tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post3461676421663404203..comments2023-10-25T11:03:29.174-04:00Comments on Impressions of a Reader...: Overview: October (Toby) Daye Urban Fantasy Series by Seanan McGuireHilciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-868978121449627702013-10-01T15:07:53.635-04:002013-10-01T15:07:53.635-04:00Nath, I only read the first two books in the Dresd...Nath, I only read the first two books in the Dresden series. I understand that the series gets better as it moves along? I need to get back to it! But, Harry was pretty clumsy in those first two books! LOL! I still loved him. <br /><br />Chimes didn't quite work for me for a few reasons, that was one of them Nath. Toby must stay, the Queen must go... snap, done! Yeah... right. I should probably write a whole review for that book. LOL! I have minis for all the books too, but went with an overview instead. Sigh... Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-47812835455819211422013-09-28T21:35:27.557-04:002013-09-28T21:35:27.557-04:00The interpretation of the fae world is good and re...The interpretation of the fae world is good and refreshing, that's true :)<br /><br />Harry is better... because eventually, he does get a lot more contacts and the investigation is better (till what book did you read?). Toby, well she only has the Luidaeg...<br /><br />Anyway, I know why Chimes at Midnight isn't working out so well. I think it's the motivation behind it. It'd be one thing if Toby was doing it to get the right heir on the throne... but while it is part of the reason here, the true purpose though is so Toby can stay and that's a bit weird... Guess not as honorable. nathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02626894830238717124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-37582615935133547612013-09-27T15:24:14.442-04:002013-09-27T15:24:14.442-04:00Li, that makes two of us then. Those two aspects o...Li, that makes two of us then. Those two aspects of the series sold me on it and kept me reading. Toby's a terrible PI! She reminds me a little bit of what's his name? Harry Dresden! Although I don't know if Harry continues to be a bad PI later on, he was pretty bad in those first couple of books. LOL Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-30902614911478910662013-09-27T14:36:15.399-04:002013-09-27T14:36:15.399-04:00Ha - am I that obvious, Nath?!
It is very definit...Ha - am I that obvious, Nath?!<br /><br />It is very definitely the world-building that makes this series a winner for me, btw. Unlike all of you, I was hooked from book 1, though I completely agree that Toby is not exactly believable as a PI. I think I just found the setting so refreshingly different, and I loved McGuire's interpretation of the fae world. <br /><br />LiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-78657383145271454212013-09-26T13:14:05.930-04:002013-09-26T13:14:05.930-04:00Hi Angie! If it wasn't because I have a friend...Hi Angie! If it wasn't because I have a friend that loves this series, I don't think I would have read past Rosemary and Rue. Actually, years ago, I tried to start this series and I couldn't... So you're definitively not the only one. <br /><br />I think you should just keep this series in mind for when you don't have anything to read, but feel like reading a UF. As UF series goes, this one is different which is not a bad thing.nathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02626894830238717124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-11249091221062157842013-09-26T08:54:42.544-04:002013-09-26T08:54:42.544-04:00Angie, I know what you mean. As Nath says above, t...Angie, I know what you mean. As Nath says above, this won't be on my list of favorite urban fantasy series, but as it moves along the world-building and team-building development makes it a solid one. McGuire has an interesting style of developing her stories that I'm not sure I got used to, but yes, by the 4th book it gets easier. The information was flowing better as was the action. I'm surprised that I continued after book 2, that was a rough read, and I almost gave up on the series. I'm glad I didn't. :) Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-38987660659269858082013-09-26T08:47:28.614-04:002013-09-26T08:47:28.614-04:00Nath, the development of the overall storyarc and ...Nath, the development of the overall storyarc and multiple plot lines is weird. I agree with that. It feels disjointed most of the time... McGuire begins a thread and picks up bits and pieces as the series moves along -- but so far there's still a lot of information missing from the first book! <br /><br />RE: One Salt Sea. I was seriously happy when that character was finally disposed of. LOL! I could not stand that whole