Trigger warnings: Explosions

6/10, I picked this up from one of the two libraries I go to and one of them didn't have it however the other one did and this was one of three new books that arrived at the time I read this and one of them so far underwhelmed me, another one didn't and this one did since I found so many issues with this; where do I even begin? It starts with the main character Diz and she lives in a world where magic or maz (I'm cringing at this) is limited and a corporation has tight control over it. There are 14 types of magic at least according to the book like fire and water but there's one more the characters will discover. The story was very predictable and much like Green Rising (the characters just save the world from climate change due to fossil fuels magic drilling operations.) Technically magic is a fossil fuel in this world since the book said that it's a limited resource, I don't understand why they couldn't have just used renewable energy or something like that. The main character was honestly very annoying because she acted aggressively towards her friends (like swearing at them and telling them to screw off), why can't they stop making friends with her if she treats them like that?
Go read Dune or the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, for a better YA sci-fi novel. ( )

I loved this! A tight-knit chosen family, a protagonist who's kind of a mess, a desperate bid to stop a disaster, and awesome nonbinary representation, all in an intriguing setting that blends elemental magic with a cyberpunk vibe. ( )

Full preview found at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/12/09/badass-illegal-funtimes/

This was everything I ever could have wanted and I'm shook

Found family? Check!
Disaster queers? Check!
Idiot main character who you can't help but love? Check!
Commentary on climate change? CHECK!
Cool magic? Check!
Fast-paced exciting plot? Check!
Adorable slow burn love interest? Check!
Plot twists that will leave you shook? Check!
Lots of feelings? Check!
Banter, banter, and more banter? Check!!

I could go on I'm sure, but I think you get the gist. Now go read the book!! ( )

Overall, I liked this book, but I couldn't quite love it. The story and world-building were great, with a group of rebellious teen thieves going up against a corporation in a world plagued with earthquakes, natural disasters, and dangerous magic. I liked the combination of technology and magic - there are techwitches and devices that run on magic. What I found frustrating is the central character of Diz, who (likely because of being orphaned at a young age) lacks confidence in her relationships with her friends and spends much of the book thinking they were about to abandon her or were mad at her. I really wanted her to work through some of her emotions a little quicker, but I guess she and her friends were somewhat distracted by their attempts to save the world. I suspect this book is the first in a series and I might just have to continue reading to discover more about this world. ( )