Scan barcode
sunshine4you's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
b_m_thompson's review
adventurous
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
4.0
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
As these series goes on, there’s seems to be more and more that Seanan thinks needs a little recap or explanation in the first few chapters. I know I forget a lot between books but it just means it takes an awful long time to get into what is an otherwise great story. Maybe the (admittedly useful) pronunciation guide at the start could be extended to include these little reminders and leave the body of the novel for the plot to unfold.
Anyways, enough quibbling. A Red-Rose Chain focuses on discrimination in the fae world. Before Arden took over, the Mists wasn’t the most accommodating place for changelings but at least they were free. As Toby visits the Silences, the neighbouring kingdom, she soon learns how bad things can be for those who aren’t pure.
King Rhys of Silences does not let Toby forget who she is, or more importantly to him, what she is. She’s a changeling, so she’s beneath him, yet her blood holds a power he covets. With the scheming former Queen of the Mists at his side, Toby can’t risk turning her back for even a second.
I was a bit sad that all the politics and defying death meant there wasn’t much time for Toby and Tybalt’s wedding planning. They seem to be doing this at the start of the book, a sign that things are calm and they are getting on with life. So OK, preventing war comes first, but I would have liked a bit more of the happy. Maybe we’ll get the wedding in the next book…if it isn’t the scene of a mass fae slaughter.
Anyway, I love the world-building overall that has gone into this series and it’s my favourite fae world, even when sometimes the individual building blocks may be a bit wobbly. I’m not a huge fan of series going on indefinitely these days though, and I do hope this one doesn’t go on so long it loses its shine.
Anyways, enough quibbling. A Red-Rose Chain focuses on discrimination in the fae world. Before Arden took over, the Mists wasn’t the most accommodating place for changelings but at least they were free. As Toby visits the Silences, the neighbouring kingdom, she soon learns how bad things can be for those who aren’t pure.
King Rhys of Silences does not let Toby forget who she is, or more importantly to him, what she is. She’s a changeling, so she’s beneath him, yet her blood holds a power he covets. With the scheming former Queen of the Mists at his side, Toby can’t risk turning her back for even a second.
I was a bit sad that all the politics and defying death meant there wasn’t much time for Toby and Tybalt’s wedding planning. They seem to be doing this at the start of the book, a sign that things are calm and they are getting on with life. So OK, preventing war comes first, but I would have liked a bit more of the happy. Maybe we’ll get the wedding in the next book…if it isn’t the scene of a mass fae slaughter.
Anyway, I love the world-building overall that has gone into this series and it’s my favourite fae world, even when sometimes the individual building blocks may be a bit wobbly. I’m not a huge fan of series going on indefinitely these days though, and I do hope this one doesn’t go on so long it loses its shine.
amym84's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Out of all the fictional heroines I’ve read about I’d have to say Seanan McGuire consistently puts October Daye through worse situations than most. As much as the drama, action, and intrigue draw readers in and moves a story forward at a quicker pace (usually), I’d honestly say I’d love to read a book with October getting to do everyday mundane tasks for a change. A book where there’s no danger to her, where things just get to slow down a bit for our hero. I feel as though this character has earned some legitimate down time.
Alas, any hope I may have harbored for Toby to get a modicum of peace and quiet did not come in A Red-Rose Chain. Instead of getting a book where Toby plans her imminent wedding to Tybalt (a storyline I seriously hope Seanan McGuire will not rush over), we instead find Toby possibly facing her most dangerous mission to date…that of diplomat. Huh, you say? We’re talking about the same October Daye, right? Yes, yes we are.
After an attack on the rightful Queen of the Mists’ seneschal is followed by a declaration of war on The Mists by The Kingdom of Silences—who declare the aforementioned rightful Queen isn’t “rightful” at all—Toby is sent in to try to prevent said war from happening. When the Queen orders, there’s very little one can do in opposition without finding oneself in even more trouble. Once in Silences, it becomes clear that their Kingdom is worse off than everyone thought. Being run by an arrogant, bigoted regent (appointed by none other than the false Queen of the Mists), and it seems as though Toby’s mission was doomed before it even began.
