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InCryptid #7
Tricks for Free
Penance, noun:
1. Punishment for past actions.
2. An attempt to pay for what can’t be bought.
3. See also “exile.”
Antimony Price is on the run. With the Covenant on her tail and her family still in danger, she needs to get far, far away from anyone who might recognize her—including her own mice. For the first time in a long time, a Price is flying without a safety net. Where do you go when you need to disappear into a crowd without worrying about attracting attention? An amusement park, of course.
Some people would call Lowryland the amusement park. It’s one of the largest in Florida, the keystone of the Lowry entertainment empire…but for Annie, it’s a place to hide. She’s just trying to keep her head down long enough to come up with a plan that will get her home without getting anyone killed. No small order when she’s rooming with gorgons and sylphs, trying to placate frustrated ghosts, and rushing to get to work on time.
Then the accidents begin. The discovery of a dead man brings Annie to the attention of the secret cabal of magic users running Lowryland from behind the scenes. They want the fire that sleeps in her fingers. They want her on their side. They want to help her—although their help, like everything else, comes with a price.
No plan. Minimal backup. No way out. Annie’s about to get a crash course in the reality behind the pretty facade. If she’s lucky, she’ll survive the experience.
1. Punishment for past actions.
2. An attempt to pay for what can’t be bought.
3. See also “exile.”
Antimony Price is on the run. With the Covenant on her tail and her family still in danger, she needs to get far, far away from anyone who might recognize her—including her own mice. For the first time in a long time, a Price is flying without a safety net. Where do you go when you need to disappear into a crowd without worrying about attracting attention? An amusement park, of course.
Some people would call Lowryland the amusement park. It’s one of the largest in Florida, the keystone of the Lowry entertainment empire…but for Annie, it’s a place to hide. She’s just trying to keep her head down long enough to come up with a plan that will get her home without getting anyone killed. No small order when she’s rooming with gorgons and sylphs, trying to placate frustrated ghosts, and rushing to get to work on time.
Then the accidents begin. The discovery of a dead man brings Annie to the attention of the secret cabal of magic users running Lowryland from behind the scenes. They want the fire that sleeps in her fingers. They want her on their side. They want to help her—although their help, like everything else, comes with a price.
No plan. Minimal backup. No way out. Annie’s about to get a crash course in the reality behind the pretty facade. If she’s lucky, she’ll survive the experience.
432 pages, ebook
First published March 6, 2018
416 people are currently reading
2712 people want to read
About the author
Seanan McGuire
510 books17k 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews
March 9, 2018
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The thing I really like about Seanan McGuire is - she is different. I might not always be completely into everything she is writing, but as an author I think she takes chances and delves into topics other authors shy away from. For instance, in this book alone, there are Ghosts of various shapes and sizes, Witches, Humanoid Creatures that are definitely not human, A Non-Disney Theme Park and just to top it all off Roller Derby Girls.
Antimony Price is a Cryptozoologist from a long like of Cryptozoologists. What that means is she hunts monsters and things that go bump in the night. Not to kill them; some of them are really nice, but mostly to study them. The killing comes only if necessary. She is currently in hiding and laying low at an Amusement Park from the Covenant, a band of fanatics that kills all the things Antimony is trying to study, and the rest of her family, since they defected a few generations back.
This is book seven of the Incryptid series and there is no way you can go into it without reading the others and know what is going on. I think this is a series that even though the main characters change each story builds into the next.
Antimony is actually one of my least favorites characters of the Price family (even though I really like the first book with her as the MC) and I really enjoyed both Verity and Alex’s books although the book I’m totally waiting for is Alice’s since she has been looking for her true love Thomas for 60+ years. The one issue I have with this entire book is that this felt like a filler book. Honestly it just killed some time and one really ‘big thing’ happens at the end but I kinda got the feeling this book was just to facilitate that ‘big thing’ happening so other stories could move on from there.
This is my least favorite book of the series so far but that is mostly because Antimony is pretty isolated and on her own, no Aeslin Mice with her either. Some of the magic of the other books is the Price family and all the shenanigans that go along with them. While Mary, a Crossroads ghost, can be a bit fun she isn’t the rest of the quirky Price family and I found myself really wanting some time with Verity, Alex, Grandma Alice, Sarah or the Aeslin Mice even.
I was happy to see Sam and a few other characters that were in Antimony’s short stories like Fern, a sylph criptid, but this book suffered a little from info dumping in a few sections and had a few pacing issues throughout.
Still McGuire did come through on the unusual and interesting in trying out a few new things in her story including luck manipulation, fighting on roller skates and a monkey man boyfriend. I look forward to the next book in this series and what new and interesting plot lines it will bring.
Notable Quotables:
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The thing I really like about Seanan McGuire is - she is different. I might not always be completely into everything she is writing, but as an author I think she takes chances and delves into topics other authors shy away from. For instance, in this book alone, there are Ghosts of various shapes and sizes, Witches, Humanoid Creatures that are definitely not human, A Non-Disney Theme Park and just to top it all off Roller Derby Girls.
Antimony Price is a Cryptozoologist from a long like of Cryptozoologists. What that means is she hunts monsters and things that go bump in the night. Not to kill them; some of them are really nice, but mostly to study them. The killing comes only if necessary. She is currently in hiding and laying low at an Amusement Park from the Covenant, a band of fanatics that kills all the things Antimony is trying to study, and the rest of her family, since they defected a few generations back.
This is book seven of the Incryptid series and there is no way you can go into it without reading the others and know what is going on. I think this is a series that even though the main characters change each story builds into the next.
Antimony is actually one of my least favorites characters of the Price family (even though I really like the first book with her as the MC) and I really enjoyed both Verity and Alex’s books although the book I’m totally waiting for is Alice’s since she has been looking for her true love Thomas for 60+ years. The one issue I have with this entire book is that this felt like a filler book. Honestly it just killed some time and one really ‘big thing’ happens at the end but I kinda got the feeling this book was just to facilitate that ‘big thing’ happening so other stories could move on from there.
This is my least favorite book of the series so far but that is mostly because Antimony is pretty isolated and on her own, no Aeslin Mice with her either. Some of the magic of the other books is the Price family and all the shenanigans that go along with them. While Mary, a Crossroads ghost, can be a bit fun she isn’t the rest of the quirky Price family and I found myself really wanting some time with Verity, Alex, Grandma Alice, Sarah or the Aeslin Mice even.
I was happy to see Sam and a few other characters that were in Antimony’s short stories like Fern, a sylph criptid, but this book suffered a little from info dumping in a few sections and had a few pacing issues throughout.
Still McGuire did come through on the unusual and interesting in trying out a few new things in her story including luck manipulation, fighting on roller skates and a monkey man boyfriend. I look forward to the next book in this series and what new and interesting plot lines it will bring.
Notable Quotables:
“Ain’t no party like a pity party, because a pity party only ends when you bury the bastards who made you feel sorry for yourself.”
–Frances Brown
“Huh,” said Fern. She paused before asking, more delicately, “Has he actually met you when you were being you, or did he only ever meet you when you were pretending to be somebody else? Because you can be really sweet when you’re pretending to be somebody else.”
I threw a biscuit at her. Fern laughed as she dodged.
“You’re only angry because it’s true.”
--Fern and Antimony Price
“Whoever he is, marry him and keep us in the style to which we’d like to become accustomed.”
“He works in Public Relations.”
“Whoever he is, murder him and make it look like an accident, but make sure you get away with his wallet,” Megan amended.
-- Anitmony Priceand Gorgon friend Megan
March 2, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors. Seriously, she's on my auto-buy list. I love the worlds and characters she creates.
Incryptid is one of those worlds, and I struggle with deciding if it is my favorite or if October Daye is. Every time I read one of the books in either series, I decide that one is my favorite Seanan series. Then I read one in the other, and change my mind.
