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Available
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DAW
Description
The seventh book in the funny and fast-paced InCryptid urban fantasy series returns to the mishaps of the Price family, eccentric cryptozoologists who safeguard the world of magical creatures living in secret among humans. Includes an all-new Aeslin mice novella and a map of Lowryland! Penance, noun: 1. Punishment for past actions. 2. An attempt to pay for what can't be bought. 3. See also "exile." Antimony Price is on the run. With the Covenant on her tail and her family still in danger, she needs to get far, far away from anyone who might recognize her--including her own mice. For the first time in a long time, a Price is flying without a safety net. Where do you go when you need to disappear into a crowd without worrying about attracting attention? An amusement park, of course. Some people would call Lowryland the amusement park. It's one of the largest in Florida, the keystone of the Lowry entertainment empire...but for Annie, it's a place to hide. She's just trying to keep her head down long enough to come up with a plan that will get her home without getting anyone killed. No small order when she's rooming with gorgons and sylphs, trying to placate frustrated ghosts, and rushing to get to work on time. Then the accidents begin. The discovery of a dead man brings Annie to the attention of the secret cabal of magic users running Lowryland from behind the scenes. They want the fire that sleeps in her fingers. They want her on their side. They want to help her--although their help, like everything else, comes with a price. No plan. Minimal backup. No way out. Annie's about to get a crash course in the reality behind the pretty facade. If she's lucky, she'll survive the experience.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member readinggeek451
Antimony Price is hiding from the Covenant of St. George in a theme park in Florida (but not the one you're thinking of), where the sheer mass of humanity can keep her safe. She can't go home without endangering her family, but she does have friends with her. And she may have even found someone to
Recommended.
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help her control her magic. But then the accidents begin.Recommended.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the seventh book in the InCryptid series a was a wonderful continuation of the InCryptid series. This book continues to follow Antimony Price and her adventures.
While Antimony isn't my favorite character follow in this series, I did think this was the best book about her yet and I really,
I loved the new characters introduced; Annie’s roommates are a slyph and a gorgon and both were highly entertaining. I loved the mystery, the plot, and the deep dive into amusement park life. I also really enjoyed all the luck magic that comes into play.
This book ties in with Sparrow Hill Road some; Rose is in the story a bit and there is a lot of discussion about the Crossroads and those that make deals at them. I assume some of this will tie into the second book of The Ghost Roads series, The Girl in the Green Silk Gown, which is supposed to release in July 2018. I loved learning more about the Crossroads as well.
McGuire always does an excellent job of balancing world-building, engaging characters, action, and mystery. She is amazingly talented and writes stories that are smart, entertaining, and highly creative. She continues to be one of my favorite authors.
Overall this was an amazing continuation of the InCryptid series. I still love the October Daye series more than this one, but the InCryptids series is nearly as good. I will definitely be picking up the next Ghost Roads books and continue to look forward to new books in both the October Daye and the InCryptid series.
While Antimony isn't my favorite character follow in this series, I did think this was the best book about her yet and I really,
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really enjoyed it. We finally get to see more of Antimony’s magic and watch as she struggles to learn to control it. I loved the new characters introduced; Annie’s roommates are a slyph and a gorgon and both were highly entertaining. I loved the mystery, the plot, and the deep dive into amusement park life. I also really enjoyed all the luck magic that comes into play.
This book ties in with Sparrow Hill Road some; Rose is in the story a bit and there is a lot of discussion about the Crossroads and those that make deals at them. I assume some of this will tie into the second book of The Ghost Roads series, The Girl in the Green Silk Gown, which is supposed to release in July 2018. I loved learning more about the Crossroads as well.
McGuire always does an excellent job of balancing world-building, engaging characters, action, and mystery. She is amazingly talented and writes stories that are smart, entertaining, and highly creative. She continues to be one of my favorite authors.
Overall this was an amazing continuation of the InCryptid series. I still love the October Daye series more than this one, but the InCryptids series is nearly as good. I will definitely be picking up the next Ghost Roads books and continue to look forward to new books in both the October Daye and the InCryptid series.
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LibraryThing member STACYatUFI
I gave it 3.5 stars
TRICKS FOR TRADE was a bit slow in the beginning. Antimony finds herself isolated after the events of MAGIC FOR NOTHING force her into hiding. On her own she has to find a way to make money so she can eat and sleep somewhere other than the side of the road. Lowryland might not be
A lot happens in TRICKS FOR TRADE. It's all connected, but a lot of crap falls on Annie's shoulders. Thankfully she doesn't find herself as alone as she expected. I really enjoyed the introduction of the new characters that are now a part of Annie's 'crew'.
One thing that doesn't happen is anything having to do with the Covenant of St. George storyline. Having it so heavy in the last book and not having anything happen with it in TRICKS FOR FREE was a little odd. I also realllllly missed the mice.
I still find her relationship with Sam a little weird. I'm just not in love with 'them' and it makes it hard to really get into those parts of the story.
