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Ghost Roads #1.2
The Ghosts of Bourbon Street
Verity Price and Dominic De Luca are currently putting their relationship through what can only be termed the ultimate stress-test: they're traveling from one side of the country to the other in a rented U-Haul, accompanied only by Verity's colony of Aeslin mice and the contents of her iPod. (Dominic is receiving a crash course in modern dance and pop music.)
But what's a road trip without a hidden purpose? Verity knows she's driving Dominic toward the biggest confrontation of his life—her parents—and that means she needs to start easing him in gently. What better way than with a stop in New Orleans to drink layered cocktails and meet her fun-loving Aunt Rose, who just happens to be a Predeceased American?
Poor Dominic didn't set out to become part of a ghost story, but it looks like that's exactly what's happening, as the old, new, and undead collide all over Bourbon Street.
(Best read after Half-Off Ragnarok.)
But what's a road trip without a hidden purpose? Verity knows she's driving Dominic toward the biggest confrontation of his life—her parents—and that means she needs to start easing him in gently. What better way than with a stop in New Orleans to drink layered cocktails and meet her fun-loving Aunt Rose, who just happens to be a Predeceased American?
Poor Dominic didn't set out to become part of a ghost story, but it looks like that's exactly what's happening, as the old, new, and undead collide all over Bourbon Street.
(Best read after Half-Off Ragnarok.)
60 pages, ebook
First published March 11, 2014
About the author
Seanan McGuire
515 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 75 reviews
December 2, 2016
If you've already read Half-Off Ragnarok (which I'd actually recommend you do before starting this short story so if you haven't look away now!) then you'll remember that when Alex phoned Verity she was just arriving in New Orleans with Dominic, well The Ghosts of Bourbon Street fill us in on what they got up to while they were there.
Verity and Dominic are in the process of driving cross-country across America as Verity moves back home to be nearer to her family. It's the ultimate test of their relationship, especially since Verity is still introducing Dominic to the cryptid world her family is so deeply a part of. She's trying to desensitise him to crazy happenings before she eventually has to take him home to meet her parents and she decides that a good place to start would be introducing her ghostly aunt Rose. What should be a relatively fun night partying with a dead relative gets a little more complicated when another ghost asks for their assistance.
I really enjoyed catching back up with this couple, poor Dominic really has been thrown in at the deep end since he first met Verity and the pressure hasn't let up yet. He's still coming to terms with the fact that pretty much everything the Covenant raised him to believe is actually a pack of lies and he's definitely nowhere near as knowledgeable about supernatural creatures as Verity and her family are. Verity doesn't believe in making it easy on him though, she's much more of a throw-you-off-the-boat-and-hope-you-learn-to-swim-quickly kind of girl. I think she's actually dreading the day when it will all get too much for him and he'll decide to walk away from her so she's pushing him hard and fast as a way of testing his feelings for her but luckily Dominic is up for the challenge.
I'm glad we've not seen the last of these two and I'm definitely looking forward to the eventual meet the parents scenes that I'm sure are coming soon.
Verity and Dominic are in the process of driving cross-country across America as Verity moves back home to be nearer to her family. It's the ultimate test of their relationship, especially since Verity is still introducing Dominic to the cryptid world her family is so deeply a part of. She's trying to desensitise him to crazy happenings before she eventually has to take him home to meet her parents and she decides that a good place to start would be introducing her ghostly aunt Rose. What should be a relatively fun night partying with a dead relative gets a little more complicated when another ghost asks for their assistance.
I really enjoyed catching back up with this couple, poor Dominic really has been thrown in at the deep end since he first met Verity and the pressure hasn't let up yet. He's still coming to terms with the fact that pretty much everything the Covenant raised him to believe is actually a pack of lies and he's definitely nowhere near as knowledgeable about supernatural creatures as Verity and her family are. Verity doesn't believe in making it easy on him though, she's much more of a throw-you-off-the-boat-and-hope-you-learn-to-swim-quickly kind of girl. I think she's actually dreading the day when it will all get too much for him and he'll decide to walk away from her so she's pushing him hard and fast as a way of testing his feelings for her but luckily Dominic is up for the challenge.
I'm glad we've not seen the last of these two and I'm definitely looking forward to the eventual meet the parents scenes that I'm sure are coming soon.
