The October Daye series is one of my all-time favorite series. Every time a new installment is released, I count down the days until I can be back in this world. These are my ultimate comfort books. If you like any of the following things, I highly recommend checking them out: Faerie (the dark side of it), Found family, truly excellent character growth (and just characters in general), engaging plots or a slow-burn romance.

The Unkindest Tide is actually one of my favorite installments so far. It showed us a different side of many of the characters while also still developing the larger storyline (I have SO many theories as to where this series is ultimately heading). I LOVED that we found out more about the Luidaeg in this book, she's been one of my favorite characters.

This book examines the meaning of family, of forgiveness, of healing, and of how far characters will go for those they love. There’s some excellent court politics, a pirate or two, and, of course, an intriguing mystery. Parts of this one broke my heart and then put it back together on the next page. The Unkindest Tide is a quieter story than some of the previous installments but is so much more powerful because of that.

I’m so glad that we’re getting at least four more books in this series, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to say goodbye to these characters that I love so much.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Its always a good day when reading a book by Seanan McGuire. The Unkindest Tide was simply fantastic!

Toby bargain with the Ludwig has come due and its going to effect her even more personally than she imagined. Her a few select friends tag along to the ocean realm where another 1st born comes into play. If dealing with the Selkies wasn't enough, there is conflict in the Merrow world, pulling Toby right into their turmoil as well.

To top it all off, Toby's daughter is now caught in the middle of the all the trouble bubbling to the the boiling point and she must pull out all the stops to save what she holds most dear.

I, absolutely, loved it. I had to put out the do not disturb signs out around myself. This was a read into the wee-hours of the morning book for me... So, be warned, you may not be able to put this book down once you start!

If that wasn't icing on the cake then lets top if off with a marvelous novella, Hope is Swift set in the October Day world. It takes place at exactly the same time as The Unkindest Tide but focuses on Raj and Cait Sidhe that were left back on shore. Another fantastic adventure to devour.

The book and novella was a win, win for me.

I received this ARC copy of The Unkindest Tide from Berkley Publishing Group - DAW. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Unkindest Tide is set for publication September 3, 2019.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Seanan McGuire
Series: October Daye (Book 13)
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: DAW (September 3, 2019)
ISBN-10: 0756415071
ISBN-13: 978-0756415075
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unkindest-Tide...
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I have been waiting for the Luidaeg to call in her debts and it's finally time.

There was a lot of drama, danger and hectic situations in THE UNKINDEST TIDE, but I think I was expecting it to be MORE dramatic, dangerous and hectic. I enjoyed visiting the Duchy of Ships. I enjoyed learning about the people that live there as well as Captain Pete. Toby's usual allies are along for the ride and as usual, they all bring something extra to the storyline.

Let's talk about Gillian because she seems to be getting a lot of page time now that she's in Toby's world. I UNDERSTAND that she's angry, I really do, but she is really ticking me off. Sometimes she seems to be trying to understand what really happened and I totally understand her need for space at some points, but she needs to grow up and start looking at the big picture. She puts both herself and others in danger every time she pushes back.

I didn't love this installment as much as previous books, but I still devoured it and I feel like it was needed for the growth of some of the other storylines. I am ready for Toby and Tybalt's wedding (and babies!! Please let them have babies). Hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is the thirteenth book in the October Daye series and was a very well done continuation of that series. I read on McGuire's blog that this series has been extended to 17 books and I am grateful. This is my favorite urban fantasy series out there right now.

It’s time for Luidaeg to kept her promise to the Selkies and she needs October’s help to do this. They must travel to the Duchy of Ships and meet yet another Firstborn. Of course other things happen when they get there, Dianda Lorden’s brother is accusing her of treason and it’s up to Toby to save the Lorden family. In addition to this, a Selkie woman ends up dead and Toby needs to find out why.

This was an excellent continuation of the October Daye series. The Luidaeg is one of my favorite characters, I loved learning more about her background and about the Firstborn. I also loved that Tybalt was in the story the whole time this time. There is a lot of action, a lot of intrigue, and some interesting mythology. I always love how well balanced McGuire’s books are, they are just a joy to read!

This book also included a short story from Raj’s POV which details some of the time in the Court of Dreaming Cats while Raj rules in Tybalt’s place. This was a very interesting look into the Court of Cats and I enjoyed this as well.

