One Salt Sea

An October Daye Novel, Book 5

By: Seanan McGuire

Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

October “Toby” Daye is finally doing all right. She’s settling into her new role as the Countess of Goldengreen; she’s actually dating again; she’s even agreed to take on Quentin as her official squire. Life is looking up all around - and that inevitably means it’s time for things to take a turn for the worse.

Someone has kidnapped the sons of Duchess Dianda Lorden, regent of the Undersea Duchy of Saltmist. To prevent a war between land and sea, Toby must not only find the missing boys, but also prove that the Queen of the Mists was not behind their abduction. She’ll need all her tricks and the help of all her allies if she wants to make it through this in one piece.

Toby’s search will take her from the streets of San Francisco to the lands beneath the waves, and her deadline is firm: she must find the boys in three days’ time, or all of the Mists will pay the price. But someone is determined to stop her - and whoever it is isn’t playing by Oberon’s Laws....

As the battle grows more and more personal, one thing is chillingly clear. When Faerie goes to war, not everyone will walk away.

Listen to more October Daye novels.

©2011 Seanan McGuire (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

The best October Daye book so far

Funny glorious and tragic, Seanan Mcguire is improving with every book (and they didn't start out too bad either).

Toby is a hero in every sense of the word and her friends are wonderful characters with a great deal of depth.

Fantastic story telling and narration

Ms. McGuire's world building is so rich and imaginative that this series is one of my favorites. The characters are delightfully quirky.

I have loved the stories in print, but Mary Robinette Kowal does a masterful job of bringing the characters to life.

Simply fantastic.

Funny and sad and well worth the journey

My personal rating for this book: PG
My favorite character for this book: the Luidaeg (pronounced Lushack by the narrator)

This has been one of my favorites so far. We are finally finding out just what Toby can do and just who she is. We find out more about May. Tybalt is still a major force (really liking Tybalt), and Toby's relationship with Quentin is even better.

She's still ticking off the queen, but it's more intentional now. Her friends are her strength, and she's finally willing to face that. Some parts of the book are so funny (the Luidaeg) that I laughed out loud, but the plot scheme is a dark one [*** SPOILER! *** kidnapping *** UNSPOILER! ***].

The ending is bitter sweet, and while I won't spoil it, I will say that tissues are warranted this time.

If you've read my reviews for the previous books, you know that I have been gradually warming to the narrator (and the narrator has been gradually improving). I have no real complaints for this book, other than the slight (though very common) mispronunciation of certain words, like "fermiliar" instead of familiar. She has definitely grown into the part, and as before, I do have not have complaints about her reading for Toby... She sounds natural and brings Toby's voice forward strongly.

This novel and narration have finally reached the point where I intend to re-listen to this series (something I rarely do, mainly due to time constraints), and I will also look for new series from Seanan McGure. I may even look for other series read by this narrator, now that I'm accustomed to her style.

Definitely recommend.

Love October Daye novels!

As usual, Seanan McGuire has come through once again. Wonderful story line, great narration, which to me will make or break a book, and really glad to think that the King of Cats is gonna have a chance with Toby...
I would have given this book a 5 star rating, but felt that Toby's character needs a bit of censoring in this one. I had always enjoyed how the author conveyed the thoughts of her characters without going through the gammet of the usual foul language. This was the only downside in the story. Instead of the inventive way she had always used before, I was not well pleased to have to listen to the 'F' word so often.

Interesting Story Line

Fans of the paranormal genre will enjoy this new installment to the Toby Daye series. As always, Mary Robinette Kowal does a wonderful job bringing the characters and story to life!

This Series Is Great

This series is growing on me.. I didn't feel like the first book was very good, but every new addition improves the series big time. I am loving the unique characters and I think they are developing really well.

This is a good addition to the series as it gets personal to Daye and it ends in a shocking way.

Seanad McGuire is becoming one of my favourite authors as I'm listening to different series by her. She has a good way of writing a story that you don't get bored at all.

Narrator is doing a great job as well. I can easily separate the characters with no difficulty

Good series, I'm catching up now.

A reason to continue!

So, I have a lot of feelings about this book, but overall and in general I appreciated it on the grounds of world building. We've entered so many knowes, and introduced a variety of kingdoms.. and each of them is SO detailed, and has their own character and charm. I really enjoyed getting to visit the undersea kingdom (even if the entry by Toby and Dianda was a *little* over the top, it's a factor of McGuire's writing I've come to find entertaining and expected.) I felt like there was a lot of buildup around Toby's relationship with Conor that I'd kind of hoped to see them get to enjoy that for more than just this book. I'm hopeful about a Rayseline redemption arc because I feel like the more that's known about her, the more complex she is, and while I don't expect her to become happy and normal, I would like her to experience a little bit of redemption (and maybe some of that forgiveness can be forwarded to Toby). I wonder if everyone really does feel like Toby just.. didn't try hard enough to come back from the pond? Between Rayseline and Jillian, there's a lot of resentment, and I often feel like it's unjust, but maybe that's why. I am enjoying each installment of The Adventures of Toby Daye and her ragtag bunch of misfits. ALSO! The Luidaeg! The ending and her revelation about the past was really impactful, and I actually did cry a little bit. I appreciated that she took Toby with her for that, and I'm interested to see that story line continue. Lastly, I may be a little gay for the Luidaeg.

Exceptional

Toby struggles with life and death, tasting both, as well as human and Faye worlds

Had me crying

I am terrible at writing reviews. Tobi's journey is heart breaking and beautiful. I never want it to end.

Great series, keep them coming.

Awesome book, I just can't seem to get enough. The narrator is pretty damn good.

A difficult one

This one is difficult one to review, I almost quit halfway as it was a bit meandering and people acted a bit stupidly (which always annoys me). However it got its act together, and ended in a satisfying but predictable way. Some more threads in the worldbuilding got revealed and some holes got filled in.
The problem for me is that it was very uneven, some high points but some they almost drowns in the swampy mess of the lowpoints.
I really wants to like this series, but I think I may have to take a pause now.

Great ideas sometimes the writing gets in the way

I enjoyed listening to this story. The stakes are high for Toby here - she is trying to stop a war and save children (again) and she is pushing herself beyond her limitations (again).

I find the first person narration irritating at times as the constant jokey/ ironically detached tone is often at odds with the emotional rollercoaster Toby Daye is on in this book. Perhaps that is in keeping with her personality and her position as neither fully Fae or truly human. But the constant reminders that as readers/ listeners we are meant to find this or that scenario hilarious because it is being underlined as such by the character narrating the story is unnecessary. Write the scene and if it is funny/ tragic/ ironic trust us to work that out. It is like those people who say "I am mad me!' If they have to tell you then they are boring and sane.

The narration was clear and appropriate though I find some of the voices a little odd Quentin sounds about 13 but he is a hulking great lad I am sure his voice has broken by now! Anyway worth listening to and great fun and sad and exciting. All the elements of a good fantasy.