I can't say that Antimony is my favorite Price sibling, but I still enjoy reading about her adventures. Having said that, I wouldn't be disappointed if there wasn't a lot more books with her as the main character unless something drastic happens. I guess we will see what comes next.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
TRICKS FOR TRADE was a bit slow in the beginning. Antimony finds herself isolated after the events of MAGIC FOR NOTHING force her into hiding. On her own she has to find a way to make money so she can eat and sleep somewhere other than the side of the road. Lowryland might not be
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the circus, but a chance encounter with someone from her past gets her a job there. Unfortunately she might not be as safe there as she expected.A lot happens in TRICKS FOR TRADE. It's all connected, but a lot of crap falls on Annie's shoulders. Thankfully she doesn't find herself as alone as she expected. I really enjoyed the introduction of the new characters that are now a part of Annie's 'crew'.
One thing that doesn't happen is anything having to do with the Covenant of St. George storyline. Having it so heavy in the last book and not having anything happen with it in TRICKS FOR FREE was a little odd. I also realllllly missed the mice.
I still find her relationship with Sam a little weird. I'm just not in love with 'them' and it makes it hard to really get into those parts of the story.
I can't say that Antimony is my favorite Price sibling, but I still enjoy reading about her adventures. Having said that, I wouldn't be disappointed if there wasn't a lot more books with her as the main character unless something drastic happens. I guess we will see what comes next.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Antimony is on the run from the Covenant of St. George - so she goes undercover in a completely different environment. Where she meets some more cryptids...and some much more dangerous beings. Ghosts play a strong part; so does her sort-of boyfriend Sam. Actually, he plays more of a part than she
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wants him to. There's some major twists to what we - and she - know about the world and people in it - and about Antimony herself and her abilities. Things will get even more interesting from here on out... The novella at the end is rather neat - the adventures of a couple mice, from their own point of view. Nice to see how they think about things, after having been on the edges of the story so much. Show Less
LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
I like the Incryptid series, but some of the books are darker and more toward the horror end of things than I generally read, so they’re not on my “constant reread” list like, say, the Toby books. However, Tricks For Free seems, while not exactly light, at least somewhat less tense than the
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last few books, more focused on Antimony and her relationships with her friends and family. There’s still action and adventure and meeting new cryptids and running (or in Annie’s case, skating) for one’s life, but I guess it seems more localized and less like the whole world is about to come crashing down. Even though it still could. Show Less
LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
This is not the book to start the series with since it would mostly ruin everything that has come before. Antimony is on the run from the Covenant after they figured out she was spying on them. Knowing they can track her she runs from her family and decides to hide in a large crowd instead.
With everything that is going on what the story and plot do revolve around is luck. When you have it and why you have it. The plot does hinge on luck and it is explained in a great way. Overall another great read in this series but by no means the end of the story. Now to wait until the next one comes out.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley
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Lowryland is much like other amusement parks in FL, large, crowded and employing lots of people. Annie does get a bit of good luck and scores a job there along with some cryptid roommates including someone from her roller derby days. With everything that is going on what the story and plot do revolve around is luck. When you have it and why you have it. The plot does hinge on luck and it is explained in a great way. Overall another great read in this series but by no means the end of the story. Now to wait until the next one comes out.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley
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LibraryThing member lavaturtle
I really liked this book! It was nice to see some more character development for Antimony, as well as some more involvement of the ghost-ier parts of the Incryptid universe. I was so relieved that all Antimony's friends were still alive at the end !
The novella at the end was also cute.
The novella at the end was also cute.
LibraryThing member unsquare
Antimony is on the run from the covenant as well as hiding from her family, so she goes to ground and goes undercover as an employee at LowryLand, a Disney-like theme park with equally soul-destroying working conditions.
It wouldn’t be an InCryptid novel if she wasn’t surrounded by cryptids and
When Antimony runs afoul of magic users in the park, she jumps at the chance when one of them offers to teach her how to control her magic. Everything seems great until strange, unexplained accidents start happening around the park and Antimony decides to investigate even though it might blow her cover.
This was yet another highly enjoyable entry in the InCryptid series. I did get a little frustrated late in the book when it felt like the characters were constantly rushing into danger without much of a plan, but it wasn’t enough to kill my momentum. The ending sets up further complications that will surely pay off with dividends in the third Antimony book, That Ain’t Witchcraft.
It wouldn’t be an InCryptid novel if she wasn’t surrounded by cryptids and
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the supernatural. Her dead aunt Mary hangs around to make sure she’s safe, and her roommates are a sylph and a gorgon. She doesn’t have her mice or her boyfriend Sam, but plenty of weird stuff keeps happening around her no matter what she does and how much she tries to hide.When Antimony runs afoul of magic users in the park, she jumps at the chance when one of them offers to teach her how to control her magic. Everything seems great until strange, unexplained accidents start happening around the park and Antimony decides to investigate even though it might blow her cover.
This was yet another highly enjoyable entry in the InCryptid series. I did get a little frustrated late in the book when it felt like the characters were constantly rushing into danger without much of a plan, but it wasn’t enough to kill my momentum. The ending sets up further complications that will surely pay off with dividends in the third Antimony book, That Ain’t Witchcraft.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Delightful newest installment in the InCryptid series. Nice to see Antimony creating a posse of friends and trouble. Interesting to learn about how Seanan McGuire would build an amusement park. Yep, excellent.
Original publication date
2018-03-06
Local notes
InCryptid, 7
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF McGuire |