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A review by andrew_c
Velveteen vs. The Seasons by Seanan McGuire
4.0
It's remarkably difficult to review this without spoilers, but I've tried to avoid too many.
Velveteen vs. The Seasons deals with the consequences of the rather Faustian deal that Velveteen was forced to make with the Seasons in order to defeat Marketing in [b:Velveteen vs. The Multiverse|17667054|Velveteen vs. The Multiverse (Velveteen vs., #2)|Seanan McGuire|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375079874s/17667054.jpg|24661739]. As a result it is much darker than the previous two volumes, but retains the charm, wit, pacing and strong characterisation of the previous volumes.
We learn a great deal about the mysterious Seasons and at least some of why they are so interested in her. Velveteen gathers strength and knowledge, which she will need to defeat her next opponent, the government, which proves only too eager to take over where Marketing failed.
While Velveteen's stays in the Seasonal Lands are rather travailing, alarming events take place in the outside world and her friends are forced to make sacrifices, some of them with tragic consequences.
Things come to a rather grim and doom-laden point where all hope seems lost. Then in the best tradition of Golden Age superhero comics, Velveteen pulls off a remarkably well-written yet unashamedly over the top deus ex machina and brings the situation back to one where she at least has a fighting chance. But she will need all her strength and wits and her friends at her back.
While its not unsatisfying way to handle things, I can't help but feel a bit let down. Seanan McGuire had set up a rather interesting and tragic situation, only to sidestep most of it.
But what of Tag? Well, he remains asleep in The Princess's castle. Will Velveteen be able to save him? That remains to be told.
Like the previous volumes most of the stories in Velveteen vs. The Seasons can be found on Seanan McGuires's Livejournal, but really you should invest in the eBook
Velveteen vs. The Seasons deals with the consequences of the rather Faustian deal that Velveteen was forced to make with the Seasons in order to defeat Marketing in [b:Velveteen vs. The Multiverse|17667054|Velveteen vs. The Multiverse (Velveteen vs., #2)|Seanan McGuire|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375079874s/17667054.jpg|24661739]. As a result it is much darker than the previous two volumes, but retains the charm, wit, pacing and strong characterisation of the previous volumes.
We learn a great deal about the mysterious Seasons and at least some of why they are so interested in her. Velveteen gathers strength and knowledge, which she will need to defeat her next opponent, the government, which proves only too eager to take over where Marketing failed.
While Velveteen's stays in the Seasonal Lands are rather travailing, alarming events take place in the outside world and her friends are forced to make sacrifices, some of them with tragic consequences.
Things come to a rather grim and doom-laden point where all hope seems lost. Then in the best tradition of Golden Age superhero comics, Velveteen pulls off a remarkably well-written yet unashamedly over the top deus ex machina and brings the situation back to one where she at least has a fighting chance. But she will need all her strength and wits and her friends at her back.
While its not unsatisfying way to handle things, I can't help but feel a bit let down. Seanan McGuire had set up a rather interesting and tragic situation, only to sidestep most of it.
But what of Tag? Well, he remains asleep in The Princess's castle. Will Velveteen be able to save him? That remains to be told.
Like the previous volumes most of the stories in Velveteen vs. The Seasons can be found on Seanan McGuires's Livejournal, but really you should invest in the eBook