3.5 stars
I always love returning to this world. I love Toby and her found family.... the intrigue of the fae. And by and large, I enjoyed this installment, though I did have a few issues.

Here, Toby is on a mission to find Simon Torquill. (You'll remember, he's the guy who turned her into a fish at the beginning of the series and turned her world upside down. He's also Sylvester's twin and Amadine's estranged husband.) Anyway, he's wandering through Faerie, searching for Oberon, having traded his "way home" to rescue his daughter August in a previous book. --Complicated, I know, but that's how this series rolls.

Fae protocol means Toby has to invite Simon to her wedding since he is her stepdad, and let's face it, she's been stringing poor Tybalt along for ages. She can only take Quentin and May on her quest because... reasons. And she doesn't go to the Luidaig because she doesn't want to renew her debt. --And all of this felt a little flimsy to force Toby away from some of her strongest allies, but ok.

And Toby was still butt-kicking and evolving and loyal and self sacrificing. I loved May and her wacky sister-self. And again, I loved the amazing world building.

I didn't love the resolution. What happened with Simon in the end was way too convenient. I've been reading this series through all 14 books and it was never foreshadowed. Which made it feel contrived, and it bugged me. I also thought he got off really easy in terms of culpability.

I'm also kind of tired of how long Toby is stretching out her engagement. Frankly, I thought Tybalt might break up with her at one point and she would've deserved it.

The writing is good. It always is. And the last installment rocked my socks off. Maybe the next one will too.

The “October Daye” series keeps getting better! And by “better” I mean richer and more nuanced, always packed with action and dramatic tension and characters we have come to adore. As Toby and Tybalt-King-of-Cats prepare their wedding, she is jolted to discover that she must invite her father to the ceremony or risk the dire consequences of an insult. In this case, her father is not her biological sire but the ex-husband of her mother – the notorious and much-despised Simon Torquill. Simon had made strides toward redemption when he traded his Way Home to save his daughter and is now in the thrall of an evil faery queen. Toby’s quest involves far more than tracking him down. The themes of forgiveness, loyalty, self-discovery, and compassion for self and others run like golden threads through the vivid action.

In the latest October Daye novel, Toby and Tybalt are planning their wedding, enjoying a rare stretch of calm between Faire-related disasters. Neither is particularly happy when Toby is forced to go hunting for Simon Torquill, her stepfather and the man responsible for the fishy exile, before the marriage can take place. A Killing Frost resolves a few of the series' mysteries, but much of the story seems to be lining up the next multi-book story arcs. An impressive achievement for the 14th instalment of any series, A Killing Frost brought out multiple yells of "What?! HOW?! Eeeeeek!" from this long-time fan of McGuire.

I think (and hope, and fear) that we are nearing the end, and even if I am eager to finally see a conclusion for the story of October and her merry gang, I cannot fathom how this series would end, and I am not ready to say goodbye to all those amazing characters. Even if it is almost the time. And all the series deserves to have an ending. But enough of this!

I was really hoping for this to be the marriage’s book. And well, you know what? We get that, but it wasn’t the right one!!! And how is it even possible that there is always something that would delay them??!! Mind me, the book was amazing and fun and full of action and moving (really, it moved me in unexpected ways) and all you can ask from it, so reading it was a pleasure. But no wedding. Or not the right one. Why?????

Now maybe I can try and say something that would make more sense, or at least… I hope so! The characters are amazing as always. We get to see the Luidaeg again, and I was just so happy to see her again. Since she is the main focus for the plot in the previous book I wasn’t hoping to see her around again, or at least not so much. But I was wrong, and very happy. And I am even happier because the 13th book was about the Luidaeg and her story, her destiny in a way, and it was necessary and a long time coming. And it was so good. But sad, too. It was really bittersweet. But this one? This one was on the happy side, at least for her. I don’t know how the events would turn up for all the other ones, because I think we are in for something BIG. But I am happy for her, and I was almost crying when the happy moment began.
I won’t say what it is that happens here, and I know it is cryptic but I won’t spoiler it. I cannot spoiler something like this.It has to be a surprise, or sort of, because we have some hints that this thing was ahead of us, one way or another.
The amazing thing was that I wasn’t really interested in this part of the plot so far, and I wasn’t so eager to see how it would have played out. And, to be honest, I thought that this thing would have been resolved or in the last book or never, because it could have worked in both ways. And yet when I read it I was awed by it, in a way. And so happy! And surprised, yes. And now obviously I am here, waiting desperately for the next one because I need to know what would happen now! (and yes, I need the wedding too).


