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Velveteen vs. #3-4
Velveteen vs. The Consequences of Her Actions
It hasn’t been very long since the Super Patriots, Inc. were defeated by Velveteen and her friends, and the echoes of a world where superhumans could be bought and sold by corporate interests are still shaping the greater landscape. In order to achieve their victory, Velveteen had to make a devil’s bargain with Santa Claus himself, and now the cost of his aid is coming due. Even as the rebuilding begins, she has to leave for the Seasonal Lands and fulfill the terms of service she agreed to, or she’ll never be able to come home again, and never be able to enjoy the world she’s fought so hard and sacrificed so much to achieve.
And of course, there’s the matter of what comes after her sentence has been served.
In the aftermath of the fall of the Super Patriots, Inc., Velveteen will have to overcome the greatest challenge she’s faced to date: how does she move forward with her life and become an independent adult, when that’s the one battle she’s never been prepared for? And what about all the other problems she hasn’t defeated yet, from super villains to death itself? She’s already won, so why does it feel like the fight will never end?
These short stories continue Velveteen’s adventures, from her service with the Seasons to her attempt to find a way to live a normal life in a superheroic world. Includes the original volume three, along with the sixteen stories in the never-before-published volume four.
And of course, there’s the matter of what comes after her sentence has been served.
In the aftermath of the fall of the Super Patriots, Inc., Velveteen will have to overcome the greatest challenge she’s faced to date: how does she move forward with her life and become an independent adult, when that’s the one battle she’s never been prepared for? And what about all the other problems she hasn’t defeated yet, from super villains to death itself? She’s already won, so why does it feel like the fight will never end?
These short stories continue Velveteen’s adventures, from her service with the Seasons to her attempt to find a way to live a normal life in a superheroic world. Includes the original volume three, along with the sixteen stories in the never-before-published volume four.
608 pages, Hardcover
Published May 31, 2026
About the author
Seanan McGuire
522 books17.4k followersHi! I'm Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I'm also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 21, 2026
Here is the review I wrote for the third volume of Velveteen's adventures back when no one (author included) knew if the series would have been allowed to continue; such review was slightly revised, mainly to accommodate the existence of a fourth volume. After that you'll find my review for the fourth and last (I guess) volume, released for the first time in this omnibus edition. I originally rated the third volume 4.5 stars, but I decided to round up to 5 for this joint review.
VOLUME 3: VELVETEEN VS. THE SEASONS
Mini blurb: Still reeling from her fight with The Super Patriots, Inc., superheroine Velveteen fulfills her promise to serve Winter, Spring and Autumn for a trial period, and is forced to give up on her humanity in more than one sense while doing so - until her trials end and she realises that they cost her (and someone else) more than she could ever imagine.
***
While the concept is fascinating and the body horror is top-notch (without being gory or repulsive - you'll understand if you read the book), I expected Velveteen's adventures as the Seasons' servant to be more exciting and meaningful, not to mention fleshed out. As a matter of fact, the real excitement, for me, started when she got home after her trials, found a world both gone sour and retconned (at least for what concerns a small, yet not-so-small detail), and banded with her friends to try and make things right again. Which poses another problem, because this made for a huge detour from the titular Seasons plot, and wreaked havoc on the overall structure. Then again, I'm not sure I would have liked to spend more time in the Seasonal Lands, since Velveteen's servant duties came off as a bit mundane and nonsensical. (Plus I'm not sure why the Seasons' embodiments/monarchs/keepers would make her life there miserable if they hoped she'd choose to stay in their lands at the end).
I loved hanging around with the gang again, and I found the social commentary to be spot-on (especially in light of the Roe vs. Wade debacle - don't take anything for granted, always keep your guard up, they'll start with a finger and in time they'll devour your whole body), and I was excited to get the chance to explore more of the multiverse/multiple identities of our cast, and I appreciated that even with gods bending the rules, there aren't easy ways out.
VOLUME 4: VELVETEEN VS. LIFE
Mini blurb: Having barely recovered from her experiences in the Seasonal Lands, superheroine Velveteen has her hands full with old and new enemies/frenemies - but what's that, really, compared with trying to bring your friends back from [redacted] and figuring out who you want to grow up to be?
