Marcon was very long, and very tiring, and totally cut me off from all Internet access, resulting in a whole lot of links building up while I was wandering through the wilds of Ohio. So here's our first review roundup for the month of June! Fun for the whole family.

I want to take a moment, before moving on to the meat of the post, to note that I do not link to every review. No, really, I don't! I don't link to reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. I don't link to reviews, either positive or negative, that contain major spoilers. I don't link to reviews where the reviewer seems to be being intentionally mean, rather than just being negative, because I don't want to cause them to get spammed by people trying to defend my honor. And I don't always link to reviews that are very short, or happen to come in at the same time as eighteen other reviews of the same thing. I love reviews, I want you all to write them (or not, as the fancy strikes you). If I don't link to yours in specific, I promise, it's not personal. Anyway...

First up, I was interviewed by the Innsmouth Free Press, which was totally awesome, since I spent the entire process picturing my interviewer as a Deep One. Anything that allows me to picture people as Deep Ones is a-okay by me. There are some fun questions in this one, and I, of course, am reasonably fond of my answers. Give it a peek.

Paul Allen has posted a fantastic review of Feed at the Barnes and Noble book club, and says "A cool fusion of campy post-apocalyptic zombie horror (George Romero is referred to as “one of the accidental saviors of the human race”) and highly intelligent political thriller a la Richard Condon’s The Manchurian Candidate, Feed—the first installment of Grant’s Newsflesh trilogy—is a surprisingly well-constructed and deeply themed novel." Also "Plain and simple, zombie fiction fans should definitely seek out and read this ingenious (and deeply thought-provoking) novel. I'd even recommend this novel to mainstream fiction readers looking for something new—if they don't mind a little rotting flesh in their literary escapism, that is..."

Awesome!

Strange Ink has posted a very sweet Feed review that opens with the admission "I almost didn't buy Feed." Since one of my best friends almost didn't read Feed due to zombie issues, I find this admission very sweet, and the faith that it represents very touching. She goes on to say, "Feed is not just another book about zombies. Feed is about politics and terrorism and truth. Feed is about fear, and how that is just as much of a weapon as a bomb, or a syringe full of virus. It is the kind of book that I want to buy extra copies of so I can stuff it into the hands of all my friends. (Seriously, I raved about it for a good five minutes at the party for my Goddaughter's baptism this weekend.)" Feed is all these things, and this is the kind of review statement I sort of want to write in Sharpie on my bedroom ceiling.

Eric at Flames Rising has posted a review of Feed, and says, "Here we have the ultimate pursuit of truth slipstreamed through both science fiction and horror. Here we have a book that broaches a subject that seems to be more in line with what most critics would call 'literary fiction.' But Feed has it in spades, not only is it a book that I believe will be something of a jumping on point for the zombie fiction of the twenty first century, it completely lapses itself back and forth from the pursuit of truth to the pursuit of survival against government conspiracies, to survival against hordes of the undead. I can not tell you dear readers just how much I have enjoyed this book, and at a whopping 590 pages in paperback format which was released by Orbit books, it is a fantastically fast read." Also: "Georgia Mason is possibly one of the strongest female characters I have read in a very long time." Um. Squee.

Our last review for today comes from Bookalicious, where a lovely Feed review has been posted. The review says, "The characters were written fantastically, the different viruses how they reacted, the different ways people reanimated. The fanatic religious element, betrayals, the mystery and the story line had me hooked. I am dying to get my hands on the next book. I need to know what happens next, and in a good way not in a 'ARGH open ending way.'" Rockin'!

That's a good place to stop for right now. Lots more review links to come, and then, possibly? A nice long nap.

Okay, wow, the links are building up like lightning these days. It's a little daunting, especially since I keep losing links I wanted to talk about in the midst of the jumble of review links. This means it's time for another roundup. Fun for the whole family!

First up today, my beloved Rae (creator of the "Ryman for President" buttons we had at the book release) has posted her party report and book recommendation for Feed. She says, "I love this book. And I want all of you to read it. Except, if you hate it, I kinda don't want to know. That's horrible, right? But that's how much I love it. I don't want to hear people ragging on it. Every time I see a review of it posted somewhere, I hesitate before clicking on the link, fearful that it'll be bad and I won't be able to deal. I may have issues."

She may have issues, but this is seriously the sweetest thing anyone's said about my work in a long time. I love Rae so.

Reads From the Field has posted a lovely review of Feed. This is the Plainsfield Public Library District book blog, and it says "This compelling and suspenseful story gives an interesting and intriguing look at our world after the zombie takeover, and even gives a reasonable explanation for the virus spreading. The book isn't super gory, and the story line is great, so even if you're not a super zombie freak like me, I think you'll enjoy the book as much as I did." Glee.

fullcontactmuse has posted a very nice review of Feed, and says "Feed was an excellent and fascinating read for me and I highly recommend it. This is her book that I like most so far and it will live on my bookshelf next to Stephen King and Clive Barker when I finally get it back from the friends I've lent it to. I'll be coming back and reading this story again." So I'm keeping good company, at least in that household.

antigoneschase has also posted a lovely review of Feed, and says "When I say this book is a roller coaster ride, I'm not kidding. Between relief when people escape death, to sadness when they don't; with every testing kit they do to see if the virus amplification has started in their own bodies; with every lighthearted comment (that is completely serious) from Georgia to her brother that she's eventually going to be an only child, you are ripped from one emotion to the next until you feel almost raw with it. You want these people to survive. You want the story to continue. You want it to stop, so everyone's safe. But no one is safe in a world full of Kellis-Amberlee, and you're a fool if you think they are." Nice!

I will close this roundup with unadulterated love and happiness from a total stranger, because it made me giggle. B.E. Sanderson says "It's that good. The story is smart and funny and poignant and if it wasn't a total sacrilege, I'd pull all the pages out, just to roll around in them. (Better writing through osmosis, doncha know.)" I share this temptation from time to time; it's just never been aimed at me before. It's been a good night. Also...

DINO DANCE PARTY!

That's a full lid for tonight. See you at the morning briefing.

It's time, once again, to clear out my list o' links before something on my computer actually manages to catch fire. Yay! The links have been building up like nobody's business; I attribute this, in part, to the fact that I put out two books in a little over two months, which makes it a miracle that I still speak English, rather than some exotic new language of my own devising. (That, or I've had a full-on psychotic break and only think I still speak English, in which case, dweezle wooblet mugga ze.)

