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hungry_ghosts's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
asreadbykat's review against another edition
4.0
True Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, Gore, Mild body horror (?), Faerie Politics (yes, that is a warning), Classism, Racism (in terms of "blood purity"), and references to underage sex and drug use, and abuse.
My Thoughts
"If there was ever a Cinderella, her glass slippers shattered under her weight and she limped home bleeding from the ball."
I bought this on Kindle in 2017, and I'm trying to figure out how it took me this long to read it. It took me reading McGuire's "Alchemical Journeys" series to remember how much I love her writing and pick this up.
And oh am I glad I did. This is the urban fantasy I didn't know I needed. Action, intricate and interesting world-building, hints of romance, and a female character that isn't the stereotypical "strong" type that usually haunts these books.
October Daye is a Changeling, a half-fae, half-human who returned to the human world after reaching adulthood. She works as a P.I., until something happens. 14 years later, she's trying to pick her life back up and is determined to ignore as much of the Fae world as she can. Unfortunately, Faerie isn't read to let her go, and she's dragged back against her will to solve the mystery of a friend's death. This leads her to an investigation filled with confusion, danger, and death. She's going to need all the help she can get and her own wits if she's going to make it out alive.
Reading this reminded me of how I felt as a teenager reading the first Anita Blake book by Laurell K. Hamilton. The difference is that I trust McGuire to not let this story deteriorate, which is a good thing considering the length of the series.
This is just a very fun, dark, interesting urban fantasy series that I'm excited to continue and is probably going to become of one of my comfort reads.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, Gore, Mild body horror (?), Faerie Politics (yes, that is a warning), Classism, Racism (in terms of "blood purity"), and references to underage sex and drug use, and abuse.
My Thoughts
"If there was ever a Cinderella, her glass slippers shattered under her weight and she limped home bleeding from the ball."
I bought this on Kindle in 2017, and I'm trying to figure out how it took me this long to read it. It took me reading McGuire's "Alchemical Journeys" series to remember how much I love her writing and pick this up.
And oh am I glad I did. This is the urban fantasy I didn't know I needed. Action, intricate and interesting world-building, hints of romance, and a female character that isn't the stereotypical "strong" type that usually haunts these books.
October Daye is a Changeling, a half-fae, half-human who returned to the human world after reaching adulthood. She works as a P.I., until something happens. 14 years later, she's trying to pick her life back up and is determined to ignore as much of the Fae world as she can. Unfortunately, Faerie isn't read to let her go, and she's dragged back against her will to solve the mystery of a friend's death. This leads her to an investigation filled with confusion, danger, and death. She's going to need all the help she can get and her own wits if she's going to make it out alive.
Reading this reminded me of how I felt as a teenager reading the first Anita Blake book by Laurell K. Hamilton. The difference is that I trust McGuire to not let this story deteriorate, which is a good thing considering the length of the series.
This is just a very fun, dark, interesting urban fantasy series that I'm excited to continue and is probably going to become of one of my comfort reads.
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.