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InCryptid #15
Butterfly Effects: An InCryptid Novel
Seanan McGuire’s New York Times-bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated InCryptid series continues with the fifteenth book following the Price family, cryptozoologists who study and protect the creatures living in secret all around us.
Chaos, noun:
1. The inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system.
Chaos theory, noun:
1. A branch of mathematical and physical theory that deals with the nature and consequences of chaos and chaotic systems.
2. The study of unpredictable systems.
3. See also “impossible math.”
Sarah Zellaby is a Johrlac, a member of a species of psychic ambush predators colloquially referred to as “cuckoos.” Eight years ago, she survived the difficult, painful process of becoming a cuckoo queen…although not without costs. In the wake of her transformation, the man she loved was entirely erased from his own mind, forcing her to reconstruct him from the memories of the people who knew and loved him.
Sarah has been struggling to come to terms with her actions ever since. But there's no one else on the planet with the power to hold her accountable―until the Johrlac authorities show up. It’s time for her to stand trial for what she's done, something which can only happen on Johrlar, home world of her species, where the population is controlled by a system of unyielding hiveminds and crime is punishable by erasure.
With Sarah’s life on the line, her family will need to find a way to cross dimensional borders and survive a hostile, telepathic world in order to get her back―before the Sarah they know ceases to exist.
But no matter what happens, actions have consequences... and Sarah Zellaby is about to learn that lesson the hard way.
Chaos, noun:
1. The inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system.
Chaos theory, noun:
1. A branch of mathematical and physical theory that deals with the nature and consequences of chaos and chaotic systems.
2. The study of unpredictable systems.
3. See also “impossible math.”
Sarah Zellaby is a Johrlac, a member of a species of psychic ambush predators colloquially referred to as “cuckoos.” Eight years ago, she survived the difficult, painful process of becoming a cuckoo queen…although not without costs. In the wake of her transformation, the man she loved was entirely erased from his own mind, forcing her to reconstruct him from the memories of the people who knew and loved him.
Sarah has been struggling to come to terms with her actions ever since. But there's no one else on the planet with the power to hold her accountable―until the Johrlac authorities show up. It’s time for her to stand trial for what she's done, something which can only happen on Johrlar, home world of her species, where the population is controlled by a system of unyielding hiveminds and crime is punishable by erasure.
With Sarah’s life on the line, her family will need to find a way to cross dimensional borders and survive a hostile, telepathic world in order to get her back―before the Sarah they know ceases to exist.
But no matter what happens, actions have consequences... and Sarah Zellaby is about to learn that lesson the hard way.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2026
209 people are currently reading
603 people want to read
About the author
Seanan McGuire
521 books17.2k followersHi! I'm Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I'm also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
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September 29, 2025
A new direction for the Incryptid series
Butterfly Effects is the fifteenth full novel in Seanan McGuire's Incryptid series. The Incryptid series tells the story of the Price family in North America. The Prices make habits and maybe careers of succoring cryptids, which in this world are very real, and include many intelligent and often human-like species like dragons and were-bears. Just for fun, there are also ghosts and various types of magic-users. The Price family spend a lot of their time combatting the Covenant of Saint George, a kind of anti-cryptid Ku Klux Klan.
The Price family is large and keeps growing, since they have an endearing tendency to pick up strays. Each novel (until now) has focused on one particular Price Family member. Thus the point-of-view character in the first two novels was Verity Price, one of what was, at that time, the youngest generation of Prices. That was followed by two novels about her brother Alex then another Verity novel, then three about their sister Antimony, and then two about their cousin Sarah, etc. As a general rule each of the chosen gets to be the POV character of two or three novels, then the focus moves on. (In addition, there is an astonishingly large number of short stories and bonus novellas about the Price family and their friends. Many but not all are listed on the Goodreads Incryptid page. )
The plot, as often as not, is a battle of some sort between the Price family and the Covenant. The Covenant is the typical incompetent villain of many a long series. They lose and lose and lose, but they always seem to rise to annoy readers yet again. I would be happy to see them vanish entirely from the stage.
Butterfly Effects breaks precedent in two (to me) welcome ways. First, we have two point-of-view characters, Sarah and Antimony, even though both of them have had their chance in the barrel already. Second we have an entirely new plot, which has nothing to do with the Covenant.
Sarah is the focus of this novel. Antimony is mostly supporting cast. Sarah is an adopted member of the Price family and is herself a cryptid, a member of a telepathic parasitic species called "cuckoos." (Apparently the idea came from The Midwich Cuckoos, a novel that I will get around to reading one of these days.) As a consequence of events in novels 9 and 10, Sarah became an immensely powerful telepath and mathematician, a Queen of her species. She broke a lot people and things in the process, and the consequences catch up to her in Butterfly Effects. Turns out her home planet is not happy with her antics and drags her back to stand trial.
Overall, I liked the new directions in Butterfly Effects. It was a good plot. The story-telling, though, is surprisingly clunky. McGuire is a prolific and successful author who knows how to get the mechanics of story-telling right. But you would not guess that from Butterfly Effects. Her most recent novels have been damaged by overexplaining, and this one is no exception. I will continue to read the series, but I found this one a bit disappointing.
WE SING IT, ANYWAY
As usual, the novel is followed by a bonus novella, We Sing It, Anyway. It is told by Elsie-Price-Harrington, another young Price. Elsie mother Jane and her brother Artie were killed or destroyed in previous novels, and Elsie and her father are grieving hard. I can't say much more about this novella without spoiling, since it's about Elsie dealing with the consequences of Butterfly Effects.
Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for an advance Reader Copy. Release date 10-Mar-2026.
Blog review.
Butterfly Effects is the fifteenth full novel in Seanan McGuire's Incryptid series. The Incryptid series tells the story of the Price family in North America. The Prices make habits and maybe careers of succoring cryptids, which in this world are very real, and include many intelligent and often human-like species like dragons and were-bears. Just for fun, there are also ghosts and various types of magic-users. The Price family spend a lot of their time combatting the Covenant of Saint George, a kind of anti-cryptid Ku Klux Klan.
The Price family is large and keeps growing, since they have an endearing tendency to pick up strays. Each novel (until now) has focused on one particular Price Family member. Thus the point-of-view character in the first two novels was Verity Price, one of what was, at that time, the youngest generation of Prices. That was followed by two novels about her brother Alex then another Verity novel, then three about their sister Antimony, and then two about their cousin Sarah, etc. As a general rule each of the chosen gets to be the POV character of two or three novels, then the focus moves on. (In addition, there is an astonishingly large number of short stories and bonus novellas about the Price family and their friends. Many but not all are listed on the Goodreads Incryptid page. )
The plot, as often as not, is a battle of some sort between the Price family and the Covenant. The Covenant is the typical incompetent villain of many a long series. They lose and lose and lose, but they always seem to rise to annoy readers yet again. I would be happy to see them vanish entirely from the stage.
Butterfly Effects breaks precedent in two (to me) welcome ways. First, we have two point-of-view characters, Sarah and Antimony, even though both of them have had their chance in the barrel already. Second we have an entirely new plot, which has nothing to do with the Covenant.
Sarah is the focus of this novel. Antimony is mostly supporting cast. Sarah is an adopted member of the Price family and is herself a cryptid, a member of a telepathic parasitic species called "cuckoos." (Apparently the idea came from The Midwich Cuckoos, a novel that I will get around to reading one of these days.) As a consequence of events in novels 9 and 10, Sarah became an immensely powerful telepath and mathematician, a Queen of her species. She broke a lot people and things in the process, and the consequences catch up to her in Butterfly Effects. Turns out her home planet is not happy with her antics and drags her back to stand trial.
Overall, I liked the new directions in Butterfly Effects. It was a good plot. The story-telling, though, is surprisingly clunky. McGuire is a prolific and successful author who knows how to get the mechanics of story-telling right. But you would not guess that from Butterfly Effects. Her most recent novels have been damaged by overexplaining, and this one is no exception. I will continue to read the series, but I found this one a bit disappointing.
