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malreynolds111's review
3.0
I received an advance copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The latest installment of the InCryptid series continues the story of Antimony Price. I really didn't care for her attitude in the previous book, but felt like I got to know her better in this one. It didn't resolve her issues with the Covenant of St. George but I expect that to take a few books anyway.
The latest installment of the InCryptid series continues the story of Antimony Price. I really didn't care for her attitude in the previous book, but felt like I got to know her better in this one. It didn't resolve her issues with the Covenant of St. George but I expect that to take a few books anyway.
lisawreading's review
5.0
Another outstanding InCryptid story -- the 2nd featuring Antimony in the lead role, this time hiding out at a Florida theme park and running into a new, dangerous threat. Plus, lots of roller skating, hanging out with ghosts, gorgons, and a maybe-boyfriend, and all the silly banter we love from Seanan McGuire.
And now, I'm all caught up on InCryptids, and have to wait until 2019 for more. Sob.
And now, I'm all caught up on InCryptids, and have to wait until 2019 for more. Sob.
rusticreadingal's review
4.0
4.5 Stars
With the way the last book ended, I had to get my hands on a copy of this one as fast as I could. It was awesome. Even better than Magic for Nothing. Annie didn't get on my nerves nearly as bad. I mean, there were still a couple of moments, but nothing like before. She really came into herself in this book.
Annie's on the run and hiding from the Covenant of St. George. She can't go home because that would just lead the Covenant straight to her family. So that's not an option. She decides to head to Florida, to Lowryland, an amusement park similar to Disneyland. It's the perfect place to hide and blend in with the crowd. But not long after she gets there, a lot of accidents, some fatal, start occurring around her. Are these incidents really accidents? Could it be sabotage? Or is something more sinister going on?
I can't even tell you how much fun I had reading Tricks for Free. It was the perfect distraction to the craziness going on in the real world. I loved getting a behind the scenes look at an amusement park. And I really liked seeing Annie with her friends. She was pretty much on her own in the last book, so I was glad to see some of her friends show up. A lot happens in this book and one of those things is major. It's sure have some far-reaching consequences. I'm very eager to find out what happens next.
NOTE: This book does contain some strong language.
With the way the last book ended, I had to get my hands on a copy of this one as fast as I could. It was awesome. Even better than Magic for Nothing. Annie didn't get on my nerves nearly as bad. I mean, there were still a couple of moments, but nothing like before. She really came into herself in this book.
Annie's on the run and hiding from the Covenant of St. George. She can't go home because that would just lead the Covenant straight to her family. So that's not an option. She decides to head to Florida, to Lowryland, an amusement park similar to Disneyland. It's the perfect place to hide and blend in with the crowd. But not long after she gets there, a lot of accidents, some fatal, start occurring around her. Are these incidents really accidents? Could it be sabotage? Or is something more sinister going on?
I can't even tell you how much fun I had reading Tricks for Free. It was the perfect distraction to the craziness going on in the real world. I loved getting a behind the scenes look at an amusement park. And I really liked seeing Annie with her friends. She was pretty much on her own in the last book, so I was glad to see some of her friends show up. A lot happens in this book and one of those things is major. It's sure have some far-reaching consequences. I'm very eager to find out what happens next.
NOTE: This book does contain some strong language.
kitty_whimsical's review
5.0
full review published at speculativechic.com (http://speculativechic.com/2018/03/06/next-stop-lowryland-seanan-mcguires-tricks-for-free/)
So, first, let us deal with something that is mentioned in the back cover copy of the novel, and thus does not constitute a spoiler: there are no Aeslin mice. None at all. Recall that Antimony had Sam take Mindy and Mork to the airport at the end of Magic For Nothing, for their own safety. I understand why Annie felt the need to do this, but I also disagree with her decision. The mice chronicle the Price family history. There won’t be any who know what happened to Annie during her time in Florida, and almost seems like it’s going to cause problems in the future. Of course, I am frequently incorrect in speculating about what will happen in the future of my favorite fandoms; it could be nothing.
That out of the way, I was so relieved that Annie wasn’t completely alone in this volume. If you’ve read any of her previous roller derby short stories (“Blocked,” “Bad Dream Girl,” or “Jammed”), you will recognize one of Annie’s band of allies. I was surprised and glad to see her there. Everybody needs some sort of backup, and while she isn’t the strongest cryptid in the room, she’s a loyal friend, and that’s what Annie needs the most when the book opens: friends. This is doubly important, as Annie is completely severed from her family, save her ghostly “aunt,” Mary. As a ghost, Mary can only do so much to assist her eternal babysitting charge and honorary niece. Having friends who care for Annie is the next best thing.
The driving plot of the novel led to some of the most violent, frightening action sequences that I’ve seen in this series to date. So, fair warning, if this sort of thing bothers you, you may want to steel yourself before you tumble down the rabbit hole of this book. There’s blood, burning, and death to contend with. So much death in one particular scene. It was hard for me to read, but at the same time I couldn’t look away. Annie really comes into her own in this novel. She faces down horrifying tragedies and just keeps going. She knows she has to. Could it be that our little Annie is growing up?
