Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
In retrospect, about 3.5 stars. I read this one, checked out the second book, and then neglected to read it even when it renewed several times. Maybe one day.
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
4.5 stars
I read DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON over four and a half years ago when it was first released, and all I can say in regards to why I'm only just now getting back to it is . . . It was a casualty of Mt. TBR.
And I am ashamed.
B/c seriously, guys, this book screams, "JESSICA! I AM HERE FOR YOUUUUU!"
No, really. It does.
We all know that Fae are my favorite, and that Native American folklore is #2, but what doesn't come up very often is any random creature fest. This is b/c most random creatures fall under the "Fae" umbrella, BUT on the rare occasion that they don't, they fall under the cryptozoology umbrella.
You: Cryptozoology? What's that?
Me: Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience with the goal of identifying and describing beings from the folklore and the fossil record, which cryptozoologists refer to as cryptids. These include creatures that are otherwise considered extinct or beings from folklore, such as Bigfoot and chupacabras.
You: Ooohhh.
Me: EXACTLY.
Sanctuary was one of dumbest shows Syfy ever produced, but I watched every episode of every season, b/c CREATURES.
But that's just the beginning.
Meet Verity Price.
Verity is the eldest daughter in the most recent batch of Prices, a family that split from the Covenant (an organization of monster hunters), b/c DAMN THE MAN.
Okay, so it's more complicated than that.
The Covenant indoctrinates their followers that all non-human creatures are evil and must be eradicated, but the Prices started to question that philosophy. Then, when Mr. Price discovered that the latest (and worst) outbreak of cholera was the direct result of killing the last local unicorn (b/c they purify the water in their habitat), they said, DAMN THE MAN, and headed to 'MERICA.
Verity takes the familial attitude one step further and augments her monster killing/wrangling skills with . . . wait for it . . . ballroom dancing. B/c DANCE, she loves it. And dammit, she's determined to find a way to do both. At least while she's young.
ALSO, she throws sass like a pro.
So we've got a monster-wrangling, sass-throwing, ballroom-dancing heroine with a problem with authority . . . And really, do you need anything else?
I don't.
But if you're contrary, there's also a Covenant noob who gets schooled on reality, (adorable) technicolor mice who can (and will) turn anything into a religious celebration, the best pre-chapter quotes I've ever read, and a variety of cryptids who make awesome requests like, "Mayhem now, please."
So yeah. Highly recommended.
4.5 stars
I read DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON over four and a half years ago when it was first released, and all I can say in regards to why I'm only just now getting back to it is . . . It was a casualty of Mt. TBR.
And I am ashamed.
B/c seriously, guys, this book screams, "JESSICA! I AM HERE FOR YOUUUUU!"
No, really. It does.
We all know that Fae are my favorite, and that Native American folklore is #2, but what doesn't come up very often is any random creature fest. This is b/c most random creatures fall under the "Fae" umbrella, BUT on the rare occasion that they don't, they fall under the cryptozoology umbrella.
You: Cryptozoology? What's that?
Me: Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience with the goal of identifying and describing beings from the folklore and the fossil record, which cryptozoologists refer to as cryptids. These include creatures that are otherwise considered extinct or beings from folklore, such as Bigfoot and chupacabras.
You: Ooohhh.
Me: EXACTLY.
Sanctuary was one of dumbest shows Syfy ever produced, but I watched every episode of every season, b/c CREATURES.
But that's just the beginning.
Meet Verity Price.
Verity is the eldest daughter in the most recent batch of Prices, a family that split from the Covenant (an organization of monster hunters), b/c DAMN THE MAN.
Okay, so it's more complicated than that.
The Covenant indoctrinates their followers that all non-human creatures are evil and must be eradicated, but the Prices started to question that philosophy. Then, when Mr. Price discovered that the latest (and worst) outbreak of cholera was the direct result of killing the last local unicorn (b/c they purify the water in their habitat), they said, DAMN THE MAN, and headed to 'MERICA.
Verity takes the familial attitude one step further and augments her monster killing/wrangling skills with . . . wait for it . . . ballroom dancing. B/c DANCE, she loves it. And dammit, she's determined to find a way to do both. At least while she's young.
ALSO, she throws sass like a pro.
So we've got a monster-wrangling, sass-throwing, ballroom-dancing heroine with a problem with authority . . . And really, do you need anything else?
