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October Daye #14
A Killing Frost
When October is informed that Simon Torquill—legally her father, due to Faerie's archaic marriage traditions—must be invited to her wedding or risk the ceremony throwing the Kingdom in the Mists into political turmoil, she finds herself setting out on a quest she was not yet prepared to undertake for the sake of her future.... and the man who represents her family's past.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
About the author
Seanan McGuire
485 books16.6k 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 513 reviews
August 16, 2020
A Killing Frost is Toby's 14th book. Can you believe it? For us her loyal fans, we never want this series to end.
As it was expected, Toby and Tybalt are getting closer to that wedding we are all waiting for. What Toby didn't know is that in order to get married, she must invite her "father" to her wedding or face the consequences. Of course, there is the little trouble of Simon not remembering how much he actually does care about Toby and currently hating her.
Toby knows she needs to find Simon and he needs to get his memory back. She knows she can't postpone it any longer and so a new quest begins. In this quest, she will take with her only her squire and her Fetch. This will turn out to be a recipe for disaster. One where Toby will need to protect Quentin and keep May alive without dying herself.
This is one of my favorite fantasy series. Right up there with Mercy and Dresden. Seanan McGuire has done an unbelievably great job at world-building. These characters are so well-known to me and dear to my heart. I love Tybalt, he is perfect for Toby. He gives her balance and has saved her life more times than I can count. Quentin has grown in front of our eyes, to become a young man who hopefully won't forget everything Toby has taught him. May, her former Fetch, who is going to make sure Toby doesn't get too much blood at her wedding (hopefully). Diana and Patrick have always been favorite characters too. Diana will punch first and then ask questions. She is a fighter and I love how much she doesn't care for Amandine. Hands down, the Luidaeg, is my favorite character after Tybalt and Toby. Once again, she steals every scene she is in.
What this installment was missing was more Tybalt, Raj, Guillian (which needs to wake up and stop being a brat).
I wonder what will happen with August, Sylvester and his family with the events that happened in this one. I'm not a Sylvester fan and it makes me mad the way Luna behaves with Toby.
A huge reveal happened almost at the end of A Killing Frost. I'm 100% sure it will have repercussions in all the books to come. I can't wait!
If you are a true fan of this series, you're going to enjoy this one.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by DAW via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
July 28, 2020
It's always like coming home when I read this series.
Of course, it's a home with nasty Fae relatives, some brutal nice ones, friends who support me but who fully expect me to kill them ANY MOMENT NOW, and NO ONE WILL LEAVE ME BE ABOUT WHEN I'LL GET MARRIED.
Of course, I'm channeling October, but I figure if you're reading this review, YOU ALREADY GOT THAT. :)
Lessee... what can I say that isn't a complete spoiler?
Families SUCK. If it isn't divorce, it's marriage, and doesn't it beat all when the two get their grimy little paws on each other, ruining it for everyone?
This is a good book. It didn't leave me with as much of a gut punch as the last, but this one was solid and surprising (especially 1st born surprises) and the extra novella was actually rather sweet and helped round out the events in the novel. I likey!
Good stuff, ya'll!
Of course, it's a home with nasty Fae relatives, some brutal nice ones, friends who support me but who fully expect me to kill them ANY MOMENT NOW, and NO ONE WILL LEAVE ME BE ABOUT WHEN I'LL GET MARRIED.
Of course, I'm channeling October, but I figure if you're reading this review, YOU ALREADY GOT THAT. :)
Lessee... what can I say that isn't a complete spoiler?
Families SUCK. If it isn't divorce, it's marriage, and doesn't it beat all when the two get their grimy little paws on each other, ruining it for everyone?
This is a good book. It didn't leave me with as much of a gut punch as the last, but this one was solid and surprising (especially 1st born surprises) and the extra novella was actually rather sweet and helped round out the events in the novel. I likey!
Good stuff, ya'll!
September 1, 2020
Release Day
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 Stars
A Killing Frost is the fourteenth book in the October Daye series. At book fourteen, you’d think that maybe the story would start to feel flat or I might be losing interest, but you’d be dead wrong. I think each book builds on the others pretty well, with just a few books I felt were filler material along the way. I enjoy this series even more as October’s journeys continue and most of the time I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble she can get into next. This series is for lovers of tales with Fae in them.
Toby’s been engaged to the Tybalt the King of Cats for a few books now and even I’m starting to feel like she is dragging her feet to get to a wedding date. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t really want to get married, it is just means well she might just be a little nervous about it. But when she finds out that according to Fae custom if she doesn’t invite her stepfather to the wedding it could cause great offence and bring back a big bad that she has already thwarted (Fae customs are complicated). Well that just throws a huge wrench into her wedding plans.
You think it would be easy to just invite him. However, he made a deal with the Sea Witch awhile back and has lost his way home. Now Toby needs to go on a quest with her Death Omen sister and Princeling Squire to find a man cursed by the Sea Witch and invite him to her wedding. You thought planning your wedding was complicated.
This is another great adventure through Faery and roads not normally traveled. I love the world that Seanan McGuire has built for this series and how every book is a brand-new adventure. How can you not love a world in which the heroine is friends with the Sea Witch of all people/monsters, engaged to the King of Cats, has her own squire and seems to find some of the coolest characters to be friends with outside of just those. Her perky sense of humor and penchant for destruction make each tale interesting and keeps me guessing.
This is definitely a series that you need to read in order for anything to make sense and I can only say the series gets better over time. I was on the fence about it until about the third book when I became hooked and haven’t looked back since. So if you can handle a little cruelty, because the fae are not sunshine and rainbows, then this could be a good series for you.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 Stars
A Killing Frost is the fourteenth book in the October Daye series. At book fourteen, you’d think that maybe the story would start to feel flat or I might be losing interest, but you’d be dead wrong. I think each book builds on the others pretty well, with just a few books I felt were filler material along the way. I enjoy this series even more as October’s journeys continue and most of the time I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble she can get into next. This series is for lovers of tales with Fae in them.
“I trust her to be wild and impulsive and bold and self-destructive when it means someone else might be saved. I trust her to be the month she was named for, cold and kind by turns, endlessly storming, so that nothing can stand in her path but risk being blown away. I trust her to be October…”
Toby’s been engaged to the Tybalt the King of Cats for a few books now and even I’m starting to feel like she is dragging her feet to get to a wedding date. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t really want to get married, it is just means well she might just be a little nervous about it. But when she finds out that according to Fae custom if she doesn’t invite her stepfather to the wedding it could cause great offence and bring back a big bad that she has already thwarted (Fae customs are complicated). Well that just throws a huge wrench into her wedding plans.
You think it would be easy to just invite him. However, he made a deal with the Sea Witch awhile back and has lost his way home. Now Toby needs to go on a quest with her Death Omen sister and Princeling Squire to find a man cursed by the Sea Witch and invite him to her wedding. You thought planning your wedding was complicated.
This is another great adventure through Faery and roads not normally traveled. I love the world that Seanan McGuire has built for this series and how every book is a brand-new adventure. How can you not love a world in which the heroine is friends with the Sea Witch of all people/monsters, engaged to the King of Cats, has her own squire and seems to find some of the coolest characters to be friends with outside of just those. Her perky sense of humor and penchant for destruction make each tale interesting and keeps me guessing.
"Do you actually know where we're going, or did we just let a women who currently hates us all put us on a road to nowhere without a map?"
This is definitely a series that you need to read in order for anything to make sense and I can only say the series gets better over time. I was on the fence about it until about the third book when I became hooked and haven’t looked back since. So if you can handle a little cruelty, because the fae are not sunshine and rainbows, then this could be a good series for you.