Tricks for Free picks up with Antimony's story, following the crazy events of Magic for Nothing. There is a shorty included that takes place in between the two novels, but I read that last year when it was a Patreon story, and I highly recommend reading that one first, since it takes up the story immediately while Tricks for Free's narrative starts a few months later.
Antimony has been on the run, and found her way to a theme park (of course!), hoping to hide from the Covenant in the crowds. But of course, Seanan never lets her protagonists' plans work out like they expect, so hijinks ensue. We did see some returning characters, both expected and unexpected, and made a few new friends along the way.
I'd like to say I was satisfied with this one. I loved it, but it wasn't, and doesn't ever seem to be, enough. I'm already ready for the next book -- supposedly "That Ain't Witchcraft" starring Antimony again!* -- and can only hope that the next October Daye book's release (usually a fall thing) can tide [Luidaeg joke!] me over until I can get my next Seanan fix.
*After this, Seanan has mentioned the next two will be Sarah (Imaginary Numbers, Calculated Risks) and then ALICE (Spelunking through Hell: A Visitor's Guide to the Underworld)!!!!
---
Review to be published on release date... but damn, I need news from her that we are getting more and who the POVs will be!
Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors. Seriously, she's on my auto-buy list. I love the worlds and characters she creates.
Incryptid is one of those worlds, and I struggle with deciding if it is my favorite or if October Daye is. Every time I read one of the books in either series, I decide that one is my favorite Seanan series. Then I read one in the other, and change my mind.
Tricks for Free picks up with Antimony's story, following the crazy events of Magic for Nothing. There is a shorty included that takes place in between the two novels, but I read that last year when it was a Patreon story, and I highly recommend reading that one first, since it takes up the story immediately while Tricks for Free's narrative starts a few months later.
Antimony has been on the run, and found her way to a theme park (of course!), hoping to hide from the Covenant in the crowds. But of course, Seanan never lets her protagonists' plans work out like they expect, so hijinks ensue. We did see some returning characters, both expected and unexpected, and made a few new friends along the way.
I'd like to say I was satisfied with this one. I loved it, but it wasn't, and doesn't ever seem to be, enough. I'm already ready for the next book -- supposedly "That Ain't Witchcraft" starring Antimony again!* -- and can only hope that the next October Daye book's release (usually a fall thing) can tide [Luidaeg joke!] me over until I can get my next Seanan fix.
*After this, Seanan has mentioned the next two will be Sarah (Imaginary Numbers, Calculated Risks) and then ALICE (Spelunking through Hell: A Visitor's Guide to the Underworld)!!!!
---
Review to be published on release date... but damn, I need news from her that we are getting more and who the POVs will be!
May 27, 2023
Re-Read 5/26/23:
On this re-read, I'm just going to add one extra observation: this ain't your grandmother's Trainspotting.
Still a great, fun read. It's as fun this time as the first time.
Original Review:
Seanan is my go-to-girl for Urban Fantasy goodness. No matter what she puts her mind to, it's always a treat.
Antimony is here again, on the run, and working at a rip-off Disneyworld. It's a bit of a step up from working in a circus and with these many people running around the park either as guests or employees. It's slightly easier to get lost in the crowd, too, and that's kinda the point. Our favorite derby girl has put away her skates to become a general employee of hell.
Fortunately, she's made some pretty good friends there. Her roomies are a blast. I especially love the Gorgon. Of course, even a long employment run can go down the toilet when the death toll rises and secrets get outed. It's hard to keep secrets in this kind of world. Surveillance everywhere, rampant suspicions of employees. Liabilities rampant.
Secret cabals of magicians running nefarious magic on a Disneyworld business model.
*shudder*
The horror.
This is popcorn fiction at it's best. :)
Try not to burn the park down.
On this re-read, I'm just going to add one extra observation: this ain't your grandmother's Trainspotting.
Still a great, fun read. It's as fun this time as the first time.
Original Review:
Seanan is my go-to-girl for Urban Fantasy goodness. No matter what she puts her mind to, it's always a treat.
Antimony is here again, on the run, and working at a rip-off Disneyworld. It's a bit of a step up from working in a circus and with these many people running around the park either as guests or employees. It's slightly easier to get lost in the crowd, too, and that's kinda the point. Our favorite derby girl has put away her skates to become a general employee of hell.
Fortunately, she's made some pretty good friends there. Her roomies are a blast. I especially love the Gorgon. Of course, even a long employment run can go down the toilet when the death toll rises and secrets get outed. It's hard to keep secrets in this kind of world. Surveillance everywhere, rampant suspicions of employees. Liabilities rampant.
Secret cabals of magicians running nefarious magic on a Disneyworld business model.
*shudder*
The horror.
This is popcorn fiction at it's best. :)
Try not to burn the park down.
November 4, 2015
Temporary rating to help counteract the guy who decided to rate this one star before anybody's read it. I hate it when people do that. Rating to be revised when I *have* read it.
April 30, 2018
It's cryptozoology time at BB&B.
Originally I rated this 4 stars but the more I thought about it the more I realized that it doesn't deserve it. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book but it's mostly a filler. It sets things for what's to come but the only really relevant chapters were the last 2-3. Everything else was well not boring but unimportant. Add to it the lack of Aeslin mice and I was really disappointed. However, as I said this sets the scene for some future adventures and provided some interesting information regarding Grandpa Thomas and the crossroads. I greatly enjoyed the cameos from Mary and Rosie and I hope we'll get more books in the Ghost Roads series.
Originally I rated this 4 stars but the more I thought about it the more I realized that it doesn't deserve it. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book but it's mostly a filler. It sets things for what's to come but the only really relevant chapters were the last 2-3. Everything else was well not boring but unimportant. Add to it the lack of Aeslin mice and I was really disappointed. However, as I said this sets the scene for some future adventures and provided some interesting information regarding Grandpa Thomas and the crossroads. I greatly enjoyed the cameos from Mary and Rosie and I hope we'll get more books in the Ghost Roads series.
May 26, 2023
Well, Antimony still isn't my favorite of the Price children, but at least her derision towards her sister has lessened a bit.
After the events og book #6, Antimony has been on the run. It's been 4 years and in the meantime she's working at a theme park that is a knock-off of Disney's resort. Suddenly, things start going quite wrong with numerous incidents and fatalities. One of those incidents has Antimony cross paths with a few magic users that promise to teach her to get her fire magic under control. But the hits keep coming and in the end, it's a family member, her boyfriend and a few former roller derby colleagues that have to help to save the day. Nothing in life is for free though.
I still can't quite follow Antimony's logic which makes her stay away from her family for years. It's one of those weak-ass "plans" people sometimes use as an excuse to be utterly stupid and not communicate clearly because they somehow can't allow themselves to be happy. Nevertheless, I understand why Antimony has to be on her own (to some degree) in order to grow into her role.
What I liked best about this volume - since there were no Aeslin mice to be had - was the location. I love (good) theme parks and this was equally charming and creepy AF. Even before weird shit started happening.
Yes, the location and everything that came with it (from arduous customers to bitchy co-workers to a comfy flat share with InCryptids) was even better than seeing known and beloved characters again or encountering new ones. Maybe because there weren't really (m)any new InCryptids, maybe just because my favorites were left out this time.
The end, though, was quite traumatic. I saw it coming and yet, I had hoped I'd have benn wrong. Can't wait to see where this leads to because the possibilities are nigh endless. Not my favorite in the series, but still extremely good and way better than many other (urban) fantasies.
After the events og book #6, Antimony has been on the run. It's been 4 years and in the meantime she's working at a theme park that is a knock-off of Disney's resort. Suddenly, things start going quite wrong with numerous incidents and fatalities. One of those incidents has Antimony cross paths with a few magic users that promise to teach her to get her fire magic under control. But the hits keep coming and in the end, it's a family member, her boyfriend and a few former roller derby colleagues that have to help to save the day. Nothing in life is for free though.
