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A review by lisawreading
That Ain't Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire
5.0
A note on the rating: I was going to go with 4 stars, simply because this isn't the best of the best of the InCryptid series. But still, the entire series is terrific, so 5 stars it is!
Seanan McGuire can pretty much do no wrong in my worldview, and That Ain't Witchcraft is a prime example of why. The InCryptid series is relatively light-hearted, although bad things do happen, but overall these books maintain a whimsical, wise-ass feel that keeps the mood more on the fun end of the urban fantasy spectrum.
Eight books in, the series continues to rock and roll. The beauty (or I really should say, one of the beauties) of this series is the focus on the sprawling Price family, which gives the author plenty of characters to share the spotlight from book to book. So far, we've had three books with Verity as the lead, two with Alex, and now three with Antimony, the baby sister of the family. (I understand that the spotlight will be moving to a different family member in book #9 -- I'm already on pins and needles to see what happens next!)
That Ain't Witchcraft continues from the ending of book #7, Tricks For Free, with Antimony and friends on the run from the Covenant, the globally powerful cryptid-hating organization that would also like to track down and annihilate the entire Price clan. Looking for a hideout where they can rest and catch their breaths for a while, Antimony and the gang instead find themselves in a small town with a big problem involving the crossroads, the otherworldy entity that makes bargains that never seem to work out well for the human side.
The writing, as always in Seanan McGuire books, is snappy and snarky and full of pop-culture references and overall geekiness, and I love it all to bits. Random example:
Need I say more? In case it's not perfectly obvious, the 8th book in an ongoing series is NOT the place to start. So, I encourage you to go find a copy of book #1, Discount Armageddon, and dive in. If you're like me, you'll be hooked, and will want to keep going until you've gobbled up all eight books and are panting for more.
InCryptids rule. Check out this series!
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Merged review:
An InCryptid novella that's included in That Ain't Witchcraft (InCryptid #8). The focus shifts to Alex and Shelby, who are called upon to help rescue a group of kidnapped Gorgon children. It's a fun, engaging story, and it's nice to revisit these characters, since we haven't seen them in a while. And we even get a little bit of the mice, which is always a plus in this series.
Seanan McGuire can pretty much do no wrong in my worldview, and That Ain't Witchcraft is a prime example of why. The InCryptid series is relatively light-hearted, although bad things do happen, but overall these books maintain a whimsical, wise-ass feel that keeps the mood more on the fun end of the urban fantasy spectrum.
Eight books in, the series continues to rock and roll. The beauty (or I really should say, one of the beauties) of this series is the focus on the sprawling Price family, which gives the author plenty of characters to share the spotlight from book to book. So far, we've had three books with Verity as the lead, two with Alex, and now three with Antimony, the baby sister of the family. (I understand that the spotlight will be moving to a different family member in book #9 -- I'm already on pins and needles to see what happens next!)
That Ain't Witchcraft continues from the ending of book #7, Tricks For Free, with Antimony and friends on the run from the Covenant, the globally powerful cryptid-hating organization that would also like to track down and annihilate the entire Price clan. Looking for a hideout where they can rest and catch their breaths for a while, Antimony and the gang instead find themselves in a small town with a big problem involving the crossroads, the otherworldy entity that makes bargains that never seem to work out well for the human side.
The writing, as always in Seanan McGuire books, is snappy and snarky and full of pop-culture references and overall geekiness, and I love it all to bits. Random example:
"He's a delicate boy. He doesn't need some loose woman coming from out of town and getting him all confused."
I blinked. "I... what? I don't know whether to be more offended by you calling James 'delicate' or you calling me 'loose.' I assure you, I am the opposite of a loose woman. I'm a tightly wound, sort of prickly woman. Hermione Granger is my Patronus."
Need I say more? In case it's not perfectly obvious, the 8th book in an ongoing series is NOT the place to start. So, I encourage you to go find a copy of book #1, Discount Armageddon, and dive in. If you're like me, you'll be hooked, and will want to keep going until you've gobbled up all eight books and are panting for more.
InCryptids rule. Check out this series!
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Merged review:
An InCryptid novella that's included in That Ain't Witchcraft (InCryptid #8). The focus shifts to Alex and Shelby, who are called upon to help rescue a group of kidnapped Gorgon children. It's a fun, engaging story, and it's nice to revisit these characters, since we haven't seen them in a while. And we even get a little bit of the mice, which is always a plus in this series.