This is book #5 in the October Daye (Toby) series, and as usual Seanan does not disappoint. I might actually go into spoilers in this post, so I'll give fair warning before I do....
Toby is fae, a changeling, who was turned into a fish by an evil-ass fae when she was investigating the kidnapping of Duke Sylvester's wife and daughter. Fast forward years and Toby finally breaks from the spell that's held her captive. She comes back to find her boyfriend has moved on and married, and that her daughter has grown up and wants nothing to do with her. They think Toby bailed on them, and since she can't tell them that she's fae, she has to let them go.
While Toby was a fish, Luna (the duchess) and Rayseline (Luna & Sylvester's daughter) have returned to Sylvester. However, they've been held for most of Rayseline's life in a place that drove her insane. She's now married to Conner, a Selkie, in a political marriage to strengthen the Courts of faery. Conner was Toby's first love and they're still attracted to each other.
That's pretty much the set up for everything that happens in the series. And a lot of stuff happens. Through it all, Toby stays true to her character as she struggles to fix all that is broken. She gathers a very interesting support group along the way - from her fetch to the king of cats. (Oooh, I love Tybalt.)
What I love about the world that Seanan creates is how carefully she's constructed it. She's obviously done her research, because she introduces everything from the night haunts to selkies to Daione Sidhe with brilliant detail. The world makes sense. The divisions and alliances make sense. The relationships between various fae breeds (and changelings) are believable. Her characters have depth, they have motive and they have history behind them to explain their actions. She takes her time telling Toby's story - it moves along at just the right pace to keep you hooked. And you can't always guess where she's going (which I frankly love), but when she takes you there you know its the only place the story could have gone. Know what I mean? It's just one of the best UF series out there. So get out and buy it. This series should be on your shelves!
SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!!
DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT
IF YOU DON"T WANT TO FIND OUT
SOMETHING BIG THAT HAPPENS
AT THE END!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to be honest here. I don't like Conner. I've never liked him. He's kind of a wishy washy foof head of a guy. I don't see what Toby sees in him, other than maybe a time before her life went to shit. Even then, I don't know why she's actually with him now. And in this book, he and Toby are together as boyfriend/girlfriend (in as much as fae are boyfriend/girlfriend). I didn't like it. Pthat. Gag. Ptooie. Their relationship is not equal. He's such a weak person...and Toby is so strong. I kept waiting through this entire series for him to grow a set of balls, only he never did. (Well, some might argue in his final act, he did - but I say not. I think he just figured he'd sleep for a while and she'd be right there taking care of him. Wiener.) So I can't say I'm disappointed with what happened at the end of the book. Toby might be mourning (I honestly think she's mourning the loss of her daughter more), but I'm not. She needs someone strong and capable (Tybalt!!!), to match her as an equal - not whiny, poor me Conner. Sorry. Don't miss him. Bring on Tybalt and some hot Cait Sidhe loving!! lol
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Why I Love the Foo Fighters (or Dave Grohl can I be your love slave?)
Got your attention, didn't I?
Actually, this post isn't really about being Dave Grohl's love slave. Although, I don't think I'd kick him out of bed with both feet (to coin a phrase my friends and I used back in the day). I mean, come on. Look at the man....and the way he sings. God....
Annnyway...Back to the reason for this post. The Foo Fighters did something amazing the other day. They took a stand against bigotry, prejudice and hate. See, there's this hate group that sells themselves as a religion who use grieving families and tragic death to promote their words of hate. I'm not going to name them. They don't deserve to be named. Suffice it to say that their message is not only disturbing but downright evil. And they use their own children to help spread it.
I'm positive that God, if He's sitting out there somewhere judging us, does NOT condemn people for loving whomever they choose be it a man loving a man or a woman loving a woman. Love and acceptance is what we're supposed to strive toward. I also believe that He wouldn't be too thrilled with a group that hates so viciously and spreads that hate in the most heinous and evil way possible.
So, back to why I'm writing this, the Foo Fighters recently premiered a song and this hate group took offense to it. They decided to picket the Foo Fighters concert. The Foo Fighters could have ignored it. The courts have certainly ignored these people and even ruled that they can do what they do because it's freedom of speech. But being the amazingly awesome human beings that they are, the band decided to perform their song in an impromtu protest of their own. Yes, they showed up on a flatbed truck and sang the song to the hate group to the cheers of the crowd that was there to enjoy the real concert. Is that just the most awesome thing you've ever heard? For that classy, totally brilliant move I can honestly say I love the Foo Fighters more than I ever did (and since they're my favorite band - and I listen to their music almost obsessively - that's saying something).
Bravo, guys. You make us all proud as human beings.
(okay, I admit - if I wasn't a 48 yr. old married woman, I really would like to be Dave Grohl's love slave)
Actually, this post isn't really about being Dave Grohl's love slave. Although, I don't think I'd kick him out of bed with both feet (to coin a phrase my friends and I used back in the day). I mean, come on. Look at the man....and the way he sings. God....
Annnyway...Back to the reason for this post. The Foo Fighters did something amazing the other day. They took a stand against bigotry, prejudice and hate. See, there's this hate group that sells themselves as a religion who use grieving families and tragic death to promote their words of hate. I'm not going to name them. They don't deserve to be named. Suffice it to say that their message is not only disturbing but downright evil. And they use their own children to help spread it.
I'm positive that God, if He's sitting out there somewhere judging us, does NOT condemn people for loving whomever they choose be it a man loving a man or a woman loving a woman. Love and acceptance is what we're supposed to strive toward. I also believe that He wouldn't be too thrilled with a group that hates so viciously and spreads that hate in the most heinous and evil way possible.
So, back to why I'm writing this, the Foo Fighters recently premiered a song and this hate group took offense to it. They decided to picket the Foo Fighters concert. The Foo Fighters could have ignored it. The courts have certainly ignored these people and even ruled that they can do what they do because it's freedom of speech. But being the amazingly awesome human beings that they are, the band decided to perform their song in an impromtu protest of their own. Yes, they showed up on a flatbed truck and sang the song to the hate group to the cheers of the crowd that was there to enjoy the real concert. Is that just the most awesome thing you've ever heard? For that classy, totally brilliant move I can honestly say I love the Foo Fighters more than I ever did (and since they're my favorite band - and I listen to their music almost obsessively - that's saying something).
Bravo, guys. You make us all proud as human beings.
(okay, I admit - if I wasn't a 48 yr. old married woman, I really would like to be Dave Grohl's love slave)
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