WE SING IT, ANYWAY
As usual, the novel is followed by a bonus novella, We Sing It, Anyway. It is told by Elsie-Price-Harrington, another young Price. Elsie mother Jane and her brother Artie were killed or destroyed in previous novels, and Elsie and her father are grieving hard. I can't say much more about this novella without spoiling, since it's about Elsie dealing with the consequences of Butterfly Effects.
Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for an advance Reader Copy. Release date 10-Mar-2026.
Blog review.
March 13, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the pre-release copy of Seanan McGuire's Butterfly Effects. Below is my honest review.
It's no secret that Seanan McGuire is one of my absolute favorite authors. I'll shout about her works from the mountain tops. She's so good! And this one is further proof that she walks around on the daily with ENTIRE WORLDS living in her head. I have no idea how she gets anything done when all of these stories and characters and alternate dimensions and storylines all take up space in her noggin!
But she gets them down on paper and shares them with us, and I'm thankful for that.
This one picks up some of the threads left behind after Sarah's books and weaves them back into the main story again, and I am absolutely thrilled with how this one went down. What a ride!
I can't say too much without spoiling things, but I think if you've read the rest of the series, the payoff of some longstanding story threads will really satisfy you.
Five stars, highly recommended, but you're going to spoil most of the rest of the series if you pick this one up first. It's a culmination of so many character storylines that it's a bad place to start.
It's no secret that Seanan McGuire is one of my absolute favorite authors. I'll shout about her works from the mountain tops. She's so good! And this one is further proof that she walks around on the daily with ENTIRE WORLDS living in her head. I have no idea how she gets anything done when all of these stories and characters and alternate dimensions and storylines all take up space in her noggin!
But she gets them down on paper and shares them with us, and I'm thankful for that.
This one picks up some of the threads left behind after Sarah's books and weaves them back into the main story again, and I am absolutely thrilled with how this one went down. What a ride!
I can't say too much without spoiling things, but I think if you've read the rest of the series, the payoff of some longstanding story threads will really satisfy you.
Five stars, highly recommended, but you're going to spoil most of the rest of the series if you pick this one up first. It's a culmination of so many character storylines that it's a bad place to start.
March 15, 2026
3.5 You Break It, You Buy It Stars
The entire Incryptid series has followed various members of the Price family through their conflicts with The Covenant and sometimes the InCryptid community. Butterfly Effects takes us to a different dimension and the main planet of the Johrlac's with Sarah. She is in trouble for and going to stand trial for becoming a Queen and killing other Cuckoo's in the process along with what she did to Artie.
Alice and Thomas will not stand for someone kidnapping their grandchildren and since both of them are no slouches to dimension jumping a plan is hatched with the help of Antimony and Sam to go and rescue not only Sarah but also Arthur, who was taken to be evidence against Sarah.
I enjoyed going to see a different side of the Cuckoo's. Exploring the Johrlac species is on the home planet and how they are not the same as the ones who were expelled and live like parasites on the planets they inhabit was fascinating. I appreciated that Seanan McGuire used two PoV in this story instead of just the standard one PoV. That helped with the overall pacing and story as Sarah was being held prisoner and Antimony the other PoV is one her way to Johrlar to save her cousin with Alice, Thomas and Sam.
Overall this was an entertaining story, who doesn't like a rescue mission on another planet to save people in your family, learn about some of your roots to a different species and fix some of the colossal mistakes made in the past. Butterfly Effects ended in a great place and while not perfect, it is about as happy an ending as you could get from this story. Which I appreciate since the series was taking a bit of a depressing turn for me with the events in Aftermarket Afterlife.
A few notes. I struggled with a few things. I'm not sure if Seanan McGuire's editor changed or publishing style but there are great instances of repetition of statements in this and the last few books. I get reminding the reader of things that are important from the last books, which honestly seemed to take up almost 15-20% of this book because she is pulling information from at least four other books. But, there were a lot of times that Sarah or Antimony rehashed things repeatedly in almost exactly the same way as they did in their prior chapter. I also didn't understand the timing aspect. It had been 8 years since the events of Calculated Risks that left Artie as Arthur, which by the way seemed too long. I had a hard time wrapping my head around that piece of the story. It is probably fine but it just didn't feel like Arthur had been around for that long.
Overall, if you have enjoyed the other installments of this series, I think this is one of the more fun and enjoyable books. I like the characters in this world and I'm attached to them. I will however say sometimes it is starting to feel a bit soap-opera-like. Which is maybe what SM is going for. If she continues the series, I am interested to see what other stories she thinks needs to be told.
P.S. I missed the mice, I wish one or more would have travelled with them.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Emily Bauer has narrated this entire series and done very well with it. She has a great distinction of voices for the various characters that holds between books. She is consistent in the way she performs the stories and I have enjoyed her interpretation of the material. With such an extensive catalog of work it is easy to understand how she makes the narration of these stories seem effortless.
The entire Incryptid series has followed various members of the Price family through their conflicts with The Covenant and sometimes the InCryptid community. Butterfly Effects takes us to a different dimension and the main planet of the Johrlac's with Sarah. She is in trouble for and going to stand trial for becoming a Queen and killing other Cuckoo's in the process along with what she did to Artie.
Alice and Thomas will not stand for someone kidnapping their grandchildren and since both of them are no slouches to dimension jumping a plan is hatched with the help of Antimony and Sam to go and rescue not only Sarah but also Arthur, who was taken to be evidence against Sarah.
I enjoyed going to see a different side of the Cuckoo's. Exploring the Johrlac species is on the home planet and how they are not the same as the ones who were expelled and live like parasites on the planets they inhabit was fascinating. I appreciated that Seanan McGuire used two PoV in this story instead of just the standard one PoV. That helped with the overall pacing and story as Sarah was being held prisoner and Antimony the other PoV is one her way to Johrlar to save her cousin with Alice, Thomas and Sam.
Overall this was an entertaining story, who doesn't like a rescue mission on another planet to save people in your family, learn about some of your roots to a different species and fix some of the colossal mistakes made in the past. Butterfly Effects ended in a great place and while not perfect, it is about as happy an ending as you could get from this story. Which I appreciate since the series was taking a bit of a depressing turn for me with the events in Aftermarket Afterlife.
A few notes. I struggled with a few things. I'm not sure if Seanan McGuire's editor changed or publishing style but there are great instances of repetition of statements in this and the last few books. I get reminding the reader of things that are important from the last books, which honestly seemed to take up almost 15-20% of this book because she is pulling information from at least four other books. But, there were a lot of times that Sarah or Antimony rehashed things repeatedly in almost exactly the same way as they did in their prior chapter. I also didn't understand the timing aspect. It had been 8 years since the events of Calculated Risks that left Artie as Arthur, which by the way seemed too long. I had a hard time wrapping my head around that piece of the story. It is probably fine but it just didn't feel like Arthur had been around for that long.
Overall, if you have enjoyed the other installments of this series, I think this is one of the more fun and enjoyable books. I like the characters in this world and I'm attached to them. I will however say sometimes it is starting to feel a bit soap-opera-like. Which is maybe what SM is going for. If she continues the series, I am interested to see what other stories she thinks needs to be told.
P.S. I missed the mice, I wish one or more would have travelled with them.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Emily Bauer has narrated this entire series and done very well with it. She has a great distinction of voices for the various characters that holds between books. She is consistent in the way she performs the stories and I have enjoyed her interpretation of the material. With such an extensive catalog of work it is easy to understand how she makes the narration of these stories seem effortless.
March 12, 2026
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader. If you like this post, you might like others on that site. Consider checking it out!
---
HUH. DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING
The InCryptid series is really a series of small arcs featuring a particular narrator before we move on to the next. Back in 2020 and 2021, we got an arc featuring Sarah Zellaby. Then we moved on to a pair of books focusing on Alice and then two on Aunt Mary.
But whoops--we're not actually done with Sarah's arc. It wasn't a duology after all; it was a trilogy, and McGuire's back to tie everything up.
I didn't think we needed that. But now I see how much we did and how the series as a whole is better for it.