Overall this was very well done, I continue to love this series! This whole series has been incredibly well written and is a great balance of world-building, action, adventure, mystery, and wonderful characters. I would highly recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy and/or faerie.

I hate when a new book by this author comes out: I know I will devour it quickly, and it will be at least another year before I can read another in this series. Toby has come such a long way since the beginning of this series, and this book just shows how. She now has a huge circle of friends/family, a group she knows she can trust implicitly. She knows she has to protect them, but she can’t always, and when the Luidaeg comes to have Toby fulfill her debt, she knows she must let them enter danger. This book was filled with the flowery, wonderful writing the author is great at, we learn even more about Toby’s extended family (make sure to read the novella at the end), and we are inching closer to the end of the whole series as Toby’s number of allies grows as she plays her role as hero of the realm. Every book gets better and better, and I don’t want this series to end. If you love urban fantasy, this series is one of the best. Highly recommend!

As a fan of the October Daye series, I want say it’s a real joy to me to return. I’ve been following the series since book 1, Rosemary and Rue, so there are many storylines I have been waiting for to get its own novel. So I’m sure you can see that The Unkindest Tide is definitely one of those installments in a series, I would not miss to read.

As you know, Luidaeg made a deal with the Selkies long ago because of what happened to her children the Roane. The Selkies were told one day they would have to make a choice which are to live in the sea or live on the land. The worst thing is not all of the Selkies would get those choices. Sadly, the day has arrived for the Selkies to pay for their debts. The same goes for October who will play a part in the process while also paying her debt to Luidaeg. So Toby and her group travel out to sea to the Duchy of Ships where there will be convocation of the Selkies. However, once they arrive, Toby soon learns that the Selkies are not the only ones who are in trouble. Dianda Lorden’s brother also arrives and arrests her for treason. To make matters worse, Toby’s the only one who can rescue the Lorden’s youngest son who is trapped back home and could be taken as a hostage if found by his uncle. Oh, did I mention a Selkie woman ends up dead? Yup, its just a typical day for October Daye.

Overall, The Unkindest Tide was a fantastic addition to the series! As I said before, this installment had a plot that all fans have been waiting for since One Salt Sea. So the waiting for it was definitely worth it. I was happy to see the Luidaeg finally get closure for what happened to the Roane. She really did take a big step forward and is finally letting go of the past. Oh, fans will most definitely be please to know we get plenty of Toby and Tybalt emotional scenes that will leave you squealing and wanting more. Also, I enjoyed the Raj novella included, Hope is Swift, set at the same time as The Unkindest Tide. It was really interesting to see what goes on in Raj’s head and what his feelings are as he gets closer to becoming king. Now the waiting begins again for the next installment, A Killing Frost.




*I received The Unkindest Tide from Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley in return for an honest review.*

The Luidaeg finally calls in Toby's debt and needs her to help resolve her selkie problem. Toby, the Luidaeg, and a few others go the Duchy of Ships. I had been waiting for this book for a long time. There weren't any surprises as to what the Luidaeg wanted Toby to do. It was easy to guess considering Toby's special abilities.

The Duchy of Ships was interesting. I always like it when Toby goes to other places and explores more of the world. The leader of the Duchy of ships was awesome, and I really hope she will be in the series again at some point. While there a murder occurs, and Toby takes it upon herself to investigate. This was the least interesting part of the story. Most of it involved newly introduced characters that I had no attachment to.

I really enjoyed this book. It was not the most exciting or revelatory in the series, but it will have significant consequences later on. As to what those consequences are, who knows? But I can't wait to find out.

I've read enough of McGuire's paranormal series––all of the InCryptids and Ghost Roads series, that is––to have a general expectation of any McGuire book that comes winging in after eight or ten previous additions to the story, although "The Unkindest Tide" was my first book from this particular series. Which is a convoluted way of saying, the more McGuire I read, the more respect I hold for this particular author's skill and deftness at handling massive, interwoven worlds, each replete with dozens of characters with backstories. Indeed, McGuire has this pretty much down to a science, and the format of "The Unkindest Tide" reflects the same structure as many others before it: roughly the full first chapter is dedicated to backstory, incredibly convoluted and dizzyingly self-contradictory in places, although not in a way that diminishes enjoyment of the plot. In fact, October Daye herself notes at one point that "Like I said earlier, there's a lot of history around here, and sometimes it doesn't summarize very well." But it is always entertaining! And useful for introducing someone like me, who doesn't necessarily want to read all previous twelve books just now, to what's gone before.

