’s equal parts nerdy, chaotic, and heartfelt. If you like magic systems that break the mould, found family vibes, and characters who don’t follow the rules (or want to), this one’s for you.
Im invested and ready for this world and story to continue!
I went in not fully knowing what to expect and ended up totally invested.
The whole concept??? Coding magic into an AI program??? This is so unique and refreshing, and honestly? I loved every minute of it!
I’m a sucker for urban fantasy that plays with modern tech in new ways, and this totally hit the spot.
Seven Jones was exactly my kind of FMC; snarky, introverted, skeptical, and not trying to be anyone’s chosen one. Her dry humour kept me entertained, and I loved watching her slowly find her footing in the strange magical world she accidentally joins. I really related to her resistance to group settings (hello, awkward club meetings), and her bond with the AI she creates felt oddly emotional by the end.
The mystery of the summoned monsters added some great tension, and I appreciated how it kept me guessing.
NOW let’s talk about Logan. The ex-Navy SEAL love interest who somehow makes grumpy supportiveness look very hot? Yes please.
My only small critique is that some of the side characters could've used a bit more depth but honestly, the pacing and originality made up for it. I was turning pages fast, wanting to see where it all went.
A modern, magical ride that’s equal parts nerdy, chaotic, and heartfelt. If you like magic systems that break the mould, found family vibes, and characters who don’t follow the rules (or want to), this one’s for you.
Im invested and ready for this world and story to continue!
August 19, 2025
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
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
August 19, 2026
Fun and clever urban fantasy.
June 13, 2025
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.
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.
September 11, 2025
“Dot, how many times does the letter R appear in the word strawberry? THE LETTER R APPEARS TWICE IN THE WORD STRAWBERRY, SEVEN”
AI tech meets coding meets magic meets very bad jokes meets mythological creatures (can a one eyed, fifteen year old black cat who looks like it did hard time in a Venezuelan prison also be considered mythological? Or just mystical?)
This review is hard. It was an almost 4 star for me. While I loved many aspects and concepts of this book, there are a couple concepts and ideas that kinda made me feel… icky.
• Don’t NOT try your best because people keep telling you to try your best - don’t be a POS.
• Don’t ever trust someone who can perform transmogrification, no matter how beneficial it is at the time.
• And for the sake of humankind, stop sharing your personal problems and feelings with ChatGPT.
I have a lot to say about the characters because HOW DARE YOU. And that ending… I will refrain from giving my detailed thoughts because what TF was THAT.
Sherlock and Watson. Til the very end.
“Get your shit together, Sherlock
XoXo Watson”
AI tech meets coding meets magic meets very bad jokes meets mythological creatures (can a one eyed, fifteen year old black cat who looks like it did hard time in a Venezuelan prison also be considered mythological? Or just mystical?)
This review is hard. It was an almost 4 star for me. While I loved many aspects and concepts of this book, there are a couple concepts and ideas that kinda made me feel… icky.
• Don’t NOT try your best because people keep telling you to try your best - don’t be a POS.
• Don’t ever trust someone who can perform transmogrification, no matter how beneficial it is at the time.
• And for the sake of humankind, stop sharing your personal problems and feelings with ChatGPT.
I have a lot to say about the characters because HOW DARE YOU. And that ending… I will refrain from giving my detailed thoughts because what TF was THAT.
Sherlock and Watson. Til the very end.
“Get your shit together, Sherlock
XoXo Watson”
February 5, 2026
That plot twist though! Did not see that coming whatsoever.
August 15, 2025
4.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: A magical AI program is the catalyst for this high stakes tale, complete with humor, spice and engaging characters.
# I AM MAGIC. ASK ME ANYTHING
I follow Liz Shipton on Instagram, so I knew what I was in for when I picked up her latest. And I was not disappointed! Dot Slash Magic is a high energy, hysterically funny urban fantasy with heart, and the author’s idea of a main character who channels her magic through an AI program is unique and exciting. I tore through the book in only a few days, and I was not ready for the story to end.
Seven Jones is a coder who’s been traveling the world on a boat for the last three years. But she’s just broken up with the guy who was footing the bill, and she suddenly finds herself stranded in Columbia. When her mother calls with a tempting offer—come home to San Diego and enroll in community college, and in exchange she’ll let Seven live on the family houseboat Dragonfly—she reluctantly agrees. Community college doesn’t appeal to Seven at all, but she figures taking a few coding classes couldn’t hurt.
And then one day on campus, Seven stumbles into a room by accident and finds an underground magic club. It turns out that Seven might be a Maker—someone who can wield magic—but first she has to learn to harness it. With the help of ex-Navy Seal Logan (a dead ringer for Channing Tatum, not that that’s important!), Seven struggles to find her Conduit and Channel magic. Until one day she’s given an assignment in her Machine Learning class to build a web scraper, and after a strange incident involving her cat Neo, Seven winds up with an AI program that allows her to do magic. But the AI, who she calls Dot, unleashes much more than Seven bargained for. Now all of her new friends are in danger, and it's up to her to stop it.
