January 31, 2011
In October "Toby" Daye's fourth outing, following 2010's An Artificial Night, the half-Fae private detective is once again run through the wringer when problems plaguing the San Francisco Fae community strike home on a personal level. First, in an unprecedented, unexpected move, the Queen of the Mists promotes Toby to countess. Given that the Queen hates her, it's quite obviously a trap, but not something Toby can refuse or avoid. Subsequently, several of Toby's closest friends are struck down through poison and illness, and she's accused of murder. Has an enemy from Toby's past resurfaced, or is she losing her mind? Physically, emotionally, and magically drained, faced with tragedy and despair, Toby's forced to deal with the long-hidden truth behind her Fae heritage. In this tightly plotted adventure, McGuire mixes nonstop action with a wealth of mythology to deliver a wholly satisfying story.
March 15, 2011
Half-human, half-faerie October ("Toby") Daye, PI for San Francisco's supernatural community, also acts as a troubleshooter for the faerie Duke Torquill. When an old friend, Lady Lily of the Tea Gardens fief, falls victim to a mysterious illness, Toby finds that an old enemy, Oleander de Merelands, lies at the heart of the problem. Threading a careful path between rival faerie nobles and relying on occasional assistance from Tybalt, King of the Cats, Toby seeks to find a cure for her friend while avoiding having to choose once more between her human and faerie halves. McGuire's fourth series entry (after An Artificial Night) featuring an engaging, personable heroine provides a further look into the hidden supernatural society that coexists alongside the mortal world. VERDICT 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 Butcher's "Dresden Files." McGuire also writes horror as Mira Grant (Feed; Deadline).
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