Book 13 of the InCryptis series. This one is told from the POV of Mary Dunlavy, the ghost babysitter. She narrates how the Covenant of St George has launched a full-out attack on the Prices and on the cryptids of New York. Although this is supposed to be about the war the major theme of the book is grief. There is a lot of discussion about the different ways people grieve and how to process grief which frankly slows down the story. I found this one a bit of a slog compared to previous books. I hope McGuire picks up the pace in the next one.

book read 9/23/2024 ( )

Incryptid is my favorite series, and I'm always excited to read the next book. And at the beginning of this one, we're in an interesting place where the plots of the last several books are finally meeting up and everyone is back together again -- what happens next? Well, a lot of things, most of them bad. Mary is an interesting narrator, because she's connected to everyone, but usually kind of on the sidelines, not part of the main plot or driving the action. Ultimately, that means she has to get creative about how she can get involved in things, which is neat to see. Also, I always love to see more of the ghost parts of the setting.

This is very much part 1 of a two-book plot, and the ending leaves a whole lot unanswered about how things turned out and where the future will take us. I wish I didn't have to wait a year to find out! ( )

TW/CW: Violence, death, fantasy violence, discussion of grief and loss

RATING: 4/5

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book NetGalley and DAW and am voluntarily writing an honest review.

Aftermarket Afterlife is the 13th book in Seanan McGuire’s InCryptid series, which follows a family of cryptozoologists and the creatures they fight and protect.

This book is a solid entry in that series, following the Prices’ long time ghost!babysitter Mary Dunleavy.

Compared to the other books in the series, this book is pretty dark. There are some shocking moments that I definitely didn’t see coming, and some losses that really hit hard. Because Mary is a ghost, there’s a lot of talk of death and the book deals a great deal with grief and loss. Like all the rest of McGuire’s books, though, this book is very well written and keeps the reader enthralled. This is a great addition to the series and I definitely recommend it to fans of urban fiction! ( )

The InCryptid series has twice been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Series, and Aftermarket Afterlife proves why this is still one of the best and most popular series running.
Mary Dunlavy has been the Price family babysitter for generations. She doesn't have trouble keeping up with her charges even though they are scattered across the country (and sometimes across dimensions) because, well, she's a ghost. Just as the Price family is all back together, including Alice and her decades-lost husband, the Covenant of St. George launches an all out attack on the Prices and the cryptid community in North America.

The Price family and allies are outmanned and very much in danger. It's going to take a lot of skill and some clever thinking to survive this. Mary Dunlavy is facing a question she's never had to ponder before: What happens to a babysitting ghost if all the people she's supposed to protect are gone?

Each book in the InCryptid series tells a complete story and is told from one viewpoint character. I've jumped around a bit in the series so I was familiar with all the characters and a lot of the history, but most people will want to read the series in order. This world is filled with many fascinating cryptid races and familiarity with them builds throughout the series as well.

Mary Dunlavy is an interesting viewpoint character, both in relation to her powers and duties as a babysitting ghost and in her history with the Crossroads. Her ability to move to her charges in different parts of the country allow for direct interaction with many individual family members that is not always possible in some of the other novels. Her knowledge and abilities are a huge asset even considering her limitations compared to some of the other family members.

Seanan McGuire is such a skilled writer that her style pulls you deeply and effortlessly into this world. Her characters are varied but relatable, particularly in their passion and determination. Ruminations on life and death, particularly from a ghost, offer a unique perspective.

There is plenty of thrilling action and the pace moves along briskly. With the escalation of war with the Covenant, there is less levity in this story than some of the others along with some truly devastating heartbreak. The book tells a complete story, but there are still loose ends and consequences to be dealt with in the future.

I do enjoy spending any time I can with the Aeslin mice, which belong on the Mount Rushmore of greatest literary creatures ever invented.

Another great entry in an outstanding series.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. ( )

Every time I read a new book in the Incryptid series I think, "this is the best one yet!" But Aftermarket Afterlife really IS the best one yet. This series is fast, fun, and funny; it follows a family dedicated to studying and preserving Cryptids - magical and mythical creatures that live around us but hidden, trying to survive in our modern world. Complicating that is the Covenant of St. George, an organization dedicated to their extermination.

Aftermarket Afterlife is the 13th book in the series, and is told from the POV of Mary Dunlavy, the ghost who's been the babysitter for the Price family for 80 years. It's a time of upheaval for the family, as members are reunited for the first time in decades, at the same time as the Covenant makes a huge offensive strike. Mary's only purpose for 80 years has been to protect the children of her adopted family and keep them all safe, and now she's being truly tested. What's a ghost to do?

Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Heartbreaks: All of them ( )