Incryptid, Book 1
Synopsis: Ghoulies. Ghosties. Long-legged beasties. Things that go bump in the night… The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity-and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she’d rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan while she pursues her career in professional ballroom dance. Sounds pretty simple, right? It would be, if it weren’t for the talking mice, the telepathic mathematicians, the asbestos supermodels, and the trained monster-hunter sent by the Price family’s old enemies, the Covenant of St. George. When a Price girl meets a Covenant boy, high stakes, high heels, and a lot of collateral damage are almost guaranteed. To complicate matters further, local cryptids are disappearing, strange lizard-men are appearing in the sewers, and someone’s spreading rumors about a dragon sleeping underneath the city…
Review: I’m a big fan of the October Daye series and when Seanan McGuire announced her new urban fantasy series, it did not take me long to get the first book. The synopsis immediately intrigued me as the novel seemed to have all sorts of supernatural creatures and a world that I had not yet had the opportunity to discover in other novels.
We discover Verity, a descendant of an almost mythical family. Her ancestors have betrayed the Convent to protect humans and Cryptids, making them criminals. Indeed, the Convent is trying to exterminate all creatures that are not human and it makes no difference if they can protect themselves or not. So that makes them enemies forever. But Verity lives alone in Manhattan, working in a club as a waitress at night and as a professional dancer under another identity when she can. In addition, she monitors Cryptids and mixes with them. She takes her job as a dancer very seriously, a life shared with the one as a crypto zoologist. Everything is almost ok until the day when Dominique De Luca, a member of the Convent, comes in her city to carry out a purge. Nothing could anger more our heroine, especially when people start to disappear and she strongly suspects this young man to be behind this. But when rumors of the existence of a real dragon sleeping under the city spreads, Verity will have to manage many bigger problems.
I was totally blown away by the book and the ideas of the author. Many species are presented here, even some that we can not suspect and I was always curious to find out what was behind each character. I must say they all have a human aspect for the most part and we do not suspect what they are capable of. I think the cutest are the mice, okay they must be super annoying, but I loved them and their celebrations! I always wanted more to know about their next ideas. Because it must be said that they are always incredible.
I confess that between all these species I did not know about, it was initially a little difficult to locate everything, and we need a little time to really understand and assimilate what happens. But once it is done, we can read the book quite easily.
Our two main characters are a delight to follow as well. Verity is a young woman determined to live two lives. And dancing is constantly there in her words or in her way of fighting which was nice to see, or to imagine some of her fights. Dominique is a person totally opposed to her, which is suddenly quite funny when they discover who they are. It will take a little time for him to understand that things aren’t black or white, but there are shades of gray everywhere. I think this volume begins a reflection about what he has always been taught and this will be featured gradually in the coming volumes. I look forward to learn more about him, or even about Verity and her family. Especially as we approached them a bit too, which heightens our curiosity.
This is a very good first book, and I can tell you that book 2 and 3 were also really great.
Christy
That is EXACTLY what I’d wear while fighting baddies. lol. Seriously though, I’m liking the sound of this one.
Melliane
LOL it must be so easy to wear something like that.
blodeuedd
I still have not read book 3 :/
Melliane
It was a nice one but sad we don’t have Verity
Jennifer Bielman
Well the cover is pretty kickass and you are making this book sound very good. I am tempted!
Melliane
yes it’s a really good series!
Chene Sterckx
Oooh my interest is piqued 🙂 The cover is so catching and this book sounds amazing!! I hope I’ll get to check it out sometime 🙂
Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are.
Melliane
It’s so good, I really loved it!
Tracy Terry
Alas despite what was a great review I’m afraid I’m not drawn to this in any way.
Thanks to Christy for a comment that made me laugh. I often look at covers and think yeah practical wear for vampire etc hunting.
And on that subject why is it that these covers often feature such perfect muscle bound and generally bare chested male specimens and petite women with long nails which are totally impractical for using the powerful weapon they are all too often holding?
Melliane
I’m sorry it’s not for you. That’s true, it’s terrible mainly as she doesn’t wear things like that in the novel. I think they attract people for most of the time so they stay with them.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
I keep meaning to give Seanan McGuire’s books a try, but I didn’t add this one to my wishlist because I thought Cryptids were aliens, and I’m not a fan. But, apparently I was mistaken, so thanks for clearing at up. Plus, who doesn’t love cute mice? Hehe Happy Friday! 🙂
Melliane
nope no aliens don’t worry. You should definitely try her, I love her books. The mice are just awesome!
