Discount Armageddon (InCryptid, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Nov 10, 2011 Alisha rated it it was amazing

Rating: 4.5
(Note: review originally posted at Book Lovers Inc)

I have to just get this out first: the Price family makes the Addams family look like the Cleavers.

Don’t worry; I’ll explain who the hell the Prices are a bit later. But the above statement is what I kept thinking time and again as I was reading this book. The protagonist of Discount Armageddon, Verity Price, is no exception to the renowned eccentricities of her cryptozoologist (read: monster-studying) family, and she’s a great narrat Rating: 4.5
(Note: review originally posted at Book Lovers Inc)

I have to just get this out first: the Price family makes the Addams family look like the Cleavers.

Don’t worry; I’ll explain who the hell the Prices are a bit later. But the above statement is what I kept thinking time and again as I was reading this book. The protagonist of Discount Armageddon, Verity Price, is no exception to the renowned eccentricities of her cryptozoologist (read: monster-studying) family, and she’s a great narrative voice to serve as the vehicle for this story. She’s always got a smart quip, an off-the-cuff observation, a witty retort on hand. Her personality is a bit tough to pin down, though…which makes her so intriguing. She’s got an interesting dichotomy going on that reveals her as both a supreme bad-azz and a very caring, protective individual.

The dialogue in general is very snappy, quick, unrelenting. The author’s wry sense of humor really comes across through the cast, starting with Verity and continuing through her other family members, her cute-but-deadly nemesis Dominic, and the many cryptids that populate this version of New York City. I admit that at times it was a task to keep up with the continual banter, but indeed it was always amusing. Like in this moment between Dominic and Verity:

His voice dropped even lower, a stunt I wouldn’t have believed possible. “They mustn’t know about the…monsters.”
“Wow.”
He blinked. “Wow?”
“Yeah, wow. I didn’t know people actually paused portentously in common conversation.”

As for that explanation that I promised: the Prices are protectors of all cryptids (monsters, for lack of an easier explanation)…unlike the Covenant, a fanatical worldwide group that believes in wholesale extermination of all things unusual. The Prices have a long, storied history of eccentricity, which involves the children learning how to shoot crossbows before the age of five. They thrive on the knowledge of all things bizarre (probably because they are so unsual themselves), and serve as a constant source of comedy and intrigue. One of my favorite aspects of this book, for sure.

Truly, this is a head-trip of a book. Though the vast majority of the cryptids featured here come from all sorts of existing cultural mythologies (dragons, gorgons, bug-a-boos, ahools, boogeymen, etc.), they’re weaved into the world with impressive intricacy. Within a couple of chapters it becomes exceedingly clear that the scope of the story, cast, and world-building details will be vast. Like, I’d-better-take-notes vast. There’s a family tree (or family branch, as Verity insists) in the front of the book, and a glossary at the end; two signs that there’s a whole lot to take note of. And yet, the initial world-building never felt overwhelming or disorienting. (The same of which could not be said for Ilona Andrew’s very excellent Kate Daniels series opener…remember that mass of confusion?)

The author had once mentioned that the InCryptid series will at some point switch protagonists, as it was originally conceived as a series meant to chronicle the Price family as a whole. Though I’m used to UF series sticking with a particular character, I can’t think of a better way to proceed; this series is unique in so many ways already, and its subsequent installments will most definitely be outstanding and unique in their storytelling choices, as well. Just note that, should you choose to read this book, be prepared for major weirdness. Major. lol

And now, to celebrate the Feast of Awesome First Books in Off-the-Wall-Crazy New Series! Hail! (Yeah…the book–and the Aeslin mice–rubbed off on me. Don’t ask. Just read. ^_^) ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2013 D.G. rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, reviewed, urban-fantasy

**3.5 stars**

Discount Armageddon was a blast. The heroine was so refreshingly different - she's a ballroom dancer but extremely kickass! I also loved the book was set in NYC (very few UF books are set here and it's such a good city for Monsters!)

