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InCryptid #6.2
Black as Blood
Things are getting serious between Ryan Yukimura and Istas of the Waheela—enough so that it's time for Istas to experience one of the great milestones of a tanuki relationship. It's time for her to meet the parents. Of course, that means flying to the other side of the country, in a plane packed full of humans, to spend time in someone else's territory. What could possibly go wrong?
Unfortunately for Istas, the humans aren't the problem. When confronted with the stark reality that she and Ryan will never be members of the same species, will she be able to continue with the relationship? Or will she be forced to admit that blood will always tell, and that in the cryptid world, she will always be a monster?
Unfortunately for Istas, the humans aren't the problem. When confronted with the stark reality that she and Ryan will never be members of the same species, will she be able to continue with the relationship? Or will she be forced to admit that blood will always tell, and that in the cryptid world, she will always be a monster?
24 pages, ebook
First published January 8, 2014
About the author
Seanan McGuire
514 books17.3k 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 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 9, 2017
Poor Istas, Ryan's family was pretty horrible all things considered.
I like them together and it was interesting to get some more background into waheela and why Ryan is maybe everything Istas would want in a mate.
But like the first time may people meet there future mother in laws when you are different cultures and species it is not going to be smooth sailing when they thought their son would pick a different path.
Mayhem now please.
I like them together and it was interesting to get some more background into waheela and why Ryan is maybe everything Istas would want in a mate.
But like the first time may people meet there future mother in laws when you are different cultures and species it is not going to be smooth sailing when they thought their son would pick a different path.
Mayhem now please.
November 8, 2016
You know that saying "be careful what you wish for" well I should have heeded that before getting excited about the fact we were getting to meet Ryan's family because unfortunately they're a rather prejudiced and mean lot. Not as violent and aggressive as Istas' family for sure but certainly much ruder.
You see Ryan is a tanuki, a Japanese shapeshifter with several forms but all apart from the human version have similarities with the Japanese racoon dog. His kind has been nearly wiped out by the Covenant of St George (we already know what a lovely bunch they aren't from the main books!) so his family have been encouraging Ryan to find a mate and settle down. Unfortunately they're not happy that he's chosen Istas. She's a waheela and her breed is considered monsters by most of the other cryptids. Istas was born on the frozen wastes of the north and she has to fight against the constant hunger that is inside all waheela but Istas has worked hard to get to where she is now and Ryan adores her.
I was incredibly annoyed with Ryan's family (especially his AWFUL mother!) because they didn't even give Istas a chance before shunning her. I was prepared for them to be wary but they should trust Ryan enough to know he wouldn't bring home some kind of a monster who was going to attack them all as soon as she walked through the door and I felt they could have at least tried to get to know Istas before being so mean to her. I absolutely loved Istas' set down to his mother but it ended a bit abruptly after that and I needed his family to have made more of an effort to apologise. Just extending it by a single scene where they attempted to build bridges would have made it a much more satisfying read. It seems a bit petty to complain about a free short story though and I'm glad I still have one more left to read about this couple so I'm hoping things will be resolved in White as a Raven's Wing.
You see Ryan is a tanuki, a Japanese shapeshifter with several forms but all apart from the human version have similarities with the Japanese racoon dog. His kind has been nearly wiped out by the Covenant of St George (we already know what a lovely bunch they aren't from the main books!) so his family have been encouraging Ryan to find a mate and settle down. Unfortunately they're not happy that he's chosen Istas. She's a waheela and her breed is considered monsters by most of the other cryptids. Istas was born on the frozen wastes of the north and she has to fight against the constant hunger that is inside all waheela but Istas has worked hard to get to where she is now and Ryan adores her.
I was incredibly annoyed with Ryan's family (especially his AWFUL mother!) because they didn't even give Istas a chance before shunning her. I was prepared for them to be wary but they should trust Ryan enough to know he wouldn't bring home some kind of a monster who was going to attack them all as soon as she walked through the door and I felt they could have at least tried to get to know Istas before being so mean to her. I absolutely loved Istas' set down to his mother but it ended a bit abruptly after that and I needed his family to have made more of an effort to apologise. Just extending it by a single scene where they attempted to build bridges would have made it a much more satisfying read. It seems a bit petty to complain about a free short story though and I'm glad I still have one more left to read about this couple so I'm hoping things will be resolved in White as a Raven's Wing.