To start today's roundup, here's a lovely record of the Feed book release event at Borderlands, written by TJ at Book Love Affair. There are pictures of the brain cupcakes and the fabulous Ryman for President buttons that Rae made, and it makes me quite happy. Be sure to read the comments, which are very complimentary of my book events. Yay!

Azz has posted a combo-book review and event review, which is fantastic, detailed, spoiler-free, and includes the best "Should I read Feed?" quizlet I've seen yet. Also, to quote two of my favorite bits...

"If you do emphatically do not like reading about the undead, do not read this book. It is not an unending gore porn festival like many forms of zombie fiction, but there are zombies; they are technically still alive, just horribly infected, and they do bite and feed and need killing. If you wanted a gore porn festival with a game of Zombie Survivor where you watch to see which one or two of the party make it back to an uninfected zone alive, this is not what you are getting; this is the civilization of the post-zombie times, not a survivalist picnic. (Ask Shaun how he feels about the military's recommendations on what to do in case of zombie attack sometime.) I would not give this book to my mother. I might leave this book where my father could find it, but I would not tell my father that he should read it. I would (and already have, quite enthusiastically) tell my best friend that he should read it (as soon as possible)."

...and...

"If you are against vaccination, for your personal safety, do not tell this to the author. The author's hobbies include studying disease for fun, not just for research. If you say something stupid like "It's not like anybody's ever died from smallpox! It's a PERSONAL CHOICE!" ... punching you may be the author's PERSONAL CHOICE. I hope you don't mind."

So very, very true. Moving on, I did an author review with The Intelli-Gent, which was fun, creative, and came up with some rockin' new questions, including some very specific state of publishing questions that I don't get asked all that often. Prior to the interview, Bryce reviewed Rosemary and Rue and A Local Habitation, just to prepare.

About Rosemary, he says, "Rosemary and Rue stacks up very well against all of the urban fantasy I've read in the last couple of years. The characters, setting and plot all come together to make you feel something, and thus it becometh a page turner. If you're a fan of the genre, you're going to want to add this to your list of things to read this year."

About A Local Habitation, he says, "A Local Habitation is a fine sequel. In many ways, it builds on what was already there, and there are really no major drawbacks to the book. It's nice to see an author that's consistent, as so many seem to have that second book slump, where it just doesn't measure up to their first brilliant idea."

Works for me, and big thanks to TJ, Azz, and Bryce for the interview and reviews. Now if I can just get through the rest of these links before my computer explodes...

Last week was a big, big week for me, at least if you categorize "Seanan is running around in circles screaming like an idiot" as "big week." How big? Well, for starters, The Onion A.V. Club reviewed Feed. YES. I AM IN THE ONION. FUCK YEAH, SEAKING. Ahem. The reviewer says:

"Set more than two decades after an uprising of the living dead, Feed uses meticulous world-building to shape a narrative that's believable, thrilling, and instantly clear. From examining the political consequences of a world constantly under siege to detailing how blogging and Internet news feeds would develop in the face of the threat, Grant's creativity and thoroughness give her narrative an unshakable credibility."

...if you'll excuse me a minute, I'll be in my bunk.

Not that I'll be staying there for long, because io9 also posted a review of Feed. Holy cats. They call Feed "perfect summer apocalypse reading," and say "This fast-paced undead thriller will be great for people who enjoy their zombie slaughtering with a hearty slice of social commentary." The whole review is worth reading, but those were the quotes that really buttered my biscuits. (io9 also did a fun and awesome post on the book website. Check it out.)

The Book Smugglers are frequent reviewers of my material, and I was thrilled when Thea gave Feed a review. She says "More than anything else, I loved the amount of thought Ms. Grant put into writing this book. Feed is INCREDIBLY detailed; George's world is fleshed out, from the genesis of the deadly pathogen to the constant vigilance required living with this airborne virus. Ms. Grant's vision of a future American ravaged by KA is grimly complete." Yay!

I also did what's called an "Inspirations and Influences" post for the Book Smugglers, talking about what inspires me, what drives me to write, and where the Newsflesh trilogy came from. The giveaway is over, but the interview remains.

Jenn Brozek has posted a combined review and interview at the Apex blog, and says "Feed is the best zombie book I have ever read. It is smart, fast paced, and intriguing. What could have been a run-of-the-mill zombie farce is, instead, a near future political thriller with twists and turns that you can see coming but only in retrospect." Glee.

Anna has entered Feed in her book log, and says "I’m not sure what impressed me more, and there’s a lot to impress here: the backstory of the Kellis-Amberlee virus; the various complex social and political changes that happen in America as a result of the Rising; the fact that in this world, George Romero is considered a national hero; or the upsurge of bloggers as a source of organized journalism. Either way, it makes me very much want to up the ante on my own writing efforts. Take note, my fellow writers. This is how worldbuilding is done."

Victory is mine, victory is mine, joy in the morning, victory is mine. I have drunk deep from the keg of glory.

Glee.

The links are building up, and they're starting to threaten a coup, which means it's time for—yes—another review roundup. This one is purely focused on the Toby Daye books, since otherwise, the Toby-specific links are going to come for me in the night. Onward!

Jessica at Book Bound has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "Toby has made her way into my top three heroines list and I am doubtful that she will be surpassed. I am sickened by the fact that it took me so long to find out about this book and then finally read it and I absolutely cannot wait to follow October Daye on her next adventure." Also: "Completely original and exhilarating, Rosemary and Rue is one book that will forever remain on my bookshelf." Awesome!

Mardel at Rabid Reader has also posted a review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "The narrative on this novel was good, the dialogue was fine, there were clues to let me think about who the culprit might be, lots of action (unfortunately mostly in the form of injuries to October, but it's action) and the promise of happiness for October." (There's also some awesome objection to the amount of injury Toby sustains, which made me giggle a lot. Oh, pulp detective tropes, is there nothing you can't improve?) I'm pleased.

calico_reaction has posted a very long, thoughtful, and well-considered review of Rosemary and Rue. I'm not going to do any pull quotes, because frankly, the things that she's bringing up, especially as regards Toby's relationship to Devin, don't work nearly as well out of context, and the context is good. The things that bother other people aren't always the things that bother me, but I love to see them articulated and thought-out to this degree. It makes it easier for me to evaluate my own work in the light of how other people will see it.

