Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Seriously, thanks. Because WOW. Seanan is just a master of her craft. She threw some huge curveballs into the storyline in this one and the risks paid off! I'll spoil as little as possible, but I have to say a few things to get my feelings across.

First, I adore Annie and her friends. I'm sad this is the last Antimony book for now. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about Sarah's two books coming up next, but I really like Annie's sarcasm and wit, and I like Sam and Cylia and Fern as well. I'd really like to see when Annie returns home, dragging her ragtag crew behind her. Maybe we'll get to see that one day.

Second, I really like how Seanan has made the Covenant a huge force to be reckoned with but not always the villain of the story. Even when they're not the main bad guy of the story, she reminds us they're there, and is building towards a huge finale in the long run.

Third, I love the world-building. The cryptids, the magic, the ghosts, the crossroads, I just love this world. It's urban fantasy at its best.

One major complaint: I need the Aeslin mice! Luckily in this one, we get to hear a little catechism of the Aeslin mice, even if we don't get to see them.

So if you haven't read this series yet, pick it up. And try to read as many of the shorties in between books as you can because they're all fantastic AND they develop the characters more. If you have read it, then this installment will definitely be worth your wait. :)

HAIL SEANAN, THE PROLIFIC WRITER OF WORDS AND THE STORYTELLING PRIESTESS.

(PS - for everyone who reads the audio book, this one has a short story at the end about Alex/Shelby/Sarah and the Gorgons. It's a MUST READ.)

Annie is still on the run from the covenant. In case they find her, she can’t contact her family. She and her friends end up in a tiny town in Maine. Trouble finds her even in such a small place. She meets a strange local boy with interesting theories. The crossroads calls in her debt. Liam Cunningham finds her.

I found this book to be vastly more interesting than the last one. Everything that was learned about the crossroads was fascinating although it by no means gave away all of its secrets. At first I was disappointed certain things weren’t revealed. OTOH it means that there is a good reason to continue with the series.

Even though several men were around, there wasn’t even a hint of a love triangle for which I am incredibly grateful. I really like Annie and Sam together. However there is something I really like about Liam Cunningham. He’s a jerk, but some of that is a front he presents. If he was a ruthless and cut throat as he makes himself out to be, then he would have screwed Annie over long before now. He is a covenant boy I’d love to see Annie bring to the dark side. Also I think he and Annie would challenge each other more in a relationship than Sam does.

Antimony is back and ready to rumble in this latest installment of Nebula-Award-winning author Seanan McGuire.
Although the mice aren't in this story, it is still full of drama, action, mythical characters, magic, and some ghosts. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens next!

In this 8th InCryptid novel, Antimony Price is on the run with three friends, one of them her boyfriend. After far too long criss-crossing the country by car, they fetch up at an isolated house in Maine, where they look forward to three months of staying put and relaxing. Of course things quickly go wrong. Their nearest neighbor has a problem--and a plan. With Antimony's help, it might even be survivable. If this works, a major danger will be gone for good. If it doesn't, all involved could wind up dead--or worse.

A bonus novella recounts Alexander Price's hunt for kidnapped gorgon children.

Fun, thrilling, and snark-filled, as always.

Something I've noticed about Seanan McGuire's longer series (mostly this one and the October books), is that she'll tend to have books that are more about setup and world building, and then books where the plot explodes in some amazing unexpected way. The setup books can lull you into a false sense of security, and also provide enough background that the ultimate twists and reveals hit you so much harder. "That Ain't Witchcraft" is one of those Seanan McGuire books where you spend the entire time being shocked, amazed, and full of all sorts of emotions for these continually stressed and vaguely insane characters.

I don't want to go into too many details about the plot, but I will say that this is the book where, after seven novels and tons of short stories, we finally get to dealing with the Crossroads. After the last book Annie and her allies are backed into a corner and they have no choices except to give up, or fight back in a possibly spectacularly stupid manner. If you've read any of the other books in this series I think you can guess what Annie's choice will be.

I'm almost annoyed that I read this so early and so quickly, because now it'll be even longer before I find out what happens next. I can't wait to see what the rest of Price family thinks of the events of this book, and I really really want to see where the story goes from here.

That Ain't Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire, another thrilling tale from a master of the pen. This is the next in the InCryptid series and it delivers! Annie is still running from the Covenant and along the way the Crossroads decides to call due its marker, but what it wants and what she wants don't align...