February 5, 2017
Ryan's family is full of asshats. >:(
January 3, 2017
So, since we met Istas family in the last short, I was hopeful that we'd meet Ryan's family under somewhat better circumstances soon.
I ... kind of got my wish. We do meet Ryan's family here, but it's not all I was hoping for.
Thankfully, Ryan and Istas make up for that. Istas is amazing and confident and everything I want. Ryan loves her, is supportive and awesome and doesn't care what his family thinks.
Also, the biology stuff in here about mating and children is fascinating to me.
I ... kind of got my wish. We do meet Ryan's family here, but it's not all I was hoping for.
Thankfully, Ryan and Istas make up for that. Istas is amazing and confident and everything I want. Ryan loves her, is supportive and awesome and doesn't care what his family thinks.
Also, the biology stuff in here about mating and children is fascinating to me.
January 10, 2017
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Not focusing on the Price family, this short story rather follows Istas and Ryan as they go through a daunting phase in any relationship, let alone when being two different kinds of Cryptids.
Another nice story, but I didn't like it too much as some of the characters were extremely prejudiced.
Not focusing on the Price family, this short story rather follows Istas and Ryan as they go through a daunting phase in any relationship, let alone when being two different kinds of Cryptids.
Another nice story, but I didn't like it too much as some of the characters were extremely prejudiced.
December 22, 2024
Ryan is a sweetheart, but Istas is spectacular. I wish them a very long and happy life together.
July 6, 2021
Meet the family
I will begin by explaining what I'm reviewing here. Seanan McGuire has written a lot of short stories in The Incryptid Series. You can find a couple dozen of the older ones listed on the Incryptid Short Stories page on her web site. (Note, she has also published many stories through her Patreon site. They are not listed on the the Incryptid Short Stories page on her website, although many of them are listed in her bibliography.)
The stories are divided into groups, which can be divided into two supergoups: those that occur before Half-Off Ragnarok, and those that occur after. The first supergroup mostly concerns the early backstory of the Healy/Price family in the USA. The post-Half-Off Ragnarok stories are about the present-day (more or less -- 21st century) Prices and cryptids. It is this second group that I'm reviewing here. BE WARNED: spoilers for Half-Off Ragnarok follow.
These are the stories in question:
Verity Price and Dominic De Luca:
The Ghosts of Bourbon Street, free download from McGuire's web site
Snake in the Glass, free download from McGuire's web site
Swamp Bromeliad, free download from McGuire's web site
Waking Up In Vegas, free download from McGuire's web site
Antimony Price:
Blocked, free download from McGuire's web site
Bad Dream Girl, in the Anthology Glitter & Mayhem
Jammed, in the Anthology Games Creatures Play
Survival Horror, in the Anthology Press Start to Play
Sarah Zellaby and Arthur Harrington
IM, free download from McGuire's web site
Istas and Ryan
Red as Snow, in Anthology Hex in the City
Black as Blood, free download from McGuire's web site
White as a Raven's Wing, free download from McGuire's web site
Eliza
Balance, in Anthology Urban Enemies
The Verity and Dominic stories all take place after Half-Off Ragnarok and reflect the state of things as they were left at the end of that book. Half-Off Ragnarok had two main consequences for the future of the Incryptid world: Dominic De Luca is now irrevocably committed to Verity and severed from the Covenant. In fact, the Covenant believes he is dead, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Sarah, who damaged herself modifying the memories of the participants in Half-Off Ragnarok. So, there are the promised spoilers: Verity and Dominic are now a couple (this will come as a surprise to precisely no one), and Sarah has hurt herself badly.
Verity and Dominic are driving from New York to Portland in a rented U-Haul truck so that Dominic can be introduced to Verity's family. They are driving because Verity has a colony of Aeslin mice to transport -- not easily accomplished by air. Also, Verity is taking the scenic route, to introduce Dominic to various folks. The first story in this series, The Ghosts of Bourbon Street, is a crossover, in that it also belongs to McGuire's Ghost Road series -- you meet Rose Marshall, the main character of those books. Some other old friends show up: the Carmichael hotel in Chicago, and the Swamp Bromeliad in Buckley Township, Michigan. This series of stories ends as intended, with Verity introducing Dominic to her family in Portland.
