Review: Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire
Rosemary & Rue follows October (Toby) Daye, half-fae, half-human, all sarcasm, as her attempts to lead a regular human life continually go south--most thoroughly when she gets wrapped up, not entirely by her own choice, in avenging the murder of a friend.
Normally, a story of a character who just continues to be stomped down will lose me pretty quickly.
But there's something about Toby Daye.
As much as her life sucks, I don't want to stop reading.
There's an aspect of the book's heroine which I feel only pursues her quest to find those responsible for the death of Countess Winterrose because she just doesn't have the option of quitting--a part that would much rather just hide and be left alone and let her superiors deal with their own troubles. But the rest of her is bold, tenacious, and owning of the sort of stubborn streak that just makes me want to see her live through it all, just to spite everything. Add to that a very practical flavor of snark which occasionally makes me want to smack her, but mostly puts an admiring half grin on my face, and you've got magic. Cut grass and copper-scented magic, with no headache at all.
Changelings like Toby are considered in the story to be pretty volatile, even dangerous, and likely mad, but Toby herself is down-to-earth and tough as nails. It's a wonder she survives, but it certainly makes me listen to what she's got to say.
It's not just Toby, either. Several of the characters in Rosemary & Rue, dare I say it, I would love to see, just for a moment (cuz after a moment, I'm running), in person, either to strangle, or to sit at the feet of. Seanan does a wonderful job of making me see these people, these fae, these monsters, as Toby sees them, in all their colors, their faults, and in some cases their varying degrees of brokenness and insanity. Walking and living between the worlds is no life for the frail or faint of heart, and this story shows a lot of the less-than-pretty side well and without shame. I can appreciate that. I can also appreciate how well I can see, smell, and feel San Francisco, which is the setting for the story, in Seanan's words.
There are already a couple of ghosts of songs floating around my head inspired by this book, and I'm not the only one. hsifyppah , for instance, is way ahead of me.
It's fun. It's vivid. It hath grit. You can purchase and read it in September of this year. For that matter, you can come out to San Francisco and celebrate with us--I'll be performing at Seanan's release parties, and there's gonna be cake.
Normally, a story of a character who just continues to be stomped down will lose me pretty quickly.
But there's something about Toby Daye.
As much as her life sucks, I don't want to stop reading.
There's an aspect of the book's heroine which I feel only pursues her quest to find those responsible for the death of Countess Winterrose because she just doesn't have the option of quitting--a part that would much rather just hide and be left alone and let her superiors deal with their own troubles. But the rest of her is bold, tenacious, and owning of the sort of stubborn streak that just makes me want to see her live through it all, just to spite everything. Add to that a very practical flavor of snark which occasionally makes me want to smack her, but mostly puts an admiring half grin on my face, and you've got magic. Cut grass and copper-scented magic, with no headache at all.
Changelings like Toby are considered in the story to be pretty volatile, even dangerous, and likely mad, but Toby herself is down-to-earth and tough as nails. It's a wonder she survives, but it certainly makes me listen to what she's got to say.
It's not just Toby, either. Several of the characters in Rosemary & Rue, dare I say it, I would love to see, just for a moment (cuz after a moment, I'm running), in person, either to strangle, or to sit at the feet of. Seanan does a wonderful job of making me see these people, these fae, these monsters, as Toby sees them, in all their colors, their faults, and in some cases their varying degrees of brokenness and insanity. Walking and living between the worlds is no life for the frail or faint of heart, and this story shows a lot of the less-than-pretty side well and without shame. I can appreciate that. I can also appreciate how well I can see, smell, and feel San Francisco, which is the setting for the story, in Seanan's words.
There are already a couple of ghosts of songs floating around my head inspired by this book, and I'm not the only one. hsifyppah , for instance, is way ahead of me.
It's fun. It's vivid. It hath grit. You can purchase and read it in September of this year. For that matter, you can come out to San Francisco and celebrate with us--I'll be performing at Seanan's release parties, and there's gonna be cake.