September 5, 2020
3.5 stars
It's killing me that I don't have anyone to discuss this with.
It’s very hard to rate this. The writing was top notch as usual. The pacing was slow, and there wasn’t a lot of action. A couple of very important things happened that will alter the course of things going forward. One of those things had been alluded to for a long time, but it felt understated for such an epic event when it happened.
I can’t say much about the plot without giving a lot away. It focused on Simon. He's had redeeming moments, but he’s done so many bad things. The good does not outweigh the bad. Hell the good isn’t even equivalent to the bad, which is why the ending pissed me off.
Tybalt was not in it much, which is never my preference. I wish Toby would show some growth and consider Tybalt when she does something dangerous. She needs to stop using being a hero as an excuse for doing stupid and dangerous things and hurting the people she loves.
Amandine disappointed me. Her role in this book was insignificant. From the way she was described early on in the series, I expected her to have some grace and charm, even if it was a ruse. All she appears to be is a selfish, petulant child who has no control of her behavior. The complexity I thought would be there is not.
The Luidaeg was awesome as ever! I can’t get enough of her.
I am excited to see where all of this is heading. A reread will definitely be needed once I’ve let everything that’s happened sink in. I have the feeling I’ll like this one better the next time I read it.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this in exchange for an honest review!
It's killing me that I don't have anyone to discuss this with.
It’s very hard to rate this. The writing was top notch as usual. The pacing was slow, and there wasn’t a lot of action. A couple of very important things happened that will alter the course of things going forward. One of those things had been alluded to for a long time, but it felt understated for such an epic event when it happened.
I can’t say much about the plot without giving a lot away. It focused on Simon. He's had redeeming moments, but he’s done so many bad things. The good does not outweigh the bad. Hell the good isn’t even equivalent to the bad, which is why the ending pissed me off.
Tybalt was not in it much, which is never my preference. I wish Toby would show some growth and consider Tybalt when she does something dangerous. She needs to stop using being a hero as an excuse for doing stupid and dangerous things and hurting the people she loves.
Amandine disappointed me. Her role in this book was insignificant. From the way she was described early on in the series, I expected her to have some grace and charm, even if it was a ruse. All she appears to be is a selfish, petulant child who has no control of her behavior. The complexity I thought would be there is not.
The Luidaeg was awesome as ever! I can’t get enough of her.
I am excited to see where all of this is heading. A reread will definitely be needed once I’ve let everything that’s happened sink in. I have the feeling I’ll like this one better the next time I read it.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this in exchange for an honest review!
September 1, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
It's no secret that I'm a huge Seanan McGuire fan. I love her Wayward Children series, Incryptid is just tons and fun, and Middlegame was top notch... but my greatest love is her October Daye series. This world is so developed and deep and expansive. There are schemes aplenty, with long-term payoffs for following the series. This one is no exception - it brings some long-running storylines to the front, reveals that you already knew some of those secrets the whole time if you were paying attention, and smacks you across the face with how blind you were to seeing them.
I really want to say more, but I'm afraid to spoil things. I mean, it turns out that we already knew *******, that you can't count villains out just because ******* *********, that the world of Faerie has strict rules about so many things but is completely okay with ******** ***********, that ***** really is *********. (please note that asterisks aren't indicative of number of letters. I'm not risking ANY spoilers!
I'm glad we have a few more books contracted, but I don't want to wait for the next one!!!
Highly recommended, but start at the beginning.
It's no secret that I'm a huge Seanan McGuire fan. I love her Wayward Children series, Incryptid is just tons and fun, and Middlegame was top notch... but my greatest love is her October Daye series. This world is so developed and deep and expansive. There are schemes aplenty, with long-term payoffs for following the series. This one is no exception - it brings some long-running storylines to the front, reveals that you already knew some of those secrets the whole time if you were paying attention, and smacks you across the face with how blind you were to seeing them.
I really want to say more, but I'm afraid to spoil things. I mean, it turns out that we already knew *******, that you can't count villains out just because ******* *********, that the world of Faerie has strict rules about so many things but is completely okay with ******** ***********, that ***** really is *********. (please note that asterisks aren't indicative of number of letters. I'm not risking ANY spoilers!
I'm glad we have a few more books contracted, but I don't want to wait for the next one!!!
Highly recommended, but start at the beginning.
April 10, 2021
Guess who's back.. back again. Hollis is back. Back for punishment!
Okay but in all seriousness.. this might've been one of the least frustrating read for this series. That doesn't make it good but it is an unimportant distinction to make. The caveat? It achieves this honour because despite one or two seemingly major events, nothing really happens. And those one or two big events? Hella underwhelming or anticlimatic. Both, even.
I'm unsure if this was just the calm before a whole new shitstorm but I guess book fifteen (yikes) will determine whether that bodes true or not. As for A KILLING FROST? In adding yet another delay to a certain relationship, this had a fairly reasonable reason for doing so, which also helped to close the loop (ahaha honestly not sure why I keep thinking this to be a thing with this series, everything always gets resurrected even when it seems resolved) on something that has lingered throughout so many books. But this time with a twist. The character in question had become sort've a favourite of mine, not hard because I like so few of them, but in this one I admit I was disappointed. I felt some reactions felt overblown, or out of character, (and there was someone else who felt the same, so maybe that was just this book's theme..) or maybe it was just his true nature finally coming through and leaving me to realize I liked him a different way. Regardless. I was sorta into this particular "happy ending" but also not. I'm curious how my buddies, both longtime fans, will take it (spoiler, they haven't read this yet but somehow I have! what even).
As for the other major thing, well. As usual I have questions. So many questions.
I forever feel sorry for Toby because of how so many characters in this world treat her but equally she is a pain in the ass who likely deserves it. A matyr to the very end she is constantly slipping in moments of "oh is this what it's like to watch me do x y or z? that sucks" and yet.. she persists. All because she's a hero of the realm. The excuse wears thin, chickadee! And yet honestly I have no one to blame but myself for still being here.
And yes. I will still read on. Completionist to the bitter end.
----
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Okay but in all seriousness.. this might've been one of the least frustrating read for this series. That doesn't make it good but it is an unimportant distinction to make. The caveat? It achieves this honour because despite one or two seemingly major events, nothing really happens. And those one or two big events? Hella underwhelming or anticlimatic. Both, even.
I'm unsure if this was just the calm before a whole new shitstorm but I guess book fifteen (yikes) will determine whether that bodes true or not. As for A KILLING FROST? In adding yet another delay to a certain relationship, this had a fairly reasonable reason for doing so, which also helped to close the loop (ahaha honestly not sure why I keep thinking this to be a thing with this series, everything always gets resurrected even when it seems resolved) on something that has lingered throughout so many books. But this time with a twist. The character in question had become sort've a favourite of mine, not hard because I like so few of them, but in this one I admit I was disappointed. I felt some reactions felt overblown, or out of character, (and there was someone else who felt the same, so maybe that was just this book's theme..) or maybe it was just his true nature finally coming through and leaving me to realize I liked him a different way. Regardless. I was sorta into this particular "happy ending" but also not. I'm curious how my buddies, both longtime fans, will take it (spoiler, they haven't read this yet but somehow I have! what even).
As for the other major thing, well. As usual I have questions. So many questions.
I forever feel sorry for Toby because of how so many characters in this world treat her but equally she is a pain in the ass who likely deserves it. A matyr to the very end she is constantly slipping in moments of "oh is this what it's like to watch me do x y or z? that sucks" and yet.. she persists. All because she's a hero of the realm. The excuse wears thin, chickadee! And yet honestly I have no one to blame but myself for still being here.
