Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire
My Rating: 5+ out of 5 Stars
POSSIBLE VERY SLIGHT SPOILERS ALERT!
When I finished Ashes of Honor last night, I was dancing on the seat of the Comfy Chair, fist-pumping, and yelling “Yes, YES, YEEEESSSS!!!” I can guarantee that this was not a pretty sight, but what else could I do? The book was definitely a home run for Seanan McGuire, and celebration was required! And for those who have been following this very good series, may I just say the reason is simple: Tybalt, Tybalt, TYBALT! There. Now you know. I love the King of Cats. LOVE. HIM. How can you not squeeeeeeeeee like a fan-girl when an author has created a character as wonderful as Tybalt?
If you have read none of the Toby Daye books, you’ll just have to take my word for it, until you pick up the first book, Rosemary & Rue, and start reading the series for yourself. McGuire’s world building is second to none in this genre, and as the series progresses, you are taken deeper and deeper into the complexities of the world of the Fae, complete with the personification of many Celtic myths and legends, and the complicated politics of the various Royal Courts. (And by the way, for those interested in such things, like me, the very beautiful titles of the books come from Shakespeare, and the referenced quote appears on the first page of each one.)
A week ago, I would have been hard-pressed to pick a favorite from this series–the one with Blind Michael, where the horrified night-whispers of “He rides….” make you shiver down to your toes? Or the one set in the vast and frighteningly beautiful undersea world of mermaids and selkies? Maybe the one that introduces the wonderful barghests and thorn goblins? I honestly would have had trouble choosing. But now I have no doubt in my mind. Ashes of Honor is far and away the best of the bunch, and that’s saying a lot.
I had found myself getting a bit frustrated with Toby’s hard-headed refusal to see what was right in front of her through all these books, but she has finally redeemed herself and is now back in my good graces. Oh, heck…why are you wasting time reading my rhapsodical review? Just go get the book, and see for yourself, if you’ve been following the series right along. If not, go get all six books, listed in order below. If you love well written urban fantasy, with unique and interesting characters, you won’t be disappointed. That’s MY story, an’ I’m stickin’ TO it!
Rosemary and Rue (October Daye, Book 1)
A Local Habitation (October Daye, Book 2)
An Artificial Night (October Daye, Book 3)
Late Eclipses (October Daye, Book 4)
One Salt Sea ( An October Daye Novel, Book 5)
Ashes of Honor (An October Daye Novel, Book 6)
If you decide to place an order with amazon, clicking through from my links will give me credit. If you are enjoying my reviews on Bookin’ It, it’s a great way to let me know! Thanks!
Bookin' It 
OK…Now you’ve HOOKED me. Hehehe…
xx
Sooz
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OH, Sooz…it’s such a good series. The first book was sad, but still very good, and then every new book has just ratcheted up the adventure more and more. And of course…there’s Tybalt. Did I mention him before????
🙂
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Just wanted to let you know I have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I hope this will be welcome news for you. Some people choose not to participate, others enjoy the opportunity to visit new-to-you blogs and to be visited by new-to-you bloggers. To see more about the award and accepting this nomination, please visit my post at http://sharechair.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/brief-intermission-to-share-a-bit-of-blog-love/
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Hi, SC! Thank you SO much for the nomination! How nice! I will read your post shortly, and figure out what I need to do. In the meantime, I’m really pleased that you have enjoyed my blog enough to include me. And congratulations to you, as well!
🙂
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WOW!!! 5 Stars!!! Two thumbs up!!! Just recently finished the first book on this series and I just can’t wait to get the new book… Grrr… Thanks for sharing… 😀
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Hi, Samantha. Thanks for commenting on my review. So glad you enjoyed it, and even more glad that you are reading the series. I have loved every single book, and believe me, Rosemary and Rue is just a tiny taste of what’s to come. The characters are so interesting and complex, and the adventures just keep a-comin’!
Be sure to read all six books in order, though, or it won’t make sense. Some plot lines are ongoing, and build upon events that happen over time.
Open Roads! (As they say in the world of the Fae)
Marcia
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Marcia! you FINALLY read this sublime book *fist pump*. Fantastic review. I pretty much agree with you on everything about this wonderful series, I also love that all the titles are from Shakespeare plays! Oh Tybalt ♥
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Hi, Negine! So good to see you commenting here. YEP, I read it. (I would have read it sooner, but somehow got involved reading the series finale of the Vampire Empire series, a book that while decent, did NOT inspire me to jump up and down on my furniture!)
Oh, oh, oh! I loved the book. Loved it. I knew you and Susana had discussed it on GoodReads, and I’m planning to go read your reviews, now that I have finally finished it myself. It was soooo good, wasn’t it? And Tybalt? Well, lots and lots of Tybalt, truthfully. More Tybalt than ever before. Plus…be still, my heart…all his wonderful dialog…especially when he thinks he and Toby might die…it all was just so much better than I even imagined.
*Happy sigh*
Sometimes I give out 5 star reviews for books that aren’t necessarily what scholars would call Important Literature (with a capital I and a capital L). When a book makes me feel this happy, it gets (in this case) 5-1/2 stars! And I don’t care that it likely won’t be quoted in English classes generations from now. Doesn’t matter. It kept me riveted to each page, and made my heart leap by the end. Perfect!
Now don’t you wonder where the heck the story will go next?
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I haven’t even written my review on goodreads yet! I’m terrible at reviewing books in general and more so with books that I loved. Lol!
This was for sure Tybalt’s book and it was about damn time! I was hanging on every gesture and word of dialogue that came from our King of Cats and as you say they were wonderful, heartfelt and swoon-worthy! I just love how Toby finally recognizes every little thing that he has said and done for her since the very first book and how Seanan so patiently and beautifully build their relationship and incorporated everything that came before this book. Sigh.
I agree with you on giving five plus stars to books like this that emotionally resonate and put a smile on my face! Frankly most literally fiction books bore me! HaHa
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I will be eagerly awaiting your review on GoodReads, then, and I will be reading Susana’s, and following your conversation with her. (I think I DID see that, right?)
Ditto to everything you said, except that I confess, I actually like REAL literature, too. Not ALL of it, but a fair amount of it. I loved all the classics I read when I was in school, and they still stick with me today, in various ways. Phrases, descriptions, and characters that seem immortal, and make me glad I was forced to read them for school.
However, I just don’t think one’s enjoyment of a book can be based on whether or not it has “true” literary merit. If it gives a person pleasure, that’s pretty darn important in my mind. I do like the writing to be strong and NOT filled with glaring errors of grammar or spelling. But I don’t demand it be something that will still be popular fifty years down the road. I would miss out on way too much fun, if I felt like that.
Besides…I’m pretty sure if I’m still here fifty years from now, I WILL remember Tybalt, the King of Cats. He might be the ONLY thing I remember by that stage, but I’m determined he will live in my heart forever, right alongside Harry Dresden, Rowan MacKenzie, and a couple more.
Here’s to growing old with characters we love!
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*****SPOILER*****
I forgot to ask you Marcia about what you thought in regards to Tybalt’s so called “nine” lives? Do you think he has used up all of his lives? I’m very worried that he has indeed used them all up even though he told Toby that “he would always get better.” I mean he almost died if it wasn’t for Gin’s healing right?
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******MORE SPOILERS, SORT OF:*******
Well, he did say that having 9 lives doesn’t help if you are injured seriously on the Shadow Roads, which is what nearly killed him this time. So those extra lives don’t always work. But yes, I’m worried that he HAS given up several of them. This book isn’t the first time. But I can’t say I’ve actually counted. So, I wish he would stop doing it! “STOP DYING, TYBALT. You are scaring the FanGirls!!!”
I just loved how Toby scolded him with, “You died!” and he replied, “I got better.” Hahaha.
Makes me want to read it all over again, already! But I have so many more great things waiting for me. I think I’ll wait a bit, then re-read the entire series, beginning to end!
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