situation and thought he was pretty much worthless -- I'm betting Toby is going to find out something nasty about him too (speculation on my part). As I say above, Toby tends to cling to guilt for no good reason. In her mind she's a hero, so she's supposed to save everyone. But, anyway, she attached herself to that character when she was at her lowest, and as far as I'm concerned her feelings were not deep enough for the deep mourning. She can be frustrating. I agree with your favorite characters too! The Luidaeg is a fantastic character, and Quentin's character growth throughout the series makes him a winner. He's adorable. <br /><br />PS: Finish off Chimes! That way we can talk about it... I'm speculating about some things on that one. *g* Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-64298348108178620702013-09-26T01:46:43.063-04:002013-09-26T01:46:43.063-04:00I tried reading Rosemary and Rue... probably about...I tried reading <i>Rosemary and Rue</i>... probably about a year ago? Something like that. I'm glad I'm not the only one who found it hard to get a grip on, although obviously you were able to find enough reasons to stay with it. It's one of those books where I can't put my finger on anything I don't like -- the writing is good, the worldbuilding is good, the character is okay -- but which I find to be easy to put down and hard to pick back up again. Reading this, it sounds like I need to be able to get all the way up through books 4-6 before it starts getting really good, and I don't think I'm up to it. That's good to know, though, that it doesn't take off in Book 2 or something.<br /><br />AngieAngiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11920578701763415331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-78724742252483626132013-09-25T21:16:38.360-04:002013-09-25T21:16:38.360-04:00LOL, why am I not surprised that Li was the first...LOL, why am I not surprised that Li was the first commenter on this post? :P<br /><br />Well I'm not far behind you, Hils. I've just finished Ashes of Honor... and wondering if I should take a break, or continue to zip through to Chimes at Midnight.<br /><br />I do have a couple of issues with the series and it won't rate as my favorite, but it's nice and solid. It's very readable with an interesting world... I'm glad that Toby changed after the first book, because jeez, she was really depressing in that one. I think the appearance of May helped, she just lightened things up :)<br /><br />I gotta say, I find some of the pacing and development a bit weird... First, the death of a character in One Salt Sea... can you say, anti-climatic?!? OMG!! I mean, seriously! Then, how Toby mourned him... I didn't realize their relationship had progressed to such a degree. So it's a bit weird. <br /><br />In any case, favorite characters are Luidaeg and Quentin :) Love them. Looking forward to see where Ms Mcguire is heading as well. One thing for sure, she does have the overall story-arc mapped. Well most of the time :Pnathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02626894830238717124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-86896642778448389622013-09-25T20:27:05.038-04:002013-09-25T20:27:05.038-04:00Li, I thought about you every time I picked up a b...Li, I thought about you every time I picked up a book. Thanks for recommending this series. :) <br /><br />I wanted to say so much more about Toby, and about the series, but there is just so much one can say and avoid all those spoilers. I gave a few things away, but I hope not too much? Chimes was such a mixed bag of contradictions... I found it more disjointed than any of the other books, and hmm... somehow, unfinished? Like a conversation that is left off in the middle and never finished somehow... and yes, Toby and Tybalt were overblown. Again, my grade reflects my love of the world-building and the relationship-building between the secondary characters (both continue to rock in my opinion). But I really want to see where McGuire is going with Toby. <br /><br />RE: Covers. I love them. I missed Chimes! Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-41882275556496464502013-09-25T14:59:23.501-04:002013-09-25T14:59:23.501-04:00I love this post, Hils - fantastic analysis of the...I love this post, Hils - fantastic analysis of the series, and I agree with so much (plus it's just nice to see all the Chris McGrath covers on one page :-)<br /><br />I wasn't completely won over by CHIMES either - not quite sure why, but the characterisation felt a bit heavy-handed at the start... Toby was *too* Toby, Tybalt *too* Tybalt etc? It didn't flow as smoothly for me as the previous books, but it was good to sink back into McGuire's world. <br /><br />LiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com