It’s been almost a year since October “Toby” Daye averted a war, gave up a county, and suffered personal losses that have left her wishing for a good day’s sleep. She’s tried to focus on her responsibilities—training Quentin, upholding her position as Sylvester’s knight, and paying the bills—but she can’t help feeling like her world is crumbling around her, and her increasingly reckless behavior is beginning to worry even her staunchest supporters.
To make matters worse, Toby’s just been asked to find another missing child…only this time it’s the changeling daughter of her fellow knight, Etienne, who didn’t even know he was a father until the girl went missing. Her name is Chelsea. She’s a teleporter, like her father. She’s also the kind of changeling the old stories warn about, the ones with all the strength and none of the control. She’s opening doors that were never meant to be opened, releasing dangers that were sealed away centuries before—and there’s a good chance she could destroy Faerie if she isn’t stopped.
Now Toby must find Chelsea before time runs out, racing against an unknown deadline and through unknown worlds as she and her allies try to avert disaster. But danger is also stirring in the Court of Cats, and Tybalt may need Toby’s help with the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.
Toby thought the last year was bad. She has no idea.
Review
“October Daye is as gritty and damaged a heroine as Kinsey Millhone or Kay Scarpetta.... Toby’s nocturnal existence is full of the kind of shadows that keep the pages turning. Changelings, like all faerie folk, live long; may McGuire and these novels do the same.”
(The Onion A. V. Club)
"This newest installment in McGuire’s October Daye series is fast-paced, without ever being frantic, with excellent characterization.... McGuire is a dab hand at dialogue, and the bantering between Toby and everyone -- especially Tybalt -- is one of the highlights of the book."
(RT Book Reviews)
"McGuire applies a hard-boiled mentality and a keen appreciation for mythology to a blend of politics, magic, and romance to make this the most entertaining series installment to date."
(Publishers Weekly)
"The October Daye series is one of those delicious worlds that becomes more and more beloved with each visit, and Ashes of Honor is my favorite of this series to date."
(All Things Urban Fantasy)
"With Ashes of Honor, McGuire has crafted a deeply personal and intense story that will keep you on the edge, hoping to be pushed over. In my opinion, it is, hands down, the best Toby to date."
(The Ranting Dragon)
"The October Daye series has become on of my favorites, and it just keeps getting better and better."
(Fantasy Book Cafe)
"Swearing! Running! Sexy times! Leather jackets and folklore and secret offspring and tales of lost love. It’s all so much fun."
(SF Signal)
"Why are you wasting time reading my rhapsodic review? Just go get the book, and see for yourself, if you’ve been following the series right along. If not, go get all six books.... If you love well written urban fantasy, with unique and interesting characters, you won’t be disappointed."
(Tome Tender)
About the Author
Seanan McGuire. Seanan lives in a creaky old farmhouse in Northern California, which she shares with her two cats, Lilly and Alice, a vast collection of plush things and horror movies, and sufficient books to officially qualify her as a fire hazard. She has strongly-held and oft-expressed beliefs about the origins of the Black Death, the X-Men, and the need for chainsaws in daily life. She is a well known fixture of the fantasy community through her music and convention organization. She has 3 titles publishing in 2010.
Description:
A New York Times bestseller!
It’s been almost a year since October “Toby” Daye averted a war, gave up a county, and suffered personal losses that have left her wishing for a good day’s sleep. She’s tried to focus on her responsibilities—training Quentin, upholding her position as Sylvester’s knight, and paying the bills—but she can’t help feeling like her world is crumbling around her, and her increasingly reckless behavior is beginning to worry even her staunchest supporters.
To make matters worse, Toby’s just been asked to find another missing child…only this time it’s the changeling daughter of her fellow knight, Etienne, who didn’t even know he was a father until the girl went missing. Her name is Chelsea. She’s a teleporter, like her father. She’s also the kind of changeling the old stories warn about, the ones with all the strength and none of the control. She’s opening doors that were never meant to be opened, releasing dangers that were sealed away centuries before—and there’s a good chance she could destroy Faerie if she isn’t stopped.
Now Toby must find Chelsea before time runs out, racing against an unknown deadline and through unknown worlds as she and her allies try to avert disaster. But danger is also stirring in the Court of Cats, and Tybalt may need Toby’s help with the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.
Toby thought the last year was bad. She has no idea.
Review
“October Daye is as gritty and damaged a heroine as Kinsey Millhone or Kay Scarpetta.... Toby’s nocturnal existence is full of the kind of shadows that keep the pages turning. Changelings, like all faerie folk, live long; may McGuire and these novels do the same.”
(The Onion A. V. Club)
"This newest installment in McGuire’s October Daye series is fast-paced, without ever being frantic, with excellent characterization.... McGuire is a dab hand at dialogue, and the bantering between Toby and everyone -- especially Tybalt -- is one of the highlights of the book."
(RT Book Reviews)
"McGuire applies a hard-boiled mentality and a keen appreciation for mythology to a blend of politics, magic, and romance to make this the most entertaining series installment to date."
(Publishers Weekly)
"The October Daye series is one of those delicious worlds that becomes more and more beloved with each visit, and Ashes of Honor is my favorite of this series to date."
(All Things Urban Fantasy)
"With Ashes of Honor, McGuire has crafted a deeply personal and intense story that will keep you on the edge, hoping to be pushed over. In my opinion, it is, hands down, the best Toby to date."
(The Ranting Dragon)
"The October Daye series has become on of my favorites, and it just keeps getting better and better."
(Fantasy Book Cafe)
"Swearing! Running! Sexy times! Leather jackets and folklore and secret offspring and tales of lost love. It’s all so much fun."
(SF Signal)
"Why are you wasting time reading my rhapsodic review? Just go get the book, and see for yourself, if you’ve been following the series right along. If not, go get all six books.... If you love well written urban fantasy, with unique and interesting characters, you won’t be disappointed."
(Tome Tender)
About the Author
Seanan McGuire. Seanan lives in a creaky old farmhouse in Northern California, which she shares with her two cats, Lilly and Alice, a vast collection of plush things and horror movies, and sufficient books to officially qualify her as a fire hazard. She has strongly-held and oft-expressed beliefs about the origins of the Black Death, the X-Men, and the need for chainsaws in daily life. She is a well known fixture of the fantasy community through her music and convention organization. She has 3 titles publishing in 2010.