After the backstory chapter comes the setup for the journey or quest the character must undertake, then the quest itself, some complicating twists and turns, and then a climax that involves characters looking for an innovative way around the problem, usually one that requires people from varying sides of a conflict to work together. Then the closing chapter or two, in which ramifications and consequences are commented on. And finally, after some commentary on home and family (and found family), McGuire wraps up with a short story (novella? novelette?) featuring an ancillary character not involved in the main plot.

Look, McGuire's not shy about making points with her writing, and this book, like all of the other McGuire books I've read, is extremely pointy. That doesn't diminish my enjoyment in the least, and I have to admit, settling into this series mid-flow was a whole lot easier than settling into the InCryptids series mid-flow, which pretty much didn't work out for me. (I went back and read ALL of those, but then, I had a slow summer last year.) With McGuire, you always know what you're getting: a damn fun story, packed with voicy one-liners and colorful characters, and an ending that's sure to tug more than one heart-string. (I'm still chortling over the "Where did you think all this blood came from? Blood Costco?" line, honestly.) If McGuire's Wayward Children series is a laboratory for experimentation with different worlds and forms, the October Daye series is peak pulp serieal fiction form, and I absolutely LOVE knowing that something like this is out there in the world.

I received a copy of The Unkindest Tide through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Unkindest Tide is the thirteenth novel in the October Daye series, and once again we find Toby up to her neck in trouble. What a shock, we know. At least this time we know it's because Toby is keeping a promise, instead of just having a talent for causing trouble.
The Luidaeg has called in Toby's debt. It's time for the Selkies to pay their debts. Generations ago, their forefathers slaughtered the children of Luidaeg. Now it's time for the final price of that slaughter to be paid. And October is needed to see things through to the end.
This novel also includes an all-new novella, titled Hope is Swift. And it follows the one and only Raj. Here we see what he's been up to, while his uncle and Toby were busy dealing with the Selkies.

“My family tree has a lot of thorns, and a tendency to draw blood.” (Seanan McGuire, The Unkindest Tide)

The Unkindest Tide is a tale we all knew was coming. The Luidaeg herself warned Toby that her debt would be paid off when she helped her deal with the Selkies and their final punishment. But it's still hard to accept that the time as finally come.
This was a fast-paced read, and in any story involving Toby, it ended up being a lot more complicated than one would originally expect. What had started out as a quest to conclude the payment and punishment of the Selkies evolved into something much larger.
But that makes sense. Nothing is ever done lightly in the world of the fae, and there are always consequences. There are also people who will always try to interfere. And people who won't think past themselves when making a decision. That's just the way of this life.
And it's all something that Seanan McGuire perfectly captured here. That's part of the reason that this read was just so intense. The emotional ties didn't hurt either – if you take a moment to think about the Selkies and the named characters in that group, you'll know exactly what I mean by that one.
Seeing more of the water side of the world of fae was fascinating. We already had an idea of how they worked, but seeing them in one court versus seeing them in another setting truly does change things. And it gives us a broader scope to work with.
Looking back on it, I can see some new crumbs and hints left out along the way over the course of The Unkindest Tide. I know that Seanan McGuire will pick up the threads in time, the real question is how long we'll be left waiting on those bits.
While there was a lot going in this novel, there was also a lot to love. I couldn't even begin to list out everything, even if I wanted to do something like that. And as per usual, I loved the inclusion of some of the side characters, mainly Tybalt and Quentin. Especially Tybalt, if I'm being honest.
I should warn readers – this book is going to be hard to put down. I was lucky enough to be reading it over the long weekend, which allowed me to stay up a bit later. I actually stayed up past three, in order to read the whole thing in one sitting. And it was totally worth it.
The Unkindest Tides was an amazing whirlwind of a read, one that I do not regret reading. Though I'll confess that I'm sad to be finally caught up with the series. At least I still have all of the novellas to read through. That's something.

Hope is Swift is the novella included at the end of this book, and it focused on Raj and what he was up to while everyone else was away. As it turns out, the Prince of Cats has been working hard on getting ready to take up the throne.
Since he's been getting left out a lot lately, it was both delightful and refreshing to see more of the little cat. And his adventure was unexpected, though in some ways much calmer than what Toby had been facing.
And of course, it was so much fun to see the world through his eyes. Especially seeing how he felt about all of the characters we know and love. And of course, this novella made me desperate to read the rest of the novellas in the series. And now that I've read all of the novels, I think I'm going to do just that.