***
The final story arc of the series, while not particularly cohesive (we still get "monster of the week" episodes - ahem, stories), mostly centers around Velveteen coming to terms with her past and finally daring to imagine a future that fits her - or you might say, accepting that she's entitled to have one. Mind you, it's not all philosophical - the blend of humour and action with a healthy dose of friendship and a sprinkle of romance is still strong and entertaining - but McGuire deftly puts the "human" in "superhuman" by having both Velveteen and her friends experience growing pains that, while being unique to these magical individuals, strongly resonate with the reader. It's a joy to see these characters embrace/make peace with their magical self while reclaiming their story and learning how to rewrite their narrative, so that they can be more than superheroes or season/fairy tale archetypes (this is especially challenging for the Princess, a trans woman who found love and acceptation in her mythical role, and has to devise a way to write her own happily-ever-after without breaking character, lest the magic rejects her...not for her transness of course, but for deviating from the script. For the record: the Princess ROCKS). Last but not least: all the loose threads from the previous stories get addressed and tied up satisfactorily, and we even get a glimpse of the aforementioned future (or, a possible one) for all our players, even the secondary ones - with the only exception of Jory, who's always been more of a plot device than an actual character, and in the end gets forgotten altogether. Speaking of which, the only other thing I didn't love was how easily - even anticlimactically - a certain plot point was resolved (Velveteen vs. Uncomfortable Resolutions, I'm looking at you), but it wasn't a dealbreaker for me. Ultimately, the Velveteen vs. series is the superhero-meets-fairy-tales-meets-seasonal-magic series we didn't know we needed, and even if you aren't a die-hard superhero fan (which I for one am not), chances are you'll fall in love with its familiar, yet totally quirky universe(s).
Note: definitive review (due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series. Which these are, but not one that I started reviewing back when I used to write a full review for every book...).
VOLUME 3: VELVETEEN VS. THE SEASONS
Mini blurb: Still reeling from her fight with The Super Patriots, Inc., superheroine Velveteen fulfills her promise to serve Winter, Spring and Autumn for a trial period, and is forced to give up on her humanity in more than one sense while doing so - until her trials end and she realises that they cost her (and someone else) more than she could ever imagine.
***
While the concept is fascinating and the body horror is top-notch (without being gory or repulsive - you'll understand if you read the book), I expected Velveteen's adventures as the Seasons' servant to be more exciting and meaningful, not to mention fleshed out. As a matter of fact, the real excitement, for me, started when she got home after her trials, found a world both gone sour and retconned (at least for what concerns a small, yet not-so-small detail), and banded with her friends to try and make things right again. Which poses another problem, because this made for a huge detour from the titular Seasons plot, and wreaked havoc on the overall structure. Then again, I'm not sure I would have liked to spend more time in the Seasonal Lands, since Velveteen's servant duties came off as a bit mundane and nonsensical. (Plus I'm not sure why the Seasons' embodiments/monarchs/keepers would make her life there miserable if they hoped she'd choose to stay in their lands at the end).
I loved hanging around with the gang again, and I found the social commentary to be spot-on (especially in light of the Roe vs. Wade debacle - don't take anything for granted, always keep your guard up, they'll start with a finger and in time they'll devour your whole body), and I was excited to get the chance to explore more of the multiverse/multiple identities of our cast, and I appreciated that even with gods bending the rules, there aren't easy ways out.
VOLUME 4: VELVETEEN VS. LIFE
Mini blurb: Having barely recovered from her experiences in the Seasonal Lands, superheroine Velveteen has her hands full with old and new enemies/frenemies - but what's that, really, compared with trying to bring your friends back from [redacted] and figuring out who you want to grow up to be?