And yes. I will still read on. Completionist to the bitter end.
----
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
October 11, 2020
This novel started off well, and then just got tedious with the usual Toby antics, flat character writing and lack of internal consistency. The rose bushes were written with more personality than the characters that have been developing for 14 novels. Despite the big adventure and all the running around, nothing actually happens. Quentin tags along, but does absolutely nothing. Tybalt does nothing and only makes a brief appearance. The plot is also rather lacking in logic. There were a fair number of "huh??", "why" and "that doesn't make sense" moments. A disappointing installment.
November 14, 2020
Wow, book 14 in this series, and unlike some others (Anita Blake for example) I'm still really enjoying these adventures. Part of that is due to my passion for McGuire's depiction of the world of the Fae. She has created a world that I find fascinating--I'm always interested to expand what I know about the Byzantine rules that run the lives of the Purebloods. Toby is having to worry about some of these conventions now, as her blood balance has shifted further away from changeling, more towards the pure end of the spectrum. Also because she will (probably) be marrying Tybalt, the King of Cats.
And that's what this book is all about—observing the rules in order to have the wedding run smoothly. Toby must rescue her legal father, Simon Torquill. I think that Toby bleeds less during this installment, but May seems to stand in for her. Quentin has a few moments of peril, too.
I'm ever so glad that McGuire has more volumes of this series planned. I can't be sure how much longer she can continue to spin these tales, so I'll be waiting with anticipation when each one of them is published.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
And that's what this book is all about—observing the rules in order to have the wedding run smoothly. Toby must rescue her legal father, Simon Torquill. I think that Toby bleeds less during this installment, but May seems to stand in for her. Quentin has a few moments of peril, too.
I'm ever so glad that McGuire has more volumes of this series planned. I can't be sure how much longer she can continue to spin these tales, so I'll be waiting with anticipation when each one of them is published.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
September 12, 2021
14 books in, what is there left to say about my super-duper favorite urban fantasy series? I love these books, and A Killing Frost is no exception!
For those unfamiliar with the series, October Daye is a changeling, born of a human man and a powerful Fae woman. Over the course of the series, October (Toby) has come into her own as a knight and a Hero of the Realm, gaining strength in her magical abilities and gifts and setting out on quests to right wrongs. As she so readily admits, hardly a day goes by when she doesn’t end up covered in blood.
Toby is an amazing character, and the series as a whole is a richly detailed world, set in and around human San Francisco, with complex rules, hierarchies, relationships, and power dynamics. The characters are so much of what makes these books so good — Toby has a found family by this point in the series, including her sort-of sister May, her fiance Tybalt, her squire Quentin, and an odd assortment of friends and associates who love Toby and keep her always on her toes.
In A Killing Frost, Toby and Tybalt (King of Cats) are getting closer to setting a wedding date, when Toby is informed that if she doesn’t invite her stepfather Simon to the wedding, he or anyone connected to him can claim offense. And in Faerie, that can lead to dire consequences, including forced servitude or other truly unpleasant outcomes.
Simon, however, is lost. In book #11, he traded his own way home in order to rescue his long-lost daughter. After having reformed his nastier ways, he’s back to being a bad guy, having forgotten all the good in his life. Toby’s only option is to search for Simon, bring him back, and find a way to break the spell so that he can truly be found again.
I won’t give too much away. Naturally, Toby ends up covered with blood — mostly, but not only, her own. There’s danger to her and to her companions, and the damage is truly gruesome at times.
I was scared for Toby, especially toward the end, when I couldn’t see a way that her actions wouldn’t end in disaster. Naturally, I ended up surprised in all sorts of ways, especially by a huge new development that will have major ripple effects from here on out.
I feel confident saying that if you’ve loved the October Daye series so far, you’ll love A Killng Frost too. If you haven’t started the series yet… well, go ahead!
Obviously, I adore October Daye, and I love basically everything written by Seanan McGuire.
A Killing Frost is a total treat. And now it’s back to the sad state of waiting a year for the next book in the series!
For those unfamiliar with the series, October Daye is a changeling, born of a human man and a powerful Fae woman. Over the course of the series, October (Toby) has come into her own as a knight and a Hero of the Realm, gaining strength in her magical abilities and gifts and setting out on quests to right wrongs. As she so readily admits, hardly a day goes by when she doesn’t end up covered in blood.
Toby is an amazing character, and the series as a whole is a richly detailed world, set in and around human San Francisco, with complex rules, hierarchies, relationships, and power dynamics. The characters are so much of what makes these books so good — Toby has a found family by this point in the series, including her sort-of sister May, her fiance Tybalt, her squire Quentin, and an odd assortment of friends and associates who love Toby and keep her always on her toes.
In A Killing Frost, Toby and Tybalt (King of Cats) are getting closer to setting a wedding date, when Toby is informed that if she doesn’t invite her stepfather Simon to the wedding, he or anyone connected to him can claim offense. And in Faerie, that can lead to dire consequences, including forced servitude or other truly unpleasant outcomes.
Simon, however, is lost. In book #11, he traded his own way home in order to rescue his long-lost daughter. After having reformed his nastier ways, he’s back to being a bad guy, having forgotten all the good in his life. Toby’s only option is to search for Simon, bring him back, and find a way to break the spell so that he can truly be found again.
I won’t give too much away. Naturally, Toby ends up covered with blood — mostly, but not only, her own. There’s danger to her and to her companions, and the damage is truly gruesome at times.
I was scared for Toby, especially toward the end, when I couldn’t see a way that her actions wouldn’t end in disaster. Naturally, I ended up surprised in all sorts of ways, especially by a huge new development that will have major ripple effects from here on out.
I feel confident saying that if you’ve loved the October Daye series so far, you’ll love A Killng Frost too. If you haven’t started the series yet… well, go ahead!
Obviously, I adore October Daye, and I love basically everything written by Seanan McGuire.
A Killing Frost is a total treat. And now it’s back to the sad state of waiting a year for the next book in the series!
Want to read
September 5, 2019oooh, who cares i ve only read 6 books so far? there is more after 13th! *happy dance*
August 30, 2020
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
The October Daye series is now officially the longest (Urban Fantasy) series I have read and I am still loving it. The world that Seanan McGuire has created is very intricate and vast. The characters are like family members and I love seeing them grow in each book. In this book October has to find Simon, who is lost and has pieces of his memory missing, and invite him to her wedding otherwise he can claim offense which could be a very bad thing. She brings along May and Quentin on this mission. With each book we learn new things and even more secrets are revealed.
I enjoyed this book a lot and I think it was a great addition to the series. October once again has a lot to deal with. She has to protect her family and also figure out how to solve different mysteries. October is definitely one of my favorite heroines, and I love that she isn't alone anymore and that she has a huge group of people she can depend on. Seanan McGuire is a phenomenal writer and she always knows how to keep me hooked to the story until the end. I already look forward to the next book.
The October Daye series is now officially the longest (Urban Fantasy) series I have read and I am still loving it. The world that Seanan McGuire has created is very intricate and vast. The characters are like family members and I love seeing them grow in each book. In this book October has to find Simon, who is lost and has pieces of his memory missing, and invite him to her wedding otherwise he can claim offense which could be a very bad thing. She brings along May and Quentin on this mission. With each book we learn new things and even more secrets are revealed.
I enjoyed this book a lot and I think it was a great addition to the series. October once again has a lot to deal with. She has to protect her family and also figure out how to solve different mysteries. October is definitely one of my favorite heroines, and I love that she isn't alone anymore and that she has a huge group of people she can depend on. Seanan McGuire is a phenomenal writer and she always knows how to keep me hooked to the story until the end. I already look forward to the next book.
