Now comes the second in the series-from a dynamic new fantasy talent
Toby Daye-a half-human, half-fae changeling-has been an outsider from bi... read full description
Toby Daye-a half-human, half-fae changeling-has been an outsider from bi... read full description
reviews
May 08, 2011
The Holy Terror
rated it: 
I really wanted to like this one. I did. But it was bloated and Toby was a terrible detective. Let me explain...
Toby gets a visit from Sylvester, her liege, just as she's starting to pick up the pieces of her life from the last book. He wants her to check on his niece, January, over in another kingdom because she hasn't check in for a few weeks. January's county is situated in between his and another Duchess's lands so if he goes to help her there would be political conflict. So he More...
Toby gets a visit from Sylvester, her liege, just as she's starting to pick up the pieces of her life from the last book. He wants her to check on his niece, January, over in another kingdom because she hasn't check in for a few weeks. January's county is situated in between his and another Duchess's lands so if he goes to help her there would be political conflict. So he More...
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Jan 03, 2011
The Flooze (Michelle M.)
rated it:
** Almost a 3 **
Seanan McGuire is talented. She’s just useless at crafting mysteries.
Unlike the first book, A Local Habitation resulted in me liking Toby. She is strong-minded and determined. She’s also quite amusing in her interactions, particularly when conversing with Quentin or Tybalt. She’s fiercely loyal, holds duty in high regard, and cares deeply for her friends.
That said, she’s a terrible investigator. Most of this book takes place on one compound, an More...
Seanan McGuire is talented. She’s just useless at crafting mysteries.
Unlike the first book, A Local Habitation resulted in me liking Toby. She is strong-minded and determined. She’s also quite amusing in her interactions, particularly when conversing with Quentin or Tybalt. She’s fiercely loyal, holds duty in high regard, and cares deeply for her friends.
That said, she’s a terrible investigator. Most of this book takes place on one compound, an More...
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Dec 12, 2011
Carol
rated it: 
Initially an improvement on Rosemary and Rue. I find the integration of unusual beings from folklore enjoyable--the Bannick cleaning scene was a fun interpretation of cleaning fae, and the hippocampi tank was clever. (Aside-I would dearly love a little Spike of my own). The opening scene with an inebriated October escorting her almost equally inebriated friends to the train was fun, and dialogue with Tybalt well-written--a little bit flirty, but without all those smoldering glances and peering
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Jan 07, 2012
Fangs for the Fantasy
rated it:
Sylvester, Duke of the Shadowed Halls has called October with a problem. His niece, the Countess of Tamed Lightning, isn’t answering his calls. He would check up on her, or send one of his top officials – but the neighbouring duchy of Dreamers Glass would take that as a move against them – and war would surely follow. Hamstrung by politics, he has to turn to October, a trained PI and his knight errant
Setting off with Quentin, a young Page from the court looking for some experience, thi More...
Setting off with Quentin, a young Page from the court looking for some experience, thi More...
Dec 30, 2011
Kc
rated it: 
Compared to the first book in the series, I found this one to be more enjoyable. Though I managed to figure the villain out within the first few chapters of meeting them (I use the term "them" vaguely to keep the identity a secret for those who haven't read yet), the method of killing they used and the reasons for it were more of a mystery. The need to know why these killings were happening and how the pieces all came together kept me attached to the book until the end.
I m More...
I m More...
Oct 21, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
Second in the October Daye urban fantasy series set in San Francisco and revolving around Toby Daye, a private detective who happens to be half-human, half-faye.
The Story
Sylvester is worried when he isn't able to get hold of his niece, the Countess January O'Leary, so he sends Toby. Toby's allegiances are vague enough that it shouldn't stir up his enemy, the Duchess Riordan. But when Toby gets there, no one is cooperating. It takes forever to actually meet January and everyone is More...
The Story
Sylvester is worried when he isn't able to get hold of his niece, the Countess January O'Leary, so he sends Toby. Toby's allegiances are vague enough that it shouldn't stir up his enemy, the Duchess Riordan. But when Toby gets there, no one is cooperating. It takes forever to actually meet January and everyone is More...