SO, WHAT IS BUTTERFLY EFFECTS ABOUT?
So, we'd learned in Sarah's books that the Johrlac on Earth (and in the wake of destruction they'd left behind) aren't Johrlac-proper, they're a bunch who'd been ejected from their home world for being as awful as we'd thought. These cuckoos were practically a separate species at this point, and most of what people on Earth knew about the cuckoos or Johrlac was horribly wrong.
And basically, everyone had moved on--it didn't matter anymore, because there were only a handful left on Earth and Sarah had removed the ticking genetic time-bombs from them.
Except...the Johrlac are a really uptight bunch and once they saw what Sarah had done, they came to Earth and arrested her to be tried for crimes against Johrlac law. They also kidnapped Arthur to be used as State's Exhibit A in the show trial, right out of the Edo of Rubicun III vs. Wesley Crusher on "Justice."
Back on Earth, Annie and Alice get word of this, so they grab Thomas and use some of Alice's remaining travel spells and inter-dimensional know-how to launch a rescue mission (and Sam insists on coming along).
And things get interesting from there...
WE SING IT ANYWAY
I almost never discuss the novellas packaged with McGuire novels--and I'm not going to do that this time, either. Primarily because it's solely "here's what happens because of the novels conclusion next." So to really talk about it would be to talk about the last half-chapter of the novel in detail.
So why am I talking about it at all? Just because I'm sure some readers are like me and don't always read the novellas. Don't skip this one. Trust me.
WHY DID I PICK THIS UP? WHY DID I KEEP READING?
I grabbed this because I've been on board for this series since the beginning.
Why did I keep reading? Pretty much everything I have said--or am about to say--about the book. I wasn't prepared for McGuire to revisit this storyline, and I enjoyed getting to see what she was up to. I thought the world of the Johrlac was utterly fascinating--and watching the chaos that follows Annie, Sarah, and Alice as they interact with it was as entertaining as it could be.
WHAT DOES THIS BOOK TELL US ABOUT HUMANITY?
That's the tricky thing, isn't it? Given this series, I'm going to have to broaden this idea to "people" or "persons." Also, a good part of it is about just how non-human some of these people can be.
Yet there's something that humans and other non-human species can relate to in the middle of all the otherness.
(also, McGuire's a human and all of her species are going to reflect that in some way, it can't be helped)
The culture of the Johrlac is all about the collective--but there are several individuals expressing themselves (and we can assume some others we don't encounter) in various and sundry ways. Most of these individual expressions are small--insignificant, really. But you get enough insignificant acts, and something noticeable can happen.
That's one of the main things this book is about. While collectives--like both the Johrlac or the Price-Healys--are important, and together can accomplish great feats. It's the individuals involved in them, and their interests and strengths, that make the collectives powerful.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BUTTERFLY EFFECTS?
This is one of the better books in this series lately. I do worry that we're becoming too dependent on the Annie/Sam/Alice/Thomas antics to the detriment of the others. But also? I don't care, because I like Annie/Sam/Alice/Thomas, and everyone else is busy raising kids, so I prefer them out of danger.
The story took a lot of twists and turns that keep you on your toes. Not just on your toes, either, there are a few outright surprises. Some of those surprises come from the fact that the main action of this novel isn't on Earth, and our friends don't have to pull their punches so they can stay under the radar. Annie and her fire can do a whole lot when given the chance.
But this isn't all danger, twists, and fire--there's a lot of fun to be had on this alien world. It's so strange that you just can't help but have fun.
Action, heart, and plenty of smiles. This series shines brightest when McGuire brings these elements to the forefront. Butterfly Effects is proof of that.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Tor Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
---
HUH. DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING
The InCryptid series is really a series of small arcs featuring a particular narrator before we move on to the next. Back in 2020 and 2021, we got an arc featuring Sarah Zellaby. Then we moved on to a pair of books focusing on Alice and then two on Aunt Mary.
But whoops--we're not actually done with Sarah's arc. It wasn't a duology after all; it was a trilogy, and McGuire's back to tie everything up.
I didn't think we needed that. But now I see how much we did and how the series as a whole is better for it.
SO, WHAT IS BUTTERFLY EFFECTS ABOUT?
So, we'd learned in Sarah's books that the Johrlac on Earth (and in the wake of destruction they'd left behind) aren't Johrlac-proper, they're a bunch who'd been ejected from their home world for being as awful as we'd thought. These cuckoos were practically a separate species at this point, and most of what people on Earth knew about the cuckoos or Johrlac was horribly wrong.
And basically, everyone had moved on--it didn't matter anymore, because there were only a handful left on Earth and Sarah had removed the ticking genetic time-bombs from them.
Except...the Johrlac are a really uptight bunch and once they saw what Sarah had done, they came to Earth and arrested her to be tried for crimes against Johrlac law. They also kidnapped Arthur to be used as State's Exhibit A in the show trial, right out of the Edo of Rubicun III vs. Wesley Crusher on "Justice."
Back on Earth, Annie and Alice get word of this, so they grab Thomas and use some of Alice's remaining travel spells and inter-dimensional know-how to launch a rescue mission (and Sam insists on coming along).
And things get interesting from there...
WE SING IT ANYWAY
I almost never discuss the novellas packaged with McGuire novels--and I'm not going to do that this time, either. Primarily because it's solely "here's what happens because of the novels conclusion next." So to really talk about it would be to talk about the last half-chapter of the novel in detail.
So why am I talking about it at all? Just because I'm sure some readers are like me and don't always read the novellas. Don't skip this one. Trust me.
WHY DID I PICK THIS UP? WHY DID I KEEP READING?
I grabbed this because I've been on board for this series since the beginning.
Why did I keep reading? Pretty much everything I have said--or am about to say--about the book. I wasn't prepared for McGuire to revisit this storyline, and I enjoyed getting to see what she was up to. I thought the world of the Johrlac was utterly fascinating--and watching the chaos that follows Annie, Sarah, and Alice as they interact with it was as entertaining as it could be.
WHAT DOES THIS BOOK TELL US ABOUT HUMANITY?
That's the tricky thing, isn't it? Given this series, I'm going to have to broaden this idea to "people" or "persons." Also, a good part of it is about just how non-human some of these people can be.
Yet there's something that humans and other non-human species can relate to in the middle of all the otherness.
(also, McGuire's a human and all of her species are going to reflect that in some way, it can't be helped)
The culture of the Johrlac is all about the collective--but there are several individuals expressing themselves (and we can assume some others we don't encounter) in various and sundry ways. Most of these individual expressions are small--insignificant, really. But you get enough insignificant acts, and something noticeable can happen.
That's one of the main things this book is about. While collectives--like both the Johrlac or the Price-Healys--are important, and together can accomplish great feats. It's the individuals involved in them, and their interests and strengths, that make the collectives powerful.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BUTTERFLY EFFECTS?
This is one of the better books in this series lately. I do worry that we're becoming too dependent on the Annie/Sam/Alice/Thomas antics to the detriment of the others. But also? I don't care, because I like Annie/Sam/Alice/Thomas, and everyone else is busy raising kids, so I prefer them out of danger.
The story took a lot of twists and turns that keep you on your toes. Not just on your toes, either, there are a few outright surprises. Some of those surprises come from the fact that the main action of this novel isn't on Earth, and our friends don't have to pull their punches so they can stay under the radar. Annie and her fire can do a whole lot when given the chance.
But this isn't all danger, twists, and fire--there's a lot of fun to be had on this alien world. It's so strange that you just can't help but have fun.
Action, heart, and plenty of smiles. This series shines brightest when McGuire brings these elements to the forefront. Butterfly Effects is proof of that.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Tor Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
March 19, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook.
📝 Short Summary
Butterfly Effects follows Sarah Zellaby as she is forced to face the consequences of her past and stand trial on her home world. For Sarah, this means stepping back into a world ruled by telepathy, control, and the threat of erasure. As her family fights to reach her and bring her home, the story unfolds into a wild and emotional journey filled with danger, strange worlds, and the weight of choices that can never be taken back.
