This marks my first review of Seanan McGuire’s popular series. Normally I prefer to review every book after I read it; however, for this series it was super difficult to become invested early on. I got through the first three quickly to keep my enthusiasm up for the series. But since I read them quickly I didn’t think I could write a proper review. But due to the high acclaim that the later books have received I decided to push through, and that turned out to be a good decision.
October “Toby” Daye, our favorite half-human, half-fae, is just a magnet for trouble. She means well, but when it comes to Faerie politics, nothing is cut and dry. She earns knighthood, an unprecedented achievement for a changeling since their kind are all but shunned when it comes to the fae community. So there is definitely an ulterior motive involved…perhaps the perfect scenario to make Toby public enemy number 1 after a number of grave incidents happen to those closest to her.
This is far and away the best book of the series so far. it’s the most emotionally charged book yet where loyalties are cemented, secrets are revealed, and the action is steady. Everything is a close call, keeping the suspense high. I really didn’t know what to expect from page to page for the majority of the book. We find out who Toby’s friends really are and just how far they are willing to go to protect her. Her friends aren’t perfect, but they’re honorable.
I finally found myself really starting to like the side characters. My favorite supporting characters are Tybalt, the Luidaeg, Connor, and May. Being the cat person that I am, I do wish Tybalt would get more page time. Though not my favorite, I do like Sylvester and sympathized with him quite a bit. Everyone is coming into their own, and more than willing to prove their worth. The character development is pretty compelling, especially when it comes to Toby and May. The mythology involving the plethora of fairie species evolves quite a bit, expanding the world even more. They are more vulnerable than we think and I’m interested in seeing where things will go next.
It’s not the first series to have a slow beginning. My favorite series, The Hollows, is the same way (though I became invested faster). I am glad that I stuck through it though because it’s definitely one of the best that urban fantasy has to offer. Book 1 to book 4 is literally like night and…daye.
I’m glad you enjoyed Late Eclipses. I fell in love with this series from the very first book, I have to say. I was entranced by the idea that Toby had been turned into a fish for so long, and I loved the character development right from the start. I have found every book to be exactly what I wanted, except for needing more time with Tybalt, my favorite character of all. Each book brings a bit more of him to the fore, so I was inspired to keep reading and reading. And each book has a more complicated plot, based on every detail that has been laid out in previous books. I think it was necessary to let the political and mythical parts of the books develop over time, since it is all quite complicated. If you think Late Eclipses is good, wait until you get to the final book, Ashes of Honor. Far and away the best of the series, bar none, and the only book to ever have me jumping up and down on the Comfy Chair in glee..
I must say, though, that I detested Connor right from the start. A whining little wuss who wouldn’t defy his parents to marry the girl he loved, but still wanted to keep her hanging on? Not my kinda guy. And nothing he ever did changed my opinion. Give me the King of Cats, any day.
Hope you’ll enjoy the rest of the series as much as I did, and while you’re thinking about Seanan McGuire, be sure to read the first book of her new series, Discount Armageddon. It’s full of action, but it’s funny as well. I’m still searching for my own Aeslin Mice, myself.
A lot of fans who love this series REALLY love this series. I had the “misfortune” of getting a copy of the Ever After ARC when I was about 25% into Ashes of Honor, so that unfortunately took away a lot of my enthusiasm because when it comes to the Hollows, there really isn’t anything else on its level for me and I’m still riding the Hollows High. I’ve been reading it since 2005, so I’m way more attached to what happens.