September 24, 2023
I think this is the first book I was re-reading for the first time. I have to say I am one of those readers who almost always sees the big twist coming but with this book I had no idea it was coming. After a cryptic call from her niece Toby, May, and Quentin head off on a quest to find and bring home Simon, a man Toby has every motive to hate and every obligation to save. For Simon to find his way home Oberon has to be found and returned to Faerie. Nothing like an impossible quest that must happen before she can marry her fiancé.
August 31, 2020
I read and re-read Seanan Mcguire's books every year as a means of being comforted. Her stories, the Newsflesh series (under the pseudonym Mira Grant), and the October Days stories have brought me a lot of joy over the years. I find myself coming back to the stories every year like a comfy pair of shoes. There is just something about her writing that straddles the line between expressive and understated. She gives you the right amount of information that you fall in love with the world and want to know more about it. Because of that, her books always engage me. Plus, because there are so many plot intricacies in every book, I am rarely bored even on the second or, in some cases, fifth read.
A Killing Frost, Seanan Mcguire's newest addition to the October Daye series, is the fourteenth book. There is quite a lot to recap for this series; it is enormous! But to surmise, October Daye is the lead protagonist in a Fae/Human world. She is an investigator who can straddle both the fae and human world. As the stories progress, October becomes more entrenched in the politics and machinations of the Fae world. In this particular book, October faces familial problems mainly in the form of her stepfather Simon Torquil.
"When October is informed that Simon Torquill—legally her father, due to Faerie's archaic marriage traditions—must be invited to her wedding or risk the ceremony throwing the Kingdom in the Mists into political turmoil, she finds herself setting out on a quest she was not yet prepared to undertake for the sake of her future.... and the man who represents her family's past."
Supporting characters from past books are again helping October with her quest. October, as a character, relies heavily on her relationships with her found family. October doesn't have friends; she has people who she adopts and loves fiercely. She is a mentor to some, a friend to others, and a lover to Tybalt. With October's development as a strong character, we get development from her supporting cast of characters. I find that to be one of the best aspects of this story. Quinton, Luiadeg, Tybalt, and more, develop their already stable identities. There are no cardboard characters in Macguire's worlds.
I don't want to give away to much about the plot. That would spoil this new episode in October's grand saga, and many of these books have a mystery aspect to the plot. But, I will say, as I mentioned earlier, that this book concentrates on the mysterious villain Simon Torquil, villain, who also is October's stepfather. They have a very complicated relationship. His story is epic and twists and turns. If you are a fan of the Daye books, you will not be disappointed. It is a page-turner! If you are new to the series, I suggest setting this one aside just a bit and jump into the 13 books that took place beforehand. You won't be disappointed. But if you are starting with this one, Macguire gives enough backstory so new readers will not be lost.
"Better him than me. Of the two of us, he's the one who actually speaks 'diplomacy' with something other than a knife."
All in all, this is a beautiful and exciting addition to the October Daye world. Some plot points are solved, and new things open up. Old characters get a moment to shine in the spotlight, but not all of them as the cast is way too big at this point. I also found the conclusion to be satisfying and leads into the next book with gusto.
The Killing Frost is an exciting and wonderful, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read it. Check it out!
A Killing Frost, Seanan Mcguire's newest addition to the October Daye series, is the fourteenth book. There is quite a lot to recap for this series; it is enormous! But to surmise, October Daye is the lead protagonist in a Fae/Human world. She is an investigator who can straddle both the fae and human world. As the stories progress, October becomes more entrenched in the politics and machinations of the Fae world. In this particular book, October faces familial problems mainly in the form of her stepfather Simon Torquil.
"When October is informed that Simon Torquill—legally her father, due to Faerie's archaic marriage traditions—must be invited to her wedding or risk the ceremony throwing the Kingdom in the Mists into political turmoil, she finds herself setting out on a quest she was not yet prepared to undertake for the sake of her future.... and the man who represents her family's past."
Supporting characters from past books are again helping October with her quest. October, as a character, relies heavily on her relationships with her found family. October doesn't have friends; she has people who she adopts and loves fiercely. She is a mentor to some, a friend to others, and a lover to Tybalt. With October's development as a strong character, we get development from her supporting cast of characters. I find that to be one of the best aspects of this story. Quinton, Luiadeg, Tybalt, and more, develop their already stable identities. There are no cardboard characters in Macguire's worlds.
I don't want to give away to much about the plot. That would spoil this new episode in October's grand saga, and many of these books have a mystery aspect to the plot. But, I will say, as I mentioned earlier, that this book concentrates on the mysterious villain Simon Torquil, villain, who also is October's stepfather. They have a very complicated relationship. His story is epic and twists and turns. If you are a fan of the Daye books, you will not be disappointed. It is a page-turner! If you are new to the series, I suggest setting this one aside just a bit and jump into the 13 books that took place beforehand. You won't be disappointed. But if you are starting with this one, Macguire gives enough backstory so new readers will not be lost.
"Better him than me. Of the two of us, he's the one who actually speaks 'diplomacy' with something other than a knife."
All in all, this is a beautiful and exciting addition to the October Daye world. Some plot points are solved, and new things open up. Old characters get a moment to shine in the spotlight, but not all of them as the cast is way too big at this point. I also found the conclusion to be satisfying and leads into the next book with gusto.
The Killing Frost is an exciting and wonderful, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read it. Check it out!
September 2, 2020
Oh this was a tedious read. Honestly, skip to the 70% mark and just read from there, that’s where all the important bits are. Not enough Tybalt, too much of Toby being her usual reckless self, lots of pointless pain and transformations and, frankly, Tybalt being far too forgiving. But that’s exactly to be expected in this series where he loves and she runs.
I skimmed this one. Like a lot. I skipped whole pages of descriptions, recaps, and pointless waffle. I’d love to see them marry but I couldn’t give a fuck at this point about reading the next book because I have done my time, I have been patient and my patience has not been rewarded.
I think, if anything, this book has shown me that I have outgrown McGuire and the constant pointless rambling that fill her books.
I skimmed this one. Like a lot. I skipped whole pages of descriptions, recaps, and pointless waffle. I’d love to see them marry but I couldn’t give a fuck at this point about reading the next book because I have done my time, I have been patient and my patience has not been rewarded.
I think, if anything, this book has shown me that I have outgrown McGuire and the constant pointless rambling that fill her books.
May 1, 2021
So I'm on the fence with this one. There is a lot of running around and action but not much development of the overall story or the characters. In fact, Toby ends up off on a quest with only May and Quentin for reasons. Which means we get very little Tybalt in this story and quite frankly some of the decisions Toby makes and her lack of communication/empathy for Tybalt is VERY frustrating. At one point he is furious with her and has every right to be but gets over it in like 10 minutes. Toby occasionally thinks "oh is this what it's like for my friends/family when I do something like that, - it sucks" and yet it doesn't change her behavior at all. The I'm a hero excuse only goes so far. Tybalt is trying to stop her from taking risks he just wants her to talk to him before she does. I also thought the resolution for Simon was just a little bit easy - if everything we were told in this book was true I would think we would have gotten hints about it prior to this book.
August 3, 2021
Premise: due to complicated Faerie custom, Toby found out she must invite her legal father (and currently still her mother's legal husband), Simon, to her wedding with the local King of Cats in order to avoid a world of troubles.
But the thing is, Simon had been her number one enemy for a very long time and in order to find him, Toby would also be forced to undertake the impossible task of recovering their lost King of Faerie, Oberon, who had gone missing for 5 centuries. No big deal, right? Right?
