Tag: author: seanan mcguire

Review – Magic for Nothing

Posted on by Taking One Step at a Time

Magic for Nothing is the sixth book in Seanan McGuire’s InCryptid series. The series follows a family of cryptozoologists; each one follows one specific member of the family. The first two, and the fifth, follow middle child Verity Price, and the third and fourth follow oldest child, and only son, Alex Price. This follows youngest child, Antimony “Annie” Price.

I will admit right here that, so far, Annie is my least favorite of the Price siblings. This may be because, as an eldest child myself, I sympathize more with the older siblings than with Annie. I find her whiny and complaining because her older sister wants to have a live in addition to the cryptozoology. I really like Verity, so Annie’s antipathy grates on me.

After Verity outs herself as a Price, and defies the Covenant of St. George, the Price family’s nemesis, on national television, Annie is asked to go to London, infiltrate the Covenant, and find out what’s going on. Complaining about Verity’s actions the whole way, she does so. I don’t want to spoil the plot, so I won’t go further into it, except to say that undercover and spy tropes abound.

This is my least favorite of the series so far, in large part because Annie annoys me, but it’s a solid entry in the series and well-worth the read.

McGuire, Seanan. Magic for Nothing. New York, New York: DAW Books, 2017. 117,367 words. 4 stars.

Review – Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

Posted on by Taking One Step at a Time

As the first book in the Hugo-nominated series October Daye, I wanted to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I think I will be putting Ms. McGuire on my “Do Not Bother” list.

This should not, however, stop anyone else. I suspect my issues with McGuire have more to do with my personal tastes than with her ability to write and tell stories. My best guess may be the same reason that I don’t enjoy Jemisin’s works even though I can identify that she’s a good writer and deserves every last Hugo that she has won.

There is very little happiness in Rosemary and Rue. In the very beginning of the book, Toby (October) Daye loses her beloved partner and child, and there’s likely no way for her to get them back. Then, an ally dies, leaving her with the mystery of her killer, and a curse that will kill Toby unless she figures it out.

I enjoy fantasies with Faerie Courts as a supporting character, which this definitely falls into. I enjoy mysteries, especially if I don’t have to figure out “whodunit” before the end. I’m lousy at it; as with this book, I generally figure it out at about the point that the detective should be collecting the final pieces of confirming evidence. (Not my kind of puzzle.)

I don’t require that the books I read be overwhelming cheerful; I don’t even require a happy ending (all of the time). I don’t read for beautiful writing; I enjoy it when I find it, but it isn’t a requirement. I don’t read for intricate plots; again, I enjoy them when found. I read to engage my brain, to visit other “worlds”, and to escape my world for a few hours.

Rosemary and Rue is well-plotted and well-written. The characters are fairly well-drawn, although I’m sure that will become more true as the series progresses. The mystery is a decent one; I figured it out just before Toby did (so I felt smart). But, just as with everything else of McGuire’s that I’ve read, it’s a dreary world with very little to be happy about, at least for Toby.

McGuire, Seanan. Rosemary and Rue. New York, NY: Daw Books, 2009 (September 1). 368 pages. 3 stars.