The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire

Title: The Brightest Fell
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: October Daye # 11

Hardcover, 368 Pages
Publication: September 5, 2017 by DAW

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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For once, everything in October “Toby” Daye’s life seems to be going right. There have been no murders or declarations of war for her to deal with, and apart from the looming specter of her Fetch planning her bachelorette party, she’s had no real problems for days. Maybe things are getting better.

Maybe not.

Because suddenly Toby’s mother, Amandine the Liar, appears on her doorstep and demands that Toby find her missing sister, August. But August has been missing for over a hundred years and there are no leads to follow. And Toby really doesn’t owe her mother any favors.

Then Amandine starts taking hostages, and refusal ceases to be an option.

The synopsis of the 11th book in the October Daye series doesn’t leave a lot to be desired. Amandine, October’s mother shows up to her house to force her to look for her sister August who has been missing for over a century and to make sure she complies she takes Tybalt and Jazz as collateral. October ends up teaming up with her nemesis and stepfather Simon; and thus begins the search.

The theme of missing children seems to be always prevalent in the October Daye series and I wonder if McGuire has run out of ideas? It’s either missing children, drug, politics or war. I would really like to see something different for a change. 

This is the first time we actually see Amandine and she’s a despicable character as I imagined. I hated her and how she treated October. She constantly contradicted herself treating like October isn’t her daughter yet expects October to respect and treat her like a mother. Nope. And she comes into October's house making unreasonable demands and takes her people! And then there’s Simon. We met Simon in one of the previous book but didn’t really get to know him. We finally learn more about Simon and why he did the things he did. He was a pleasant surprise. I feel like I initially misjudged him and actually enjoyed Simon and October’s interaction. However, the ending was not pleasant for Simon. And finally, readers will meet August, October’s sister. I didn’t recall she had a sister. Nor did I like her. She’s a typical spoiled and entitled pure-blood and I could care less about her and thought she was better staying lost.

In my opinion the plot was weak and did nothing to move the series forward. But I did enjoyed everything but the beginning (Amandine taking hostages) and the end (Bratty August making demands to find Simon and the outcome with Jazz and Tybalt). I’m not sure where McGuire is taking this series in this new arc, but so far it’s not so good. The series is about to go onto it’s 12th novel and it clearly shows. The overall story-line is getting a bit stale and the books are overflowing with recapping. Again, we are too far into the series to be recapping every single detail for every character. If McGuire took out the recapping the book would be significantly shorter. I hope she fixes this issue.

The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire

Title: The Girl in the Green Silk Gown
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Ghost Roads # 2

Tradepaperback, 352 Pages
Publication: July 17, 2018 by Daw Books

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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For Rose Marshall, death has long since become the only life she really knows. She’s been sweet sixteen for more than sixty years, hitchhiking her way along the highways and byways of America, sometimes seen as an avenging angel, sometimes seen as a killer in her own right, but always Rose, the Phantom Prom Date, the Girl in the Green Silk Gown.

The man who killed her is still out there, thanks to a crossroads bargain that won’t let him die, and he’s looking for the one who got away. When Bobby Cross comes back into the picture, there’s going to be hell to pay—possibly literally.

Rose has worked for decades to make a place for herself in the twilight. Can she defend it, when Bobby Cross comes to take her down? Can she find a way to navigate the worlds of the living and the dead, and make it home before her hitchhiker’s luck runs out?

There’s only one way to know for sure.

The Girl in the Green Silk Gown continues the story of Rose Marshall, a sixteen-year-old girl who died in the 1950’s and now spends the rest of eternity as a hitchhiking ghost. But just because you’re dead doesn’t mean death gets any easier. Bobby Cross, the immortal man that ran Rose off the road to her death is still looking for her, the one that go away because with Rose’s soul can power his car for a year or more. Rose has Persephone’s protection sigil on her which makes her untouchable to Bobby. However, after an elaborate trap, Bobby brings Rose back from the dead making her fair game and all Rose wants to do is to die, again.