It could be. Annie previously had nothing good to say about her older sister, Verity. We learn a bit more about the Price siblings’ past together and what led Annie to have so much bitterness towards Verity. Even in the midst of a chain reaction of tragedy and violence, Annie begins to thaw towards her sister. It’s a shame that Verity doesn’t know anything about this yet. One hopes that this will be rectified in another book or two. I, for one, cannot wait to see the Price sisters reunited and working together in a future volume.
So, first, let us deal with something that is mentioned in the back cover copy of the novel, and thus does not constitute a spoiler: there are no Aeslin mice. None at all. Recall that Antimony had Sam take Mindy and Mork to the airport at the end of Magic For Nothing, for their own safety. I understand why Annie felt the need to do this, but I also disagree with her decision. The mice chronicle the Price family history. There won’t be any who know what happened to Annie during her time in Florida, and almost seems like it’s going to cause problems in the future. Of course, I am frequently incorrect in speculating about what will happen in the future of my favorite fandoms; it could be nothing.
That out of the way, I was so relieved that Annie wasn’t completely alone in this volume. If you’ve read any of her previous roller derby short stories (“Blocked,” “Bad Dream Girl,” or “Jammed”), you will recognize one of Annie’s band of allies. I was surprised and glad to see her there. Everybody needs some sort of backup, and while she isn’t the strongest cryptid in the room, she’s a loyal friend, and that’s what Annie needs the most when the book opens: friends. This is doubly important, as Annie is completely severed from her family, save her ghostly “aunt,” Mary. As a ghost, Mary can only do so much to assist her eternal babysitting charge and honorary niece. Having friends who care for Annie is the next best thing.
The driving plot of the novel led to some of the most violent, frightening action sequences that I’ve seen in this series to date. So, fair warning, if this sort of thing bothers you, you may want to steel yourself before you tumble down the rabbit hole of this book. There’s blood, burning, and death to contend with. So much death in one particular scene. It was hard for me to read, but at the same time I couldn’t look away. Annie really comes into her own in this novel. She faces down horrifying tragedies and just keeps going. She knows she has to. Could it be that our little Annie is growing up?
It could be. Annie previously had nothing good to say about her older sister, Verity. We learn a bit more about the Price siblings’ past together and what led Annie to have so much bitterness towards Verity. Even in the midst of a chain reaction of tragedy and violence, Annie begins to thaw towards her sister. It’s a shame that Verity doesn’t know anything about this yet. One hopes that this will be rectified in another book or two. I, for one, cannot wait to see the Price sisters reunited and working together in a future volume.
hollygraph's review
3.0
I love this series, but for me this book was ok. I thought all the side characters we great and I loved that we got to see more of Aunt Mary & Aunt Rose, but I am just not a fan of Antimony. Looking forward to book 9 in the series where it is from Sarah’s point of view.
This by no means was a bad book, just compared to the rest of the series it wasn’t a home run.
This by no means was a bad book, just compared to the rest of the series it wasn’t a home run.
carmiendo's review against another edition
4.0
this book was fun to read even though there WERE SOME PLOT HOLES
mr_ryancowboy's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
neveth's review
5.0
I didn't much care for Annie in the first book in her trilogy, if I'm honest. But this time around she's matured a lot, and she was a treat to be with on this crazy ride. The Incryptid books are always a delightful rush and I consumed this in a couple of days - staying up far too late one night to do so.
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review
4.0
Leaning to 4.5 stars, because it's fun and so very readable. I liked this novel better than its predecessor. This felt more like a story in its own right, where Magic for Nothing felt like two shorter stories (neither as interesting as this one) and a bridge. There's plenty of action in this one, but the author still takes the time to create and develop unique and interesting characters. I like the "A-Team" vibe she's building at the end. I was a little confused near the end about the no touching, which seemed to be ignored when inconvenient.
seeinghowitgoes's review
4.0
Oh Annie, what have you gotten yourself into? Desperate to hide away from the Convenant after being exposed as a living Price family member, Annie throws herself into the last place they’ll ever find her - Disneyland. Or more precisely, Lowryland, the 2nd grade wannabe.
Struggling to control her burgeoning powers, rooming with a Gorgon and ex-derby girl it’s a mundane experience that has her in despair. In true form Lowryland isn’t what it seems - it’s actually controlled by a cabal of Witches who offer to train her.
Much more Witch lore and n interest take on their sources of power, part of me just desperately wants more Price interaction but Annie holds her own quite well.
Struggling to control her burgeoning powers, rooming with a Gorgon and ex-derby girl it’s a mundane experience that has her in despair. In true form Lowryland isn’t what it seems - it’s actually controlled by a cabal of Witches who offer to train her.
Much more Witch lore and n interest take on their sources of power, part of me just desperately wants more Price interaction but Annie holds her own quite well.