Aug 01, 2011
Mlle.
rated it:
I was really looking forward to A Local Habitation. Rosemary and Rue impressed me - it was smart, with a really vivid setting and amazing worldbuilding, and an appealing underdog heroine. I had some problems with the plotting, but it had so many of the qualities necessary to a good series that I was excited about continuing on with the story.
Having read A Local Habitation, I'm not exactly disappointed. I read it in one sitting, but this time I didn't close the book eager to find out w More...
Having read A Local Habitation, I'm not exactly disappointed. I read it in one sitting, but this time I didn't close the book eager to find out w More...
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Jul 29, 2011
Flail
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In "A Local Habitation", Toby goes on a 'diplomatic' mission for her leige, Sylvester. He would like for her to check in with his niece, January, who is Countess for a neighboring 'Country'. There hasn't been communication between them for three weeks and he's getting worried. (I have a feeling all the months are going to end up as names in this series at some point. I'm guessing ... September will be next... I look forward to seeing how she manages to shorten that one.. :-S.. Do yo
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Apr 21, 2011
Paradoxical
rated it:
The jump into the plot in the second October Daye novel is smoother than the first, mainly because most of the world building was laid out in the first book (so the nitty gritty already done), and things are fairly smooth sailing from here (or supposed to be, anyway).
Toby is sent by her liege-lord to go to the County of Tamed Lightning in order to check up on his niece, January, who is leader of said County. She hasn't been calling him, and so Toby and a page, Quentin, are sent on w More...
Toby is sent by her liege-lord to go to the County of Tamed Lightning in order to check up on his niece, January, who is leader of said County. She hasn't been calling him, and so Toby and a page, Quentin, are sent on w More...
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Apr 03, 2011
***Dave
rated it:
More faerie noir detective business for October Daye, changling (fae half-blood) in modern San Francisco. This tale lacks most of the woe-is-me angst of the first book (Rosemary and Rue), but that's not necessarily a bad thing (woe-is-me angst being a far too popular staple of the urban fantasy world).
The tale feels curiously isolated. Whereas the first novel spanned the breadth of the Bay Area, this one is mostly isolated (as part of a and-then-there-were-none murder tale) at a hi-t More...
The tale feels curiously isolated. Whereas the first novel spanned the breadth of the Bay Area, this one is mostly isolated (as part of a and-then-there-were-none murder tale) at a hi-t More...
Mar 04, 2011
Shawna
rated it:
When I heard that the University of Washington bookstore stocked these before their drop date, I immediately called them and reserved one, despite the fact that I also have it preordered online (I've found a home for the extra book). I picked it up around 6:00pm on Tuesday, and by 7:00pm on Wednesday I finished it by virtue of working as a receptionist at a relatively unbusy office.
This book amazed me even more than the first one did.
In the first book, Rosemary and Rue, we ar More...
This book amazed me even more than the first one did.
In the first book, Rosemary and Rue, we ar More...
Feb 24, 2011
Tracy
rated it: 
"Giants and witches, fairy-tale monsters...those are for heroes. For everything else, they have people like me."
~October "Toby" Daye
I said it in my review of Rosemary and Rue, the first book in the October Daye series; I tend to not be fond of fae mythos in general because it makes my brain hurt. I also said that I really liked Rosemary and Rue despite it...and despite myself. Well, with A Local Habitation, I may have to stop saying it altogether. More...
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Jan 12, 2011
Ithlilian
rated it: 
Whew. That was the most strenuous couple of hours I ever spent reading a book. I don't mean strenuous as in the book is complicated. I mean strenuous as in I can't believe I had the patience to finish it. As others have probably said, nothing happens in this book. It's one big long mystery with very little, if any, actual mystery solving. Mysteries are usually the basis for urban fantasy novels, and as such they need to be well written. This one is absolutely not. Don't expect any character deve
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Dec 30, 2010
Karissa
rated it:
This is the second book in the October Daye series. Last I heard there were eight books planned for this series; the 3rd book "An Artificial Night" is due to come out September 2010. I thought this book was much better than the first book in the series; I really enjoyed it.