Review
I was honestly super nervous going into this one because it is book fifteen in a series and I have never read the others, but this book was so completely wild that it ended up pulling me in anyway. Sometimes jumping into a long running series can feel overwhelming, but this one had such a crazy energy to it that I was able to settle in and just go with it.
What stood out to me right away was how unique this world felt. There is so much going on here, and the author really leans into the strange, imaginative, and slightly chaotic side of the story. It did come off a little weird at times, but in a way I actually enjoyed. It felt different, and I appreciated that the book was not trying to be like everything else.
I also really liked the characters. Alice stood out to me a lot, and I enjoyed Sarah as well. They both felt like characters with real depth, and even though I was coming into this series late, I still felt invested in what was happening to them. That says a lot because with a series this deep in, it would have been easy to feel disconnected, but I did not.
There was also a little humor woven into the story, which I really liked. It helped balance some of the heavier moments and gave the audiobook a fun edge. I always appreciate when a story can be strange, emotional, and funny all at once without completely losing itself, and this one managed that.
The pacing could have been a little better for me. There were moments where I wanted things to move along a bit more smoothly, especially with so much happening in the world and with the characters. Even with that, I was still interested the whole time because the story itself was so unusual and the ideas behind it were strong enough to keep me listening.
Now for the audiobook side, Emily Bauer did a great job with this narration. She brought the characters to life well, and her performance made it easier to settle into a world that was brand new to me. Since this was my first time stepping into this series, having a narrator who could carry the tone and keep everything engaging really made a difference. The audiobook format honestly helped me connect with the story more.
Overall, this was a fun and very unique listen. It was weird, chaotic, interesting, and full of depth in a way I was not expecting. Even though I could tell I was stepping into an already established world, I still found a lot to enjoy here, especially with the strong narration and the originality of the story.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you enjoy audiobooks with unique worldbuilding, interesting characters, and a story that is not afraid to get a little weird.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook.
📝 Short Summary
Butterfly Effects follows Sarah Zellaby as she is forced to face the consequences of her past and stand trial on her home world. For Sarah, this means stepping back into a world ruled by telepathy, control, and the threat of erasure. As her family fights to reach her and bring her home, the story unfolds into a wild and emotional journey filled with danger, strange worlds, and the weight of choices that can never be taken back.
Review
I was honestly super nervous going into this one because it is book fifteen in a series and I have never read the others, but this book was so completely wild that it ended up pulling me in anyway. Sometimes jumping into a long running series can feel overwhelming, but this one had such a crazy energy to it that I was able to settle in and just go with it.
What stood out to me right away was how unique this world felt. There is so much going on here, and the author really leans into the strange, imaginative, and slightly chaotic side of the story. It did come off a little weird at times, but in a way I actually enjoyed. It felt different, and I appreciated that the book was not trying to be like everything else.
I also really liked the characters. Alice stood out to me a lot, and I enjoyed Sarah as well. They both felt like characters with real depth, and even though I was coming into this series late, I still felt invested in what was happening to them. That says a lot because with a series this deep in, it would have been easy to feel disconnected, but I did not.
There was also a little humor woven into the story, which I really liked. It helped balance some of the heavier moments and gave the audiobook a fun edge. I always appreciate when a story can be strange, emotional, and funny all at once without completely losing itself, and this one managed that.
The pacing could have been a little better for me. There were moments where I wanted things to move along a bit more smoothly, especially with so much happening in the world and with the characters. Even with that, I was still interested the whole time because the story itself was so unusual and the ideas behind it were strong enough to keep me listening.
Now for the audiobook side, Emily Bauer did a great job with this narration. She brought the characters to life well, and her performance made it easier to settle into a world that was brand new to me. Since this was my first time stepping into this series, having a narrator who could carry the tone and keep everything engaging really made a difference. The audiobook format honestly helped me connect with the story more.
Overall, this was a fun and very unique listen. It was weird, chaotic, interesting, and full of depth in a way I was not expecting. Even though I could tell I was stepping into an already established world, I still found a lot to enjoy here, especially with the strong narration and the originality of the story.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you enjoy audiobooks with unique worldbuilding, interesting characters, and a story that is not afraid to get a little weird.
March 13, 2026
I liked this one. Solid book in the series. (MAJOR spoilers behind this cut.)
I liked it though. Handwaving of plot reasons aside. This series is just a comfort read to me, and I liked spending time with these characters. Especially Mark. I want to see more of him. i don't know that we will, he's not technically part of the family, but I love him.
I liked it though. Handwaving of plot reasons aside. This series is just a comfort read to me, and I liked spending time with these characters. Especially Mark. I want to see more of him. i don't know that we will, he's not technically part of the family, but I love him.
March 12, 2026
This story, combined with it's bonus novella, it feels like an ending of an era. I had reread Installment Immortality before this one arrived and yeah. It's a good wrap for this era of InCryptid.
Now for the next adventure..
Now for the next adventure..
August 19, 2025
Aaaaaahhh, finally back to the main storyline (I know, they are all main storylines, but I've been waiting for Sarah's to move along for ages). So satisfying to see these plotlines move through into actual adventures, and to learn more about the Jhorlac. So pleasing to see how relationships are playing out -- Antimony and Sam, Thomas and Alice. Looking forward, as always, to seeing where the family goes from here -- lots of interesting developments.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
February 18, 2026
After binge reading the last nine books I needed to read in this series, all in the month of February (so far), I had no doubt I would give this one 5 stars. I loved being back in this specific storyline in the family, and I was so excited to see where Sarah’s people came from. Especially because I wasn’t sure if we ever would. It was nice having Mark back too. The Artie/Arthur storyline went in a direction I hadn’t expected!
Absolutely love this series and excited to find out what happens next. I have a feeling I’m going to be in a slump after spending the last 17 days binging the series to catch up!
Absolutely love this series and excited to find out what happens next. I have a feeling I’m going to be in a slump after spending the last 17 days binging the series to catch up!
March 11, 2026
This whole family is slightly crazy and does crazy things, which makes for great reading and this book is no different. So much is going on, so much the do on blind faith with that little bit of crazy Price family hutzpah thrown in. There are so many things that get tied up in this one and we learn about Sarah's biological and cultural background and it's not good. I think things ended about the best way possible and now there is a bit of a bright spot for the family with what they have gained. I do wish we could have gotten more family reactions of what all they came back with, hopefully that will be addressed in future books.
March 14, 2026
I was a little bit unsure if I'd like this book as much in the beginning, because I wasn't sure if I liked the books that went to other planets/galaxies when Alice the grandmother was the narrator, but since she was just a side character, this worked out okay. Arthur and Sarah get kidnapped by the Johrlacs to stand trial, and it was interesting to see the homeworld of Johrlar. I also really appreciated the novella at the end that is from Elise's point of view. When will we get an Elsie-narrated book?
March 13, 2026
Not my Favorite installment of the InCryptid Series but I had fun. It was great to be hanging out with Antimony again. There was a bit too much Deus Ex Machina in this story for my tastes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5
Sarah is an adopted member of the powerful Price family. The Price family have a long history of giving aid to InCryptids (“An animal or other being whose existence has been suggested but is not scientifically proven.”) and adopting many into the family. The Price family also has a long, Hatfield/McCoy type battle going with “the Covenant” – an anti-InCryptid ‘Klan’-like group.
Of course Sarah is a Cryptid, of a species known as “cuckoos” and she is a very powerful telepath. She is also now the Queen of Cuckoos. But in the process of becoming the queen, Sarah made a lot of enemies, hurt a few people, and generally caused some damage – including erasing/changing/overwriting Artie’s identity. As a result, those on her home planet – known as the Johrlac – aren’t too happy and they bring her back to stand trial for her crimes. They also grab Artie to be witness against Sarah for what she’s done.
But she’s a Price family member now and the Price’s don’t take anything lying down so a small group of Sarah’s family and friends head out (extra-dimensionally, don’t you know) on a rescue mission. It’s a tough mission, especially given that no one knows much about the Johrlac.