Despite the various ways Toby is constantly put through her paces, I almost feel like it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek by this point in the series. Even though Toby definitely doesn’t get it easy this time around either, I felt A Red-Rose Chain was a bit lighter than The Winter Long. Running up against an infuriating regent is nothing new in the Tobyverse so in a way I guess you could stretch it to say readers get a slight reprieve especially considering all the new info dumped on readers in The Winter Long.
I enjoyed discovering new, sometimes subtle, tidbits of information about the characters. Sometimes there would be a casual sentence, there one second and gone the next, that would hold so much I would have to go back and reread to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Sometimes those carefully constructed sentences would be expounded upon later, and other times those words would be left waiting to be possibly picked up again in another book down the line. Because what would a long-running series be if the characters didn’t grow and change throughout?
A Red-Rose Chain reminded me how much I love these characters. I think with one book being released every year it’s easy to forget how great it is until you’re ensconced once again in Toby’s world. I always enjoy when Toby can silence the naysayers and she does a great job here. See you again next year!
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Out of all the fictional heroines I’ve read about I’d have to say Seanan McGuire consistently puts October Daye through worse situations than most. As much as the drama, action, and intrigue draw readers in and moves a story forward at a quicker pace (usually), I’d honestly say I’d love to read a book with October getting to do everyday mundane tasks for a change. A book where there’s no danger to her, where things just get to slow down a bit for our hero. I feel as though this character has earned some legitimate down time.
Alas, any hope I may have harbored for Toby to get a modicum of peace and quiet did not come in A Red-Rose Chain. Instead of getting a book where Toby plans her imminent wedding to Tybalt (a storyline I seriously hope Seanan McGuire will not rush over), we instead find Toby possibly facing her most dangerous mission to date…that of diplomat. Huh, you say? We’re talking about the same October Daye, right? Yes, yes we are.
After an attack on the rightful Queen of the Mists’ seneschal is followed by a declaration of war on The Mists by The Kingdom of Silences—who declare the aforementioned rightful Queen isn’t “rightful” at all—Toby is sent in to try to prevent said war from happening. When the Queen orders, there’s very little one can do in opposition without finding oneself in even more trouble. Once in Silences, it becomes clear that their Kingdom is worse off than everyone thought. Being run by an arrogant, bigoted regent (appointed by none other than the false Queen of the Mists), and it seems as though Toby’s mission was doomed before it even began.
Despite the various ways Toby is constantly put through her paces, I almost feel like it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek by this point in the series. Even though Toby definitely doesn’t get it easy this time around either, I felt A Red-Rose Chain was a bit lighter than The Winter Long. Running up against an infuriating regent is nothing new in the Tobyverse so in a way I guess you could stretch it to say readers get a slight reprieve especially considering all the new info dumped on readers in The Winter Long.
I enjoyed discovering new, sometimes subtle, tidbits of information about the characters. Sometimes there would be a casual sentence, there one second and gone the next, that would hold so much I would have to go back and reread to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Sometimes those carefully constructed sentences would be expounded upon later, and other times those words would be left waiting to be possibly picked up again in another book down the line. Because what would a long-running series be if the characters didn’t grow and change throughout?
A Red-Rose Chain reminded me how much I love these characters. I think with one book being released every year it’s easy to forget how great it is until you’re ensconced once again in Toby’s world. I always enjoy when Toby can silence the naysayers and she does a great job here. See you again next year!
practisingmothman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mamap's review
3.0
I'm sorry. It just wasn't as good as the others. The ending was a little abrupt. What about the details? And the wedding? It's nice that Toby is going to get to use her talents to help others, but really! It just ends??
Now that October has taken care of the Queen, Rayseline, Connor, Oleander, and Evening - I guess she's left with fixing the kingdom of Silences.
Now that October has taken care of the Queen, Rayseline, Connor, Oleander, and Evening - I guess she's left with fixing the kingdom of Silences.
onespaceymother's review against another edition
4.0
I think this one is pretty specific to the fans of the series, newbies won't connect to it. I missed these characters and was excited to spend some time back in their world (er, knowes?) When does 10 come out?!
vishnork's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lisawreading's review
5.0
Exciting and terrifying -- as always, Toby ends up in terrible danger, with her life on the line, covered in blood. Is this woman ever not covered in blood? This volume in the series moves the overall story in some interesting new directions. Can't wait to see what happens next!