I still can't quite follow Antimony's logic which makes her stay away from her family for years. It's one of those weak-ass "plans" people sometimes use as an excuse to be utterly stupid and not communicate clearly because they somehow can't allow themselves to be happy. Nevertheless, I understand why Antimony has to be on her own (to some degree) in order to grow into her role.
What I liked best about this volume - since there were no Aeslin mice to be had - was the location. I love (good) theme parks and this was equally charming and creepy AF. Even before weird shit started happening.
Yes, the location and everything that came with it (from arduous customers to bitchy co-workers to a comfy flat share with InCryptids) was even better than seeing known and beloved characters again or encountering new ones. Maybe because there weren't really (m)any new InCryptids, maybe just because my favorites were left out this time.
The end, though, was quite traumatic. I saw it coming and yet, I had hoped I'd have benn wrong. Can't wait to see where this leads to because the possibilities are nigh endless. Not my favorite in the series, but still extremely good and way better than many other (urban) fantasies.
May 23, 2018
3.5 stars
I love the Incryptid series, the crazy Price family and the huge variety of weird and wonderful creatures (particularly the Aeslin mice!) are just so much fun to read about so of course I was excited to read Tricks for Free even though Antimony is actually my least favourite of the siblings. I enjoyed her first book a lot more than I expected to but unfortunately this one just wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be. Antimony is the youngest of the Price children and she shows a lot of immaturity here, she tends to blame her family a lot and act like she was never loved as much as Verity and Alex but at the same time she complains that they're overprotective of her because she's the youngest. Which one is it Antimony? Either they don't care or they care too much - they can't be both at the same time! I can understand why she has to keep her distance from her family here but I missed them all in this story, Mary pops up a few times but it's just not the same as having all the characters I love around and since she's also separated from the Aeslin mice we don't even have them to lighten the tone a bit.
We do get to see a few of Antimony's old friends from her roller derby days but to be honest I've always found Antimony's endless talk of skating pretty boring in the short stories about her so that didn't really help me much. Seanan McGuire has obviously spent a lot of time and energy creating her own theme park called Lowryland, it's a full scale thing with it's own imaginary characters and lots of fun rides and Antimony is currently hiding out there as one of their newest employees. I appreciate the effort that the author has gone into making somewhere that feels so real but the endless descriptions of the place started to get boring after a while. It's a bit like having a friend come home from Disneyland and then wanting you to sit through a slideshow of the 600 photos they took, the first few are interesting enough but it's not long before your eyes start to glaze over, especially if you know you'll probably never be able to afford to go there yourself! Some things are only THAT interesting if you're actually there at the time and I felt the endless descriptions really slowed down this story.
There wasn't really a huge amount happening in this book and for probably the first two thirds I was pretty bored which is unheard of for this series. Things definitely got more interesting when Sam finally turned up, the last third of the book was far more exciting and it's definitely set things up for the next instalment but I just didn't love Tricks for Free as much as I'd hoped to. I still think Seanan McGuire is an incredible author, this series is usually so much fun to read and I'm also a huge fan of the October Daye books so she remains on my auto-buy list.
I love the Incryptid series, the crazy Price family and the huge variety of weird and wonderful creatures (particularly the Aeslin mice!) are just so much fun to read about so of course I was excited to read Tricks for Free even though Antimony is actually my least favourite of the siblings. I enjoyed her first book a lot more than I expected to but unfortunately this one just wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be. Antimony is the youngest of the Price children and she shows a lot of immaturity here, she tends to blame her family a lot and act like she was never loved as much as Verity and Alex but at the same time she complains that they're overprotective of her because she's the youngest. Which one is it Antimony? Either they don't care or they care too much - they can't be both at the same time! I can understand why she has to keep her distance from her family here but I missed them all in this story, Mary pops up a few times but it's just not the same as having all the characters I love around and since she's also separated from the Aeslin mice we don't even have them to lighten the tone a bit.
We do get to see a few of Antimony's old friends from her roller derby days but to be honest I've always found Antimony's endless talk of skating pretty boring in the short stories about her so that didn't really help me much. Seanan McGuire has obviously spent a lot of time and energy creating her own theme park called Lowryland, it's a full scale thing with it's own imaginary characters and lots of fun rides and Antimony is currently hiding out there as one of their newest employees. I appreciate the effort that the author has gone into making somewhere that feels so real but the endless descriptions of the place started to get boring after a while. It's a bit like having a friend come home from Disneyland and then wanting you to sit through a slideshow of the 600 photos they took, the first few are interesting enough but it's not long before your eyes start to glaze over, especially if you know you'll probably never be able to afford to go there yourself! Some things are only THAT interesting if you're actually there at the time and I felt the endless descriptions really slowed down this story.
There wasn't really a huge amount happening in this book and for probably the first two thirds I was pretty bored which is unheard of for this series. Things definitely got more interesting when Sam finally turned up, the last third of the book was far more exciting and it's definitely set things up for the next instalment but I just didn't love Tricks for Free as much as I'd hoped to. I still think Seanan McGuire is an incredible author, this series is usually so much fun to read and I'm also a huge fan of the October Daye books so she remains on my auto-buy list.
March 17, 2022
Amusement park episode with a side of roller derby as Antimony/Annie hides from everyone, well except Mary—her babysitter ghost aunt.
There was a lot to like about this episode, but there were some problems. The level of exposition is horrible. First 80 pages of the story is a recap of the previous book and the Price world—it feels like filler and is really annoying to read when you’re expecting a story to start. You have to buy into the whole Price family comic book action/consequences or go insane, which I don’t actually find problematic. There is also some improbable tracking down. More exposition, telling rather than showing was huge in this one. And as if the author felt there were dangling plot lines, there’s a novella at the end to fill in some gaps.
Big plus, we find out more about the crossroads.
There was a lot to like about this episode, but there were some problems. The level of exposition is horrible. First 80 pages of the story is a recap of the previous book and the Price world—it feels like filler and is really annoying to read when you’re expecting a story to start. You have to buy into the whole Price family comic book action/consequences or go insane, which I don’t actually find problematic. There is also some improbable tracking down. More exposition, telling rather than showing was huge in this one. And as if the author felt there were dangling plot lines, there’s a novella at the end to fill in some gaps.
Big plus, we find out more about the crossroads.
February 9, 2019
This had pacing issues and no Aeslin mice and really, that's all you need to know! The previous book, introducing Antimony was my favourite of the series so far but this was nowhere near as good. Tied bottom place with the second of Alex's stories.
March 4, 2018
Antimony, Annie, Price is on the run hiding from her enemies and her family. If she went to her family the Covenant could use her magical signature to find them. Her only chance. Find a massively populated area and hope it masks her magic. What better place then one of the happiest places on earth…a Florida amusement park.
Little did she know that the amusement park is ran but a magic using cabal, just waiting to use Annie for their own means. To top it off, horrific accidents have begun to happen and Annie can’t help but think they are all centering around her because she is at the scene each accident has taken place.
Annie must do what she does best, jump right in head first without a plan in sight and let the chips end where they may…
McGuire imagination is amazing. We are now 7 into the InCryptid series and its still as original, fresh, exciting and new as the when we finished DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON back in 2012. Strong characters, heartfelt friendships and a plot with back bone.
I received this ARC copy of Tricks for Free from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Tricks for Free is set for publication Mar. 6, 2018.
My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Seanan McGuire
Series: InCryptid (Book 7)
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: DAW
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
ISBN-10: 0756410401
ISBN-13: 978-0756410407
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tricks-Free-In...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tric...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tric...
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Little did she know that the amusement park is ran but a magic using cabal, just waiting to use Annie for their own means. To top it off, horrific accidents have begun to happen and Annie can’t help but think they are all centering around her because she is at the scene each accident has taken place.
