#Thursday Review - Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire (Urban Fantasy)

Series: InCryptid # 1
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: DAW
Source: Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Ghoulies. Ghosties. Long-legged beasties. Things that go bump in the night... The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity—and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan while she pursues her career in professional ballroom dance. Sounds pretty simple, right? It would be, if it weren't for the talking mice, the telepathic mathematicians, the asbestos supermodels, and the trained monster-hunter sent by the Price family's old enemies, the Covenant of St. George. When a Price girl meets a Covenant boy, high stakes, high heels, and a lot of collateral damage are almost guaranteed. To complicate matters further, local cryptids are disappearing, strange lizard-men are appearing in the sewers, and someone's spreading rumors about a dragon sleeping underneath the city

Discount Armageddon is the first installment in author Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series. This first novel features Verity Price, a cryptozoologist who has been trying to make it as a professional dancer. This is why Verity is in Manhattan. But, a girl also has to pay the bills which is why she also works as a waitress at Dave's Fish & Strips. Verity's family has a history that goes way back to the Covenant of St. George. Verity's family tries to keep safe those Cryptid's who are basically harmless. 

But, if they step out of line, she doesn't hesitate to put them down. In this world, there are 900 races of Cryptid's, of which some 80 are capable of passing as humans. Verity and family are cryptozoologists who study and research monsters. Verity has tried to keep a decent relationship with those monsters, but sometimes she gets caught up in things that are way over her head. Which leads Verity to meeting her families nemesis in the form of Dominic De Luca who just happens to snare Verity in one of his traps while hunting Cryptid's. Dominic's Covenant doesn't believe in coddling the monsters. They want to flush them out, and exterminate all of them off the face of the earth.

Good thing that Verity has trained all her life for this moment to come. Good thing  that Verity has some help in the form of her "cousin" Sarah Zellaby who is one of the more dangerous Cryptid's in existence. Dominic reminds me of a person who has been totally and absolutely brainwashed not unlike those who are swept away by religious cults. Dominic's whole world gets shredded to pieces after meeting Verity who, along with her family, was presumed to be dead. After Dominic and Verity put their issues behind them, and agree to work together, there is plenty of sizzle and we see a different side to Dominic than the ruthless killer. 

This is a world that has Aeslin Mice, (speaking mice who celebrate various monumental moments in the Price/Healy family). We can also add a dragon, dragon princess, waheela's, bogeymen, bear shifters, gorgons, ghouls and plenty of other monsters who call Manhattan home. One of the conflicts is with Verity herself. Will she be able to be a professional dancer she's worked hard to become, or will she have to hang up her ballet slippers, and stick to being a cryptozoologist. I have already read book # 2, and will most likely skip over books #3 & #4 to get back to Verity, and then Magic for Nothing which is Antimony Price's book. After reading this first novel, I am all in to get caught up as soon as possible. I love this world. I love Verity, Sarah, and her parents who are tertiary characters at best, but are just a phone call away if trouble gets too close.  

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#Wednesday Review - Once Broken Faith (October Daye #10) by Seanan McGuire (Urban Fantasy)

Series: October Daye # 10
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 418 pages
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: DAW
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy


Politics have never been October “Toby” Daye’s strong suit. When she traveled to the Kingdom of Silences to prevent them from going to war with her home, the Kingdom of the Mists, she wasn’t expecting to return with a cure for elf-shot and a whole new set of political headaches.

Now the events she unwittingly set in motion could change the balance of modern Faerie forever, and she has been ordered to appear before a historic convocation of monarchs, hosted by Queen Windermere in the Mists and overseen by the High King and Queen themselves.

Naturally, things have barely gotten underway when the first dead body shows up. As the only changeling in attendance, Toby is already the target of suspicion and hostility. Now she needs to find a killer before they can strike again—and with the doors locked to keep the guilty from escaping, no one is safe.

As danger draws ever closer to her allies and the people she loves best, Toby will have to race against time to prevent the total political destabilization of the West Coast and to get the convocation back on track…and if she fails, the cure for elf-shot may be buried forever, along with the victims she was too slow to save.

Because there are worse fates than sleeping for a hundred years.