Rating: 4.5 stars.
I can't believe Oberon would turn out to be that person!!!! Mind=blown! I really like this plot twist!
Again, the story sails on smoothly enough for me to catch up with the ride, it isn't easy for an urban fantasy series to get going for so long, though I do believe Toby makes a few very dumb decisions which she shouldn't have made at this point. Sighs.
What I found to be a bit disappointing is how Amandine, Toby's mother, has become pretty much a full on villain even since the last few books. So far she's been described as a selfish, uncaring woman who treats her daughters and husband like pets, but honestly I'd expected something deeper than this for her character's development.
Still, I can't wait to see what will happen in the story next!
Sighs, the bonus stories aren't very interesting!
Review for book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for book 2: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review book 3: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for book 4: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for book 5: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But the thing is, Simon had been her number one enemy for a very long time and in order to find him, Toby would also be forced to undertake the impossible task of recovering their lost King of Faerie, Oberon, who had gone missing for 5 centuries. No big deal, right? Right?
Rating: 4.5 stars.
I can't believe Oberon would turn out to be that person!!!! Mind=blown! I really like this plot twist!
Again, the story sails on smoothly enough for me to catch up with the ride, it isn't easy for an urban fantasy series to get going for so long, though I do believe Toby makes a few very dumb decisions which she shouldn't have made at this point. Sighs.
What I found to be a bit disappointing is how Amandine, Toby's mother, has become pretty much a full on villain even since the last few books. So far she's been described as a selfish, uncaring woman who treats her daughters and husband like pets, but honestly I'd expected something deeper than this for her character's development.
Still, I can't wait to see what will happen in the story next!
Sighs, the bonus stories aren't very interesting!
Review for book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for book 2: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review book 3: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for book 4: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for book 5: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 26, 2020
I’m just so impressed and grateful these books are still impressive. It’s book 14 and still good. Yay!
Owned ebook 1/2 for the month
Overall owned book 1/5 for the month
Owned ebook 1/2 for the month
Overall owned book 1/5 for the month
April 27, 2022
Frustrating on a number of levels- T and T are still not married; Sylvester treats Toby very badly; Toby throwing herself under the bus time and time again plus *someone else* being able to get married literally instantly…grrrrrrr..
October 14, 2020
I get why Tybalt is so twitchy. Until Toby says "I do" we all should give that man a break and a bottle of Valeriana))
Also how is it that I now find myself preferring Simon over Sylvester after all he put Toby through? But I do. And if I never hear about Luna again I'm pretty sure I'll survive.
Over and out
Also how is it that I now find myself preferring Simon over Sylvester after all he put Toby through? But I do. And if I never hear about Luna again I'm pretty sure I'll survive.
Over and out
August 28, 2020
A Killing Frost releases on Tuesday, so let me begin. This is what I told you back in July:
WOW. Full review up closer to release date, but all I can say is: Wow, wow, wow. The most stunning turn of events since The Winter Long, October Daye 8 and The Brightest Fell, October Daye 11. Be prepared to be amazed, Readers!
First things first, this review has spoilers for the earlier books in the series. But not this book. You can't pry those out of me.
I'm sure you remember that thing I told you about how Seanan McGuire really needed to quit retracing territory and finding lost people like, I dunno, Arden, the Queen in the Mists, or Toby's sister August, or her grandmother Janet (Amandine's mama, August's grandma, too, and oof what a trio those three are- Toby just hit the family jackpot, didn't she?) and in general, the "hiding in plain sight but we missed it until we didn't" trope? You remember me saying that, right? Strike that. Score deep into stone as you do. Maybe pour acid on it. Upon reflection, McGuire has been giving us characters, really from the very first books, who were hiding in plain sight. There were the Luidaeg, who frequently goes around in braids, looking like an acne-scarred young woman buying ungodly amounts of ice cream and soda, and Evening Winterrose, quite possibly the most odious Firstborn in kinda-sorta hiding ever, and even Amandine, Toby's abusive mother, who only some people in the Bay Area and Mists seemed to know was a Firstborn. (Hey, she wasn't around that much because she's bonkers, a narcissist, and thinks the hoi polloi are beneath her.) Anyway, my point here is that all these people were pretty much not who they appeared to be. And that is like Toby's life, right? She keeps retracing her steps and her memories, finding that things or people just aren't what or who she thought they were. Remember when we found out that Simon actually saved her life by turning her into a koi fish? (It was only for fourteen years and she got better and all.) We were hating on him for almost nothing.
So here we are at book 14 in the series. According to the blurb we know that:
"When October is informed that Simon Torquill—legally her father, due to Faerie's archaic marriage traditions—must be invited to her wedding or risk the ceremony throwing the Kingdom in the Mists into political turmoil, she finds herself setting out on a quest she was not yet prepared to undertake for the sake of her future.... and the man who represents her family's past."
So that's just great. Toby has to go looking for Simon, who has forgotten everything after trading places with August, which means he's also forgotten he loves Toby, and was none too thrilled with his service to the Winterrose.* Good times! Great way for a girl to prepare for her wedding! Going back onto the Rose Road is going to be loads of fun not just because of Simon's forgetting everything but because it means that Tobes gets to go ask her liege Sylvester's angry plant-based wife Luna for assistance that Luna won't want to give. And it all puts Toby on a path to a truly stunning series of events. The outcome of these events is going to track through quite a few novels ahead and for sure there will be a great deal of drama that stems from events herein. Even just the fact that Toby promises to expand Chez Daye for someone will have wild implications.
This installment left me so happy for some of the characters I can't tell you. And it sealed my conviction that something is up with some other characters, too. Prepare for amazing things! Prepare for justice and happiness (for those who deserve it) and prepare to be amazed at what you never saw coming.
*Full confession: A big part of me was glad that Toby goes looking for Simon because what happened to him really hurt my heart. He loves both his daughters and the unfairness of being so lost was pretty raw.
I received a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
WOW. Full review up closer to release date, but all I can say is: Wow, wow, wow. The most stunning turn of events since The Winter Long, October Daye 8 and The Brightest Fell, October Daye 11. Be prepared to be amazed, Readers!
First things first, this review has spoilers for the earlier books in the series. But not this book. You can't pry those out of me.
I'm sure you remember that thing I told you about how Seanan McGuire really needed to quit retracing territory and finding lost people like, I dunno, Arden, the Queen in the Mists, or Toby's sister August, or her grandmother Janet (Amandine's mama, August's grandma, too, and oof what a trio those three are- Toby just hit the family jackpot, didn't she?) and in general, the "hiding in plain sight but we missed it until we didn't" trope? You remember me saying that, right? Strike that. Score deep into stone as you do. Maybe pour acid on it. Upon reflection, McGuire has been giving us characters, really from the very first books, who were hiding in plain sight. There were the Luidaeg, who frequently goes around in braids, looking like an acne-scarred young woman buying ungodly amounts of ice cream and soda, and Evening Winterrose, quite possibly the most odious Firstborn in kinda-sorta hiding ever, and even Amandine, Toby's abusive mother, who only some people in the Bay Area and Mists seemed to know was a Firstborn. (Hey, she wasn't around that much because she's bonkers, a narcissist, and thinks the hoi polloi are beneath her.) Anyway, my point here is that all these people were pretty much not who they appeared to be. And that is like Toby's life, right? She keeps retracing her steps and her memories, finding that things or people just aren't what or who she thought they were. Remember when we found out that Simon actually saved her life by turning her into a koi fish? (It was only for fourteen years and she got better and all.) We were hating on him for almost nothing.
