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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Three reasons to read Rosemary and Rue:
1) It has amazing descriptions about how our reality blends and hides a whole other world. The writing is beautiful especially where fae culture is concerned, and there are some gorgeous turns of phrase.
2) The characters are all brilliant and well-rounded. The main character, October, is broken; she has lost absolutely everything and can't bring herself to face the world. It has the potential to be a wonderful POV full of life experience and maturity.
3) The story covers delicate topics like grooming and abuse in a respectful, realistic, and healing way.
Three drawbacks to Rosemary and Rue:
1) Some of the rules about fae culture and the world-building confuse me.
2) The plot leads the character. A lot happens; there isn't a single moment that isn't action-packed, but all Tobey does is wander around and get hurt – a lot. She isn't active.
3) The book trundles through huge chunks of introspection, which would be great if only Tobey's thoughts were more interesting.
1) It has amazing descriptions about how our reality blends and hides a whole other world. The writing is beautiful especially where fae culture is concerned, and there are some gorgeous turns of phrase.
2) The characters are all brilliant and well-rounded. The main character, October, is broken; she has lost absolutely everything and can't bring herself to face the world. It has the potential to be a wonderful POV full of life experience and maturity.
3) The story covers delicate topics like grooming and abuse in a respectful, realistic, and healing way.
Three drawbacks to Rosemary and Rue:
1) Some of the rules about fae culture and the world-building confuse me.
2) The plot leads the character. A lot happens; there isn't a single moment that isn't action-packed, but all Tobey does is wander around and get hurt – a lot. She isn't active.
3) The book trundles through huge chunks of introspection, which would be great if only Tobey's thoughts were more interesting.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of those books where the logic of the narrator doesn't always make sense to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Kidnapping
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All my reviews posted on Auntie Spinelli Reads
Not gonna lie, this book was pretty boring. It was extremely slow and didn't seem to have much of a plot. It was a lot of Toby running around and getting hurt. She was constantly almost dying, it was a little annoying really. It's been a month or two since I read it and I already forget most of the book. I did enjoy several of the characters, one was a young, headstrong girl (I don't even remember her name...sad, I know). The other was my favorite character...Tybalt. A cait sidhe. So of course he was my favorite ;)
Altogether not too impressed with this one...although I do admit there was an interesting twist at the end. But mostly I'm just disappointed because I was looking forward to reading this entire series and after reading the first book, I'm turned off to reading any more of it.
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
World-building: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Cover: 3/5
Not gonna lie, this book was pretty boring. It was extremely slow and didn't seem to have much of a plot. It was a lot of Toby running around and getting hurt. She was constantly almost dying, it was a little annoying really. It's been a month or two since I read it and I already forget most of the book. I did enjoy several of the characters, one was a young, headstrong girl (I don't even remember her name...sad, I know). The other was my favorite character...Tybalt. A cait sidhe. So of course he was my favorite ;)
Altogether not too impressed with this one...although I do admit there was an interesting twist at the end. But mostly I'm just disappointed because I was looking forward to reading this entire series and after reading the first book, I'm turned off to reading any more of it.
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
World-building: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Cover: 3/5
I've had this book on my tbr pile for 4 years, and I've finally managed to read it, yay :D
It's been a looooong time since I've read a real, honest to god, urban fantasy, and it actually makes me want to reread Dresden as well :D
So many books, so little time...
Worldbuilding:
The book's prologue really sets the tone for the story, and we're thrown right into the action.
Apart from some flashbacks here and there, we remain in present-day San Fransisco with the occasional hop into Faerie. There is a lot of information in this first book of the series, no surprise there. Still, there wasn't any dreaded information dump but rather a more continuous information gathering.
The scenes and settings were well-written en detailed enough.
Character development:
October 'Toby' Daye is a changeling. Her mother is fae, and her father is a human. She was a P.I. and a knight in the service of her liege before unfortunate events (I'm not spoiling!) caused her to turn her back on the fae world. Unfortunately, the fae are not done with Toby yet, and she is set with the task of solving the murder of a friend.
While she may not like the fae overly much (some exceptions, of course), I do feel that a 'normal' life was never in the cards for her (I mean, working in the 7/11 aint all that).
She has a good head on her shoulders, quickly feels responsible for those she cares about, and doesn't give up (even if it would be so much easier just to let go). I look forward to seeing her grow and finding her place in the rest of the series!
Devin, her old lover. She grew up at his feet, became his lover, and left him for a human in the end. Now he is back at her side, wanting to pick up where they left off and help her solve the mystery of her friend's murder.
Tybalt, the King of the Cait Sidhe. I really liked Tybalt, and if there was any romance in the series, I hope he is the guy/fae/cat Toby goes for. At the start of the book, however, they have a whole distrust/hate thing going on... so it might take a while :D
Sylvester, Luna, Lilly, Connor, Dare, Manuel, Quentin,... I could go on and on about all the characters that we encounter (and I hope we will read about them a lot more), but I'd be here for hours more :D But I can say this: all characters feel alive, with hopes and dreams, machinations and motives. Some are good, some are absolutely not, and most are still in the grey zone where they stand in the grand scheme of things (will we ever know, though?). They have genuine depth to them. Superb writing!