So, I know, it was quite confusing but you just have to read it and all would be clear! And we have an amazing cast of characters, as always. They are all amazing and fun, and they really care deeply about each others. I have mentioned the Luidaeg, but we have October, obviously, and she is great as always. I really like her. And then we have Tybalt, poor Cat, loving October is not the easiest thing ever, Quentin, who is growing just so well (and yes, October may have “broken” him, but he is way better for it!), May and so many others.

And with a plot full of events, a cast of amazing characters we have also a lot of fun. We have banter and witty dialogues. I love the way in which the characters talk to each other here, they are always on the fun side, even when the situation is quite dire.

Ahhh, this series.

Just like tv series, there are book series that jump the shark. Everyone knows what I'm talking about - that moment in a series where the viewer or reader winces and thinks 'yeah, why didn't they end back at ____'?

That asolutely hasn't happened in this series. If anything it's gotten better as we delve into the true depth of the world that Seanan McGuire has built, here. I recently went back to reread the first book and was reminded of just how much the main character has grown, how many characters have been introduced and become close to her, the connections that have built, the way the world has expanded and grown.

It's just so satisfying and intriguing, and I really recommend it to anyone who is looking for a longer series to explore. This latest contribution does not disappoint, either! These books are just a lot of fun and worth getting into. I'd get into spoilers but given that this is the fourteenth book I more want this to be a 'yes, you should read this series!'

I love this series very, very much and I look forward to the release of each new volume! Also, I was more than happy to have this novel in my hands because, of course, as always, I had a great time!

October can finally try to organize her wedding. Things are not going as smoothly as expected. When Patrick and Dianda tell her that the Fae consider Simon to be her father and that she has to invite him to the wedding, she knows that things will go from bad to worse. Yes, because Simon has lost his way and can’t go home, and if there is one person he hates, it’s October.

Embarking on a new quest with Quentin and May, she will put her life and the lives of others in danger more than once.

I loved following this new quest and I have to say that I didn’t expect October to go this far in this story. The end really surprised me and the consequences will be multiple, I’m sure! So once again I’m more than impatient to find out what’s next!

A great volume, as always! Fans of the series will be delighted!

October Daye has come a long way from when we first met her, a lone changeling newly released from a curse that had her trapped as a fish for 16 years. 14 books later Toby has built herself a life and a family and is set to be married, but it wouldn't be an October Daye novel without Faerie throwing up some kind of obstacle to her plans.

Due to an arcane law, both of Toby's parents must be present at her wedding unless she wants to start a war. Problem is that her Dad's "lost his way home" and no one knows where he is. And to top that off, in order for him to "find his way" he needs to complete a task which has evaded all of the Fae for millennia. So, you know...nothing much at all.

More than anything this book was about family. How blood does not a family make, and what you'd endure or sacrifice for those you love. We gain a bit of background to some longstanding characters and a revelatory ending which could change the entirety of novels' world. Another wonderful entry to an old favorite.

Series Info/Source: This is the thirteenth book in the October Daye series. I got an eGalley for this book to review through NetGalley.

Story (5/5): October is happily planning her wedding to Tybalt when she finds out that Simon must legally be present at her wedding, or the whole ceremony will be at risk. What follows is a search for both Simon’s physical body and a search for his past and thoughts. October must leave Tybalt behind for this quest and on her way she will uncover a number of the Firstborns’ secrets.

I really enjoyed this story a lot. I love that we are uncovering yet more of the secrets both behind the Firstborn and behind October’s family. A lot happened in this story and a lot of major items from previous books were resolved. October’s journey to find Simon led her through a number of intriguing aspects of fairy that I really loved.