Liz Shipton is really funny on social media, and that humor translates so well to her fiction. The dialog is excellent, with perfectly timed banter and lots of clever references to pop culture. Seven was such a fun character. She’s sort of a social disaster and prefers to be by herself. The thought of joining a “club” sends her into panic mode, and I loved the fact that she does her own thing and doesn’t do what society expects her to. This does make her a bit prickly though, since she’s not that great with people and doesn’t really know what she wants to do with her life. It's the perfect set up for character growth, though, and it was fun to watch Seven finally find herself by the end of the story.
I enjoyed the side characters as well. Seven meets a guy she calls “Kurt” (he looks just like Kurt Cobain, lol) in her Machine Learning class, and they hit it off and end up helping each other through the rougher parts of the class. Then there’s Logan, a powerful Maker who draws Seven into his orbit in some rather concerning ways. When Seven joins the magic club and begins to attend their secret Gatherings, there’s a lot of tension flying around, since Seven doesn’t really fit in at first. The dynamics among the characters were one of my favorite story elements, since you never really knew what was going to happen.
Liz Shipton has a coding background, and she incorporates just enough technical jargon to give her story some heft. I loved the idea of an AI who has “scraped” the internet for all sorts of information on magic and distilled it into a unique but dangerous program. I recommend you don’t read the Goodreads blurb because it’s a bit spoilery, but let’s just say there’s something that Dot does later in the story that sends everything spiraling into chaos, and it’s even more awesome if you don’t know what’s coming. Overall I thought the world building was nicely done, with enough explanation and lore surrounding the magic system that it made sense, but without the info-dumping that some authors use to explain complex ideas. I also appreciated the fact that Shipton explores the moral implications of AI, but doesn't let that take over her story.
And I’d better mention the spicy content, just in case it’s not your thing. Yes, there is one spicy sex scene (which is also very funny!), but that’s it. Just the one scene, which surprised me since the author is known for her spicy content. Even better, the scene isn’t gratuitous but moves the plot forward and serves a purpose later in the story.
If I have any complaints, it’s that the story could have been streamlined a bit, since there is a lot going on (maybe too much). But that’s just me being nitpicky. There is a late, end-of-the-story WTF twist that I didn’t see coming, and I think it had the potential to go sideways. But Shipton handled it brilliantly and somehow it worked. The ending is suitably emotional and heartwarming, bringing Seven’s story full circle, and I finished the last page with a warm glow and a touch of sadness that the story was over. Highly recommended!
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: A magical AI program is the catalyst for this high stakes tale, complete with humor, spice and engaging characters.
# I AM MAGIC. ASK ME ANYTHING
I follow Liz Shipton on Instagram, so I knew what I was in for when I picked up her latest. And I was not disappointed! Dot Slash Magic is a high energy, hysterically funny urban fantasy with heart, and the author’s idea of a main character who channels her magic through an AI program is unique and exciting. I tore through the book in only a few days, and I was not ready for the story to end.
Seven Jones is a coder who’s been traveling the world on a boat for the last three years. But she’s just broken up with the guy who was footing the bill, and she suddenly finds herself stranded in Columbia. When her mother calls with a tempting offer—come home to San Diego and enroll in community college, and in exchange she’ll let Seven live on the family houseboat Dragonfly—she reluctantly agrees. Community college doesn’t appeal to Seven at all, but she figures taking a few coding classes couldn’t hurt.
And then one day on campus, Seven stumbles into a room by accident and finds an underground magic club. It turns out that Seven might be a Maker—someone who can wield magic—but first she has to learn to harness it. With the help of ex-Navy Seal Logan (a dead ringer for Channing Tatum, not that that’s important!), Seven struggles to find her Conduit and Channel magic. Until one day she’s given an assignment in her Machine Learning class to build a web scraper, and after a strange incident involving her cat Neo, Seven winds up with an AI program that allows her to do magic. But the AI, who she calls Dot, unleashes much more than Seven bargained for. Now all of her new friends are in danger, and it's up to her to stop it.
Liz Shipton is really funny on social media, and that humor translates so well to her fiction. The dialog is excellent, with perfectly timed banter and lots of clever references to pop culture. Seven was such a fun character. She’s sort of a social disaster and prefers to be by herself. The thought of joining a “club” sends her into panic mode, and I loved the fact that she does her own thing and doesn’t do what society expects her to. This does make her a bit prickly though, since she’s not that great with people and doesn’t really know what she wants to do with her life. It's the perfect set up for character growth, though, and it was fun to watch Seven finally find herself by the end of the story.