Let’s be candid here … this series is a lot like a soap opera. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But what I mean is that there are a LOT of people introduced throughout the series and each story (book) can really only focus on one or two so it takes some almost heroic reading and memory to keep everyone straight. I can’t remember when we last had much to do with Sarah, and I don’t remember the Johrlac at all. But that’s okay, because Seanan McGuire is the sort of author who manages to bring the reader up to speed really quickly, providing everything we need to know to enjoy the current book.
I enjoyed this book the same way I enjoy most Seanan McGuire books. I greatly enjoy being taken to this world she’s so carefully crafted. It feels real, lively, and very, very unique. For all the danger and excitement here, I also feel ‘safe’. I trust that my time will be well spent in the InCryptid world, and it always is.
We learn a lot here about Sarah’s rise to cuckoo Queen and about the Jorhlac. I really appreciated that we see multiple facets to our main character and how the events that saw her rise to power still weigh on her. Of course her friends already knew all of this, which is why they’ve gone to help her. As Elsie Price-Harrington says in the novella following the book (this series always seems to have a novel and a novella/short story between the covers):
Becoming a queen hadn’t been Sarah’s choice – no matter how mad at her I was, I couldn’t ignore the fact that she’d been victimized by her biology as much as Artie and I had sometimes been abused by our own. She’d become a queen because other cuckoos had gone out of their way to hurt her, and then trying to make that out to be something she needed to be punished for wasn’t just cruel, it was utterly ridiculous.
This novella – “We Sing It, Anyway” – is a follow-up to the actions of the novel, by, as mentioned, Elsie. I really appreciate both the wrap-up and the different view point. It’s quite a clever literary device. It’s also, quite likely a bit of story that will be utilized in a future novel.
Looking for a good book? If you enjoy Urban Fantasy, or even just want to see what it’s all about, look no further than Butterfly Effects by Seanan McGuire.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah is an adopted member of the powerful Price family. The Price family have a long history of giving aid to InCryptids (“An animal or other being whose existence has been suggested but is not scientifically proven.”) and adopting many into the family. The Price family also has a long, Hatfield/McCoy type battle going with “the Covenant” – an anti-InCryptid ‘Klan’-like group.
Of course Sarah is a Cryptid, of a species known as “cuckoos” and she is a very powerful telepath. She is also now the Queen of Cuckoos. But in the process of becoming the queen, Sarah made a lot of enemies, hurt a few people, and generally caused some damage – including erasing/changing/overwriting Artie’s identity. As a result, those on her home planet – known as the Johrlac – aren’t too happy and they bring her back to stand trial for her crimes. They also grab Artie to be witness against Sarah for what she’s done.
But she’s a Price family member now and the Price’s don’t take anything lying down so a small group of Sarah’s family and friends head out (extra-dimensionally, don’t you know) on a rescue mission. It’s a tough mission, especially given that no one knows much about the Johrlac.
Let’s be candid here … this series is a lot like a soap opera. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But what I mean is that there are a LOT of people introduced throughout the series and each story (book) can really only focus on one or two so it takes some almost heroic reading and memory to keep everyone straight. I can’t remember when we last had much to do with Sarah, and I don’t remember the Johrlac at all. But that’s okay, because Seanan McGuire is the sort of author who manages to bring the reader up to speed really quickly, providing everything we need to know to enjoy the current book.
I enjoyed this book the same way I enjoy most Seanan McGuire books. I greatly enjoy being taken to this world she’s so carefully crafted. It feels real, lively, and very, very unique. For all the danger and excitement here, I also feel ‘safe’. I trust that my time will be well spent in the InCryptid world, and it always is.
We learn a lot here about Sarah’s rise to cuckoo Queen and about the Jorhlac. I really appreciated that we see multiple facets to our main character and how the events that saw her rise to power still weigh on her. Of course her friends already knew all of this, which is why they’ve gone to help her. As Elsie Price-Harrington says in the novella following the book (this series always seems to have a novel and a novella/short story between the covers):
Becoming a queen hadn’t been Sarah’s choice – no matter how mad at her I was, I couldn’t ignore the fact that she’d been victimized by her biology as much as Artie and I had sometimes been abused by our own. She’d become a queen because other cuckoos had gone out of their way to hurt her, and then trying to make that out to be something she needed to be punished for wasn’t just cruel, it was utterly ridiculous.
This novella – “We Sing It, Anyway” – is a follow-up to the actions of the novel, by, as mentioned, Elsie. I really appreciate both the wrap-up and the different view point. It’s quite a clever literary device. It’s also, quite likely a bit of story that will be utilized in a future novel.
Looking for a good book? If you enjoy Urban Fantasy, or even just want to see what it’s all about, look no further than Butterfly Effects by Seanan McGuire.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2025
Electronic ARC provided by Edelweiss.
Sarah's story has been building for a long long time, ever since we first met her back in the early days of this series. Butterfly Effects is the climax of all of the years of build up, and finally delivers some answers and some resolution for Sarah. Seanan McGuire's long running series tend to have a sort of ebb and swell pacing to them where some books are build up, some are cool down, some are questions, some are answers. This is an answers book.
It's been eight years (!) since Sarah became a Cuckoo Queen, destroyed most of the other earth Cuckoos, and accidentally rewrote Artie's identity (and removed the memories of herself from Annie and Sam as well). It's been two years since the Covenant incursion that cost the Price's two beloved family members. Just as things are settling down and Mark (the cuckoo who became an ally) is finally ready to wake up, a group of unknown Johrlac arrive to sweep Sarah away to face "justice" for her crimes against the Cuckoos. Arthur is also snatched, to provide evidence of Sarah's wrongdoing. Of course the rest of the family isn't going to take this sitting down, and so Annie, Sam, Alice, and Thomas embark on an extra-dimensional quest to retrieve their kidnapped relatives.
Over the course of this quest we learn a lot more about Johrlac society and how it is generally meant to work. We also finally get some answers about Sarah, Mark, and the whole Artie/Arthur issue. I was surprised by the sheer amount of time that has passed since this whole storyline started, but reminded myself that InCryptid has always been a multi-generational story.
I enjoyed reading this book, and was especially pleased to see some resolution to a few of the more egregious dangling plot threads. The extra story this time is told by Elsie and follows her reactions to the end of Butterfly Effects. I feel like the series is getting every closer to letting Elsie take center stage, as she's basically the cousin we've seen the least so far. It would also be nice to check in on Verity at some point. And James and Sally. Honestly, there are so many characters now that it's hard to keep up with how all of them are doing!
I'm always glad to spend some time with the sprawling Price clan, and this was no exception. Butterfly Effects is another great installment in the ongoing InCryptid universe.
Sarah's story has been building for a long long time, ever since we first met her back in the early days of this series. Butterfly Effects is the climax of all of the years of build up, and finally delivers some answers and some resolution for Sarah. Seanan McGuire's long running series tend to have a sort of ebb and swell pacing to them where some books are build up, some are cool down, some are questions, some are answers. This is an answers book.
It's been eight years (!) since Sarah became a Cuckoo Queen, destroyed most of the other earth Cuckoos, and accidentally rewrote Artie's identity (and removed the memories of herself from Annie and Sam as well). It's been two years since the Covenant incursion that cost the Price's two beloved family members. Just as things are settling down and Mark (the cuckoo who became an ally) is finally ready to wake up, a group of unknown Johrlac arrive to sweep Sarah away to face "justice" for her crimes against the Cuckoos. Arthur is also snatched, to provide evidence of Sarah's wrongdoing. Of course the rest of the family isn't going to take this sitting down, and so Annie, Sam, Alice, and Thomas embark on an extra-dimensional quest to retrieve their kidnapped relatives.
Over the course of this quest we learn a lot more about Johrlac society and how it is generally meant to work. We also finally get some answers about Sarah, Mark, and the whole Artie/Arthur issue. I was surprised by the sheer amount of time that has passed since this whole storyline started, but reminded myself that InCryptid has always been a multi-generational story.