January 10, 2017
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
After Half-Off Ragnarok, this short story continues Verity's and Dominic's story as they travel across the country in order to meet up with Verity's parents. On the way they will meet some more members of the extended family.
It was a nice story. I was wondering what would happen to the characters, after the events in the second book and with the switch to Alex, I was afraid that it would take a time to find this out. The story itself was not that special, but I read somewhere that there are references to another of Seanan McGuire's series that I haven't read. I can imagine I would have really enjoyed those, if I had gotten them.
After Half-Off Ragnarok, this short story continues Verity's and Dominic's story as they travel across the country in order to meet up with Verity's parents. On the way they will meet some more members of the extended family.
It was a nice story. I was wondering what would happen to the characters, after the events in the second book and with the switch to Alex, I was afraid that it would take a time to find this out. The story itself was not that special, but I read somewhere that there are references to another of Seanan McGuire's series that I haven't read. I can imagine I would have really enjoyed those, if I had gotten them.
December 12, 2015
Great characters, folk tales, dialogue. Needs a little plot finesse; resolution is abrupt and almost an aside.
June 21, 2014
4.5 stars
(Best read after Half-Off Ragnarok.)
Okay... so after having just finished this short, I finally realized why the previous book (Half-Off Ragnarok) didn't catch my interest, as these volumes normally do.
Plainly speaking, Alex is a complete bore when compared with his younger sister Verity. lol
He's a cute bore, but in the end he's the geek scientist with a baggage full of cryptid info, who may well bring the old expression "Bored to death", alive!
Then there's also the fact, that this short has almost as much action in it, as "Half-Off..." had, being this last one a full length book.
Due to its small number of pages, there was no info dump, regarding the Cryptid various species, which allowed for a more interesting, and fast read.
In a pretence of showing us what Verity and Dominic are up to in their road trip, we are given instead an introduction to a new series, that features a ghost, as it's main character.
Yes, that's right, Rose Marshall, the leading character of a new book series, Sparrow Hill Road, makes an appearance and consequently steals the spotlight out from her niece _Verity.
Verity has decided to take _let's call it _ "baby steps" when it comes with introducing her boyfriend, Dominic, _the ex Covenant operative_ to her quirky, and dangerous _ Price_ family.
So, who better to start with... than her "dear auntie" Rose?
Who cares if she's dead?
She's still family.
Rose may be a ghost but she's more lively than some living people, and soon Verity and Dominic find themselves entangled in the business' of the dead.
Who said that the living gets to have all the fun?
p.s. Of course this means that now, I am going have to place the other book I had started on hold, and instead start with Sparrow Hill Road, because it seems to be that good!
(Best read after Half-Off Ragnarok.)
Okay... so after having just finished this short, I finally realized why the previous book (Half-Off Ragnarok) didn't catch my interest, as these volumes normally do.
Plainly speaking, Alex is a complete bore when compared with his younger sister Verity. lol
He's a cute bore, but in the end he's the geek scientist with a baggage full of cryptid info, who may well bring the old expression "Bored to death", alive!
Then there's also the fact, that this short has almost as much action in it, as "Half-Off..." had, being this last one a full length book.
Due to its small number of pages, there was no info dump, regarding the Cryptid various species, which allowed for a more interesting, and fast read.
In a pretence of showing us what Verity and Dominic are up to in their road trip, we are given instead an introduction to a new series, that features a ghost, as it's main character.
Yes, that's right, Rose Marshall, the leading character of a new book series, Sparrow Hill Road, makes an appearance and consequently steals the spotlight out from her niece _Verity.
Verity has decided to take _let's call it _ "baby steps" when it comes with introducing her boyfriend, Dominic, _the ex Covenant operative_ to her quirky, and dangerous _ Price_ family.
So, who better to start with... than her "dear auntie" Rose?
Who cares if she's dead?
She's still family.
Rose may be a ghost but she's more lively than some living people, and soon Verity and Dominic find themselves entangled in the business' of the dead.
Who said that the living gets to have all the fun?
p.s. Of course this means that now, I am going have to place the other book I had started on hold, and instead start with Sparrow Hill Road, because it seems to be that good!
February 3, 2017
Gotta love Verity:
“I am so good at dating,” I muttered, turning my attention back to the climb. “I am like a goddamn ninja master of not upsetting my significant other.”