So here we are at book 14 in the series. According to the blurb we know that:
"When October is informed that Simon Torquill—legally her father, due to Faerie's archaic marriage traditions—must be invited to her wedding or risk the ceremony throwing the Kingdom in the Mists into political turmoil, she finds herself setting out on a quest she was not yet prepared to undertake for the sake of her future.... and the man who represents her family's past."
So that's just great. Toby has to go looking for Simon, who has forgotten everything after trading places with August, which means he's also forgotten he loves Toby, and was none too thrilled with his service to the Winterrose.* Good times! Great way for a girl to prepare for her wedding! Going back onto the Rose Road is going to be loads of fun not just because of Simon's forgetting everything but because it means that Tobes gets to go ask her liege Sylvester's angry plant-based wife Luna for assistance that Luna won't want to give. And it all puts Toby on a path to a truly stunning series of events. The outcome of these events is going to track through quite a few novels ahead and for sure there will be a great deal of drama that stems from events herein. Even just the fact that Toby promises to expand Chez Daye for someone will have wild implications.
This installment left me so happy for some of the characters I can't tell you. And it sealed my conviction that something is up with some other characters, too. Prepare for amazing things! Prepare for justice and happiness (for those who deserve it) and prepare to be amazed at what you never saw coming.
*Full confession: A big part of me was glad that Toby goes looking for Simon because what happened to him really hurt my heart. He loves both his daughters and the unfairness of being so lost was pretty raw.
I received a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2020
I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, okay, You want more detail. Sheeeesh.
Umm, what can I say that's not a spoiler. There's death, treachery, friendships, families, reunions. and surprises. We get all of that and more. Poor Toby, her family is soooo effed up. But at least she has her found/made family. They kick her butt when needed, support her, and they love her. Even when she screws up. Maybe most of all when she screws up.
What else? Well, McGuire's writing is top-notch. Tight plotting, rich details, complex characters, the story is pretty damn close to perfect. Details and plot threads from earlier books are brought back, fleshed out, even reimagined. McGuire really doesn't forget a thing. In fact, as Toby reminisced about the past few years, I realized how much I'd forgotten. I need to re-read the entire series. I have a year until the next book, so plenty of time. Toby's reminiscing also brought home just how complex both the world McGuire's created, and all of the characters inhabiting it, are. It was perhaps the characters who made the story for me. I wanted to smack several; cried for several; and found myself having emotions that I never expected. Characters I once loved, I am now upset with, and characters I hated, I am actually liking or feeling sympathetic for. McGuire's characters are never one dimensional and they are never static. Change is a constant in this world.
For the adventure lovers, there's plenty of action with fights and quests. There's also romance, humor, family drama, and lots of world building. There's even a wedding! Toby and Tybalt's wedding? Maaaaybe, maybe not. You'll just have to read and find out. :P
It's hard to talk about the story without giving away spoilers. If you haven't read the preceding books, don't start with this one. This series needs to be read in order. The story moves along the series arc, ties up threads, introduces new ones, and is a hell of a read. Just......go read it.
Some favorite quotes:
I've learned not to be too attached to plans. They never survive contact with reality when I'm around.
"Have a nice date, don't get stabbed!"
Quentin stared at me in obvious disbelief. "You get stabbed like it's the hot new thing, and that's what makes you show some self-preservation?" "I wasn't expecting it!" "Are you usually expecting to get stabbed?" "When we're out in public, yes."
If we're going to measure intelligence based on obedience, we're all going to be very disappointed. (YES! So true ~ Bea)
It seems safer to assume everything in Faerie is fully capable of understanding me and holding a grudge if it decides it wants to.
"Oh, come on," I protested. "I call for help when I need it! I've gotten so much better about that over the past few years. I hardly wind up ambushed and alone at all these days."
"I think Toby's allergic to subtle," said Quentin. "It makes her break out in hives or something. There's not another good explanation for why she is the way she is."
Okay, okay, You want more detail. Sheeeesh.
Umm, what can I say that's not a spoiler. There's death, treachery, friendships, families, reunions. and surprises. We get all of that and more. Poor Toby, her family is soooo effed up. But at least she has her found/made family. They kick her butt when needed, support her, and they love her. Even when she screws up. Maybe most of all when she screws up.
What else? Well, McGuire's writing is top-notch. Tight plotting, rich details, complex characters, the story is pretty damn close to perfect. Details and plot threads from earlier books are brought back, fleshed out, even reimagined. McGuire really doesn't forget a thing. In fact, as Toby reminisced about the past few years, I realized how much I'd forgotten. I need to re-read the entire series. I have a year until the next book, so plenty of time. Toby's reminiscing also brought home just how complex both the world McGuire's created, and all of the characters inhabiting it, are. It was perhaps the characters who made the story for me. I wanted to smack several; cried for several; and found myself having emotions that I never expected. Characters I once loved, I am now upset with, and characters I hated, I am actually liking or feeling sympathetic for. McGuire's characters are never one dimensional and they are never static. Change is a constant in this world.
For the adventure lovers, there's plenty of action with fights and quests. There's also romance, humor, family drama, and lots of world building. There's even a wedding! Toby and Tybalt's wedding? Maaaaybe, maybe not. You'll just have to read and find out. :P
It's hard to talk about the story without giving away spoilers. If you haven't read the preceding books, don't start with this one. This series needs to be read in order. The story moves along the series arc, ties up threads, introduces new ones, and is a hell of a read. Just......go read it.
Some favorite quotes:
I've learned not to be too attached to plans. They never survive contact with reality when I'm around.
"Have a nice date, don't get stabbed!"
Quentin stared at me in obvious disbelief. "You get stabbed like it's the hot new thing, and that's what makes you show some self-preservation?" "I wasn't expecting it!" "Are you usually expecting to get stabbed?" "When we're out in public, yes."
If we're going to measure intelligence based on obedience, we're all going to be very disappointed. (YES! So true ~ Bea)
It seems safer to assume everything in Faerie is fully capable of understanding me and holding a grudge if it decides it wants to.
"Oh, come on," I protested. "I call for help when I need it! I've gotten so much better about that over the past few years. I hardly wind up ambushed and alone at all these days."
"I think Toby's allergic to subtle," said Quentin. "It makes her break out in hives or something. There's not another good explanation for why she is the way she is."
September 25, 2020
3.5 stars
I always love returning to this world. I love Toby and her found family.... the intrigue of the fae. And by and large, I enjoyed this installment, though I did have a few issues.
Here, Toby is on a mission to find Simon Torquill. (You'll remember, he's the guy who turned her into a fish at the beginning of the series and turned her world upside down. He's also Sylvester's twin and Amadine's estranged husband.) Anyway, he's wandering through Faerie, searching for Oberon, having traded his "way home" to rescue his daughter August in a previous book. --Complicated, I know, but that's how this series rolls.
Fae protocol means Toby has to invite Simon to her wedding since he is her stepdad, and let's face it, she's been stringing poor Tybalt along for ages. She can only take Quentin and May on her quest because... reasons. And she doesn't go to the Luidaig because she doesn't want to renew her debt. --And all of this felt a little flimsy to force Toby away from some of her strongest allies, but ok.
And Toby was still butt-kicking and evolving and loyal and self sacrificing. I loved May and her wacky sister-self. And again, I loved the amazing world building.
I didn't love the resolution. What happened with Simon in the end was way too convenient. I've been reading this series through all 14 books and it was never foreshadowed. Which made it feel contrived, and it bugged me. I also thought he got off really easy in terms of culpability.
