3 of 5 Stars to Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Half-Off Ragnarok is the third book in urban fantasy giant Seanan McGuire's InCryptic series. The book gives us yet another perspective shift, this time narrated by Alex Price, Verity's brother. While Half-Off Ragnarok was a reasonably fun read, it didn't fulfill my expectations.
Alex is a herpetologist and cryptozoologist working in the snake house at a zoo in Ohio. When his assistant is found dead and partially turned to stone, Alex worries that the cryptids he was studying got loose. The truth, of course, is much more sinister, and he and his annoyingly Australian girlfriend investigate. Alex is not nearly as likable or interesting as Verity, who narrated the first book and a half in the series. The rest of the family - Sarah, who is recuperating from the brain damage she suffered after saving Verity in the last InCryptid book; and Sarah's fantastically imagined and truly entertaining parents - are much more likable than either Alex or the girlfriend. The plot itself was a bit thin and I still have no idea what the title has to do with the story.
Half-Off Ragnarok was a fun, fast read, but ultimately did not do much for me. I have high expectations after the first two books in the series and this was a let-down. This is worth reading for the sake of continuity for InCryptid readers, but it failed to meet the usual McGuire standard.
2.5 Stars
Read this review and more on The Library Lass Book Talk Blog.