***
The final story arc of the series, while not particularly cohesive (we still get "monster of the week" episodes - ahem, stories), mostly centers around Velveteen coming to terms with her past and finally daring to imagine a future that fits her - or you might say, accepting that she's entitled to have one. Mind you, it's not all philosophical - the blend of humour and action with a healthy dose of friendship and a sprinkle of romance is still strong and entertaining - but McGuire deftly puts the "human" in "superhuman" by having both Velveteen and her friends experience growing pains that, while being unique to these magical individuals, strongly resonate with the reader. It's a joy to see these characters embrace/make peace with their magical self while reclaiming their story and learning how to rewrite their narrative, so that they can be more than superheroes or season/fairy tale archetypes (this is especially challenging for the Princess, a trans woman who found love and acceptation in her mythical role, and has to devise a way to write her own happily-ever-after without breaking character, lest the magic rejects her...not for her transness of course, but for deviating from the script. For the record: the Princess ROCKS). Last but not least: all the loose threads from the previous stories get addressed and tied up satisfactorily, and we even get a glimpse of the aforementioned future (or, a possible one) for all our players, even the secondary ones - with the only exception of Jory, who's always been more of a plot device than an actual character, and in the end gets forgotten altogether. Speaking of which, the only other thing I didn't love was how easily - even anticlimactically - a certain plot point was resolved (Velveteen vs. Uncomfortable Resolutions, I'm looking at you), but it wasn't a dealbreaker for me. Ultimately, the Velveteen vs. series is the superhero-meets-fairy-tales-meets-seasonal-magic series we didn't know we needed, and even if you aren't a die-hard superhero fan (which I for one am not), chances are you'll fall in love with its familiar, yet totally quirky universe(s).
Note: definitive review (due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series. Which these are, but not one that I started reviewing back when I used to write a full review for every book...).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
I have been obsessed with this series since around 2017, and when I learned there were only three collected volumes I was bummed a bit. Then here comes Subterranean Press to save the day by not only pushing this series back into the spotlight, but collecting other, further adventures of Velveteen and the gang!
And save the day they did because I always ended volume 3 believing a storyline from volume 2 was remaining unresolved! I was delighted to get to the second half of this book and see everything I had, somehow, in the age of information, missed.
This volume opens almost where we left off in volume one, with Velveteen fulfilling her duties to the seasons that are courting her attention (Winter, Spring, and Fall) and the lessons they are trying to teach her and what else she learns from them. Seeing characters we've grown to know and love over the last two volumes continue to evolve and the way their actions impact not only Velveteen's universe but the other universe out there is fascinating.
The delight in this series for me is how McGuire imagines these superheroes living their lives with threats either from other superpowered humans or from people with, let's say, different kinds of powers. Watching the Princess expertly navigate a congressional hearing on the oversight of superpowered individuals is just as much fun as watching Velveteen kick the butt of a villain.
I also very much enjoyed the thoughts Velveteen had about separating Velma from Velveteen, and why the mask had to stay on most times. Seeing the names framed in the narrative was so interesting and thought provoking.
I know the last story set it up to be open ended but also a little bit of a conclusion, but I wouldn't mind seeing more adventures from these characters.
I have been obsessed with this series since around 2017, and when I learned there were only three collected volumes I was bummed a bit. Then here comes Subterranean Press to save the day by not only pushing this series back into the spotlight, but collecting other, further adventures of Velveteen and the gang!
And save the day they did because I always ended volume 3 believing a storyline from volume 2 was remaining unresolved! I was delighted to get to the second half of this book and see everything I had, somehow, in the age of information, missed.
This volume opens almost where we left off in volume one, with Velveteen fulfilling her duties to the seasons that are courting her attention (Winter, Spring, and Fall) and the lessons they are trying to teach her and what else she learns from them. Seeing characters we've grown to know and love over the last two volumes continue to evolve and the way their actions impact not only Velveteen's universe but the other universe out there is fascinating.
The delight in this series for me is how McGuire imagines these superheroes living their lives with threats either from other superpowered humans or from people with, let's say, different kinds of powers. Watching the Princess expertly navigate a congressional hearing on the oversight of superpowered individuals is just as much fun as watching Velveteen kick the butt of a villain.
I also very much enjoyed the thoughts Velveteen had about separating Velma from Velveteen, and why the mask had to stay on most times. Seeing the names framed in the narrative was so interesting and thought provoking.
I know the last story set it up to be open ended but also a little bit of a conclusion, but I wouldn't mind seeing more adventures from these characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
Velveteen is a superhero with a chip on her shoulder. Raised in the Super Patriots, Inc. since being discovered to have super abilities as a child, Velveteen was one of the early superhumans to leave the corporate atmosphere for independence. This didn't sit well in the world of corporate greed, of course, and she marked as a villain by the corporate desk jockeys (though she managed to become the official superhero for the state of Oregon).
More recently, Velveteen and her friends defeated the Super Patriots, Inc., though to do so, Velveteen had to make a bargain with Santa Claus and now she has to pay the price for his aid (the consequences of her actions). While the world rebuilds and reinvents itself after the loss of one of the biggest superhero organizations, Velveteen must spend a specific amount of time in the Seasonal Lands.
Velveteen spends time in Winter, Spring, and Fall, solving unique problems in each season, drawing on her power of animating inanimate objects. Her time in the Seasonal Lands is extensive and despite recognizing some of the people she interacts with as alternate versions of people she knows in her reality, Velveteen grows lonely and tries avoid her loneliness by focusing on her tasks.
When she's finally able to return to the regular world she is shocked at how much time has passed and how much the world has changed. Now Velveteen has to get her friends back together to right some things that have gone wrong, and to somehow save her long-time boyfriend, Tad.
This is only my second time reading a Velveteen novel. Despite being a huge fan of Seanan McGuire's work, I was never quite drawn to this series because of - oh how it's hard to admit - the covers. The cartoon-y, comic-book-like covers led me to think these books would be rather juvenile. I should know better. I should know better about Seanan McGuire, specifically. This is anything but a light, fluffy, juvenile book. It is dark and almost anti-heroic. I found much of the book practically depressing, but engrossing.
Based solely on her powers, Velveteen hardly seems like the sort of superhero that we'd want to read about, which is part of the point, I'm sure. But it's Velveteen's personality, her life in general, that has us curious to be reading on.
Stylistically, this is an interesting book. It's both a collection of short stories, and it's a novel at the same time. My understanding is that these were written and originally presented as short stories (they each have their own copyright information), but I can't imagine trying to read any of these on their own. Context and conclusion are important and we only really get both by reading these as chapters of a book.
McGuire isn't afraid to bend reality and that's evident here. There are alternate versions of Velveteen and everyone she knows in the different realities that she navigates. Sometimes they're friends, sometimes enemies, sometimes they don't recognize one another. Readers need to read carefully and understand where the story takes place.
I do like, perhaps even prefer, character-driven books, but there was something about the story arcs here that didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped. These were not quite as engaging or exciting as the previous volume (Velveteen vs The Early Adventures). But you can't deny the writing skill of McGuire. She's poured a lot of energy into Velveteen and the character is a true hero in the classic sense that she grows and is transformed, understanding her role in the world.
Looking for a good book? Velveteen vs The Consequences of Her Actions, by Seanan McGuire, is books 3 & 4 in the Velveteen vs series. Whether you consider it a collection of short stories or one or two novels, it doesn't really matter. It may be important to have knowledge of what has gone before - I encourage anyone interested read the previous volume(s) before getting into this darker look at the superhero world.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Velveteen is a superhero with a chip on her shoulder. Raised in the Super Patriots, Inc. since being discovered to have super abilities as a child, Velveteen was one of the early superhumans to leave the corporate atmosphere for independence. This didn't sit well in the world of corporate greed, of course, and she marked as a villain by the corporate desk jockeys (though she managed to become the official superhero for the state of Oregon).
More recently, Velveteen and her friends defeated the Super Patriots, Inc., though to do so, Velveteen had to make a bargain with Santa Claus and now she has to pay the price for his aid (the consequences of her actions). While the world rebuilds and reinvents itself after the loss of one of the biggest superhero organizations, Velveteen must spend a specific amount of time in the Seasonal Lands.
