Bea's Book Nook: Review & Quote-Tastic: Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire

Publisher: DAW Fantasy
Series: October Days #6
Format Read: paperback
Source: owned by the reviewer
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

It's been almost a year since October "Toby" Daye averted a war, gave up a county, and suffered personal losses that have left her wishing for a good day's sleep. She's tried to focus on her responsibilities—training Quentin, upholding her position as Sylvester's knight, and paying the bills—but she can't help feeling like her world is crumbling around her, and her increasingly reckless behavior is beginning to worry even her staunchest supporters.
To make matters worse, Toby's just been asked to find another missing child...only this time it's the changeling daughter of her fellow knight, Etienne, who didn't even know he was a father until the girl went missing. Her name is Chelsea. She's a teleporter, like her father. She's also the kind of changeling the old stories warn about, the kind with all the strength and none of the control. She's opening doors that were never meant to be opened, releasing dangers that were sealed away centuries before—and there's a good chance she could destroy Faerie if she isn't stopped.
Now Toby must find Chelsea before time runs out, racing against an unknown deadline and through unknown worlds as she and her allies try to avert disaster. But danger is also stirring in the Court of Cats, and Tybalt may need Toby's help with the biggest challenge he's ever faced.
Toby thought the last year was bad. She has no idea.

Bea's Thoughts:

My first book for the COYER Summer Vacation challenge and another book read in this series. After this, I have one more book andthen I'm caught up on this series. *happy dance*

"Ashes of Honor" picks up almost a year after the events of "One Salt Sea". Initially, I thought it might focus on certain events at the end of "One Salt Sea" involving The Luidaeg but the blurb, and story, for this book proved otherwise.

Tobey is still grieving for the losses she sustained and her behavior, impulsive at the best of times, has become erratic and dangerous. Her friends are worried about her. Just about the last thing she expects is for Sir Etienne, a knight of the Shadowed Hills, who tolerates her but mostly has no use for her, to hire her to find his missing daughter. Yes, once again Tobey is looking for a kidnapped child. It's become her specialty, what she's known for, though the police just view her as a nuisance and possibly a threat.

It took me a little longer to get into this book, the story is slow to start although the book starts with a bang. Once the action got going though, I couldn't pick it down. We learn more about changelings and what the purebloods consider acceptable and what is forbidden. As always, McGuire has surprises for us, and just when we're getting comfortable, WHAM! Tighten your seat belts, sharp curves ahead.

I like Tybalt a whole lot more after this book and I already liked him. He took me a while to warm up to in the first few book; he was arrogant, cocky, and rude. But as we've gotten to know him better, I've developed a strong liking for him and there's no question that he's always around for Tobey. Both Raj and Etienne gets some time in the spotlight and we re-visit April O'Leary and the kingdom of Tamed Lightning and of course, we make new friends and meet some who aren't quite friends but not quite enemies either.

"Ashes of Honor" has it all - a happy ending, romance, adventure, betrayal, family drama, humor, and a story that can be appreciated on the surface or on a deeper level as McGuire continues her explorations of love, family, honor, and being other.

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