Because it's always good to balance the sincere with the sincerely silly, I give you The Wanlorn's review of A Local Habitation, which involves a lot of caps lock and flailing. I mean, look, here's a quote:

"I'll be honest, internet. I go back and forth between BFF-shipping Toby and the Luidaeg and, you know. Actually shipping them. I mean, come on. Toby calls her to let her know she won't make their weekly visit. And the Luidaeg started calling Toby to harass her in the first place because she was lonely. The Luidaeg threatens to kill her all the time, and might very well go through with it when Toby asks her final question! MENT2B."

COMIC GENIUS. Also kinda spoilerific. But? COMIC GENIUS.

Over at From Nancy Drew to Dante's Inferno (great name!), Ex Libris has posted a lovely review of A Local Habitation, and says "I discovered McGuire last year when I was hunting online for new authors. All my favorite ones had no new books out and I was desperate for new fantasy/paranormal/mystery books. McGuire is brilliant!" I...can live with that, really. Onward!

Hagel Rat over at Unbound has posted a review of A Local Habitation, and starts with a lovely statement of purpose for urban fantasy. Namely:

"Urban Fantasy at it's very best has the gritty noir and cynicism of Chandler's Philip Marlowe, a dry humour bordering on bitter and a well constructed, logical, fully functioning supernatural element. This doesn't mean cute fluffy vamps that are always falling in love with their sworn enemy. It means a system that makes sense and carries consistently through the series."

Best. Thing. Ever. She goes on to say "This isn't paranormal romance, this is a mystery which the protagonist must solve against the odds and in spite of the threat to their own lives which will suggest a simple case is rather more complex. For me it accesses the same delight as the old noir mysteries too, but with this new twist to freshen it all up." Glee.

Finally, a mini-review of A Local Habitation which notes favorably that we fixed the pronunciation of "kitsune." We can be taught!

Now we must rinse.

Look! I was the Big Idea on John Scalzi's blog! I'm pretty delighted. Also, his introduction is awesome:

"Oh Noes! It’s the Zombie Apocalypse™! It’s the end of the world! Yes, yes, Mira Grant said, zombies, end of the world, blah blah blah. Been there. Done that. Got the bloody t-shirt. But what comes after the end of the world, when the world actually is still there? One answer: Feed, which takes a couple decades beyond the zombie apocalypse to a world which has, in its way, adjusted to the undead. And Grant (the pen name for current Campbell Award nominee Seanan McGuire) does a pretty good job with it, according to a starred review in Publishers Weekly: 'Shunning misogynistic horror tropes in favor of genuine drama and pure creepiness, McGuire has crafted a masterpiece of suspense with engaging, appealing characters.' Well, then."

Thank you, Mr. Scalzi.

Also in Feed-related news, Indigo has posted her review, and says "I have read everything Seanan has published to date. And while I like and enjoy the October Daye series quite well, my feeling is that Newsflesh: Feed is the beginning of something truly phenomenal." Glee! (She also put up a TV Tropes page for the book. Now that's love. Be careful; there are spoilers.)

ash_of_roses has posted a review of Feed, and says "This is the kind of book you fall in love with. You fall fast enough you don't realize what's even happening until it's much too late. You fall so fast and so hard that you almost forget what the book has promised you it is going to be. When those promises come true you want it to be a betrayal, but it isn't. This book doesn't lie about what it is; from the blood-smeared front cover to the very last page, this book never pretends to be gentle, or kind, or have a happy ending This book does not lie, and it does not apologize—nor should it."

That may be one of the nicest things anybody's ever said about my work. Again, cross-stitch, on my wall, oh, yes.

In case you missed it, check out this utterly bad-ass website that Orbit put together to promote the book, complete with more bells and whistles than a Chuck E. Cheese. Also check out the awesome new wallpaper they've posted (and remember, there's more awesome wallpaper at MiraGrant.com).

That's all for right now. Whee!

Today's fun and excitement begins with an interview with Mira Grant, hosted by Book Banter. There's even a handy list of some of my/Mira's favorite features from the world of zombie fiction. Go forth, and enjoy the gonzo!

Book Banter has also posted an excellent review of Feed [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxy], which you can read by clicking here. Alex says "Mira Grant is not simply telling a good story about zombies; she is instead telling a fantastic story about a group of young bloggers covering the campaign of a hopeful presidential candidate in a world where there are zombies and fear is a part of everyone's everyday life. And as the book comes to a close, the reader realizes there are things in this world that are worse than zombies. They're humans. If you're going to read a book that has anything to do with zombies at all, read this one." Woo!

Book Bitch has posted a short Feed review, and says "Awesome. Fantastic. A post-outbreak, futuristic zombie tale that feels like it could actually happen. Feed is a totally creepy page-turner and first in the Newsflesh trilogy."

Amy at A Room of One's Own has chosen Feed as her bookstore staff pick, and says "Georgia is the antithesis of the generic blonde scream queen, and between her dry sarcasm and her brother's sharp humor, the dialogue throughout the entire book is snappy and real and riveting." Also: "The plot is diverting, the movement is fast-paced and satisfying. I couldn't put it down and the ending was like a punch in the gut. The second book in the trilogy comes out next May, and I can't wait. Read it!"

This is a command that I can get behind.

First up for today, Stephanie Leary has posted about becoming a fan of my work. This is charming, awesome, and really sweet. I especially appreciate the acknowledgment that my website does not suck. I think she's right in her assessment that we're the same kind of geek, too, which is awesome.

Because it's Feed's bookday, it's also time for some reviews. Unshelved is a web comic about librarians, and, being awesome people, the creators also provide space for book reviews. Well, they've posted a review of Feed, which says "This is smart zombie fiction, a mystery/thriller first and a zombie book second. Add the new media angle and the details of a society as obsessed with tracking infection as governing itself and you have a book that entertains with several different storylines." (They also have a note on who the book is recommended for, which says "Anyone who has discussed what a zombie-proof society would look like with good friends right after a Mountain Dew and Red-Vine fueled zombie movie marathon.") Hee.

Brian at Blog Critics has posted a lengthy review of Feed, and says "These days I am often intrigued by cover blurbs for novels, but rarely surprised by the words within. Mira Grant's novel Feed starts out innocently enough but morphs into a complex, amazingly intelligent, engaging story that kept me reading late into the night a few nights. This is not your average zombie story and easily in the top three books I've read so far in 2010."

