That Ain't Witchcraft

Carnivorous unicorns, cornfield blight that turns unsuspecting victims into zombielike creatures, and a tough-as-nails protagonist with a cadre of nonhuman friends are a winning combination for the eighth novel in the "InCryptid" series. Antimony "Annie" Price and her cryptid friends are on the run from Annie's family as well as members of the Covenant, a secret society whose heir apparent is attempting to bring the Price family back into the fold of cryptid hunters. In this installment, Annie and her band of cryptids have taken shelter in New Gravesend, ME, for some rest and relaxation after a harrowing experience. They meet James Smith, reluctant cat burglar and sorcerer, whose best friend was swindled by the Crossroads, a mythological being that stands between worlds and has the power to grant wishes in exchange for a heavy price. Together they try to bring down the entity that has appropriated the Crossroads' power and is working to destroy the desperate humans who seek its help. Annie, a former cheerleader and a roller derby athlete, is whip-smart and at times vulnerable, and the other characters are well-rounded, flawed individuals to whom teens will relate. McGuire provides enough backstory to engage new readers, then plunges them into a fast-paced plot that will keep them turning pages.