Discount Armageddon

InCryptid, Book 1

By: Seanan McGuire

Narrated by: Emily Bauer

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

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....

©2012 Seanan McGuire (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

unmet unintentional promises

a crypto zoologist who would rather danve, a monster Hunter confronting a new reality, and a New York populated by some stranger piddle than your average New Yorker.

Seanan McGuire introduces us to a world where evolution has far many branches than we know and humans only believes they are the only sentient on Earth. she gives us a world where each cryptid plays a part in an ecology we are unaware of. it's part zoological studies and part adventure and a missing part.

the title of the book, as well as each chapter quotes, are given in such a way as to promise a level of levity I didn't see. and while the adventure parts are entertaining, the regular interruption to provide crypto zoological information was disruptive. and the dance aspect to Verity's character felt like it was given too much attention for something used mainly as a back story element.

Good

This audiobook is well done. A good story with interesting characters. The story develops well. There is drama, humor, and sad parts. The supporting characters enhance the story without taking over. This audiobook had two firsts for me. It is the first book by the author and reader I have encountered. Emily Bauer's reading enhanced my enjoyment. Her voice fit the main character well. A fun book.

Great start of a series!

I liked this book so much that I've already bought the next in the series

Verity is a likable protagonist and there was plenty of humor and action. It's an easy, fluffy listen that kept me thoroughly engaged.

Narrator

Sounds like a child-pleasant but too babyish. Couldn’t finish even though I love Seanan McGuire!

Buffy the Ballroom Dancer takes Manhattan, sort of

A fun and escapist new take on urban fantasy with some great plot twists. I keep wanting to say "bouncy," perhaps because the pert blond heroine bounces over the roofs of the city as she free-runs from place to place. The free-running and a back story that includes a stint on a reality TV show are a few of the elements that make this book feel very timely--the action is happening now, in 20teens America.

As for the urban fantasy--the talking mice and the cuckoo are just the best of the delightful new fantasy creatures in the Cryptid world. Also excellent is the casting of Emily Bauer to read this book. Her voice makes Verity Price come alive, completely and perfectly.

The universe, plot fun and pacing, and narrator are why I give this book 4 stars.

Discount Armageddon includes lots of talk of ecology and evolution; no mention so far in the series of any gods or religions beyond those of snake cults and the talking mice. Saint Patrick is mentioned, though only in association with the bad guys. So, magic, and monsters, but no mysticism... except that of the sacred vow of the bad guys... I hope there's not going to be a "science=good/religion=evil" theme as this series continues... boring. (And semantic).

Less gritty than Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series (which, set in the future, is more dystopian), Discount Armageddon's love story also lacks (as of book one) the emotional depth of Andrews' series. Rather obvious hookups occur between physically attractive characters because...um....they're hot? And hot people just automatically have amazing chemistry and deep connections...? More depth, please. I like escapism, but my disbelief can only be suspended so far.

Great title, except that the book didn't actually involve any Armageddon. I guess "Discount Secret History/Urban Fantasy" just doesn't have the same ring... and "InCryptid"... I have to wonder if McGuire made up this entire series just so she could use that pun.

I also could have done without the sexual themes and nudity. The heroine works as a cocktail waitress in a strip club and is frequently described--in great detail--in skimpy, sexy outfits (reminded me of Sucker Punch). She makes all the moves on the Obvious Love Interest, and the kissing scenes are also described in detail. But then as the intimacy rises, McGuire fades the scene to black. I don't get it--gratuitous descriptions of scantily clad women, yet barely-there sex scenes? (Much less detailed than in the Kate Daniels series). I don't think there's a decent plot reason to have to heroine work at the club to begin with, and it doesn't empower any of the female characters--all the club adds to the book is another clever name and lots of female nudity. But, even if there are plot reasons for the strip club I missed... why all the focus on describing the wardrobe? What's the point? To teach women that we have the power to kick butt and take names, as long as we're also scantily clad and ready to have sex at any second with any available hottie?

Well, I knew from the genre that there would be sex in this book--I just wish it was as easy to fast-forward an audiobook over the parts I want to skip as it is to skim in a regular book!

I'll continue reading the series as long as it continues to offer light, escapist action. I give it 4 stars because it was a great listen with a good variety of tense and less tense scenes, and for the aforementioned plot twists and creative creatures.

Story is good but prefer it on print

This was a fun start to the series. I loved Verity's narrative voice and sarcastic attitude, although I did find her non-stop references and comparisons to ballroom dancing a little annoying after a bit. I did not, however, enjoy the narrator for the audiobook very much. While she did a good job of voicing Verity, most of her other voices bothered me, especially the one she used for Dominic. As a whole, I enjoyed reading the book in print far more than listening to it. If I decide to continue with the series, it will be in print format.

A great new action hero

I am a huge fan of the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire, so I've long had this series on my to-read list. Discount Armageddon did not disappoint, even though it is COMPLETELY different.

The combination of girlie girl and savvy warrior that makes up Verity Price, the protagonist, is a winner. Her smart, spunky personality make the book a really fun read. As per any Seanan McGuire book, her exploits take place in a carefully crafted fantasy world. I think the science/fantasy blend of her crypto-zoology is a particularly clever angle.

One small criticism regarding this book was there there is quite a bit of repetition about character backgrounds and creature descriptions. It is not so much to be irritating, but enough to be noticeable, or maybe it was more pronounced because I listened to the audio book.

Regardless, this is a really fun world that is chock full of interesting characters and critters. I can't wait to delve further with the other books of the series.

Bought by mistake

I wasn't being careful and accidentally bought this thinking it was another book in another series. However, I'm actually very glad that I did. It's not anything special, but it is good solid storytelling. Good way to spend a few hours.

Mostly corny and unoriginal.

The premises​ is rather cookie cutter with only the odd ball fasciinallroom with ballroom dancing .

Chick-Flick MiB with mythical monsters not aliens.

Would you listen to Discount Armageddon again? Why?

I do not usually reread books ever. Maybe in a few years and i feel like going through my library again, no promises.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The protagonist would be the favorite, considering it is a first person book, it is easy to understand the main character. Plus shes sassy.

Which scene was your favorite?

The rats act all silly and are a bit amusing. They are not overdone so something that could be annoying is just mildly amusing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really anything. There is some Romeo and Juliet like romance. I guess people would like that.

Any additional comments?

It is an amusing book. I am not going to complain about realism in a book with monsters in it. It does get silly at times but I did enjoy it. I might eventually pick up the next book. You can buy it cheap if you combine it with the kindle version. Save your credits for something more expensive.