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A review by kathydavie
Sweet Poison Wine by Seanan McGuire
5.0
It's a free short story from Seanan McGuire, 0.06 in the InCryptid urban fantasy series, and revolving around a family of renegade "monster hunters". The couple focus is on the wedding between Jonathan Healy and Frances Brown. It's 1932, four years since Fran and Jonathan arrived in Buckley Township.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the InCryptid books on my website of the live-and-let-live Healys who have seen the error of their ways when it comes to huntin' down monsters.
My Take
Oh lord, I love how it starts with the Aeslin mice watching over Jonathan and Fran's baby boy.
The Story
It's a nervous Fran unsure about leaving her baby boy as she and Jonathan head off on their honeymoon to Chicago.
Fortunately neither of them will be bored — in bed or out — as they help out old friends and make new ones.
The Characters
Jonathan and Fran Healy have been married for two months, and they're off on their honeymoon. Daniel is their two-month-old baby.
Alexander (he's a librarian) and Enid are Jonathan's parents. Jonathan's grandmother, Caroline, was known as the Well-Groomed Priestess. She's the reason the mice have so many opinions on shampoo.
The Carmichael is…
…a hotel run by Hector and Lanya Kalakos, gorgons, which is hidden by a grimy, off-putting exterior. Asta and Chruse are the daughters of the house, er, the hotel. Medusa is a very particular vintage of wine drunk only by gorgons; it's fatal to humans. Yeah, Medusa is also the patron saint of gorgons.
Arturo Gucciard is a bootlegger who got on the wrong side of someone. Big Tommy was one of his men. Francesco Russo is a rival bootlegger.
The Cover and Title
The background looks like really old, possibly rotting wallpaper. It's all lit up making it a perfect foil for the grave vine and leaves wrapping themselves around the dark green wine bottle front and right.
The title is what all the brou-ha-ha is about, a "Sweet Poison Wine" that has repercussions on bootleggers and culture alike.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the InCryptid books on my website of the live-and-let-live Healys who have seen the error of their ways when it comes to huntin' down monsters.
My Take
Oh lord, I love how it starts with the Aeslin mice watching over Jonathan and Fran's baby boy.
It's too, too accurate a picture of life in the Healy family as supernatural issues follow the young Healy couple to Chicago, and Fran reckons Jonathan arranged this particular adventure to keep her from being bored, lol."'Why did I marry you again?'
'To be honest, Fran, I have no idea. But I am thankful every single day that you did.'"
Justice is served at the end, albeit a bit messily. It's Jonathan's reasoning that makes the conclusion a pip."'Aren't you supposed to be showin' me Chicago right about now?'
'Yes. This hotel room is in Chicago. If you look outside the window, you will see even more Chicago. I have thus shown you Chicago. Now come back to bed.'"
The Story
It's a nervous Fran unsure about leaving her baby boy as she and Jonathan head off on their honeymoon to Chicago.
Fortunately neither of them will be bored — in bed or out — as they help out old friends and make new ones.
The Characters
Jonathan and Fran Healy have been married for two months, and they're off on their honeymoon. Daniel is their two-month-old baby.
Alexander (he's a librarian) and Enid are Jonathan's parents. Jonathan's grandmother, Caroline, was known as the Well-Groomed Priestess. She's the reason the mice have so many opinions on shampoo.
The Carmichael is…
…a hotel run by Hector and Lanya Kalakos, gorgons, which is hidden by a grimy, off-putting exterior. Asta and Chruse are the daughters of the house, er, the hotel. Medusa is a very particular vintage of wine drunk only by gorgons; it's fatal to humans. Yeah, Medusa is also the patron saint of gorgons.
Arturo Gucciard is a bootlegger who got on the wrong side of someone. Big Tommy was one of his men. Francesco Russo is a rival bootlegger.
The Cover and Title
The background looks like really old, possibly rotting wallpaper. It's all lit up making it a perfect foil for the grave vine and leaves wrapping themselves around the dark green wine bottle front and right.
The title is what all the brou-ha-ha is about, a "Sweet Poison Wine" that has repercussions on bootleggers and culture alike.