Most of the Antimony stories have no obvious relation to the events of Half-Off Ragnarok. One may suppose they occur before that. If you have read the first three Incryptid novels you have sort-of been introduced to Antimony, because she features heavily in Verity's recollections of growing up, as the annoying little sister who excelled in such Price family staple skills as extreme survival, setting traps, and demolition. Now, introduced to Antimony in person, we see that she has complementary memories of Verity and Alex as the older siblings who her parents (in Antimony's view) always seemed to value more than her. Antimony becomes a roller-derby skater in these stories. A word about the anthologies: I read only one non-McGuire story. Several reviewers of Glitter & Mayhem, mentioned the story about the dancing princesses, so I read that on, too. It was OK. Jammed appeared in Games Creatures Play, which appears to be out of print. I couldn't easily get a copy, so I listened to the audiobook version. Survival Horror is in the Anthology Press Start to Play -- I read none of the other stories. The Antimony stores were a fun intro to Antimony, whom I now look forward to encountering in the novels. They also introduce her cousin Elsinor Harrington, whose father is an incubus, making Elsie a succubus.
That brings us to Antimony's other cousin, Elsie's brother Arthur (Artie). We have actually heard quite a bit about Artie in the novels because he and Sarah are hopelessly in love, and Verity also tends to phone Artie when she needs geek skills. IM is really all about whether Sarah is going to recover.
Istas is a kind of fun character. We met her in the Verity Price novels, where she works as a cocktail waitress at the place where Verity works, and fights at Verity's side. She's a sort of werewolf/werebear (as is her main squeeze Ryan). But what's fun about her is her very direct, uncomplicated way of thinking and speaking.
The final story, Balance, is about a cuckoo who, as far as I know, appears nowhere else in the Incryptid world. I didn't enjoy this story as much as the rest.
In summary, these stories are a good way to meet the Price/Harrington families. I give them four stars, except for Balance, which rates only three.
I will begin by explaining what I'm reviewing here. Seanan McGuire has written a lot of short stories in The Incryptid Series. You can find a couple dozen of the older ones listed on the Incryptid Short Stories page on her web site. (Note, she has also published many stories through her Patreon site. They are not listed on the the Incryptid Short Stories page on her website, although many of them are listed in her bibliography.)
The stories are divided into groups, which can be divided into two supergoups: those that occur before Half-Off Ragnarok, and those that occur after. The first supergroup mostly concerns the early backstory of the Healy/Price family in the USA. The post-Half-Off Ragnarok stories are about the present-day (more or less -- 21st century) Prices and cryptids. It is this second group that I'm reviewing here. BE WARNED: spoilers for Half-Off Ragnarok follow.
These are the stories in question:
Verity Price and Dominic De Luca:
The Ghosts of Bourbon Street, free download from McGuire's web site
Snake in the Glass, free download from McGuire's web site
Swamp Bromeliad, free download from McGuire's web site
Waking Up In Vegas, free download from McGuire's web site
Antimony Price:
Blocked, free download from McGuire's web site
Bad Dream Girl, in the Anthology Glitter & Mayhem
Jammed, in the Anthology Games Creatures Play
Survival Horror, in the Anthology Press Start to Play
Sarah Zellaby and Arthur Harrington
IM, free download from McGuire's web site
Istas and Ryan
Red as Snow, in Anthology Hex in the City
Black as Blood, free download from McGuire's web site
White as a Raven's Wing, free download from McGuire's web site
Eliza
Balance, in Anthology Urban Enemies
The Verity and Dominic stories all take place after Half-Off Ragnarok and reflect the state of things as they were left at the end of that book. Half-Off Ragnarok had two main consequences for the future of the Incryptid world: Dominic De Luca is now irrevocably committed to Verity and severed from the Covenant. In fact, the Covenant believes he is dead, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Sarah, who damaged herself modifying the memories of the participants in Half-Off Ragnarok. So, there are the promised spoilers: Verity and Dominic are now a couple (this will come as a surprise to precisely no one), and Sarah has hurt herself badly.
