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October Daye #7
Chimes at Midnight
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Paranormal Fantasy (2013)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.
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.
357 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
About the author
Seanan McGuire
469 books15.5k 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 948 reviews
September 24, 2022
“I guess it’s not every day you get invited to overthrow the ruler of the neighboring Kingdom and get away with it.”
Our girl Toby has been a lili busy... training her squire... dating the King of Cats... andd oh right, she’s been exiled by the goddamn Queen
This is one of those series that gets just better with each book cuz each book BUILDS off each other like there some PLOT TWISTS from the 1st book that will blow your everloving mind in this one!
Books #4 and #5 were an admittedly little struggle but definitely worth the wait as it all builds up to Toby's POV, the plot twists and oh my GOD !! The amazing character developments for the whole gang: “I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You’re serious. You’re actually serious, and this isn’t a really poorly timed practical joke. You are the
“Yup.”
“I’ve been making the do dishes.”
“Yup.”
So enjoy the World-Building, the Characters, the Plot Development, and the fucking Comedy !! “This is my squire, Quentin,” I said. “Let me know if he bothers you. I’ll slap him upside the head until he stops.” I paused before adding, “Raj is also sort of my squire, but mostly, he’s Tybalt’s heir. I also have slapping rights where he’s concerned.”
You guys, I can’t stress how much I love Quinn and Raj, these kids were hilarious and added to the whole story !! Where some authors just have secondary characters thrown in then ignored
*gag*, McGuire does an amazinggg job keeping their storylines active and intwined with Toby
Toby's official court/squad has been formed and together they solve one major fuck-up after another: Toby, Tybalt, Quinn, Raj, Luidaeg, Ormond, Danny
And of course it get emotional as fuck, cuz that they've all bonded and really a family and I'M NOT CRYING YOURE CRYING !!
“Believing in you is not your job,” said Tybalt mildly. “It’s ours.”
“He’s right,” said Marcia. “So let us work, and eat another sandwich.”
But more than that, this book is really all about Toby’s growth and maturity
“Tybalt blinked. “That is a surprisingly thoughtful, nonviolent solution.”
And then there's Tybalt,
that sexy motherfucker
He is exactly how you expect the Lord of Cats to act I*smirk* together they support and *mostly challenge each other* and its honestly like the one good thing in the mist of the hell that is Toby’s life
“I’m for in a long time,” said Tybalt. He put his head back down my shoulder, sighing. “This seems like a very anticlimactic death. I am afraid I do not approve.”
God I love him
I'm gonna be honest, after the *borderline overloading of angst* from the last book, I was starting to wonder if had run our course with Toby. But now the series has really been built into something that matches the *humor, growth, and general badassness* of great fantasy paranormal detectives like the Kate Daniels of the fey world!!
Ready for more Toby!!!
October 7, 2013
Love LOVE this series, and as it continues, I seem to love it more? For some reason the more we learn about the characters, the more I like seeing them together. The plot is self-contained but there are large things looming on the grander world-building scale that I really can't wait to come to fruition. But the individual journeys of the books themselves are so satisfying and imaginative. I love the way the relationship has developed between the two main characters, and I really just want MORE FASTER!
Definitely recc the series, and make sure to get past the first book, which is weaker in the series, tbh. Believable and fun urban fantasy with a touch of romance, not too much! More adventure than romance.
Definitely recc the series, and make sure to get past the first book, which is weaker in the series, tbh. Believable and fun urban fantasy with a touch of romance, not too much! More adventure than romance.
November 22, 2021
November 2021
This series just get better on a reread, which isn’t always the case! I love the answer Toby fumbles over when exiled by the Queen of the Mists- it’s so extreme and SO Toby! And all while fighting addiction to goblin fruit and hunting for a cure for the balance of her blood. Another wonderful installment!
August 2017
Well the excitement and action really doesn't let up in this instalment. I loved the way all the characters from previous books are woven in to this story. The status quo changes for the Queen in the Mists and October is up against it and in a race against time. (Actually now That I think about it- that's probably true of every book in the series!) October is growing into her powers and really still learning about what she can do. We get a big reveal about Quentin's family too. It's satisfying to see her entourage of supporters and allies growing. It should be really interesting to see how things develop from here.
Recommended ( but start at the beginning of the series!)
This series just get better on a reread, which isn’t always the case! I love the answer Toby fumbles over when exiled by the Queen of the Mists- it’s so extreme and SO Toby! And all while fighting addiction to goblin fruit and hunting for a cure for the balance of her blood. Another wonderful installment!
August 2017
Well the excitement and action really doesn't let up in this instalment. I loved the way all the characters from previous books are woven in to this story. The status quo changes for the Queen in the Mists and October is up against it and in a race against time. (Actually now That I think about it- that's probably true of every book in the series!) October is growing into her powers and really still learning about what she can do. We get a big reveal about Quentin's family too. It's satisfying to see her entourage of supporters and allies growing. It should be really interesting to see how things develop from here.
Recommended ( but start at the beginning of the series!)
May 7, 2016
4.75 It is a Wild Ride Stars
Read with my fellow UF fanatics at Buddies Books & Baubles
It is book 7 and you should know if you like this series or not….but if you were on the fence here are the top 5 reasons to read this one.
① - TnT (Tybalt and Toby) and the growing relationship between them. I love their bantering moments, fighting moments, the flirting moment and everything inbetween. But I especially love those heart squeezing tender moments they share.
❷- The Luidaeg goes all Luidaegy and you get to see why people should and do fear her….
③ - A magical moving Fae Library!!! I want a library card here…
❹ - Evil Pie, who knew Pie could be evil or cause so many problems. Well I didn’t but this one caused its fair share.
⑤ - Cu Sidhe…..you don’t know what that is????? I’ll tell you it is puppy Fae. YES!!! I love dogs and now this world has doggy Fae in it.
There are numerous other reasons to read this like an Evil Queen, a secret princess in hiding, betrayals, some answers on Quentin’s parents AND Toby of course because no one gets into a load of trouble better than Toby.
Read with my fellow UF fanatics at Buddies Books & Baubles
It is book 7 and you should know if you like this series or not….but if you were on the fence here are the top 5 reasons to read this one.
① - TnT (Tybalt and Toby) and the growing relationship between them. I love their bantering moments, fighting moments, the flirting moment and everything inbetween. But I especially love those heart squeezing tender moments they share.
“Then I stay beside you for as long as we have." He kept stroking my hair. Cats like to be petted. Cait Sidhe like to pet. "October, I meant it when I told you I was not leaving you. I will never leave you while both of us are living. You were not quite this human when I met you, and you were far less human when I finally allowed myself to love you. But the essential core of your being has remained the same no matter what the balance of your blood."
"How is it that you always know the exact right stupid romance novel thing to say?"
❷- The Luidaeg goes all Luidaegy and you get to see why people should and do fear her….
“I am the sea witch. I am the tide you fear and the turning you can't deny. I am the sound of the waves running over your bones on the beach, little man, and I am not amused at finding you on my doorstep.”
③ - A magical moving Fae Library!!! I want a library card here…
“librarianship is a form of heroism. It’s just not as flashy as swords and dragons.”
❹ - Evil Pie, who knew Pie could be evil or cause so many problems. Well I didn’t but this one caused its fair share.
“I got hit in the face with a pie,” I said.
Mags stopped, blinking. “You got...hit in the face with a pie,” she repeated. “I...what? I’m sorry, but I’ve been in charge of this Library for a long time. I’ve seen a lot of really ridiculous things. I lived in Wales. And there is no way being hit with a pie should have turned you human.”
“It was a really evil pie,” I said.”
⑤ - Cu Sidhe…..you don’t know what that is????? I’ll tell you it is puppy Fae. YES!!! I love dogs and now this world has doggy Fae in it.
There are numerous other reasons to read this like an Evil Queen, a secret princess in hiding, betrayals, some answers on Quentin’s parents AND Toby of course because no one gets into a load of trouble better than Toby.
“When you decide it's time to up the ante on getting into deep shit, you don't mess around, do you? You're just like, hey, what's the worst that can happen? That's the worst that can happen? Great. Let's do that.”
March 5, 2020
Chimes at Midnight (October Daye #7), Seanan McGuire
In Chimes at Midnight Toby back out on the mean streets of San Francisco to investigate an influx of addictive goblin fruit, deadly to changelings. October "Toby" Daye 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.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیستم ماه مارس سال 2017 میلادی
عنوان: ملودی (آهنگ) نیمه شب: کتاب هفتم از سری اکتبر دای؛ نویسنده: سینان (شانین) مک گوایر (مکگیر)؛
ا. شربیانی
In Chimes at Midnight Toby back out on the mean streets of San Francisco to investigate an influx of addictive goblin fruit, deadly to changelings. October "Toby" Daye 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.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیستم ماه مارس سال 2017 میلادی
عنوان: ملودی (آهنگ) نیمه شب: کتاب هفتم از سری اکتبر دای؛ نویسنده: سینان (شانین) مک گوایر (مکگیر)؛
ا. شربیانی
July 16, 2023
*** 4.15 ***
A weekly buddy read with the Fae at BB&B!
Another day in Faery in San Francisco, another reason for Toby to get herself and her faithful gang in mortal danger... But I guess this is the norm when you are the changeling daughter of a crazy Firstborn, the sister of a living symbol of doom and death, the Knight trainer of a very highly born noble teenager, the girlfriend of the King of Cats, and a relation to the Sea Witch, who has just not eaten you yet for a reason not known to you....
This time around Toby and gang are dealing with a bad drug circulating on the streets, which is addictive and a death sentence to any human or changeling, hooking its victims at first taste... And when she reaches out for help from the realm's Queen, she finds herself banished from her know and discovers that the drug provider has plans for her, not conducive to a long and pleasant life....
I love this series! This installment was just as good as the previous, despite my desire to see Toby almost die much less than we do now... She is a tough Knight, but she is also human enough to be very vulnerable... And her vulnerability will show how fragile and defenseless she is without the help of her friends. I particularly like the way May gets used to trigger and eliminate all mortally dangerous traps... Poor May!
We finally got to meet Quintain's parents and the rightful Queen in the Mists.. We got to meet the dog equivalent of the Kat King, and I have to say, he felt much closer to the man's best friend than a n actual humanoid... I am glad Toby isn't stuck with one of those - loyal yes, but to have an actual conversation with, NO!!!