Characters (5/5): I was a bit sad that Tybalt wasn’t in the story more, but there are a ton of our other favorite characters here. McGuire makes amazing and complex characters and that was no exception in this book. The Luduag is in here a lot and I love some of the revelations that continue to happen around her. I also loved the progress Tybalt and October make in their own relationship. Additionally, a lot more was revealed about Simon’s past and it answered a lot of questions.

Setting (5/5): I absolutely love this world of faerie lying outside the borders of the human world. Not a lot more to say about this (since this is the 14th book in the series). However, this is an exquisitely built world and is really quite amazing.

Writing Style (5/5): I have been a long time fan of McGuire’s writing style and this is no exception. I absolutely love her writing and this book was just as well written as all of her previous ones. It is filled with excellent mystery, amazing characters, intriguing adventures, and I just love it.

My Summary (5/5): Overall this was amazing, I enjoyed it a lot. There are some huge changes and progress made in the story in this book. I continue to really love the characters and the world and always enjoy the style these books are written in. I am very excited to see what happens in the next book! I would highly recommend this whole series if you are an urban fantasy and/or faerie fan. The whole series is just so well done!

A Killing Frost is the fourteenth installment in the October Daye series. In this installment, Toby has to find Simon Torquill. It’s not only because Toby made a deal with the Luidaeg but it’s because Toby needs to invite Simon to her wedding. The reason is Simon is considered her legal father through the eyes of Faerie and needs to invite him otherwise he can claim offense which is not a good thing in Faerie. Of course, there’s still the problem of Simon being lost with pieces of his memory missing. Now he’s the old Simon who hates Toby.

Overall, A Killing Frost was another great adventure in the series. Just when you think we finally closed a couple of story plots, Seanan McGuire manages to cook more up! Looks like we won’t be seeing the end of the October Daye series for a long time. Not that I’m complaining, I’m really looking forward to see what one particular plot twist will bring to the series. Leave it to Seanan McGuire figuring out ways to keep us hooked!

Seriously, Seanan McGuire just gets better and better. Toby's adventures are always logical in that somewhat sideways Faerie way and I love love love how tiny breadcrumbs from previous novels suddenly become either plot points or are tied up in a bow. The series is a favorite and Seanan McGuire is rapidly becoming one of my will read no matter what authors.

Toby is also one of my favorite characters, she is absolutely real in the ways that count. She screws up, sometimes about the same things over and over, she apologizes and means it and works to help her friends and tries to live a good life. Her definition of a good life may change from day to day (sometimes hour to hour), but doesn't ours?

Read this series from the start if you haven't and if you're already an October Daye fan, why are you reading this and not that? You're in for a treat.

I received an ARC ebook in exchange for my review.

#AKillingFrost #NetGalley

I can’t believe that this series is at the fourteenth book; that is amazing. Unlike a few I’ve read (including a series with a book with this same exact title), this series is still going strong if not better than the first ones. Toby is on the hunt for Simon after she finds out she can’t get married until he is invited to her wedding so there is no insult. Of course, this leads to lots of bloodshed, secrets coming to light, and a big game changer at the end when something lost is found. I wasn’t happy with Tybalt for a tiny bit in this one because of something that happens towards the end; it’s like he doesn’t know who Toby is. (Intrigued? You need to read it!) Things did work out fine, though…until next time. I can’t wait to read the next book. Fans of this series will love this one. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Another solid entry in the October Daye series. Toby has to go on a quest to get rid of a potential obstacle to her marrying Tybalt. May, Quentin, and Spike accompany her. They get help from unexpected places. We learn a lot more about fae marriage and inheritance customs.

This is one of the queerest books in the series. That said, i wish that people in relationships had more time together, instead of being separated due to plot.

When I requested an ARC of A Killing Frost I had no idea that it was the fourteenth book of a series. I saw Seanan McGuire, also known as Mira Grant, and jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of her next novel. Silly me! BUT - she included tons of background info throughout and so I never felt like I was missing out on anything. Because I haven't read the rest of the series I have no idea if I'm spoiling things - so BEWARE OF SPOILERS!