“I am so good at dating,” I muttered, turning my attention back to the climb. “I am like a goddamn ninja master of not upsetting my significant other.”
April 13, 2015
It was nice to see Verity and Dominic again. Also we were introduced to Verity's Aunt Rose, who is dead and lives in New Orleans. Rose seems like a fun character. Will be looking forward to reading Sparrow Hill Road.
December 29, 2024
Okay, the coach = belly thing is a bit unsettling! But the story as a whole was oddly charming.
I am tempted to say "poor Dominic," but I have a feeling he'll fit in much better than either he or Verity expects.
I'm also looking forward to reading Rose's series. Verity calls her Aunt Rose, but I'm unsure where she fits in the family. I believe it's through her grandfather, Thomas Price, but I'm uncertain.
I am tempted to say "poor Dominic," but I have a feeling he'll fit in much better than either he or Verity expects.
I'm also looking forward to reading Rose's series. Verity calls her Aunt Rose, but I'm unsure where she fits in the family. I believe it's through her grandfather, Thomas Price, but I'm uncertain.
August 14, 2014
I should point out that in the last six months, Seanan McGuire’s books have become my literary street drug—out of my friends, there’s only one that I haven’t thrown Discount Armageddon at (and only because she moved away before I could get the chance), the other three have gobbled up the first three Incryptid books (and one mainlined the entire Toby Daye series in two weeks) and I’ve managed to handsell a bunch of her books at work. The fact that she also writes so much short fiction helps a lot with the addiction.
While routewitches and road spirits got namechecked in the first three Incryptid books and Sparrow Hill Road had a few Healys running around, the two didn't seem to tonally fit. There’s some shared characteristics between them, but as I said in Sparrow Hill Road, Rose Marshall’s world of twilight and back highways is as far from Verity Price’s urban monster population. “The Ghosts of Bourbon Street” manages to throw the two together in a blended, and comes out with a perfect mixed cocktail of haunted houses and ghosts, and dealing with strange creatures who should not be of this world, but are living in it anyway. It does read like it’s supposed to be a bridge between the two series instead of being its own story that involves both books, but I still really enjoyed it. (Although I was severely disappointed that in regards to it being referenced in Half-Off Ragnarok, Verity and Dominic weren’t crashing a dead man’s party. Drinking with the dead is still awesome, and it could have run the Oingo Boingo jokes into the ground, but oh man that would have been awesome.) I loved the use of New Orleans and how the city’s structures are ghosts themselves. And I loved the idea of the ghost krewes—I kinda wanna see a Rose Marshall story about that. The plot of the story itself isn’t that much, it’s basically a Scooby-Doo episode as written by RL Stine, but it’s fun and the little touches of world-building that we get are worth it. It’s a fun tale to bridge the long months in between now and Pocket Apocalypse.
While routewitches and road spirits got namechecked in the first three Incryptid books and Sparrow Hill Road had a few Healys running around, the two didn't seem to tonally fit. There’s some shared characteristics between them, but as I said in Sparrow Hill Road, Rose Marshall’s world of twilight and back highways is as far from Verity Price’s urban monster population. “The Ghosts of Bourbon Street” manages to throw the two together in a blended, and comes out with a perfect mixed cocktail of haunted houses and ghosts, and dealing with strange creatures who should not be of this world, but are living in it anyway. It does read like it’s supposed to be a bridge between the two series instead of being its own story that involves both books, but I still really enjoyed it. (Although I was severely disappointed that in regards to it being referenced in Half-Off Ragnarok, Verity and Dominic weren’t crashing a dead man’s party. Drinking with the dead is still awesome, and it could have run the Oingo Boingo jokes into the ground, but oh man that would have been awesome.) I loved the use of New Orleans and how the city’s structures are ghosts themselves. And I loved the idea of the ghost krewes—I kinda wanna see a Rose Marshall story about that. The plot of the story itself isn’t that much, it’s basically a Scooby-Doo episode as written by RL Stine, but it’s fun and the little touches of world-building that we get are worth it. It’s a fun tale to bridge the long months in between now and Pocket Apocalypse.
