Seasonal Fears

Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire

This is another wonderful weaving of folktale and alchemy from Seanan McGuire. Now the Alchemical Journeys series (at least both of them so far) explore the concept of making ideas or concepts incarnate, and as we can gather from the title, this book is all about the Seasons.

Our main duo is Melanie & Harry. High school sweethearts who are hopelessly devoted. (yes, I'm singing the song).

 

  

And when an age old contest is kicked into effect, and Melanie and Harry are unwittingly in the running, they scramble to ensure their survival and maintain their humanity as previously unrealized instincts start to kick in.

When I tried to explain this book to my partner, I found myself saying "It's like Hunger Games, but much better science fiction, way more folklore, better characters, and no stupid love triangle." So really, not like it at all I guess, except for the fact that a bunch of teenagers are competing for both survival and a major honor? Suffice it to say, it's very compelling, it's complicated in a good way that will make rereads lots of fun, and you're rooting for the duo as soon as you meet them because they are excellent characters.

McGuire never skimps on her villains either, and this book has some excellent ones. Some dangerously insidious, some tragically unhinged, and all perfectly frightening.

We also get some fun cameos from the first series, and getting to see Roger and Dodger from a third person perspective certainly drives home how scary powerful they actually are. (Which also makes you really glad that they ended up being decent people too.) And it was nice to see how things played out for them and where they ended up.

If you like GOOD science fiction, folklore, great characters, destined lovers, and some complex world building that you just get to go along for the ride on, check out this book. And maybe read the first one too.