About The Book 📚
Title: A Killing Frost (October Daye #14)

Author: Seanan McGuire

Publication Date: September 1, 2020

Publisher: DAW

Suggested Reader Age: Adult

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Fairies

Triggers: I didn't make note of all of them. Here are a few: blood, gore, graphic injuries, abduction, death, torture, violence, swearing. Book publishers should include a rating on books just like we do for movies and TV.

› I use the CAWPILE method to rate books.
0-3 Really bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding

› Characters: 8
Well-developed with interesting side characters.
October, a private investigator is engaged to Tybalt. May is a "pureblood" and was created in a special way so she has October's memories up to the point of May's creation and some memories of who she was before.
Quentin, October's squire until his parents ask him to fulfill his role as Crown Prince of the Westlands in Toronto (Faerie call North America the Westlands). August is October's sister and Simon Torquill is her father. He is Fae, and apparently turned October into a fish fourteen years ago.

› Atmosphere: 7
Lots of description and world-building. Love the San Fran setting!

› Writing Style: 7
I liked the writing style, but for an adult book with mature themes it didn't feel like it was written for adults. I can't pinpoint an example or reasoning, it just didn't feel quite right.

› Plot: 6
Longer than it needed to be, the meandering plot was confusing at times.

› Intrigue: 5
I have to admit I had to force myself to pick this up and finish it.

› Logic: 7
I liked that McGuire included an "October Daye Pronunciation Guide". I didn't like the relationship between a College professor and a student, even if they are Fae, it's just weird and inappropriate, AND there's a large age-gap between October and Tybalt but I couldn't figure out quite how much. He's also been asking October to give up her human side and that also made me feel queasy. I really don't like him at all, but I am wondering if maybe not reading the first thirteen books has given me the wrong perspective on their relationship and on his character. I often felt confused about the magic system, but I think it's because I didn't read the rest of the series.

› Enjoyment: 8
I love October's sarcastic sense of humour and although I had a hard time finishing and felt confused many times, overall I did enjoy A Killing Frost - enough that I am interested in reading the rest of the series!

Average 6.9

1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★

My Rating ★★★

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

TITLE: A Killing Frost (October Daye #14)
AUTHOR: Seanan McGuire
351 pages, DAW Books, ISBN 9780756415082 (hardcover, ebook, audiobook)

DESCRIPTION: (from the inside cover): 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. Also featuring an all-new novella!

MY RATING: 5 out of 5 stars

MY THOUGHTS:

It should be obvious since I’m about to review the FOURTEENTH book in a series, but: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE OCTOBER DAYE SERIES! DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW IF YOU ARE STILL READING EARLIER BOOKS AND DON’T WANT SOME BIG STUFF TO BE SPOILED FOR YOU!
Also, though, I am very much attempting to NOT spoil any of the big moments of this particular book. Because I don’t like writing reviews that spoil everything. But regardless, people should proceed with caution.

Okay, with the legalese out of the way…

A Killing Frost contains everything readers have come to expect from an October Daye Novel. There’s some adorable domesticity to start things off, then Toby gets a job/assignment/mission (verbiage dependent on who it is telling her to go do what needs doing) and then it’s pretty much pedal-to-the-metal action with occasional deep breaths to let the readers’ heart-rate (and Toby’s blood loss) slow down a bit right up to the big final scene where everything comes together.

But I’ll admit, Seanan had me scared for a little while. Things were moving so fast, and with such twists and complications thrown in Toby’s way, that I seriously thought this book was going to end on a major cliffhanger. That’s not necessarily a bad thing: I think after fourteen books (and a contract in place already to give us at least one more), Seanan has earned the right to maybe end a book with a Big Whopping Oh Shit Cliffhanger. There’s precedent, after all: Butcher’s done it twice now in the Dresden books, and Seanan has done it herself recently in her InCryptid series. BUT, in true Seanan style, the story takes one last swerve and boom – all is right with the world because the mission Toby starts the book with is more than fully wrapped up by the end. I will NOT be telling you HOW it gets wrapped up, but I will say this:

This book is a game-changer for the characters. Most of them don’t know it, but their world has just been rocked in an even larger way than the return of the Roane in The Unkindest Tide. And let’s face it: that was a pretty big change for the world Toby lives in. I really am excited to see reader response once they get to the end of this book and have time to process what this book means for the remainder of the series.

