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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Enjoyable, yet underwhelming. I feel like the wacky biology aspect of the series has been shoved aside in favor of reality dance shows for this entry in the series, and I would infinitely rather have the first than the second. Add in the fact that the character arc has either already been resolved or never properly existed in the series in the first place - any time there's the slightest hint of conflict, Verity chooses Verity over Valerie so quickly it barely qualifies as a question - and it just felt like a somewhat flat entry into the series for me. The final bit sets up an interesting conflict, but the rest of it? Fun yet insubstantial fluff, even by the standards of a series I enjoy because it's fun fluff.
This book features all the judges and especially Cat Deeley from So you Think You Can Dance except in this one Cat is a dragon princess
When Verity or should I say Valerie is offered the chance for a return season on Dance or Die, she pulls out her wigs and costumes before dragging her ex-Covenant husband, Dominic to Los Angelos.
At one time Verity considered pursuing dance and leaving the family business. While she is happy with her decision the opportunity to compete again is too great. Not wanting to deal with what-ifs, she along with Dominic and a small group of Aslin Mice head off to the competition. At first, things are wonderful as she is reunited with old cast members but when two contestants show up dead with strange symbols painted in blood she knows she is dealing with a cryptid problem.
Each book in the series deals with one Price and a cryptid-related mystery. Chaos Choreography was interesting in that we are dealing with a reality dance-off. It turns out some of the contestants are cryptids, including one of the announcers who asks Verity for a HUGE favor.
I really enjoyed the team that formed in solving this mystery. The murderer is specifically targeting contestants. Get eliminated...you die. It was suspenseful, but also had McGuire's signature form of humor as we dealt with dragons, gecko type creatures, snake lovers and more. Verity consults with local cryptids and her family but to survive she will need to keep her wits about her and delegate. I really felt like Verity came into her own in Chaos Choreography. She makes peace with herself and trusts others to handle missions. This was such a big change from Manhatten and allowed other characters to shine.
McGuire did an excellent job giving us a real feel for the on-camera excitement and demands of a reality dance-off. While we knew early on what the symbols on the body stood for we encounter plenty of twists and kinks as the team worked to stop the killer(s). The final scenes were climatic and had me holding my breath from who would be eliminated to preventing the next murder. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
At one time Verity considered pursuing dance and leaving the family business. While she is happy with her decision the opportunity to compete again is too great. Not wanting to deal with what-ifs, she along with Dominic and a small group of Aslin Mice head off to the competition. At first, things are wonderful as she is reunited with old cast members but when two contestants show up dead with strange symbols painted in blood she knows she is dealing with a cryptid problem.
Each book in the series deals with one Price and a cryptid-related mystery. Chaos Choreography was interesting in that we are dealing with a reality dance-off. It turns out some of the contestants are cryptids, including one of the announcers who asks Verity for a HUGE favor.
I really enjoyed the team that formed in solving this mystery. The murderer is specifically targeting contestants. Get eliminated...you die. It was suspenseful, but also had McGuire's signature form of humor as we dealt with dragons, gecko type creatures, snake lovers and more. Verity consults with local cryptids and her family but to survive she will need to keep her wits about her and delegate. I really felt like Verity came into her own in Chaos Choreography. She makes peace with herself and trusts others to handle missions. This was such a big change from Manhatten and allowed other characters to shine.
McGuire did an excellent job giving us a real feel for the on-camera excitement and demands of a reality dance-off. While we knew early on what the symbols on the body stood for we encounter plenty of twists and kinks as the team worked to stop the killer(s). The final scenes were climatic and had me holding my breath from who would be eliminated to preventing the next murder. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
I really do love Verity's stories - she is just so entertaining and I loved hearing about the dance competition.
I also enjoyed meeting Grandma Alice and some new Incryptids! The mystery was also gruesome and terrifying - I loved the climax to that.
However, the ending felt really abrupt... I hope the next book picks up some of the dropped threads (despite having a different MC).
I also enjoyed meeting Grandma Alice and some new Incryptids! The mystery was also gruesome and terrifying - I loved the climax to that.
However, the ending felt really abrupt... I hope the next book picks up some of the dropped threads (despite having a different MC).
4.5 stars rounded up because it made me happy reading it.
First of all I love Verity and I love dance particularly Latin dance. I also have loved watching the dance shows in the past so the format of this book was perfect for me. Plus I appreciate her ability to free run, its just so cool.
"Gravity and I have an agreement," I said. "I treat it with respect, and it doesn't smear me across the nearest flat surface"
This story was a wild ride with a lot of snake mentioning. Why are there so many snake filled dimensions universe? How is this a good plan?
"Nah, he summoned a demon once and bound it into one of his roller coasters but that's not the same as being a snake cultist"
"...but there's always a snake cult in Anaheim. Blame Disney again. So many of his villains thought 'well, I'm in trouble, better turn into a giant snake' that it's seeped into the public consciousness as the solution to all problems."
Also meeting Alice was amazing, she ranks up there as one of my favourites of the family. I loved the addition of the new cryptids I hope a particular one makes more appearances in the future. The mice were amazing as always and they had quite an important role.
Here's the thing about chatting when you are expected to shut up and let yourself be attacked: if you do it carelessly it can get you gutted. But if you do it well, before things get bad, it can put your enemies so far off-balance that they don't know what to do next."
At the end of the day I feel for Verity and her love of something she cannot keep up with due to other commitments and life expectations. The having yourself pulled in two is a concept so many can empathize with. Watching her deal with this in such a real way after thinking she had shut that door was special.