We got to see most everyone, but from Mommy Dearest there still isn't any sign... It would be cool if she could show up and give some education to her little girl - she is kind of winging it, and that is one of the reasons she finds herself looking Death in the eye so very often!
So, we got some answers, some more came up... We continue with the world of Fae in North America another day...
Recommend this series to all UF and Fantasy fans, young and old!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may every book bring you joy!!!
A weekly buddy read with the Fae at BB&B!
Another day in Faery in San Francisco, another reason for Toby to get herself and her faithful gang in mortal danger... But I guess this is the norm when you are the changeling daughter of a crazy Firstborn, the sister of a living symbol of doom and death, the Knight trainer of a very highly born noble teenager, the girlfriend of the King of Cats, and a relation to the Sea Witch, who has just not eaten you yet for a reason not known to you....
This time around Toby and gang are dealing with a bad drug circulating on the streets, which is addictive and a death sentence to any human or changeling, hooking its victims at first taste... And when she reaches out for help from the realm's Queen, she finds herself banished from her know and discovers that the drug provider has plans for her, not conducive to a long and pleasant life....
I love this series! This installment was just as good as the previous, despite my desire to see Toby almost die much less than we do now... She is a tough Knight, but she is also human enough to be very vulnerable... And her vulnerability will show how fragile and defenseless she is without the help of her friends. I particularly like the way May gets used to trigger and eliminate all mortally dangerous traps... Poor May!
We finally got to meet Quintain's parents and the rightful Queen in the Mists.. We got to meet the dog equivalent of the Kat King, and I have to say, he felt much closer to the man's best friend than a n actual humanoid... I am glad Toby isn't stuck with one of those - loyal yes, but to have an actual conversation with, NO!!!
We got to see most everyone, but from Mommy Dearest there still isn't any sign... It would be cool if she could show up and give some education to her little girl - she is kind of winging it, and that is one of the reasons she finds herself looking Death in the eye so very often!
So, we got some answers, some more came up... We continue with the world of Fae in North America another day...
Recommend this series to all UF and Fantasy fans, young and old!
I wish you all Happy Reading and may every book bring you joy!!!
April 11, 2021
Plot-wise, this has maybe been the best of the bunch in this series.. so far. In the sense that I am satisfied with the turn things took and the resulting direction we're now headed in. Does that mean I had a good time, had fun, am excited about this series again? No, nope, and maybe.
The usual suspects (aka the things that annoy me about this series) were very much still present. But with the magnitude and schemery (it's a word) going on, we had less time to dwell on them or even encourage them. This, in addition to the plot, make for big pluses.
A few new characters have opened up additional pathways into the 'mystery of October's heritage' journey and I'm maybe into it? She's achieved Super Special Snowflake status a dozen times over and I'm definitely more interested in her mother's history, and how that ties in with the sea witch (shoutout to my girl!), but you can't have one without the other, so. I'll allow it. <-- she says, as if she has any choice
I don't have much more to say, I think this is the shortest of all my reviews, and the least ranty, but maybe that's a sign. Maybe the tide is turning where we might see some higher ratings soon. Ever hopeful. Ever stubborn. Ever reading this series..
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
The usual suspects (aka the things that annoy me about this series) were very much still present. But with the magnitude and schemery (it's a word) going on, we had less time to dwell on them or even encourage them. This, in addition to the plot, make for big pluses.
A few new characters have opened up additional pathways into the 'mystery of October's heritage' journey and I'm maybe into it? She's achieved Super Special Snowflake status a dozen times over and I'm definitely more interested in her mother's history, and how that ties in with the sea witch (shoutout to my girl!), but you can't have one without the other, so. I'll allow it. <-- she says, as if she has any choice
I don't have much more to say, I think this is the shortest of all my reviews, and the least ranty, but maybe that's a sign. Maybe the tide is turning where we might see some higher ratings soon. Ever hopeful. Ever stubborn. Ever reading this series..
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
August 8, 2021
3rd re-read (07/08/21)
2nd re-read (27/09/15)
4.5 Stars
Since I practically didn't remember anything about it anymore, this was almost like reading a new book :)
I'm taking half a star *snort* because Hell, this was one never stopping roller-coaster! Also, author Seanan Mcguire could do so much more with the romance between Toby and Tybalt: so frustrating!
You know what I am talking about it ;)
And now I'm left feeling a little like a perv. *cough*
Okay, now on to reading "The Winter Long".
________________________________________
1rt Read (23/09/13)
As readers, no matter what our taste in books might be, there will always be some times when one will be faced with:
A- Boring plot or simply a non-existent one;
( I could come out with a few examples of those)
B- Boring characters (which you secretly wish would just fall down of a cliff).
C- Love triangles/rectangles or any other kind of other geometric figure created to disguise the lack of an actual you knowplot.
D- Writing that leaves you with a headache... since you're too chicken to gouge your eyes out!
Right?
You guys know what I am talking about.
But moving on...so after a long, LONG year of waiting for this book to be released, I can definitely and honestly say...
...THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE, you guys!!
NO, this was bloody brilliant!!!
Honestly this is one of those cases where I get all: OH, THIS WAS SO GOOD!! ("fangirling" while simultaneously caps-lock(ing) A LOT!)
Yes, I have a big stupid smile on my face...and I'm trying not to resort to a vast number of gifs!!
I don't know how many of you have already started this series (on account of my crystal ball lack of batteries... and then the oracles are still on vacations... probably in Algarve!), but if you haven't, and if you like amazing world building and characters that just feel real enough....to hug...and shout at (heroes make you want to do that...trust me in that), you should definitely give this series a try!
In this story, Toby once again is left in the position of having to go against the Queen of Mists...you know, the one that hates her guts?
You can guess how that's going to work out, right?
But unlike what happened in the first books, Toby has grown up, and she knows when she has to ask for help.
And there's a lot to give, if she's willing to ask.
So once again, October and her merry gang will have to face an almost impossible situation, with danger and failure lurking at each corner. And as the story moves forward, the danger and tension just keeps building.
Then towards the end there was a fighting scene that I think I will never forget:
It involved a kick ass mermaid!! First time that I ever saw (read) a mermaid go ninja on the bad guys!
Then there's her romance with Tybalt. Well, what can I say...
Long Live the King of Cats!
They're so sweet..and cute! :D
It's so good to read a urban fantasy novel with dashes of romance, in which the male character isn't an ass!
(honestly this should be a rule in our days..)
So go, and follow Oberon's edict:
Go read this book asap!
Me?
I'll be counting the days until the next one is released!
September 5, 2013
I can't really be coherent about this series. I recognize that it's not perfect and has flaws and may not work for everyone, but it's absolutely everything I look for in urban fantasy, so it's utterly perfect for me. I love the relationship (really the partnership) between Toby and Tybalt, I love this family Toby has developed, I loved the new characters and settings we were introduced to, I loved getting answers to some questions (), and I loved all the new questions I have now as a result of this book. I always have a problem when I read a new Toby book that I don't know what to do with myself afterwards because all I want to do is experience this world forever. I definitely adored this book and am already dying for the next one!
September 23, 2013
This book definitely fell short of my expectations. I rate it a 2.5, but choose to round up rather than down since it is part of a series I really love. I usually loathe writing critical reviews, but I feel this might be necessary.
Much of what was wrong in the book was merely an amalgamation of many tiny/small errors. I think what was largely lacking was a more thorough editor. This is the seventh book in the series, and I feel like it got a pass rather than the editorial scrutiny it deserved.
There were a few instances where the book contradicted itself, and that kind of thing is definitely something a good editor should have caught (ex: October says Tybalt shouldn't go onto the shadow roads without a full nights rest, five minutes later Tybalt does go onto the shadow roads rather than ride in a rickety car).
There was also the issue of every character seeming to have the ability to read minds. One minute Toby will be worrying over something in her inner monologue, and then next minute Danny, Quentin, May, or Tybalt has echoed the exact same sentiment, even worded the same as October. Sometimes it happens when there is little to no chance of this plausibly happening, because the inner monologue doesn't directly have anything to do with the current situation. This was(once again) poor editing, since this projection of Toby's inner monologue should have been caught.
I feel like Seanan might have been in a bit of a slump too. There was so much rehashing of previous plot points, and character interactions were sometimes rushed. It was like Seanan was trying to get every character that was in the previous books back into this one.
The plot was a bit thin, and like I mentioned above--rehashed. Don't stretch a series unless you have the material to stretch it with. I thought the book was going to be more focused on Quentin (since that is one of the things that was most hyped before it was released). Instead, Quentin, a very interesting character, is relegated almost entirely to the background. As much as I love Toby and Tybalt, I would have rather seen some of the other characters step into the limelight. And that might help with the plot redundancy.
Seanan, I love seeing Toby in mortal danger as much as the next person, but it is getting to be a bit much. The new world-building (like the library) and the political history are wonderful additions to this series. I wish this would be the focus, and not how much Toby can bleed all over everything. Also, I feel like half of the book is Toby describing how she is close to death, Tybalt is close to death, everyone is close to death. We, as readers, never step away from that particular cliff, so it loses is effectiveness as a plot device.
That all said, I do want to stress how this book is still part of a fascinating series. There is a lot of solid writing in it. I'm sure if the editing tightens up a bit in the next book I'll be just as enthusiastic about it as I was during early books in the series.
Much of what was wrong in the book was merely an amalgamation of many tiny/small errors. I think what was largely lacking was a more thorough editor. This is the seventh book in the series, and I feel like it got a pass rather than the editorial scrutiny it deserved.
There were a few instances where the book contradicted itself, and that kind of thing is definitely something a good editor should have caught (ex: October says Tybalt shouldn't go onto the shadow roads without a full nights rest, five minutes later Tybalt does go onto the shadow roads rather than ride in a rickety car).
There was also the issue of every character seeming to have the ability to read minds. One minute Toby will be worrying over something in her inner monologue, and then next minute Danny, Quentin, May, or Tybalt has echoed the exact same sentiment, even worded the same as October. Sometimes it happens when there is little to no chance of this plausibly happening, because the inner monologue doesn't directly have anything to do with the current situation. This was(once again) poor editing, since this projection of Toby's inner monologue should have been caught.
