A Red Rose Chain

September 28, 2015
Following 2014's The Winter Long, this ninth installment in the October Daye urban fantasy series sees its heroine once again caught up in Fae politics. The illegitimate Queen of the Mists has been deposed. When the neighboring Kingdom of Silences declares war on Toby's home, Toby is dispatched to try and find a peaceful resolution. She and her companionsâincluding her fiancé, Tybalt, King of Catsâtravel to Portland, Ore., and discover a hostile court and a lot of trouble. Toby, never known for her diplomacy, is out of her depth as she faces foes she can't fight head-on, with treachery masquerading as tradition and courtly manners. McGuire has quite thoroughly established the ever-fascinating world in which Toby moves; this adventure expands its boundaries and gives readers another glimpse of the larger picture, all while slowly pushing her heroine's emotional journey forward. In some ways, this feels like an intermediary episode dealing with the aftermath of previous entries, but it's an entertaining, satisfying chapter in the larger story, hinting at grander things yet to come. Agent: Diana Fox, Fox Literary.

September 15, 2015

It should have been a happy time for half-fae knight October (Toby) Daye: she's planning her wedding to King of Cats Tybalt and is in the good graces of Arden, the new Queen of the Mists. But when the former holder of that title decides she wants her kingdom back and convinces a neighboring kingdom to declare war on the Mists, Arden sends Toby to negotiate peace. It's a compelling choice, as Toby is much more likely to stir up trouble wherever she goes. In the Kingdom of Silences, she finds a realm ruled by a tyrannical king who loathes changelings such as Toby. VERDICT Sustaining a series over nine volumes is not an easy feat, and McGuire keeps things fresh by allowing Toby to grow while keeping her core values of protecting the weak and the innocent. This new entry (after The Winter Long) takes Toby away from her usual stomping ground and limits her allies, giving the dangerous situation extra tension.--MM

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