One Salt Sea ( October Daye 5) by Seanan Mcguire

Good Weekend too all^^

Seanan Mcguire is one of the few authors who can keep me so captivated by a story despite me being sick like hell or exhausted beyond common measure… this time didn’t change that and I couldn’t stop turning the pages, devouring Toby’s adventures… a great start for this year and I’m so impatient to read the next one though I’m also glad I waited since I’m slowly getting up to date with the release… so that’s mean resisting the urge to read them back to back without delay.

[On a side note, after finishing this one I had to read the novella that were set after this story and those I couldn’t resist…sadly I discovered that they weren’t my cup of tea and fortunately they are not essential for the series so you can pass them if you are not into f/f ( In Sea Salt tears ) or m/m (Forbid the Sea) but if you are interested you can check the review for those on my goodread account.]

 Now this review will perhaps be a little short because I can’t reveal too much without spoilers but let see what I can tell you.

Happy reading!

Publisher: DAW

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  0756406838

Genre: dark urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: won

Short description from goodreads :

 October "Toby" Daye is settling into her new role as Countess of Goldengreen. She's actually dating again, and she's taken on Quentin as her squire. So, of course, it's time for things to take a turn for the worse.


Someone has kidnapped the sons of the regent of the Undersea Duchy of Saltmist. To prevent a war between land and sea, Toby must find the missing boys and prove the Queen of the Mists was not behind their abduction. Toby's search will take her from the streets of San Francisco to the lands beneath the waves, and her deadline is firm: she must find the boys in three days' time, or all of the Mists will pay the price. But someone is determined to stop her-and whoever it is isn't playing by Oberon's Laws...

My opinion:

          October will never get a real reprieve, despite nearly dying several times on regular basis she has too much on her plate to rest. Now a Countess against her wills, she must learn that role, while taking in charge part of Quentin’s training, and less formally Raj’s. Add to that, the fact the Luidaeg comes to collects debts when a war is on the verge to explode and you have the recipe for a disaster.

Oh, disaster there are how could it not when children are taking from their homes, tortured and with their life threatened? October couldn’t let that kind of crimes unpunished, children are too sacred and if it means having to fight against the Queen or at least to be diplomatically correct and doing others things she would dreams of never doing ( like approaching water) so be it because before being a countess she is a knight.

 I was really happy to see her having the start of a normal life even if I deeply inside new it couldn’t last and to be honest I didn’t like her lover’s choice but still I wanted her to have a bit of happiness…. I loved Spike and her cats which we just learned are really spies for Tybalt (someone had doubt about that fact, really?!), finding May, Quentin and Raj living (or nearly) with her was simply fabulous…it was a great way to see how she matured since the first book.

She also had to adjust to the event in the last book and how it affected her, that part was interesting and I wasn’t expecting it to be so difficult for her but Seanan managed to make the situation really comprehensible and described Toby’s feeling so well I just wanted more. In this book we learn more about the fae.. so far we learned about the land faeries we got a glimpse of others like the luidaeg and selkies but that’s all.  This time we learn about a complete new range of aquatic faes and discover that there are also some aerial ones nothing catch my attention better it was really interesting to discover them from Toby’s perspective.

What made this book even better was the constant presence of the cait sidhe Tybalt, more often in his cat form than I saw in the past.  He wasn’t his humourous self and he didn’t antagonised October but the situation was too dire for that. In any case he was loyally at her side, fought by her side and for her and never let her down ( the perfect mate I’m telling you). We also learn a lot about the Luidaeg and saw a more vulnerable side of her which drew me to her, she always was fascinating now she is more “human”… she suffered a lot and still do I think.

This book has heartbreaking moments, I nearly cried several time but the author balances all the elements in the story at the perfection and it was never too much or not enough. You get to see and feel things from October’s point of view… yes sometimes I wanted to strangle her at other time I wanted to hug her or cry for her but all along I wanted to be by her side. If you love dark urban fantasy with a touch of romance, fae and shifters  really this is a fabulous series, a must read however I can’t recommend you enough to be careful and read all the books in order ( include the free novella if you want it’s even better) it’s the only way to get completely immersed and have all the insights to follow the red lines ( but each book have some closure so far even if the ending just make you want more since it doesn’t answers all questions) this one was a perfect addition to the series with moving moment, adventures, magic and all the rest

Score:  5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Late Eclipses (October Daye 4) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all,

                  I wanted to post this yesterday buit i've come down with a new infection so yesterday i was mostly off but then i will try to post more  often at least this month ( and that's an advantage of the infection... after sleeping i do have time to read^^)

I decided to stay with things i love or i will probably love and jumped on the next book by Seanan McGuire i had in my pile and now it's definitive, i'm really addicted to this series!!

Happy reading!

Publisher: DAW

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  0756406668

Genre: dark urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: bought
 

Short description from goodreads :

 October "Toby" Daye is half-human, half-fae-the only changeling who's earned knighthood. But when someone begins targeting her nearest and dearest, it becomes clear that Toby is being set up to take the fall for everything that's happening.

My opinion:

          This series is really one I’ve come to love more after each book; the author manages each time to create a wonderful story with a great investigation that even if you guess the culprit you can’t put down since there are many twists and such to keep you completely immersed in the story and on edge. Each time we discover something about Toby too and at the same time we wonder even more. I love this!

