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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I really liked this. The only quibble I have is that some of the technology references seem a bit dated, even beyond establishing the time-jump at the beginning of the book, but that might just be something that jumped out at me at the time, and it didn't really influence my enjoyment of the book. Moving on to book #2 right away. :)
Very engrossing book! I just had to know what happened, and a few nights stayed up late reading just one more chapter. I like the way that magic works - that there's limits based on heritage and how much you use based on your energy. Great concept. It's part talent, but mostly your lineage. My only complaint is that she didn't explain much about how magic works and let us experience it - but often in tense situations she just happens to know what needs to be done. I know that that October spent a long time learning and perfecting her magic, but I just felt rushed into understanding what she was capable of at the most tense moments, which in turn felt a little cheap. I've already started the second one!
October "Toby" Daye is a half-human, half-faerie changeling living in modern day San Francisco with her human (and faerie-oblivious) boyfriend and their mostly-human kid. The novel begins with a prologue: in 1995, Toby is trying to solve the mysterious kidnapping of a faerie Duke's wife and daughter. She bumbles into a trap set by the perps, and ends up cursed to live as a fish in a koi pond in Golden Gate Park. For fourteen years. Sounds like a good beginning, right? Magic, mystery, intrigue...
We are re-introduced to Toby about 6 months after her de-enchantment. She's itching to get revenge on the people who put the carp in her diem, solve the 14-year-old kidnapping mystery, and reunite with her family.
Except, no. She's not itching to do any of that. She's working the night shift in a convenience store and avoiding everything to do with her former life. She ends up investigating a murder mystery which has no apparent connection to any of the events in the prologue. (And by the way, I don't know how she ever got her private investigator's license, because most of her investigative techniques seem to involve little more than getting knocked unconscious.) Even here, in the urgent pursuit of a killer, there are buckets and buckets of backstory mucking up the plot rather than contributing to it.
Overall, the balance between backstory and this-story felt lopsided to me. Too much tell, not enough show. Recommended only for people who prefer to spell fairy as faerie.
We are re-introduced to Toby about 6 months after her de-enchantment. She's itching to get revenge on the people who put the carp in her diem, solve the 14-year-old kidnapping mystery, and reunite with her family.
Except, no. She's not itching to do any of that. She's working the night shift in a convenience store and avoiding everything to do with her former life. She ends up investigating a murder mystery which has no apparent connection to any of the events in the prologue. (And by the way, I don't know how she ever got her private investigator's license, because most of her investigative techniques seem to involve little more than getting knocked unconscious.) Even here, in the urgent pursuit of a killer, there are buckets and buckets of backstory mucking up the plot rather than contributing to it.
Overall, the balance between backstory and this-story felt lopsided to me. Too much tell, not enough show. Recommended only for people who prefer to spell fairy as faerie.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This could have been great, but it wasn't. The setting is very promising. There is little to no character development. The plot is pretty generic.
I bought the first 3 books at a flea market sale, so I will give the series two more shots. I really hope for some character development and more fairy lore.
I bought the first 3 books at a flea market sale, so I will give the series two more shots. I really hope for some character development and more fairy lore.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Probably my fifth reread of this book. As an introduction to a long series, this was a great book. It touched on several overarching plot themes and met a lot of characters you will see throughout the series, establishing a good baseline for all of it without being overly informative like a lot of fantasy series can be. The story is set in recent day (catching up to modern 2024) San Fransisco giving a familiar feel to the story and allowing the reader to balance the new magic and fae system and references with something more familiar. Out of this series, it’s not the best, but is close. There are times when you’ll love October, the main character and times when you’ll chastise her, giving her a very 3 dimensional feeling. As detective novels go, I would say it’s intermediate. The twists aren’t too predictable, and if you’re reading it for the first time, you may not ever see the end coming (I remember not expecting that twist until October starts puzzling it together). As fae series goes, I’d say it’s really good. It blends common knowledge with more niche references to fae folklore easily and only scratches the surface of larger themes and ideas as it should being the first of a long series. The sex scenes are fade to black, and the only real graphic moments are of fantasy violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping
You know, I usually fucking hate when people say "oh, the first book isn't that great, but it really hits its stride [x] books in," but I've been guilty of saying that exact thing about this series. I ALSO hate when people say "oh, it's even better upon re-reading," but I'll be godsdamned if that isn't exactly the case here, too.
I'm not going to post a bunch of spoilers for later books in the series, but there is honestly SO MUCH in this first book that comes back in a BIG way (much much) later on down the line.
The first time I read Rosemary and Rue, I probably would have given it a 3 if I was feeling incredibly generous, the second and third times also a 3-3½. Idk if I was just in the middle of a decade plus long grumpy phase or what, bc this time I thought it was mostly delightful. Looking forward to re-reading the rest before book 19 (!) comes out and seeing how many more breadcrumb trails there are to follow.
I'm not going to post a bunch of spoilers for later books in the series, but there is honestly SO MUCH in this first book that comes back in a BIG way (much much) later on down the line.
The first time I read Rosemary and Rue, I probably would have given it a 3 if I was feeling incredibly generous, the second and third times also a 3-3½. Idk if I was just in the middle of a decade plus long grumpy phase or what, bc this time I thought it was mostly delightful. Looking forward to re-reading the rest before book 19 (!) comes out and seeing how many more breadcrumb trails there are to follow.
It's an okay book. I like urban fantasy, but I feel like half the book is telling, not show. The MC spends a lot of time injured and collecting old favors and incurring debts. The plot itself is good enough.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
After reading and loving her other series, I found this one to be a bit of a disappointment. Just didn't find the characters interesting, and thought the world building was weak. I didn't really understand all these varying fairy kingdoms, or how the magic worked. I also found October to be kind of a 'meh' protagonist. Don't think I will read any further in this particular series, will stick to the Wayward Children.