I enjoyed reading this book, and was especially pleased to see some resolution to a few of the more egregious dangling plot threads. The extra story this time is told by Elsie and follows her reactions to the end of Butterfly Effects. I feel like the series is getting every closer to letting Elsie take center stage, as she's basically the cousin we've seen the least so far. It would also be nice to check in on Verity at some point. And James and Sally. Honestly, there are so many characters now that it's hard to keep up with how all of them are doing!
I'm always glad to spend some time with the sprawling Price clan, and this was no exception. Butterfly Effects is another great installment in the ongoing InCryptid universe.
March 11, 2026
4.5 stars
Yes! We're back! Also, finally!
After being underwhelmed with the previous InCryptid book, with this one I was back to enjoying the story immensely. As evidenced by the fact that I stayed up until 3 am to finish it in one sitting.
The narration for this one is split between Sarah, who gets a nasty surprise when the Johrlac kidnap her to their home dimension to stand "trial" for her "crimes", and Annie, who narrates the part of the interdimensional rescue party going after Sarah (made up of Annie, Sam, Alice and Thomas - some of my favorite InCryptid characters). We learn some interesting things about Johrlac society and also about the Kairos. And there is finally some resolution to an issue that's been a long time coming.
The book sometimes went a little overboard with bloating the narrative with recap-like explanations, which is why I'm docking a half star. Also, I said it before and I'll say it again. The family trees really need updating. At this point they are hopelessly outdated to the point of being useless. They are missing the whole new generation and half the newer adopted kids/siblings. Instead of bloating the story with reminders of the newer characters (repeating the same phrasings from book to book) - maybe update the family trees, or do a family member glossary for readers who need the reminders. And let the story flow without so much recap.
Yes! We're back! Also, finally!
After being underwhelmed with the previous InCryptid book, with this one I was back to enjoying the story immensely. As evidenced by the fact that I stayed up until 3 am to finish it in one sitting.
The narration for this one is split between Sarah, who gets a nasty surprise when the Johrlac kidnap her to their home dimension to stand "trial" for her "crimes", and Annie, who narrates the part of the interdimensional rescue party going after Sarah (made up of Annie, Sam, Alice and Thomas - some of my favorite InCryptid characters). We learn some interesting things about Johrlac society and also about the Kairos. And there is finally some resolution to an issue that's been a long time coming.
The book sometimes went a little overboard with bloating the narrative with recap-like explanations, which is why I'm docking a half star. Also, I said it before and I'll say it again. The family trees really need updating. At this point they are hopelessly outdated to the point of being useless. They are missing the whole new generation and half the newer adopted kids/siblings. Instead of bloating the story with reminders of the newer characters (repeating the same phrasings from book to book) - maybe update the family trees, or do a family member glossary for readers who need the reminders. And let the story flow without so much recap.
March 13, 2026
5/5 stars: This is McGuire's fourteenth entry in the InCryptid series, which is a Urban Fantasy. Featuring a woman, who's a member of a species of psychic ambush predators colloquially referred to as “cuckoos,” finds herself and the man she loves taken to her species' home dimension, where the population's controlled by a system of unyielding hiveminds and crime is punishable by erasure, to stand trial for the accidental erasure of his mind and other “crimes.” With both their lives on the line, her family will need to find a way to cross dimensional borders and survive a hostile, telepathic world in order to get both of them back. But no matter what happens, actions have consequences... and she's about to learn that lesson the hard way.
With plenty of plot twists, McGuire has masterfully crafted a non-stop action packed yet heartfelt story with excellent and fascinating world-building. Written in multiple POV, McGuire's whip smart, heartfelt and funny writing and character work are masterful; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced. FYI: Each book in this series switches POVs between the different extended members of a Cryptozoologist family as they find love and fight to protect their family and the creatures of the world they study against the forces determined to eradicate them. Also includes a new short story, We Sing It Anyway. I love how McGuire uses shorts to expand the world-building and flesh out and catch up with the characters in the series.
McGuire touches on some tough topics; so take care and CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Discount Armageddon.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
With plenty of plot twists, McGuire has masterfully crafted a non-stop action packed yet heartfelt story with excellent and fascinating world-building. Written in multiple POV, McGuire's whip smart, heartfelt and funny writing and character work are masterful; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced. FYI: Each book in this series switches POVs between the different extended members of a Cryptozoologist family as they find love and fight to protect their family and the creatures of the world they study against the forces determined to eradicate them. Also includes a new short story, We Sing It Anyway. I love how McGuire uses shorts to expand the world-building and flesh out and catch up with the characters in the series.
McGuire touches on some tough topics; so take care and CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Discount Armageddon.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Butterfly Effects
An InCryptid Novel
by Seanan McGuire
Narrated by Emily Bauer
I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.
Trigger Warnings: Mental death, identity confusion, fire, death by fire, giant spider (but he’s a really good guy - I promise!)
This is the 15th book in the Incryptid book series and I love this series as much and more than I did with the first book. I fell hard in love with this series right off the bat and have never regretted it.
This book is sometimes from Sarah Zellaby’s POV and sometimes from Antimone (Annie) Price’s POV
Sarah is a Cuckoo, or a wasp that looks like a human, or a Johrlac that isn’t an asshole or just simply, Sarah. She’s a Queen, a telepath, and a telekinetic. She’s also a really good person who always tries to do the right thing.
Annie is a sorcerer and possibly another species too and a human, and most importantly, she’s a Price, and that means she cares for the preservation of all life forms and species as long as they aren’t assholes trying to kill good people - malicious killers often forfeit their lives to fire. Her loyalty to her family is immense, as long as she remembers them.
On a seemingly normal day in our world some beings from another realm snatch Sarah and Arthur (the person now in Artie’s body) in order for Sarah to stand trial for breaking laws that she didn’t even know existed. The usual madness, chaos, emotional roller coaster, and family loyalty ensue, and it is so fun!!
I picture every character and every realm so vividly in my mind and I love all of it. I wouldn’t want to lead their crazy lives, but I sure as heck love reading about them!!!
Highly, highly, highly recommend!!!
An InCryptid Novel
by Seanan McGuire
Narrated by Emily Bauer
I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.
Trigger Warnings: Mental death, identity confusion, fire, death by fire, giant spider (but he’s a really good guy - I promise!)
This is the 15th book in the Incryptid book series and I love this series as much and more than I did with the first book. I fell hard in love with this series right off the bat and have never regretted it.
This book is sometimes from Sarah Zellaby’s POV and sometimes from Antimone (Annie) Price’s POV
Sarah is a Cuckoo, or a wasp that looks like a human, or a Johrlac that isn’t an asshole or just simply, Sarah. She’s a Queen, a telepath, and a telekinetic. She’s also a really good person who always tries to do the right thing.
Annie is a sorcerer and possibly another species too and a human, and most importantly, she’s a Price, and that means she cares for the preservation of all life forms and species as long as they aren’t assholes trying to kill good people - malicious killers often forfeit their lives to fire. Her loyalty to her family is immense, as long as she remembers them.
On a seemingly normal day in our world some beings from another realm snatch Sarah and Arthur (the person now in Artie’s body) in order for Sarah to stand trial for breaking laws that she didn’t even know existed. The usual madness, chaos, emotional roller coaster, and family loyalty ensue, and it is so fun!!
I picture every character and every realm so vividly in my mind and I love all of it. I wouldn’t want to lead their crazy lives, but I sure as heck love reading about them!!!
Highly, highly, highly recommend!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In this latest InCryptid novel, we’re back to Sarah’s point of view, dealing with the ongoing repercussions of what happened to Artie in Calculated Risks. The Johrlac, members of Sarah’s species from their home dimension, abduct her and take her back to put her on trial for the crimes of reaching a forbidden instar and the erasure and revision of another being – and they abduct Arthur too, to serve as evidence. But you know the family’s not going to take the capture of two of their own lying down.