Verity and Dominic are driving from New York to Portland in a rented U-Haul truck so that Dominic can be introduced to Verity's family. They are driving because Verity has a colony of Aeslin mice to transport -- not easily accomplished by air. Also, Verity is taking the scenic route, to introduce Dominic to various folks. The first story in this series, The Ghosts of Bourbon Street, is a crossover, in that it also belongs to McGuire's Ghost Road series -- you meet Rose Marshall, the main character of those books. Some other old friends show up: the Carmichael hotel in Chicago, and the Swamp Bromeliad in Buckley Township, Michigan. This series of stories ends as intended, with Verity introducing Dominic to her family in Portland.
Most of the Antimony stories have no obvious relation to the events of Half-Off Ragnarok. One may suppose they occur before that. If you have read the first three Incryptid novels you have sort-of been introduced to Antimony, because she features heavily in Verity's recollections of growing up, as the annoying little sister who excelled in such Price family staple skills as extreme survival, setting traps, and demolition. Now, introduced to Antimony in person, we see that she has complementary memories of Verity and Alex as the older siblings who her parents (in Antimony's view) always seemed to value more than her. Antimony becomes a roller-derby skater in these stories. A word about the anthologies: I read only one non-McGuire story. Several reviewers of Glitter & Mayhem, mentioned the story about the dancing princesses, so I read that on, too. It was OK. Jammed appeared in Games Creatures Play, which appears to be out of print. I couldn't easily get a copy, so I listened to the audiobook version. Survival Horror is in the Anthology Press Start to Play -- I read none of the other stories. The Antimony stores were a fun intro to Antimony, whom I now look forward to encountering in the novels. They also introduce her cousin Elsinor Harrington, whose father is an incubus, making Elsie a succubus.
That brings us to Antimony's other cousin, Elsie's brother Arthur (Artie). We have actually heard quite a bit about Artie in the novels because he and Sarah are hopelessly in love, and Verity also tends to phone Artie when she needs geek skills. IM is really all about whether Sarah is going to recover.
Istas is a kind of fun character. We met her in the Verity Price novels, where she works as a cocktail waitress at the place where Verity works, and fights at Verity's side. She's a sort of werewolf/werebear (as is her main squeeze Ryan). But what's fun about her is her very direct, uncomplicated way of thinking and speaking.
The final story, Balance, is about a cuckoo who, as far as I know, appears nowhere else in the Incryptid world. I didn't enjoy this story as much as the rest.
In summary, these stories are a good way to meet the Price/Harrington families. I give them four stars, except for Balance, which rates only three.
September 20, 2017
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
2.6 - Black as Blood
4 stars
Would it be redundant if I chanted "Istas" again? *chants* Istas, Istas, Istas . . .
Oh well. Can't be helped.
1. Ryan's family, with the possible exception of his sister Christine, SUCK.
2. Istas is brave and determined and loyal and ALL the good things.
I love her. She's deserves happiness. She deserves to be more than the cryptid community's opinion of Waheela. *growls*
2.6 - Black as Blood
4 stars
Would it be redundant if I chanted "Istas" again? *chants* Istas, Istas, Istas . . .
Oh well. Can't be helped.
1. Ryan's family, with the possible exception of his sister Christine, SUCK.
2. Istas is brave and determined and loyal and ALL the good things.
I love her. She's deserves happiness. She deserves to be more than the cryptid community's opinion of Waheela. *growls*
October 25, 2023
Black as Blood follows an InCryptid Universe character named Ryan. He's a tanuka, which doesn't mean much if you haven't read the series. So, I would dive into that first if I was you. Ryan is introduced early in the series, and this particular story is set after the second book.
This one well...it hits. Ryan's family history isn't great, so this story will likely make readers want to hug, cuddle, and protect him (though I would advise against all of that, as he already has a protective/possessive girlfriend).