Once Broken Faith is the TENTH installment in author Seanan McGuire's October Daye series. Time wise, Once Broken Faith takes place 6 weeks after the ending of A Red-Rose Chain. Toby Daye, Knight Errant, Hero of the Realm, Sworn to Sylvester Torquill of Shadow Hills, daughter to Amandine, first born of Oberon, Dochas Sidhe, Mentor to squire Quentin, Changeling, and engaged to Tybalt, King of Cats, has had an interesting year so far, let alone life. She's removed a fake queen who tried to banish her. She brought back the real Queen in the Mists kicking and screaming. She was sent by same Queen to prevent a war from happening between the Mists and the Kingdom of Silences. 

And, she came back with news of a possible cure for Elf Shot. Elf shot has been used for a very long time to knock pure blooded into a sort of unconscious that lasts for 100 years. But, Elf Shot kills Changelings like Toby. When King Aethlin Sollys, who overseas all of North America, calls for a conclave to determine whether or not he will approve Walther's alchemical cure for Elf Shot, Toby will once again be shoved into the spotlight and forced to face Fae politics, their shenanigans, and bigotry in all its glory. Here is where new characters, and new Kingdom's are introduced. (Nice map in the front of the book!)

Toby, who has been hit twice by elf shot, now stands on the precipice of having to not only explain her past actions in removing two Monarchs, but also has to face a hostile conclave filled with Kings and Queens who have no use for Changelings and may not be open to allowing the cure to be used. She has to once again be the hero of the realm that people have come to expect from her by solving several murders, while also realizing that her friends may become targets as well. 

Toby though doesn't stand alone. Not for a lack of trying. She has a nice group of allies in Tybalt, Quentin, Raj, Jazz, Karen Brown, and May who are used to seeing Toby act first, and then ask for forgiveness for her actions. They've seen Toby covered in blood, time and time again, and yet, they haven't abandoned her. Even Luidaeg, who gets a whole lot of story time, has become a supporter and protector of Toby, But, I think that subject will soon need to be addressed. I am rather emotionless about Toby and Sylvester's issues, but I think it is time to move on. It is better to forgive, then carry anger around that might cause you to make mistakes.

For series fans, don't forget to read Dreams and Silences. It is an 84 page novella that features Queen Arden, Walther, and Luidaeg. Story takes place right after the last page of Once Broken Faith. Well worth the time to read. And, in closing, if you are looking for novellas featuring some of the important secondary characters, McGuirre has a Chronicle Order of what books and novellas to read. The link can be found here >> October Daye Series Order

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#Thursday Review - A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (Urban Fantasy)

Series: October Daye # 9
Format: Paperback, 358 pages
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: DAW
Source: Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Things are looking up.

For the first time in what feels like years, October “Toby” Daye has been able to pause long enough to take a breath and look at her life—and she likes what she sees. She has friends. She has allies. She has a squire to train and a King of Cats to love, and maybe, just maybe, she can let her guard down for a change.

Or not. When Queen Windermere’s seneschal is elf-shot and thrown into an enchanted sleep by agents from the neighboring Kingdom of Silences, Toby finds herself in a role she never expected to play: that of a diplomat. She must travel to Portland, Oregon, to convince King Rhys of Silences not to go to war against the Mists. But nothing is that simple, and what October finds in Silences is worse than she would ever have imagined.

How far will Toby go when lives are on the line, and when allies both old and new are threatened by a force she had never expected to face again? How much is October willing to give up, and how much is she willing to change? In Faerie, what’s past is never really gone.

It’s just waiting for an opportunity to pounce

A Red-Rose Chain is the 9th installment in author Seanan McGuire's October Daye series. The story picks up (3) months after the end of The Winter Long. One could say that this is the third book in Toby's new story arc that started with Chimes at Midnight with Toby, May, Jazz, Quentin, and Tybalt taking down the Queen of the Mists, and installing her with the person who should have held the title after her father was murdered; Arden Windermere. But, nothing is ever easy for Toby or her friends.