March 15, 2014
I love all of the freebie shorts that McGuire has on her website, but this one was especially fun. It was great to see just a little bit more of Verity and Dominic and this ghost-filled adventure in New Orlean's (as Verity does a road trip across country to take Dominic to meet her family) also serves as a teaser for McGuire's upcoming Sparrow Road series starter and an intro to Verity's hitchhiker ghost aunt, Rose.
So I really enjoyed this nice little Incryptid adventure. As a FYI though, don't read this before Half-Off Ragnarok - it overlaps that story timewise and has a spoiler for Alex's book.
So I really enjoyed this nice little Incryptid adventure. As a FYI though, don't read this before Half-Off Ragnarok - it overlaps that story timewise and has a spoiler for Alex's book.
March 17, 2014
My love for this one totally caught me off guard. Turns out that this haunting short story is exactly what I needed after finishing Half-Off Ragnarok. It's quite possibly my favorite InCryptid short to date. Not only do we get to drop in on Verity (I so missed her) and Dominic as they're road tripping cross country but we get to meet Verity's aunt Rose. Such a perfect little story that overlaps Alex's in Half-Off Ragnarok, teases Rose Marshall's in Sparrow Hill Road and adds yet another layer to the wonderfully imaginative InCryptid world.
January 11, 2016
Read 2 times
10/27/2014
Verity and De Luca still amuse me!! A lot! And the mice... I love the mice and OMG ROSE!!! woohoo
1/11/2016
It always amazes me how Seanan Mcguire is good at everything...
10/27/2014
Verity and De Luca still amuse me!! A lot! And the mice... I love the mice and OMG ROSE!!! woohoo
1/11/2016
It always amazes me how Seanan Mcguire is good at everything...
August 17, 2022
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 stories 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 stories 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.
October 8, 2025
3.5!
nice little melding of worlds - you have to squint a little bit to make everything from incryptid fit inside the world of ghost roads, but it matches up well enough. and it served as an excellent reminder to why i always preferred the verity books over the alex books. she’s just more fun
nice little melding of worlds - you have to squint a little bit to make everything from incryptid fit inside the world of ghost roads, but it matches up well enough. and it served as an excellent reminder to why i always preferred the verity books over the alex books. she’s just more fun
August 17, 2022
Rated 3.5 really.
I love Rose, but I hardly recognised her here. I don't think pairing her with Verity was a great idea either.
I love Rose, but I hardly recognised her here. I don't think pairing her with Verity was a great idea either.
December 8, 2015
It's a really fun story for fans who've read both the InCryptid and Sparrow Road series. It was very rewarding to see the characters come together and feel the world get even further fleshed out. Verity calling Rose, "Aunt Rose," appeared to be an honorific. The FAQ on the author's website says that Sparrow Road and InCryptid take place in the same universe but aren't directly related. Developing this connection between the books, continuing to tell the characters' tales through this short story, plus having them in a different part of the country made the world feel even more real. Plus it was great to see how Verity and Dom were doing with their complicated relationship. His decision to leave the Covenant wasn't an easy or simple one. Plus he really had no idea what he was getting into with Verity's complex family and responsibilities. So an uncomplicated HEA would have been unrealistic. It was interesting and fun to see some of how all of that played out. I hope to see more stories about them in the future. The resolution to the actual plot wasn't great, but the characters were a lot of fun to spend some time with and see how they handled things.
Plus there's the Aeslin mice, always the mice. This must be the only series that makes me love any kind of rodent. I love that they're so fierce too, not just funny and wise. And useful, because of that in part. Vermin of all sizes, beware. They weren't in this enough but I did get one big laugh.
Available for free on the author's website in the InCryptid section on the Short Story page. As are many other short stories about the series, a fact that only recently came to my attention.
Plus there's the Aeslin mice, always the mice. This must be the only series that makes me love any kind of rodent. I love that they're so fierce too, not just funny and wise. And useful, because of that in part. Vermin of all sizes, beware. They weren't in this enough but I did get one big laugh.
Available for free on the author's website in the InCryptid section on the Short Story page. As are many other short stories about the series, a fact that only recently came to my attention.
March 17, 2014
Since there's a couple books before Verity will get main POV again, I really enjoyed this chance to see what she and Domenic are doing, now that they've left NYC. It's also one of the more plotty shorts; on a stopover in New Orleans, a ghost asks Verity and Domenic for help. The solution isn't terribly complicated--can't be, in a short--but the texture and character McGuire infuses the story with make it all worthwhile, a lovely and entertaining read.