I'm also kind of tired of how long Toby is stretching out her engagement. Frankly, I thought Tybalt might break up with her at one point and she would've deserved it.
The writing is good. It always is. And the last installment rocked my socks off. Maybe the next one will too.
*ARC provided by publisher
I always love returning to this world. I love Toby and her found family.... the intrigue of the fae. And by and large, I enjoyed this installment, though I did have a few issues.
Here, Toby is on a mission to find Simon Torquill. (You'll remember, he's the guy who turned her into a fish at the beginning of the series and turned her world upside down. He's also Sylvester's twin and Amadine's estranged husband.) Anyway, he's wandering through Faerie, searching for Oberon, having traded his "way home" to rescue his daughter August in a previous book. --Complicated, I know, but that's how this series rolls.
Fae protocol means Toby has to invite Simon to her wedding since he is her stepdad, and let's face it, she's been stringing poor Tybalt along for ages. She can only take Quentin and May on her quest because... reasons. And she doesn't go to the Luidaig because she doesn't want to renew her debt. --And all of this felt a little flimsy to force Toby away from some of her strongest allies, but ok.
And Toby was still butt-kicking and evolving and loyal and self sacrificing. I loved May and her wacky sister-self. And again, I loved the amazing world building.
I didn't love the resolution. What happened with Simon in the end was way too convenient. I've been reading this series through all 14 books and it was never foreshadowed. Which made it feel contrived, and it bugged me. I also thought he got off really easy in terms of culpability.
I'm also kind of tired of how long Toby is stretching out her engagement. Frankly, I thought Tybalt might break up with her at one point and she would've deserved it.
The writing is good. It always is. And the last installment rocked my socks off. Maybe the next one will too.
*ARC provided by publisher
September 17, 2020
It's that time again...Our nearly indestructible MC is off on another quest: find Simon, the evil-not-really-evil stepfather so she can get married. Like all the books in the series, this latest installment has plenty of action, humor, and twists and turns that make me want to SCREAM. Ahhhh I cannot wait for the next book. The ending leaves so much to be explored and I never want this series to end!!
This series is AMAZING. I binge read all 14 books in 10 days because I am THAT obsessed. The world-building is so complex and unique and totally immersive. This series is really plot-oriented, which I love because there's political intrigue, kidnappings, murders, and all those interesting things that we love to see in books. The character development is also incredible and it's so easy to connect with all the characters. And Toby is such a kickass MC. In the first couple books, she was just a weak changeling and I love how she was still able to play up her strengths. Then she learned that she had super fast healing abilities and cool blood powers oooohhh. Her ability to adapt to situations and pick up allies wherever she goes is amazing.
I did find it a little odd how everyone was named after months LMAO. January, April, May, August, September, October. Uhhhh weird but we'll roll with it.
Also, I didn't realize this until like the 10th book because I tend to skip over epigraphs, but I think it's so cool that the titles are phrases from Shakespeare quotes. And the Shakespeare quotes relate to the book too. OMG whaaaat. That's so cool.
This series is AMAZING. I binge read all 14 books in 10 days because I am THAT obsessed. The world-building is so complex and unique and totally immersive. This series is really plot-oriented, which I love because there's political intrigue, kidnappings, murders, and all those interesting things that we love to see in books. The character development is also incredible and it's so easy to connect with all the characters. And Toby is such a kickass MC. In the first couple books, she was just a weak changeling and I love how she was still able to play up her strengths. Then she learned that she had super fast healing abilities and cool blood powers oooohhh. Her ability to adapt to situations and pick up allies wherever she goes is amazing.
I did find it a little odd how everyone was named after months LMAO. January, April, May, August, September, October. Uhhhh weird but we'll roll with it.
Also, I didn't realize this until like the 10th book because I tend to skip over epigraphs, but I think it's so cool that the titles are phrases from Shakespeare quotes. And the Shakespeare quotes relate to the book too. OMG whaaaat. That's so cool.
December 28, 2020
A Killing Frost is the 14th book in the October Daye series. I must admit that although this book provided some amazing reveals, it was not one of my top books in this series.
Toby discovers that she must find her missing “lost” stepfather, Simon, or she cannot marry Tybalt without causing all kinds of mayhem and insults in Fae world. Toby and her crew, less Tybalt, stumbled their way through perils trying to find Simon.
The Saltmist leaders just pissed me off, I had a hard time justifying their choices. And, who knew marriage and divorce could be so eventful. During their adventures, Toby makes some very shocking revelations! Which will turn the Fae World upside down.
Ultimately, I enjoyed A Killing Frost but did not find myself spellbound by this storyline as I normally am when reading an October Daye tale. It is fun, fast paced, and had one heck of an ending that left you imagining what might come next.
I received this ARC copy of A Killing Frost from DAW. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Toby discovers that she must find her missing “lost” stepfather, Simon, or she cannot marry Tybalt without causing all kinds of mayhem and insults in Fae world. Toby and her crew, less Tybalt, stumbled their way through perils trying to find Simon.
The Saltmist leaders just pissed me off, I had a hard time justifying their choices. And, who knew marriage and divorce could be so eventful. During their adventures, Toby makes some very shocking revelations! Which will turn the Fae World upside down.
Ultimately, I enjoyed A Killing Frost but did not find myself spellbound by this storyline as I normally am when reading an October Daye tale. It is fun, fast paced, and had one heck of an ending that left you imagining what might come next.
I received this ARC copy of A Killing Frost from DAW. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 6, 2020
Since A Killing Frost by Seanan McGuire is book fourteen in the October Daye Fantasy series, it’s kind of hard to review. If you haven’t read the series (and you really should if you enjoy Fantasy) then you will have no idea what is going on since there are too many characters and backstories to even begin to explain.
And if you’re a regular to the series, I really don’t want to give anything away.
I can say with any series there are some books that are not as good, but A Killing Frost is excellent. A lot of storylines are settled (or as settled as they can be in the Realm of Fairie) and one major one is opened even wider and I am very excited to see how it’s going to go in future books.
Besides being a fantastic addition to the October Daye series, there is also a short story afterwards that gives greater insight into three of the characters. It’s a wonderful addition, and I’m interested to see how these characters' relationship is going to progress.
I highly recommend A Killing Frost, and if you’re new to this series, I suggest you start with Rosemary and Rue.
And if you’re a regular to the series, I really don’t want to give anything away.
I can say with any series there are some books that are not as good, but A Killing Frost is excellent. A lot of storylines are settled (or as settled as they can be in the Realm of Fairie) and one major one is opened even wider and I am very excited to see how it’s going to go in future books.
Besides being a fantastic addition to the October Daye series, there is also a short story afterwards that gives greater insight into three of the characters. It’s a wonderful addition, and I’m interested to see how these characters' relationship is going to progress.
I highly recommend A Killing Frost, and if you’re new to this series, I suggest you start with Rosemary and Rue.
September 4, 2020
I think that my main issue about october daye books is that I have to wait too long for another installment.
This was a book one and it involved Toby, Quentin and May on a journey to find Simon Torquill and bring him home. Some important things happened and I am courious how it will influence the fae world.
Side characters still shine, The luidaeg is still my favourite (she steal every scene she's in). Can't wait to see what happens next
This was a book one and it involved Toby, Quentin and May on a journey to find Simon Torquill and bring him home. Some important things happened and I am courious how it will influence the fae world.
Side characters still shine, The luidaeg is still my favourite (she steal every scene she's in). Can't wait to see what happens next
September 12, 2020
This has really become more a soap opera than fantasy adventure. I don't know how the author remembers all the characters, I can't.
