Helpful Score: 7
I adore her writing on her LiveJournal and this is urban fantasy with much more developed fae world that I've ever seen - there are rose goblins and cait sidhe and undines and hobs and all sorts of fae in here. Most other urban fantasy takes one or two of the more well-known types and only makes mention of the rest. This level of detail shouldn't surprise anyone who has even the vaguest idea of what-all goes on inside Seanan's head - it's a very busy place.
When I think about other urban fantasy, specifically the fae-world-alongside-our-own kind, they pretty much all use a clueles POV character - that way the author can explain things about faerie to them and hence to us. But Toby is an integral part of this world from the get-go. She has a life, a family, a history, etc. - all richly intertwined with the lives of the fae whe interacts with. After a very brief set-up in a prologue, we are basically dropped down in the middle of this and just expected to keep up as best we can. I suspect that this will make for the best kind of re-read; the kind where you find new things or connect new dots that you didn't notice the first time.
I confess to occasionally stopping to giggle at a particularly Seanan-esque turn of phrase, like "That's unexpected. And kind of insane." or "He gave me the sort of look usually reserved for people with contagious diseases and unpaid bills." or even "I'm a Selkie. We drown people semi-professionally". Also, I kind of want a pet rose goblin now. (and I knew when he said he called but hadn't).
I look forward to re-reading this, as well as tagging along on Toby's next adventure (while safely out of gunshot range). We only have to wait 6 more months.
When I think about other urban fantasy, specifically the fae-world-alongside-our-own kind, they pretty much all use a clueles POV character - that way the author can explain things about faerie to them and hence to us. But Toby is an integral part of this world from the get-go. She has a life, a family, a history, etc. - all richly intertwined with the lives of the fae whe interacts with. After a very brief set-up in a prologue, we are basically dropped down in the middle of this and just expected to keep up as best we can. I suspect that this will make for the best kind of re-read; the kind where you find new things or connect new dots that you didn't notice the first time.
I confess to occasionally stopping to giggle at a particularly Seanan-esque turn of phrase, like "That's unexpected. And kind of insane." or "He gave me the sort of look usually reserved for people with contagious diseases and unpaid bills." or even "I'm a Selkie. We drown people semi-professionally". Also, I kind of want a pet rose goblin now. (and I knew when he said he called but hadn't).
I look forward to re-reading this, as well as tagging along on Toby's next adventure (while safely out of gunshot range). We only have to wait 6 more months.
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