I enjoyed the side characters as well. Seven meets a guy she calls “Kurt” (he looks just like Kurt Cobain, lol) in her Machine Learning class, and they hit it off and end up helping each other through the rougher parts of the class. Then there’s Logan, a powerful Maker who draws Seven into his orbit in some rather concerning ways. When Seven joins the magic club and begins to attend their secret Gatherings, there’s a lot of tension flying around, since Seven doesn’t really fit in at first. The dynamics among the characters were one of my favorite story elements, since you never really knew what was going to happen.
Liz Shipton has a coding background, and she incorporates just enough technical jargon to give her story some heft. I loved the idea of an AI who has “scraped” the internet for all sorts of information on magic and distilled it into a unique but dangerous program. I recommend you don’t read the Goodreads blurb because it’s a bit spoilery, but let’s just say there’s something that Dot does later in the story that sends everything spiraling into chaos, and it’s even more awesome if you don’t know what’s coming. Overall I thought the world building was nicely done, with enough explanation and lore surrounding the magic system that it made sense, but without the info-dumping that some authors use to explain complex ideas. I also appreciated the fact that Shipton explores the moral implications of AI, but doesn't let that take over her story.
And I’d better mention the spicy content, just in case it’s not your thing. Yes, there is one spicy sex scene (which is also very funny!), but that’s it. Just the one scene, which surprised me since the author is known for her spicy content. Even better, the scene isn’t gratuitous but moves the plot forward and serves a purpose later in the story.
If I have any complaints, it’s that the story could have been streamlined a bit, since there is a lot going on (maybe too much). But that’s just me being nitpicky. There is a late, end-of-the-story WTF twist that I didn’t see coming, and I think it had the potential to go sideways. But Shipton handled it brilliantly and somehow it worked. The ending is suitably emotional and heartwarming, bringing Seven’s story full circle, and I finished the last page with a warm glow and a touch of sadness that the story was over. Highly recommended!
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
August 9, 2025
Seven doesn't know she has magic but when she wanders into the wrong room at school, she discovers that not only is magic real, she can do it using her smartwatch (DOT) and computer coding. All kinds of things go incredibly wrong after this....including murder!
This isn't a coming of age feel good book. It IS full of wit, snark and funny banter from our 20 something characters and I loved that. It also had some romance and heartwarming moments. But also monsters and AI that is learning on it's own...and lies!
I really liked Seven as our main character! She's not perfect but does her best to figure out what is actually going on at the school. She battles all kinds of arcane nonsense and her friends too, because as people start ending up dead, Seven needs to solve this mystery about what exactly is happening. What if it IS because of her and her AI magic channelling?
There are some pretty dark elements and spice to this book, trigger warnings are recommended.
I really enjoyed all of it though.
I will say the audiobook was absolutely incredible! The narrator Mary Pochatko really brought life to the characters...even being so AI-like for DOT. The production was crisp and clear, I had perfect clarity the whole listen.
My rating is 4.25
Thank you to NetGalley, AngryRobot and Tantor Media for the ARC and ALC. My thoughts are my own.
This isn't a coming of age feel good book. It IS full of wit, snark and funny banter from our 20 something characters and I loved that. It also had some romance and heartwarming moments. But also monsters and AI that is learning on it's own...and lies!
I really liked Seven as our main character! She's not perfect but does her best to figure out what is actually going on at the school. She battles all kinds of arcane nonsense and her friends too, because as people start ending up dead, Seven needs to solve this mystery about what exactly is happening. What if it IS because of her and her AI magic channelling?
There are some pretty dark elements and spice to this book, trigger warnings are recommended.
I really enjoyed all of it though.
I will say the audiobook was absolutely incredible! The narrator Mary Pochatko really brought life to the characters...even being so AI-like for DOT. The production was crisp and clear, I had perfect clarity the whole listen.
My rating is 4.25
Thank you to NetGalley, AngryRobot and Tantor Media for the ARC and ALC. My thoughts are my own.
August 16, 2025
this book is a mindfuck... in more ways than one😏
________________________________________________
Once again, I find myself thankful that I am too much of a completionist to DNF a book because the first 10% of this book nearly lost me.
The story follows Seven who re-enters the world of education and discovers that 1) magic is real and b) she can supposedly do it???
With the aid of an AI program fed on a diet of magical information, Seven attempts to adjust to her new normal and become a Maker. Then things get out of hand.
Throughout the book, we get to know a group of characters who are diverse without it feeling performative. The diverse representation adds to the characters without it being their defining traits and it all feels very thoughtfully done.
At its core, this book is a cautionary tale about the dangers of AI and how quickly it could get away from us if we don't take it seriously.
