Magic for Nothing

Official cover

**Magic for Nothing** is the sixth novel in the InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire. It features Antimony Price.

## Synopsis

**Improbable, adjective:**

               1. Not very likely to happen; not probable.

               2. Probably not a very good idea anyway.

               3. See also “bad plan.”

As the youngest of the three Price children, Antimony is used to people not expecting much from her. She’s been happy playing roller derby and hanging out with her cousins, leaving the globe-trotting to her older siblings while she stays at home and tries to decide what she wants to do with her life. She always knew that one day, things would have to change. She didn’t think they’d change so fast.

Annie’s expectations keep getting shattered. She didn’t expect Verity to declare war on the Covenant of St. George on live television. She didn’t expect the Covenant to take her sister’s threat seriously. And she definitely didn’t expect to be packed off to London to infiltrate the Covenant from the inside…but as the only Price in her generation without a strong resemblance to the rest of the family, she’s the perfect choice to play spy. They need to know what’s coming. Their lives may depend on it.

But Annie has some secrets of her own, like the fact that she’s started setting things on fire when she touches them, and has no idea how to control it. Now she’s headed halfway around the world, into the den of the enemy, where blowing her cover could get her killed. She’s pretty sure things can’t get much worse.

Antimony Price is about to learn just how wrong it’s possible for one cryptozoologist to be.

## Plot

**Prologue:** Annie is practicing her fire magic while Mary, who saw what Thomas could do with his magic, offers suggestions. Her father interrupts to call her to the television, where they watch Verity call out the Covenant on live TV.

**Chapter 1:** Three months later, Annie, Artie, and Mary confront a child poltergiest who is haunting the house he grew up in. They calm him down and Mary takes him to a ghost dimension.

**Chapter 2:** Annie attends roller derby practice. Elsie picks her up early due to a family emergency - dealing with the fallout from Verity’s reveal.

**Chapter 3:** The whole family is gathered, even Alice. They want to send Annie undercover to infiltrate the Covenant and see whether the family is still safe. Annie objects but eventually agrees.

**Chapter 4:** Annie travels to New York by way of several other cities, including Toronto. She meets up with Verity and Dominic, who bring her to the dragon princess warehouse, and give her her new identity.

**Chapter 5:** In London, Annie meets the Covenant recruiting station at a bookstore staffed by Reginald and Leonard Cunningham. She introduces herself using her cover: Timpani Brown, survivor of the Black Family Carnival and looking for revenge on cryptids. They take her to their home, albiet chloroformed for security, and introduce her to the rest of the Cunninghams and other Covenant members.

**Chapter 6:** Leo transports Annie to Penton Hall, where Reginald provides a grim “introduction” to the Covenant’s history.

**Chapter 7:** Leo assesses Annie’s skills with the trampoline and throwing knives, while Chloe remains suspicious. Annie recognizes the youngest-child brattiness in Chloe as a mirror of her own.

**Chapter 8:** Annie checks in with Mindy, who found the Lost Colony of Aeslin and now has a companion, Mork. She also meets Margaret Healy.

**Chapter 9:** Annie spends six weeks training under Margaret and Leo, rendevousing with Mindy and Mork. Sooner than they would typically for a normal recruit, Reginald asks her to infiltrate an American carnival to see if cryptids are the cause of a recent string of killings.

**Chapter 10:** The Covenant sends Annie on an exhaustingly circuitous route to her destination in Wisconsin, and Maggie and Robert on separate paths to be her minders. She checks in with the mice, who watch after her safety.

**Chapter 11:** When she reaches the Spenser and Smith Family Carnival, Annie is intercepted by a surly young man later identified as Sam. She pesters him to let her stick around and spot him on the trapeze. His grandmother catches them and nearly throws Annie off the grounds, but sh decides that carnies are inherently trustworthy to the cryptid community and reveals her Aeslin mice. Shocked, Emery agrees to let them stay for a time.