Also, and I love this: "The first few chapters serve as an introduction to the Mason siblings' world, innocuously sucking you into liking these quirky characters and the bizarre zombie world they inhabit. It starts slowly as Grant rolls the Trojan Horse through your front gate and sets you up for an emotional thrill ride of politics, espionage, terrorism, and murder. I urge you to let Grant lay her trap. You'll get plenty of zombies, but soon see that the real monsters, just like in our own world, are all too human." Dude, I may need to get that done up in cross-stitch and hang it on my wall. But then, any review that closes with "Honestly, if you only read one book about zombies this year, read Mira Grant's Feed" has my love.

Slamel over at Elitist Book Reviews has posted a review of Feed, and says "Feed was a fun, and unique, ride through the flavor of the year. If we could choose a zombie book to recommend as a final foray into the zombie tropes, it would be Feed." The review is pretty awesome on the whole. I'm pleased.

Finally for right now, Adele over at Unbound tossed me some fantastic interview questions, and has posted her equally fantastic interview. We talk Toby, zombies, filk, and the Black Death, which is always a good way to spend an afternoon. Check it out!

Now we must rinse.

Final reminder: Tomorrow morning, I'll be choosing one winner of an ARC of Feed by random selection. Throw in your lot, and see what happens!

Now, on to the show!

Renee, at Renee's Book Addiction, has posted her review of the A Local Habitation audiobook. Yes, you read that right—she reviewed the audio edition. My first audio review! She says "About halfway through, I thought I had figured out “whodunit”. I was in a state of suspense through the second half of the story wondering if I was right or not. In the end, I was only partially correct, but it was such fun trying to look at the mystery from different angles. The mystery-lover in me really enjoyed this." Also, she loves Mary Robinette Kowal as the narrator. Thank you, Mary!

A Working Title has posted a review of A Local Habitation, and says "A Local Habitation is a great sequel to Rosemary and Rue," and "The blending of technology and magic in the story is fascinating." (She also found January a little flat, something that will hopefully be addressed by the short stories I'm working on. Yay for back story!)

Chrissa at Supernatural Fairy Tales has posted a review of A Local Habitation, and says "Toby's world gives me the shivers as she's wandering down dark roads and flashes of delight as she tells stories about the creatures she's encountered. Following her down just one of those of dark roads makes for an exciting and entertaining read." Oh, I like that.

Finally for tonight, Erika at Jawas Read Too has posted a lovely review of Feed. She says "With Feed, Mira Grant proves she’s an author to be reckoned with. The book may be lengthy (almost 600 pages), but we have to remember it’s the first in a self-contained trilogy. There’s such a large and complex story to tell—a lesser book would not be this involved. If readers haven’t already started paying attention to Seanan McGuire because of her October Daye books, Feed will do the trick."

That's it for right now. Phew.

(As a quick introductory aside: remember that you have until Sunday night to enter to win an ARC of Feed. This drawing is open to everyone located on the actual planet Earth. If you want to enter from Mars, or from a parallel dimension, you have to pay me for postage.)

First up for today is...well, not exactly a review, per se, but a very well-considered endorsement of sorts for Feed, from the awesomeness that is Book Banter. This was written in response to my receiving an entertainingly bad review, and says "Feed is not just a book about zombies, running from zombies, being afraid of zombies, killing zombies, and all that zombie jazz. It’s about a changed world that has had to deal with a zombie invasion, and how life for every living person on the planet is now totally foreign to the reader." Very accurate, and very awesome.

A fun review of both Rosemary and Rue and A Local Habitation has been posted over at Book Sexy. The reviewer says "The endings of these stories aren’t always happy and the successes all come with high costs attached. McGuire has created a damaged heroine torn between two worlds and unable to find peace in either. Add a supporting cast of characters with motivations as mixed as Toby’s and you have a winning formula." Also: "It all makes for surprisingly good pleasure reading on beaches and buses. And while these books are imperfect—Toby sometimes misses the obvious clues and has a bizarre habit of underestimating her powers—they are steadily improving." Let's hope that trend continues, shall we?

Lesley W. has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "I've been looking at a few reviews of this story and I've come to the conclusion that whether you hate it or love it will largely depend on your opinion of the heroine. I loved her." Also: "I think I'd almost despaired of finding something new and original in UF—preferably ferret free—and yet here it is. October is a melancholy heroine, so if you prefer something jolly, this one probably isn't going to be for you. But she has lost so much, she has a right to be withdrawn." I'm not sure what's up with the ferrets, but I agree with the assessment of Toby.

Marianna at Strictly Antisocial has posted a nice, critical review of A Local Habitation, and says "I liked the book, a lot. It is not a perfect book. But it is entertaining and a slightly different fare than what I have been immersing myself in (vamps and weres!). McGuire, it is obvious, does her homework. It feels like the faeries in Toby's world are real, with a rich and detailed past, that we, as the reader, have yet to uncover." Yay!

Amy at A Room of One's Own has posted a short, sweet review of A Local Habitation. No pull quotes, but I like it.

Karissa's Reading Review has posted a review of A Local Habitation, and says "This is the second book in the October Daye series. Last I heard there were eight books* planned for this series; the third book An Artificial Night is due to come out September 2010. I thought this book was much better than the first book in the series; I really enjoyed it." Also: "I thought this book was much more well put together than the first one. The plot was more engaging and really propelled the reader forward; Toby develops into a much more likable heroine (she was not as whiny as in the first book)." She whines even less from here, promise.

We close this roundup with the obligate Livejournal review, this time from silvertwi, who has posted a lovely review of A Local Habitation, and says "A Local Habitation is the second October Daye novel. If the first, Seanan's debut, was good (and it was, I loved it) this was even better." Also: "Some mysteries of Faerie (like the night-haunts and the murders) are solved, but there's clearly a lot more to come. What's going on with Toby's mother? What will happen between Toby and Tybalt? ... And so much more. I can't wait for September and the sequel, An Artificial Night."

That's it for right now. More soon, as my link file is getting out of control!

(*This footnote is mine, not the reviewer's, so's you know. Anyway, there are currently five books sold, two books published, and somewhere between nine and eleven books planned, depending on how you count the prequel. I clearly need more hobbies.)

My browser is getting out-of-control again, and that means it's time to snag some links to clear some tags. Because that's just how we roll around here.

First up for today: I was part of an essay collection called Chicks Dig Time Lords, conceptualized by the lovely Tara O'Shea (who took my subtle hints about how she should let me submit with extremely good grace). Tansy Rayner Roberts posted a lovely review of the book as a whole, and called out my essay, "Mathematical Excellence: A Documentary" as "the pathos-ridden, hilarious, awful tale of a child whose childhood is colored by the deeply held belief that Doctor Who was a documentary series." Sadly accurate. Very cool review—and very cool book!