I feel like Seanan might have been in a bit of a slump too. There was so much rehashing of previous plot points, and character interactions were sometimes rushed. It was like Seanan was trying to get every character that was in the previous books back into this one.
The plot was a bit thin, and like I mentioned above--rehashed. Don't stretch a series unless you have the material to stretch it with. I thought the book was going to be more focused on Quentin (since that is one of the things that was most hyped before it was released). Instead, Quentin, a very interesting character, is relegated almost entirely to the background. As much as I love Toby and Tybalt, I would have rather seen some of the other characters step into the limelight. And that might help with the plot redundancy.
Seanan, I love seeing Toby in mortal danger as much as the next person, but it is getting to be a bit much. The new world-building (like the library) and the political history are wonderful additions to this series. I wish this would be the focus, and not how much Toby can bleed all over everything. Also, I feel like half of the book is Toby describing how she is close to death, Tybalt is close to death, everyone is close to death. We, as readers, never step away from that particular cliff, so it loses is effectiveness as a plot device.
That all said, I do want to stress how this book is still part of a fascinating series. There is a lot of solid writing in it. I'm sure if the editing tightens up a bit in the next book I'll be just as enthusiastic about it as I was during early books in the series.
May 5, 2019
The further I'm into the series the more I love it. And the more I love Tobes. How can you not when a woman is planning to dethrone a sitting monarch like it's another Tuesday?
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July 29, 2016
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4.5 Stars
Seanan McGuire is consistently proving she's at the top of the heap when it comes to Urban Fantasy and Chimes at Midnight helps her to slide a little higher. It didn't unseat Ashes of Honor or Late Eclipses as a new favorite and it wasn't quite as high on the emotional impact scale as the previous three books, but I think it was the story that Toby needed. She has been through so much in the past few books and this book kind of brought the story full-circle and helped her to wrap up some loose threads in her life. As with all her books, Seanan makes Toby's feelings and fears shine directly through to the reader and lays her character bare. Toby doesn't hide from people anymore and it was beautiful to see her so open and trusting here.
Chimes at Midnight begins by taking Toby back to a problem she faced in book one - goblin fruit. Goblin fruit is a widely accessible, addictive fae fruit and it is killing changelings. With Devon dead, no one is there to stem the flow of the fruit so it is up to Toby to find the ones responsible and stop them. When the trail leads to the Queen of the Mists, Toby knows there will be trouble. The Queen has never liked Toby and she lays down some harsh punishment and Toby's feet for her "meddling." Now, Toby has just a few days to prove that the Queen isn't really the queen and to have the right fae reinstated on the throne. Otherwise, life as she knows it will be changed forever... in more ways than one.
October "Toby" Daye has come so far since the first book, Rosemary and Rue. Seanan has given her main character a gradual, believable, and much appreciated development arc. She is finally letting herself be happy and is letting more and more people into her life. Her relationship with Tybalt is moving along nicely and she has formed a very real nuclear family with May and Quentin. Instead of just calling herself a hero, Toby has actually become one and consistently proves her self-sacrifice. In Chimes at Midnight, we get a happier, much less tortured Toby but as this is a Seanan McGuire book, the shit quickly hits the fan. Toby is still dealing with conflicted feelings about Devon and Home and the other changelings still on the street, but she has learned that her place in society is more fae than human. She has become comfortable now with the shifting balance of her blood and has come to depend on her new skills. When the investigation behind the Queen's heritage takes an ugly turn with a goblin fruit pie (yes, Toby takes a pie to the face!), Toby finds herself back to square one in the power department and must again rely only on her wits, cunning, and allies to get the job done.
Seanan McGuire is a master at character creation; I have yet to meet a character I don't care about one way or the other. There are plenty I don't like, but Seanan has made them so viscerally bad or evil that I can't be indifferent to them. The characters that I love, I love unendingly. I care about what happens to everyone. The returning characters continually have more depth and layers added to them and the new characters always catch my attention and interest. Chimes at Midnight was no different and I loved the new librarian character we got from the Library of Stars. I loved the return of the Undersea characters that were introduced in One Salt Sea and The Luidaeg was awesome as always. The night haunts are some of the characters that I find the most hauntingly effective and in this book they are used perfectly. Having the night haunts with Devon and Connor's faces dragged up many competing emotions in Toby but also helped show how secure she is in herself now.
Toby and Tybalt were so adorable in this book. There relationship is progressing perfectly and it is easy to see how much they care for one another without being over the top mushy. They respect one another and they let each other be themselves, even though Tybalt does want to protect Toby all the time. Oh! We also get a terrific reveal about Quentin and his true parentage. Even though I suspected something like what played out, I was still pleasantly surprised by the events.
I don't want to give too much away about the end of Chimes at Midnight, but suffice it to say Seanan has set up a whole bunch of new directions for the story to go. Though she is already crazy prolific when it comes to putting out books (you guys know she writes as Mira Grant too, right?), I am already chomping at the bit for the next October Daye novel. I will try to contain my impatience - I will wait however long it takes to ensure we keep getting the quality stories that Seanan creates for Toby. The October Daye books are a master class on how to do urban fantasy correctly and Seanan McGuire is the department head of awesome!
Thank you to DAW Books for providing a print galley of this book!
4.5 Stars
Seanan McGuire is consistently proving she's at the top of the heap when it comes to Urban Fantasy and Chimes at Midnight helps her to slide a little higher. It didn't unseat Ashes of Honor or Late Eclipses as a new favorite and it wasn't quite as high on the emotional impact scale as the previous three books, but I think it was the story that Toby needed. She has been through so much in the past few books and this book kind of brought the story full-circle and helped her to wrap up some loose threads in her life. As with all her books, Seanan makes Toby's feelings and fears shine directly through to the reader and lays her character bare. Toby doesn't hide from people anymore and it was beautiful to see her so open and trusting here.
Chimes at Midnight begins by taking Toby back to a problem she faced in book one - goblin fruit. Goblin fruit is a widely accessible, addictive fae fruit and it is killing changelings. With Devon dead, no one is there to stem the flow of the fruit so it is up to Toby to find the ones responsible and stop them. When the trail leads to the Queen of the Mists, Toby knows there will be trouble. The Queen has never liked Toby and she lays down some harsh punishment and Toby's feet for her "meddling." Now, Toby has just a few days to prove that the Queen isn't really the queen and to have the right fae reinstated on the throne. Otherwise, life as she knows it will be changed forever... in more ways than one.
October "Toby" Daye has come so far since the first book, Rosemary and Rue. Seanan has given her main character a gradual, believable, and much appreciated development arc. She is finally letting herself be happy and is letting more and more people into her life. Her relationship with Tybalt is moving along nicely and she has formed a very real nuclear family with May and Quentin. Instead of just calling herself a hero, Toby has actually become one and consistently proves her self-sacrifice. In Chimes at Midnight, we get a happier, much less tortured Toby but as this is a Seanan McGuire book, the shit quickly hits the fan. Toby is still dealing with conflicted feelings about Devon and Home and the other changelings still on the street, but she has learned that her place in society is more fae than human. She has become comfortable now with the shifting balance of her blood and has come to depend on her new skills. When the investigation behind the Queen's heritage takes an ugly turn with a goblin fruit pie (yes, Toby takes a pie to the face!), Toby finds herself back to square one in the power department and must again rely only on her wits, cunning, and allies to get the job done.
Seanan McGuire is a master at character creation; I have yet to meet a character I don't care about one way or the other. There are plenty I don't like, but Seanan has made them so viscerally bad or evil that I can't be indifferent to them. The characters that I love, I love unendingly. I care about what happens to everyone. The returning characters continually have more depth and layers added to them and the new characters always catch my attention and interest. Chimes at Midnight was no different and I loved the new librarian character we got from the Library of Stars. I loved the return of the Undersea characters that were introduced in One Salt Sea and The Luidaeg was awesome as always. The night haunts are some of the characters that I find the most hauntingly effective and in this book they are used perfectly. Having the night haunts with Devon and Connor's faces dragged up many competing emotions in Toby but also helped show how secure she is in herself now.
Toby and Tybalt were so adorable in this book. There relationship is progressing perfectly and it is easy to see how much they care for one another without being over the top mushy. They respect one another and they let each other be themselves, even though Tybalt does want to protect Toby all the time. Oh! We also get a terrific reveal about Quentin and his true parentage. Even though I suspected something like what played out, I was still pleasantly surprised by the events.
I don't want to give too much away about the end of Chimes at Midnight, but suffice it to say Seanan has set up a whole bunch of new directions for the story to go. Though she is already crazy prolific when it comes to putting out books (you guys know she writes as Mira Grant too, right?), I am already chomping at the bit for the next October Daye novel. I will try to contain my impatience - I will wait however long it takes to ensure we keep getting the quality stories that Seanan creates for Toby. The October Daye books are a master class on how to do urban fantasy correctly and Seanan McGuire is the department head of awesome!
Thank you to DAW Books for providing a print galley of this book!
January 12, 2019
"We have three problems. If the Queen of the Mists isn't supposed to be in charge, who is? How do we find them? And how do we depose a sitting monarch who has her very own private army?"Original review: February 2017
"Remember when our biggest problem was 'who turned the laundry pink'?"
It looks like Toby's life will never be peaceful. Not even for a second. And I'm sorry to say this, but this time, it was Toby's fault she got into trouble.
In Chimes at Midnight, Toby is dealing with the same problem she was trying to deal with at the beginning of the previous installment. Streets of San Francisco are full of Goblin Fruit, which is addictive to Purebloods and deadly to changelings and humans. And since Toby thinks it's up to her to right every wrong in the world, she is trying to find the person who is dealing Goblin Fruit and make them stop. Here's where she gets surprised - the one dealing Goblin Fruit is no one else than her 'favorite' Queen and since she's already annoyed with Toby always messing up her plans, she banishes her out of her kingdom.
To be honest, I didn't find the main premise of this book very interesting. I mean, the Queen isn't really queen and there's a lot of people who suspect or even know it and they do nothing about it even though they hate her? Sorry, what? Big "fuck logic" plot hole here. However, the twists and turns this book took were more than exciting.
We finally found out who mysterious Arden is (from Moir Woods back in One Salt Sea) and although I didn't like her all the time, I'm sure she will play important part in the future.
What was even better, we found out who Quentin's parents are. And I sure as hell didn't see that one coming. I mean, really, Quentin? Can't wait to see how that will turn out in the end.
