Author: Seanan McGuire
Publisher: DAW Books
Page count/Size: 352pp
Release date: 6 Mar 2012
Reviewer: Theresa Derwin
The first of the ‘Incryptid’ novels by Seanan McGuire a.k.a Mira Grant, Discount Armageddon is a fun ride into a brand new urban fantasy environment.
From an early age Verity was trained to protect herself and fear the things in the dark. Verity is a member of the Price family, a family of cryptozoologists (the study of unknown or mythical creatures such as Bigfoot or lamias) who have abandoned their previous role working for the Covenant, the equivalent of the Spanish Inquisition.
But cryptid relations and threatening beasties to leave town isn’t all that Verity wants to do. From a little girl she dreamt of being a ballroom dancer, so in between fights with lizard men and other ghouls, she salsas, ballroom dances and waits tables.
The first in the series starts with a ghoul apparently stalking New York and kidnapping/eating single young girls who have been going missing from the cryptid community. Fifteen girls have been taken from the Manhattan Club scene and Verity is on the trail of the monster, determined to stop the disappearances and punish the fiend.
Apart from a few editorial issues, this book is top notch.
There is Buffyesque action, a dash of romance from the Covenant representative Dominic, guest monsters from most genres, a chorus of singing mice who share Verity’s apartment and a good dollop of humour.
This is a tightly written, neatly paced adventure by a top female author who should be recognised for her brimming talent.