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A review by patchworkbunny
A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire
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.