However, as many answers Chimes at Midnight answered, it left that many, if not more questions.
First of all, is the Luidaeg okay? Where is she?
Second, but not less important - what is the mysterious favor Li keeps mentioning? In the Ashes of Honor she said she has a favor to ask from Toby and in this book, she mentioned it again and yet, we still don't know what it is. I'm getting overly curious and impatient. Just tell me already.
And last, but not least - what's the deal with Amenadine?
I need answers to these questions right now!
Plus another short story form the Luidaeg's POV!
In this story, we get to see the whole conversation between the Luidaeg and Amenadine right after October went through her Choice. We actually got a glimpse of this scene in Chimes at Midnight when Toby tasted the Luidaeg's blood, but it's nice to have context to go with it.
I loved Toby and the Luidaeg's first meeting. I hope that once, Toby will remember it. That she will know that her family never abandoned her.
This short story reminded me of how many exciting things we have yet to encounter. There is mysterious Eira, Amenadine's past and, of course, Oberon, Maeve a Titania. I really hope the famous trio will make an appearance before this series is over. And of course, there are still "smaller" villains, such as Simon Torquill, former Queen or Riordan of Tamed Lighting.
It's really exciting to know there's so much to this world we have yet to discover.
December 15, 2014
Four and a half stars.
Wow, things in faerie...they are a changing. The latest book in the October Daye series, which kicks off roughly 2-3 months after Ashes of Honor, brought together many of the plot clues that have been sprinkled throughout the series since book one and diligent readers will be rewarded for their careful attention to detail. The you-know-what hit the fan pretty early on in this book and things never really let up from there. Toby and company are on the move throughout the book. In fact, I don't think they ever spent more than two chapters in any one location. There is a definite sense of urgency in the story, as dictated by the circumstances, but even so I found myself wishing they could take a break here and there.
If you have a favorite character in this series, the chances are high that they make an appearance in this book. It seems that anyone who has ever been introduced in the books makes at least a cameo in this installment which, if I'm being honest, makes it seem a little crowded at times. On the other hand, it also serves to highlight just how far Toby has come since book one when she was living a solitary life. Toby has some definite choices to make regarding just how much of her life she wants to own moving forward and her decisions are so very...her. :)
And then there's Tybalt. I dare anyone to discuss this series without mentioning the King of Cats. Tybalt is all over this book and shows, without a doubt, that he is just the Best. Boyfriend. Ever. If I have one quibble with this book it's that he and Toby are so very rarely alone - which relates back to so many characters making appearances - and the private moments they do get are too brief, at least for me. After the way that Ashes of Honor ended, I was expecting...a little more. Don't get me wrong, the moments they have are lovely and sweet but they always felt prematurely ended to me. If they had lasted one or two beats more it would have been perfect and would have made this a five star book for me.
As for the future, there was one character reveal that confirmed my long held suspicions and I am very curious to see how that will affect things going forward. There are also some extremely intriguing clues about Toby herself that have my mind working overtime. Readers will be pleased to find a short chapter/short story at the end of the book, told from the Luidaeg's POV, that also reveals some clues about Toby and what may still be to come. The author mentions in the introduction that this book represents the beginning of a new phase in Toby's life and I can certainly see how that will be the case. This is a series that shows no signs of slowing down and you can bet that I'll be along for the ride.
Wow, things in faerie...they are a changing. The latest book in the October Daye series, which kicks off roughly 2-3 months after Ashes of Honor, brought together many of the plot clues that have been sprinkled throughout the series since book one and diligent readers will be rewarded for their careful attention to detail. The you-know-what hit the fan pretty early on in this book and things never really let up from there. Toby and company are on the move throughout the book. In fact, I don't think they ever spent more than two chapters in any one location. There is a definite sense of urgency in the story, as dictated by the circumstances, but even so I found myself wishing they could take a break here and there.
If you have a favorite character in this series, the chances are high that they make an appearance in this book. It seems that anyone who has ever been introduced in the books makes at least a cameo in this installment which, if I'm being honest, makes it seem a little crowded at times. On the other hand, it also serves to highlight just how far Toby has come since book one when she was living a solitary life. Toby has some definite choices to make regarding just how much of her life she wants to own moving forward and her decisions are so very...her. :)
And then there's Tybalt. I dare anyone to discuss this series without mentioning the King of Cats. Tybalt is all over this book and shows, without a doubt, that he is just the Best. Boyfriend. Ever. If I have one quibble with this book it's that he and Toby are so very rarely alone - which relates back to so many characters making appearances - and the private moments they do get are too brief, at least for me. After the way that Ashes of Honor ended, I was expecting...a little more. Don't get me wrong, the moments they have are lovely and sweet but they always felt prematurely ended to me. If they had lasted one or two beats more it would have been perfect and would have made this a five star book for me.
As for the future, there was one character reveal that confirmed my long held suspicions and I am very curious to see how that will affect things going forward. There are also some extremely intriguing clues about Toby herself that have my mind working overtime. Readers will be pleased to find a short chapter/short story at the end of the book, told from the Luidaeg's POV, that also reveals some clues about Toby and what may still be to come. The author mentions in the introduction that this book represents the beginning of a new phase in Toby's life and I can certainly see how that will be the case. This is a series that shows no signs of slowing down and you can bet that I'll be along for the ride.
June 30, 2023
Interestingly enough, I find myself enjoying this story more than the first time I went through it. I find that the world building is exceptional here; and the roots of this story are really in one or two books before. I like how much planning went into it; I finally loved the use of the siren heritage (in a clever way). I think I was not fair enough - or attentive enough - the first time around!
With that said, I still do not care that much for Toby's love life.
It is a good installment yet I found myself bored every now and again, especially by Toby's reaction to her love life.
Somehow, I am starting to believe that she would be a more compelling and interesting character if she was flirting with Tybalt unlike the relationship she has currently. Considering that I was completely in favor of this relationship since the beginning (Connor was a poor patsy).
Hopefully the next installment will win me over again!
With that said, I still do not care that much for Toby's love life.
It is a good installment yet I found myself bored every now and again, especially by Toby's reaction to her love life.
Somehow, I am starting to believe that she would be a more compelling and interesting character if she was flirting with Tybalt unlike the relationship she has currently. Considering that I was completely in favor of this relationship since the beginning (Connor was a poor patsy).
Hopefully the next installment will win me over again!
November 18, 2013
http://www.rantingdragon.com/review-o...
In this seventh installment of Seanan McGuire's bestselling urban fantasy series, October "Toby" Daye is finally getting her life in gear. She's doing her job, her squire's training is progressing, and she has a boyfriend in the local King of Cats, Tybalt. However, it's not all green fields and rosebuds in Toby's life. When the local changeling population begins to drop dead of goblin fruit overdose, Toby investigates and takes the problem to the Queen of the Mists in hopes of resolving the issue. Naturally, this backfires and Toby suddenly finds herself in exile. Backed into a corner, with problems from the past resurfacing, information comes to light that the Queen may not actually have a legitimate claim on the throne, and Toby must do the only logical thing:
Overthrow the Queen.
A vibrant, living world
One of the things that sells a novel for me is a well-realized world. This is especially true when considering urban fantasy settings. Because there, not only do authors have to create their own world, they have to make it mesh with a world that is already familiar: our own. There are very few who do this as well as McGuire—not only has she created a supernatural world that has history, has weight, but she's also fit it into our reality so well that it's nigh-seamless. The Toby Daye series is one of the best examples of solid urban fantasy worldbuilding I've ever encountered.
And beyond that, McGuire's propensity to uncover new corners of the world never ceases to please. In every book, there's something new, details that come to life as they're brought into the reader's focus. The same holds true with Chimes at Midnight, though where in previous books it was predominantly locations that got the new spotlight, here it is more of Faerie's history and culture than anything else. Which is wonderful. (Side note: the mass market paperback has a kick-ass short story featuring a pair of the Firstborn, and it's totally awesome.)
A roller coaster of a plot
I should elaborate. One of the things I have come to love and adore about McGuire's work is her knack for keeping the plot twists fresh with each book. With Chimes at Midnight, McGuire outdoes herself. Whereas all of her plots can fit the roller coaster analogy—starting off with a bang, sharp twists and turns, etc—this book is more akin to riding a roller coaster while blindfolded. The twists in the story? You know they're coming, but you don't know when or how until you're right there in the moment. McGuire pulls stuff out of the hat I didn't even know was in the hat to begin with.
And that's just real damn nifty.
The calm before the storm
After finishing my read, Pink's "Glitter in the Air" comes to mind whenever I reflect upon this book. And I think it's for the following lyrics:
It seems to me that we have now reached a vital point in Toby's story. The closing of Chimes at Midnight leaves things in a more easygoing, lighter place than some of the endings of previous installments. Things are starting to look up for Toby.
So, like in any good series, this means it's about time for Toby's world to come crashing down around her. Book eight, The Winter Long, is gonna hurt. But I wouldn't trade my seat on this ride for the world.
Why should you read this book?
If you're a newcomer to the series and you read this book, you'll be able to follow along pretty easily. Not everything will make complete sense, but it's doable. You should, of course, begin with book one (Rosemary and Rue). If you've read the first book or three but are on the fence about continuing? Don't. Stop. Because this book is an epitome of everything that makes the Toby Daye novels one of the best urban fantasy series on the market, right up there with Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files: tight and believable characters, a gorgeously realized universe, and so many unexpected twists it's almost like they're going out of style. Chimes at Midnight is definitely my most favorite Toby book to date.
In this seventh installment of Seanan McGuire's bestselling urban fantasy series, October "Toby" Daye is finally getting her life in gear. She's doing her job, her squire's training is progressing, and she has a boyfriend in the local King of Cats, Tybalt. However, it's not all green fields and rosebuds in Toby's life. When the local changeling population begins to drop dead of goblin fruit overdose, Toby investigates and takes the problem to the Queen of the Mists in hopes of resolving the issue. Naturally, this backfires and Toby suddenly finds herself in exile. Backed into a corner, with problems from the past resurfacing, information comes to light that the Queen may not actually have a legitimate claim on the throne, and Toby must do the only logical thing:
Overthrow the Queen.
