BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Bea Reviews A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire

Publisher: Daw Books
Series: October Daye #9
Source: Purchased by the reviewer
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Challenges: Finishing the Series
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit*   | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Things are looking up.

For the first time in what feels like years, October “Toby” Daye has been able to pause long enough to take a breath and look at her life—and she likes what she sees. She has friends. She has allies. She has a squire to train and a King of Cats to love, and maybe, just maybe, she can let her guard down for a change.

Or not. When Queen Windermere’s seneschal is elf-shot and thrown into an enchanted sleep by agents from the neighboring Kingdom of Silences, Toby finds herself in a role she never expected to play: that of a diplomat. She must travel to Portland, Oregon, to convince King Rhys of Silences not to go to war against the Mists. But nothing is that simple, and what October finds in Silences is worse than she would ever have imagined.

How far will Toby go when lives are on the line, and when allies both old and new are threatened by a force she had never expected to face again? How much is October willing to give up, and how much is she willing to change? In Faerie, what’s past is never really gone.

It’s just waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

Bea's Thoughts:

McGuire did it again. Tight plotting, witty banter, strong characterization, "A Red-Rose Chain" was just about perfect. Toby has become a hero and she shows us why in this story. She's accepted her role and grown into it.

"A Red-Rose Chain" takes place months after the events of "The Winter Long". Life has calmed down but life never stays calm long for Toby. If it did, we wouldn't have books. :D I laughed at Toby being named diplomat. Impulsive, reckless, rash, smart-mouthed Toby? But to give her credit, she did try. She's in a tough situation but she's smart enough to bring back up - Quentin, May, Tybalt, and Walter, an alchemist who's helped her out before. Together, they go to the Kingdom of Silences and try to unravel why they declared war and if it can be prevented. But the King of Silences and the deposed Queen of the Mist have teamed up and Toby's torture and pain is high on their agenda. The lengths to which they were prepared to go was terrifying and King Rhys was a sadomasochist who delighted in persecuting the changelings at his court. We again see the dark side of the fae and they make humanity look like fluffy puppies but we also see their weaknesses and their kindnesses.

McGuire tackles politics, caste and class, relationships of all varieties, biology, and love with a sharp eye and sharp wit. As always though my favorite parts of the story were the relationships. Toby has gone from a loner who avoided commitments and relationships to being surrounded by people who love and understand her and whom she loves. But it's also the relationships between all of the characters - Tybalt and Raj, May and Jazz, Toby and Quentin, etc. The moments between them are sweet, tart, and funny. They add richness to all of the action, the machinations, and the oddities that are the fae.

"A Red-Rose Chain" was gripping, entertaining, and another excellent entry in the Toby Daye series.

9 comments:

  1. Ugh Bea...this is another series I am behind on..I read book one and two and then got distracted. Wonderful review, you have renewed my interest in the series.

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    1. Yay! It's such a good series, the modern day fairy tale but with so much more depth.

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  2. This does look good and Toby Daye is is familiar. I feel like I read a review of a previous book and thought I need to try this series. I love when characters end up doing something so out of character and it sounds entertaining to watch Toby deal with being a diplomat. Another one to try.

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    1. I've reviewed several books in this series so maybe you read one of my previous reviews. It's an excellent series but read in order, it will make much more sense.

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  3. This sounds really good. I have wanted to try this series for a long time, but I'd want to start with the first book.

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    1. Yes, this series needs to be read in order. But worth the time!

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  4. I have no idea :D but you really should add it to your TBR. :)

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  5. Ditto what Heidi said. I want to read these but keep getting distracted by other books. I need to bump them higher on the TBR list!

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    1. I think you'd like them. Great writing and plotting, wonderful, rich characters; excellent books.

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