Annie must do what she does best, jump right in head first without a plan in sight and let the chips end where they may…
McGuire imagination is amazing. We are now 7 into the InCryptid series and its still as original, fresh, exciting and new as the when we finished DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON back in 2012. Strong characters, heartfelt friendships and a plot with back bone.
I received this ARC copy of Tricks for Free from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Tricks for Free is set for publication Mar. 6, 2018.
My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Seanan McGuire
Series: InCryptid (Book 7)
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: DAW
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
ISBN-10: 0756410401
ISBN-13: 978-0756410407
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tricks-Free-In...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tric...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tric...
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
January 17, 2022
"Humans believe what humans want to believe, and mostly what humans want to believe is that their dominion over the Earth will never be challenged."
Tricks for Free is book seven in Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series, and the second to feature my favorite Price sibling in the lead!
Antimony is on the run & living as Melody West in Florida. She finds herself working at Lowryland, an amusement park which opened only two years after Disney World. In fact, Michael Lowry & Walt Disney were rivals.
While this installment shockingly didn't have any ::KINDA SORTA SPOILER:: Aeslin mice ::END KINDA SORTA SPOILER:: it *does* include an Aeslin mice novella, which is still pretty spectacular because who doesn't love the Aeslin mice? FUCKING MONSTERS, that's who.
Tricks for Free is all about the banter, roller skating, ghosts, romance & murder!
PS. Sam, a trapeze artist (among other things) from the carnival, must be protected at all costs!
Tricks for Free is book seven in Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series, and the second to feature my favorite Price sibling in the lead!
Antimony is on the run & living as Melody West in Florida. She finds herself working at Lowryland, an amusement park which opened only two years after Disney World. In fact, Michael Lowry & Walt Disney were rivals.
While this installment shockingly didn't have any ::KINDA SORTA SPOILER:: Aeslin mice ::END KINDA SORTA SPOILER:: it *does* include an Aeslin mice novella, which is still pretty spectacular because who doesn't love the Aeslin mice? FUCKING MONSTERS, that's who.
Tricks for Free is all about the banter, roller skating, ghosts, romance & murder!
PS. Sam, a trapeze artist (among other things) from the carnival, must be protected at all costs!
March 14, 2018
I picked up this paperback in the store on the day it was released, but it took me a few days to get around to reading it. I went in knowing that the Aeslin mice really didn’t feature in it (Sam takes them to the airport and they head for home). Would the magic still be there without the mice?
I enjoyed the mouse-less adventure just as much as the previous books. It also helped that there was an adorable novella featuring Mindy & Mork (Annie’s mice) at the end of the book. I’m liking Annie better than I did in the previous novel and will look forward to her further adventures in the next one. The presence of “Aunt” Mary, the ghost, also ties in one of McGuire’s other storylines, combining the two nicely.
Obviously I read this because I love the series and I’m a big fan of Seanan McGuire. But it also filled a space in my PopSugar challenge (a book published in 2018).
I enjoyed the mouse-less adventure just as much as the previous books. It also helped that there was an adorable novella featuring Mindy & Mork (Annie’s mice) at the end of the book. I’m liking Annie better than I did in the previous novel and will look forward to her further adventures in the next one. The presence of “Aunt” Mary, the ghost, also ties in one of McGuire’s other storylines, combining the two nicely.
Obviously I read this because I love the series and I’m a big fan of Seanan McGuire. But it also filled a space in my PopSugar challenge (a book published in 2018).
April 26, 2018
Still didn't like Antimony, her personality was boring and her martyr like attitude grated on me, she couldn't go a page without being smug or judgmental or a know it all or without looking down on people. Her worst qualities though were her bitterness and the huge chip she had on her shoulder, especially when it came to her being the youngest sibling and the weird bitchiness she had towards Verity, she really had no reason to complain but she twisted everything to make everyone look bad whilst she was the poor little hard done by victim. It was exhausting to read, she was so unaware of how truly awful and irritating she was.
Lowryland was the most dullest setting ever.
All the info dumps about cryptids, past plots and Lowryland were beyond boring, it was like reading a textbook.
Lowryland was the most dullest setting ever.
All the info dumps about cryptids, past plots and Lowryland were beyond boring, it was like reading a textbook.
March 13, 2018
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
TRICKS FOR FREE, the seventh book in the InCryptid series continues this series' trend of high adventure, exciting storylines, and unique worldbuilding. I am constantly impressed how each book comes off as fresh and full of thrilling plots, thought-provoking social commentary, with warm bonds of friendship and family at their core. I'm never bored reading these books! TRICKS FOR FREE continues Antimony's adventure and I absolutely love the detailed description and backstory of Lowryland -a low rent Disney World- which she finds herself working in (and which I kind of want to go to). The plot is mostly a very grisly mystery and a coming to terms story in regards to Antimony's magic and the tough choices she has to make.
Since Antimony has actual magic abilities we get introduced to some more kinds of magic users that exist in this world and fun magic infused fights. One thing I like about these books is how human the Price family is in that they make really dumb mistakes that really anyone could make, except Antimony's mistake ends up having really bad consequences. Also, unlike her older siblings, she is still learning who she is and it's really neat to be able to watch her grow up into an awesome adult member of the Price family. I liked all of the secondary characters including Antimony's roommates who were a fun addition to this story as they brought much of the humor to this story.
The InCryptid series continues to be storytelling at it's best. TRICKS FOR FREE sends us on a rollercoaster of emotions and thrills with its engaging plot and ever expanding and fascinating world.
TRICKS FOR FREE, the seventh book in the InCryptid series continues this series' trend of high adventure, exciting storylines, and unique worldbuilding. I am constantly impressed how each book comes off as fresh and full of thrilling plots, thought-provoking social commentary, with warm bonds of friendship and family at their core. I'm never bored reading these books! TRICKS FOR FREE continues Antimony's adventure and I absolutely love the detailed description and backstory of Lowryland -a low rent Disney World- which she finds herself working in (and which I kind of want to go to). The plot is mostly a very grisly mystery and a coming to terms story in regards to Antimony's magic and the tough choices she has to make.
Since Antimony has actual magic abilities we get introduced to some more kinds of magic users that exist in this world and fun magic infused fights. One thing I like about these books is how human the Price family is in that they make really dumb mistakes that really anyone could make, except Antimony's mistake ends up having really bad consequences. Also, unlike her older siblings, she is still learning who she is and it's really neat to be able to watch her grow up into an awesome adult member of the Price family. I liked all of the secondary characters including Antimony's roommates who were a fun addition to this story as they brought much of the humor to this story.
The InCryptid series continues to be storytelling at it's best. TRICKS FOR FREE sends us on a rollercoaster of emotions and thrills with its engaging plot and ever expanding and fascinating world.
March 6, 2018
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Tricks for Free, by author Seanan McGuire, is the seventh book in the InCryptid urban fantasy series. The series features the Price family, an eccentric group of cryptozoologists who safeguard the world of magical creatures living in secret among humans. Tricks for Free once again features the youngest Price, Antimony who was last seen escaping the Covenant of St. George (Magic for Nothing) and leaving her new "friend" Sam Taylor and her Aeslin Mice, Mindy and Mork, behind to their own adventures which you can read about in the back of this novel.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Fantasy, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Tricks for Free, by author Seanan McGuire, is the seventh book in the InCryptid urban fantasy series. The series features the Price family, an eccentric group of cryptozoologists who safeguard the world of magical creatures living in secret among humans. Tricks for Free once again features the youngest Price, Antimony who was last seen escaping the Covenant of St. George (Magic for Nothing) and leaving her new "friend" Sam Taylor and her Aeslin Mice, Mindy and Mork, behind to their own adventures which you can read about in the back of this novel.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
October 8, 2018
4.5 stars
I started reading InCryptid series at the beginning of this year and despite it being a little bit more simple than the usual UF series, I liked it. And even though I enjoyed reading about all Price kids, I definitely like Antimony the most. She is a capable heroine with low tolerance of BS, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family. However, I'm still salty that it's her who has to suffer because of her sister's mistake. I find it very unfair that Verity created this whole mess and Antimony now has to be estranged from her family while Verity is okay.
Tricks for Free was a good story, not too complicated, but solid. I like that McGuire doesn't feel the need to throw relationship/friendship drama around just to make her stories more interesting.
I really want to see what's next for Antimony and co. Also, I can't wait to find out what .
I started reading InCryptid series at the beginning of this year and despite it being a little bit more simple than the usual UF series, I liked it. And even though I enjoyed reading about all Price kids, I definitely like Antimony the most. She is a capable heroine with low tolerance of BS, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family. However, I'm still salty that it's her who has to suffer because of her sister's mistake. I find it very unfair that Verity created this whole mess and Antimony now has to be estranged from her family while Verity is okay.
Tricks for Free was a good story, not too complicated, but solid. I like that McGuire doesn't feel the need to throw relationship/friendship drama around just to make her stories more interesting.
I really want to see what's next for Antimony and co. Also, I can't wait to find out what .
April 10, 2023
Mini blurb: On the run from the Covenant and hiding behind an old alias to protect her family (and the fūri boyfriend she had to leave behind), cryptozoologist Antimony Price seeks refuge (and a job) at an amusement park, where she reunites with some old friends and stumbles upon a new set of dangers. Because the fire that sleeps in her fingers won't let her lay low, especially since she can't seem to control her magic - and that alone can start a chain reaction of bad/forced choices...
***
Rated 4.5 really.
This new chapter in Antimony Price's adventures has a number of things going for it: an unexpected explanation for the mystery (or, well, mysteries) at its core; a kick-ass found family of humans and cryptids (also, yay for girls of all species having each other's back! bar Robin the bully of course 🙄); cool magical illusions; and an intriguing connection with the afterlife/crossroads mythology as depicted in the Ghost Roads series by the same author. It doesn't hurt that the story is set in a fictional Disney-competitor amusement park that feels realer than real (but also much deadlier than it has a right to be), and that a few familiar faces make a maybe convenient, but ultimately justified comeback. One might argue that the bulk of the action is concentrated at the end (not to mention, a bit over-the-top), and that Annie makes an amateur mistake at some point, and that the villains are both obvious and barely there...and, oh, that the Aeslin mice are out of the picture (though Mindy and Mork are the protagonists in an attached, engaging prequel novella). But you can't ask for much more than an entertaining story with a few twists, (mostly) tridimensional characters, and the (cross)road paved for further exciting adventures...
Note: As a rule, I review every book that I rate 3.5 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But this series has been around for years now, and it doesn't sound like McGuire's going to stop writing it anytime soon, so I decided to only write mini reviews for its installments, or it would be too hard for me to catch up. I'll write mini reviews for the new ones as well, out of consistency.
***
Rated 4.5 really.
This new chapter in Antimony Price's adventures has a number of things going for it: an unexpected explanation for the mystery (or, well, mysteries) at its core; a kick-ass found family of humans and cryptids (also, yay for girls of all species having each other's back! bar Robin the bully of course 🙄); cool magical illusions; and an intriguing connection with the afterlife/crossroads mythology as depicted in the Ghost Roads series by the same author. It doesn't hurt that the story is set in a fictional Disney-competitor amusement park that feels realer than real (but also much deadlier than it has a right to be), and that a few familiar faces make a maybe convenient, but ultimately justified comeback. One might argue that the bulk of the action is concentrated at the end (not to mention, a bit over-the-top), and that Annie makes an amateur mistake at some point, and that the villains are both obvious and barely there...and, oh, that the Aeslin mice are out of the picture (though Mindy and Mork are the protagonists in an attached, engaging prequel novella). But you can't ask for much more than an entertaining story with a few twists, (mostly) tridimensional characters, and the (cross)road paved for further exciting adventures...
Note: As a rule, I review every book that I rate 3.5 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But this series has been around for years now, and it doesn't sound like McGuire's going to stop writing it anytime soon, so I decided to only write mini reviews for its installments, or it would be too hard for me to catch up. I'll write mini reviews for the new ones as well, out of consistency.
May 15, 2019
Not only did I enjoy this book on its own merits, it's a really excellent follow-up from the previous book...and largely for the same reason: the story of a woman who, separated from the only family she's ever known, begins to build one of her own.
Though nothing about Antimony's story is a direct read from she or her family being from a marginalized group (if anything, the books go out of their way to rightfully point out that she is NOT), there's still a kinship to be found and felt between the necessary secrets she keeps and the awareness of living carefully in spaces that are always potentially hostile.
And in those situations, it's not just emotionally necessary to have the bonds of family (or found family), it can be literally live-saving. As well, too many heroines (I was going to limit it to Urban Fantasy, but let's be real) spend a lot of time shoving their loved ones (and everyone else) away. It's a valid archetype, but it's overused. It also makes sense that, coming from a large and loving family, (and having spent the last book on her own) Antimony begins to build what she knows. Because that's what Prices do.
In more spoilery territory: It felt like a natural and smart progression of Antimony's story and maturation, instead of a tangent from a main story.
From reading The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork, I saw the gun on the table, so I wasn't surprised by the ending, but like a lot of McGuire's books, the end is seldom the point. The book--and the ending--are satisfying.
Though nothing about Antimony's story is a direct read from she or her family being from a marginalized group (if anything, the books go out of their way to rightfully point out that she is NOT), there's still a kinship to be found and felt between the necessary secrets she keeps and the awareness of living carefully in spaces that are always potentially hostile.
And in those situations, it's not just emotionally necessary to have the bonds of family (or found family), it can be literally live-saving. As well, too many heroines (I was going to limit it to Urban Fantasy, but let's be real) spend a lot of time shoving their loved ones (and everyone else) away. It's a valid archetype, but it's overused. It also makes sense that, coming from a large and loving family, (and having spent the last book on her own) Antimony begins to build what she knows. Because that's what Prices do.
In more spoilery territory: It felt like a natural and smart progression of Antimony's story and maturation, instead of a tangent from a main story.
From reading The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork, I saw the gun on the table, so I wasn't surprised by the ending, but like a lot of McGuire's books, the end is seldom the point. The book--and the ending--are satisfying.
August 2, 2022
I liked Antimony quite a bit more in this one. The story moved a little slowly until about halfway through, then flew like skaters in a roller derby. (See what I did there? Heh heh) I liked the novella at the end, but I wanted a more finished story that we got. Edited to add: I JUST figured out that Aunt Rose is Rose from McGuire's Ghost Roads series!
March 30, 2018
This series has always been hit or miss for me. It's probably because each book takes place in a different setting with new side characters even if the main characters are the same. Each book can have a totally different vibe depending on those things. I loved the last book along with Antimony but didn't feel the same this time around.
Antimony made one bad choice after another. Her reasons for staying away from her family made sense. She could have used Mary as a good between if she wasn't comfortable talking to them any other way. Maybe she wouldn't have made some of the stupid choices she did if she had tried to confer with them. As much as she complained that she isn't loved like everyone else in the family it seemed contradictory that she wouldn't let them know where she was partly because they would come get her regardless of the danger. I felt like her immaturity showed strongly. Although she's strong, brave, and reliable, she lacks good forethought. Whenever something happened she jumped into it without thinking of the consequences or developing a plan, which really screwed her in the end.
I was bored for most of the book. It was around the 60% mark that it finally felt like something interesting was happening. Except for one thing, nothing relevant to the overarching plot happened. That one thing will have a big impact on Antimony later. I'm going to have a hard time feeling bad for her because it was her choice. The whole Lowryland thing didn't do it for me. It was lacking compared to the carnival in the last book. I didn't care much for the side characters. They were dull, and I didn't trust any of them until the end of the book. It was weird not having the Aeslin mice around despite not liking them much in the first place. They added a quirky quality, and it wasn't right not to have that there.
Antimony made one bad choice after another. Her reasons for staying away from her family made sense. She could have used Mary as a good between if she wasn't comfortable talking to them any other way. Maybe she wouldn't have made some of the stupid choices she did if she had tried to confer with them. As much as she complained that she isn't loved like everyone else in the family it seemed contradictory that she wouldn't let them know where she was partly because they would come get her regardless of the danger. I felt like her immaturity showed strongly. Although she's strong, brave, and reliable, she lacks good forethought. Whenever something happened she jumped into it without thinking of the consequences or developing a plan, which really screwed her in the end.
I was bored for most of the book. It was around the 60% mark that it finally felt like something interesting was happening. Except for one thing, nothing relevant to the overarching plot happened. That one thing will have a big impact on Antimony later. I'm going to have a hard time feeling bad for her because it was her choice. The whole Lowryland thing didn't do it for me. It was lacking compared to the carnival in the last book. I didn't care much for the side characters. They were dull, and I didn't trust any of them until the end of the book. It was weird not having the Aeslin mice around despite not liking them much in the first place. They added a quirky quality, and it wasn't right not to have that there.
March 5, 2018
Tricks for Free is the seventh entry in the InCryptid series and one of my favorites, in spite of the novel’s lack of Aeslin mice. (Aeslin Mice fans, take heart! Included with this novel is the account of Mindy and Mork’s perilous journey back to the Price compound, following Annie’s difficult decision to send them home at the conclusion of Magic for Nothing, in a story previously only available to McGuire’s Patreon supporters.)
Over the course of the first six books we’ve gotten to know the three Price siblings and Antimony, the youngest, has in many ways become my favorite. Magic for Nothing and Tricks for Free have the feel of a bildungsroman, offering us the account of how Antimony grew up, stopped resenting her siblings, learned to graciously accept help from friends and loved ones, and learned not to hate her magic. Annie is wildly brave, deciding at the conclusion of the previous book that the best way to keep her family safe is to run, cut off all family contact, and hide from the Covenant of St. George. Now if you’re looking for a great place to hide, you know it would be natural for Seanan McGuire to think of a theme park, Disneyland fan that she is. Rather than going for the Mouse, Antimony goes to work at the fictional Lowryland, to lay low, and rooms with a former Slasher Chicks roller derby friend, Fern, a sylph, and new-found friend Megan, a medical resident who just happens to be a Pliny’s gorgon, both of whom work for Lowryland. (In Megan’s case, its hospital.) Of course you know it’s all going to go haywire. This is Annie Price we’re talking about, and where Prices tread/roll, action always follows.
With murders, cabals, explosions, parade disasters, near drownings, Aunt Mary and Aunt Rose (yes, that Rose, Rose Marshall, the girl in the diner, the girl in the green silk dress, the phantom prom date...), a jink named Cylia, and (heart-swell) a fûri named Sam, Annie is going to sort out Lowryland’s problems like any child of the Price family would be expected to. With knives.
We learn quite a bit more about the Crossroads in this book, and get a bit of a hint about the fate of Thomas Price, Annie’s missing grandfather, who bargained with the Crossroads. (I am still hoping Alice will be able to find and rescue Thomas.) We also learn how Crossroads bargains are made if you’re lucky to have Mary Dunlavy as your advocate. The subtle differences between the rules observed Mary and Rose are explored in somewhat greater depth in this book.
All in all a very satisfying entry in the InCryptid series! Bring on the recitation of the mice! Hail!
I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from DAW and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Over the course of the first six books we’ve gotten to know the three Price siblings and Antimony, the youngest, has in many ways become my favorite. Magic for Nothing and Tricks for Free have the feel of a bildungsroman, offering us the account of how Antimony grew up, stopped resenting her siblings, learned to graciously accept help from friends and loved ones, and learned not to hate her magic. Annie is wildly brave, deciding at the conclusion of the previous book that the best way to keep her family safe is to run, cut off all family contact, and hide from the Covenant of St. George. Now if you’re looking for a great place to hide, you know it would be natural for Seanan McGuire to think of a theme park, Disneyland fan that she is. Rather than going for the Mouse, Antimony goes to work at the fictional Lowryland, to lay low, and rooms with a former Slasher Chicks roller derby friend, Fern, a sylph, and new-found friend Megan, a medical resident who just happens to be a Pliny’s gorgon, both of whom work for Lowryland. (In Megan’s case, its hospital.) Of course you know it’s all going to go haywire. This is Annie Price we’re talking about, and where Prices tread/roll, action always follows.
With murders, cabals, explosions, parade disasters, near drownings, Aunt Mary and Aunt Rose (yes, that Rose, Rose Marshall, the girl in the diner, the girl in the green silk dress, the phantom prom date...), a jink named Cylia, and (heart-swell) a fûri named Sam, Annie is going to sort out Lowryland’s problems like any child of the Price family would be expected to. With knives.
We learn quite a bit more about the Crossroads in this book, and get a bit of a hint about the fate of Thomas Price, Annie’s missing grandfather, who bargained with the Crossroads. (I am still hoping Alice will be able to find and rescue Thomas.) We also learn how Crossroads bargains are made if you’re lucky to have Mary Dunlavy as your advocate. The subtle differences between the rules observed Mary and Rose are explored in somewhat greater depth in this book.
All in all a very satisfying entry in the InCryptid series! Bring on the recitation of the mice! Hail!
I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from DAW and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2018
Much as I love Antimony, Tricks for Free is one of the weaker InCryptid installments. It's stricken with seventh book syndrome, if that were a thing, but it's totally not. Seriously, though, the issues here are reminiscent of "second book syndrome," in that the plot's a bit lacking and the book's more about setting things in motion for a larger and more exciting plot in the next book.
Antimony's on the run and living as Melody West, while working at Lowryland, a competitor of Disney, in Lakeland, FL. Things are pretty quiet for the first quarter to half of the book. There's a series of accidents but no clear motive or connection to Antimony for much of it, so there's really not much forward motion until Sam arrives and the plot actually kicks into gear. Tricks for Free is by no means a bad book (four stars, duh), but I've read a LOT of McGuire, and it's not her best.
Sam and Antimony are adorable. Fern and Megan are pretty awesome too. A theme park's a cool setting. And, as is often the case in this series, McGuire's sense of humor shines through. I'm looking forward to the next book, which I suspect will be thoroughly badass.
Antimony's on the run and living as Melody West, while working at Lowryland, a competitor of Disney, in Lakeland, FL. Things are pretty quiet for the first quarter to half of the book. There's a series of accidents but no clear motive or connection to Antimony for much of it, so there's really not much forward motion until Sam arrives and the plot actually kicks into gear. Tricks for Free is by no means a bad book (four stars, duh), but I've read a LOT of McGuire, and it's not her best.
Sam and Antimony are adorable. Fern and Megan are pretty awesome too. A theme park's a cool setting. And, as is often the case in this series, McGuire's sense of humor shines through. I'm looking forward to the next book, which I suspect will be thoroughly badass.
March 26, 2020
Another fun addition to the series. And my copy also contained an Aeslin Mice novella!
March 2, 2019
Really enjoying this series and love Annie. So glad we are getting a longer arc for her. This was an interesting setting for sure and was very entertaining. I just found it weird that she was so trusting of certain people when I didn't think it fit her personality.
Ah, I did miss the mice...
Ah, I did miss the mice...
March 14, 2018
3.5 stars maybe on the high side. Much better than the last with Antimony as the lead.
