Review: Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire

Half-Off Ragnarok

Author: Seanan McGuire

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Publisher: DAW

InCryptid Book #3

ISBN:   0756408113

ISBN13: 9780756408114

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Publisher

When Alex Price agreed to go to Ohio to oversee a basilisk breeding program and assist in the recovery of his psychic cousin, he didn't expect people to start dropping dead. But bodies are cropping up at the zoo where he works, and his girlfriend—Shelby Tanner, an Australian zoologist with a fondness for big cats—is starting to get suspicious.

Worse yet, the bodies have all been turned partially to stone...

The third book in the InCryptid series takes us to a new location and a new member of the family, as Alex tries to balance life, work, and the strong desire not to become a piece of garden statuary. Old friends and new are on the scene, and danger lurks around every corner.

Of course, so do the talking mice.

No Verity? WAHHHH. That was my first reaction when I saw the blurb for HALF-OFF RAGNAROK. Don't be alarmed though, we get to meet Alex her brother and his love interest Shelby who ends up being way more than expected. We also have a new set of Aeslin mice! They are not in the book as much as Verity's but they are still fun. Sarah also happens to be a secondary character in HALF-OFF RAGNAROK. She is still not the same Sarah but she is starting to heal and I have hope she will be back to normal in future books.

Alex comes off as a bit of a (ok a big) nerd. He is more of a scientist and he talks like one. He is working in the Reptile House at the zoo, he's studying the local frogs, and trying to keep his girlfriend around even though he has to keep canceling dates on her and now people are showing up dead and he needs to find out who or what is responsible before more are lost.

I didn't find Alex AS exciting as Verity but he was still entertaining and fun to learn about. Shelby ended up really surprising me. She came out of left field and rolled with every punch thrown her way. Dee, Alex's assistant happens to be a Gorgon and let me tell ya! They are pretty darn cool. Alex's Grandparents were also great secondary characters. There is nothing like watching Granny pull a gun on someone, even if she is a Johrlac.

The great thing about Seanan McGuire is that she can change characters but still keep the story smooth and consistent with the series. She did great with continuing to teach us about the InCryptid world and the different species involved. Everything with Alex and Shelby felt wrapped up by the end of book 3 so now the only question I have left after reading HALF-OFF RAGNAROK is who will be the main character in POCKET APOCALYPSE? Will we meet the third sibling maybe?

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.