I was given a free online galley of this book, in return for an unbiased review.

I have been waiting for an Incryptid book focused on Sarah, the non-human psychic member of the Price clan, and Seanan did not disappoint. Sarah might be my favorite POV protagonist in this series, thus far, as her unique way of looking at the world added a fresh dimension to the cryptozoology franchise. Seanan expands the Incryptid world in this entry, giving us more insight to the mysterious Cuckoo species, of which Sarah is a rare, non-predatory member. For a book that was about world-shaking events, Imaginary Numbers seemed a more focused entry in the series, with a cast greatly made up of previously introduced or mentioned characters. With a cliffhanger ending, Seanan has guaranteed that I'll spend the next year waiting for another Incryptid book!

Imaginary Numbers is the Ninth installment in author Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series. If you have not started reading this series yet, InCrypid is a witty urban fantasy series featuring an eccentric family of cryptozoologists who act as a buffer between the humans and the magical creatures living in secret around us. The main focus is on the Price, Baker, and Nealy families who have vowed to protect peaceful crypid's from humanity and of course the Covenant of St. George who would love nothing better than to wipe the entire family line from the face of the planet. No hyperbole. Just facts.

What you need to know. First, this book opens 20 years ago. The author finally solves the mystery as how Sarah Zellaby came to become a member of the family. Sara is a cuckoo, a species of people who can bend others to their wills. Also called, Johrlacs, which are descended from telepathic wasps. They are probably the most dangerous apex predators on the planet outside of maybe the dragons. Sarah is the first non-human main character in this series. Angela Baker, her adoptive mother, is a defective cuckoo, her father Martin, is a revenant assembled from 4-6 corpses. Drew, a bogeyman, is her brother, and Evie Price, a cryptid biologist, is her sister.

Sarah is finally back to normal 5 years after she saved Verity and Dominic from the Covenant which shattered her brain. Sarah feels as though she is back to as normal as she can be which means she needs to get in touch with her family in Portland who have been worried sick about her since that fateful day she saved Verity's life. One person in particular she is looking forward to reconnecting to; Arthur Harrington-Price aka Artie, her best friend, computer and computer geek, and Incubus whose pheromones cause everyone to fall in love with him.

The journey from Ohio to Portland is not an easy one. Not when Sarah is ambushed in the airport by another cuckoo. Cuckoos are very territorial. One cuckoo is dangerous, two can be hazardous to ones health. Cuckoo's tend to prey on each other which is exactly what happens with Sarah who defends herself nicely, but can't run away from the consequences she brings to the Price doorstep. Sarah’s return to the family compound brings the attention of unknown cuckoos who want to use her for their own purposes, and don’t care who they have to kill to make it happen.

Other characters you should be aware of: Kevin & Evelyn Price are the Alex, Verity & Antimony's cryptozoologist parents. Martin & Angela Baker are Drew, and Sarah's parents. Antimony Price, who previously had her own adventures, is back home with her parents. So is Sam, her furi boyfriend and James Smith, a sorcerer who we met over the course of Annie's stories. Elsie Baker is Artie's sister as well as a succubus. And, let's not forget Artie who has spent 5 years worried sick and mad at Sarah for not making more of an effort to let him in.

The story ends on what I feel is a cliffhanger ending leaving Sarah, Artie, Annie, James and another cuckoo named Mark in a tenuous situation after having fought an action packed battle against a hive of cuckoos. The book has points of view from both Sarah and Artie which is absolutely necessary. Lastly, if you read past the ending, you will discover a novella called Follow the Lady which takes place between books 8 and 9. It features Annie, Sam, James, Cylia, Fern and Annie's lost grandmother Alice, who has been chasing after her husband Thomas for 50 years. Annie and Alice have a much needed conversation about the things she learned at the crossroads about her grandfather. The author has apparently made it know that we, as readers, will keep seeing Alice for the near future.

Next up? Calculated Risks sometime in 2021.

Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire, Since the last Incryptid Novels fans have been dying to know what happened with Sarah, if she ever comes back fully and how, well answers are coming in this book!

The Aeslin nice and say “All hail Daw!” for giving me access to what was undeniably my favorite book in the series so far.

Going into this book I had zero expectations - you know, apart from it having cryptids and an awesome story, it is a Seanan McGuire book, so, some things are assumed.

But, I didn’t know what to expect. When we first switched to Alex, I was pouting because I loved Verity’s POV. And then in turn I was pouting because I managed to love Alex and Shelby even more, so I didn’t want to go back to Verity - which turned out, I was right all along, with the little declaring war to the Covenant on national television detail and all. Curious enough, I was quite the excited going into Antimony’s. I was so ready to know the untold version of the youngest Price.

Sarah. Well Sarah I had no idea. She was a great side character. But was so detached that I was prepared for a ... not robotic… but a non-human way of thinking. And math. Lots of math. And that was it.

Well…. I was right… and oh, so wrong. Adopted or not. Cuckoo or not, Sarah was raised as a Price. And that means something. It also comes with a price tag attached that every single member or the family is willing to pay, no matter the cost.

I loved Sarah. I loved Artie. I was a bit disappointed on seeing Sam and Annie and James already integrated into the Price family, and so excited at the same time because it is how they are.

And that ending? That ending is as complex as a good math problem we need to wait another year to see it solved.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know how to write this review. I'm just in awe of Seanan's ability to change up the main character so often and still keep all the storylines straight and the character voices so strong.

CUCKOOS. That's right, what we've all been waiting for. More lore, more interactions, more HOLY CRAP CUCKOOS. More Sarah, who, after the events of the beginning of the series, has been mostly sitting out recovering. More Artie, who hasn't had a lot of screen time yet, but is very intriguing and even gets his own POV. More Annie and Sam and James, more Elsie, more of the rest of the family.

I can't say much more without giving away the storyline - and it's a doozy - so I'll stop there. Please please please don't read this one without reading the rest of the series. Most of the novellas are okay to bypass for now (but please catch up on those too!!!), but this one spoils huge portions of the rest of the series for new readers, as past events are definitely discussed AND have played a huge role in getting us (and Sarah and Artie) to this point.

ALL OF THE STARS.