Seanan McGuire is an autobuy for me, both in audio and hardcover. I was so excited to continue the Alchemical Journeys series with book three Tidal Creatures. It was worth the wait! McGuire gave us an unputdownable story as we head to the Impossible City.
Tidal Creaturesby Seanan McGuire
Series: Alchemical Journeys #3
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
Every night, a Moon shines down on the Impossible City…
New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire takes us back to the world of the award-winning Alchemical Journeys series in this action-packed follow-up to Middlegame and Seasonal Fears.
All across the world, people look up at the moon and dream of gods. Gods of knowledge and wisdom, gods of tides and longevity. Over time, some of these moon gods incarnated into the human world alongside the other manifest natural concepts. Their job is to cross the sky above the Impossible City—the heart of all creation—to keep it connected to reality.
And someone is killing them.
There are so many of them that it's easy for a few disappearances to slip through the cracks. But they aren't limitless.
In the name of the moon, the lunar divinities must uncover the roots of the plot and thwart the true goal of those behind these attacks—control of the Impossible City itself.
After the events of Middlegame and Seasonal Fears, I was eager to dive into Tidal Creatures. We find ourselves at Berkley College where we meet incarnates of the Moon Gods who dwell within a human host and take turns navigating the skies at night over the Impossible City. When one of them ends up dead, it will be up to Moon goddesses, Change’e and Artemis to find answers, but along the way they will find help & friendship.
We also meet Kelpie, who after escaping the lab learns she is not human but a personification of Artemis’s Hind. She stumbles across the son of Isabella, a hechicera who aids here and takes her to one of the coven’s meetings to introduce her to someone else who isn’t quite human. All of this takes them to the home of Rodger and Dodger, the living embodiments of the Doctrine of Ethos.
I loved how McGuire weaved in the gods, the Impossible City, and the alchemist who want to control it all. At its core, we have a murder-mystery. We learn from Diana, yes that Diana, that other moon gods have been murdered. Along the way, we will work to stop the alchemists, battle constructs and enter the city itself.
I found myself swept up in the tale and the stories of moon goddesses, Aske, Change’e, Artemis, and Diana, as well as the moon god Mani. I loved entering the home of Rodger and Dodger, whose home and its ability to adapt impressed me. We witness death, battle, and form friendships, all while McGuire has us pondering the universe.
If you love mythology, you will want to delve into the Alchemical Journeys series. Rich characters and a world filled with danger and possibilities. I encourage you to read the message at the beginning of the book from the author. Yes, dear author, the journey was worth it.
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Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I’ve really got to start reading this author! I have Feed by her pseudonym, and really just need to pick that one up. Great review, so glad you’re enjoying this series so much!
Kimberly
I loved the Newsflesh trilogy and I’ve read all of Mira Grant.
Anne- Books of My Heart
Robin’s reviewing this one on Monday.
ailyn koay
The series would really good, and I am not wondering if this is going to be one like Dresden (like never ending) or more like Atticus where it’s gonna be a while… but definitely sounds like a binge-worthy series
Nadene
Your enthusiasm for the series shines in your review. You have me wanting to grab it up despite my heavy TBR.
Ethan
Your mention of the author’s message at the beginning has me curious—definitely sounds like a journey worth taking for mythology lovers.