A vibrant, living world
One of the things that sells a novel for me is a well-realized world. This is especially true when considering urban fantasy settings. Because there, not only do authors have to create their own world, they have to make it mesh with a world that is already familiar: our own. There are very few who do this as well as McGuire—not only has she created a supernatural world that has history, has weight, but she's also fit it into our reality so well that it's nigh-seamless. The Toby Daye series is one of the best examples of solid urban fantasy worldbuilding I've ever encountered.
And beyond that, McGuire's propensity to uncover new corners of the world never ceases to please. In every book, there's something new, details that come to life as they're brought into the reader's focus. The same holds true with Chimes at Midnight, though where in previous books it was predominantly locations that got the new spotlight, here it is more of Faerie's history and culture than anything else. Which is wonderful. (Side note: the mass market paperback has a kick-ass short story featuring a pair of the Firstborn, and it's totally awesome.)
A roller coaster of a plot
I should elaborate. One of the things I have come to love and adore about McGuire's work is her knack for keeping the plot twists fresh with each book. With Chimes at Midnight, McGuire outdoes herself. Whereas all of her plots can fit the roller coaster analogy—starting off with a bang, sharp twists and turns, etc—this book is more akin to riding a roller coaster while blindfolded. The twists in the story? You know they're coming, but you don't know when or how until you're right there in the moment. McGuire pulls stuff out of the hat I didn't even know was in the hat to begin with.
And that's just real damn nifty.
The calm before the storm
After finishing my read, Pink's "Glitter in the Air" comes to mind whenever I reflect upon this book. And I think it's for the following lyrics:
And it's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg
The sun before the burn
[…]
It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table
The walk before the run
The breath before the kiss
And the fear before the flames
It seems to me that we have now reached a vital point in Toby's story. The closing of Chimes at Midnight leaves things in a more easygoing, lighter place than some of the endings of previous installments. Things are starting to look up for Toby.
So, like in any good series, this means it's about time for Toby's world to come crashing down around her. Book eight, The Winter Long, is gonna hurt. But I wouldn't trade my seat on this ride for the world.
Why should you read this book?
If you're a newcomer to the series and you read this book, you'll be able to follow along pretty easily. Not everything will make complete sense, but it's doable. You should, of course, begin with book one (Rosemary and Rue). If you've read the first book or three but are on the fence about continuing? Don't. Stop. Because this book is an epitome of everything that makes the Toby Daye novels one of the best urban fantasy series on the market, right up there with Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files: tight and believable characters, a gorgeously realized universe, and so many unexpected twists it's almost like they're going out of style. Chimes at Midnight is definitely my most favorite Toby book to date.
Garrett received an ARC of Chimes at Midnight courtesy of DAW Books.
January 10, 2017
While not particularly exciting as a story, I have the feeling this is one of the most crucial novellas plot-wise. Definitely don't skip this one. I think these are the most clear hints of the overall series plot.
Merged review:
You know, I’m pretty sure I’ve been underrating these for a while now, but it’s actually kind of hard to rate the Scary Place books because I care SO MUCH that I actually get kind of mad when my babies are in danger so it’s tough. Chimes at Midnight truly is a spectacular installment though.
I will say, though, that you definitely want to have read McGuire’s free short story “No Sooner Met” before you read Chimes at Midnight though, if you’re invested in Toby and Tybalt, which how could you not be; otherwise, the lack of time focusing on the ship might annoy you. They have some good moments in here, but their relationship is not the focus. I particularly love when Toby and Tybalt have a little talk about the degree to which she will accept his protection and basically they are OTP-goals.
In Chimes at Midnight, Toby’s taking on the goblin fruit trade and, by extension, the Queen of the Mists. The Queen’s been a problematic figure since the very start of the series, and I was surprised that she was being taken down this “soon,” but omg it’s so badass. It’s really fucking amazing how McGuire manages to consistently raise the stakes when they were fucking high to start with. This series is a masterclass in plotting. Also, like the fact that I can be so fucking terrified for everyone with so many books still planned is amazing.
I love this series super fiercely, but I sort of don’t want to write that much about it because I’m so far in that basically everything is monstrous spoilers if you haven’t read this far. So basically READ THIS SERIES, ALL OF YOU. IT IS AMAZEBALLS. SEANAN MCGUIRE IS A QUEEN.
Merged review:
You know, I’m pretty sure I’ve been underrating these for a while now, but it’s actually kind of hard to rate the Scary Place books because I care SO MUCH that I actually get kind of mad when my babies are in danger so it’s tough. Chimes at Midnight truly is a spectacular installment though.
I will say, though, that you definitely want to have read McGuire’s free short story “No Sooner Met” before you read Chimes at Midnight though, if you’re invested in Toby and Tybalt, which how could you not be; otherwise, the lack of time focusing on the ship might annoy you. They have some good moments in here, but their relationship is not the focus. I particularly love when Toby and Tybalt have a little talk about the degree to which she will accept his protection and basically they are OTP-goals.
In Chimes at Midnight, Toby’s taking on the goblin fruit trade and, by extension, the Queen of the Mists. The Queen’s been a problematic figure since the very start of the series, and I was surprised that she was being taken down this “soon,” but omg it’s so badass. It’s really fucking amazing how McGuire manages to consistently raise the stakes when they were fucking high to start with. This series is a masterclass in plotting. Also, like the fact that I can be so fucking terrified for everyone with so many books still planned is amazing.
I love this series super fiercely, but I sort of don’t want to write that much about it because I’m so far in that basically everything is monstrous spoilers if you haven’t read this far. So basically READ THIS SERIES, ALL OF YOU. IT IS AMAZEBALLS. SEANAN MCGUIRE IS A QUEEN.
August 3, 2020
My other reviews for this series:
Rosemary and Rue (October Daye, #1)
A Local Habitation (October Daye, #2)
An Artificial Night (October Daye, #3)
Late Eclipses (October Daye, #4)
One Salt Sea (October Daye, #5)
Ashes of Honor (October Daye, #6)
The Winter Long (October Daye, #8)
A Red-Rose Chain (October Daye, #9)
Once Broken Faith (October Daye, #10)
A meeting between the sea witch and Amandine. Despite the fact that the novella accomplished nothing beyond adding even MORE mystery to whatever Amandine and thus Tody are capable of/supposed to do, I still liked it. *gnashes teeth*
June 6, 2017
Shades of Lud-in-the-Mist! Replace Hope Mirrlees’ fairy fruit with goblin fruit, a very addictive substance for changelings and mortals, and you have one of October’s problems in Chimes at Midnight.
If I ever need to plan an insurrection, I would want Ms. Daye by my side. Even without her usual Fae powers, she is a force to be reckoned with. Mostly because of her awesome assortment of friends and acquaintances. Now including the Fae librarian, Mags!!! I knew there had to be a library stashed away in the land of Faerie somewhere and it is excellent. Constantly moving & disguising itself, but a temporary library card guarantees that it sits still until your crisis is over.
More Tybalt, more Luidaeg, an evil goblin fruit pie, revelations about young Quentin, plus Toby gets to lead a rebellion against the Queen in the Mists. What more could an October Daye fan ask for?
If I ever need to plan an insurrection, I would want Ms. Daye by my side. Even without her usual Fae powers, she is a force to be reckoned with. Mostly because of her awesome assortment of friends and acquaintances. Now including the Fae librarian, Mags!!! I knew there had to be a library stashed away in the land of Faerie somewhere and it is excellent. Constantly moving & disguising itself, but a temporary library card guarantees that it sits still until your crisis is over.
More Tybalt, more Luidaeg, an evil goblin fruit pie, revelations about young Quentin, plus Toby gets to lead a rebellion against the Queen in the Mists. What more could an October Daye fan ask for?
July 10, 2023
This series is positively addictive and I am struggling with myself not to binge all the audiobooks at once. I have burned myself out on a genre like this and even though binging is satisfying, I also know I will appreciate the stories more if I space them out.
Until the dead changelings, Toby was enjoying life. She has gotten closer to the King of Cats and has been enjoying her roommates. Now, she and her band of allies are in a race against the clock to keep her from being exiled and stop the distribution of goblin fruit. However, the Queen is determined to foil Toby’s plans and the stakes have never been higher.
Gads, the tale that unfolds, was suspenseful. We learned more about the Queen of Mists and reached out to the librarian at the Library of Stars as we traveled into the hidden depths of the Kingdom of the Mists.
Once again, Toby finds herself in grave danger. She will battle within herself, encourage others to stake claims, and need to rely on those around her to conceal her. I loved the history we learned, and the reveals about characters we’ve met.
McGuire’s world fascinates me and reconfirms my fear of the fae. Toby continues to grow and her relentless fight for the underdog makes her an authentic hero. She is clever, as are those she has in her circle. Poor Tybalt. The cat should have all gray hair with all the near death predicaments Toby finds herself in. Quentin continues to grow and we learn more about this young lad. Danny, the taxi driving Bridge Troll, is a favorite secondary character. I think he and the snarly sea witch are my favorites.
I highly recommend listening to the series. Mary Robinette Kowal is brilliant from the unique voices she provides to her tone. She enhances the overall tale and brings this delightful tale to life. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Until the dead changelings, Toby was enjoying life. She has gotten closer to the King of Cats and has been enjoying her roommates. Now, she and her band of allies are in a race against the clock to keep her from being exiled and stop the distribution of goblin fruit. However, the Queen is determined to foil Toby’s plans and the stakes have never been higher.
Gads, the tale that unfolds, was suspenseful. We learned more about the Queen of Mists and reached out to the librarian at the Library of Stars as we traveled into the hidden depths of the Kingdom of the Mists.
Once again, Toby finds herself in grave danger. She will battle within herself, encourage others to stake claims, and need to rely on those around her to conceal her. I loved the history we learned, and the reveals about characters we’ve met.
McGuire’s world fascinates me and reconfirms my fear of the fae. Toby continues to grow and her relentless fight for the underdog makes her an authentic hero. She is clever, as are those she has in her circle. Poor Tybalt. The cat should have all gray hair with all the near death predicaments Toby finds herself in. Quentin continues to grow and we learn more about this young lad. Danny, the taxi driving Bridge Troll, is a favorite secondary character. I think he and the snarly sea witch are my favorites.
I highly recommend listening to the series. Mary Robinette Kowal is brilliant from the unique voices she provides to her tone. She enhances the overall tale and brings this delightful tale to life. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 13, 2014
Oh boy!!! I think this was my favourite book of them all - simply brilliant as usual, the mystery thick and the adventure nail biting!