I think that this book might be the first in the series to have multiple POVs? We start with Sarah, but once Sarah is abducted we switch to Annie, so that we can see what happens with the rescue party. In this book we visit a new dimension, which provides an opportunity to explore some interesting worldbuilding. I thought the Johrlac world was really interesting – the society is the natural extension of a world built by sapient bipeds who evolved from wasps, while the natural world is something that would have caused such a species to evolve in the first place (though if they explained why the Johrlac evolved to look mammalian on a world without mammals, I must have missed that part.) I liked that we have Thomas and Alice in the rescue party, since I feel like we’re still getting to know Thomas.
The short story at the end is from Elsie’s POV, one which we haven’t had in a main story yet, and takes place immediately after the novel. And saying anything beyond that would be extremely spoilery, so I won’t.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think that this book might be the first in the series to have multiple POVs? We start with Sarah, but once Sarah is abducted we switch to Annie, so that we can see what happens with the rescue party. In this book we visit a new dimension, which provides an opportunity to explore some interesting worldbuilding. I thought the Johrlac world was really interesting – the society is the natural extension of a world built by sapient bipeds who evolved from wasps, while the natural world is something that would have caused such a species to evolve in the first place (though if they explained why the Johrlac evolved to look mammalian on a world without mammals, I must have missed that part.) I liked that we have Thomas and Alice in the rescue party, since I feel like we’re still getting to know Thomas.
The short story at the end is from Elsie’s POV, one which we haven’t had in a main story yet, and takes place immediately after the novel. And saying anything beyond that would be extremely spoilery, so I won’t.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2026
In every sense, this is a wonderful addition to one of my favorite fantasy series. We get to revisit Sarah, and the problem with Artie gets resolved in a very satisfying way. I really enjoyed this one, and I really enjoyed revisiting these characters. I don’t mind all explanations and reminders, as some of the other reviewers seem to, because it’s been years, and I was happy to be reminded of some things I might otherwise have forgotten. I guess if you were binge-reading the series, you could have done without them.
One thing, though, takes away from this for me. I’ve removed one star because of it. It’s a problem I’ve run into with Seanan McGuire books in the past, and it annoys me to no end that it continues to happen. She apparently included a short story at the end of the book that provided some satisfying closure to one of the ongoing issues in the overarching storyline. I listen to audiobooks. If I had to read all my books in the old-fashioned way, I wouldn’t have much time to read at all, so I’m very grateful for Audible. It might be part of a large cold-blooded corporation, but it has, nevertheless, enriched my life. Just don’t tell Jeff Bezos. Anyway, the producers of the audiobook saw fit to leave the short story out. If I fully vent my feelings about that, I would have to swear a blue streak, so I guess I won’t. They never listen anyway.
Despite that one flaw, I enjoyed this book a great deal. I’ve been reading some heavy-duty nonfiction lately, so this was a nice palate cleanser.
One thing, though, takes away from this for me. I’ve removed one star because of it. It’s a problem I’ve run into with Seanan McGuire books in the past, and it annoys me to no end that it continues to happen. She apparently included a short story at the end of the book that provided some satisfying closure to one of the ongoing issues in the overarching storyline. I listen to audiobooks. If I had to read all my books in the old-fashioned way, I wouldn’t have much time to read at all, so I’m very grateful for Audible. It might be part of a large cold-blooded corporation, but it has, nevertheless, enriched my life. Just don’t tell Jeff Bezos. Anyway, the producers of the audiobook saw fit to leave the short story out. If I fully vent my feelings about that, I would have to swear a blue streak, so I guess I won’t. They never listen anyway.
Despite that one flaw, I enjoyed this book a great deal. I’ve been reading some heavy-duty nonfiction lately, so this was a nice palate cleanser.
March 5, 2026
I hadn’t read the earlier books in this series, but Butterfly Effects does a solid job getting you up to speed. I never felt lost or like I was missing something crucial, which I appreciated. That said, I do think I might have gotten a little more out of the world if I’d read the previous books first.
Seanan McGuire’s imagination is wild in the best way. She comes up with these strange, clever ideas that feel fresh and fun to explore. The giant “wasp” people are a perfect example. They look just like humans but all have a very similar appearance (no wings), but they still have those unmistakable wasp tendencies. It’s such a weird and cool concept. I love seeing what kinds of ideas she comes up with.
The pacing is where things stumbled a bit for me. At times it felt like a lot is happening but also like we weren't getting anywhere. Annie’s chapters especially felt like they were there mostly to explain the world. I understand the need for world buiding, but those sections dragged a little. I listened to the audiobook, and I also wish the two character voices had been a bit more distinct. There were several moments where I had to pause and think about whether I was listening to Annie or Sarah.
There are some really cool ideas here and a unique world to explore, but the way the story unfolds didn’t quite click for me. I liked it. I just didn’t end up loving it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Seanan McGuire’s imagination is wild in the best way. She comes up with these strange, clever ideas that feel fresh and fun to explore. The giant “wasp” people are a perfect example. They look just like humans but all have a very similar appearance (no wings), but they still have those unmistakable wasp tendencies. It’s such a weird and cool concept. I love seeing what kinds of ideas she comes up with.
The pacing is where things stumbled a bit for me. At times it felt like a lot is happening but also like we weren't getting anywhere. Annie’s chapters especially felt like they were there mostly to explain the world. I understand the need for world buiding, but those sections dragged a little. I listened to the audiobook, and I also wish the two character voices had been a bit more distinct. There were several moments where I had to pause and think about whether I was listening to Annie or Sarah.
There are some really cool ideas here and a unique world to explore, but the way the story unfolds didn’t quite click for me. I liked it. I just didn’t end up loving it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2026
meh. spoilery review, I guess?
This book was a slog.
It furthers the overall plot a smidge, a bare smidge, but mostly reads like a world building exercise with a bit of plot as an excuse to explore. "What would the Cuckoos' home world look like?"
Add to that the badly edited exposition / reminders of past books, often repeated multiple times (we get the "what happened to Artie," story at least three times).
Add to that the fact that characters often recap to each other the events we just read about. they could just say "I brought everyone up to date."
Add to that the constant back and forth between the same handful of destinations and various members of the party getting captured and escaping.
Not to mention the exhaustive ruminations of the characters and their emotions.... there's a point where some asks Sarah a simple question and there are seven paragraphs before her simple answer.
As I said, it's a slog.
it's book 15. Seanan needs to trust her readers who are dedicated enough to read 15 books and four zillion short stories will sorta remember past books . she doesn't need to spoon feed every character background to us. Or she needs to get more skillful at inserting the exposition.
This book was a slog.
It furthers the overall plot a smidge, a bare smidge, but mostly reads like a world building exercise with a bit of plot as an excuse to explore. "What would the Cuckoos' home world look like?"
Add to that the badly edited exposition / reminders of past books, often repeated multiple times (we get the "what happened to Artie," story at least three times).
Add to that the fact that characters often recap to each other the events we just read about. they could just say "I brought everyone up to date."
Add to that the constant back and forth between the same handful of destinations and various members of the party getting captured and escaping.
Not to mention the exhaustive ruminations of the characters and their emotions.... there's a point where some asks Sarah a simple question and there are seven paragraphs before her simple answer.
As I said, it's a slog.
it's book 15. Seanan needs to trust her readers who are dedicated enough to read 15 books and four zillion short stories will sorta remember past books . she doesn't need to spoon feed every character background to us. Or she needs to get more skillful at inserting the exposition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2026
Well written, but hard to finish. Obviously, if I'm reading book 15, I've been enjoying the ride. This installment was the opposite of read-cover-to-cover. (Read-from-first-to-last-epage?) I would read a chapter, put it down, and come back to it a bit later.
This book serves to tidy up the dangling plot lines left over from "Calculated Risks". The author is diligent about supporting new readers, or readers who haven't read enough of her previous books. Enough is explained that such readers can enjoy the ride. The author also gives us an entertaining view of what the Price family's "let's pull the pin from this grenade and see what happens" version of problem solving looks like to the rest of the world.
What made this a hard book to pick up once I put it down? Two things, I think. The plot was disjointed. People kept running to or from danger, and getting no closer to success, and it didn't matter, because half the characters are (or are descended from) Kairos - people clad in plot armor. And most of the characters were marinating in angst. So it wasn't fun in the way several of the books in this series have been.
