I don’t binge read series. I don’t. The craft behind the writing becomes too apparent to me, making even well-written books predictable. So why did I pick up the next InCryptid? Well, I was in a specific mood that the InCryptid series fills. The way the main character and locations change, there is more a shared experience than a fixed series feel. It’s an interesting way to run with a concept.

I stated before that Alex is my favorite of the Price family so far because I identify with his approach the most. What I’d forgotten is the way Verity’s determination and enthusiasm whether performing Latin dance or hunting down strange beings in the reservoir draws me in. I might not be inclined to dance professionally, but I can empathize with how she’s pulled in two directions and how the dance calls to her.

As you probably guessed, main character shifts back to Verity for this novel. She collects an ensemble cast of Dominic (ex-Covenant and now her husband), Malena (a chupacabra), Pax (a Ukupani), Brenna (a dragon princess), and the infamous Grandmother Alice. That isn’t going into the main characters for the dance competition except where they cross over just as Verity becomes Valerie. It’s a lot of characters to keep track of, but each is distinct enough I didn’t mix them up at all. Oh, and of course, the mice made their presence known, as how could they not.

Seanan McGuire has a way with characters that makes you want to see them succeed. It’s the right blend of empathy, determination, and sheer idiocy that allows the Prices to leap into danger again and again. They risk life and limb to protect the world, the cryptids, and even humans who aren’t trying to tear everything apart.

This novel is no different.

Sure, it’s supposed to be Valerie (Verity’s alter ego) who holds center stage, but where Verity goes disaster sure seems to follow, if it wasn’t there already waiting to be uncovered. She goes about things the way she always does, making friends, making enemies, and all the while planning to play loose with the rules. It works because she usually has more than her self-interest at stake.

That’s what draws me back to the series when I need a break. It’s the blend of humor with serious situations and an underlying understanding that being evil is a choice, not a species. Besides, I got to meet Grandmother Alice, who was not what I’d expected at all, though maybe I should have guessed some of it.

There were some perfect notes like when Verity realizes her Valerie disguise couldn’t have fooled most of the staff. The persistent statement that the dragons trying to purchase a young male to raise as a husband for their daughters is something so alien humans struggle to understand it jarred though. (This is well within the dragon culture and would preserve their future when only one surviving male is known to exist.) Human history is littered with mostly female, but some male, children being bartered in marriage. The period where this is less common in Western cultures is both short and very recent.

Ultimately, the issues were small and the strengths huge. I enjoyed the actual differences in various cryptid mentalities compared to human and the way Verity takes on the world to protect those she considers friends. Though she’d do it for anyone in need. As to the mystery, I pinpointed some of those involved, but not with confidence, so the need to identify the true enemies carried me through to the end where some were eliminated from my list through surprising twists.

It’s a fun read with some beautiful cultural moments and characters you feel for.

This is a light fantasy with a touch more characterization than usual for this series as Verity, who had given up dancing in an earlier volume to follow the family business of saving strange mystical creatures is given a second chance to appear on a dancing reality show (even though her entire family is supposed to be in hiding). But she learns that she cannot really go back on her choice. The plot involving murders of those voted off the show is less interesting than the personal side of the story.

My thanks once again for the generosity of the publisher in making all eligible novels and short stories available for consideration to Hugo voters. I'm very grateful to have been able to experience this series and I definitely understand why it has been nominated for the Best Series award. Best of luck to Seanan McGuire in this and the other categories she is nominated in!

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!

That's my thought process immediately after finishing this book. HOLY CRAP.

I'm so very glad I read this. I'd felt a bit let down by the last book (sorry, Alex, but I find your ballroom dancing sister is more interesting), but this installment more than made up for that!

First: Verity! And Dominic!
Second; I loved the fact that this takes place during a dancing reality TV show. It's just so absurd, it's perfect.
Third: Grandma Alice. We finally get to meet Grandma Alice and I adore and love her to bits.

This book is a bit darker than the previous books. There's a serial murderer/snake cultist killing off Verity's fellow contestants, which leads to some pretty macabre scenes. But at the same time, it's also light-hearted in the way that this series is. Verity is flippant, and less serious than brother Alex. Also, dance competition - ripe for drama, even without knowing several of the contests aren't human. Also, the Aeslin mice make an appearance, and they're always a hoot.

Last: THAT ENDING. OH. MY. GOD. I'm seriously looking forward to the next book now to see how that fallout plays out. OH MY GOD.

I love this series and appreciate the chance to revisit before the Hugo voting - I've been buying the earlier books slowly. I like the switch to Alex, who's a more level-headed type than Verity, but the plot in this one is a bit rushed for me. A good lead-in to the next installment, though.

I absolutely adored this book, which was both a bit of a delightful surprise and the first step in laying a foundation of affection for everything that comes after this!

This book returns the POV to Verity. She is given an offer she really doesn’t want to refuse, a callback to do a reunion show on Dance or Die. With the chance to dance in the spotlights one more time and maybe retire her dancer persona for good. Dominic and the mice head out to California with her as backup and the often talked about but never seen Grandmother Alice also shows up. It turns out there is a snake cult working behind the scenes at the competition and to lose is to die by the hands of the cult after the camera shuts off. Will Verity win? Will she defeat the snake cult? Only turning the pages and reading to the end will tell. The ending will have you reaching for the next book and maybe hitting the writer’s website for more info on her family.