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This one well...it hits. Ryan's family history isn't great, so this story will likely make readers want to hug, cuddle, and protect him (though I would advise against all of that, as he already has a protective/possessive girlfriend).
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
September 10, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
3.5*
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
3.5*
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
May 18, 2018
"I require a hairdresser, a manicurist, and a steak the size of my torso."
Ryan smiled. "You got it, honey."
We met Ryan and Istas in Discount Armageddon and learned more about them in Midnight Blue-Light Special. Istas is probably my favorite character so far. I love how completely alien she seems while being completely comfortable with herself. Ryan takes her home to "meet the parents." Yeah-that went well.
Ryan smiled. "You got it, honey."
We met Ryan and Istas in Discount Armageddon and learned more about them in Midnight Blue-Light Special. Istas is probably my favorite character so far. I love how completely alien she seems while being completely comfortable with herself. Ryan takes her home to "meet the parents." Yeah-that went well.
June 19, 2020
4.5*
Istas remains the most interesting character so far in InCryptid. This time, we meet Ryan's family, which is fun. The depth of Istas' pain regarding her species was poignant, and most of the story, from the plane ride onward, was her working to override her base instincts to great effect. I nearly cried.
There were a couple of hard to follow lines ("Ryan stepped over the threshold and kissed her on the cheek. I did not." Took me a moment to realize she had, in fact, tossed over the threshold, for instance. Issues like this cropped up at least once more.)
Istas remains the most interesting character so far in InCryptid. This time, we meet Ryan's family, which is fun. The depth of Istas' pain regarding her species was poignant, and most of the story, from the plane ride onward, was her working to override her base instincts to great effect. I nearly cried.
There were a couple of hard to follow lines ("Ryan stepped over the threshold and kissed her on the cheek. I did not." Took me a moment to realize she had, in fact, tossed over the threshold, for instance. Issues like this cropped up at least once more.)
November 1, 2025
The second of the Istas & Ryan shorts. I read all three of these one after another, and think they could easily be read so after the first two Verity books without spoiling anything. The goings-on of the rest of the world don't really affect their story, so there's no need to wait.
I still love Istas as narrator, but while this entry gives us a little more of Ryan's history, he still comes across as rather flat. Even here, in Ryan's hometown, the focus is on Istas. No action, but some interesting background on Ryan in specific and tanuki in general.
I still love Istas as narrator, but while this entry gives us a little more of Ryan's history, he still comes across as rather flat. Even here, in Ryan's hometown, the focus is on Istas. No action, but some interesting background on Ryan in specific and tanuki in general.
January 13, 2021
i like to read the whole "partner's family is suspicious of main character and then the MC winning them over or at least mollifying them in some way" thing.
Ryan's family has good reason to be wary of Istas, who has way more baggage than any reasonable person/cryptid can be expected to handle. She does though, so it works out.
Ryan's family has good reason to be wary of Istas, who has way more baggage than any reasonable person/cryptid can be expected to handle. She does though, so it works out.
June 6, 2024
The woods calling to the girl who comes from the North Wind. Understanding the importance of accessories. Standing up to those who don't like her and realizing it has to start with her knowing herself enough to stand up.
"I need a manicurist, a hairstylist, and a steak the size of my waist"
"I need a manicurist, a hairstylist, and a steak the size of my waist"
June 24, 2017
Loved seeing Izzy with Ryan's family, and yeah, that she'll fight for them! Loved it!
March 25, 2018
I adore Istas.
July 16, 2018
Go Istas!!!
March 27, 2019
SO FREAKING GOOD.
April 3, 2019
Another InCryptid short story.
Entertaining-ish, I suppose.
Entertaining-ish, I suppose.
April 27, 2019
Izzy is so interesting. This was a good take with her and Ryan.
April 28, 2023
I enjoyed this book! It was very interesting reading a story from an "alient" point of view.
May 16, 2023
This story honestly just solidified Istas as my favorite InCryptid character. She is amazing and I love her. Ryan's mom on the other hand... lady, take your prejudices and shove them where the sun don't shine. Trust your son.
July 31, 2023
I gave it such a high rating because I'm as awkward and weird as Istas (tho not a hungry carnivore) and I love her decision at the end.