The Girl in the Green Silk Gown is a solid sequel to Sparrow Hill Road. Sparrow Hill Road was initial written as an online serial and the writing felt disjointed and pieces of a story. McGuire had more time on the sequel and it clearly shows. The story/plot felt more grounded and the writing flowed better; readers can clearly see the beginning, middle and end. If the first book had you interested in the ghost roads and it’s inhabitants then this book will more than satisfy your curiosity. McGuire delves deeper into the different roads, routewitches, a whole variety of ghost types and a little mythology and folklore for good measures; such as the significance of Halloween and the Greek Mythology of Persephone and Orpheus.

McGuire is a talent writer and I’ve enjoyed most of her work. The Girl in the Green Silk Gown is no exception. I thought this was a good book, well written and researched as with all of her books. I just wished there was more action and a sense of urgency. Yes, this is basically a cat and mouse chase with Bobby and Rose but the plot dragged in a lot of places. Nor did I feel as connected or invested in the characters as I do with other series (I.e. October Daye). But as I said it still a good book and with the story still unresolved, I’m sure we’ll be seeing Bobby Cross and Rose Marshall again real soon. 

Review: Kitty Rocks the House by Carrie Vaughn

Title: Kitty Rocks the House
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Kitty Norville #11

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Publication: March 26, 2013 by TOR Books

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Source: Publicist

On the heels of Kitty's return from London, a new werewolf shows up in Denver, one who threatens to split the pack by challenging Kitty's authority at every turn. The timing could not be worse; Kitty needs all the allies she can muster to go against the ancient vampire, Roman, if she's to have any hope of defeating his Long Game. But there's more to this intruder than there seems, and Kitty must uncover the truth, fast. Meanwhile, Cormac pursues an unknown entity wreaking havoc across Denver; and a vampire from the Order of St. Lazaurus tempts Rick with the means to transform his life forever.

 

I haven’t read the previous books in the Kitty Norville series, but was able to seamlessly follow the story with the little background that the author provided. What I liked was that the author didn’t just throw a load of background information in the first chapter, but added one or two sentences throughout the book to explain whenever a new (new to the scene not overall) character entered the scene. Kitty Rocks the House is the 11^th book in the Kitty Norville Series; Kitty is the alpha werewolf of Denver and a radio talk show host at KNOB. Kitty is still adjusting to her role as alpha, from learning that she is responsible to care and lead the pack and essentially having their lives/fate determined by her. Life doesn’t slow down when one isn’t ready and Kitty and the vampire Rick, master of Denver are scouring all over the country for allies to fight against the vampire Roman (The Long Game). Meanwhile two new strangers show up in Denver, a vampire catholic priest and a lone werewolf. The lone werewolf Darren is apparently looking to join Kitty’s pack and she agrees to let him stay with them to see how things play out, but Darren indirectly challenges Kitty at every turn. Kitty is not sure if he’s doing it without really knowing or does he have an ulterior motive? As for the vampire priest, he temps with an offer that Rick has been searching for every since he was turn but that would mean leaving the city and being master of Denver.

This book came in the mail for review, and I didn’t know if I should read it being that it is the 11^th book in the series but I decided why not? I’m really glad I read it! Kitty is an awesome heroine, she funny, caring, smart, and while she’d prefer getting things resolved without violence…she’s not afraid to fight if it is the last resort. Kitty is a really understanding alpha to her pack and in general, she never thinks she’s above anyone and is just overall sensible. Between all the chaos and problems surrounding Kitty, she’s still a normal person with normal dreams and job. Dreams as in she wants to own a house, and eventually have children some day (alternatives options because weres can’t have kids). Throughout the book there were a couple of scenes with Kitty taking callers on the radio, and boy was those funny! The callers’ questions were hilarious and Kitty was definitely an entertaining hostess. Kitty Rocks the House felt like a transition between books, not a lot of action going on but I still enjoyed every single page. I wish I read this series a long time ago, just this book alone tells me that Kitty’s growth over the books is certainly not to be missed. I’m thinking about maybe starting the series with book 1, but we’ll see. Bottom line a great book, and what I think makes this series so popular is Kitty herself and her wonderful friends and family…everyone cares deeply for one another and from what I understand of the background, Kitty as alpha has made so much of a different she’s notorious far and wide. I look forward to seeing more of Kitty and her friends in the next book, Kitty in the Underworld which comes out July 30, 2013!