After Arden's second in command is elf shot and she starts questioning whether or not she should really be Queen, Arden is given the choice of either stepping down as Queen, or facing a war against the Kingdom of Silences. Arden names Toby, the same Toby who is reckless, rash, smart-mouthed, and impulsive, as Ambassador and sends her to Portland along with May, Walther, Tybalt, and Quentin to bring an end to the threat of war. Even though Toby is in over her head, including facing the shear hatred of all changelings by the King Rhys, and his desire to find out how she ticks, Toby still has a job to do of stopping an impending war that will do nothing but leave death and destruction behind. 

One of the new things in Toby's evolution as a character, and a hero is that she has a supporting cast that wades into the darkness along with her and not just stands back while she blunders into danger time and time again. Toby still has her wits, and sarcasm about her that remains to be one of the more impressive feats of a series that is 9 books into this series. With Toby facing intense hatred by both the King and the Fake Queen, it will take some tricky maneuvering to ensure that Toby and her friends return home safely.

This book touches on a subject that I've always been curious about. The fact that purebloods can't kill each other without it violating Oberon's Law, but they can use elf shot against each other which puts them out of commission for a hundred years. It's a tricky situation that leads to the possibility that Toby's enemies will keep coming back once they've already been defeated. I am all for putting an enemy in the grave, and not allowing them a second chance at our heroine. I liked that Walther's background and his science plays a key role in discovering a way to help those who have been elf shot. I also like that the author isn't afraid to use diversity in order to tell her story. I love that Tybalt and Toby are in a good place and their interaction always brings a smile to my face.

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#Tuesday Review - The Winter Long by Seanan McGuirre (Urban Fantasy) @seananmcguire @dawbooks

Series: October Daye # 8
Format: Paperback, 358 pages
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: DAW
Source: Purchased
Genre: Urban Fantasy

For once, it seems like the Kingdom of the Mists has reached a point of, if not perfection, at least relative peace. Queen Arden Windermere is getting settled on her family's throne; no one's going to war with anyone else; it's almost like everything is going to be okay. Even October "Toby" Daye is starting to relax her constant vigilance, allowing herself to think about the future, and what it might entail.

And then Simon Torquill comes back, and everything begins to fall apart. In Faerie, nothing stays buried forever. No matter how much you might want it to. 

The Winter Long is the EIGHTH installment in author Seanan McGuirre's October Daye series. The Winter Long actually picks up several months after the ending of Chimes at Midnight. If you think McGuirre has any intention of letting up on what she puts Toby through, you obviously haven't read the entire series yet. Get to it! Sir October "Toby" Daye is a Knight of Lost Words, in service to Shadow Hills, who is named Hero in the Mists by the new Queen. She's also one of a kind and not just because she's a changeling. 

Toby and her mother Amandine are Dóchas Sidhe. A Fey race of blood workers who have the ability to garner memories from a person, or change the balance of someone's blood. Toby has already affected several individuals, including her own daughter, and has fought to keep herself from being fully fae, or fully human. As the story picks up, Queen Arden is throwing a party. For the first time in years, think the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, the realm of the Mists is has a Queen who isn't a maniac. She also kind of likes Toby.

“I don’t like parties. Someone always tries to assassinate someone I actually like, and there are never enough of those little stuffed mushroom caps.”  Toby

To Toby's personal nightmare, her one time nemesis, Simon Torquill, who turned her into a fish, returns claiming he did what he did to her in order to save her life. And, he's not alone in his reappearance from the dead. Most readers will remember that Toby spent 14 years as a fish. When she finally did escape the spell she was under, life had moved on quickly without her. With Simon's arrival, and his claim that he was paid handsomely by his boss to hurt Toby badly, things get intense. Who was Simon's boss? What makes this situation a whole lot worse is Sylvester Torquill has too many secrets, and isn't willing to tell Toby anything to help her.

Most readers will end up enjoying this book, and gritting their teeth at the same time over all the revelations that come out. Especially with regards to her mother. I, needless to say, have no further use for anyone in the Torquill family after what they've done to Toby, and how she's been treated after everything she's done for this family. Thankfully, Toby has some friends that she can rely on. None more so than King Tybalt of the Dreaming Cats, Quentin, Toby's squire who we learned a bit more about in the previous installment, and May, Toby's Fetch who is hard to kill.

I like repeating my self, so, let me say again that Luidaeg has to be one of the more interesting characters in this series. Even though we know she's a powerful being and a First Born, I think she's found a way to let Toby squeak into her heart. She's got so much hope and plans for Toby, and is a huge fan of her relationship with Tybalt. 