I think it’s also okay to reveal, since Seanan has said it on her Twitter, that the game-changing event of this book is not the big Toby-Tybalt Wedding. We get to wait at least another book for that. But we do get to see Toby and May discussing wedding dresses, and we get to see Toby’s internal monologue about marrying Tybalt (she never quite says they’ve gone from “frenemies to lover,” but she comes close). And of course there’s both romance and conflict between our star couple throughout the book. I love their banter and their more serious talks. I also love how Toby admires Tybalt in leather … I love Tybalt in leather myself … wait, where was I?

While Toby and Tybalt may act as we expect them to throughout the book, some other characters manage to surprise us, which is often not easy to do in a series as long as this one without the moment feeling contrived or out of character. One of Seanan’s many strong points is her ability to give us unexpected character expansion at key moments without derailing the narrative. In A Killing Frost, for instance, there are three characters whose selfishness, which we’ve not seen before or at least not seen the depths of, propel the action of the book. The first selfish action kicks off Toby’s mission to find Simon Torquill (amnesiac and returned to his evil ways after earlier events) and comes from a man who has, up until now, been one of the most self-less and giving supporting characters of the series. He’s had some small moments where he emotionally put his family’s needs first, but nothing compared to this moment. It took me completely by surprise, even made me a bit angry (how dare he put Toby in this position?) until I thought about the character’s history as seen in stories on Seanan’s Patreon … and then his action made perfect sense to me. The second act of selfishness comes from a character we sort of expect it from by now – but the depths of her selfishness, the length she is willing to go to assuage her own pain, is what surprised me. It’s a heart-rending, brutal scene for Toby and for those with her in the moment. I wasn’t just angry as the scene ended, I had angry tears. But again, the behavior made perfect sense for the character once I had a chance to think about how she got to this point. The third character exhibiting unexpected selfishness never even appears in A Killing Frost, but her off-screen behavior is mentioned just often enough that I realized even after fourteen books, Seanan is still seeding in new sub-plots for the supporting characters.

There are also characters who behave exactly as selfishly as we have come to expect (Oh, Amandine…), characters who act exactly as self-less as we expect them too (Hi, May!), and characters who are as impulsive as we expect them to be (Quentin, dude…), so Seanan hasn’t turned the entire world upside down. But she has tilted it quite a bit. Even with all the action, there’s almost more than the usual humor and some time spent showing us romantic relationships outside of the Big Three. (For the record, I consider Toby-Tybalt, May-Jazz and Quentin-Dean to be the Big Three Romances of the series. Your mileage may vary) Plus, Spike the rose-goblin gets some great moments, and who can resist an adorable rose-goblin?

As is normal for the Toby Daye books now, the novel comes with a bonus novella at the back. These novellas usually tie to the main action in some way, so it’s not really a spoiler to say that this one focuses on Simon, Patrick and Dianda at a turning point in their lives back before the Great Earthquake wreaked havoc in the Kingdom of Mists. It’s a lovely three-character piece that tugs at the heart in a number of ways.

Look, there’s a reason this has a super short blurb and an ominous title. The easiest non-spoilery way to review this book is just to say OMG WHAT WHAT WHAT YES WAIT TOBY NO WHAT OMG and leave it at that. If you’re looking for something a little more useful, read on.

“We carry ourselves forward through time, with no possible way of knowing what’s on the other end. We have to keep going, because standing still isn’t an option. It never has been. That’s where people like my mother and Eira get it wrong: they think if they stomp their feet and hold their breath, they can keep the world from changing. And it doesn’t work that way. It never has.”