There are some sexy bits in this book but it has a point. It feeds into a larger conversation that I hope we get into more if there's a second book.
There were some really fun twists in here that I did not see coming and I'm afraid I may have neglected my parental duties slightly in order to finish this because shit was getting real and I needed resolution!
I was given an eARC of this book by Angry Robot via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
________________________________________________
Once again, I find myself thankful that I am too much of a completionist to DNF a book because the first 10% of this book nearly lost me.
The story follows Seven who re-enters the world of education and discovers that 1) magic is real and b) she can supposedly do it???
With the aid of an AI program fed on a diet of magical information, Seven attempts to adjust to her new normal and become a Maker. Then things get out of hand.
Throughout the book, we get to know a group of characters who are diverse without it feeling performative. The diverse representation adds to the characters without it being their defining traits and it all feels very thoughtfully done.
At its core, this book is a cautionary tale about the dangers of AI and how quickly it could get away from us if we don't take it seriously.
There are some sexy bits in this book but it has a point. It feeds into a larger conversation that I hope we get into more if there's a second book.
There were some really fun twists in here that I did not see coming and I'm afraid I may have neglected my parental duties slightly in order to finish this because shit was getting real and I needed resolution!
I was given an eARC of this book by Angry Robot via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2025
WELLLLLLL DANG!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!! There is SO MUCH good banter, quick pacing & an incredible cast of characters you can’t help but love (or love to hate for some 🤣) ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ There is betrayal and love and mystery, and Seven is INCREDIBLY sassy and jaded. Very relatable sense of twenty-something “I’m lost” that so many of us have experienced >>>>> PLLLUUUSSSS there is such a cool twist that i did not see coming AT ALL so 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 my jaw is still on the floor.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Violence: 🔪 🔪
Consumed: gifted digital ARC ebook
Read if you love:
• Dystopian Urban Romantasy
☆Unique Magic System
• college / academy setting
☆Punk Vibes
• Found family
☆Enby & Ace rep
• Forced proximity
☆Monsters & Mayhem
• Strangers to lovers
☆Cats
• Slow burn
☆Bonkers Spice
• New adult
☆🍆Jokes
Thank you Liz Shipton and R&R book tours for providing me with a free ARC of this amazing story!
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Violence: 🔪 🔪
Consumed: gifted digital ARC ebook
Read if you love:
• Dystopian Urban Romantasy
☆Unique Magic System
• college / academy setting
☆Punk Vibes
• Found family
☆Enby & Ace rep
• Forced proximity
☆Monsters & Mayhem
• Strangers to lovers
☆Cats
• Slow burn
☆Bonkers Spice
• New adult
☆🍆Jokes
Thank you Liz Shipton and R&R book tours for providing me with a free ARC of this amazing story!
୨୧-dnf
August 20, 2025⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ Thank you to Netgalley for the arc! ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
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 which was just too much for me.
So yeah disappointing that I’ve had so many dnfs this year but oh well hoping my next read is better.
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 which was just too much for me.
So yeah disappointing that I’ve had so many dnfs this year but oh well hoping my next read is better.
June 7, 2025
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.
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.
August 26, 2025
Ok still processing (ha) that ending. Definitely, read the ending. Totally changes the whole book. I can’t quite decide how I feel about it but it definitely turns everything on it’s head.
So the review. First I will say this was very readable. Engaging. Easy to get through. It tackles some interesting questions around AI, the topic we are all thinking about these days. And I will say that it is refreshingly original after reading so many terrible carbon copy knock offs lately.
There were a lot of plot points/characters that really bothered me for a lot of the book- the d-bag love interest, the MIA teacher, the totally inexplicable hunger games interlude, the hand-wavey explanations of magic- but the ending does kind of resolve them. I’m not convinced all my complaints were intended to be resolved by the ending but it does technically do the trick.
As with the author’s last book, one big issue I had was struggling to sympathize with the fmc. She just makes terrible decisions, reckless, impulsive. Not a bad person but she leaves destruction in her path and the way her brain works is so foreign to me that I really have trouble understanding her and rooting for her. This is completely a me issue and not the book.
Finally, I feel the need to clarify that this is not a romance. Spicy yes but romance it is not (these are not the same thing I shout into the ether). Which is fine but please don’t go into this one thinking it is.
So in summary I am still somewhat confused and trying to wrap my brain around what happened. Didn’t love a lot of it but the ending did save it for me to an extent. On the fence about reading the sequel. Wait, there will be a sequel, right? I assume there is going to be a sequel. If not…that ending was way too open.
Ps so just skimming some other reviews and ironically, it really seems like some of these reviews were written by chatgpt lol. Or at a minimum by someone who did not read the whole book.