Velveteen spends time in Winter, Spring, and Fall, solving unique problems in each season, drawing on her power of animating inanimate objects. Her time in the Seasonal Lands is extensive and despite recognizing some of the people she interacts with as alternate versions of people she knows in her reality, Velveteen grows lonely and tries avoid her loneliness by focusing on her tasks.
When she's finally able to return to the regular world she is shocked at how much time has passed and how much the world has changed. Now Velveteen has to get her friends back together to right some things that have gone wrong, and to somehow save her long-time boyfriend, Tad.
This is only my second time reading a Velveteen novel. Despite being a huge fan of Seanan McGuire's work, I was never quite drawn to this series because of - oh how it's hard to admit - the covers. The cartoon-y, comic-book-like covers led me to think these books would be rather juvenile. I should know better. I should know better about Seanan McGuire, specifically. This is anything but a light, fluffy, juvenile book. It is dark and almost anti-heroic. I found much of the book practically depressing, but engrossing.
Based solely on her powers, Velveteen hardly seems like the sort of superhero that we'd want to read about, which is part of the point, I'm sure. But it's Velveteen's personality, her life in general, that has us curious to be reading on.
Stylistically, this is an interesting book. It's both a collection of short stories, and it's a novel at the same time. My understanding is that these were written and originally presented as short stories (they each have their own copyright information), but I can't imagine trying to read any of these on their own. Context and conclusion are important and we only really get both by reading these as chapters of a book.
McGuire isn't afraid to bend reality and that's evident here. There are alternate versions of Velveteen and everyone she knows in the different realities that she navigates. Sometimes they're friends, sometimes enemies, sometimes they don't recognize one another. Readers need to read carefully and understand where the story takes place.
I do like, perhaps even prefer, character-driven books, but there was something about the story arcs here that didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped. These were not quite as engaging or exciting as the previous volume (Velveteen vs The Early Adventures). But you can't deny the writing skill of McGuire. She's poured a lot of energy into Velveteen and the character is a true hero in the classic sense that she grows and is transformed, understanding her role in the world.
Looking for a good book? Velveteen vs The Consequences of Her Actions, by Seanan McGuire, is books 3 & 4 in the Velveteen vs series. Whether you consider it a collection of short stories or one or two novels, it doesn't really matter. It may be important to have knowledge of what has gone before - I encourage anyone interested read the previous volume(s) before getting into this darker look at the superhero world.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 Stars- A truly unique novel and a great continuation of this series. I do not think that I have ever read series quite like this one and "Velveteen vs The Consequences of Her Actions," lived up to that statement. The novel is really a series of short stories but they are all connected.
In this installment of the series, Velveteen has to fulfill her promise to the seasons and serve her time in each one. The first set of stories deal with her time in winter, spring, and fall. Each season has a unique problem that Velveteen must face. She uses her animus powers to help her get through her required allotted time. However in each season she is increasingly lonely and only wants to finish so she can get back to the real world. After her time is up, Velveteen is back in the regular world but she is shocked by how much time has passed and how things have changed. She also has to figure out how to save Tad and right the things that are not as they should be. The rest of the novel tells the story of her and her friends as they try to save the world and make it a little better for all.
It has been years since I read the first two books in this series. I do recommend reading them before reading this one as it will help in understanding the characters' back stories. However there were appendixes to help understand who each character was and what their powers consisted of. This was of great help as I had forgotten a lot of what happened in the past.
This novel is a unique blend of super heroes crossed with fairy tales. Each short story was filled with action, great dialogue and a lot of heart. While reading this you can't help but root for Velveteen and her friends to come out on top. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves superheroes, for good to triumph over evil, smart characters, and stories where you never know quite what is going to happen.
Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
In this installment of the series, Velveteen has to fulfill her promise to the seasons and serve her time in each one. The first set of stories deal with her time in winter, spring, and fall. Each season has a unique problem that Velveteen must face. She uses her animus powers to help her get through her required allotted time. However in each season she is increasingly lonely and only wants to finish so she can get back to the real world. After her time is up, Velveteen is back in the regular world but she is shocked by how much time has passed and how things have changed. She also has to figure out how to save Tad and right the things that are not as they should be. The rest of the novel tells the story of her and her friends as they try to save the world and make it a little better for all.