October is one of my favourite leading ladies, she is in actual fact, a hero and mine too! In this book October finds herself confronting her all time enemy - The Queen in The Mists and of course, Quentin and Tybalt are close at hand...
I have to say that there were a few 'gasps' from me during this book and a few 'Oh Shit's', the twists and turns that I never expected were fabulously written with enough impact to stop me breathing!
Seanan McGuire is an absolutely brilliant writer with an imagination as big as Faerie!!! I simply love her series!
I can't wait for the next book to be released!
October is one of my favourite leading ladies, she is in actual fact, a hero and mine too! In this book October finds herself confronting her all time enemy - The Queen in The Mists and of course, Quentin and Tybalt are close at hand...
I have to say that there were a few 'gasps' from me during this book and a few 'Oh Shit's', the twists and turns that I never expected were fabulously written with enough impact to stop me breathing!
Seanan McGuire is an absolutely brilliant writer with an imagination as big as Faerie!!! I simply love her series!
I can't wait for the next book to be released!
September 12, 2017
With Honest Trifles is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
This picks up the story pretty much immediately after the end of Instruments of Darkness and I'd definitely recommend reading those two stories in order even if you jump around with the other ones. After a certain revelation Tybalt had about Cailin he knows they desperately need help to train her to use her magic or they risk the other half of her family trying to make a claim on her. Tybalt will go to war to prevent that from happening but it would be a war he'd stand no chance at winning so he'd much rather find an alternative option.
We get to see Tybalt travel outside of Londinium and cross the channel into France as he searches for an old friend who may be willing to help him. I don't want to say too much about who he meets so let's just say a few familiar names crop up and I'm very interested to see how this ties back into the main series in later books! I have a feeling things are about to get very interesting indeed.
Merged review:
The Voice of Lions is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
This story fits into the timeline about seven years after Stage of Fools (and will contain spoilers for that story to make sure you read them in order!) and lets us see what life is like for Tybalt now that his sister and niece have retuned to his court. He still hasn't opened up Londinium to any of the other Cait Sidhe but the three of them are happy and it's nice to see that Tybalt is no longer alone. As much as he adores Colleen it is his niece that has completely stolen his heart and Cailin brings out a more playful side of him that we've not really seen in any of the other books. So you can imagine both Tybalt and Colleen's reaction when Cailin goes missing, there is nothing on earth that would stop those two bringing her home and they will destroy anyone who tries to stop them.
This was a fun short story that gives us a bit more information about the Shadow Roads, lets us take another trip into faerie and allows us to see a new side of Tybalt's character. I loved seeing how much more relaxed he is with his family and it was nice to see him with family after how alone he was in the first few Londinium stories. It is also a very good lesson into why you should never cross a Cait Side, especially not a King and a Princess!
Merged review:
Stage of Fools is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
So now we've got that public service announcement out of the way let's talk about this particular story. It's set in 1700, around 30 years after Rat-Catcher, so it's been a long time since he sent the rest of the Cait Sidhe away from Londinium. Tybalt has spent most of that time alone (apart from a brief and fairly disastrous romance that you can read all about in Forbid the Sea), he certainly hasn't spent any time with members of his Court so it comes as quite a shock when his sister Colleen turns up unannounced.
Colleen is in trouble, she has been wrongly accused of murder and if she can't prove her innocence then she'll be executed so she's turned to the one person who always did his best to protect her. Tybalt may have been a reluctant King but he loves his people, especially his last remaining sister, so you just know he'll do whatever it takes to help her. It was so great to see Tybalt shocked out of his monotonous and lonely existence and I'm really hoping that this is the start of him reopening his court and starting to et the Cait Sidhe return. Tybalt is as fantastic as ever and I can't wait to fill in more of his backstory with these short stories!
Merged review:
Quick in Quarrel is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to both her October Daye and Incryptid series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum).
This is another Tybalt story and it picks up immediately after the ending of Jealous in Honor. September has been put in danger because of her friendship with Tybalt and now it's up to him to save her. He's the only one who can give her back her freedom and reunite her with her husband but he's going to have to cross some uncomfortable lines to achieve his goal.
Merged review:
Never Shines the Sun is a short story that was included in my edition of Chimes at Midnight. I'm not sure if all copies of the book include it or just the DAW Books mass market paperback so it's worth checking before you purchase.
The story told from the Luidaeg's point of view and as I'm a huge fan of her character this was a really exciting one for me. It gives us a lot more insight into the Luidaeg's relationship with Toby's mother Amandine and raises a whole heap of questions about what Amandine was hoping to achieve by changing Toby's blood when she was a child. It also drops hints about how important Toby is in the grand scheme of things and just why the Luidaeg has been so interested in her since they met.
I have so many questions now about where Toby's journey is heading and I can't wait to see what Senaan McGuire has in store for her and her friends!
Merged review:
Jealous in Honor is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to both her October Daye and Incryptid series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum).
I love these Tybalt backstories, it's just so much fun learning about his life in Londinium many, many years before he met Toby. In this story Tybalt is under some pressure when Cyne returns, he knows she will stop at nothing to hurt Cailin but he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his niece and his sister. This ends on quite a cliffhanger so I'm really glad I'm playing catch up with Patreon short stories and already had Quick in Quarrel to dive straight into!
Merged review:
Instruments of Darkness is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
Set in 1711 there's another 2 year gap between this story and the last but it doesn't look like Tybalt's court has grown much bigger. Tybalt's niece Cailin, has had a playmate her own age since the arrival of Chalcedony and her family but she still refuses to shift to her cat form no matter how much fun she could have if she did. It's time for Tybalt to get to the bottom of things once and for all but the answer is something he never could have expected.
I'm so happy that Seanan McGuire is slowly filling in Tybalt's backstory, I love his character so much and I really enjoy spending time with the Cait Sidhe. She does such a brilliant job of making them act in cat like ways but also adding a human element to them. This one has a really beautiful conversation between Tybalt and Cailin as they have a heart to heart about the other half of her family, the half that wanted nothing to do with her from the minute she was born. The way he reassures her was just totally heart melting.
Merged review:
In Deepest Consequence is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 8 October Day stories now (6 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
I can't get enough of these Tybalt stories, I love that we're getting the chance to fill in some of his backstory from the years before he met Toby. I really enjoy his relationship with his niece Cailin and this story is all about him finding a teacher to help her learn to use the magic she inherited from her father's side of the family. What is interesting is that seeing Tybalt's early years as a King of cats also gives us some insight into the Torquill family that are starting to answer some of the questions that we're left with from reading the main books. I'm definitely hoping for more from Tybalt's POV but I'll happily read as many stories as Seanan McGuire will write in this world no matter who the narrator is!
Merged review:
The Act of Hares is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
This story is set in 1709 so approximately 2 years after events in The Voice of Lions and 40 years from when Tybalt first became King of the Court of Fogbound Cats. I really love seeing Tybalt with his sister and niece, it's great that they have become a little family and he's no longer alone but Colleen knows it's time to let the other Cait Sidhe return so when a family arrive in desperate need of sanctuary Tybalt reluctantly agrees to open the doors.
It's really great to see Tybalt finally starting to accept the responsibly he never asked for, he only became King in the first place to save Colleen but he's now starting to realise that he doesn't want to be alone anymore either.
Merged review:
Toby's life has been pretty settled lately which is always a sign that things are about to go to hell in a hand basket! Her relationship with Tybalt is great, Quentin's training is coming along nicely and all her friends and allies are safe and happy so what could possibly rock the boat this time? Well, the increasing amount of Goblin Fruit in San Fransisco is what starts it all, Toby has been investigating and trying to shut down the supplier but when she gathers evidence that multiple changelings have been killed by their addiction she decides she has no option but to take it to the Queen of the Mists. Unfortunately the queen is holding a huge grudge against Toby and she's been waiting for something like this to happen so she jumps on the excuse to send her into exile. If Toby doesn't come up with a way to change her mind she has 3 days to pack up her stuff and leave the Mists for good.
There was just so much to love about this book! I have been shipping Toby and Tybalt for such a long time now that any scene with them together just gives me the all the warm and fuzzy feelings. The banter between them is great and there are more than a few heartfelt moments that just made me swoon. They really are the cutest couple! Add in fantastic characters like Quentin, May, Sylvester and so many others and this series has definitely become a favourite of mine.
There are lots of new things to love in this book too starting with a magical fae library that moves location on a whim - I want to see more of this in the future please! We've already met the Cait Sidhe and now we're introduced to a Cu Sidhe, yes, you guessed it dog fae! Madden was like an adorable walking, talking, human shaped puppy and I kind of want to adopt him. Expect, among other things, an evil pie, Luidaeg getting her scare on, rebellion, mayhem and a vulnerable side to Toby that we've not seen in a while. It's lucky she has a lot of great allies on her side because our girl is in for a bumpy ride in this book! Oh and we also finally find out who Quentin's parents are and let me just tell you now it's a doozy of a revelation (I had kind of guessed who they might be but it was great to get confirmation!).
The October Day series is going from strength to strength and I can't wait to continue my binge read!
My copy of Chimes at Midnight also included an additional short story called Never Shines the Sun, I'm not sure if all copies of the book include that or just the DAW Books mass market paperback so it's worth checking before you purchase.
Never Shines the Sun is a short story told from the Luidaeg's point of view and as I'm a huge fan of her character this was a really exciting one for me. It gives us a lot more insight into the Luidaeg's relationship with Toby's mother Amandine and raises a whole heap of questions about what Amandine was hoping to achieve by changing Toby's blood when she was a child. It also drops hints about how important Toby is in the grand scheme of things and just why the Luidaeg has been so interested in her since they met.
I have so many questions now about where Toby's journey is heading and I can't wait to see what Senaan McGuire has in store for her and her friends!
This picks up the story pretty much immediately after the end of Instruments of Darkness and I'd definitely recommend reading those two stories in order even if you jump around with the other ones. After a certain revelation Tybalt had about Cailin he knows they desperately need help to train her to use her magic or they risk the other half of her family trying to make a claim on her. Tybalt will go to war to prevent that from happening but it would be a war he'd stand no chance at winning so he'd much rather find an alternative option.