**Chapter 12:** Annie shows off her knife-throwing skills for Emery and Sam, and is awarded the role of candy girl for the night. She checks in with the Covenant at the appointed time then enjoys the midway attractions. While on the Feris Wheel, she summons Mary to update her on the situation.

**Chapter 13:** Annie finds a dead carnie on the midway, and puts up with Sam’s suspicion while police are brought in to investigate.

**Chapter 14:** The next night, Annie catches Umeko luring a townie back to her trailer. When Annie confronts her, Umeko is revealed as a Joromungo. Umeko attacks and Sam leaps in to defend Annie, revealing himself in simian form. Together they neutralize Umeko.

**Chapter 15:** Annie awakens after sleeping off Umeko’s venom. Emery and Sam confront her knowledge of cryptids, and she learns more about Sam’s Furi identity. When she returns to her trailer, she calls Margaret for a late check-in, convincing Margaret to give her more time before taking over the mission.

**Chapter 16:** Sam and Annie investigate Umeko’s trailer and discover two of her victims are still alive in their cocoons. Then Annie follows Sam onto the trapeeze and they enjoy a truce while they chat and fly together.

**Chapter 17:** The carnival moves to Minnesota. Sam and Annie develop a trapeze-and-knife-throwing act. At one of their shows, Annie spots Margaret in the crowd. They meet up later, and Margaret is concerned that Annie is going native. She knows there are crytpids within the carnival, and is disappointed that “Timpani” hasn’t identified them. Annie begs for a little more time to prove herself before the Covenant purgest the carnival.

**Chapter 18:** Sam visits Annie’s trailer to make sure she’s okay, then shares how much he would like to kiss her. She kisses him, then goes to clean up so they can go on their first date together. Emery gives her the concerned parent talk, and Annie assures Emery she won’t play with Sam’s heart. That night at the carnival, they play townie and do all the rides and games. Annie encourages him to relax in his Furi form while they kiss atop the Ferris wheel.

**Chapter 19:** The next day is pouring down rain, so Sam and Annie take the opportunity for a supply run into town. While out, Annie spots a roller derby flyer and they decide to make it a date night.

**Chapter 20:** Sam and Annie attend a roller derby match, but they are interrupted by a bitter mara who knows Annie as “Final Girl” and, more importantly, as Antimony Price. Sam feels upset and betrayed especially when she gets tongue-tied trying to explain herself. He believes she is Covenant.

**Chapter 21:** They return to the carnival separately, and Annie goes to Sam and Emery to explain the full story. They are both upset and Emery demands that Annie fix the Covenant problem; Sam will barely look at her. After being dismissed, Annie seeks Ananta to create a plan.

**Chapter 22:** Annie, Ananta, Emery, and the carnies make a plan to set fire to the carnival and convince the Covenant everyone is dead or scattered. Later, Sam confronts her. They make up, make out, and hook up knowing they may never see each other after this night.

**Chapter 23:** Leo finds Annie in the deserted carnival. He, Reginald, and other Covenant operatives are here for a purge - especially since Annie missed check-in, albiet intentionally. She turns on him, knocks him out, and races to find the bomb she suddenly realizes must be planted. Finding the bomb, she summons Mary and chucks the bomb at her ghostly babysitter; a surprised Mary transports it into the ghost world. Asking would have involved the crossroads, but this is a workaround.

Robert finds and confronts her, but she evades him. Sam finds her in the Haunted House, and Margaret finds them both, and Antimony buys time by shocking Margaret with their family connection.

She and Sam return to the Big Tent and set a fire, but Sam gets shot in the forehead. His Furi biology makes the bullet bounce, but reveals his cryptid status to the Covenant. Annie kills Robert to protect Sam.

**Chapter 24:** Annie and and injured Sam face off against Margaret, who is neutralized by Leo with a sedative. He forgives her for killing Robert since Sam had been in danger, and thanks Annie for not killing Chloe or Margaret. Then he lets them go, knowing it will be marked as his grandfather’s failure, with a promise to return when he leads the Covenant.

