A Red-Rose Chain

A Red-Rose Chain (2015) Seanan McGuire

This is the 9th Toby Daye book, and Toby and Tybalt have not yet gotten married, but everyone seems to be awaiting their wedding.

But in the meantime, war is preparing to break out, and it’s up to Toby to stop it.

And… that gets to me no longer being quite sure how I feel about this series in some ways. I get that Toby is a Hero, and as such she gets tasks that no one else wants (or can do) but… it’s starting to feel A Bit Much. Like, how come she’s never Tybalt’s sidekick on an adventure? Why is she always the center of everything.

I dunno.

It doesn’t make this a bad book or anything, it’s just beginning to feel–excessive I suppose.

Even for fantasy. Someone who doesn’t go out searching for trouble probably wouldn’t get into that much of it.

Aside from that, it was a Toby Daye book, with lots of wit and banter.

“At least you didn’t get blood in your hair,” she said.
“I’m not a barbarian,” I said.
“Barbarians bleed less, because barbarians know that actions have consequences,” she countered. “Maybe you should try being a barbarian.”

It was fun. I liked spending time with the characters. I enjoyed it.

I’m just not sure that I am willing to start suspending that much disbelief, especially when there aren’t really a lot of consequence to Toby and her immediate friends. (Someone gets hit with elfshot? Oh, but someone ELSE is researching a counter to elf shot! What do we think will happen?) And I suppose that’s my biggest issue. Toby has become rather indestructible, and when she drags her friends along with her, everything still comes out in the wash.

I’m not trying to say I disliked it, because I didn’t, I’m just starting to have a hard time continuing to suspend my disbelief.
Rating: 7/10

Published by DAW

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