So the review. First I will say this was very readable. Engaging. Easy to get through. It tackles some interesting questions around AI, the topic we are all thinking about these days. And I will say that it is refreshingly original after reading so many terrible carbon copy knock offs lately.
There were a lot of plot points/characters that really bothered me for a lot of the book- the d-bag love interest, the MIA teacher, the totally inexplicable hunger games interlude, the hand-wavey explanations of magic- but the ending does kind of resolve them. I’m not convinced all my complaints were intended to be resolved by the ending but it does technically do the trick.
As with the author’s last book, one big issue I had was struggling to sympathize with the fmc. She just makes terrible decisions, reckless, impulsive. Not a bad person but she leaves destruction in her path and the way her brain works is so foreign to me that I really have trouble understanding her and rooting for her. This is completely a me issue and not the book.
Finally, I feel the need to clarify that this is not a romance. Spicy yes but romance it is not (these are not the same thing I shout into the ether). Which is fine but please don’t go into this one thinking it is.
So in summary I am still somewhat confused and trying to wrap my brain around what happened. Didn’t love a lot of it but the ending did save it for me to an extent. On the fence about reading the sequel. Wait, there will be a sequel, right? I assume there is going to be a sequel. If not…that ending was way too open.
Ps so just skimming some other reviews and ironically, it really seems like some of these reviews were written by chatgpt lol. Or at a minimum by someone who did not read the whole book.
August 22, 2025
*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.
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.
August 18, 2025
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!!
A massive thank you to NetGalley & Tantor Media for the advanced listener copy!!
March 16, 2026
This was soooo good until the ending. The whole concept of her using AI to access magic for her culty magical uni club was really fun. But that ending was so random and poorly thought out just gonna pretend it didn’t happen.
June 27, 2025
Was this a masterpiece? No. But did I have a fan-bloody-tastic time reading this? Hell yeah!
August 30, 2025
1.5 🌟.
Had fun in the beginning, but it turned into confusion and boredom.
The idea was good and I can see what it could've been, but the book didn't catch that spark - unfortunately.
Had fun in the beginning, but it turned into confusion and boredom.
The idea was good and I can see what it could've been, but the book didn't catch that spark - unfortunately.
June 6, 2026
Fifteen-year-old Lisa would have loved this shit.
And honestly, I think the world would have loved this shit too if it had been published around, let's say, 2008 when Twilight hit the big screen.
Because Liz Shipton's Dot Slash Magic pulls elements from all the popular (mostly YA) Millennial book/movie fandoms, e.g., Twilight of course, Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments (heavy on this one), Fallen, Shadow & Bone, Beautiful Creatures, and even such things as The Matrix and Star Wars.
So, if you like those things, maybe give this a go.
Just be aware that, although inspired by a whole lot of 2000's YA things, it's set in something more like community college than high school, so the characters are old enough to have sex on page. And speaking of sex...
I should not have read this. Unfortunately, I did not know this until I opened the book to a content warning about explicit sex scenes.
Ugh. One thing about me... I hate books that focus on romance and romantic/sexual drama.
So the bad thing about not fully reading the backs of books is that, sometimes, I don't realize what I'm getting into. All I knew about Dot Slash Magic was that the cover was cool and there's a tagline on the back, "If a computer could help you wield your magic... would you use it?"
"Fuck yeah!" I said, thinking this was a magical sci-fi book.
If I had known this was a spicy urban fantasy, I would not have requested it. And maybe if I hadn't waited MONTHS for my hold to come in at the library, I would have returned it unread. And I thought about it, I really did. But sometimes I like to challenge myself and read outside my comfort zone to test the boundaries of my lane, so I continued.
And I have to give Shipton a huge amount of credit here. In that content warning, she offers to send a smut-free ebook to readers who provide her proof of purchase. I absolutely would have done that if I had purchased it. But I didn't.
Anyway...
I don't think my opinions would have changed if I had read the smutless version. I'm not just averse to explicit sex scenes, I'm averse to everything leading up to those sex scenes.
And the one thing I noticed immediately was how horny the protagonist is for the boys.
Side note, it may be the crime of the century that this book is heterosexual. I honestly thought was LGBTQ+ and that absolutely was a determining factor in deciding to continue reading it. But once again, my choice to know as little as possible when picking up a book bit me in the ass.
There is a nonbinary minor character, so it's not anti LGBTQ+ by any means, but damn. I wish these characters had all been queer.
Anyway...
This is the story of Seven, a Cool girl who decides to finally go back to school at like 22 so her parents don't sell the boat she wants to live in. Just like all the fandom's listed above, Seven is a not-your-average-girl with untapped magical powers she is unaware of.
There's a love triangle, because all new-to-their-powers Millennial-core girlies need at least two boys to moon-eye.