It has been years since I read the first two books in this series. I do recommend reading them before reading this one as it will help in understanding the characters' back stories. However there were appendixes to help understand who each character was and what their powers consisted of. This was of great help as I had forgotten a lot of what happened in the past.
This novel is a unique blend of super heroes crossed with fairy tales. Each short story was filled with action, great dialogue and a lot of heart. While reading this you can't help but root for Velveteen and her friends to come out on top. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves superheroes, for good to triumph over evil, smart characters, and stories where you never know quite what is going to happen.
Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.
Velveteen vs. The Consequences of Her Actions does exactly as the title suggests, giving us the culmination of Velveteen's long meandering story as she deals with the events of the first two volumes of collected stories. This book reprints the short stories about Vel completing her service in the seasonal lands, and continues back at home as she deals with the many ways that things have changed since she left. Reality is warped, friends are twisted into new versions, and Tad is still asleep. The final story arc shows Velveteen resolving dangling threads from the previous volumes and struggling to once and for all figure out how to exist as an independent adult superhero.
It had been quite awhile since I read the previous collections, and it made this set a bit hard to get into at first. I would definitely recommend a re-read before starting. That said, I continue to love Seanan McGuire's take on superheroes and the realistic emotional and professional issues they might face in a world a bit closer to our own then many comic book universes. Over the years I've become quite invested in Vel and her friends, and so it was wonderful to finally get a satisfying conclusion to their stories. Also, McGuire's creative interpretation of various super powers is always a delight.
The Velveteen series is like entering a fully realized comic book universe that you've never heard of. The various powers, the politics, the multiverse, all feel refreshingly original while obviously taking inspiration from existing superhero stories. If you enjoy Seanan McGuire's writing then definitely check out this lesser known series, you won't be disappointed.
Velveteen vs. The Consequences of Her Actions does exactly as the title suggests, giving us the culmination of Velveteen's long meandering story as she deals with the events of the first two volumes of collected stories. This book reprints the short stories about Vel completing her service in the seasonal lands, and continues back at home as she deals with the many ways that things have changed since she left. Reality is warped, friends are twisted into new versions, and Tad is still asleep. The final story arc shows Velveteen resolving dangling threads from the previous volumes and struggling to once and for all figure out how to exist as an independent adult superhero.
It had been quite awhile since I read the previous collections, and it made this set a bit hard to get into at first. I would definitely recommend a re-read before starting. That said, I continue to love Seanan McGuire's take on superheroes and the realistic emotional and professional issues they might face in a world a bit closer to our own then many comic book universes. Over the years I've become quite invested in Vel and her friends, and so it was wonderful to finally get a satisfying conclusion to their stories. Also, McGuire's creative interpretation of various super powers is always a delight.
The Velveteen series is like entering a fully realized comic book universe that you've never heard of. The various powers, the politics, the multiverse, all feel refreshingly original while obviously taking inspiration from existing superhero stories. If you enjoy Seanan McGuire's writing then definitely check out this lesser known series, you won't be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book collects the second half of Seanan McGuire's Velveteen Vs stories. Velveteen has defeated Super Patriots, Inc. and now she has to live in the changed world she's created. Or rather she doesn't, since first she has to fulfill her promise to the Seasonal Lands. But trouble keeps brewing while Vel is away, and happy endings are often not as simple as they look.
This book was definitely weaker than the first volume for me. There is so much playing with altered timelines, reality warping, and memory modification that it became extremely hard to keep track of what anyone knew or thought they knew. The rules of reality didn't seem that consistent, especially in regards to the seasonal lands which are presented as sort of a global average of ideas about seasons, but which in reality seem to have no real influences outside of America. I also found that the many omniscient musings on superheroes was more disruptive than enriching. All that being said, I do still really like these characters, and McGuire does a really good job exploring all of the things they could be. This collection manages to be a take on superheroes that is somehow both conventional and original. Overall, I definitely have criticisms, but it is still a good option if you're looking for a modern superhero novel.