October (Toby) is back in with the fairy community. Her liege lord, Sylvester, has asked her to go to the County of Tamed Lightning to check on his niece, January O'Leary. The political situation in Tamed L More...
October (Toby) is back in with the fairy community. Her liege lord, Sylvester, has asked her to go to the County of Tamed Lightning to check on his niece, January O'Leary. The political situation in Tamed L More...
Nov 22, 2010
Jacqueline
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 02, 2010
Colleen
rated it:
A Local Habitation, by Seanan McGuire, picked up immediately after the point where Rosemary and Rue left off. In this story, our heroine October Daye - private investigator, "changling" (half-breed fey), and knight errant to one of the Dukes of San Francisco - is sent south to Freemont to find out why Duke Sylvester's niece has stopped checking in with him.
The grace of this being the second book is that there is far less forced-march character development going on in the fi More...
The grace of this being the second book is that there is far less forced-march character development going on in the fi More...
Oct 28, 2010
Chibineko
rated it:
The general idea of the October Daye books is one that's been told time & time again. Scrappy halfling fights against a deck that's stacked against her while potential love interests (one who may be good for her, one who may not) circle her. However many times this has been told, McGuire manages to breathe new life into something that should (by all accounts) be an idea that would be nothing new.
In the second book of the series, Toby's liege Sylvester has asked her to check in on his More...
In the second book of the series, Toby's liege Sylvester has asked her to check in on his More...
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Oct 21, 2010
KC
rated it:
Seanan McGuire has created a very unique world for October Daye to live in. I enjoyed this second novel very much, and the mystery really keeps you guessing. I love Quentin, and I am interesting to see where the pseudo-triangle between Tybalt, Connor, and Toby is headed. If you are looking for a smart, reckless, relatable character, October Daye is a good choice!
"Coffee and corpses, that's my life. Sometimes I hate being me." ~ Toby
"Dramatic exits are the last More...
"Coffee and corpses, that's my life. Sometimes I hate being me." ~ Toby
"Dramatic exits are the last More...
Sep 23, 2010
Marcia
rated it:
I really liked Rosemary & Rue, so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, it simply isn't as strong. The complex world-building remains in place and Tory is a likable heroine, so it earns its three stars. However, I had some major issues with this book and hope that it's just a sophomore slump, because I'd hate for such a promising series to go bad.
My biggest issues are with the plotting. I guessed most of the major plot twists, including the villain, early on, and kept readin More...
My biggest issues are with the plotting. I guessed most of the major plot twists, including the villain, early on, and kept readin More...
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Aug 07, 2010
Logan
rated it:
Ugh. I wanted to like this, and I wanted to support this author b/c I like to support local talent, but this books was torturous. After the first book, which I enjoyed more, my wife and I were discussing how much we didn't like October Daye, the main character. She's got a bad attitude and a huge chip on her shoulder, for no apparent reason. Or for the reason that that seems to be the rule for paranormal directives, and no other. She was turned into a fish for 14 years prior to the events of
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May 20, 2010
Rawles
rated it:
Holy crap, this book was SO FRUSTRATING.
Okay, so Toby is clearly the worst detective in the entire world. Every single mystery was easily solved a quarter of the way through the book, but she spends the entire book meandering around, refusing to suspect THE MOST OBVIOUS SUSPECT, and ultimately triumphing through the process of elimination after almost everyone she came there to save has been murdered.
Uh...good job?!?!
But the thing that I find most frustrating More...
Okay, so Toby is clearly the worst detective in the entire world. Every single mystery was easily solved a quarter of the way through the book, but she spends the entire book meandering around, refusing to suspect THE MOST OBVIOUS SUSPECT, and ultimately triumphing through the process of elimination after almost everyone she came there to save has been murdered.
Uh...good job?!?!
But the thing that I find most frustrating More...