Annie administers first aid to Sam and then tells him goodbye. She needs to disappear, and he is too injured to go with her. He agrees to get the mice to the airport to be returned to her family; Mindy is pregnant and the mice’s safety is more important than being her black box. Annie leaves.

**Epilogue:** Three weeks later, Annie has hitchiked to Florida. She intends to hide out at Lowryland, a competitor to Disney World, where the mass of people will make it impossible for the Covenant to track her using blood or DNA magic. Mary checks in, and Annie makes her agree not to tell the rest of the family where she is. She doesn’t want to lead the Covenant back to the rest of them if she gets caught.

## Characters

**Major**

* Antimony Price: The youngest Price of her generation, Annie takes after her grandfather Thomas in more than just appearance: she also shares his ability to set things on fire. Annie wrestles with her own family baggage and her own identity, which is muddled as she pretends to be a Covenant trainee pretending to be a carnival hopeful.
* Mary Dunlavy: A crossroads ghost and self-appointed babysitter. Mary is tied to Annie, who is the youngest of the current Price generation. She draws upon her knowledge of Thomas to try to help Annie with her powers.
* Sam Taylor: Sam was raised by his grandmother in the carnival. His mother couldn't deal with the responsibility of a fūri child. Sam is grouchy and standoffish to anyone who he doesn't trust with his secret, and in complete awe that Annie is chill with it.
* Leonard Cunningham: Heir apparent to the Covenant of St. George, Leo has a lot to prove to his grandfather and himself. He befriends Annie early in her Covenant training.
* Margaret Healy: Current Covenant agent and Annie's distant cousin. Margaret hates the Price family for defecting generations ago, as her family line has been treated with suspicion by the Covenant ever since. She has only gotten more bitter since her failed mission in New York, though she doesn't remember the extent of her own failure.
* Emery Spenser: Matriarch of the Campbell Family Carnival and Sam's grandmother. Emery takes Annie in on a trial basis after recognizing the living character reference that is the Aeslin mice. She is very protective of her grandson's heart.

**Minor**

* Kevin Price
* Evelyn Price
* Tyler - a poltergeist child
* Artie Harrington
* Elmira Street
* Elsie Harrington
* Jane Harrington-Price
* Alice Healy
* Ted Harrington
* Verity Price
* Dominic DeLuca
* Pris, Miri, and Kitty, Manhattan dragons
* Istas
* Mindy and Mork
* Reginald Cunningham
* Cunningham family
* Robert Bullard
* Hasim Pillai and Kumari Pillai
* Umeko
* Ukranian trapeze flyers
* Ananta
* Savannah - candy girl, found dead
* Knowles twins, bogeymen
* Adrienne - derby girl

**Mentioned**

* Delilah, Sam's mother
* Thomas Price
* Rose Marshall
* Alex Price
* Shelby Tanner
* Carlotta
* Sarah Zellaby
* Cherry, Elsie's ex
* Alexander Healy and Enid Healy
* Frances Healy
* Big Al
* William
* Anthony Bullard
* The Incredible Christopher - Campbell Family Carnival
* Mike Gucciard and Lea Gucciard
* Pablo - Umeko's boyfriend
* Grayson Campbell - trapeze and trampoline artist
* Laura Campbell

## Cryptids

Aeslin MiceCrossroads GhostLiluSylphMaraDragonWadjetBogeymanWaheela
* Poltergeist
* Sorcerer
* Jorōgumo
* Fūri

**Mentioned**

* Hitchhiker
* Ghoul
* Tanuki
* Routewitch
* Apraxis Wasp
* Bigfoot
* Yeti
* Kawauso
* Jink