Tanja
I have never heard of this one but just the fact that this book has so many creatures is really interesting. I’m curious about the mice. I have never seen them in books. Great review, Melliane 🙂
Melliane
yes I loved that fact too. And the mice are super awesome!
Joy (Joyousreads)
Oh wow. Such a well-conceived novel. If I were a fan of this genre, I won’t even hesitate to pick it up.
I hope the rest of the book will be even better!
Melliane
they’re all great for now!
kindlemom1
I really need to try this author especially is you love their books so darn much!
Great review! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Melliane
yes she is so good! I love all her books!
Jessica @ Rabid Reads
Oh, oh! I love this book too! Well, really I love anything by Seanan McGuire 😉 I’m glad you loved it too, Melliane! Lovely review 😉
Melliane
yes isn’t she awesome?
Livia @ Butterfly-o-Meter Books
Uoh, the cover looks so naughty schoolgirl badass, doesn’t it? 😀
I love how the worldbuilding sounds, and with awesome MCs plus lots of cool elements, clearly I’m getting this one on my wishlist 😀
Melliane
lol totally! Yes everything is perfect!
Lily B
oh I have not read her other series, but it sounds like this one is off to an excellent start 😀 how exciting. and a lot of different species? yes please.
Melliane
the 2 series are so good! Oh yes many many ones!
Melissa (Books and Things)
I’ve only read a novella by the author but I loved it. I so need to get into all her series. This one is on my must read list and I think I’ll have to move it up that list!
Melliane
you definitely need to try her books! they’re really good
Kim { Book Swoon }
Oooh this one sounds interesting, and I haven’t read anything by Seanan McGuire yet…Have a wonderful weekend, Melliane! 🙂
LilyElement
I had issues with all the different types being mentioned. Didn’t figure out there was a glossary of them in the back until after I was done lol
Amir
That cover is very eye-catching! It gives you an impression of a really strong female who likes to dress in style lol.
The premise sounds interesting too, will def check this out 🙂 Great review Melliane!
Stephanie Faris
I have to say, that cover just jumps out at you. I would pick it up and read the back of it if I saw it on a bookshelf. I’m not sure it’s my type of story, though.
ShootingStarsMag
I really want to read more urban fantasy. I’m so bad with keeping up with series though. I’m glad you really liked this one. It sounds like a lot of fun!
michelle A - Novels On The Run
So glad you loved this one. I came across the October Daye series the other ..err… day, heheee and I noted it down with a bunch of other series I need to read and request at my library. I have challenged myself to get some more UF series under my belt. So many great authors I am missing out on.
If I could magically be a character in the genre of my choice I would choose UF. I just love chicks who are kickass.
I got my hands on Night Broken – Patricia Briggs from my library and am 1/3 way through at moment 😀 Making sure I keep up to date with the UF series I have under my belt :d
Mich
Melliane
I love the October Daye series, it’s so good! better than this one even. Good luck for the challenge!
I agree I so love UF books and their characters. I can’t wait to see your review about it.
Kirsty-Marie
Got to say, I like that there’s a gun in her hand because covers with that are badass but the clothes, haha! I love books with diverse supernatural creatures instead of juinfocusing on the one (and because of that, it kind of reminds me of The Demon Trapper series) It’s fun though when you see the characters two different lives, the normal and then the supernatural (reminds me of Buffy) and you know, I have a soft spot for the name Verity since it’s also the name of one of my characters that I’m writing. 🙂
Melliane
really? that’s awesome! I didn’t know you were writing!
kara-karina
The mice, the mice!!! I LOVE them! Best characters by far in this series, D. So glad you loved it just as much. I think I know where he got the idea for the mice. Men in Black 2 has a very similar scene… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJLeBM6-AaM
Melliane
oh yes that’s true, you’re right, I love this scene!
Mogsy
This has piqued my interest! I have only read the stuff she wrote as Mira Grant – FEED as well as PARASITE. Not sure her horror/sci-fi is my thing, so I’ve always wanted to try her urban fantasy to see if it suits me better, either start this one or her other series!
Melliane
I love her October series so much, you should really try it, even if book 1 isn’t that awesome, the others are perfect.
aurian
I am glad you loved it so much Melliane, but after reading the first book, this series is not for me.