I absolutely adored this book. It gave me every single thing I love about this series all wrapped up in one fantastic story. For a long time, we’ve been talking about the Luidaeg and her complicated history with the Selkies. Well, here, the bill finally comes due. Now that Toby is strong enough in her power to change blood, the Sea Witch is calling in her debts and forcing Toby to turn the Selkies back into Roane.

It’s not a straightforward journey. Things happen in the politics of the Undersea and we meet another Firstborn. But at the heart of this book is what it means to be family. For Toby, with Tybalt and Quenton and the others who have joined her tribe— but perhaps more so for the Luidaeg. For so long, she has mourned her children, but she has family now too.

I don’t want to spoil too much because this book really is so much about the journey. But I will say I love who October has become. I hate Gilly. A lot. But I think we are, at least in some ways, supposed to. After all, so many people have grown to see October as a champion and a friend. Yet her own daughter can’t stand her... and isn’t that just a kick in the teeth?

This series it still going strong, even after 13 installments. Would definitely recommend for fans of urban fantasy. Great action and solid feels.

"Now in hardcover, the thirteenth novel of the Hugo-nominated, New York Times-bestselling Toby Daye urban fantasy series!

Hundreds of years ago, the Selkies made a deal with the sea witch: they would have the sea for as long as she allowed it, and when the time came, she would call in all their debts at once. Many people assumed that day would never come. Those people were wrong.

When the Luidaeg - October "Toby" Daye's oldest and most dangerous ally - tells her the time has come for the Selkies to fulfill their side of the bargain, and that Toby must be a part of the process, Toby can't refuse. Literally. The Selkies aren't the only ones in debt to the Luidaeg, and Toby has to pay what she owes like anyone else. They will travel to the fabled Duchy of Ships and call a convocation of the Selkies, telling them to come and meet the Luidaeg's price...or face the consequences.

Of course, nothing is that simple. When Dianda Lorden's brother appears to arrest Dianda for treason against the Undersea, when a Selkie woman is stripped of her skin and then murdered, when everything is falling apart, that's when Toby will have to answer the real question of the hour.

Is she going to sink? Or is she going to swim?"

I'm going to start referring to Seanan McGuire as the Urban Fantasy Stephen King, she really has the output to match!

Well, it is finally here. For many, many books, we have known that Toby will have to pay her huge debt to the Sea Witch. And for several books, we have known payment will involve the Selkies and restoring the Roane. Finally the Luidaeg calls in the debt, and Toby’s whole gang, absent only Raj, heads out to sea.
We get to meet Captain Pete (one of my new favorite characters, just you wait) and re-unite with some old favorites (come on, Dianda Lorden is pretty kick-ass). The Dutchy of Ships is an interesting place and I enjoyed the first real description we get of Undersea politics. We knew from previous books that a war between land and sea would be a BAD THING but we finally get a better idea why, as we meet more Undersea fae and glimpse their powers.
Toby gets to take a quick jaunt underwater to play the role of hero, and for once, nothing goes terribly wrong. The problems are back on land- or at least the solid floor of a Dutchy floating in the middle of the ocean. Someone doesn’t want Toby to keep her bargain with the Luidaeg and commits murder to try and prevent it. Toby attempts to find the culprit amid a wash of politics.
Overall, an enjoyable book. I appreciated seeing the Luidaeg interact with so many more characters (no spoilers here, but when you read it, I think you will see who I mean). She finally seems to have real personality and not just be acting because someone forced her to do something. I can’t wait to see what the repercussions of this book will be. A solid 4.5 stars. Oh, and for those of you like myself, who love Tybalt, well, there is a particular exchange between Toby and Tybalt that I am sure will have you squealing. Now go get started reading.

Another great book in the October Daye books. Toby is drawn into the world of the Selkies and her dangerous ally the Luidaeg as old promises must be kept and lives lost to the fae.