Anyway, the plot was fast, quirky and fun - a bit out there but fun nevertheless. It was a bit difficult to keep track of all the cryptids (most of them weren't the usual vampires and werewolves) and I'm not sure Verity should have trusted Dominic with o ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2015 Thenia rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, 2015, series, reviewed, shifters, r-ab

An urban fantasy set in a world full of supernatural beings, with an unusual main couple: Verity Price, a cryptozoologist, aka guardian of the cryptids, aka the supernatural beings, that has an alter-ego who is a professional dancer and Dominic De Luca, a monster-hunter that grew up in the Covenant of St. George, an organization that considers the Prices traitors and is hellbent on eradicating everything non-human.

Both of them are unprepared for one another when they unexpectedly meet, but they ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2012 Christal rated it really liked it

Shelves: female-lead, weres-and-shifters, zombies-and-ghouls, mind-bullets, urban-fantasy, lesser-known-creatures, dragons, shady-government-agency, 2012-favorites

I absolutely love Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series so I was very excited to pick up this book. I am so glad that I finally did; it was so much fun! Discount Armageddon is much lighter in tone than the Toby series, but it still had Ms. McGuire’s trademark wit and complicated mysteries.

Verity Price is a monster hunter a la Buffy Summers, but don't think this book is just a knock off of the TV show. Verity combines her butt kicking with some serious study; she's a cryptozoologist. Even though I absolutely love Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series so I was very excited to pick up this book. I am so glad that I finally did; it was so much fun! Discount Armageddon is much lighter in tone than the Toby series, but it still had Ms. McGuire’s trademark wit and complicated mysteries.

Verity Price is a monster hunter a la Buffy Summers, but don't think this book is just a knock off of the TV show. Verity combines her butt kicking with some serious study; she's a cryptozoologist. Even though she doesn’t hesitate to throw down if the situation calls for it, she actually spends most of her time helping the cryptids fit into human society. Verity's also a professional ballroom dancer and it was very interesting to see how she combined the two worlds. Her narrative voice was a blast and I really enjoyed learning about her and her family.

The side characters were all wonderful. Just like in the Toby series, Verity has a whole slew of blood- and not-so-blood related family members. My favorite of her family was her cousin Sarah. Sarah is a cryptid and was adopted into Verity’s family by marriage. She is a telepathic creature called a cuckoo. She is scary powerful, but a total nerd. I loved her!

The cryptids come in all shapes and sizes from bogeymen to dragon princesses. Verity even shares her apartment with a flock of deeply religious Aeslin mice, very very funny. It was interesting to see the different ways the cryptids tried to blend into society based on their appearance and background. From running a gingerbread shop to building large nests on the rooftops, Ms. McGuire integrated the cryptids into almost every faucet of daily, human life. All the cryptids in the book were fascinating and I hope we learn about more new species in each book.

Verity’s love interest was a member of the crytpid-killing society, The Covenant of St. George. Her family left the covenant when they figured out that not all cryptids were bad and that some were actually beneficial parts of the ecosystem. Dominic De Luca is in the US for the first time and he is pretty much blown away when he meets Verity for the first time. I didn't like Dominic very much at the beginning but I was on the team by the end. I liked that the changes with his character were subtle and believable for the amount of time the story encompassed. I am looking forward to seeing if Verity and Dominic can make their relationship work and to find out what happens when he actually meets to Price family!

I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series, Midnight Blue-Light Special. This book was completely delightful and just solidified Seanan McGuire as one of the top writers in the UF game at this time. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 14, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was ok

Shelves: how-series, why-favorite-author, what-modern-fantasy, what-adjectives-don-t-modify-verbs, what-dusters-are-for-dusting

Hmm heels. I thought this author was more practical than that and wasn't going to insult me like other authors who have people fighting for their lives daily who run around in spike heels. At least the MC has short hair.

Too much telling.

It's cool to have a modern fantasy novel where the family is all present and important and together. The vast majority of urban fantasy protagonists are lone wolves.

Many of the supposedly funny quotes at the beginnings of the chapters are the kind of Heinleines ...more

Like · see review

Aug 29, 2012 Samantha rated it really liked it

Shelves: happy-i-read, uf, 2012

This is now the third series I've read from this author and I really enjoyed this one. Full of action and snark in all the right places it's a fun start to a new UF series. The first half was admittedly slow, but that's because there was a lot about this world that needed explaining. Verity is a fun heroine and learning about her unique and daring family (cryptid or otherwise) was just plain fun storytelling. I will definitely be keeping track of this series. ...more

1 like · Like · see review