The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuireMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the thirteenth book in the October Daye series, and it is still going strong. One thing that stands out to me is McGuire's trademark of playing the long game--plot threads laid down in the earlier books are still coming to fruition. One in particular, forming the story of this book, is the long-delayed promise by the Luidaeg to call in the debts of the Selkies, a debt from long ago when their ancestors killed her children. She has delayed that promise as long as she can, the debt has come due, and she requires Toby's help.
This is something of a detective story, as Toby has to hunt down the person who tries to stand in the way of her fulfilling this promise. It's also a bit of a thriller, as she has to find a way to carry out what is expected of her that doesn't involve the sacrifice of the Selkies, which now include her own daughter, Gilly. Along the way, we get more insight into the Luidaeg, who is one of my favorite characters in the October Daye universe. We also get a glimpse of another facet of Faerie. I did get more than a bit perturbed at Gilly; she should know by now that the Fae, with rare exceptions, are not all that nice, and expecting them to be other than they are is an exercise in futility. She needs to grow up.
This story is not quite as bloody as many October Daye adventures, but it is still intense. The ending is another gamechanger for the series, perhaps not as monumental as a few books back, but still important. It's going to be interesting to see what the author does with the series going forward.
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