Read
October 11, 2023this shape-shifting carnivore is autistic! (in my opinion)
September 26, 2024
Istas is an amazing character. I would read a whole series on her adventures!
March 30, 2026
See review for all 3 short stories in the series here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 19, 2024
I read Black as Blood and White as a Raven’s Wing out of order, which kind of gave away a little bit of this short story. But, it was still enjoyable… like everything that McGuire writes.
I love that this is about Ryan taking Istas home to meet his family, and that they don’t necessarily feel all that friendly towards her and her status and Ryan’s mate. I mean, they are outright cruel and prejudiced against Issy, yet, she is able to overcome this and still maintain her dignity. It’s a little bit too cute. Particularly when it comes down to her final moment with Ryan’s mum in which she is able to win over the day.
Ryan is ridiculously loyal, not just to Istas, but also to his family. I love that Issy understands this, and finds a way to make it work, just so that her partner doesn’t have to choose and have his heart broken. The importance of family seeps from the pages of this story, and I seriously enjoyed reading about such a content couple.
I love that this is about Ryan taking Istas home to meet his family, and that they don’t necessarily feel all that friendly towards her and her status and Ryan’s mate. I mean, they are outright cruel and prejudiced against Issy, yet, she is able to overcome this and still maintain her dignity. It’s a little bit too cute. Particularly when it comes down to her final moment with Ryan’s mum in which she is able to win over the day.
Ryan is ridiculously loyal, not just to Istas, but also to his family. I love that Issy understands this, and finds a way to make it work, just so that her partner doesn’t have to choose and have his heart broken. The importance of family seeps from the pages of this story, and I seriously enjoyed reading about such a content couple.
August 5, 2015
It's one of Seanan McGuire's free short stories (PDF, MOBI, and ePUB) — 2.5 in the InCryptid urban fantasy series with the focus on Antimony Price.
My Take
The story is useful information, but definitely NOT one of my favorites. I suspect it's that bitch of a mother. Hmmm, I also think I'm missing the Aeslin mice. Not that I'm that impressed with the rest of the Yukimura family. The ending was also too abrupt. Lord, whine, whine, whine. It's freakin' free story, and I'm whining!
It is an interesting introduction to waheela culture as well as to Izzy. You'd never expect something as big as she is to be so concerned with her very feminine clothing. Her stilted speech and excessively literal interpretation of what's said to her is another fascinating aspect.
The prejudice, the bigotry are set against the very civilized waheela. I do love how Izzy confronts Ryan's mom at the end!
The Story
It's the first time Ryan has brought a girl home to meet his family, and he's tense. He's tanuki, she's waheela, and a tanuki must mate and have children to build their species back up after the Covenant massacres.
The Characters
Ryan Yukimura is the bartender at the Freakshow; he's also a tanuki.
Istas "Izzy" is a waheela who loves wearing Lolita-style clothing — it's obsessively important to her to dress appropriately for any occasion. She's also worked very hard to overcome her waheela nature. To pull in her constant need to destroy.
Ryan's family is...
...in Seattle and already hate Izzy. Yukimura "Ako" Chiyako is his mother. His father, Paul, is human and a witch (small charms and runic magic). Christine and Michael are two of his siblings.
Kitty owns the Freakshow.
Tanuki are a Japanese therianthrope capable of transforming into a variety of forms which echo the Japanese racoon-dog. Waheela live in the cold and suffer from constant hunger and is one of the reasons they eat their young. They are considered mindless killers who happen to look like the First People of Canada in their human form while they look like wolf-bears in their animal form. The Covenant of St. George killed most of the tanuki and mating is excessively important to them.
The Cover and Title
The cover is Izzy with her feathered fascinator and a fitted deep red velvet coat with wide lapels. It's a contrast with the dressed-up Izzy against the huge trees of a Seattle forest.
The title is a bit of a conundrum. I want to say it's Ryan's family with their actions as "Black as Blood", but it could also be how the waheela are perceived in the crytozoid community.
My Take
The story is useful information, but definitely NOT one of my favorites. I suspect it's that bitch of a mother. Hmmm, I also think I'm missing the Aeslin mice. Not that I'm that impressed with the rest of the Yukimura family. The ending was also too abrupt. Lord, whine, whine, whine. It's freakin' free story, and I'm whining!