*This book is scheduled to be released on 5/31/26.
This book was definitely weaker than the first volume for me. There is so much playing with altered timelines, reality warping, and memory modification that it became extremely hard to keep track of what anyone knew or thought they knew. The rules of reality didn't seem that consistent, especially in regards to the seasonal lands which are presented as sort of a global average of ideas about seasons, but which in reality seem to have no real influences outside of America. I also found that the many omniscient musings on superheroes was more disruptive than enriching. All that being said, I do still really like these characters, and McGuire does a really good job exploring all of the things they could be. This collection manages to be a take on superheroes that is somehow both conventional and original. Overall, I definitely have criticisms, but it is still a good option if you're looking for a modern superhero novel.
*This book is scheduled to be released on 5/31/26.
June 3, 2026
Velveteen vs. The Consequences of Her Actions by Seanan McGuire is fun and thoughtful, one of the few series that I haven’t read previously. Made up of a series of short stories, all interconnected, this is volume three. While I was able to follow along easily, I do recommend reading the first two volumes first if you can but mostly because this volume was so much fun to read.
What I liked the most was how thoughtful the ideas were behind superheroes, fairytales and holiday magic. I feel like the roots of all the different types of stories all come from the same place, the desire to create heroes and magic and Seanan McGuire is fantastic at presenting those concepts, especially the multiple ways the universe can be designed. Her concepts are brilliant and I love the way she expresses how life as a hero impacts Velveteen and her friends. While the heroes do survive, I love the battles and challenges they face along the way.
If you love superheroes, fairytales and holiday magic and Seanan McGuire, I definitely suggest checking this out. Even though it is short stories, it is woven like one long novel and the brilliance of it is that it is done in a realistic way. I love the various challenges. This was a fun and thoughtful read.
What I liked the most was how thoughtful the ideas were behind superheroes, fairytales and holiday magic. I feel like the roots of all the different types of stories all come from the same place, the desire to create heroes and magic and Seanan McGuire is fantastic at presenting those concepts, especially the multiple ways the universe can be designed. Her concepts are brilliant and I love the way she expresses how life as a hero impacts Velveteen and her friends. While the heroes do survive, I love the battles and challenges they face along the way.
If you love superheroes, fairytales and holiday magic and Seanan McGuire, I definitely suggest checking this out. Even though it is short stories, it is woven like one long novel and the brilliance of it is that it is done in a realistic way. I love the various challenges. This was a fun and thoughtful read.
June 29, 2026
Honestly I could read anything that Seanan McGuire writes and be entertained. And I love that these serial stories are being bundled up and released as books. I loved the first one, Velveteen vs the Early Adventures and I am glad to have gotten to read the continuation, especially since I had to find out what was going to happen with Tag locked in a glass coffin and Velveteen needing to begin service for he Seasons as repayment for her favor.
What with this being a bunch of short stories with an overarching storyline connecting them, it was nice to be able to read a chapter here and there (or sit and devour great chunks if I had time) and get lost in the world of superheroes and all the changes now that the Super Patriots had been defeated and no one was being brainwashed anymore. You get to see not only Velveteen grow, but her other friends, from Action Dude to Polychrome and Princess and hard choices are made to save the world and other friends.
This was a great book and while the covers (which are still gorgeous) show happy faces, this story has all the feels and I loved getting the chance to read this! And while I know it ties everything up, I really wouldn't mind getting a glimpse of Velveteen and her friends again, maybe 10 years later? :)
What with this being a bunch of short stories with an overarching storyline connecting them, it was nice to be able to read a chapter here and there (or sit and devour great chunks if I had time) and get lost in the world of superheroes and all the changes now that the Super Patriots had been defeated and no one was being brainwashed anymore. You get to see not only Velveteen grow, but her other friends, from Action Dude to Polychrome and Princess and hard choices are made to save the world and other friends.
