A review by odin45mp
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

4.0

This was solid. Being a strong urban fantasy - strong on the urban, strong on the fantasy, steeped in the realm of Faerie - it gave me immediate flashbacks to my first time reading the Dresden Files. This has fewer stumbling blocks than Harry's first two times out of the gate, however, and sticks its characters, descriptions, and landing. We follow October (Toby) Daye, cashier by night, and detective by day (when on assignment). She's half fae, she's broke, and she gets compelled into trying to solve a murder a couple chapters in. The compulsion is so strong, the binding so powerful, she might very well die if she does not find out whodunit in a timely manner. I love Toby and her cats, and I enjoyed looking at the Fae through her eyes and McGuire's personal worldview of the Fae, which is familiar to me after many trips to the fantasy well but a little different with each author's interpretation - which is, I think, how the Faerie want it. McGuire has solid plotting, solid dialogue, and the twists and reveals are well paced and well executed. There are a few fumbles in the middle but Toby and I recovered and saw it through. I will be checking out more in the series when I get to it, this was fun. (Not as much fun as InCryptid or Wayward Children, but maybe I just have a soft spot for talking mice and yeti.)

Strongly recommended to anyone needing some urban fantasy until the new Dresden Files hits this summer, and fans of mystery novels.