Reflections by Seanan McGuire

October 31st, 2018 Kimberly Review 33 Comments

31st Oct
Reflections by Seanan McGuire
Reflections
by Seanan McGuire
Series: Indexing, #2
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

The struggle against not-so-charming storybook narratives isn’t the only complicating factor in Henrietta “Henry” Marchen’s life. As part of the ATI Management Bureau team protecting the world from fairy tales gone awry, she’s juggling her unwanted new status as a Snow White, dealing with a potentially dangerous Pied Piper, and wrangling a most troublesome wicked stepsister—along with a budding relationship with Jeff, her teammate.

But when a twisted, vicious Cinderella breaks out of prison and wreaks havoc, things go from disenchanted to deadly. And once Henry realizes someone is trying to use her to destroy the world, her story becomes far from over—and this one might not have a happily ever after.

Indexing: Reflections is New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire’s continuing new urban fantasy, where everything you thought you knew about fairy tales gets turned on its head.

twisted urban smartfunny Fairy Tale

I read Indexing by Seanan McGuire previously and loved the story from the concept to the inspiration behind it. A secret agency that stops the narrative in fairytales. I somehow missed Reflections the second book and quickly scooped it up on Kindle Unlimited. Gads it was great fun to be back stopping villains with this motley crew of ATI agents!

It was brilliant to be back with Henry, Jeff, Sloane, Andy, and Demi  at the ATI Management Bureau. Wait until you meet the new characters, Ciara, Piotr, and Carlos.

If you haven’t read either Indexing or Reflections, let me give you a few facts. Both were originally sold as serials on Amazon. Each week you’d get a new installment. Unlike some serials that are bogged down with recap material these were delivered seamlessly. It was as if I set the book down and picked it back up a week later. This is how I devoured Indexing. If all serials were delivered like this, I would be a fan. Anyway back to these books. In this urban fantasy series, people are born and selected to be a part of a fairytale narrative. Henrietta was born to be a Snow White, Demi a Pied-piper. The agency is made up of agents who are, the Evil Stepsister, the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood etc. The difference is that these agents  have managed to avoid their narrative or altered it. In the field they prevent other narratives from manifesting, fix the damage, or pick up the pieces after an occurrence.  What follows are cases involving mischief, murder and mayhem as the narrative tries to outwit them.

In the first book, Henry (Henrietta) and her team took on a crazed fairy tale character with ideas of grandeur. It almost cost the team everything, but they came out stronger and in Reflections they will need every ounce of their strength and teamenship. While I loved the storyline, it is the characters who made these stories. Snarky Sloane who will try to kill you before admitting she cares and sweet Jeff who loves his Snow White. I loved the way this team interacted from jabs to jams. How do you trust a partner who could turn into their narrative at any moment or one who has? McGuire made it all feel very believable.

“For her to love me, she had to be willing to kill me. Anything else would show that her heart was untrue.”

In the back of the book, McGuire mention two things, that she never intended to write a second serial of this storyline but that people kept asking and she realized she wanted to know too. I am kind of excited she left enough of an opening to write more in this world as I’d like to revisit. The second was the reference book,  Aarne-Thompson Index of Motifs in Folk Literature on which the story is based. Once you read the Indexing series, you’ll never look at fairy tales or folklore the same. Remember when you read Grimm’s original versions…yep it’s like that.

I have mad love for this author, her twisted brilliant mind and her ability to pull me into the worlds she creates. I truly hope we get to visit these characters again.

Join the ATI Management Bureau and it's agents as they try to outwit the fairytale narrative and save the world in Reflections by Seanan McGuire #fantasy #KU #SnowWhite Share on X

 

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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33 Responses to “Reflections by Seanan McGuire”

  10. Heidi

    I remember when Indexing came out, I never got around to it. Now that I am freer to read what I want, it is time I did it. Thanks for the reminder. Sounds like a series I will love.

  12. Olivia Roach

    OH. MY. GOODNESS. Where has this series been all my life? This is so the series for me. It’s got fairytales, it’s got darkness and it sounds so wonderfully twisted. I know I am going to want to read this so badly. Visiting your blog hasn’t been good for my TBR 😉

    Olivia Roach recently posted: My Best Friend’s Exorcism [Book Review]

  13. ShootingStarsMag

    I still need to read the first book – it’s on my wish list though! I’m glad to see that you really enjoyed the sequel. Such a fantastic premise.

    -Lauren