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Do you ever pick up a book in a series and start reading only to find out it is kind of the middle filler book to give just the tiniest bit of information before the real drama goes down? This book was like that for me. There was so much hype over what might go down with the selkies that I felt a little disappointed that everything wasn't as dramatic. I was ready for the Luidaeg to kick butt and take names. Instead, not much of that happened. Still, I quickly devoured this book just due to my love for October and Tybalt. The ending was a little anticlimactic but left it off to a good start for the next book. Hopefully, the pace will kick up once more.

I thought this would be the last book in the series since the Luidaeg calls in all her favors with Toby. But it’s not! There will be more.

I like this series because people change. There are consequences for actions in earlier books and stories. The ending will be satisfying, even if it is not 100% happy.

The accompanying novella is about recovering from trauma, from Raj’s point of view.

I’ve been reading the October Day series by Seanan McGuire since the first book, Rosemary and Rue. If I have a conversation with you and we start talking about books, I will for sure mention Seanan McGuire and one of her excellent series, such as the InCryptid series, the Wayward Children, series, or this one. She is one of the few authors that I actively search for as to when her next book is coming out.

So it makes me sad to not give this book five stars or even four. I wasn’t completely let down by the reading experience. Toby finally has to pay for all the favors the Luidaeg has granted her over the years. But the payment felt light. Just like this book felt light. But I expect a lot more from McGuire because I know she has the writing talent to be able to deliver.

One of the things that I enjoy so much with the October Daye series is the details in the story. The Fae and all the other mythical people and creatures have very complex lineages, customs, and rules. McGuire’s books need to be written in depth to encompass all of these details. To me, this book was a shadow of previous books. The story was still there but the depth of the book was light and airy.

Will I still recommend the Toby Daye series? Of course. Will I read the next book in this series? Yes. Do I think you should read this one. Yes, especially if you’ve been reading the rest of the series. I would love to hear what you’ve thought of The Unkindest Tide if you decide to read it.

The Luidaeg has finally come to collect her due - I have been waiting for this for so long! The story felt much more personal than the others as it wasn't so focused on an external adventure - but Toby had some internal demons to explore. This was a story about family, and after everything that Toby has been though, this was truly an emotional read. I love the depth of characters that McGuire gives us, and I am really looking forward to more Toby Daye!

I adore Seanan McGuire Fae series and recommend them to anyone who reads in this genre. She sticks close to the myths yet has made them her own at the same time. The women are all on equal footing with the men and the romance is believable. I will continue to read her books and this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group - DAW for the opportunity to review this as an eARC in exchange for my open and honest opinion.

The character October Daye comes to you in this novel from a deeply personal place. Unlike other novels in the October Daye series that are typically full of high adventure and blood feuds, in some cases with literal blood, this one speaks to the heart and soul of what makes October, October. Who she is. That is her love of her family. One of the members of her family is the Luidaeg and the Luidaeg has come to finally collect her due.

This book speaks to the softer, more tender, and rawer part of October's personality. The part of her that defines what a family is. In October's world, and I think I can speak for the world in general, a family is not what is defined by birth or blood but what is defined as who becomes apart of our lives in ways that we can not let go. They become a part of who we are. They become a part of our bones, our blood, and our cells. Our very skin. Much like the selkies. October is the embodiment of that. In some ways, I think Mcguire's writing, in general, is much like that. You see examples of that theme in much of her writing. The importance of family and how a family is defined in more ways than just blood. I think it is an important theme to have at the forefront of writing right now with what is going on in the world. It is a positive message to spread.

Long ago The Luidaeg, The Sea Witch made a deal with The Selkies. Some day they had to make a choice, they had to choose whether to live in the sea or live on the land and not all of them would get that choice. October would play a part in the choice, and that is all the reader knew up until this book. We learned this early on in the series and had been dealt bits and pieces of information up until this point that has created a grand story which is this book.

All I can say is that Seanan McGuire nailed it.

The bond of family is held in high esteem. Family in its many forms. The book wraps up that many questions I had but still kept me guessing what is next. Unlike many seasoned series out there that may be getting stale in the narrative, but not this one.

The narrative is still going strong and in some instances better. Pick up the October Daye series. She is a strong female character, great uses of magic, great world-building, diverse characters, and a world that keeps getting better and better.

It's always a joy to return to this series and see what October and the gang are going to do next. This adventure deals with Undersea fae politics, and a certain Sea Witch's issues with the selkies. We get to visit an entirely different fae kingdom, with awesome and inventive details, as usual. This is definitely one of the strongest urban fantasy series out there!