Book Reviews
October Daye is a Hero
5/5
A Killing Frost
by Seanan McGuire
“Do you actually know where we’re going, or did we just let a women who currently hates us all put us on a road to nowhere without a map?”―
Seanan McGuire, A Killing Frost
About
When October is informed that Simon Torquill—legally her father, due to Faerie’s archaic marriage traditions—must be invited to her wedding or risk the ceremony throwing the Kingdom in the Mists into political turmoil, she finds herself setting out on a quest she was not yet prepared to undertake for the sake of her future…. and the man who represents her family’s past.
My Thoughts
I read and re-read Seanan Mcguire’s books every year as a means of being comforted. Her stories, the Newsflesh series (under the pseudonym Mira Grant), and the October Days stories have brought me a lot of joy over the years. I find myself coming back to the stories every year like a comfy pair of shoes. There is just something about her writing that straddles the line between expressive and understated.
She gives you the right amount of information that you fall in love with the world and want to know more about it. Because of that, her books always engage me. Plus, because there are so many plot intricacies in every book, I am rarely bored even on the second or, in some cases, fifth read.
A Killing Frost, Seanan Mcguire’s newest addition to the October Daye series, is the fourteenth book. There is quite a lot to recap for this series; it is enormous! But to surmise, October Daye is the lead protagonist in a Fae/Human world. She is an investigator who can straddle both the fae and human world. As the stories progress, October becomes more entrenched in the politics and machinations of the Fae world. In this particular book, October faces familial problems mainly in the form of her stepfather Simon Torquil.
“When October is informed that Simon Torquill—legally her father, due to Faerie’s archaic marriage traditions—must be invited to her wedding or risk the ceremony throwing the Kingdom in the Mists into political turmoil, she finds herself setting out on a quest she was not yet prepared to undertake for the sake of her future…. and the man who represents her family’s past.”
Supporting characters from past books are again helping October with her quest. October, as a character, relies heavily on her relationships with her found family.
October doesn’t have friends; she has people who she adopts and loves fiercely. She is a mentor to some, a friend to others, and a lover to Tybalt. With October’s development as a strong character, we get development from her supporting cast of characters. I find that to be one of the best aspects of this story. Quinton, Luiadeg, Tybalt, and more, develop their already stable identities. There are no cardboard characters in Macguire’s worlds.
I don’t want to give away to much about the plot of A Killing Frost. That would spoil this new episode in October’s grand saga, and many of these books have a mystery aspect to the plot. But, I will say, as I mentioned earlier, that this book concentrates on the mysterious villain Simon Torquil, villain, who also is October’s stepfather. They have a very complicated relationship. His story is epic and twists and turns.
If you are a fan of the Daye books, you will not be disappointed. It is a page-turner! If you are new to the series, I suggest setting this one aside just a bit and jump into the 13 books that took place beforehand. You won’t be disappointed. But if you are starting with this one, Macguire gives enough backstory so new readers will not be lost.
“Better him than me. Of the two of us, he’s the one who actually speaks ‘diplomacy’ with something other than a knife.”
All in all, this is a beautiful and exciting addition to the October Daye world. Some plot points are solved, and new things open up. Old characters get a moment to shine in the spotlight, but not all of them as the cast is way too big at this point. I also found the conclusion to be satisfying and leads into the next book with gusto.
The Killing Frost is an exciting and wonderful, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read it. Check it out!
Check Out Reviews of Previous Books
Review – The Unkindest Tide (October Daye #13) by Seanan Mcguire
Review – Night and Silence (October Daye #12) by Seanan McGuire
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Where to find it?
Procurement
I received a copy A Killing Frost in exchange for my open and honest review.
About the Author
Seanan McGuire is a native Californian, which has resulted in her being exceedingly laid-back about venomous wildlife, and terrified of weather. When not writing urban fantasy (as herself) and science fiction thrillers (as Mira Grant), she likes to watch way too many horror movies, wander around in swamps, record albums of original music, and harass her cats.
Seanan is the author of the October Daye, InCryptid, and Indexing series of urban fantasies; the Newsflesh trilogy; the Parasitology duology; and the “Velveteen vs.” superhero shorts. Her cats, Lilly, Alice, and Thomas, are plotting world domination even as we speak, but are easily distracted by feathers on sticks, so mankind is probably safe. For now.
Seanan’s favorite things include the X-Men, folklore, and the Black Death. No, seriously. She writes all biographies in the third person, because it’s easier that way.
Beth Tabler
Elizabeth Tabler runs Beforewegoblog and is constantly immersed in fantasy stories. She was at one time an architect but divides her time now between her family in Portland, Oregon, and as many book worlds as she can get her hands on. She is also a huge fan of Self Published fantasy and is on Team Qwillery as a judge for SPFBO5. You will find her with a coffee in one hand and her iPad in the other. Find her on: Goodreads / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
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