Synopses & Reviews
"Rosemary and Rue is one of the most successful blends of mystery and fantasy I've ever readlike Raymond Chandler by way of Pamela Dean. Toby Daye has become one of my favorite heroines, and I can't wait to read more of her continuing adventures." Tim Pratt, author of Dead Reign
The world of Faerie never disappeared; it merely went into hiding, continuing to exist parallel to our own. Secrecy is the key to Faerie's survivalbut no secret can be kept forever, and when the fae and mortal worlds collide, changelings are born. Outsiders from birth, these half-human, half-fae children spend their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal relations. Or, in the case of October "Toby" Daye, rejecting it completely. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating into a normal” life. Unfortunately for her, Faerie has other ideas...
The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose, one of the secret regents of the San Francisco Bay Area, pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evenings dying curse, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant to the Duke of Shadowed Hills and begin renewing old alliances that may prove her only hope of solving the mystery...before the curse catches up with her. Rosemary and Rue is the first installment of the highly praised Toby Daye series.
Review
"
Smart, whimsical and bitingly funny, Verity Price is a kick-ass heroine that readers will love. Just when I thought she couldn't surprise me again, she would pull some new trick out of her hat - or, in the case of her throwing knives, out of her corset. I would send Verity and my Jane Jameson on a girl's night out, but I'm afraid of the damage bill they would rack up!" —Molly Harper, author of
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs "Seanan McGuire's Discount Armageddon is an urban fantasy triple threat - smart and sexy and funny. The Aeslin mice alone are worth the price of the book, so consider a cast of truly ORIGINAL characters, a plot where weird never overwhelms logic, and some serious kickass world-building as a bonus." —Tanya Huff, author of The Wild Ways
"Original, pacy, and hugely entertaining-Seanan McGuire knows how to tell a good story!" —Alma Alexander, author of Worldweavers: Cybermage
"Mixing mythology and monster lore (plus a good helping of snark), Discount Armageddon is fast-paced, funny and boasts a salty-sweet heroine who can cha-cha, foxtrot, and kick ass--or any combination thereof--while she sprints her way across the rooftops of Manhattan, policing and protecting the denizens of New York City's supernatural community." —Amber Benson, author of How To Be Death
Review
"Smart, whimsical and bitingly funny, Verity Price is a kick-ass heroine that readers will love. Just when I thought she couldn't surprise me again, she would pull some new trick out of her hat - or, in the case of her throwing knives, out of her corset. I would send Verity and my Jane Jameson on a girl's night out, but I'm afraid of the damage bill they would rack up!"
Review
"Seanan McGuire's DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON is an urban fantasy triple threat - smart and sexy and funny. The Aeslin mice alone are worth the price of the book, so consider a cast of truly ORIGINAL characters, a plot where weird never overwhelms logic, and some serious kickass world-building as a bonus."
Review
"Original, pacy, and hugely entertaining-Seanan McGuire knows how to tell a good story!"
Review
"Mixing mythology and monster lore (plus a good helping of snark), Discount Armageddon is fast-paced, funny and boasts a salty-sweet heroine who can cha-cha, foxtrot, and kick ass––or any combination thereof––while she sprints her way across the rooftops of Manhattan, policing and protecting the denizens of New York City's supernatural community."
Review
"
One Salt Sea is the best
October Daye book to date; everything thats great about the series comes together in one book...
