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katieinca's review against another edition
4.0
In 2020, I bought a number of interesting and important books that would challenge me and then they sat on my shelf (I guess I wasn't up to the challenge). They're still there. I think I didn't read anything for a month or two there. Then since May or June, I've been able to handle books that are full of banter, and plot, and character (probably in that order of importance), with bonus points for magic or space. I started with rereading and catching up on these. Thank you, Seanan McGuire, for writing books that I could get lost in, even in 2020.
This one was really fun to read again with some knowledge of where these characters were going. I had totally forgotten most of the mystery bits, so that was fun.
This one was really fun to read again with some knowledge of where these characters were going. I had totally forgotten most of the mystery bits, so that was fun.
le_corbeau_romantique's review against another edition
4.0
Very fun read. The main character finally grew on me, and I will read the next in the series--- but man she does get hurt. A LOT. And the rose goblin stole my heart. And so did Tybalt.
ursacygni's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Toby Daye is a reluctant Private Investigator forcibly made to take a case that puts hers and the people around her lives at stake. If she's going to figure out Who murdered an old friend and survive to tell the tale she's going to have to rely on some old and new faces.
Excellent Urban Fantasy, for fans of the Greywalker series by Kat Richardson, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and the Iron Druid Chronicles you will greatly enjoy this story. It took a minute to get up to speed for me but it was well worth the wait.
Excellent Urban Fantasy, for fans of the Greywalker series by Kat Richardson, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and the Iron Druid Chronicles you will greatly enjoy this story. It took a minute to get up to speed for me but it was well worth the wait.
yourfairygodmother's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
dajoyofit's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in one day; granted I was up until 2am, but it was so completely worth it. There's just something fresh about this author's writing style.
The beginning sentence: "December had come to San Francisco in fits and starts, like a visitor who wasn't sure he wanted to stay."
I couldn't put it down.
I enjoyed this book so much that I hunted down the sequel, "A Local Habitation" and read it in two days. Then I went and picked up the third book, "An Artificial Night" and read it in a day and a half.
The beginning sentence: "December had come to San Francisco in fits and starts, like a visitor who wasn't sure he wanted to stay."
I couldn't put it down.
I enjoyed this book so much that I hunted down the sequel, "A Local Habitation" and read it in two days. Then I went and picked up the third book, "An Artificial Night" and read it in a day and a half.
songwind's review against another edition
3.0
This was an enjoyable first novel, but has several typical first novel problems.
The characterization is quite good, and many of the characters are likable. Most are enjoyable, even if they are personally repellent.
Unfortunately, the protagonist is not given sufficient room to be the hero of the story. She spends a lot of time being tossed from situation to situation completely beyond her control. She also only survives more than once through the use of deus ex machina in the form of more powerful characters.
I enjoyed the narrative, but wish it had bee executed a bit differently. I will definitely be picking up the second one.
The characterization is quite good, and many of the characters are likable. Most are enjoyable, even if they are personally repellent.
Unfortunately, the protagonist is not given sufficient room to be the hero of the story. She spends a lot of time being tossed from situation to situation completely beyond her control. She also only survives more than once through the use of deus ex machina in the form of more powerful characters.
I enjoyed the narrative, but wish it had bee executed a bit differently. I will definitely be picking up the second one.
ricksilva's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
October "Toby" Daye, half-faerie and former PI, just wants to leave the hidden magical side of San Fransisco behind her. She lost everything in a job gone wrong. She failed her liege, and lost her family and fourteen years of her life.
But of course she gets pulled back into it all. Magically cursed into solving one more murder, she quickly discovers that she may be the next target of the killers, and is forced to question her old friends and allies, even as she renews her connections to the faerie realms.
October is a great throwback to the hardboiled detective icons of Mickey Spillane, with a bit of not-always-reliable magic, and a troubled past that she's in more than one form of denial about.
The worldbuilding is great, from the workings of magic to the fantasy version of San Fransisco layered on top of and in between what is visible to human eyes.
Plotwise the book does a nice job of planting all sorts of seeds, referencing past adventures and dropping hints of future intrigues, all while spinning an action-filled mystery with a solid share of tragedy, and the occasional glimmer of hope and wonder.
The one weakness of the story is the lack of agency of the protagonist, and this may to some extent have been intentionally thematically, but it still results in a story that is almost entirely reactive. Things happen to Toby, and the plot spirals out of her control, and then more things happen to her. And so on.
I'm hoping that this sets up a more proactive version of Toby as the series moves forward. Because there is a lot to like with these characters and this world.
But of course she gets pulled back into it all. Magically cursed into solving one more murder, she quickly discovers that she may be the next target of the killers, and is forced to question her old friends and allies, even as she renews her connections to the faerie realms.
October is a great throwback to the hardboiled detective icons of Mickey Spillane, with a bit of not-always-reliable magic, and a troubled past that she's in more than one form of denial about.
The worldbuilding is great, from the workings of magic to the fantasy version of San Fransisco layered on top of and in between what is visible to human eyes.
Plotwise the book does a nice job of planting all sorts of seeds, referencing past adventures and dropping hints of future intrigues, all while spinning an action-filled mystery with a solid share of tragedy, and the occasional glimmer of hope and wonder.
The one weakness of the story is the lack of agency of the protagonist, and this may to some extent have been intentionally thematically, but it still results in a story that is almost entirely reactive. Things happen to Toby, and the plot spirals out of her control, and then more things happen to her. And so on.
I'm hoping that this sets up a more proactive version of Toby as the series moves forward. Because there is a lot to like with these characters and this world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Child death, Blood, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
rcd229's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shalini_gunnasan's review against another edition
3.0
I started this for bingo, else I might not have picked it up. I am glad I did. This was fun and I do look forward to more. There are interesting collisions of mortal world and faerie world. Even with the mortals wielding iron, it seems that the fae far outstrip humans in wealth and power, so why are they so terrified of humans? I hope this gets answered.
I only had two problems with it, which I hope shall be fixed in the future; 1) I hope the villain is not so transparent, and 2) please, no more love triangles, please let's just keep that peculiarity confined to the young adult books. Pick a man and have done with him.
I only had two problems with it, which I hope shall be fixed in the future; 1) I hope the villain is not so transparent, and 2) please, no more love triangles, please let's just keep that peculiarity confined to the young adult books. Pick a man and have done with him.