This is book 10 in the October Daye series, and as Malin said in her review don’t start here. However, do start the series so you can get here. I think this might be my favorite of the October Daye books, it’s pretty high up in my estimation if it’s not the most favorite. I’m wavering between 4.5 and 5 stars on this one, and I can’t quite make up my mind.
It is hard to discuss this book, and it’s plot, without revealing major spoilers for the series but the quick and dirty of it is that there is a large convocation of the various west coast kings and queens of faery (the only ones comfortable enough to leave their kingdoms) to discuss whether or not to release a potion that could have drastic effects on how the fae wage war on one another. I’m not 100% sold on the idea that the convocation would be held in San Francisco, despite it being the home of the individual who invented the potion, but I’m willing to suspend that disbelief. The first day of the gathering, one of the kings is murdered, and Toby as a knight and hero of the realm is tasked with finding the murderer’s identity, while also scrambling make sure that the people she loves stay safe.
This book has quite a bit of emotional impact. McGuire enjoys nothing more then ripping Toby’s heart out of her chest, shredding said heart to pieces, and then displaying the shattered remains to the reader like so much art. Once Broken Faith is no exception to this rule. While I was certain that Toby would come out of this alive, seeing as she’s the main character, she’s the only one who I felt had that protection and boy does McGuire like her characters bloody. I was reminded again in this book that Toby is essentially a vampire (which is super amusing given that Tybalt is a were-cat, so you’ve basically got the vampire/werewolf dynamic going on here without ever using those terms.)
Despite the emotional impact of the book, now that I’m thinking of various plot lines I do have one minor quibble. There is one specific plot line, involving the sea-witch, another changeling, and an old enemy of Toby’s that didn’t really have any relevance to this particular story though it will likely play out in future novels. In fact, it felt very much like that plot line originally had a stronger influence on the A plot but the ties were dropped as the novel developed and now it’s little more then a C, or even D, plot. However, despite that one complaint, the rest of the novel is furiously plotted and McGuire’s pacing is pretty much flawless.
I adore this series. It is one of the best Urban Fantasy series out there, and I anticipate each book. If you are at all interested in faeries, urban fantasy, or strong heroines and haven’t started this series then I highly encourage you to pick this one up, but start at the beginning.
I’m so glad you liked it too. I was seriously worried for both Quentin and Tybalt in this one. I hadn’t thought of the vampire/werewolf comparison before, but you’re absolutely right. This was a good installment, but Ashes of Honor is still my favourite.