Pacing and flow:
It took me a while to get into the story, but as soon as I did, it gripped me and wouldn't let me go until the end... kinda like the curse Toby got stuck with (less lethal, though, lol).
Outstanding balance between all the conversations and action.
The book:
The book was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is a tad of romance and a little sexual tension, but no sex described in the book (if that is important to you).
The book has 346 pages, but that is with a prequel novella "Strangers in Court" included. The story itself is 264 pages long, spread over 27 chapters, and is told from Toby's point of view.
Final thoughts:
This was the first book I've read by the author, and I was pleasantly surprised! As I said at the start of the review, it's been a long time since I've read a pure urban fantasy novel, and it reminded me why I love this genre so much. The magic, the mystery, and all that in our present-day lives... I mean... what if, you know?
I wholeheartedly recommend this book!
It's been a looooong time since I've read a real, honest to god, urban fantasy, and it actually makes me want to reread Dresden as well :D
So many books, so little time...
Worldbuilding:
The book's prologue really sets the tone for the story, and we're thrown right into the action.
Apart from some flashbacks here and there, we remain in present-day San Fransisco with the occasional hop into Faerie. There is a lot of information in this first book of the series, no surprise there. Still, there wasn't any dreaded information dump but rather a more continuous information gathering.
The scenes and settings were well-written en detailed enough.
Character development:
October 'Toby' Daye is a changeling. Her mother is fae, and her father is a human. She was a P.I. and a knight in the service of her liege before unfortunate events (I'm not spoiling!) caused her to turn her back on the fae world. Unfortunately, the fae are not done with Toby yet, and she is set with the task of solving the murder of a friend.
While she may not like the fae overly much (some exceptions, of course), I do feel that a 'normal' life was never in the cards for her (I mean, working in the 7/11 aint all that).
She has a good head on her shoulders, quickly feels responsible for those she cares about, and doesn't give up (even if it would be so much easier just to let go). I look forward to seeing her grow and finding her place in the rest of the series!
Devin, her old lover. She grew up at his feet, became his lover, and left him for a human in the end. Now he is back at her side, wanting to pick up where they left off and help her solve the mystery of her friend's murder.
Tybalt, the King of the Cait Sidhe. I really liked Tybalt, and if there was any romance in the series, I hope he is the guy/fae/cat Toby goes for. At the start of the book, however, they have a whole distrust/hate thing going on... so it might take a while :D
Sylvester, Luna, Lilly, Connor, Dare, Manuel, Quentin,... I could go on and on about all the characters that we encounter (and I hope we will read about them a lot more), but I'd be here for hours more :D But I can say this: all characters feel alive, with hopes and dreams, machinations and motives. Some are good, some are absolutely not, and most are still in the grey zone where they stand in the grand scheme of things (will we ever know, though?). They have genuine depth to them. Superb writing!
Pacing and flow:
It took me a while to get into the story, but as soon as I did, it gripped me and wouldn't let me go until the end... kinda like the curse Toby got stuck with (less lethal, though, lol).
Outstanding balance between all the conversations and action.
The book:
The book was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is a tad of romance and a little sexual tension, but no sex described in the book (if that is important to you).
The book has 346 pages, but that is with a prequel novella "Strangers in Court" included. The story itself is 264 pages long, spread over 27 chapters, and is told from Toby's point of view.
Final thoughts:
This was the first book I've read by the author, and I was pleasantly surprised! As I said at the start of the review, it's been a long time since I've read a pure urban fantasy novel, and it reminded me why I love this genre so much. The magic, the mystery, and all that in our present-day lives... I mean... what if, you know?
I wholeheartedly recommend this book!
Maybe it's because I had very low expectations (I am one of the few people who dislike the Wayward Children series... a lot) but this was surprisingly good.
Fast-paced, fun world building, not the most original plot but highly entertaining from beginning to end. I also quite like Toby as a character and, to my own biggest surprise, I will continue reading this series.
Fast-paced, fun world building, not the most original plot but highly entertaining from beginning to end. I also quite like Toby as a character and, to my own biggest surprise, I will continue reading this series.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was an interesting urban series. It didn't captivate me yet, but, nevertheless, I'm going to continue reading.
While the world of the fae is interesting, I strongly disliked some of the decisions of the author pertaining to the characters. Nothing bad, per se, I just didn't really gel with Toby and her backstory. Seanan's writing is good, but this is a work of hers that's over a decade old, and it does show. Her newer works are definitely more polished.
As shocked as I am to say this, I wish that there would have been less of Toby's backstory, because it was complicated and not really explored this book, other than providing angst. I don't know where the author is going with the estranged daughter and ex-fiance, but I suspect I will dislike it, so I might stop reading the series here.
As shocked as I am to say this, I wish that there would have been less of Toby's backstory, because it was complicated and not really explored this book, other than providing angst. I don't know where the author is going with the estranged daughter and ex-fiance, but I suspect I will dislike it, so I might stop reading the series here.