"I came back because I still love it, but I'll be honest, I feel like an alcoholic who took a job at a bar. This isn't my world anymore. Unless I win, I can't let it be my world anymore. I'm trying not to fall so much in love that I can't walk away when it's all over."
Damn that ending was something else! Looking very forward to where the next book takes us.
Also I made the mistake of reading the synopsis of the next book and now I am telling myself I cannot stay up to read it when I need to be awake in 7.5 hours to get ready for work....
First of all I love Verity and I love dance particularly Latin dance. I also have loved watching the dance shows in the past so the format of this book was perfect for me. Plus I appreciate her ability to free run, its just so cool.
"Gravity and I have an agreement," I said. "I treat it with respect, and it doesn't smear me across the nearest flat surface"
This story was a wild ride with a lot of snake mentioning. Why are there so many snake filled dimensions universe? How is this a good plan?
"Nah, he summoned a demon once and bound it into one of his roller coasters but that's not the same as being a snake cultist"
"...but there's always a snake cult in Anaheim. Blame Disney again. So many of his villains thought 'well, I'm in trouble, better turn into a giant snake' that it's seeped into the public consciousness as the solution to all problems."
Also meeting Alice was amazing, she ranks up there as one of my favourites of the family. I loved the addition of the new cryptids I hope a particular one makes more appearances in the future. The mice were amazing as always and they had quite an important role.
Here's the thing about chatting when you are expected to shut up and let yourself be attacked: if you do it carelessly it can get you gutted. But if you do it well, before things get bad, it can put your enemies so far off-balance that they don't know what to do next."
At the end of the day I feel for Verity and her love of something she cannot keep up with due to other commitments and life expectations. The having yourself pulled in two is a concept so many can empathize with. Watching her deal with this in such a real way after thinking she had shut that door was special.
"I came back because I still love it, but I'll be honest, I feel like an alcoholic who took a job at a bar. This isn't my world anymore. Unless I win, I can't let it be my world anymore. I'm trying not to fall so much in love that I can't walk away when it's all over."
Damn that ending was something else! Looking very forward to where the next book takes us.
Also I made the mistake of reading the synopsis of the next book and now I am telling myself I cannot stay up to read it when I need to be awake in 7.5 hours to get ready for work....
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really fun to get a full look at Verity's professional dancer alter ego and finally meet grandma Alice. Great side characters too.
This one started out shakily for me. I was really excited to dive into it. I love Verity and Dominic and I was looking forward to another adventure with them, but the start of the book did not pull me in like other books in the series have. I am not sure if that was because I'm really not into reality TV, or if it was that the emotional logic behind Verity's decision to participate in the show was a little lacking. Perhaps a bit of both.
However, once I got a bit further into the book, I found myself not caring as much about my distaste for reality TV. It was kind of interesting to get a look at how it might work, although it did also reaffirm my disinterest in actually watching any of it. And as usual, I really enjoy Seanan McGuire's way of writing characters. She has a way of making them unique and memorable that goes beyond just what creature they are. (Although I definitely loved the featured creatures of this one, as always.)
Also, minor spoiler:
Technically, I would say that this may be the weakest book in the series. I struggled with the fourth book in the series, mostly because I just disliked some of the characters, but this one spends a lot of time rehashing what feels like old ground with Verity. Once the mystery kicks up a notch, that didn't bother me at much, and I certainly understand that Verity might still be struggling with the consequences of her choice between dance and cryptozoology, but it just felt a bit forced. I also found myself a bit annoyed with Verity. For someone who's usually quite astute about character, she was remarkably blind to the flaws of her dancing friends, which was frustrating to watch.
Still, I ended up enjoying this one almost as much as the others in the series, and I read the entire second half of the book in what amounted to a single gulp, so clearly the flaws didn't bother me that much. And let me tell you. That ending! It was a doozy, the kind of ending that changes the shape and direction of the rest of the series. I can certainly figure a bit of awkward set-up for that. Because I am now extremely excited for the moment when I can move on the next book in the series and see just what Antimony's going to get up to!
However, once I got a bit further into the book, I found myself not caring as much about my distaste for reality TV. It was kind of interesting to get a look at how it might work, although it did also reaffirm my disinterest in actually watching any of it. And as usual, I really enjoy Seanan McGuire's way of writing characters. She has a way of making them unique and memorable that goes beyond just what creature they are. (Although I definitely loved the featured creatures of this one, as always.)
Also, minor spoiler:
Spoiler
I was so excited to meet Verity's grandmother! She was a very intriguing experience for me, and I really hope that we eventually get more of her story. I'd really love a book that's just about her, chasing after her husband through the dimensions.Technically, I would say that this may be the weakest book in the series. I struggled with the fourth book in the series, mostly because I just disliked some of the characters, but this one spends a lot of time rehashing what feels like old ground with Verity. Once the mystery kicks up a notch, that didn't bother me at much, and I certainly understand that Verity might still be struggling with the consequences of her choice between dance and cryptozoology, but it just felt a bit forced. I also found myself a bit annoyed with Verity. For someone who's usually quite astute about character, she was remarkably blind to the flaws of her dancing friends, which was frustrating to watch.
Still, I ended up enjoying this one almost as much as the others in the series, and I read the entire second half of the book in what amounted to a single gulp, so clearly the flaws didn't bother me that much. And let me tell you. That ending! It was a doozy, the kind of ending that changes the shape and direction of the rest of the series. I can certainly figure a bit of awkward set-up for that. Because I am now extremely excited for the moment when I can move on the next book in the series and see just what Antimony's going to get up to!