Cryptozoology for Beginners (Codex Arcanum, #2)

by Matt Harry

Juliane Crump (Illustrator)

Only six weeks after a handful of teenage sorcerers defeated a team of anti-magic mercenaries called the Euclideans, Trish, Owen, and Perry are called back into action when they discover that the world’s cryptids (aka magical creatures) are disappearing. They’re partnered with brusque team leader Jacinda Greyeyes and their former nemesis Bryan Ferretti in a mission to travel all over North America, collecting famous cryptids like the jackalope, the chupacabra, and the altamaha-ha.

But when another team of teenage sorcerers suddenly vanishes, the spell casters set out for Germany, Egypt, and the Seychelles to uncover why the Euclideans have been abducting and experimenting on magical creatures like the unicorn and the sphinx. The secrets they uncover threaten to divide them, and reveal a truth that will permanently upend the way the world sees sorcery.

• ISBN10: 1947848828
• ISBN13: 9781947848825
• Publish Date: 5 November 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Inkshares
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 300
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Cryptozoology for Beginners is a strange hybrid of a YA "mages vs. technology" fiction narrative wrapped around a "nonfiction" bestiary. It's the second book in the Codex Arcanum series by Matt Harry. Due out 5th Nov 2019 from Inkshares, it's 300 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This book starts 6 weeks after the end of the first book in the series with the semi-intrepid crew teaming up with their former nemesis Bryan Ferretti (we see what you did with the name there.. ). They're tasked with traveling all over North America collecting/saving cryptids. There's an awful lot of snark and sniping between the characters and the dialogue has more than a few awkward moments. I had some issues with some of the plot elements and character motivations as well, but I totally fully and freely admit that I'm about 40 years older than the target audience.

It works well enough as a standalone since the author refers often to previous plot points from the first book.

The illustrations by Juliane Crump are nicely rendered and magic-tome-ish, that is to say, sort of Celtic knotwork with some line drawn frames and portraits of the cryptids.

It's an engaging concept and I personally liked the tome-sidebars with little extra tidbits of info. I fully admit the possibility that I'm a grumpy old grownup, but I just wish the whole didn't seem like cashing in on the cryptid media train (Fantastic Beasts and other HP-esque spinoffs) and that it didn't read -quite- so much like a film storyboard pitch. I'm certain it'll be coming to a theatre or TV in the near future.

Three and a half stars, probably 4+ for fans of fantastic beasts and the subgenre.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.