May 8, 2014
I am very glad that I saw The Ghosts of Bourbon Street on Goodreads before I had read more than the first page of Sparrow Hill Road. Verity remains my favorite Incryptid character, other than the mice who are mentioned and make a very brief appearance, so I was glad to see how she and Dominic were doing. This story offers more information on Rose, who was briefly mentioned in a phone call Alex made to Verity in Half-Off Ragnorak, and who is the main character in Sparrow Hill Road.
September 29, 2014
{September 29th, 2014} THE REVIEW
2 stars. >.<
Compared to the other story stories, this one felt like the weakest of the bunch so far in terms of characters and plot...this makes me sad... :/
2 stars. >.<
Compared to the other story stories, this one felt like the weakest of the bunch so far in terms of characters and plot...this makes me sad... :/
May 22, 2016
Good to see Verity and Dominic again!
April 21, 2023
Stories like this (The Ghosts of Bourbon Street) remind me that Ghost Roads and InCryptid are in the same universe (I know, the constant crossovers also serve as a reminder, but this feels different). For those wondering – hold off on reading The Ghosts of Bourbon Street until you've gotten through Half-Off Ragnarok.
During Half-Off Ragnarok, there's a scene where Alex calls home and catches Verity. This story tells us what she (and Dominic) were up to during this time. Though I think we could have all assumed the basics: chaos.
To be fair, my original assumption wasn't far off. Verity has a way of pushing boundaries and throwing herself into trouble. It's almost like it's a family trait (please note my teasing sarcasm here). It made for a fun story, especially as seeing Verity and Dominic together more was nice.
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During Half-Off Ragnarok, there's a scene where Alex calls home and catches Verity. This story tells us what she (and Dominic) were up to during this time. Though I think we could have all assumed the basics: chaos.
To be fair, my original assumption wasn't far off. Verity has a way of pushing boundaries and throwing herself into trouble. It's almost like it's a family trait (please note my teasing sarcasm here). It made for a fun story, especially as seeing Verity and Dominic together more was nice.
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January 3, 2017
I've missed Verity and Dominic. This short story takes place after they leave New stork and during the first half of Half-Off Ragnarok. Verity, smartly, is trying to introduce Dominic to her family in bits and pieces. It's probably a good idea for all involved if he has a fairly realistic idea of what he's walking into by the time he gets to the Pacific Northwest.
But she definitely has an interesting idea of not too much of the 'family weird.'
Even after 2 full length books I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about Dominic, and though he hasn't completely given up his 'stuffiness,' he's definitely beginning to loosen up - and honestly, with Verity, I think that's pretty much inevitable. I liked him quite a bit here. And his, and Verity's scenes with Rose were awesome.
Speaking of Rose, I'm incredibly excited to start reading the series, set in this same world, that features her. She's an amazing character that I would love to get to know better.
This was a great short story. Fun, humorous, and with just the right amount of danger and intrigue.
But she definitely has an interesting idea of not too much of the 'family weird.'
"I'm trying not to terrify him by dumping too much of the family weird on him at once," I cautioned.
"So you take him drinking with me? Verity, honey, we need to have a talk about what 'normal' means, and how anything that involves the phrase 'lets go summon my dead aunt' doesn't fall into that category," said Rose.
Even after 2 full length books I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about Dominic, and though he hasn't completely given up his 'stuffiness,' he's definitely beginning to loosen up - and honestly, with Verity, I think that's pretty much inevitable. I liked him quite a bit here. And his, and Verity's scenes with Rose were awesome.
Speaking of Rose, I'm incredibly excited to start reading the series, set in this same world, that features her. She's an amazing character that I would love to get to know better.
This was a great short story. Fun, humorous, and with just the right amount of danger and intrigue.
July 21, 2017
First of the Verity-Dominic shorts, best read before book #5 of the series. Rose also appears in this, although the character feels much changed.
The short reads more as an episode of Friends than a ghost story.
Verity wants to introduce Dominic to her family and she starts small, from her most distant and deceased family members. Enter Rose.
The couple finds themselves in New Orleans, goes for a drink, and somehow manages to promise to a ghost that they will calm down another ghost and deal with his tantrums.