Wow this is like a whole new world at first, and not in a good way, lots of new characters and world building. She is at a theme park as an employee trying to fit in. Really coincidentally she meets up with a couple of old friends, one from high school and one from roller derby days. Still there is no real story except back story and world building at the theme park. An imaginary park in Orlando in competition with WDW. Overall really slow. Then at 25% it starts to pick up in story line. She ends up making a stupid decision that I don't understand that she cannot see is a set up. She never asks for advice or help, except from her ghost aunt who cannot completely give it. It is a little discouraging but it started to get very interesting all the same.
Still trying to get totally into the new characters and world when at slightly over 50% Sam shows up. It really changed the feel for me because I loved Sam from the last book and he and the mice made the book good. In this book Antimony stops blaming and complaining about her sister but she still fails to confide in them and ask for advice if not help. This makes me feel like she is not quite grown up yet, and she decides that that little more she needs is going to be found totally by her and her alone. This part of her character still irked me but... she learns that being a loner is not all that it is cracked up to be. This is the part that I really like for Antimony and made this so much better than her last book. Her character has grown, no longer in the blame game, and she finally excepts help. I only wish it was more from her family.
After bumbling through and not seeing that there are too many coincidences, she is told what is happening. Yes, she would've have to have been told as even with understanding what was happening the why needed someone else. See someone else is the big word here. She never relies on others but finally here she does. Only in the end, obstacle after obstacle and it seems that she is the only one, and it is all last minute fly by the pants. Well this is true in all of these book but the shear number of them in this one is a little overwhelming. In the end, it was a really good over all story and I ended up really liking the new characters so, I'm bumping it up but it is more of a solid 3.5 for the slow beginning.
Here is also where I bump it down, no Aeslin mice. As well as a lack of even talking to Alex, grandma, or Dominic and Verity, we get no mice. I did not realize how much I would miss them but they really give a comic element. Well I found out that if I read this instead of getting the Audible, no I never file under the correct edition and I like to have the page count, I would have got the short stories of the Mice and Sam and what happened to them between the last book and this one. I didn't get it with Audible!@#*
Update during reading-------------------
25%- Finally it is starting to get interesting. This started very slowly, no new information really other than where Antimony ends up. Lot's of retelling. No people other than Annie and no mice, no mice. So sad. I miss the mice. At least there is no blame game happening.
So at 50.5% we finally get Sam. I love Sam and really wish he hadn't been left behind before.
Wow this is like a whole new world at first, and not in a good way, lots of new characters and world building. She is at a theme park as an employee trying to fit in. Really coincidentally she meets up with a couple of old friends, one from high school and one from roller derby days. Still there is no real story except back story and world building at the theme park. An imaginary park in Orlando in competition with WDW. Overall really slow. Then at 25% it starts to pick up in story line. She ends up making a stupid decision that I don't understand that she cannot see is a set up. She never asks for advice or help, except from her ghost aunt who cannot completely give it. It is a little discouraging but it started to get very interesting all the same.
Still trying to get totally into the new characters and world when at slightly over 50% Sam shows up. It really changed the feel for me because I loved Sam from the last book and he and the mice made the book good. In this book Antimony stops blaming and complaining about her sister but she still fails to confide in them and ask for advice if not help. This makes me feel like she is not quite grown up yet, and she decides that that little more she needs is going to be found totally by her and her alone. This part of her character still irked me but... she learns that being a loner is not all that it is cracked up to be. This is the part that I really like for Antimony and made this so much better than her last book. Her character has grown, no longer in the blame game, and she finally excepts help. I only wish it was more from her family.
After bumbling through and not seeing that there are too many coincidences, she is told what is happening. Yes, she would've have to have been told as even with understanding what was happening the why needed someone else. See someone else is the big word here. She never relies on others but finally here she does. Only in the end, obstacle after obstacle and it seems that she is the only one, and it is all last minute fly by the pants. Well this is true in all of these book but the shear number of them in this one is a little overwhelming. In the end, it was a really good over all story and I ended up really liking the new characters so, I'm bumping it up but it is more of a solid 3.5 for the slow beginning.
Here is also where I bump it down, no Aeslin mice. As well as a lack of even talking to Alex, grandma, or Dominic and Verity, we get no mice. I did not realize how much I would miss them but they really give a comic element. Well I found out that if I read this instead of getting the Audible, no I never file under the correct edition and I like to have the page count, I would have got the short stories of the Mice and Sam and what happened to them between the last book and this one. I didn't get it with Audible!@#*
Update during reading-------------------
25%- Finally it is starting to get interesting. This started very slowly, no new information really other than where Antimony ends up. Lot's of retelling. No people other than Annie and no mice, no mice. So sad. I miss the mice. At least there is no blame game happening.
So at 50.5% we finally get Sam. I love Sam and really wish he hadn't been left behind before.
March 6, 2018
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I really like this series and I was eager to discover another of the novels. Besides, I was very happy to see that we were once again following Antimony because I loved having her as the main character in the previous volume. And then after all the events, I wanted to know how this young woman was going to act!
Annie is on the run, she knows that finding her family would put them in danger. So to try to blend in, she decides to go to work in one of the largest amusement parks where she can evolve without being noticed. But now, it seems that the place is not as safe as she thought. When terrible and oddly accidents happen, Annie is always present and she begins to wonder what exactly is going on. In addition, it seems that a cabal who manages the park is aware of her gifts. They offer to help her, to teach her how to use her talent without danger. Annie can only accept that but at what price?
It was a new very nice volume even if I admit that I really preferred the precedent one. Antimony tries at best to act even if it’s not easy for her. We will discover some of her friends and I admit that I was really delighted to meet Sam over the course of the story. It is a character that I appreciate very much. I wonder how our heroine will manage the next events because she goes again to new adventures! Once again, Seanan McGuire offers us a great story!
My English review
I really like this series and I was eager to discover another of the novels. Besides, I was very happy to see that we were once again following Antimony because I loved having her as the main character in the previous volume. And then after all the events, I wanted to know how this young woman was going to act!
Annie is on the run, she knows that finding her family would put them in danger. So to try to blend in, she decides to go to work in one of the largest amusement parks where she can evolve without being noticed. But now, it seems that the place is not as safe as she thought. When terrible and oddly accidents happen, Annie is always present and she begins to wonder what exactly is going on. In addition, it seems that a cabal who manages the park is aware of her gifts. They offer to help her, to teach her how to use her talent without danger. Annie can only accept that but at what price?
It was a new very nice volume even if I admit that I really preferred the precedent one. Antimony tries at best to act even if it’s not easy for her. We will discover some of her friends and I admit that I was really delighted to meet Sam over the course of the story. It is a character that I appreciate very much. I wonder how our heroine will manage the next events because she goes again to new adventures! Once again, Seanan McGuire offers us a great story!
March 8, 2022
Can I just say: Annie's books have the best settings in this series! First a carnival, now a theme park!
Annie is still cut off from the rest of the family, except for Aunt Mary, but I didn't even miss them all that much because I was too busy adoring Annie's group of friends!
I absolutely loved almost everything about this story. (I could've done without the high school-type bullying among the Lowryland employees. I didn't really see the point of that.) The final showdown was great action-y fun and the deal Annie is forced to make at the end means the next book is definitely going to be interesting.
There's also a bonus novella, set just after Annie leaves the carnival, narrated partly by Sam and partly by Mindy (making up for the general lack of Aeslin mice in the book).
I got caught up with this series just in time for the release of this, and I have to say I'm enjoying this series more and more. I'm also glad I read Sparrow Hill Road before this because Aunt Rose features a bit more in this one and it was good to know more about her background before that. I definitely recommend this series. I don't love it quite as much as October Daye, but it's really great. Also there's tons of free short fiction related to the series on Seanan McGuire's website, so if you're unsure if this is your thing, you could dip a toe into the InCryptid world by reading the short stories about the previous Price/Healy generations.
Annie is still cut off from the rest of the family, except for Aunt Mary, but I didn't even miss them all that much because I was too busy adoring Annie's group of friends!