We get to see Tybalt travel outside of Londinium and cross the channel into France as he searches for an old friend who may be willing to help him. I don't want to say too much about who he meets so let's just say a few familiar names crop up and I'm very interested to see how this ties back into the main series in later books! I have a feeling things are about to get very interesting indeed.
Merged review:
The Voice of Lions is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
This story fits into the timeline about seven years after Stage of Fools (and will contain spoilers for that story to make sure you read them in order!) and lets us see what life is like for Tybalt now that his sister and niece have retuned to his court. He still hasn't opened up Londinium to any of the other Cait Sidhe but the three of them are happy and it's nice to see that Tybalt is no longer alone. As much as he adores Colleen it is his niece that has completely stolen his heart and Cailin brings out a more playful side of him that we've not really seen in any of the other books. So you can imagine both Tybalt and Colleen's reaction when Cailin goes missing, there is nothing on earth that would stop those two bringing her home and they will destroy anyone who tries to stop them.
This was a fun short story that gives us a bit more information about the Shadow Roads, lets us take another trip into faerie and allows us to see a new side of Tybalt's character. I loved seeing how much more relaxed he is with his family and it was nice to see him with family after how alone he was in the first few Londinium stories. It is also a very good lesson into why you should never cross a Cait Side, especially not a King and a Princess!
Merged review:
Stage of Fools is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
So now we've got that public service announcement out of the way let's talk about this particular story. It's set in 1700, around 30 years after Rat-Catcher, so it's been a long time since he sent the rest of the Cait Sidhe away from Londinium. Tybalt has spent most of that time alone (apart from a brief and fairly disastrous romance that you can read all about in Forbid the Sea), he certainly hasn't spent any time with members of his Court so it comes as quite a shock when his sister Colleen turns up unannounced.
Colleen is in trouble, she has been wrongly accused of murder and if she can't prove her innocence then she'll be executed so she's turned to the one person who always did his best to protect her. Tybalt may have been a reluctant King but he loves his people, especially his last remaining sister, so you just know he'll do whatever it takes to help her. It was so great to see Tybalt shocked out of his monotonous and lonely existence and I'm really hoping that this is the start of him reopening his court and starting to et the Cait Sidhe return. Tybalt is as fantastic as ever and I can't wait to fill in more of his backstory with these short stories!
Merged review:
Quick in Quarrel is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to both her October Daye and Incryptid series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum).
This is another Tybalt story and it picks up immediately after the ending of Jealous in Honor. September has been put in danger because of her friendship with Tybalt and now it's up to him to save her. He's the only one who can give her back her freedom and reunite her with her husband but he's going to have to cross some uncomfortable lines to achieve his goal.
Merged review:
Never Shines the Sun is a short story that was included in my edition of Chimes at Midnight. I'm not sure if all copies of the book include it or just the DAW Books mass market paperback so it's worth checking before you purchase.
The story told from the Luidaeg's point of view and as I'm a huge fan of her character this was a really exciting one for me. It gives us a lot more insight into the Luidaeg's relationship with Toby's mother Amandine and raises a whole heap of questions about what Amandine was hoping to achieve by changing Toby's blood when she was a child. It also drops hints about how important Toby is in the grand scheme of things and just why the Luidaeg has been so interested in her since they met.
I have so many questions now about where Toby's journey is heading and I can't wait to see what Senaan McGuire has in store for her and her friends!
Merged review:
Jealous in Honor is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to both her October Daye and Incryptid series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum).
I love these Tybalt backstories, it's just so much fun learning about his life in Londinium many, many years before he met Toby. In this story Tybalt is under some pressure when Cyne returns, he knows she will stop at nothing to hurt Cailin but he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his niece and his sister. This ends on quite a cliffhanger so I'm really glad I'm playing catch up with Patreon short stories and already had Quick in Quarrel to dive straight into!
Merged review:
Instruments of Darkness is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
Set in 1711 there's another 2 year gap between this story and the last but it doesn't look like Tybalt's court has grown much bigger. Tybalt's niece Cailin, has had a playmate her own age since the arrival of Chalcedony and her family but she still refuses to shift to her cat form no matter how much fun she could have if she did. It's time for Tybalt to get to the bottom of things once and for all but the answer is something he never could have expected.
I'm so happy that Seanan McGuire is slowly filling in Tybalt's backstory, I love his character so much and I really enjoy spending time with the Cait Sidhe. She does such a brilliant job of making them act in cat like ways but also adding a human element to them. This one has a really beautiful conversation between Tybalt and Cailin as they have a heart to heart about the other half of her family, the half that wanted nothing to do with her from the minute she was born. The way he reassures her was just totally heart melting.
Merged review:
In Deepest Consequence is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 8 October Day stories now (6 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
I can't get enough of these Tybalt stories, I love that we're getting the chance to fill in some of his backstory from the years before he met Toby. I really enjoy his relationship with his niece Cailin and this story is all about him finding a teacher to help her learn to use the magic she inherited from her father's side of the family. What is interesting is that seeing Tybalt's early years as a King of cats also gives us some insight into the Torquill family that are starting to answer some of the questions that we're left with from reading the main books. I'm definitely hoping for more from Tybalt's POV but I'll happily read as many stories as Seanan McGuire will write in this world no matter who the narrator is!
Merged review:
The Act of Hares is a short story from Tybalt's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). The great news is that signing up as a sponsor gives you access to all the previous short stories and we're up to 7 October Day stories now (5 from Tybalt's point of view plus an Aeslin Mice one for Incryptid fans) so it's well worth signing up!
This story is set in 1709 so approximately 2 years after events in The Voice of Lions and 40 years from when Tybalt first became King of the Court of Fogbound Cats. I really love seeing Tybalt with his sister and niece, it's great that they have become a little family and he's no longer alone but Colleen knows it's time to let the other Cait Sidhe return so when a family arrive in desperate need of sanctuary Tybalt reluctantly agrees to open the doors.
It's really great to see Tybalt finally starting to accept the responsibly he never asked for, he only became King in the first place to save Colleen but he's now starting to realise that he doesn't want to be alone anymore either.
Merged review:
Toby's life has been pretty settled lately which is always a sign that things are about to go to hell in a hand basket! Her relationship with Tybalt is great, Quentin's training is coming along nicely and all her friends and allies are safe and happy so what could possibly rock the boat this time? Well, the increasing amount of Goblin Fruit in San Fransisco is what starts it all, Toby has been investigating and trying to shut down the supplier but when she gathers evidence that multiple changelings have been killed by their addiction she decides she has no option but to take it to the Queen of the Mists. Unfortunately the queen is holding a huge grudge against Toby and she's been waiting for something like this to happen so she jumps on the excuse to send her into exile. If Toby doesn't come up with a way to change her mind she has 3 days to pack up her stuff and leave the Mists for good.
There was just so much to love about this book! I have been shipping Toby and Tybalt for such a long time now that any scene with them together just gives me the all the warm and fuzzy feelings. The banter between them is great and there are more than a few heartfelt moments that just made me swoon. They really are the cutest couple! Add in fantastic characters like Quentin, May, Sylvester and so many others and this series has definitely become a favourite of mine.
There are lots of new things to love in this book too starting with a magical fae library that moves location on a whim - I want to see more of this in the future please! We've already met the Cait Sidhe and now we're introduced to a Cu Sidhe, yes, you guessed it dog fae! Madden was like an adorable walking, talking, human shaped puppy and I kind of want to adopt him. Expect, among other things, an evil pie, Luidaeg getting her scare on, rebellion, mayhem and a vulnerable side to Toby that we've not seen in a while. It's lucky she has a lot of great allies on her side because our girl is in for a bumpy ride in this book! Oh and we also finally find out who Quentin's parents are and let me just tell you now it's a doozy of a revelation (I had kind of guessed who they might be but it was great to get confirmation!).
The October Day series is going from strength to strength and I can't wait to continue my binge read!
My copy of Chimes at Midnight also included an additional short story called Never Shines the Sun, I'm not sure if all copies of the book include that or just the DAW Books mass market paperback so it's worth checking before you purchase.
Never Shines the Sun is a short story told from the Luidaeg's point of view and as I'm a huge fan of her character this was a really exciting one for me. It gives us a lot more insight into the Luidaeg's relationship with Toby's mother Amandine and raises a whole heap of questions about what Amandine was hoping to achieve by changing Toby's blood when she was a child. It also drops hints about how important Toby is in the grand scheme of things and just why the Luidaeg has been so interested in her since they met.
I have so many questions now about where Toby's journey is heading and I can't wait to see what Senaan McGuire has in store for her and her friends!
September 3, 2017
Chimes at Midnight
4 Stars
In her quest to rid the streets of San Francisco of the addictive and deadly Goblin Fruit, Changeling PI Toby Daye finds herself at loggerheads with the Queen of the Mists, who finally has the reason she needs to exile the troublesome hero. This forces Toby to take extreme measures as the Queen's claim to the throne is less than valid. Can Toby locate the rightful heir before she falls victim to the Queen's machinations?
After initially reading the blurb, the idea of Toby's exile had me concerned about the direction of the series. Thankfully, my worries were for naught as this turned out to be an exceedingly satisfying story with some exciting revelations and interesting new questions to ponder.
More details on the nature and extent of Toby's magic are revealed, and it is becoming abundantly clear that with her ability to , she is one dangerous enemy to have.
Tybalt and Toby's romance is going from strength to strength. His unconditional love and acceptance have gained him pride of place in my Hottie Harem and she has finally realized just how much he means to her.
The insurrection plot is intriguing as readers learn more about the political history of the North American fae and we are introduced to the Library of Stars (very cool!). The climax and resolution are action packed as some open issues are resolved, such as who Quentin's parents are (although that one was a bit obvious), and new secrets emerge (.
In sum, an exciting installment with one or two truly scary moments, but all's well that end's well.
4 Stars
In her quest to rid the streets of San Francisco of the addictive and deadly Goblin Fruit, Changeling PI Toby Daye finds herself at loggerheads with the Queen of the Mists, who finally has the reason she needs to exile the troublesome hero. This forces Toby to take extreme measures as the Queen's claim to the throne is less than valid. Can Toby locate the rightful heir before she falls victim to the Queen's machinations?
After initially reading the blurb, the idea of Toby's exile had me concerned about the direction of the series. Thankfully, my worries were for naught as this turned out to be an exceedingly satisfying story with some exciting revelations and interesting new questions to ponder.