I also found the constant referral to past adventures an overload. It just seemed there was more rehashing old trauma, characters and magic laws than actual new plot. Just too much backstory and excessive detailing. That might appeal to an obsessive fan but made the story drag for me.
I also found the constant referral to past adventures an overload. It just seemed there was more rehashing old trauma, characters and magic laws than actual new plot. Just too much backstory and excessive detailing. That might appeal to an obsessive fan but made the story drag for me.
August 19, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Killing Frost is the 14th installment in author Seanan McGuire's October Day series. This book picks up 6 months after The Unkindest Tides. In summary, Toby is engaged to marry Tybalt, the King of Cats. She is an investigator that can straddle both these worlds. She is also a Dóchas Sidhe, meaning that she can change the composition in the fae’s blood, can read memories in blood, and can taste every fae’s magic through their blood. She's the daughter of Amandine the Liar, firstborn daughter of Oberon, absent Lord of Faerie. Unlike her mother, and her half-sister August, Toby is was born mortal but is now leaning heavily towards going full Fae after she's had to change the composition of her blood to survive. She's a knight errant and a recognized Hero of the Realm, thanks to Queen Arden Windermere in the Mists Knight. Toby has a chronic inability of not minding her own business which usually means she's covered in someone's blood or hers by the end of the story. Very much like Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
A Killing Frost is the 14th installment in author Seanan McGuire's October Day series. This book picks up 6 months after The Unkindest Tides. In summary, Toby is engaged to marry Tybalt, the King of Cats. She is an investigator that can straddle both these worlds. She is also a Dóchas Sidhe, meaning that she can change the composition in the fae’s blood, can read memories in blood, and can taste every fae’s magic through their blood. She's the daughter of Amandine the Liar, firstborn daughter of Oberon, absent Lord of Faerie. Unlike her mother, and her half-sister August, Toby is was born mortal but is now leaning heavily towards going full Fae after she's had to change the composition of her blood to survive. She's a knight errant and a recognized Hero of the Realm, thanks to Queen Arden Windermere in the Mists Knight. Toby has a chronic inability of not minding her own business which usually means she's covered in someone's blood or hers by the end of the story. Very much like Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 14, 2020
4.5/5
Mon avis en français
My English review
I love this series very, very much and I look forward to the release of each new volume! Also, I was more than happy to have this novel in my hands because, of course, as always, I had a great time!
October can finally try to organize her wedding. Things are not going as smoothly as expected. When Patrick and Dianda tell her that the Fae consider Simon to be her father and that she has to invite him to the wedding, she knows that things will go from bad to worse. Yes, because Simon has lost his way and can’t go home, and if there is one person he hates, it’s October.
Embarking on a new quest with Quentin and May, she will put her life and the lives of others in danger more than once.
I loved following this new quest and I have to say that I didn’t expect October to go this far in this story. The end really surprised me and the consequences will be multiple, I’m sure! So once again I’m more than impatient to find out what’s next!
A great volume, as always! Fans of the series will be delighted!
Mon avis en français
My English review
I love this series very, very much and I look forward to the release of each new volume! Also, I was more than happy to have this novel in my hands because, of course, as always, I had a great time!
October can finally try to organize her wedding. Things are not going as smoothly as expected. When Patrick and Dianda tell her that the Fae consider Simon to be her father and that she has to invite him to the wedding, she knows that things will go from bad to worse. Yes, because Simon has lost his way and can’t go home, and if there is one person he hates, it’s October.
Embarking on a new quest with Quentin and May, she will put her life and the lives of others in danger more than once.
I loved following this new quest and I have to say that I didn’t expect October to go this far in this story. The end really surprised me and the consequences will be multiple, I’m sure! So once again I’m more than impatient to find out what’s next!
A great volume, as always! Fans of the series will be delighted!
June 12, 2020
Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.
It's a testament to how much I love this author and series that despite the large pile of arcs I have right now, and the super limited time, I got approved for this two days ago and finished it last night. Very few books these days are more exciting to me then finding out what's in store next for October and her increasingly large cast of allies and enemies. "A Killing Frost" is a fantastic installment in the series, and has some major unexpected plot developments that should have huge implications going forward.
Most of this book follows the usual Toby structure. There's a quest, there's Toby figuring out which allies she can or should take on said quest, and of course there is Toby bleeding all over everything in order to solve her problems. In this particular book, the seemingly innocuous desire to plan her wedding means that it's time to go track down Simon, who is legally her father due to faerie's convoluted system of inheritance.
The further Seanan McGuire gets into this series the more impressed I am with her world building. There are now so many complex plot and character threads in the story that it makes the big reveals even more shocking and emotional. Having been with these characters for over a decade, learning about the intricacies of their political and personal relationships, we're really able to feel the weight of new elements when they're introduced. Even the side characters who don't feature much in this particular volume get some moments, and since this series is so long and has so much room to breathe, it doesn't feel unreasonable to go entire books without seeing particular people. I'm also endlessly impressed with the level of foreshadowing in these books. After this one I feel like going back and rereading the entire series again to see what new clues I might pick up.
This is my favorite urban fantasy series out there. For readers who've been following along for awhile, be assured that the series is as strong as ever. For new readers who may be daunted at the idea of starting a series that just hit book 14, do it anyways. The characters are endlessly delightful, the plot is meticulously paced and planned, and each book is self contained enough to be a satisfying read while still advancing the overall story. As always with Seanan McGuire, the cast is diverse in both gender and sexuality, and you will never have to worry about things like sexual violence making it in to her work. Of course, if massive quantities of blood bother you then that's a different story.
My only complaint is that now I have to wait a year and a half to find out what happens next!
(The now expected novella at the end is another gem. It gives some great backstory for a couple of long time favorite side characters.)
It's a testament to how much I love this author and series that despite the large pile of arcs I have right now, and the super limited time, I got approved for this two days ago and finished it last night. Very few books these days are more exciting to me then finding out what's in store next for October and her increasingly large cast of allies and enemies. "A Killing Frost" is a fantastic installment in the series, and has some major unexpected plot developments that should have huge implications going forward.
Most of this book follows the usual Toby structure. There's a quest, there's Toby figuring out which allies she can or should take on said quest, and of course there is Toby bleeding all over everything in order to solve her problems. In this particular book, the seemingly innocuous desire to plan her wedding means that it's time to go track down Simon, who is legally her father due to faerie's convoluted system of inheritance.
The further Seanan McGuire gets into this series the more impressed I am with her world building. There are now so many complex plot and character threads in the story that it makes the big reveals even more shocking and emotional. Having been with these characters for over a decade, learning about the intricacies of their political and personal relationships, we're really able to feel the weight of new elements when they're introduced. Even the side characters who don't feature much in this particular volume get some moments, and since this series is so long and has so much room to breathe, it doesn't feel unreasonable to go entire books without seeing particular people. I'm also endlessly impressed with the level of foreshadowing in these books. After this one I feel like going back and rereading the entire series again to see what new clues I might pick up.
This is my favorite urban fantasy series out there. For readers who've been following along for awhile, be assured that the series is as strong as ever. For new readers who may be daunted at the idea of starting a series that just hit book 14, do it anyways. The characters are endlessly delightful, the plot is meticulously paced and planned, and each book is self contained enough to be a satisfying read while still advancing the overall story. As always with Seanan McGuire, the cast is diverse in both gender and sexuality, and you will never have to worry about things like sexual violence making it in to her work. Of course, if massive quantities of blood bother you then that's a different story.
My only complaint is that now I have to wait a year and a half to find out what happens next!
(The now expected novella at the end is another gem. It gives some great backstory for a couple of long time favorite side characters.)
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