However it’s still dark urban fantasy so sadly it also means that each time we loose characters we have come to love and this book doesn’t make an exception.  Some part are really emotional like when Tybalt cradling the little kitten ( a cait sidhe) and it wasn’t easy not to shed a tear from time to time. I was also terribly angered by the Queen of Mist  such a conniving little b**** we finally learn why she is so furious about October, Toby, and that’s so futile, so petty…she can hold the title of queen , a secondary one too, in the faeries kingdom but she doesn’t care a little bit about her subjects, not once!  She does grant  Toby a county but it’s not a favour at all fortunately our dear hero will have a use for it even if she isn’t countess stuff even less when someone is killing all she hold dear.

Lily has been targeted and ask Toby to take care of her subjects (see the difference with the stupid queen?!), then is Luna and finally Tybalt is seeing his owns dying one by one… but even if his has a lot on his plate right now he still jump at Toby ‘s rescue when she needs it and he does show her he cares even if he won’t say the words (that kiss^^ and how affected he can be  when she is suffering I’m definitively a fan of his) I was happy to see Raj again even if it was only for a short time.

The one who surprised me the most was Connor, the seal, normally he look so mild and a little coward because he can’t fight and is quite not at ease on ground but this time. What a change ^^ he became one of Toby Knight in  shining armor and did a lot to help. He is growing on me even if my preference stays for Tybalt ^^. Luidaeg does appears, still as irate as ever, but only for a short time and a role this time is really reduced but her behaviour does let think about possible problem to come in future books.

I can’t said a lot about the investigation itself or the info we get  since it could constitute huge spoiler but what I can say is that the romance is building up; the action just what I hoped it would be and the info about Toby just gives me more questions ( really what role has Sylvester? If Toby’s status changes what of her girl, part human?) Amandine makes an intervention but I still can decide if I like her or not in fact I have even more questions about her than before ^^;;

The ending was simply perfect except for 2 details: 1 °normally something should have happened to Sylvester but we get no word about it and then I would have wanted more Tybalt!!! What he is thinking now about Toby, what are the rules now ( at least what are the faery’s laws that apply  to this case?).  But rest assured the investigation comes to a conclusion and at least a temporary happy end. Seanan does make us want more of this fabulous horde of characters though. So I would recommend this series if you love dark urban fantasy and are looking for a great on going series.

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

A Local Habitation (October Daye2) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all,

              only a few days left before April and i want to read as much as paranormal romance including fae before i switch to another kind of creatures.. though i've become really addicted on some series this month so you can expect to hear more about them in the future

Like i told you in my last review i really wanted more of the October Daye series so read it without waiting despite it being dark urban fantasy ( i guess i'm more dark that what i thought^^ or i really can't resist Tybalt ( i need to get the book with it's short story in it!!!!))  now i did have a little problem because my page 179 is smeared by a big ink spot si i couldn't read it , i hope teh editor will do something but until then i had to do with what i have and book 2 finished i really want to start book3 already ;) but it will have to wait a little because now i'm reading Iron King that i want to finish before then end of March to review it.

 Happy Reading!

Publisher: DAW

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  0756405963

Genre: dark urban fantasy, paranormal, romance, fey, fantasy

Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 Now comes the second in the series-from a dynamic new fantasy talent!

Toby Daye-a half-human, half-fae changeling-has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world had other ideas...

Now her liege, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills, has asked Toby to go to the County of Tamed Lightning to make sure all is well with his niece, Countess January O'Leary. It seems like a simple enough assignment-until Toby discovers that someone has begun murdering people close to January, and that if the killer isn't stopped, January may be the next victim.

My opinion:

          I did love this book….i admit I was a bit afraid at first since I was told it was becoming darker and darker but  I enjoyed it and I didn’t feel it was that dark either. It’s not light yes but I’m starting to think that as long as fey are concerned it’s never light and all happy… however there is some humour too not too much but just the right level for that kind of universe. I absolutely adore Tybalt and I was glad to learn a little more about how his kind of creatures was organised. They really have a special place between the fey and I find this really interesting…. I also enjoy to see how Toby isn’t getting any clue about Tybalt ‘s feeling ^^;;.

In this book we also see more of Quentin and it’s was interesting to see Toby as a teacher because it’s not a role I would have thought for her but she is managing quite well…. I mean, there is a lot of fear, blood and risks but she keeps her charge with her so it’s a good point. Her luck isn’t the best…and I’m sure the insurance will be crazy at the rhythm she destroy her cars^^;; . Oh and yes Connor will be there too (we need some tension after all;) )

Now that being said, the plot in a whole wasn’t bad but I did guess a part of the solution (culprit and reason) but the author managed to keep me interested all along the book. Also learning about the creatures that come for the fey’s body when they die and why was really, really interesting.

Toby is a character quite complex and in each book, I’m discovering more about her in each book. She is loyal and determined, she could have become hateful but she didn’t and I appreciate that. She is trying to do her best which is quite difficult with the intricacies and rules in place in the world of fey. This time, we didn’t see her thinking about her “human family” which could be strange but I appreciated that she was immersed in her fae part. The way she is reacting with Connor is something I like, she doesn’t want to interfere in the relationship he has (though she does a little but not from her decision most of the time. I just hope she will understand Tybalt soon because I want them together)

I really recommend this book to those who want a dark urban fantasy, fey and tension  with a touch of romance and humour.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges: