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nerdywerewolf's review
4.0
"Probably gonna die out here."
Thomas Price comes to investigate the Healys for the Covenant. Are they harmless or do they need to be wiped out? Between his indecision about whether all cryptids are monsters and Alice's determination to prove that she will always be a Healy, things are about to get interesting.
Thomas Price comes to investigate the Healys for the Covenant. Are they harmless or do they need to be wiped out? Between his indecision about whether all cryptids are monsters and Alice's determination to prove that she will always be a Healy, things are about to get interesting.
jennybeastie's review
4.0
Good start to Alice and Thomas Price, but I want more of this story. And also, why isn't he a sorcerer? I thought he was a sorcerer. Boy, this is a lot of characters to keep straight.
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Yeah, great to read this short story, after the heart-hurting of the previous book! Great seeing the meeting of Verity's grandparents!
fonsscientae's review
1.0
What the actual series mentioned of Alice and Thomas's relationship made me interested in learning more about them. Then I read this. I hate extreme power imbalance, which is expressed most commonly in urban fantasy in a form like human and vampire, where one party is much more powerless by magical means. I think there's a certain element of that too since Thomas can wield magic apparently, but the more obvious issue is age.
Alice is 16 and Thomas is some indeterminate, unstated but clearly adult age. Maybe then he's not too old, but even pretending he's just 18 (which there's no way he is), he is so much more mature than her. They don't seem to be on the same level at all!!
Thomas betrayed his shitty cult organization, saving countless cryptids on the way, and has been consequently exiled to another country, jaded and alone. He arrives and settles in. Alice spends the story running into the woods like an idiot, getting nearly eaten by a fucking plant, then passing out on his couch and getting scolded by her family. They are not on the same LEVEL. It's so uncomfortable.
I peeked at the summary of the next novella about them, which is written in third person partial to his perspective, and it states something like "Alice Healy is far too young for him..." but makes it clear that he likes her anyway and NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. I am disappointed in Seanan. What the heck
Alice is 16 and Thomas is some indeterminate, unstated but clearly adult age. Maybe then he's not too old, but even pretending he's just 18 (which there's no way he is), he is so much more mature than her. They don't seem to be on the same level at all!!
Thomas betrayed his shitty cult organization, saving countless cryptids on the way, and has been consequently exiled to another country, jaded and alone. He arrives and settles in. Alice spends the story running into the woods like an idiot, getting nearly eaten by a fucking plant, then passing out on his couch and getting scolded by her family. They are not on the same LEVEL. It's so uncomfortable.
I peeked at the summary of the next novella about them, which is written in third person partial to his perspective, and it states something like "Alice Healy is far too young for him..." but makes it clear that he likes her anyway and NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. I am disappointed in Seanan. What the heck
book_grinch's review
3.0
After the last two shorts which were absolutely heartbreaking, "The Way Home" is the beginning of something new: Fran's and Jonathan's daughter Alice, is now sixteen and she is truly her mother's daughter. Much to Jonathan's despair who still hasn't recovered from... you know what. :/
So, Alice who likes to explore the woods, decides to take a small walk through the same. *cough*
Unfortunately things turn out a little more complicated than expected and she ends up getting acquainted with a different type of flora...
So, Alice who likes to explore the woods, decides to take a small walk through the same. *cough*
Unfortunately things turn out a little more complicated than expected and she ends up getting acquainted with a different type of flora...
hazel_reads's review
4.0
Alice is grounded, so she has to sneak out to go catch some acid spitting salamanders. Meanwhile, the Covenant has sent Thomas Price to spy on the Healy's as punishment for lying to them.
silky_octopus's review
4.0
I enjoyed this short enough that I'm hoping there will be more featuring the same characters. I'd always wondered how Thomas Price and Alice Healy met, and I definitely wouldn't have predicted some of the factors involved. It feels like there's a gap in the novels and shorts between the somewhat-benign tolerance the Covenant has for Alexander and Enid Healy, and the determination to exterminate their bloodline shown in the full novels. I'd really like to read what happened, and based upon the glimpses of Alice and Thomas in this short, I think it would be a hugely entertaining story.
nilchance's review
3.0
Alice is awesome. Thomas is awesome. This is very much a set-up story. I look forward to more.