McGuires usual beautiful writing and dark humor are present and accounted for. This has become one of my favorite urban fantasy series, and I cant wait to find out what happens next." —Fantasyliterature.com
"Fans of the series will be completely swept up with this fifth book, hooked to the very end where they get some answers and finally enjoy that satisfied feeling that not many books deliver this well." —BookBanter
"...a strong installment in a reliably entertaining series." —Locus
"This author is consistently impressive, no matter what she writes, and I would urge you to pick up any of her novels and prepare to be entertained with a smart, witty and heartfelt tale." —Owlcat Mountain
Review
"The shifting focus of the series to a different member of the engaging and consistently surprising Price family is a resounding success, offering a new look at some
well-loved characters and a new world of interesting beasts and mysteries to explore." —
RT Book Reviews (for
Half-Off Ragnarok)
"McGuire creates a sense of wonder and playfulness with her love for mythology and folklore.... Her enthusiastic and fast-paced style makes this an entertaining page-turner." —Publisher's Weekly (for Half-Off Ragnarok)
"Half-Off Ragnarok is my favorite book in the InCryptid series thus far.... If urban fantasy, intriguing animals, and fast-paced adventure is your thing, youre going to love Half-Off Ragnarok. Highly recommended." —Jennifer Brozek (for Half-Off Ragnarok)
"[Half-Off Ragnarok] is kind of like taking a tour through a very deadly theme park made up of alternating parts awesome and terrifying. Come to think of it, that sums up this series quite nicely.... This book effectively acts as a jumping-on point to those just coming in." —Tor.com (for Half-Off Ragnarok)
"While chock-full of quality worldbuilding, realistic characters, and a double helping of sass, at its core, Half-Off Ragnarok is a book about judging others according to stereotypes, how nurture can overcome nature, and the importance of family." —Ranting Dragon (for Half-Off Ragnarok)
“The only thing more fun than an October Daye book is an InCryptid book. Swift narrative, charm, great world-building ... all the McGuire trademarks.” —Charlaine Harris (for InCryptid series)
Review
"
Everything you'd ever need in an urban fantasy. It's a smart story, cleanly told that allows both humor and heartbreak to take their turn on stage but, more importantly, the 'urban' and the 'fantasy' are of equal importance." —Tanya Huff, author of the Blood Books
"Rosemary and Rue is one of the most successful blends of mystery and fantasy I've ever read—like Raymond Chandler by way of Pamela Dean. Toby Daye has become one of my favorite heroines, and I can't wait to read more of her continuing adventures." —Tim Pratt, author of Dead Reign
"McGuire knows her fairy lore, bringing the wonder and the danger of the fair folk to the streets of San Francisco so vividly you can smell the rose goblins. Action, intrigue, and a dash of romance make Rosemary and Rue a fun, engaging read. An impressive first novel that leaves you impatient for the second." —Jim Hines, author of Libriomancer
"Rosemary and Rue is a fast paced ride through the streets, parks, and cliffs of San Francisco, lifting the covers to reveal that which lies unseen. An incredible mix of action, mystery, fairy, urban fantasy, and just a smidgen of romance artfully woven into a story impossible to put down.” —Sacramento Book Review
Review
"[
An Artificial Night] is wildly and beautifully descriptive, with scenes that will simply take your breath away...the third installment in the
October Daye series is even better (if that could be believed) than the prior two.
Author Seanan McGuire seems to have hit her stride and should enjoy a long career." —Sacramento Book Review
"Book three of the October Daye series is the strongest to date as McGuire picks up the action and rolls an assortment of nursery rhymes, fairy tales and folklore into a taut urban fantasy that holds your interest to the last." —Monsters and Critics
"I'm enamored of the world the author has created and continues to build on in each successive book. Its vast and vivid and so very alive to me." —The Literate Kitty
"An Artificial Night is a terrific entry in the series, showcasing McGuire's impressive skills with character and plot alike. She is quickly establishing herself as one of the major new talents in urban fantasy and horror." —SFRevu
Review
"In this tightly plotted adventure, McGuire mixes nonstop action with a wealth of mythology to deliver
a wholly satisfying story." —Publisher's Weekly
"Vibrant writing and a likable narrator make this one of the stronger entries in the urban fantasy genre. It should appeal to fans of Jim Butchers 'Dresden Files.'" —Library Journal
“[A] thrilling, occasionally even nightmarish, adventure.” —Locus
"This is far and away the best book of the series so far." —Your Urban Fantasy
Review
"McGuire's second
October Daye novel is
a gripping, well-paced read. Toby continues to be an enjoyable, if complex and strong-willed protagonist who recognizes no authority but her own...McGuire has more than a few surprises up her sleeve for the reader." —Romantic Times Book Review
"...for those of you who have read Rosemary and Rue, I have to say: A Local Habitation is even better. All the things that made Rosemary and Rue such a strong debut are still there: the wonderfully damaged heroine, the melancholy story, the gritty details, the perfect rendering of San Francisco, [and] unique and varied fantastic creatures..." —Book Love Affair
"At last, urban fantasy done right!...Seanan McGuire's October Daye series gives us that perfect melding of "real world" and magic, with just a dash of romantic subplot, enhancing the main story rather than derailing it." —Collectortimes.com (for October Daye series)
Synopsis
"The only thing more fun than an October Daye book is an InCryptid book." Charlaine Harris Ghoulies. Ghosties. Long-legged beasties. Things that go bump in the night... The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanityand humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan while she pursues her career in professional ballroom dance. Sounds pretty simple, right? It would be, if it weren't for the talking mice, the telepathic mathematicians, the asbestos supermodels, and the trained monster-hunter sent by the Price family's old enemies, the Covenant of St. George. When a Price girl meets a Covenant boy, high stakes, high heels, and a lot of collateral damage are almost guaranteed. To complicate matters further, local cryptids are disappearing, strange lizard-men are appearing in the sewers, and someone's spreading rumors about a dragon sleeping underneath the city...