More details on the nature and extent of Toby's magic are revealed, and it is becoming abundantly clear that with her ability to , she is one dangerous enemy to have.
Tybalt and Toby's romance is going from strength to strength. His unconditional love and acceptance have gained him pride of place in my Hottie Harem and she has finally realized just how much he means to her.
The insurrection plot is intriguing as readers learn more about the political history of the North American fae and we are introduced to the Library of Stars (very cool!). The climax and resolution are action packed as some open issues are resolved, such as who Quentin's parents are (although that one was a bit obvious), and new secrets emerge (.
In sum, an exciting installment with one or two truly scary moments, but all's well that end's well.
August 9, 2013
Chimes at Midnight appears at first to possibly be a throwback to the very first book, sending Toby back out on the mean streets of San Francisco to investigate an influx of addictive goblin fruit, deadly to changelings. But with six simple words, this book sets itself up to be the best one since
Late Eclipses
: "We're going to overthrow the Queen." As usual, Toby must rely on her many allies and make some new ones, but this book, like Late Eclipses, does put Toby's own life at stake, giving her a dual motivation to complete her epic quest. She must fight for herself as well as the kingdom, and it's going to force her to reevaluate her identity as a changeling, which has always been a good well to dip into for the character. Which world is she more a part of, human or fae? Regardless, it's the politics of Faerie that drive this story, which contains within it several startling revelations that are simultaneously incidental to the plot and completely essential. Once again, Seanan shows that she has the long game mapped out quite deftly, and every book, though it tells an individual tale, contains important pieces of that long game, even if they're not apparent until several books down the line. The strong focus on Toby Daye as a character really makes this book shine, and the ever-expanding supporting cast polish it to a sparkling gleam.
May 22, 2019
Toby tries to do the right thing and gets more than she bargained for. The Queen banishes Toby upon hearing her request, which snowballs into a crazy string of events. Toby makes some huge discoveries on her quest to make the kingdom better.
My feelings on this book tend to be mixed. Sometimes I like it more than others, so I’m constantly wavering between 4 and 5 stars. Toby accomplishes something that is almost beyond belief considering she does it in such a short time span while not functioning at full capacity. I was slightly disappointed that Toby was granted access to a fae library and didn’t learn any big secrets. It was rather anticlimactic when Quentin’s true identity was revealed. The hints about it had been laid on pretty thick. It wasn’t hard to figure out.
As always with this series it’s the characters that are the best part. Toby and Tybalt were discovering the depths of their feelings for each other. I like Quentin more all the time as he becomes less formal. Although I do question why parents of someone in his position would allow him to stay in a place where he is in danger often.
The short story at the end was interesting. It’s been mentioned repeatedly that Amandine’s line have the burden of the crossroads and are betrayers, liars, and thieves. The Luidaeg hinted it was possible for them to do something good. It was vague, but I trust Seanan McGuire explain it all eventually.
My feelings on this book tend to be mixed. Sometimes I like it more than others, so I’m constantly wavering between 4 and 5 stars. Toby accomplishes something that is almost beyond belief considering she does it in such a short time span while not functioning at full capacity. I was slightly disappointed that Toby was granted access to a fae library and didn’t learn any big secrets. It was rather anticlimactic when Quentin’s true identity was revealed. The hints about it had been laid on pretty thick. It wasn’t hard to figure out.
As always with this series it’s the characters that are the best part. Toby and Tybalt were discovering the depths of their feelings for each other. I like Quentin more all the time as he becomes less formal. Although I do question why parents of someone in his position would allow him to stay in a place where he is in danger often.
The short story at the end was interesting. It’s been mentioned repeatedly that Amandine’s line have the burden of the crossroads and are betrayers, liars, and thieves. The Luidaeg hinted it was possible for them to do something good. It was vague, but I trust Seanan McGuire explain it all eventually.
June 5, 2017
Wow. Wow. Interesting. Interesting to see what happened and what is coming. I never knew that the sea witch would be the one to set everything in motion for Toby.
Merged review:
Omg what a book. A lot of crap happens most of which surrounds The Queen of the Mists and how she treats Toby when she brings the goblin fruit problem to her.
The Queen doesn't listen because This leads Toby in a merry chase to figure out a way out of that. Which invariably leads Toby down a path of almost death, lots of blood and becoming almost human. Wow. Lots and Tybalt is *dreamy sigh* yea enough said! Onto the next one!
Merged review:
Omg what a book. A lot of crap happens most of which surrounds The Queen of the Mists and how she treats Toby when she brings the goblin fruit problem to her.
The Queen doesn't listen because This leads Toby in a merry chase to figure out a way out of that. Which invariably leads Toby down a path of almost death, lots of blood and becoming almost human. Wow. Lots and Tybalt is *dreamy sigh* yea enough said! Onto the next one!
January 29, 2016
Mon avis en Français
My English review
If you know me, you know that I love this series, becoming one of my favorites. Also as soon as the seventh book was released, I threw myself in it as usually. And of course, Seanan McGuire has once again managed to take me completely away into her world. Moreover, if you do not know the series, you really miss something and you must rush to buy the first book (yes, it’s true!).
October continues her life as usual, educating Quentin and spinning the perfect love with Tybalt. But as always calm announces the storm, and, it is even more terrible than the last one. Goblins fruits are outstanding in town and the drug made for fae kills many people after only a single bite. Determined to stop all this, she goes to the queen, for she realizes the damage perpetrated. But she forgot about her perversity which is ultimately the cause. And in this mission, October finds herself exiled within 3 days of the world in which she lived, something she does not intend to accept without saying a word. But to save hersef, and the others, she will have to find a way to dethrone the queen that she hates and to try to put instead the one who should be there from the beginning. However, the road will not be easy and many problems will appear between her and her goal, whether her powers, the new drugs or even her own decisions. We’ll in fact have some fatal consequences here. But fortunately for her, she now has many allies who are desperate to help her whatever happens.
October will have to manage her powers and all the changes that come with it. It will be very difficult to see her like that, sometimes so fragile and yet still determined to do what is best for everyone. Fortunately Tybalt is still here too, or at least the maximum he can. We can not but love this character, he does everything for her and I admit that I’m really jealous of our heroine. But this is not everything and we will discover the true origins of Quentin. I suspected something like what was presented to us, but maybe not to that point and I was really surprised by the revelation, especially when we know the character. I also have some new questions about the parents of our heroine after a sentence read in the story and I am eager to learn more about them. But this is not everything and we also have many questions about the October’s fate and what the others expect of her. It must be said that we keep all that in mind, especially with the novella at the end of the story which makes us very curious.
As always, a lot of things are happening here and I can definitely say that I loved the novel from beginning to end. October is a heroine that I really enjoy and I am eager to find out what Seanan McGuire reserves for the future. This series is simply sublime!
My English review
If you know me, you know that I love this series, becoming one of my favorites. Also as soon as the seventh book was released, I threw myself in it as usually. And of course, Seanan McGuire has once again managed to take me completely away into her world. Moreover, if you do not know the series, you really miss something and you must rush to buy the first book (yes, it’s true!).
October continues her life as usual, educating Quentin and spinning the perfect love with Tybalt. But as always calm announces the storm, and, it is even more terrible than the last one. Goblins fruits are outstanding in town and the drug made for fae kills many people after only a single bite. Determined to stop all this, she goes to the queen, for she realizes the damage perpetrated. But she forgot about her perversity which is ultimately the cause. And in this mission, October finds herself exiled within 3 days of the world in which she lived, something she does not intend to accept without saying a word. But to save hersef, and the others, she will have to find a way to dethrone the queen that she hates and to try to put instead the one who should be there from the beginning. However, the road will not be easy and many problems will appear between her and her goal, whether her powers, the new drugs or even her own decisions. We’ll in fact have some fatal consequences here. But fortunately for her, she now has many allies who are desperate to help her whatever happens.
October will have to manage her powers and all the changes that come with it. It will be very difficult to see her like that, sometimes so fragile and yet still determined to do what is best for everyone. Fortunately Tybalt is still here too, or at least the maximum he can. We can not but love this character, he does everything for her and I admit that I’m really jealous of our heroine. But this is not everything and we will discover the true origins of Quentin. I suspected something like what was presented to us, but maybe not to that point and I was really surprised by the revelation, especially when we know the character. I also have some new questions about the parents of our heroine after a sentence read in the story and I am eager to learn more about them. But this is not everything and we also have many questions about the October’s fate and what the others expect of her. It must be said that we keep all that in mind, especially with the novella at the end of the story which makes us very curious.
As always, a lot of things are happening here and I can definitely say that I loved the novel from beginning to end. October is a heroine that I really enjoy and I am eager to find out what Seanan McGuire reserves for the future. This series is simply sublime!
June 13, 2013
I'm running out of awesome things to say about this series, because there are so many (not that I'm complaining!!!). McGuire manages to pull me along, make me love new characters, and somehow surprise me in every single book. I knew what had to happen in this one, to some degree - but there were still unanticipated plot twists. I also love that McGuire doesn't fall into the trap of other crime-type series that follow the same character for a ton of books - Toby grows when it's time for her to, and we feel like we're reading about a real adult person whose life actually changes regularly.
The only problem with having gotten a galley of this one early is that now I'm going to have to wait even longer for the next! I guess I'll have to read some Mira Grant in the meantime...
The only problem with having gotten a galley of this one early is that now I'm going to have to wait even longer for the next! I guess I'll have to read some Mira Grant in the meantime...
September 27, 2021
I managed to complete a few more new books before sliding back into my reread of this series. It is so beautiful and so full of hints of things that won’t be written for years I love it. Seriously the world building and thought that went into the big picture plot in this series is amazing. Up next is book 8 and since the author recently wrote that every 4th book is a more than usually whammy I’m excited to read it and see if I pick up on any foreshadowing I missed before.
This is the only book I’ve ever read that seriously used an evil pie as a weapon. October is fighting goblin fruit on the streets since it is killing changelings but when she confronts the queen it doesn’t all go as planned. She gets banished and is trying to find a loophole when someone hits her on face with a goblin fruit pie.
This is the only book I’ve ever read that seriously used an evil pie as a weapon. October is fighting goblin fruit on the streets since it is killing changelings but when she confronts the queen it doesn’t all go as planned. She gets banished and is trying to find a loophole when someone hits her on face with a goblin fruit pie.
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