The Winter Long Mass Market Paperback – September 2, 2014

This is the eighth book in the October Daye series. There are thirteen books planned for this series. The 9th book in the series, A Red Rose Chain, is scheduled to release in September 2015. This was an excellent continuation of this series. Much of the series has been building towards this book. This is one of my favorite urban fantasy series, I just love it so much! I definitely recommend you start at the beginning of the series though.Okay here is the paragraph where I usually write a synopsis...but that’s really hard to do for this book without spoiling things...I will try my best. Toby has been honored as a Hero of the Realm and her and Tybalt King of Cats are finally getting to enjoy some couple time. Of course it can’t last because Simon Torquill (You know the one who turned Toby into a fish...the guy way back from book one?) is back. Simon is desperately trying to tell Toby about something but is under a geas not to. Toby goes to the The Luidaeg for more answers...then things get a bit crazy when someone Toby truly thought was dead enters the picture.There are some awesome revelations in this book. There are really a lot of random plot threads from earlier books that come together in unexpected ways in this book. A ton of loose ends are tied up in this book and I felt like this book was really the end of one plot and the beginning of something new.I have to comment on how masterful McGuire is as a writer. I am stunned that she had a lot of the events in this book planned out from Book 1. Seriously that is awesome. The way all these intricate plot points are woven into a final resolution is amazing.Toby continues to be an awesome heroine to read about. She is much more comfortable with herself than she was in earlier books, but that doesn’t mean she’s allowed to sidestep all discomfort. Toby is thrown off balance yet again by some huge revelations she uncovers.Tybalt is in the story a lot as well. I absolutely adore him. He is supportive and respectful, yet still edgy and independant. He and Toby are doing a great job of balancing their responsibilities, even though there are times when they aren’t thrilled with having to deal with larger issues that sacrifice them being able to be together.Another favorite of my is The Luidaeg. She is in the story a lot as well and we learn more about her in this book than in any previous book.As I mentioned above a lot is tied up in this book, but there is still more story to be told. The writing is excellent and flows nicely, the book was fast-paced and interesting. I love the characters here, the unique magic, and all of the interesting fae creatures.Overall one of my favorite book in this series (of course I love them all). Masterfully written with characters I love and a wonderfully creative fae world. This whole series is highly recommended to urban fantasy fans and is one of my favorite urban fantasy series.

Originally posted at Vampire Book ClubYou know when Seanan McGuire states in the acknowledgements, “Everything I have done with October’s world to this point has been for the sake of getting here, to the book that you now hold in your hands,” she means business. I had no idea going in The Winter Long was such an important book, but once I read that I knew things were going to get serious.In Chimes at Midnight Toby finally had her showdown with the pretender Queen of the Mists and won. The Winter Long starts roughly four months after Chimes at Midnight during Yule. Arden Windermere is settling into the rightful role of Queen of the Mists and decides to throw a party. To close out the evening Toby is officially declared “a hero of the realm”(that is your tipping off point that calmness is soon to be short lived for our hero).I was wondering where McGuire was taking us this time in Toby’s adventures. I kept waiting for it to jump out at me, and jump out it did in the form of Simon Torquill. Yes, that Simon. The Simon that turned Toby into a fish for 14 years. He shows up on her doorstep like his presence there is nothing out of the ordinary, yet he doesn’t come at her as an enemy per se. He claims his actions were to protect Toby. Shocked, Toby is hit with revelations about the past that will change how she looks at the future.Since the very first book, we’ve known Toby to be a very capable character. Despite what others think of her actions at times, she somehow seems to make it through to the end time and time again. Better than any of its predecessors The Winter Long showcases how truly powerful Toby has become and will continue to become. Toby is still learning what it means to be a Dóchas Sidhe.Reading an October Daye book, you know Toby is no stranger to the use of blood magic. I’d have to say The Winter Long is bloodier than even the most bloody horror novel (if you doubt me, just go back and take a look at the cover, I’ll wait). Yep that’s all blood. I found it really interesting to see Toby taking the reins so-to-speak on her power. A power that she was misinformed about until very recently. She seems more at home in her ‘new’ skin.Being so jammed packed full of revelations, The Winter Long really had to choose what was important and everything else kind of took a backseat. There was very little May and Jazz, among others, but I didn’t really feel their absence as I was so focused on how Toby would get out of another life-and-death situation. One area that I want so badly to be addressed is Toby and her mother. We get little things in each book that already builds upon what we know, but with Toby’s mother essentially MIA the confrontation between mother and daughter has yet to happen, but it’s something I personally can’t wait to read.The Winter Long truly lives up to McGuire’s statement on the acknowledgements page. It is the culmination of everything that has happened in the series up to this point. McGuire always drops little mysteries throughout to be addressed at a later time. Where she goes from here is anyone’s guess.

The most important thing to know about The Winter Long is that it's a central story in the October Daye Series. In her Introduction, Seanan McGuire writes this,"Welcome to The Winter Long. This book was one of the first I fully plotted, back when this series was a glimmer in my eye and a fantasy for the future. Everything I have done with October’s world to this point has been for the sake of getting here, to the book that you now hold in your hands."Indeed, I have learned that McGuire's sagas are planned from the center out. Seven books ago, McGuire began to tell us a story that she knew was going to lead us, in the course of time, to this one. The Incryptid Series is much like this: the central stories in that are the story of Sarah, which appeared in book nine and ten, and the story of Alice and Thomas, which will first appear in book eleven, due out in March 2022. Indeed, there is even a fundamental similarity between the central Incryptid and October Daye stories, about which I will reveal no more details.In fact, I can't even say much about the plot of this book without spoiling it. Because it is in the publisher's blurb, I will allow myself this much: The Winter Long is as much about the past as the present. You will realize after reading The Winter Long that the events of Book one, Rosemary and Rue, were much different than they appeared in that book. Simon Torquill, who appeared in Rosemary and Rue as the villain who caused Toby to lose 14 years as a fish in Golden Gate Park, appears again and has something to say for himself.

Before I say anything more I must profess my love for the October Daye series. Yes, to be honest, I think it maybe started a little slowly in the first book, but I think that's fairly typical for the start of most urban fantasy series in my experience, but now, I love this series. It's just so good and Seanan McGuire is an effing genius! Seriously people - if you're looking for your next urban fantasy read you simply have to read this book. But, to the Winter Long.This is a difficult review to write because this book obviously is the pinnacle of Ms McGuire's scheming - I understand that she planned this book and the previous books were all just working to bring us to this point and what an excellent and mind blowing point it is. So, we have Toby, slowly beginning to relax into her life. She has friends now, she has a purpose, she thinks she knows what's what but she really couldn't be more wrong.I have to say that I'm not going to give anything away in this review. Toby, receives an unexpected guest - okay, I'll give a little bit away - Simon Torquill. The guy who likes to give a person gills and fins for a short spell. Well, he turns up unexpectedly at Toby's place and pretty much from there on in things go horribly, horribly wrong. This book is so full of revelations - the main one being that everyone has been keeping Toby in the dark - about a lot of things. Simon isn't the only unexpected visitor she is going to receive - but I'm not going to give that particular nugget away because it will blow your mind! And there will of course be lots of blood! Not to mention there will be Tybalt - so everything is good. Oh, and the Luidaeg, who just happens to be one of my all time favourite characters ever - yes, she'll be making an appearance!This is a necessarily short review - it's not a reflection of my feelings for the book but just simply a desire on my part not to give things away.If you are at an urban fantasy series end and looking where to go next - well, look no further. Here you have your next series and it really does have everything.

The author says in her preamble that this book was one of the first she fully plotted when the series was but a glimmer in her eye, and that everything she’s done in Toby’s world up to this point has been for the sake of getting here. So, given what has already happened in Toby’s life, I was expecting a significant game shift, or a major “Ah-ha!” moment, and to a degree, I suppose there are some here, but some are pretty subtle, and there’s no biggie. I even re-read it shortly after my first pass to make sure I hadn’t missed some subtlety in my race to the end.That said, I read this (twice) with ease, enjoyed it, altho the drenching in blood gets a bit much after a while, and there is now scope for change and more revelations. I do wonder when Amadine is going to make a proper appearance… the next book is due out later this year and there are no hints on the author’s website.To sustain tension and momentum over 8 books is the mark of a competent author, and while I have several long-running series I’m sticking with, this is one where I pick up the next installment quickly rather than wait a few months. Probably not a series to just drop into at this stage - far too much has been gone through for this to make a lot of sense without reading the preceding books - and they're worth reading!

Book 8, The Winter Long sees Toby come face to face with pivotal characters from her past, characters she never expected to see again so soon - and confront someone responsible for a major turning point in her life.Toby is about to learn some staggering truths about herself and her family, secrets that some surprising people have been keeping from her.The Winter Long shakes Toby's entire worldview.It's a must read entry in the series, Just make sure you re-read the series first for the full emotional effect!

Another brilliant book from Seanan McGuire - the Winter Long continues the story of October Daye, delving into her back story and providing an explanation for the events in the first book. I really enjoyed it and recommend it if you have read the other books in the series (if you haven't you should really start reading!).

Like the whole series, well-written and very imaginative. It links well with the other novels in the series, using tiny details dropped into them. To say too much about it would spoil the unexpected twists and the coherence and tightness in the plot. I loved this book - I've loved the whole series, but this is outstanding.