Seven likes Nirvana and bad tattoos and boys. She's also a programmer (no doubt inspired by Angelina Jolie's character in Hackers) and, would ya know, ends up creating an AI that helps her tap into her magic powers.
So, like Harry and Clary and the rest, Seven has to learn to master her new powers and stop some Big Bad Monsters.
The magic system is goofy and poorly explained. There's a one-eyed cat named Neo that should have had more page time. There's also no bigger picture outside these characters exclusively as if nobody else populates this world.
There's a twist at the end that was... silly. One of the boys also has the power to "transmogrify" his penis into a bigger penis.
::sigh::
This book ends in a weird place, and I would not be surprised if the author makes this a series or at least publishes a sequel. Honestly, it needs one, but you won't catch me reading it.
I will remember this as that time I accidentally read a smutty urban fantasy that my younger self would have DEVOURED and ordered seconds of.
But I've grown into a wicked, old witch who resents that girl's desire for magic powers and bad boys with bad tattoos.
Now I just want to be alone in a less hateful world where I can afford gas and groceries.
I'm glad people like this book, but it wasn't for me. 2 out of 5 stars.
And honestly, I think the world would have loved this shit too if it had been published around, let's say, 2008 when Twilight hit the big screen.
Because Liz Shipton's Dot Slash Magic pulls elements from all the popular (mostly YA) Millennial book/movie fandoms, e.g., Twilight of course, Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments (heavy on this one), Fallen, Shadow & Bone, Beautiful Creatures, and even such things as The Matrix and Star Wars.
So, if you like those things, maybe give this a go.
Just be aware that, although inspired by a whole lot of 2000's YA things, it's set in something more like community college than high school, so the characters are old enough to have sex on page. And speaking of sex...
I should not have read this. Unfortunately, I did not know this until I opened the book to a content warning about explicit sex scenes.
Ugh. One thing about me... I hate books that focus on romance and romantic/sexual drama.
So the bad thing about not fully reading the backs of books is that, sometimes, I don't realize what I'm getting into. All I knew about Dot Slash Magic was that the cover was cool and there's a tagline on the back, "If a computer could help you wield your magic... would you use it?"
"Fuck yeah!" I said, thinking this was a magical sci-fi book.
If I had known this was a spicy urban fantasy, I would not have requested it. And maybe if I hadn't waited MONTHS for my hold to come in at the library, I would have returned it unread. And I thought about it, I really did. But sometimes I like to challenge myself and read outside my comfort zone to test the boundaries of my lane, so I continued.
And I have to give Shipton a huge amount of credit here. In that content warning, she offers to send a smut-free ebook to readers who provide her proof of purchase. I absolutely would have done that if I had purchased it. But I didn't.
Anyway...
I don't think my opinions would have changed if I had read the smutless version. I'm not just averse to explicit sex scenes, I'm averse to everything leading up to those sex scenes.
And the one thing I noticed immediately was how horny the protagonist is for the boys.
Side note, it may be the crime of the century that this book is heterosexual. I honestly thought was LGBTQ+ and that absolutely was a determining factor in deciding to continue reading it. But once again, my choice to know as little as possible when picking up a book bit me in the ass.
There is a nonbinary minor character, so it's not anti LGBTQ+ by any means, but damn. I wish these characters had all been queer.
Anyway...
This is the story of Seven, a Cool girl who decides to finally go back to school at like 22 so her parents don't sell the boat she wants to live in. Just like all the fandom's listed above, Seven is a not-your-average-girl with untapped magical powers she is unaware of.
There's a love triangle, because all new-to-their-powers Millennial-core girlies need at least two boys to moon-eye.
Seven likes Nirvana and bad tattoos and boys. She's also a programmer (no doubt inspired by Angelina Jolie's character in Hackers) and, would ya know, ends up creating an AI that helps her tap into her magic powers.
So, like Harry and Clary and the rest, Seven has to learn to master her new powers and stop some Big Bad Monsters.
The magic system is goofy and poorly explained. There's a one-eyed cat named Neo that should have had more page time. There's also no bigger picture outside these characters exclusively as if nobody else populates this world.
There's a twist at the end that was... silly. One of the boys also has the power to "transmogrify" his penis into a bigger penis.
::sigh::
This book ends in a weird place, and I would not be surprised if the author makes this a series or at least publishes a sequel. Honestly, it needs one, but you won't catch me reading it.
I will remember this as that time I accidentally read a smutty urban fantasy that my younger self would have DEVOURED and ordered seconds of.
But I've grown into a wicked, old witch who resents that girl's desire for magic powers and bad boys with bad tattoos.
Now I just want to be alone in a less hateful world where I can afford gas and groceries.
I'm glad people like this book, but it wasn't for me. 2 out of 5 stars.
August 20, 2025
Thank you SO MUCH to angry robot for sending me this as an ARC. I will now be buying everything by this author.