Heather at Darkly Reading has posted a review of A Local Habitation, and says "Ahh...what can I say about A Local Habitation, it has location (San Francisco Bay Area), hot and broody potential love interest (Tybalt), awesome heroine job (knight errant), and amusing sidekick (Quentin). All the perfect elements to make another great entry into one of my new favorite urban fantasy series." People who love Quentin and Tybalt are a-okay by me!

Heather also posted today's Sinful Sunday, with a focus on everybody's favorite snarky Cait Sidhe hottie. Yes: it's a whole post about Tybalt being awesome. Don't say I never gave you anything.

Dawn interviewed me for Horror Web! It was super-fun (good interviews usually are), and covered some really interesting ground. Check it out.

defectivewookie has posted an LJ review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "The prologue to Rosemary and Rue floored me. I put the book down, sat there for a moment, and then literally said "wow" out loud." Also: "The rest of the novel built on that impression, giving one of the most fleshed out and fully realized worlds I've encountered in Urban Fantasy. Read it. Now." Totally cool!

Rob at Aphelion has posted a review of A Local Habitation. He says "In the center of it all, complaining bitterly the entire time, is Toby Daye, a remarkably flawed, complex antihero who inspires you to alternately cheer her on and want to slap her silly. In a genre populated by unflappable protagonists who never blink in the face of danger, Toby is willing to admit, to herself if not always to others, when she's in way over her head." WIN! Also: "A Local Habitation is a delightful continuation of the October Daye series, and in many ways improves on its exceptional predecessor. With luck, we'll be seeing a lot more of Toby, and Seanan McGuire, in the future."

Miss Corene has posted a short, sweet review of Rosemary and Rue. No pull-quotes—like I said, it's short—but totally worth it for the pictures she took of the book in fun places.

Erika at Jawas Read, Too has posted a lovely review of A Local Habitation. The review is long, meaty, and difficult to pull a single quote from; go and give it a read, because she has some fascinating things to say.

I have lots more links, but not lots more time—Wondercon calls!—so that's where I'll leave things for today. More later.

(Some of these links may be getting posted for the second time. I had a minor browser crash, and I think it restarted from an earlier session. Sorry about any confusion this may cause.)

First up for tonight's roundup, there's a discussion of A Local Habitation going on over at the dawbooks community. This is a great community for discussing the latest releases from my beloved publisher, and sometimes there are even giveaways (and other awesome things). Go, discuss, and hang out for the possibility of free books! It's a win-win situation.

Book Lovers Inc. has posted a lovely review of A Local Habitation, and says "Where A Local Habitation becomes art is that while it has so much that speaks to a classic detective story, you feel like you have fallen down the rabbit hole at the same time. The two divergent feelings co-exist with neither completely canceling the other out. You lose yourself in this wonderland, continuing to look for clues and nothing seems outrageous. The mythical and the dark realism flow seamlessly one into the other. By the end you are left with a feeling of being trapped inside the haunted house in a classic horror flick. That my friends, is art."

...um, wow. Okay; there's really nothing I can add to that. Moving along...

Don D'Ammassa included A Local Habitation in his review list, and says "Like the first in the series, this rises above the limitations of its format. It would be a shame if this got lost in the crowd of similarly conceived though far less well executed novels." Cool. Hopefully, I can get found instead.

Rhymes With Truculent has posted a review of A Local Habitation, and says "I think that this is the first time I've read a novel about fairies set in the "real" non-faerie world, and believed it." Again...um, wow. That's just a wonderful thing to hear, and I couldn't be happier. This whole review makes me happy, but that's the bit I just want to stare at for a while.

Ava has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "I loved this book. I was a little hesitant at first. From the blurbs I read, I knew the book must be a mixture of fantasy and hard-boiled, two genres I enjoy a lot but that seemed to have the potential to make a big mess when put together. I couldn't be more wrong. The narrative is consistent and concise, the characters are well-rounded and believable and the story is intriguing."

She also says "I was especially fascinated by the excellent job the author did of building a realistic main character. Let's face it, the woman's name is October Daye, she's half-fairy, she has a certain air of Legolas about her and she behaves like Humphrey Bogart minus the Y chromosome; it's a cocktail that you'd expect to turn out strange at least, or most likely awful. But McGuire shows such skill in handling her ingredients that the result is someone so believable you wouldn't be surprised to find her on the street."

That's more than I usually quote from a single review, but that's just so...this is a really "um, wow" roundup, for me. I'm getting better. I can see it, and so can the reviewers, and that just delights me all the way from my tip to my toes.

And now, bed.

The one problem with being immediately post-release for one book and pre-release for another—and believe me, I know, as problems go, this is possibly one of the best ones to have—is the speed with which links build up in my little pile o' things I need to post here. Since I need to get to work on the content for MiraGrant.com, I'm doing a roundup a little closer to the last one than I normally do, just to get them out of the way and free up a few tabs.

(I do these for reference sake, for archive's sake, and because my publisher actually does track reviews through my blog. In case you were wondering.)

First up, Sunil, who will be rooming with me at the San Diego International Comic Convention, has posted his LJ review of A Local Habitation. He had some issues with the book, which I found totally fair, but it was a generally positive review. There were no good pull quotes from this one; you'll just need to read it. Also, if you're in the Bay Area, Sunil is currently appearing in DeathPlay in San Francisco, and I highly recommend it for a night's entertainment. He's a funny guy!

My friend Will recommended the Toby books to stormfeather, who read and reviewed Rosemary and Rue. Yay! She says "The stories are intricate enough and involving, and I basically just enjoyed most of the things about these books." (She also wants to see more of the San Francisco crew, which I can guarantee in An Artificial Night. Yay!)

Harriet has posted a review of Feed over at Genre-Go-Round, and says "Feed is a profound action-packed paranormal political thriller that extrapolates from modern trends including epidemiology research, political buying, handling and spins, and blogging superseding mains stream media, but in a way that the audience would not expect." Woo-hoo! That makes me very happy. And not just because she said "politics" a lot.