We learn that there can be ghost carriage people, ghosts who are, at the same time, both the person driving the carriage and the actual vehicle.
Verity is annoying and her dancing references feel forced, Dominic is a duce. Rose and Verity act like the same person. The usual.
Better than the first two books. Mainly because it was shorter, filled with ghosts and without dancing.
The short reads more as an episode of Friends than a ghost story.
Verity wants to introduce Dominic to her family and she starts small, from her most distant and deceased family members. Enter Rose.
The couple finds themselves in New Orleans, goes for a drink, and somehow manages to promise to a ghost that they will calm down another ghost and deal with his tantrums.
We learn that there can be ghost carriage people, ghosts who are, at the same time, both the person driving the carriage and the actual vehicle.
Verity is annoying and her dancing references feel forced, Dominic is a duce. Rose and Verity act like the same person. The usual.
Better than the first two books. Mainly because it was shorter, filled with ghosts and without dancing.
November 1, 2025
The first of the Verity & Dominic shorts, as they make their slow way from New York to Portland to meet Verity's parents. I wish I'd read these earlier, circa book 2-3, instead of after finishing the whole series. This gave some good insight on Aunt Rose that would've been nice before reading her books, and an interesting insight into the ghostly side of the world. It was, however, (bitter)sweet to see V&D together, hanging out, after 10 or so books of them not being the focus.
Timeline-wise, this specific entry coincides with a specific scene in book 3--we actually get to see an Alex-Verity phone call from both ends.
Timeline-wise, this specific entry coincides with a specific scene in book 3--we actually get to see an Alex-Verity phone call from both ends.
May 18, 2018
"The house won't let you in," I said.
"Correct."
"The haunted house with the angry dead dude in it won't let you in."
"Yes."
In which Verity & Dominic De Luca get caught up in some ghost shenanigans in New Orleans featuring Rose Marshall, Verity's ghost-aunt aka the Angel of the Overpass. This was a bit like a taste of home.
"Correct."
"The haunted house with the angry dead dude in it won't let you in."
"Yes."
In which Verity & Dominic De Luca get caught up in some ghost shenanigans in New Orleans featuring Rose Marshall, Verity's ghost-aunt aka the Angel of the Overpass. This was a bit like a taste of home.
April 16, 2019
As I'm slightly obsessed with the InCryptid series and the next full length novel is taking its sweet time to come from the library, I turned to the short stories on Seanan McGuire's website.
While these short stories will never be as satisfying as the longer, more developed works, they are still fun and provide a quick Price family fix.
While these short stories will never be as satisfying as the longer, more developed works, they are still fun and provide a quick Price family fix.
July 23, 2019
The story's ok, until the denouement, at which point Aunt Rose steps in and has a heart-to-heart with the baddie ghost and *poof* everything is hunky dory -- except that no part of the heart to heart is explained, including why it changes the baddie ghost to a friendly one. Entertaining, but not up to the usual standard. Did love the ghost world and the character of Amelia (part carriage).
June 29, 2020
This tied nicely into Half-Off Ragarok which was fun, and it reminds me again of the Ghost Roads series which I'm still not sure if I'll check out.
Honestly, I don't have a whole lot to say about this one. It was fun. Domenic is doing a pretty good job at adjusting to the Price way of life. Fun ghosts, more Coventry stuff, huzzah!
Honestly, I don't have a whole lot to say about this one. It was fun. Domenic is doing a pretty good job at adjusting to the Price way of life. Fun ghosts, more Coventry stuff, huzzah!
July 29, 2019
I love Rose Marshall, I'm so glad we get to see her in this. I read this before book 3 and don't see that you HAVE to read it after, but it would probably help. I'm gonna go back and read Annie's short story now.
December 8, 2019
I love it when this series crosses over with the Ghost Roads series. Verity and Rose Marshall - the girl in the green silk gown - kicking it in New Orleans and dealing with ghostly shit. How else to you introduce your ex-covenant boyfriend to your family? This was a lot of fun.
July 15, 2023
I need to get to my Incryptid re-read because I enjoy Verity so much and I hope that she's going to be the narrator of a future book soon. It was nice to have this little moment of Very and Dom getting into trouble with Rose and learning a little more about the ghosts of New Orleans.
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