Not only was “Dot Slash Magic” a hilariously witty manic adventure, it was a beautiful tale of finding your humanity, owning up to your mistakes, and fighting for who you love. Oh, and sprinkle in layers of deep social commentary with a dash of moral ethic undertones. I’ve never before experienced a book like this before; one that quite literally had me laughing out loud, and also questioning my own morals and what I would do in these characters shoes. I found the commentary on AI especially compelling. This book tackles the use of AI in so many different ways, some obvious and some not so much, but each avenue is explored in such a well thought out way. Not only does the story explore the use/misuse of AI, it does an amazing job of exploring what makes us human and different character flaws that we all have to some degree. Seven, as a main character, was one of my favorite characters mostly because of how much she drove me crazy. I hated so many of the decisions she made, but she was so well written that I couldn’t fault her because I understood on a personal level why she made all of them. Experiencing her growth and self discovery through this story was magical because of how deeply flawed and human she is. One of the things I loved so much about this books progression, is that everything is multilayered and as the story progresses and the layers are pulled back you realize nothing is as it seems. The twists and turns this story takes are UNREAL to the point you’ll be questioning everything you read, but they’re so well executed, and the book is so hilariously written, that even though nothing makes sense it’ll somehow all make perfect sense. Now add in the backdrop of this book being set on a community college campus in San Diego, where a group of students in a magic club have to figure out who/what is killing off their classmates. I’m so happy I randomly decided to pick up this book off my shelf the other day.
“Why don't you care that robots are gonna kill art with shitty, generic slop?"
Angel sighed. "I don't know, probably because humans are already killing art with shitty, generic slop? Why would I worry about robots when so many humans are already putting out aggressively mediocre shit? The same tropey book. The same shitty movie. The only reason you can even fool people with Al slop is because humans are already making slop."
Not only was “Dot Slash Magic” a hilariously witty manic adventure, it was a beautiful tale of finding your humanity, owning up to your mistakes, and fighting for who you love. Oh, and sprinkle in layers of deep social commentary with a dash of moral ethic undertones. I’ve never before experienced a book like this before; one that quite literally had me laughing out loud, and also questioning my own morals and what I would do in these characters shoes. I found the commentary on AI especially compelling. This book tackles the use of AI in so many different ways, some obvious and some not so much, but each avenue is explored in such a well thought out way. Not only does the story explore the use/misuse of AI, it does an amazing job of exploring what makes us human and different character flaws that we all have to some degree. Seven, as a main character, was one of my favorite characters mostly because of how much she drove me crazy. I hated so many of the decisions she made, but she was so well written that I couldn’t fault her because I understood on a personal level why she made all of them. Experiencing her growth and self discovery through this story was magical because of how deeply flawed and human she is. One of the things I loved so much about this books progression, is that everything is multilayered and as the story progresses and the layers are pulled back you realize nothing is as it seems. The twists and turns this story takes are UNREAL to the point you’ll be questioning everything you read, but they’re so well executed, and the book is so hilariously written, that even though nothing makes sense it’ll somehow all make perfect sense. Now add in the backdrop of this book being set on a community college campus in San Diego, where a group of students in a magic club have to figure out who/what is killing off their classmates. I’m so happy I randomly decided to pick up this book off my shelf the other day.
“Why don't you care that robots are gonna kill art with shitty, generic slop?"
Angel sighed. "I don't know, probably because humans are already killing art with shitty, generic slop? Why would I worry about robots when so many humans are already putting out aggressively mediocre shit? The same tropey book. The same shitty movie. The only reason you can even fool people with Al slop is because humans are already making slop."
August 14, 2025
So imagine that The Matrix meets Cinderella…or Pretty Woman. That’s how I feel with this book!
We meet Seven Jones as her family is trying desperately to coerce her into going back to school for college. She really wants no part of it. But they sweeten the offer with a bribe she cannot refuse….
And so she begins at the local community college.
And she meets a lot of people…
And the crazy thing is that she starts to feel like she’s fitting in…. after she incorporates a ‘magical’ program into her phone/laptop….
Yes, there are Magicks. Yes, there’s competing guys. Yes there are women who are nice… and, not so nice… Yes there’s competing guys are instructors… some are terrific, some are duds… just like in real life…
But when strange ‘beings’ start appearing, and what looks like WWIII … well, just what have we gotten ourselves into here??
This was strange. This was different. This was scary. This was magical. This was crazy!
And, I never would’ve guessed that ending in a million years!!!!! 😮😮😮
#DotSlashMagic by @LizShipton and narrated nicely by @MaryPotchatko.