Before starting this book, it would be a good idea to be refamiliarize yourself with the plot of the eleventh book, The Brightest Fell, aka “Amandine kidnaps Tybalt and Jazz to make Toby go find her sister August” as many of the plot threads left hanging get resolved here. The pacing is slower than the previous books, especially in the beginning, but that doesn’t mean that nothing is happening. If we’re going for a theme word for this book, it’s “change.” And one of the things I love about this series is that things change. The October of A Killing Frost isn’t the same woman she was in Rosemary and Rue. No character stays stagnant, and the world around them changes as a result of their actions as well. The things that happen in this book have been building and hinted at for a long time. The author isn’t afraid to drastically up the stakes and I cannot even begin to imagine how the repercussions of this book will be felt in the rest of the series.

“I trust her to be October, and what I’ve learned, what’s done nothing to stop my heart being given to her care, is that to be October is to be constantly in the path of destruction and not always to have the sense to step aside. I’m uncomfortable not because I don’t trust her, but because I trust her too well.”


In terms of side characters, we do get a lot less Tybalt in this book (cue sad eyes), but the parts involving him are sweetly romantic and utterly heart wrenching. It’s hard being Toby’s friend (I think we all remember what happened with that knife and her spine in the last book) and it’s even harder being the person who loves her and is loved by her. Their relationship isn’t perfect and they both have missteps, but at the end of the day they understand each other and are willing to put the work in. There’s also a few peeks into some of the other established relationships, plus a new one that came completely out of left field but honestly felt right to me. There’s also the usual doses of Quentin and May as well as everybody’s favorite Firstborn.

“Love can’t always save you, but love should always try to guide you home.”


It’s also a chance to revisit characters we haven’t seen much in the past two books. As you can guess from the blurb, Simon plays a major role in this book, and Toby is forced to confront her feelings about him – legally her “father,” since humans don’t count – and how his actions have affected her and those she loves. He is, after all, the person who turned her into a fish as a way of saving her life, with no regard for whether that was something she’d want or how it would ruin her mortal family, the person who traded his way home to save his daughter, and the person who willingly served Eira with all her coldblooded machinations. After the last book’s exploration of justice and mercy, watching Toby work through those feelings is both painful and freeing.

“Trust Toby to punch the unstoppable force of chaos,” said May. “You know she’ll do it.”


Overall, this is another excellent entry and I cannot wait for the next book, where the blurb seems to suggest Toby and Tybalt will finally get married – hopefully before her wedding dress gets soaked with blood!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It is always a delight to read another book by Seanan McGuire. A Killing Frost is the 14th book in the October Daye series and it will keep you reading nonstop to the end. It's another quest for Toby with her friends and a satisfying resolution at the end. Terrific world building, intriguing plot, delightful characters, humor, romance, action, surprises—all this and a bonus novella—makes this a sure hit for urban fantasy lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for my open and honest review.

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. 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!

It's Seanan McGuire. It's great. My reviews of her books are not particularly helpful except: read them!

A Killing Frost releases on Tuesday, so let me begin. This is what I told you back in July:

WOW. Full review up closer to release date, but all I can say is: Wow, wow, wow. The most stunning turn of events since The Winter Long, October Daye 8 and The Brightest Fell, October Daye 11. Be prepared to be amazed, Readers!

First things first, this review has spoilers for the earlier books in the series. But not this book. You can't pry those out of me.

