Tag: seanan mcguire

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October Daye novels by Seanan McGuire

Rosemary and Rue (4/5). The first October Daye novel really sells her. She’s complicated and obligated and does the right things, despite wanting to shirk, she can’t. Interesting charms/magic system and Changeling like feel.

A Local Habitation. (4/5) Complicated new circumstances; Tobe has to really push confronting weird murders; Tamed Lightning’s people are annoying and insular and feel realistic. The relationship between Tobe and Quentin is well executed, balancing obligation and support.

An Artificial Night (3/5). Another solid Tobe book; it’s a series of quests, and she’s definitely outmatched. There’s a heartbreaking chapter of enslavement, and hard choices with bitter consequences.

Seanan McGuire, Late Eclipses (October Daye, #4). (4/5) Tobe’s life gets even more complicated as Oleander returns to haunt us, parts of her twisted past are revealed, and her friends keep falling ill. I’m eagerly awaiting the next, One Salt Sea.

One Salt Sea (October Daye #5) by Seanan McGuire. — A very solid continuation to the series; a fascinating introduction to the undersea fae, and dramatic and terrible consequences. 5/5 #BookReviews

Ashes of Honor (October Daye #6) by Seanan McGuire. Does a good job of Tobe not dealing well with tragedy; handled with empathy. Interesting developments in San Jose and the depths of faerie. 3/5.

Chimes at Midnight (October Daye #7) by Seanan McGuire. Replacing a duchess isn’t enough… an interesting delve into the Kingdom and its history, brought current. Evil pie was worrisome, but handled compassionately (and magically) to ensure less wallowing. 4/5

The Winter Long (October Daye #8) by Seanan McGuire. Interesting dredging of lots of book 1 elements; it’s great to get answers… far more than Tobe wants. A tough foe, without a bunch of violence; an ambiguous resolution. 3/5

A Red Rose Chain (October Daye #9) by Seanan McGuire. A solid continuation of the series; Toby’s in over her head as a diplomat. Fun sparring with the pretender and her puppet in Silences; plus a look at Faerie reactionaries. 3/5

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Winter Quick Book Reviews

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. (4/5) An intriguing interlocked journey of two heroes, drowning in schemes and maneuvering. A fascinating take on altering time.

Nostalgic reread – Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw. (5/5) Arthurian myth set shortly after Rome retreats from Britain; Gwalchmai is humble, sorcerous, repentant and inspiring. It’d make for a tremendous Pendragon game…

Kingdom of Summer (the sequel to Hawk) shifts gears. (5/5) We follow Rhys, who gives up his family to serve Gwalchmai and the light. His common sense is such a contrast, steady effort lands him dangerous insight.

In Winter’s Shadow (the final book of the trilogy) brings us Gwynhwyfar’s story. (4/5) Only a superb telling makes her sympathetic, but she is. The kingdom crumbles, despite so many people striving and sacrificing… the seeds of division and pride are too strong.

Elidor by Alan Garner. (2/5). Fast paced, set immediately after WWII, with an interesting “through the wardrobe” into Elidor. Well written but oddly paced, and foreign due to the London side of things (strangely enough).

Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig; 4/5. This kicks off the Miriam Black books, and does so compellingly. Miriam’s a great heroine, though unpleasant to be around. She faces way too much, and endures.

Mockingbird, Miriam Black #2, by Chuck Wendig. It starts off strong, then turns into an interesting investigation. Louis makes a great foil to the life she wants to lead, and that she resists, and the family’s dark gift and acts make sense.

The Cormorant, Miriam Black #3, by Chuck Wendig. Miriam goes to Florida, which has such a strong sense of place. She almost understands the creep terrorizing her life this time , even though nothing goes right. Her resolve to abandon her curse feels authentic.

Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon is amazing and complex; it was hard to put down. Reminds me favorably of A Key, An Egg, and Unfortunate Remark by Harry Connolly — and not just for the age of the leading lady. (5/5)

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Nov-Dec Book Reviews

His Majesty’s Dragon, Temeraire Book 1 by Naomi Novik. (4/5) I really enjoyed this one; it favorably reminds me of the other SF&F recastings of Napoleonic ships and tactics. As soon as I finished, I wanted to get the next ones in the series.

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik was enjoyable, but not as successful as His Majesty’s Dragon. Started strong, but travel was lengthy — good for immersion, but hard to keep interesting. Characters still engaging; China events mostly pay off. (3/5)

Black Powder War (Temeraire book 3) was another slow start; after delay Istanbul becomes interesting, then it finishes strong. Enjoyed it, but not enough to keep going. (2/5)

The Oracle Year by Charles Soule. (4/5) A book set today with barely any fantastic elements. It’s engaging — kept me up reading late each night. It does a great job of providing tiny but affecting events and believable consequences from them.

Why Girls are Weird by Pamela Ribon. (4/5) Anna tangles with modern life, relationships, desires and delusions. Another entry in a tiny niche that I often enjoy: early blog writers as stars of the story.

Sheri S Tepper- The Visitor: A decent idea that I never really warmed to; not as well executed as most of her novels. (2/5) A few parallel stories that come together; an odd mash of modern, religious, and post apocalyptic.

In an Absent Dream – Seanan McGuire (4/5). An interesting trip through the door, great interactions and grounded perspective. Not the best starting place for the Wayward Children series.

The Return of Depression Economics by Paul Krugman: Well presented, with clear and illustrative examples. The various replays and “contagion” affecting investors with broad heuristics (instead of deep research) feels like shortcuts bite us 101. 4/5

How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin. Great collection of short stories, including a few concepts that went a different direction elsewhere. Strong stories for many different reasons–The Effluent Engine characters, … Not Enough Tomorrows setting. 4/5