It is an interesting introduction to waheela culture as well as to Izzy. You'd never expect something as big as she is to be so concerned with her very feminine clothing. Her stilted speech and excessively literal interpretation of what's said to her is another fascinating aspect.
The prejudice, the bigotry are set against the very civilized waheela. I do love how Izzy confronts Ryan's mom at the end!
The Story
It's the first time Ryan has brought a girl home to meet his family, and he's tense. He's tanuki, she's waheela, and a tanuki must mate and have children to build their species back up after the Covenant massacres.
The Characters
Ryan Yukimura is the bartender at the Freakshow; he's also a tanuki.
Istas "Izzy" is a waheela who loves wearing Lolita-style clothing — it's obsessively important to her to dress appropriately for any occasion. She's also worked very hard to overcome her waheela nature. To pull in her constant need to destroy.
Ryan's family is...
...in Seattle and already hate Izzy. Yukimura "Ako" Chiyako is his mother. His father, Paul, is human and a witch (small charms and runic magic). Christine and Michael are two of his siblings.
Kitty owns the Freakshow.
Tanuki are a Japanese therianthrope capable of transforming into a variety of forms which echo the Japanese racoon-dog. Waheela live in the cold and suffer from constant hunger and is one of the reasons they eat their young. They are considered mindless killers who happen to look like the First People of Canada in their human form while they look like wolf-bears in their animal form. The Covenant of St. George killed most of the tanuki and mating is excessively important to them.
The Cover and Title
The cover is Izzy with her feathered fascinator and a fitted deep red velvet coat with wide lapels. It's a contrast with the dressed-up Izzy against the huge trees of a Seattle forest.
The title is a bit of a conundrum. I want to say it's Ryan's family with their actions as "Black as Blood", but it could also be how the waheela are perceived in the crytozoid community.
January 21, 2014
This post was originally posted on Notes of a Book Lover
Thank you to the ever-generous Seanan McGuire for providing us with another short story set in the InCryptid world!
This is the first story I read that has Istas and Ryan as the main characters. (There is one before this but I haven't read it yet). I like this new point of view because it shows me what Istas is thinking and the difficulties she encounters in being a better and more considerate Waheela. This short story definitely adds to the depth of the InCryptid series.
I find Ryan, Christine, Michael and Paul very interesting because there isn't much development of them in the short story but I really like what I saw from the glimpses I caught. I would love to know more about them.
However, I think that this short story could have been further developed. The last scene, when Istas expresses her intentions to Ryan's mum, is a tad too abrupt for me. Ryan's mum accepts Istas too easily and fast after her strong opposition at the start of the short story.
Just saying, I dislike Michael because he seems mean. At first, I was rather sympathetic to him because his parents were going to force him to breed with another woman even though he had a lover. But he was so mean to Istas! Now I'm not going to sympathise him!
Overall, I still like this short story for the alternative POV it provides. I would definitely recommend this short story to any InCryptid fan.
Thank you to the ever-generous Seanan McGuire for providing us with another short story set in the InCryptid world!
This is the first story I read that has Istas and Ryan as the main characters. (There is one before this but I haven't read it yet). I like this new point of view because it shows me what Istas is thinking and the difficulties she encounters in being a better and more considerate Waheela. This short story definitely adds to the depth of the InCryptid series.
I find Ryan, Christine, Michael and Paul very interesting because there isn't much development of them in the short story but I really like what I saw from the glimpses I caught. I would love to know more about them.
However, I think that this short story could have been further developed. The last scene, when Istas expresses her intentions to Ryan's mum, is a tad too abrupt for me. Ryan's mum accepts Istas too easily and fast after her strong opposition at the start of the short story.
Just saying, I dislike Michael because he seems mean. At first, I was rather sympathetic to him because his parents were going to force him to breed with another woman even though he had a lover. But he was so mean to Istas! Now I'm not going to sympathise him!
Overall, I still like this short story for the alternative POV it provides. I would definitely recommend this short story to any InCryptid fan.
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