Discount Armageddon is the first installment of the highly praised InCryptid series.
Synopsis
First book in New York Times-bestselling Seanan McGuire's witty urban fantasy InCryptid series about a family of cryptozoologists who act as a buffer between humans and the magical creatures living in secret around us.
"The only thing more fun than an October Daye book is an InCryptid book." Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Sookie Stackhouse series
Cryptid, noun Any creature whose existence has not yet been proven by science. See also "Monster."
Crytozoologist, noun Any person who thinks hunting for cryptids is a good idea. See also "idiot."
Ghoulies. Ghosties. Long-legged beasties. Things that go bump in the night... The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan while she pursues her career in professional ballroom dance. Sounds pretty simple, right? It would be, if it weren't for the talking mice, the telepathic mathematicians, the asbestos supermodels, and the trained monster-hunter sent by the Price family's old enemies, the Covenant of St. George. When a Price girl meets a Covenant boy, high stakes, high heels, and a lot of collateral damage are almost guaranteed. To complicate matters further, local cryptids are disappearing, strange lizard-men are appearing in the sewers, and someone's spreading rumors about a dragon sleeping underneath the city..."
Synopsis
October "Toby" Daye is half-human, half-fae-the only changeling who's earned knighthood. But when someone begins targeting her nearest and dearest, it becomes clear that Toby is being set up to take the fall for everything that's happening.
Synopsis
Read Seanan McGuire's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community. Experience the thrill of the hunt in the third October Daye urban fantasy novel.
October "Toby" Daye is a changeling-half human and half fae-and the only one who has earned knighthood. Now she must take on a nightmarish new challenge. Someone is stealing the children of the fae as well as mortal children, and all signs point to Blind Michael. Toby has no choice but to track the villain down-even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael's realm, home of the Wild Hunt-and no road may be taken more than once. If Toby cannot escape with the children, she will fall prey to the Wild Hunt and Blind Michael's inescapable power.
Synopsis
Now comes the second in the series-from a dynamic new fantasy talent! Toby Daye-a half-human, half-fae changeling-has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world had other ideas...
Now her liege, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills, has asked Toby to go to the County of Tamed Lightning to make sure all is well with his niece, Countess January O'Leary. It seems like a simple enough assignment-until Toby discovers that someone has begun murdering people close to January, and that if the killer isn't stopped, January may be the next victim.
Synopsis
October “Toby” Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a “normal” life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas…
The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening’s dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening’s killer.
Watch a Video
Read Seanan McGuire's posts on the Penguin Blog.
Synopsis
October "Toby" Daye is settling into her new role as Countess of Goldengreen. She's actually dating again, and she's taken on Quentin as her squire. So, of course, it's time for things to take a turn for the worse.
Someone has kidnapped the sons of the regent of the Undersea Duchy of Saltmist. To prevent a war between land and sea, Toby must find the missing boys and prove the Queen of the Mists was not behind their abduction. Toby's search will take her from the streets of San Francisco to the lands beneath the waves, and her deadline is firm: she must find the boys in three days' time, or all of the Mists will pay the price. But someone is determined to stop her-and whoever it is isn't playing by Oberon's Laws...
Synopsis
"...a Perfect 10."
Romance Reviews Today
October "Toby" Daye is finally doing all rightand that inevitably means it's time for things to take a turn for the worse. Someone has kidnapped the sons of the Duchess Dianda Lorden, regent of the Undersea Duchy of Saltmist. To prevent a war between land and sea, Toby must not only find the missing boys, but also prove that the Queen of the Mists was not behind their abduction. She'll need all her tricks and the help of her allies if she wants to make it through this in one piece.
Toby's search will take her from the streets of San Francisco to the lands beneath the waves. But someone is determined to stop herand whoever it is isn't playing by Oberon's Laws. As the battle grows more and more personal, one thing is chillingly clear. When Faerie goes to war, not everyone will walk away. One Salt Sea is the fifth installment of the highly praised Toby Daye series.