I'm sure you remember that thing I told you about how Seanan McGuire really needed to quit retracing territory and finding lost people like, I dunno, Arden, the Queen in the Mists, or Toby's sister August, or her grandmother Janet (Amandine's mama, August's grandma, too, and oof what a trio those three are- Toby just hit the family jackpot, didn't she?) and in general, the "hiding in plain sight but we missed it until we didn't" trope? You remember me saying that, right? Strike that. Score deep into stone as you do. Maybe pour acid on it. Upon reflection, McGuire has been giving us characters, really from the very first books, who were hiding in plain sight. There were the Luidaeg, who frequently goes around in braids, looking like an acne-scarred young woman buying ungodly amounts of ice cream and soda, and Evening Winterrose, quite possibly the most odious Firstborn in kinda-sorta hiding ever, and even Amandine, Toby's abusive mother, who only some people in the Bay Area and Mists seemed to know was a Firstborn. (Hey, she wasn't around that much because she's bonkers, a narcissist, and thinks the hoi polloi are beneath her.) Anyway, my point here is that all these people were pretty much not who they appeared to be. And that is like Toby's life, right? She keeps retracing her steps and her memories, finding that things or people just aren't what or who she thought they were. Remember when we found out that Simon actually saved her life by turning her into a koi fish? (It was only for fourteen years and she got better and all.) We were hating on him for almost nothing.

So here we are at book 14 in the series. According to the blurb we know that:

"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."

So that's just great. Toby has to go looking for Simon, who has forgotten everything after trading places with August, which means he's also forgotten he loves Toby, and was none too thrilled with his service to the Winterrose.* Good times! Great way for a girl to prepare for her wedding! Going back onto the Rose Road is going to be loads of fun not just because of Simon's forgetting everything but because it means that Tobes gets to go ask her liege Sylvester's angry plant-based wife Luna for assistance that Luna won't want to give. And it all puts Toby on a path to a truly stunning series of events. The outcome of these events is going to track through quite a few novels ahead and for sure there will be a great deal of drama that stems from events herein. Even just the fact that Toby promises to expand Chez Daye for someone will have wild implications.

This installment left me so happy for some of the characters I can't tell you. And it sealed my conviction that something is up with some other characters, too. Prepare for amazing things! Prepare for justice and happiness (for those who deserve it) and prepare to be amazed at what you never saw coming.

*Full confession: A big part of me was glad that Toby goes looking for Simon because what happened to him really hurt my heart. He loves both his daughters and the unfairness of being so lost was pretty raw.

I received a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

14 books in, what is there left to say about my super-duper favorite urban fantasy series? I love these books, and A Killing Frost is no exception!

For those unfamiliar with the series, October Daye is a changeling, born of a human man and a powerful Fae woman. Over the course of the series, October (Toby) has come into her own as a knight and a Hero of the Realm, gaining strength in her magical abilities and gifts and setting out on quests to right wrongs. As she so readily admits, hardly a day goes by when she doesn’t end up covered in blood.

Toby is an amazing character, and the series as a whole is a richly detailed world, set in and around human San Francisco, with complex rules, hierarchies, relationships, and power dynamics. The characters are so much of what makes these books so good — Toby has a found family by this point in the series, including her sort-of sister May, her fiance Tybalt, her squire Quentin, and an odd assortment of friends and associates who love Toby and keep her always on her toes.

In A Killing Frost, Toby and Tybalt (King of Cats) are getting closer to setting a wedding date, when Toby is informed that if she doesn’t invite her stepfather Simon to the wedding, he or anyone connected to him can claim offense. And in Faerie, that can lead to dire consequences, including forced servitude or other truly unpleasant outcomes.

Simon, however, is lost. In book #11, he traded his own way home in order to rescue his long-lost daughter. After having reformed his nastier ways, he’s back to being a bad guy, having forgotten all the good in his life. Toby’s only option is to search for Simon, bring him back, and find a way to break the spell so that he can truly be found again.

I won’t give too much away. Naturally, Toby ends up covered with blood — mostly, but not only, her own. There’s danger to her and to her companions, and the damage is truly gruesome at times.

I was scared for Toby, especially toward the end, when I couldn’t see a way that her actions wouldn’t end in disaster. Naturally, I ended up surprised in all sorts of ways, especially by a huge new development that will have major ripple effects from here on out.

I feel confident saying that if you’ve loved the October Daye series so far, you’ll love A Killng Frost too. If you haven’t started the series yet… well, go ahead!

Obviously, I adore October Daye, and I love basically everything written by Seanan McGuire.

A Killing Frost is a total treat. And now it’s back to the sad state of waiting a year for the next book in the series!