## Locations

* Portland, Oregon
	+ Price Compound
	+ Salem, Oregon - Tyler's huse
	+ Roller derby warehouse
	+ Lewis and Clark High School (mentioned)
* Manhattan, New York City
	+ Freakshow
	+ Warehouse in the meatpacking district
* London, England
	+ Antique bookstore on Cecil Court
	+ Cunningham home
	+ Penton Hall
* Madison, Wisconsin
	+ Sketchy motel
	+ Spenser and Smith Family Carnival
* St. Cloud, Minnesota
	+ Carnival
	+ Roller derby warehouse
* Gainsville, Florida

**Mentioned**

* Columbus, Ohio
* Las Angeles, California
* Buckley Township, Michigan
* Australia
* Chicago, Illinois
	+ Carmichael Hotel

## Organizations

* Covenant of St. George
* Roller Derby Community
	+ The Silver Screams
		- Concussion Stand
		- Block Busters
		- Stunt Troubles
	+ Other Portland teams
		- Wilsonville Rose Petals
	+ Minnesota League
		- St. Cloud Storm Chasers
		- Rockville Rollers
		- Clockpunchers
* Spenser and Smith Family Carnival

**Mentioned**

* Campbell Family Carnival
* Black Family Carnival

## Continuity

* References to William and the dragon princesses: Discount Armageddon
* References to Sarah's injury when helping Verity and Dominic hide from the Covenant: Midnight Blue-Light Special
* References to Alex's Australia trip and relationship with Shelby: Pocket Apocalypse
* Direct follow-up to the events of Chaos Choreography
* To learn more of Annie's roller derby background, see Antimony Shorts
* Annie notes that people have tried to steal the mice before...and will again, as in Waking Up in Vegas

## Quotes

### Aeslin Proverbs

* "...when the Patient Priestess and the God of Uncommon Sense were forced to leave the Obedient Priestess and the God of Bitter Honesty behind as they struck out across the Great Water. For did not the Patient Priestess say, ‘Charles, I know you’ll never forgive us, but please believe me when I say I love you. Ask the mice. They remember.” (Ch. 8)
	+ “Those who chose to stay and chronicle the lives of the Obedient Priestess and the God of Bitter Honesty knew they might never have a close relationship with their gods, for they were to be raised Outside the Family, by those who Did Not Understand. But still, we have a duty, and that Duty Must Be Fulfilled.” (Ch. 8)
* The Precise Priestess did say, “Keep Your Paws Off” - (Ch. 13)
* “Is it not tradition to travel to carnivals and fall in love under false pretenses? Did not the Violent Priestess ride a white horse and love the God of Unexpected Situations in a place very much like this one?” (Ch. 19)
* “Did not the Thoughtful Priestess say We are Not All Mind Readers, We Leave That to Sarah?” (Ch. 21)

### Epigraphs

**Main Article: Epigraphs**

Includes quotes from Jane Harrington-Price, Alice Healy, Evelyn Baker, Frances Brown, Enid Healy, and Enid Baker(sic).

### Pop Culture

* Antimony references Spider-Gwen. Seanan McGuire is a writer for the official Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider comics beginning in 2018; she was likely under contract for both works at the same time.
* Leo references Joss Whedon, the Devil's Carnival, and Camelot. He teases Annie for dismissing the depth of his nerdiness.
* St. Julian the Hospitaller

* Antimony loves making pop culture references: Carrie, Night of the Creeps, X-Men, James Bond, Black Widow, Clark Kent, Sailor Moon, Law and Order, Neil Gaiman, Downton Abbey, Dorian Gray, Jane Austen, Stephen King, Six Million Dollar Man, Men in Black, American Ninja Warrior, Fifty First Dates, Human Torch, Children of the Corn, Planet of the Apes, Saga, Scott Pilgrim, Ellen (now Elliot) Page’s Whip It, Tron, Star Wars, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Boxcar children, Journey to the West, Netflix, Google, Kardashians, Words With Friends, Red Bull, Hot Topic, Barbie, Target, Costco, the Hindenburg crash.

## Playlist

Spotify

YouTube

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian\_the\_Hospitaller