This was a great book and while the covers (which are still gorgeous) show happy faces, this story has all the feels and I loved getting the chance to read this! And while I know it ties everything up, I really wouldn't mind getting a glimpse of Velveteen and her friends again, maybe 10 years later? :)
September 1, 2026
Seanan McGuire is a great author who just keeps getting better, she does her research and produces well written book that actually make the reader think. I have compared her to Dunsany, an equally valid comparison would be to Stephen King when he was at his best. The asides and thoughts really add to the book for me, without these this would be just another superhero story
I loved the "Velveteen" series from the get go and this gook provides some closure for the series. The nature of superheroes and their relation to the seasons is also explored in greater depth. Really a must read for Velveteen fans
Of course I recommend this book as I have all of the author's body of work. It is a great mystery to me why this particular author is not consistently at the top of the best seller lists. As I mentioned earlier her books just keep getting better with each new series
I loved the "Velveteen" series from the get go and this gook provides some closure for the series. The nature of superheroes and their relation to the seasons is also explored in greater depth. Really a must read for Velveteen fans
Of course I recommend this book as I have all of the author's body of work. It is a great mystery to me why this particular author is not consistently at the top of the best seller lists. As I mentioned earlier her books just keep getting better with each new series
May 31, 2026
Seanan McGuire has been writing about the superhero Velveteen who can animate toys since 2008, Last year Subterranean Press published the early stories in Velveteen vs. The Early Adventures (hard). This year Velveteen vs. The Consequences of Her Actions (hard) has the remaining tales, including many that had never been together before. I’ve been in love with this weird series that can send our heroine into the seasonal lands that are permanently one season and into multidimensions that can change her and the rest of humanity into dinosaurs. Getting the full story with a “happy ending” was worth the wait. Enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love that we're actually getting a full collection of these now, because we're getting to the parts of the story that up until now have been Patreon-exclusive for Seanan, and I know there are a lot of readers from the LJ days who are wondering how the hell this was gonna turn out. We get more into how Seasonal heroes work here, along with the nature of reality bending while we're at it. Just a fun, absurd ride, in the best kind of way. Comes out at the end of May, and highly recommended when it does!
November 25, 2025
Not my cup of tea, but the stories were intriguing. The author does a good job of developing the plot and characters. If this is your type of book, you will probably enjoy it. Sadly, it was not mine, but I can recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 22, 2026
As a series wrap-up, this is a pretty good ending. Most of the holes are filled, and there's a decent resolution for the main characters.
July 25, 2026
Fun tale of likable superheroes who live in a world that’s also mingled with the worlds of Winter and the other seasons. For any lover of fantasy! Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for the pre-release copy of Seanan McGuire's Velveteen vs. the Consequences of Her Actions. Below is my honest review.
It would seem Seanan has a thing for personifying the seasons into fun characters (see: Alchemical Journeys series), because this one has Velveteen visiting three of the seasons - Winter, Spring, and Autumn - to see if she wants to pledge herself to any of them. She's doing this as a result of the promise she made in the last volume, and boy do the seasons have it out for her. So of course, lots of hijinks ensue.
I love all the characters in these, and I love how much McGuire makes sure to show how deeply the characters care about each other and the lengths they will go to in order to save one another.
This one was lots of fun (for the reader... the poor characters are put through hell!), and I was really happy with how it all tied up.
Highly recommended, but hopefully you've read either Volumes 1 & 2 or their omnibus combination, Velveteen vs. The Early Adventures. This is a direct continuation of that storyline, consisting of Volumes 3 & 4.
It would seem Seanan has a thing for personifying the seasons into fun characters (see: Alchemical Journeys series), because this one has Velveteen visiting three of the seasons - Winter, Spring, and Autumn - to see if she wants to pledge herself to any of them. She's doing this as a result of the promise she made in the last volume, and boy do the seasons have it out for her. So of course, lots of hijinks ensue.
I love all the characters in these, and I love how much McGuire makes sure to show how deeply the characters care about each other and the lengths they will go to in order to save one another.
This one was lots of fun (for the reader... the poor characters are put through hell!), and I was really happy with how it all tied up.
Highly recommended, but hopefully you've read either Volumes 1 & 2 or their omnibus combination, Velveteen vs. The Early Adventures. This is a direct continuation of that storyline, consisting of Volumes 3 & 4.
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