Inkpot Gods
Seanan McGuire
A return to form
Inkpot Gods is the fourth novel in Seanan McGuire‘s Alchemical Journeys series. The first of these, Middlegame, was, I thought, one of the very best of McGuire‘s many, many books. From me that is a big statement, since I’m an avid fan of hers. Books 2 and 3, Seasonal Fears and Tidal Creatures, were much less impressive. Inkpot Gods returns to the subjects and themes of Middlegame. It is not quite as good as that first novel, but it approaches it.
More important, this novel represents, I think, a return to form for McGuire. Those of us who subscribe to her Patreon know that she has gone through some troubles in the last several years. (See her 20-Jun-2024 post for more detail.) It has shown in her output -- not the quantity -- I don’t think McGuire can live and stop writing -- but in the quality. Her most recent output has been repetitive and verbose, marred by a tendency to unnecessarily explain EVERYTHING. (She knows better, honestly.)
In Inkpot Gods, and also in “No More Amazement,” her 1-Jul-2026 Patreon novella (which I will presently review) she reads like the old Seanan, and I am so glad to have her back!
Inkpot Gods focuses on the Alchemical foundations of Middlegame. We go back to the 19th century and Asphodel Deborah Baker, the central figure in American Alchemy in the world-building of Alchemical Journeys. But these bits of 19th century lore are interspersed with a story of the 21st century characters we have met in the first three novels. It’s a gritty, dangerous story: bad things happen to good people. Not everything is set right.
She hints in her acknowledgements that this is nearly, but not quite, the end of the series.
We’ve almost reached the Impossible City at this point, and I can show you a shortcut, if you like. Just take my hand, close your eyes, and trust me. I know the way.
No, I don’t know what that means either, beyond being a hint that there’s another, probably last book to come.
I will certainly read it.