This book serves to tidy up the dangling plot lines left over from "Calculated Risks". The author is diligent about supporting new readers, or readers who haven't read enough of her previous books. Enough is explained that such readers can enjoy the ride. The author also gives us an entertaining view of what the Price family's "let's pull the pin from this grenade and see what happens" version of problem solving looks like to the rest of the world.
What made this a hard book to pick up once I put it down? Two things, I think. The plot was disjointed. People kept running to or from danger, and getting no closer to success, and it didn't matter, because half the characters are (or are descended from) Kairos - people clad in plot armor. And most of the characters were marinating in angst. So it wasn't fun in the way several of the books in this series have been.
September 10, 2025
One upside to being catastrophically behind on my ARC reading is that I had a copy of this waiting for me as soon as I finished my very-overdue advance copy of the previous book in the series, INSTALLMENT IMMORTALITY. (thanks for your faith in me, Tor ARC approvers ... I promise I'm reading everything, eventually!) So, of course, I picked this up as soon as I finished that one, and it was an excellent choice!
This episode in the InCryptid canon tied up a lot of loose ends from previous books in a way which is very satisfying without being forced, and, as usual, was just a straight-up fun time, featuring interdimensional adventures and excellent characters both old and new. Unusually, this story had multiple narrators, which I enjoyed, though I wished there was a bit more tonal differentiation between the two character voices. But as always, it was very engaging and plotty, and I was very hooked once I started reading.
Highly recommend this series if you want a classic sort-of-pulpy monster-of-the-week modern fantasy feel mixed with sprawling family drama, and I can't wait to see what comes next already. (Elsie as our narrator? Elsie as our narrator, PLEASE???)
Thanks so much to Tor and Netgalley for the digital advance copy!
This episode in the InCryptid canon tied up a lot of loose ends from previous books in a way which is very satisfying without being forced, and, as usual, was just a straight-up fun time, featuring interdimensional adventures and excellent characters both old and new. Unusually, this story had multiple narrators, which I enjoyed, though I wished there was a bit more tonal differentiation between the two character voices. But as always, it was very engaging and plotty, and I was very hooked once I started reading.
Highly recommend this series if you want a classic sort-of-pulpy monster-of-the-week modern fantasy feel mixed with sprawling family drama, and I can't wait to see what comes next already. (Elsie as our narrator? Elsie as our narrator, PLEASE???)
Thanks so much to Tor and Netgalley for the digital advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Butterfly Effects picks up several years after Installment Immortality. Mark, the cuckoo who collaborated with Sarah, is changing and the doctor at St. Giles' hospital calls Sarah in for help. Sarah gives Mark a little psychic nudge and he completes the third and fourth instar changes, and in wakening from his 8 year coma, he sends out a psychic scream so loud, the Johrlacs on Johrlar hear him. The Johrlacs kidnap Sarah and Arthur, to prosecute Sarah for her actions in Calculated Risks, with Arthur as the evidence against her. Alice, Thomas, Annie, and Sam team up to track Sarah and Arthur down and bring them back home. Chaos ensues.
This book was excellent. So many ongoing unresolved threads carrying through the last few books in the series finally find resolution. It was a very satisfying book.
The narrator did an excellent job, if you've liked the previous books in the series, you'll definitely not want to miss this one.
I received an ARC of this audiobook from #NetGalley.
This book was excellent. So many ongoing unresolved threads carrying through the last few books in the series finally find resolution. It was a very satisfying book.
The narrator did an excellent job, if you've liked the previous books in the series, you'll definitely not want to miss this one.
I received an ARC of this audiobook from #NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Butterfly Effects by Seanan McGuire has an unexpected ending and one I won’t spoil. I love the dimensional chaos, the way Sarah has surprising consequences for her actions but also I like the way that she comes to terms with her actions along the way, as do the others with her. I also love the way details from previous books in the series merge into the sequels and the way Seanan provides information to help add context for readers. I also love her language and her turn of phrase.
The action is brilliant and what makes this novel intriguing is the way it is told from more than one point of view, allowing the reader to follow multiple groups in the plot. Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors, especially within urban fantasy and once again she has proven exactly why I love her.
If you love urban fantasy, even if you haven’t read the series, I would encourage you to pick up the series. This is such a smart and well written series with interesting characters and surprising stories. If you have read the series, run to pick up this one, you will love the ending.
The action is brilliant and what makes this novel intriguing is the way it is told from more than one point of view, allowing the reader to follow multiple groups in the plot. Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors, especially within urban fantasy and once again she has proven exactly why I love her.
If you love urban fantasy, even if you haven’t read the series, I would encourage you to pick up the series. This is such a smart and well written series with interesting characters and surprising stories. If you have read the series, run to pick up this one, you will love the ending.
March 12, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook copy of Butterfly Effects by Seanan McGuire in exchange for an honest review. This book is quite a bit into the series and I haven't read any other books in the series, just other books by McGuire, so I felt pretty confident I would like the book. I really liked the book and am going to go back and read the rest in the series. The series (or at least this book) are a great metaphor for our society. You have humans and insects that are similar to humans and then hybrids. There is much controversy from one side to the other, the hybrids definitely get the most from both sides. There is a big rescue mission which is the main storyline, but I was taken by the hate that always finds a way to spread through each culture and why can't people, and insects, ever just get along!
March 12, 2026
Dammit, Seanan, I need to go to bed!
This is the story I've been waiting for since Sarah got everyone home, at immense cost to herself. As always, Seanan McGuire has woven a tale replete with humanity, which may seem odd considering how few of the people in it are human. I loved every minute of it, and although I did my best to savor, I found myself unable to stop reading - which is how I now find myself typing this at one in the morning on a Thursday, a mere two days since the book came out (hence the title of this review). If you enjoy Seanan's work at all, grab this. You'll be glad you did.
This is the story I've been waiting for since Sarah got everyone home, at immense cost to herself. As always, Seanan McGuire has woven a tale replete with humanity, which may seem odd considering how few of the people in it are human. I loved every minute of it, and although I did my best to savor, I found myself unable to stop reading - which is how I now find myself typing this at one in the morning on a Thursday, a mere two days since the book came out (hence the title of this review). If you enjoy Seanan's work at all, grab this. You'll be glad you did.
October 2, 2025
Butterfly Effects by Seanan McGuire is a great addition to the ongoing saga of the Price family and all it's additions. This one takes place in the Johrlac society, when Sarah is kidnapped by them to stand trial on their planet for her actions in transforming into a Queen. Of course her family comes to the rescue and we learn a lot more about the Johrlac's and their planet, and have a lot of action and intrigue ensues. Another good addition to the lexicon of the oddball family Sarah has been adopted by. As always, a very readable and interesting book!
March 9, 2026
This wraps up the Sarah story arc. As Mark is finally coming out of the coma he has been in for the last eight years, Sarah is kidnapped by the Johrlac and taken back to their dimension to stand trial for her crimes. As they were doing this, the Johrlac take Arthur as evidence of Sarah’s crimes. As the story unfolds, we find out why the cuckoos were sent to our dimension and why they are different from home world. Annie, Sam, Alice and Thomas travel to Johrlac to rescue Sarah and Arthur and along the way also find out more about the Karios. A great book and the novella at the end had me in tears.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
March 13, 2026
Interestingly, we get TWO main PoVs in this. Antimony and a greater amount of Sarah. As far as I can tell, this is a break from previous installments. We generally keep things simple. But here, I suppose it's kinda necessary to have a new queen be both the heroine who saves herself AND be the one needing to be saved.
That being said, it was pretty fun. We go off-world again and see ALL the wasps in their natural territory and make new friends along the way. And, very nicely, we get a wrap-up for a poor character who's had it pretty bad up till now.
Well worth the wait.
That being said, it was pretty fun. We go off-world again and see ALL the wasps in their natural territory and make new friends along the way. And, very nicely, we get a wrap-up for a poor character who's had it pretty bad up till now.
Well worth the wait.
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