4 Magick-al🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars for me!!
***** THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES STARTING 8/19/25!!! *****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #TantorMedia for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
We meet Seven Jones as her family is trying desperately to coerce her into going back to school for college. She really wants no part of it. But they sweeten the offer with a bribe she cannot refuse….
And so she begins at the local community college.
And she meets a lot of people…
And the crazy thing is that she starts to feel like she’s fitting in…. after she incorporates a ‘magical’ program into her phone/laptop….
Yes, there are Magicks. Yes, there’s competing guys. Yes there are women who are nice… and, not so nice… Yes there’s competing guys are instructors… some are terrific, some are duds… just like in real life…
But when strange ‘beings’ start appearing, and what looks like WWIII … well, just what have we gotten ourselves into here??
This was strange. This was different. This was scary. This was magical. This was crazy!
And, I never would’ve guessed that ending in a million years!!!!! 😮😮😮
#DotSlashMagic by @LizShipton and narrated nicely by @MaryPotchatko.
4 Magick-al🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars for me!!
***** THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES STARTING 8/19/25!!! *****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #TantorMedia for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
August 10, 2025
#ARC #review • #dotslashmagic by #lizshipton
.
.
It's the matrix but funny. Don't hesitate, take the red pill!
.
Liz Shipton takes you on a deepdive into AI and throws in a truckload of humour. I loved how she takes you by the hand and feeds you harsh reality through the spectrum of funny.
.
The fmc, Seven, is a bit lost after highschool and after 6 years of having fun in Europe and sailing the Atlantic, she enrolls in City College where her world just shifts into all kinds of bonkers when her cat Neo accidently helps her to make an AI magic app for her IT class assignment. She sees. She wields AI and she... kills? As students end up dead, questions arise. But will you get answers?
.
Not a book for everyone, but definitely a book for you if you are a fan of the #Matrix, #iamnumberfour and #Ahitchhikersguidetothegalaxy. Put on your headphones and fave ASMR to get your nerd on and have fun with .dot/slash(magic)!!
.
.
Out on August 19!
.
.
Thank you Netgalley and Angry Robots and ofcourse Liz Shipton for making this ARC available! This review is my own honest opinion.
.
.
#urbanfantasy #humor #punkculture #ninetiesbitch #magic #AI #netgalley #angryrobots #sevenjones #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #fantasybooks
.
.
It's the matrix but funny. Don't hesitate, take the red pill!
.
Liz Shipton takes you on a deepdive into AI and throws in a truckload of humour. I loved how she takes you by the hand and feeds you harsh reality through the spectrum of funny.
.
The fmc, Seven, is a bit lost after highschool and after 6 years of having fun in Europe and sailing the Atlantic, she enrolls in City College where her world just shifts into all kinds of bonkers when her cat Neo accidently helps her to make an AI magic app for her IT class assignment. She sees. She wields AI and she... kills? As students end up dead, questions arise. But will you get answers?
.
Not a book for everyone, but definitely a book for you if you are a fan of the #Matrix, #iamnumberfour and #Ahitchhikersguidetothegalaxy. Put on your headphones and fave ASMR to get your nerd on and have fun with .dot/slash(magic)!!
.
.
Out on August 19!
.
.
Thank you Netgalley and Angry Robots and ofcourse Liz Shipton for making this ARC available! This review is my own honest opinion.
.
.
#urbanfantasy #humor #punkculture #ninetiesbitch #magic #AI #netgalley #angryrobots #sevenjones #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #fantasybooks
February 3, 2026
So. many. stars.
For making me both holler and squeal (actually for real out loud)
For a particular knack at writing loveable, frustrating female fuckups #BirdHowsley
For the wit
and humor
and irreverance
For writing heat really well AND BUT ALSO providing access to a spice-free version (for this book, as well as her other/prior series Thalassic)
I listened to the first 50/60%, eyeball read the remainder. Mary Pachatko's narration is perfection for this writing.
I love it, and require zero differing opinions.
(Could do with fewer naked spoilers in other reviews -- damn, y'all)
(But also-- go read "Savage")
For making me both holler and squeal (actually for real out loud)
For a particular knack at writing loveable, frustrating female fuckups #BirdHowsley
For the wit
and humor
and irreverance
For writing heat really well AND BUT ALSO providing access to a spice-free version (for this book, as well as her other/prior series Thalassic)
I listened to the first 50/60%, eyeball read the remainder. Mary Pachatko's narration is perfection for this writing.
I love it, and require zero differing opinions.
(Could do with fewer naked spoilers in other reviews -- damn, y'all)
(But also-- go read "Savage")
November 11, 2025
I have never in my entire life read a book like this one, with 100% perfection in use of italics, it gives me tingly feelings. is it ridiculous, yes. but am I, proud and weird millenial satisfied? also, yes. would I give this 7 out of 5 stars? yes, I would.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews