438 reviews for:

Late Eclipses

Seanan McGuire

4.17 AVERAGE


Tense

I enjoyed the story and the mystery. It was well told and October continues to kick but. I'm looking forward to continuing the series

In this book, the consequences from October's failed rescue mission shake out in a big way. Something's rotten in the Torquill duchy, and October has to solve the mystery before she gets framed. To cap off all the action, we also get some juicy nuggets about October's heritage.

Lots of NASTY things happened in this book, but many outstanding mysteries were either solved or moved further along.

Waited too long after reading to leave a proper review.

Much like Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, the October Daye series has taken a few books to get going.

But, with book #4, the reader is finally getting to see the machinations of the court politics and how they work and the character development that started in book one is beginning to take shape for the rest of the series.

adventurous dark emotional 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

For those who aren’t familiar with the October Daye series, here’s a brief rundown. October “Toby” Daye is a changeling, half mortal/half faerie. In the first book, Rosemary and Rue , she is just emerging from a pond, where she spent the previous 14 years as a fish courtesy of Simon Torquill, the brother of her liege, Sylvester Torquill. Prior to her 14 years in the pond, Toby was a Knight in Sylvester’s court, Shadowed Hills. After she emerges, she tries to turn her back on Faerie and lead some semblance of a fully-mortal life. But the death of her friend, Countess Evening Winterrose, drags her back, quite literally. Winterrose curses Toby, binding her to investigate the Countess’ murder or suffer the fatal consequences.

In “Late Eclipses,” Toby receives a strange promotion immediately before finding out that an impossible illness is striking those closest to her. Soon after, she is accused of murder and must clear her name or, once again, suffer the fatal consequences. To make matters worse, an old enemy resurfaces (or is Toby finally going crazy like so many changelings before her?). It’s hard to summarize the plot without giving too much away if you haven’t read the previous books. But while the previous two sequels in the series almost had a stand-alone feel to them, “Late Eclipses” finally wraps up some loose ends and answers a few major burning questions that first arose in “Rosemary and Rue.” This book felt like the end of one long story-line and the beginning of another. It was definitely my favorite since ‘Rosemary and Rue,” and it left me anxiously waiting for September to arrive so I can see what happens next.

Note- This review originally appeared on my blog Pretty Opinionated

Wowza! I thought the previous book was really high stakes and action packed, and then this one had to come along and top it! This had me on the edge of my seat with the intrigue, mystery, and race against the clock. I'm ready to start the next one!

Re-read: 4/20/16 audiobook

This is the book in which the series takes a deeper step into the over arcing plot of the series. I'll admit, that before my re-visit, there were even some nuances about which I failed to pick up. I've long had some theories about the series that are yet unconfirmed, and revisiting this particular book only added fuel to that fire. Once again, I marvel at the direction and consistency of the story telling. McGuire has been masterful at planting seeds that later bear fruit and not contradicting what she has previously written.

As for the story itself, anyone could grab this book and enjoy it on its own. People around Toby are getting sick and she is on a quest to find out what is happening. At the same time, she is wondering if she is going crazy. October is such a wonderful character and McGuire writes her tales with passion, feeling, and no shortage of action.

Even being a re-visit, I have a bit of a book hangover. I am trying to hold off on diving immediately into the next book, since I am doing the re-visit as part of a group series read the will unfold over the year.

My lazy morning of reading has come to a lovely end with finishing this book. Toby and friends are definitely growing on me. Next! (Or perhaps "previous" would be better since I need to read book 3. LOL!)