There's a new interview with me up over at Dirty Sexy Books! I love this site, and this interview included some really fun questions for me to answer. (Actually, I just love interviews, period, as long as they don't ask where I get my ideas or make nasty comments about the amount of soda I consume.)

jawastew has posted a lovely review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "Rosemary and Rue is one of those novels I love and had so much fun with, I almost don’t want to screw those super fantastic feelings of glee with a review." But the review is there, and absolutely lovely. Give it a read.

bookblather has posted a review of A Local Habitation that is essentially pure comedy gold. She says "I promised myself I would be calm and coherent in this review. But I think we can all agree that that's not happening." Seriously, just...just read it (if you've read the book, she freely admits to the presence of spoilers). The laughing out loud, I does it.

That's it for right now; more to come!

(Yes, that is a quote from Spinal Tap. No, I am not ashamed.)

We begin with a fabulous essay about a worst-case scenario that I have yet to encounter, but probably will someday, that being the way the publishing world seems to work: My Horrible New York Times Review. It's funny, it's well-written and well-considered, and it's made me want to read the author's books (Ronlyn Domingue, this random mention in a blog you've never heard of is for you). To quote a bit that seemed particularly true to me...

"My novel is, in fact, one of the worst books some people have ever read. An insipid waste of paper. Readers writhed in agony at florid prose, gnashed teeth at familiar characters, fumed at confusing shifts of time and place, and grimaced at the triteness of it all. There are unsubstantiated reports of eyes bleeding.

"My novel is, in fact, one of the most amazing books some people have ever read. A soulful work of beauty. Readers found peace while grieving lost friends and family, bonded more deeply with people they care about, and enjoyed the story long past their bedtimes because they couldn’t put it down. This book changed lives.

"I'm a horrible writer, and I'm a brilliant writer. Next time, I won't need reviews to reveal this. Lesson learned."

I may print this out and hang it on my wall. Or ask Erin to do it in calligraphy so I can hang it on my wall. Or design a cross-stitch pattern, make a sampler, and hang it on my wall. Or...

You get the picture. Everyone knows, intellectually, that they won't be the first author in history to be universally loved and praised by all that they encounter. There are people who hate Shakespeare. I mean, I could give a whole list of famous people, but let's be serious, here: there are people who hate Shakespeare. If he can't be universally loved, no one can. At the same time, emotionally, every author I've ever known has been quietly hoping that maybe, just maybe, they'll be the exception that proves the rule. I am not leaving myself out, here! No matter how much I say "no, no, not everyone will like my work, I'm braced for that," I'm secretly going "please love me please love me please love me." That's how the human mind works.

Michael Melcher wrote an excellent article on what to do when your friend writes a book, which I also sort of want to hang on my wall. It includes such gems as "Do you think your birthdays are important? Well, to a writer, writing a book is like ten birthdays, maybe twenty." Also, "When things touch our soul, they are beyond logic and practicality. If you have a friend, relative, or distant acquaintance who writes a book, I can guarantee what they want: for you to share their joy. That's it. End of story. Share. The. Joy." Read the article. It's a good one, and very helpful, whether you're a writer or just trying to survive in close proximity with one.

Which brings us around, at last, to the original point: bad reviews. Bad reviews can be useful. They tell me what I did wrong, what I did right but not quite right enough, what people were hoping for, and what I need to improve. I can use bad reviews to become a better writer. Bad reviews can be hurtful. They tell me I'm terrible, I'm talentless, I'm insane for thinking I could write in the first place. I can use bad reviews to justify drinking a lot of cheap port and passing out on the couch while Dinoshark vs. Mega-Croc plays on SyFy. Bad reviews can be hysterical. I had someone write me to ask whether I was aware that my publisher had badly revised my film noir detective story to insert—drumroll, please—icky girly fairies.

Yes. Apparently, DAW rewrote Rosemary and Rue to insert the fae. Good to know, right?

Today's round of contemplation was brought about by a bad review for Feed, which was posted at Fatally Yours, and which falls into the fourth category for me: reviews which are either funny or frustrating, depending, because they are reviewing me on the basis of what I didn't actually write. Sort of like the people who pan Evernight for not being Twilight, or get cranky at Rosemary and Rue because it isn't paranormal romance. (I have a much longer post on the urban fantasy/paranormal romance divide brewing, but it needs a little more time to come together). You know what? A Local Habitation is bad erotica...because it isn't erotica. Discount Armageddon is bad horror...because it isn't horror. And now, to quote this review of Feed:

"To be honest, when the book started reading as an adolescent version of Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail with a dash of zombies my interest dwindled. I didn’t want to read about a bunch of politicians having tense meetings in board rooms. I wanted to read about zombies. And if you think that you’re going to offer me zombies and then try to bait and switch me with a bunch of unbelievable and boring political drama and still walk away with a good review, then you’ve got another thing coming.

"So it’s not really a book about zombies.

"It’s a book about politics."

Yes! That is correct. It's a book about politics. It's also a book about zombies, virology, Internet culture, wireless technology, bad beer, brand loyalty, sunglasses, the CDC, and horses. But mostly, it's a book about politics. Politics, zombies, blogging, and how George Romero accidentally saved the world, which is why I tell people it's "The West Wing meets Transmetropolitan meets Night of the Living Dead."

If you're looking for full-scale zombie gore, you probably won't like Feed, and I'm sorry. The zombies are the way they are because that's what they are in this universe. I may someday write a book called The Rising, and set it during the Rising, and that will be full-scale zombie gore, but Feed? No, and if I've somehow given you that idea, I'm sorry.

Bad reviews. Just one more part of this balanced breakfast.

First off, here is the RSVP link for tomorrow's Bitten By Books event (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2043). I'll be answering questions and carrying on conversation all the live-long day, and you can get extra points in the exciting site giveaway by confirming that you'll be there!

Now, on to the reviews for today. The Writing Spectacle came by Rosemary and Rue [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxy] the funny way: it was an Amazon recommendation, selected to receive free shipping on the order as a whole. Hee! She loved it (yay), and says "Needless to say, I inhaled the book yesterday - to the exclusion of everything else. I loved McGuire's writing style..." Also: "Worth every penny." Plus, she has the best blog disclaimer ever.

Reality Bypass Books gives Toby four out of five paws, and actually took the book to DisneyWorld! Now that's love. The reviewer says "It was a fast read and while there were a few moments where I wanted to slap Toby around, mostly I understood why she was doing what she was doing and I feel like the information pertaining to the mystery was well paced. There are many of the secondary characters who I'm really hoping to see again in future books, as I feel like they have strong stories to tell and Toby is made stronger by having them there for the most part. Connor I want to slap to sleep, but maybe that's just me." (Sadly, no, it's not just you...)