I don't.
But if you're contrary, there's also a Covenant noob who gets schooled on reality, (adorable) technicolor mice who can (and will) turn anything into a religious celebration, the best pre-chapter quotes I've ever read, and a variety of cryptids who make awesome requests like, "Mayhem now, please."
So yeah. Highly recommended.
This was just a sheer delight to listen to. I loved the central concept of a family trying to discover how cryptids fit into the ecosystem. Great voice, plot, use of folklore, plus my kind of humor. I bounced off the author’s October Daye series pretty hard, but this makes me wonder if I ought to give it another shot.
The cover art for this series did not leave me with high hopes...but I was pleasantly surprised. There's an in-story reason that Verity is in a plaid miniskirt and halter top, thankfully, which is one thing that McGuire does very well: her side stories are incredibly engaging.
I absolutely love McGuire's take on cryptids. Cryptid hunting, cryptobiology, cryptolinguistics... I needs more cryptids! I can't wait to get further into the series to learn more about The Order, the Price family, and the world of the Cyrptids.
I absolutely love McGuire's take on cryptids. Cryptid hunting, cryptobiology, cryptolinguistics... I needs more cryptids! I can't wait to get further into the series to learn more about The Order, the Price family, and the world of the Cyrptids.
Verity Price, a cryptozoologist, hunts monsters that go bump in the night. Not every monster though, just the naughty ones that cause havoc in society. Verity comes from a long line of cryptozoologists which a few generations back broke from the Covenant, a group that believes all non-humans are evil and need to die.
The book started out strong and made me have high hopes that it would be excellent. Roughly halfway through I ran into a snag that I could not get over. The snag that I am speaking of is that one character was basically brainwashed into believing something their whole life. Yet that character changed their lifestyle / beliefs at the drop of a hat. I do not believe that could happen in most cases. I would have liked to see a progressive change throughout the book, not a I woke up and am a different person today type of change.
Another issue I have with the book is that it is full of monster names (ex: ahool, johrlac, etc) that the reader will get easily confused or not able to keep straight. I read the whole book and struggled somewhat only to find out there is a monster glossary in the back of the book. Why is this not in the front of the book?! I assume that most people are like me and do not read the back of the book first. I would have loved to reference the glossary while reading, but it is too late now.
The book is highly entertaining and worth reading, especially if you are into the kick butt females and paranormal characters. If you do decide to read this book, remember to look in the back if you get confused on what *insert monster name* is.
The book started out strong and made me have high hopes that it would be excellent. Roughly halfway through I ran into a snag that I could not get over. The snag that I am speaking of is that one character was basically brainwashed into believing something their whole life. Yet that character changed their lifestyle / beliefs at the drop of a hat. I do not believe that could happen in most cases. I would have liked to see a progressive change throughout the book, not a I woke up and am a different person today type of change.
Another issue I have with the book is that it is full of monster names (ex: ahool, johrlac, etc) that the reader will get easily confused or not able to keep straight. I read the whole book and struggled somewhat only to find out there is a monster glossary in the back of the book. Why is this not in the front of the book?! I assume that most people are like me and do not read the back of the book first. I would have loved to reference the glossary while reading, but it is too late now.
The book is highly entertaining and worth reading, especially if you are into the kick butt females and paranormal characters. If you do decide to read this book, remember to look in the back if you get confused on what *insert monster name* is.
Seanan McGuire NEVER disappoints! Already ordered the rest of the books in the series!
I don't like this as much as the Toby Daye series, and Verity Price is for sure no Toby, but I DO like Verity, and I did like the novel. Maybe a 3.75 but I rounded up because I'll keep reading, and sometimes a series takes a book or two to hit the stride.
I liked the unique take on enemies to lovers only because Dominic was never really an enemy, and he's not a bad man.
Verity as a fighter and dancer took me out of the moment a bit but I'm not sure if that's because I know so little about dancing, so little about flexibility, or have internalize misogyny going on.
Regardless, I'll be back for book two.
I liked the unique take on enemies to lovers only because Dominic was never really an enemy, and he's not a bad man.
Verity as a fighter and dancer took me out of the moment a bit but I'm not sure if that's because I know so little about dancing, so little about flexibility, or have internalize misogyny going on.
Regardless, I'll be back for book two.
and three quarters. I realize that that's now like a twenty star system or something.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated