Ashes of Honor

An October Daye Novel, Book 6

By: Seanan McGuire

Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal

It’s been almost a year since October "Toby" Daye averted a war, gave up a county, and suffered personal losses that have left her wishing for a good day’s sleep. She’s tried to focus on her responsibilities - training Quentin, upholding her position as Sylvester’s knight, and paying the bills - but she can’t help feeling like her world is crumbling around her, and her increasingly reckless behavior is beginning to worry even her staunchest supporters.

To make matters worse, Toby’s just been asked to find another missing child…only this time it’s the changeling daughter of her fellow knight, Etienne, who didn’t even know he was a father until the girl went missing. Her name is Chelsea. She’s a teleporter, like her father. She’s also the kind of changeling the old stories warn about, the ones with all the strength and none of the control. She’s opening doors that were never meant to be opened, releasing dangers that were sealed away centuries before - and there’s a good chance she could destroy Faerie if she isn’t stopped.

Now Toby must find Chelsea before time runs out, racing against an unknown deadline and through unknown worlds as she and her allies try to avert disaster. But danger is also stirring in the Court of Cats, and Tybalt may need Toby’s help with the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.

Toby thought the last year was bad. She has no idea...

©2012 Seanan McGuire (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Toby’s unusual heritage and her uneasy relationships with her mother’s family will remind readers of Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, and Thompson fans will appreciate Toby’s tough and self-reliant character…a must for fans of genre-bending blends of crime and fantasy." ( Booklist)

McGuire and Kowal: Perfect Combo!

Seanan McGuire's October Daye is one of my favorite series; Mary Robinette Kowal is its perfect narrator - she IS Toby Daye. McGuire is one of a few writers whose books I buy as soon as they're released.

Fanastic Series!

Would you consider the audio edition of Ashes of Honor to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print

Who was your favorite character and why?

I'm in love with the King of Cats - his entire attitude is where it's at.

Have you listened to any of Mary Robinette Kowal’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to this entire series and enjoy her readings.

On the fence

I love this series. The reviews of the first audiobook were mixed so I opted to read the series until now. I liked this book a lot. This and the last are tied for my favorite in the series. Mary Robinette Kowal as narrator takes some getting used to. I'm kind of on the fence about whether I like her or not. I'm not a fan of her male voices. I didn't like her narration at all in the beginning but I did get used to it and by the end, I even kind of liked it. I am looking forward to the next book in the series but the jury is still out as to whether it will be a hard copy or an audiobook.

at the edge of my seat the whole time

it was quite the spectacle, and not great on my back but worth it for this amazing story!

Each better than the last

I absolutely LOVE the nearly-but-not-quite overwhelming levels of stress that Seanan subjects her characters to. Toby must be super-human, because no human would every have made it this far.
But hey, any book you make it to the last page of is a win, right Toby?

Loved it

Would you listen to Ashes of Honor again? Why?

Yes I would read or listen to this book again. Every few years I enjoy revisiting a truly good book.

What did you like best about this story?

The reader got really into the story. When you have a great book with a truly good reader it always makes things better.

Which character – as performed by Mary Robinette Kowal – was your favorite?

I would really like to see things from the point of view of the see which.

Any additional comments?

I will be looking for books made from the others point of view.

Another good book

I saw a couple people saying it was the best in the series. I'm not sure if I think it's the best, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and love this series. It's in my top 10 favorite series and on my auto buy list when a new book comes out. I felt like a lot happened in the book, but the ending kind of just ended in a summary. Maybe it's so that it can play into a future book, but it just felt like a lot of work to just tie up so quickly. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave it at that.

My Favorite in the Series

You must read or listen to the first 5 books in this series or you will be lost. In this book Toby seems to come to terms with the losses she has had and how her actions effect those who love her. There is romance, witty banter and lots of blood and action.
My only complaint is the description of Tybalt's smell, it got a bit repetitive...perhaps because I was listening to the book it was more noticeable.
I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

The saga continues

As the sixth book in this series I was looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble Toby would find herself. And I was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoy this series and can't wait to see what happens next.

The narrator Mary Robinette Kowal is wonderful and I enjoy listening to her. I have no problem distinguishing characters (although the one southern/texas accent threw me for a while). And as a narrator really conveys the action.

I would really recommend this entire series.

One of those books that matters to me

Great story overall, but I particularly appreciate the part at the end where Chelsea has to make her choice. What she says made me realize that it is perfectly OK to be me, and not to try to force myself into a mold that the world I grew up and expects me to fit.