Synopsis
Alexander Price has survived gorgons, basilisks, and his own familyno small feat, considering that his family includes two telepaths, a reanimated corpse, and a colony of talking, pantheistic mice. Still, hes starting to feel like hes got the hang of things
at least until his girlfriend, Shelby Tanner, shows up asking pointed questions about werewolves and the state of his passport. From there, its just a hop, skip, and a jump to Australia, a continent filled with new challenges, new dangers, and yes, rival cryptozoologists who dont like their visiting expert” very much.
Australia is a cryptozoologists dream, filled with unique species and unique challenges. Unfortunately, its also filled with Shelbys family, who arent delighted by the length of her stay in America. And then there are the werewolves to consider: infected killing machines who would like nothing more than to claim the continent as their own. The continent which currently includes Alex.
Survival is hard enough when youre on familiar ground. Alex Price is very far from home, but theres one thing he knows for sure: hes not going down without a fight.
Synopsis
"McGuire hits her stride with this fast-paced, sharply plotted, tense urban fantasy, the third featuring half-fae detective Toby Daye."
Publisher's Weekly
Changeling knight in the court of the Duke of Shadowed Hills, October "Toby" Daye has survived numerous challenges that would destroy fae and mortal alike. Now Toby must take on a nightmarish new assignment. Someone is stealing both fae and mortal childrenand all signs point to Blind Michael. When the young son of Toby's closest friends is snatched from their Northern California home, Toby has no choice but to track the villains down, even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael's realmhome of the legendary Wild Huntand no road may be taken more than once. If she cannot escape with all the children before the candle that guides and protects her burns away, Toby herself will fall prey to Blind Michael's inescapable power.
And it doesn't bode well for the success of her mission that her own personal Fetch, May Dayethe harbinger of Toby's own deathhas suddenly turned up on her doorstep...
An Artificial Night is the third installment of the highly praised Toby Daye series.
Synopsis
"McGuire just keeps getting better and better."
RT Book Reviews
October "Toby" Daye, changeling knight in the service of Duke Sylvester Torquill, finds the delicate balance of her life shattered when she learns that an old friend is in dire trouble. Lily, Lady of the Tea Gardens, has been struck down by a mysterious, seemingly impossible illness, leaving her fiefdom undefended. Struggling to find a way to save Lily and her subjects, Toby must confront her own past as an enemy she thought was gone forever raises her head once more: Oleander de Merelands, one of the two people responsible for her fourteen-year exile.
Time is growing short and the stakes are getting higher, for the Queen of the Mists has her own agenda. With everything on the line, Toby will have to take the ultimate risk to save herself and the people she loves mostbecause if she can't find the missing pieces of the puzzle in time, Toby will be forced to make the one choice she never thought she'd have to face again...
Late Eclipse is the fourth installment of the highly praised Toby Daye series.
Synopsis
"Well researched, sharply told, highly atmospheric and as brutal as any pulp detective tale..."
Publishers Weekly
October "Toby" Daye is a changeling, the daughter of Amandine of the fae and a mortal man. Like her mother, she is gifted in blood magic, able to read what has happened to a person through a mere taste of blood. Toby is the only changeling who has earned knighthood, and she re-earns that position every day, undertaking assignments for her liege, Sylvester, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills.
Now Sylvester has asked her to go to the County of Tamed Lightningotherwise known as Fremont, CAto make sure that all is well with his niece, Countess January O'Leary, whom he has not been able to contact. It seems like a simple enough assignmentbut when dealing with the realm of Faerie nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Toby soon discovers that someone has begun murdering people close to January, whose domain is a buffer between Sylvester's realm and a scheming rival duchy. If Toby can't find the killer soon, she may well become the next victim.
Local Habitation is the second installment of the highly praised Toby Daye series.
About the Author
Seanan McGuire is a California-based author with a strong penchant for travel and can regularly be found just about anyplace capable of supporting human life (as well as a few places that probably arent). Early exposure to a vast number of books left her with a lifelong affection for the written word, and led, perhaps inevitably, to her writing books of her own, starting somewhere around the age of eleven. The October Daye novels are her first urban fantasy series, and the InCryptid novels are her second series, both published by DAW and bother of which have put her in the New York Times bestseller list. Seanan was the winner of the 2010 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer; Rosemary and Rue, the first novel in the October Daye series, was named one of the Top 20 Paranormal Fantasy Novels of the Past Decade; and her novel Feed, written under the name Mira Grant, was named as one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2010. She also won a Hugo for her podcast, and is the first person to be nominated for five Hugo Awards in a single year. You can visit her at www.seananmcguire.com.