“Love is love. It’s rarer in Faerie than it used to be—rarer than it should be, if you ask me. If you can find it, you should cling to it, and never let anything interfere. Besides, he has a nice ass.” 

I just picked up the next book in the series called A Red-Rose Chain from my library, and unless I decide to drive to NY in the coming weeks, that will be reviewed on this blog as well shortly!

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#Friday Review - Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuirre (Urban Fantasy)

Series: October Daye # 7
Format: Paperback, 346 pages
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: DAW
Source: Purchased
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Things are starting to look up for October "Toby" Daye. She's training her squire, doing her job, and has finally allowed herself to grow closer to the local King of Cats. It seems like her life may finally be settling down...at least until dead changelings start appearing in the alleys of San Francisco, killed by an overdose of goblin fruit.

Toby's efforts to take the problem to the Queen of the Mists are met with harsh reprisals, leaving her under sentence of exile from her home and everyone she loves. Now Toby must find a way to reverse the Queens decree, get the goblin fruit off the streets--and, oh, yes, save her own life, since more than a few of her problems have once again followed her home. And then there's the question of the Queen herself, who seems increasingly unlikely to have a valid claim to the throne....

To find the answers, October and her friends will have to travel from the legendary Library of Stars into the hidden depths of the Kingdom of the Mists--and they'll have to do it fast, because time is running out. In faerie, some fates are worse than death. October Daye is about to find out what they are. 

Chimes at Midnight is the Seventh installment in author Seanan McGuire's October Daye series. This is a series that has been on my favorites list ever since the first book, Rosemary and Rue, was released in 2009. This story begins what the author considers to be the next step in Toby's journey. It is a journey that has seen her attempt to make up for the Fourteen years she spent as a fish thanks to a curse placed on her by Simon Torquill. Now, she has a relationship with Tybalt, the King of the Cat's. She has her own squire in Quentin. Plus, she has her "sister" May the former Fetch, and her girlfriend Jasmine to help her get through tough and challenging situations. 

But, nothing could prepare Toby for what happens in this installment. With Toby being a Knight of Lost Words, and a Hero to the realm, she is known to charge ahead often recklessly without thinking. Yet, she's never been banished from her home before. She's been imprisoned, and faced charges before, but nothing like this. Her relationship with the Queen of the Mist has never been a favorable one. The Queen loathes Toby mostly because of the fact that she is a lowly changeling who has done more good than harm. Even though Toby has earned her Knighthood from her actions in saving the realm, it only goes so far.

I know that sounds crazy, but so is the Queen. After Toby requests that the Queen help rid the kingdom of goblin fruit which is killing changelings for awhile now, the Queen gives her 3 days to get her things and get out. When the cloud settles, and Toby realizes that she has to make decisions quickly and do things she never thought possible. Her resources and friends become even more important to solving the issue of keeping Toby where she belongs. From reconnecting with her Aunt Luidaeg. To calling in favors from Li Qin. To visiting the secretive Library of Stars where she hopes to find any descendants of the lost King Gilad. Then, after finding the King's descendant, she needs to be able to convince that person to put their lives on hold and take up the title of Queen in the Mist.

It's really good to be back in Toby's world where Faerie intermixes with the Human world in San Francisco.  I missed Toby, Tybalt, May, Quentin and Luidaeg. If you are curious about the relationship between Luidaeg and Toby's mother, there is a short story at the end of this book that answers a few questions about Toby's heritage and what her mother tried to keep her away from. I love Toby's attitude, and yes, sarcasm in the face of trouble. I love the way she tries to protect those close to her, but maybe she should be a little more less controlled and let them do what they do. I love Toby and Tybalt together. It's been a rough road, but they definitely love each other. I loved Magdalena of the Library of Stars. I love that Toby has become more comfortable with who she is. She's more fae now than ever, but has no intention of removing her humanity for the sake of fitting in. 

I desire to continue catching up on this series quickly so don't be shocked when you see the next 3 books in this series being reviewed in the coming weeks. That means The Winter Long, A Red-Rose Chain, & Once Broken Faith. 

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