I absolutely loved almost everything about this story. (I could've done without the high school-type bullying among the Lowryland employees. I didn't really see the point of that.) The final showdown was great action-y fun and the deal Annie is forced to make at the end means the next book is definitely going to be interesting.
There's also a bonus novella, set just after Annie leaves the carnival, narrated partly by Sam and partly by Mindy (making up for the general lack of Aeslin mice in the book).
I got caught up with this series just in time for the release of this, and I have to say I'm enjoying this series more and more. I'm also glad I read Sparrow Hill Road before this because Aunt Rose features a bit more in this one and it was good to know more about her background before that. I definitely recommend this series. I don't love it quite as much as October Daye, but it's really great. Also there's tons of free short fiction related to the series on Seanan McGuire's website, so if you're unsure if this is your thing, you could dip a toe into the InCryptid world by reading the short stories about the previous Price/Healy generations.
February 7, 2020
Once again I'm not sure what to say about a Seanan McGuire book other than IT'S AWESOME GO READ IT. Before the last book came out I was kind of worried about Antimony being the new protagonist but I should know better than that honestly and now I absolutely love her [Alex is my least favorite, sorry Alex]. This book had a lot of familiar faces from the previous book as well as several new ones and it was just a really great time overall. I'm actually surprised it took Seanan this long to translate her love for Disneyland into a compelling book plot lol
June 11, 2018
I like Annie, but not too much happens in this book. Yes, there's a conflict set up and resolved, and characters introduced (or reintroduced), but it's mostly set up for the next adventure. And that's going to be a doozy.
Still, it's a fun set up--at a theme park, with plenty of crytipds, and some romance along with the backstabbing and danger. And the short story with Mork and Mindy is adorable.
Still, it's a fun set up--at a theme park, with plenty of crytipds, and some romance along with the backstabbing and danger. And the short story with Mork and Mindy is adorable.
February 18, 2021
Tricks for Free is the seventh novel in Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series, and at this point, I'm completely obsessed with the series. This novel continues to follow Annie Price, the youngest of three siblings, and currently on the run.
Antimony Price is a lot of things, and for a moment there, she was an undercover agent. Times two. She managed to save a whole carnival from the Covenant, but at a cost. Now she's on the run, trying to avoid bringing the Covenant and all its wraith directly to her family.
So naturally, she ends up in Lowryland. An amusement park should be the perfect place to mess up any tracking abilities the Covenant has. Likewise, we all know that her time there is going to be far from incident free. She's a Price, after all.
It all started with one accident. Followed in short order by a surprise revelation, and even more accidents and chaos. Now Annie must be the one to step up, for whether she wanted it or not, she has been pulled into what is going wrong at Lowryland.
“There’s a place for everything, and everything has its place. It just so happens that this knife belongs in your spleen.”
Tricks for Free is a wonder fueled piece of chaos, one set in an amusement park of all places. While that may sound odd, it's actually the perfect setting for this adventure. There is so much humor woven into this narrative, thanks to the hints and references strewn about. It made for quite an entertaining read.
Antimony Price is a character that needs time to grow on you, but once she does, it's basically impossible to avoid rooting for her. She's such a strong and stubborn character, and clearly she has a talent for finding trouble.
This is the first novel that doesn't feature chants from the Aeslin mice (there's a reason for that), and I was surprised by how sad that made me feel. Still, it is interesting to see what a Price can get up to, when they're completely (well, not quite) on their own.
“Change is good. Change keeps us growing, and growing keeps us living. But don’t ever change so much that you forget who you used to be.”
It feels like with each passing novel there's a stronger connection between the InCryptid series and Ghost Roads. Aunt Rose has certainly become a bigger thing, as have the references to all things ghostly. Personally, I adore it. So if you read Sparrow Hill Road, loved it, and are desperate to read more about the lovely Rose and all her adventures, definitely consider picking up this series. You won't regret it, I promise!
“Ain’t no party like a pity party, because a pity party only ends when you bury the bastards who made you feel sorry for yourself.”
I adore that this novel took the time to explore a bit more of Annie's magic, and everything else that makes her a bit of an oddity, even in her own admittedly very odd family. I know that the next novel (That Ain't Witchcraft) will be following Annie Price as well, and I'm seriously looking forward to what happens next.
The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork is a short story included at the end of Tricks for Free, though ironically it's actually set mostly before this book has begun.
It's set sometime between Magic for Nothing, and Tricks for Free, and follows two series of events. The first one should be fairly obvious: the adventure two Aeslin mice (Mindy and Mork) must go on in order to find their way home.
The other follows the one and only Sam, a carnie brat who is determined to find Annie, even if that means dealing with her dead aunt. Yes, you read that right. If you're up to date in the series, that sadly will make a lot of sense.
Both perspectives are a lot of fun to read, and the inclusion of this short did help, as the Aeslin mice are otherwise not present in Tricks for Free (I know! My poor heart). I also really enjoyed Sam's perspective. Then again, I adore his character, so that really shouldn't be that much of a surprise, huh?
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Antimony Price is a lot of things, and for a moment there, she was an undercover agent. Times two. She managed to save a whole carnival from the Covenant, but at a cost. Now she's on the run, trying to avoid bringing the Covenant and all its wraith directly to her family.
So naturally, she ends up in Lowryland. An amusement park should be the perfect place to mess up any tracking abilities the Covenant has. Likewise, we all know that her time there is going to be far from incident free. She's a Price, after all.
It all started with one accident. Followed in short order by a surprise revelation, and even more accidents and chaos. Now Annie must be the one to step up, for whether she wanted it or not, she has been pulled into what is going wrong at Lowryland.
“There’s a place for everything, and everything has its place. It just so happens that this knife belongs in your spleen.”
Tricks for Free is a wonder fueled piece of chaos, one set in an amusement park of all places. While that may sound odd, it's actually the perfect setting for this adventure. There is so much humor woven into this narrative, thanks to the hints and references strewn about. It made for quite an entertaining read.
Antimony Price is a character that needs time to grow on you, but once she does, it's basically impossible to avoid rooting for her. She's such a strong and stubborn character, and clearly she has a talent for finding trouble.
This is the first novel that doesn't feature chants from the Aeslin mice (there's a reason for that), and I was surprised by how sad that made me feel. Still, it is interesting to see what a Price can get up to, when they're completely (well, not quite) on their own.
“Change is good. Change keeps us growing, and growing keeps us living. But don’t ever change so much that you forget who you used to be.”
It feels like with each passing novel there's a stronger connection between the InCryptid series and Ghost Roads. Aunt Rose has certainly become a bigger thing, as have the references to all things ghostly. Personally, I adore it. So if you read Sparrow Hill Road, loved it, and are desperate to read more about the lovely Rose and all her adventures, definitely consider picking up this series. You won't regret it, I promise!
“Ain’t no party like a pity party, because a pity party only ends when you bury the bastards who made you feel sorry for yourself.”
I adore that this novel took the time to explore a bit more of Annie's magic, and everything else that makes her a bit of an oddity, even in her own admittedly very odd family. I know that the next novel (That Ain't Witchcraft) will be following Annie Price as well, and I'm seriously looking forward to what happens next.
The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork is a short story included at the end of Tricks for Free, though ironically it's actually set mostly before this book has begun.
It's set sometime between Magic for Nothing, and Tricks for Free, and follows two series of events. The first one should be fairly obvious: the adventure two Aeslin mice (Mindy and Mork) must go on in order to find their way home.
The other follows the one and only Sam, a carnie brat who is determined to find Annie, even if that means dealing with her dead aunt. Yes, you read that right. If you're up to date in the series, that sadly will make a lot of sense.
Both perspectives are a lot of fun to read, and the inclusion of this short did help, as the Aeslin mice are otherwise not present in Tricks for Free (I know! My poor heart). I also really enjoyed Sam's perspective. Then again, I adore his character, so that really shouldn't be that much of a surprise, huh?
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
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