Virginia at Bitten By Books has posted a review, and says "I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel of Rosemary and Rue since I first read it. The October Daye saga is enthralling, and I find myself unable to put the book down once I start it." Also "Ms. McGuire will take that storyline in future books in the series. Seanan McGuire has a compelling writing style that leaves the reader anticipating more. I know I thoroughly enjoyed A Local Habitation and will sit on my hands, impatiently waiting for the next book in the October Daye series." Um, yay much? Total yay.

Finally (for the moment), Alex at Book Banter has reviewed A Local Habitation, and says "A Local Habitation is a great sequel to Rosemary and Rue, ratcheting up the action and fear as Toby once again finds herself fighting for her life, while readers learn more of the complexities of this world that Seanan McGuire had created. The good news is, after finishing A Local Habitation, as readers attempt to catch their breaths, they won’t have to wait long, with An Artificial Night due out in September."

(Footnote: I don't edit review quotes, as a general rule, because that's not nice, but in that last quote, I corrected the spelling of my name and the title of book three. Just to be totally open, here!)

It's a good, good day.

Behold! My first ever starred review! I clipped one sentence for spoilers, but it's otherwise completely intact, as printed by Publisher's Weekly. Look:

Feed, Mira Grant. Orbit, $9.99 (608p) ISBN 978-0-316-08105-4

Urban fantasist Seanan McGuire (Rosemary and Rue) picks up a new pen name for this gripping, thrilling, and brutal depiction of a postapocalyptic 2039. Twin bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason and their colleague Buffy are thrilled when Senator Peter Ryman, the first presidential candidate to come of age since social media saved the world from a virus that reanimates the dead, invites them to cover his campaign. ... As the bloggers wield the newfound power of new media, they tangle with the CDC, a scheming vice presidential candidate, and mysterious conspirators who want more than the Oval Office. Shunning misogynistic horror tropes in favor of genuine drama and pure creepiness, McGuire has crafted a masterpiece of suspense with engaging, appealing characters who conduct a soul-shredding examination of what’s true and what’s reported. (May)

I just want to go around telling people "I shun misogynistic horror tropes in favor of genuine drama and pure creepiness." Hell, I want that on a shirt.

Win. Win and dinosaurs and pandemics and pie.

After a long weekend away from my computer and falling way, way behind on things, it's time for me to do a quick review roundup, before my Firefox decides to swear eternal vengeance on everything I've ever loved. So...

We begin with Book Lovers Inc., where a lovely review of A Local Habitation has been posted. To quote a bit: "A Local Habitation is just as good as the first Toby Daye book." Also, "Where A Local Habitation becomes art is that while it has so much that speaks to a classic detective story, you feel like you have fallen down the rabbit hole at the same time. The two divergent feelings co-exist with neither completely canceling the other out. You lose yourself in this wonderland, continuing to look for clues and nothing seems outrageous. The mythical and the dark realism flow seamlessly one into the other. By the end you are left with a feeling of being trapped inside the haunted house in a classic horror flick. That my friends, is art."

Well, thank you.

Kelly at Fantasy Literature has posted a review of A Local Habitation. Rosemary and Rue didn't quite ring her bells, but book two seems to have done the trick! Quote: "I was a little disappointed in Rosemary and Rue, the first October Daye novel, but I could see tons of potential there and looked forward to the rest of the series. A Local Habitation blows it out of the water, and blows most of the urban fantasy on the shelves out of the water while it's at it." Um, dude. Also, "The suspense, the world-building, the characterization, and the writing combine to make A Local Habitation a standout. I can’t wait for An Artificial Night; I want more Toby, and definitely more Tybalt!"

The Paperback Dolls have published back-to-back reviews of Rosemary and Rue and A Local Habitation! Of Rosemary, they say "Even though Rosemary and Rue (which came out in September 2009) reads as if it came from the pen of an experienced writer, it is, in fact, Seanan McGuire’s first published novel...and what a fabulously-engrossing novel she has produced for her debut!" Also, "Combining that with McGuire's imaginative and fascinating mix of beings from supernatural lore, what we're left with is a rather brilliant fusion of the two genres. This is a story, and a world, and a group of characters just begging for a continuing series. Fortunately for us, that's exactly what we're going to get."

Of A Local Habitation, they say "If Seanan McGuire’s first October Daye novel was her spin on a moody, atmospheric, noir-style mystery (set in an uber-cool world populated by the Fae, Changelings, and regular humans), then her follow-up novel, A Local Habitation, goes the modern, high-tech crime thriller route (albeit with the same Fae and human mishmash of characters). And once again, the result is something quite magical." Also, "McGuire has succeeded in fashioning yet another brilliantly-inventive, twisty tale. She's given me characters I genuinely care about and a world I'm fascinated with; I can hardly wait to see how those characters and that world interact and change and grow as time passes. Far from being a stagnant place which lives only on the printed page, McGuire's creation now runs freely through my imagination...and I'm more than happy to let it do so, for as long as she writes such compelling and beautiful stories."

Finally, at least for right now, Night Owl Romance has posted a review of A Local Habitation. To quote a bit, "This is an intricate world she has constructed, intriguing the reader, luring them further and further into the story well past bedtime. The language and imagery is a treat, a hidden delight that I lingered over. This book, this series, is such a banquet of darkness and depth, sorrow and regret. Toby is a wonderful character and as I spend more time with her I enjoy her more and more."

On that note...thank you all for reading.

As I've mentioned before, I qualify for the Campbell Award this year, and I'd really like to win the tiara, because receiving a tiara in Australia, the Land of Poison and Flame, would be basically a defining moment in my Halloweentown Disney Princess existence. (Receiving a tiara is always awesome. Receiving a tiara in Australia proves that I've been asleep for the past three years.) Some of my friends have made Campbell Awareness posts, spreading the love and letting it be known that I'm eligible. Specifically...

catvalente posted to give me her endorsement, and also link to my comic strip about why I want a tiara (because let's face it, it's eye-catching). talkstowolves posted a long, bullet-pointed endorsement (with, again, the comic strip). Both pointed out that urban fantasy is rarely represented on these ballots, so...let's change the world!