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Apr 19, 2010
Hazel
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Apr 12, 2010
Supernatural
rated it:
I was excited to get the chance to review Seanan McGuire's new Toby Daye novel, A Local Habitation. In A Local Habitation, we visit new fairy communities around San Francisco with October (Toby) Daye, changeling PI and knight errant in the service of Sylvester, Duke of Shadowed Hills. Toby is sent on a seemingly harmless errand to check on Sylvester's niece, Countess January O'Leary in her computer company and fiefdom in Fremont. As in the previous novel, a great part of the fascination of this
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Mar 25, 2010
Stacey
rated it:
The first October Daye book was okay. Not awful, not amazing, but good enough for me to buy a copy and lend it around as my friends and I waited impatiently for the next Dresden Files book (2 more weeks!)... Rosemary and Rue was a noirish mystery with maybe a little too much going on in it. I approved of the lack of massive expository infodumps, but it made it a little bit harder to follow, all told.
A Local Habitation is different, and for the good. It ties in with Rosemary, but More...
A Local Habitation is different, and for the good. It ties in with Rosemary, but More...
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Mar 18, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
The second book in McGuire's October Daye series. The main character, Toby Daye, is a changeling PI who also is a knight of the Duke of Shadowed Hills (a fae domain that occupies a good part of the Bay Area) -- incidentally, Toby is kind of famous for being the first changeling granted knighthood, since there's a strong stigma against those with human blood. Anyway, Toby's lord sends her to the nearby County of Tamed Lightning, located in scenic Silicon Valley to check on the Duke's niece, who
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Mar 13, 2010
Janice (Janicu)
rated it:
http://janicu.livejournal.com/98521.html...
Seanan McGuire may be my new favorite writer from last year. I have been anticipating A Local Habitation ever since I put down the first book in the series, Rosemary and Rue. When I won a copy of the book at Book Love Affair (awesome blog), I was ecstatic. I read this book RIGHT after I received it.
The Premise: October (Toby) Daye is a Daoine Sidhe changeling. Her mother is well known for her ability to "ride the blood" More...
Seanan McGuire may be my new favorite writer from last year. I have been anticipating A Local Habitation ever since I put down the first book in the series, Rosemary and Rue. When I won a copy of the book at Book Love Affair (awesome blog), I was ecstatic. I read this book RIGHT after I received it.
The Premise: October (Toby) Daye is a Daoine Sidhe changeling. Her mother is well known for her ability to "ride the blood" More...
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Mar 11, 2010
Mayakda
rated it:
I had placed a hold on this at the same time as Rosemary and Rue, and forgot about it. So I was surprised when I got it from the library, and not enthusiastic as I had not been impressed with book 1. My trepidations were well-founded.
First the good: McGuire pays attention to world-building, and obviously delights in introducing new flavors of changeling and fae. There are cool ideas in A Local Habitation, perhaps the coolest being the idea of a dryad living in a data tree. (That is s More...
First the good: McGuire pays attention to world-building, and obviously delights in introducing new flavors of changeling and fae. There are cool ideas in A Local Habitation, perhaps the coolest being the idea of a dryad living in a data tree. (That is s More...
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Mar 09, 2010
Schnaucl
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 06, 2011
Mandy
rated it:
Definitely stronger then the first book, there are still more details -- mostly in the technical world of ALH -- that I would have liked in this book. However, I'm guessing that Seanan McGuire is not a computer programmer, so she may not be blamed for the 'how does this blend into Faerie' computer gobleydegook that I would have liked added.
The twists were better, (though I knew something was up with the siblings immediately; I wasn't surprised by what they turned out to be) and better More...
The twists were better, (though I knew something was up with the siblings immediately; I wasn't surprised by what they turned out to be) and better More...
Feb 05, 2011
Twiggy
rated it:
The other reviewers comment that this is a fairly frustrating book and I would have to agree. I very much like the Toby daye character and the secondary personalities as well as the fae world that the author has created. Rosemary and Rue was a great opening novel.
However this book really struggled with the fact that it was set pretty much entirely in the one building where everyone was being killed off, one by one. By the second death, I was seriously wondering whether anyone had ever seen More...
However this book really struggled with the fact that it was set pretty much entirely in the one building where everyone was being killed off, one by one. By the second death, I was seriously wondering whether anyone had ever seen More...