Meanwhile, theferrett (who is also eligible for the Campbell this year and next year) posted about reading Rosemary and Rue, and the difficulties of my specific literary style. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

On to the reviews and interviews and whatnot! First up, Larissa, of Larrissa's Life, conducted an interview with, well, me which went up today. Learn about some of my favorite things, and enter to win an autographed copy of A Local Habitation. Fun for the whole family! Larissa also posted a review of Rosemary and Rue. She says "The plot of this book was great, fast paced and riveting. I could not stop reading for a second and was almost blind sighted by who the villain really was." She adds, "I absolutely recommend this book to any UF lover out there." Go, read, enjoy, and enter to win!

janicu has posted a lengthy review of A Local Habitation, and says "I liked this one better than the first book. I love the heroine and the pacing of the story seems just right." More, "I highly recommend this series if you like Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs or Ann Aguirre. The author writes complete installments but threads each book with hints as to the ongoing drama of Toby's life,and anticipating what could happen next is delicious. This is actually a series that I hope won't end at three books." You and me both!

Robin at Romance Reviews Today has reviewed A Local Habitation. Robin says "A Local Habitation is the second novel in this series, so some history is alluded to, but this does not affect the reading of this novel. It is a gripping mystery in a very well constructed otherworld. October is a great character, as are the supporting characters. There are some interesting romantic moments both expressed and constrained between Toby and three of the male characters, but business comes first. Quentin is a seemingly normal teenager caught in events out of his depth." Also "A Local Habitation is a wonderful urban fantasy readers will love." Well, they seem to so far...

s00j doesn't do many book reviews, but she decided to review A Local Habitation, because she is lovely. Sooj says "There's no doubt in my mind after reading this second October Daye novel that our heroine is made of sterner stuff (mostly coffee, if we are in fact what we eat) than me, and I do not envy her. Toby's pretty good at her job, but she can't stop people dying. Not even her friends, not even her superiors among the immortal Fae. If you thought she was strong in book one, Rosemary and Rue, you're not gonna believe all the crap she has to go through to make it to the end of A Local Habitation in one piece." She also says "If you couldn't put the first book down, make sure you set an alarm for a dinner break once you open this one. You'll need it. Once the action starts, it just gets weirder (and darker; we're not messing around here), and it doesn't waste any time. The only way in which A Local Habitation will do you wrong is that it will end, and it'll end in a pretty merciless way. But I find that, as with Rosemary and Rue, it's more than worth the ride." Yay!

Don D'Ammassa included A Local Habitation in his recent short reviews, and says "Like the first in the series, this rises above the limitations of its format. It would be a shame if this got lost in the crowd of similarly conceived though far less well executed novels."

And on that sweet, delightful note, I'm gonna end this post. Cheers!

So it's the day after the official release of A Local Habitation [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxy, and that means it's time to do a big ol' review roundup. A lot of new reviews of Rosemary and Rue [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxy] have been cropping up as people realize the series exists, so today's roundup is a mixture of the first two books.

Melancholy Musings has a short, sweet Rosemary and Rue review—short enough that I don't really have any pull quotes, but it's still a nice review, and I really appreciate it. Yolanda also has a short Rosemary and Rue review, and what it lacks in quotes, it makes up for in awesome. Hooray for reviewers!

Speaking of reviews it's difficult to quote, the_wanlorn has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue that is a) absolutely hysterical, and b) not exactly linear in that way which lends itself easily to quotations. But there's lots of caps-lock, and it nearly made me snort soda out my nose, which is sort of an endorsement.

Meanwhile, over at Horror Web, Penny Dreadful has posted a review of A Local Habitation. She says "This is a world worth diving headlong into, a story with depth and detail you can lose yourself in and you might not want to ever get found. The characters are emotionally riveting; you feel for them, especially October. Sure, sometimes you might want to slap her around a little bit—that's ok, so do a lot of the other characters." Also "Horror fans will not be disappointed. Mystery fans will be kept on their toes. October’s world is well worth visiting, time and time again. Good thing McGuire isn't thinking of leaving it anytime soon." (I'll be doing an Interview at Horror Web soon. Watch this space for details.)

Heather at Darkly Reading has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "This book is a 4 out of 5 stars for me, the book is a great introduction to a new heroine Toby in one of my favorite locations—San Francisco." Works for me!

To bring the balance back into favor of the new book, here's a review of A Local Habitation from The Book Pushers. They say "Ms. McGuire's October Daye series does not shy away from showing how the Sidhe have a very different viewpoint on life and what death really means. I also got to see the manifestation of power and what it means to have and control that power." Also "I enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next installment in October Daye's life, An Artificial Night." (Warning: review contains mild spoilers for Rosemary and Rue.)

The Bibliomaniac has posted a lengthy review of A Local Habitation at The Discriminating Fangirl. She says "To be fair, I admit to being a sucker for all things Fae. This doesn’t mean that any book set in Faerie or with Fae characters gets a free pass from me; on the contrary, it means I hold them to a much higher standard. Not once does the writing here rely on stereotypes, clichés, or lazy plotting, putting her in the company of such writers as Melissa Marr, Holly Black, and yes, Neil Gaiman. I predict that, before very much more time passes, McGuire will be known as well as any of them."

On that note, I am done with today's roundup, and will now go in pursuit of sweet caffeine. Mmmmm, caffeine. Savior of blonde girls everywhere...

First up, do you remember when I met with that reporter, and there were all those things I wasn't supposed to talk about? Well, the article has finally appeared in my local newspaper, and is available now for you to read and enjoy. Marvel at how non-terrified the reporter seems! Delight in the funky quotes from my friends, peers, and former teachers! And be glad you can't see the picture from the print edition, 'cause it was terrible.

Meanwhile, I've been doing my pre-release tour of the wild book blogs, and have written a guest blog for SFF Insider in which I discuss the differences between Toby's world and the fairy tales we all remember.

I also dropped by Confessions of a Wandering Heart for a guest blog, this one on what it's like to be (and put up with) a working author, especially one with my...amazing talent...for stacking deadlines right on top of one another. It's a gift. And a curse.

And now, some reviews. Fresh Fiction has reviewed A Local Habitation, and says, "Seanan McGuire has built a beautifully detailed world here—so much so that at times, especially early in the book, I felt a bit lost, not having read the previous novel. But the characters are what drew me in: Toby is a tough, cynical heroine, yet like many of us mere mortals, she is still searching for her place in life; Quentin at first seems to be a stereotypical teenager but develops surprising maturity and courage; no character is stock or trite—everyone is fully realized, with quirks, moods and abilities, from the Dryad April to Tybalt, King of Cats. Fans of urban fantasy should definitely check out this series!"

Cool. Library Journal has spoken up, and says "Second in an urban fantasy detective series featuring a resourceful female detective, this sequel to Rosemary and Rue should appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files as well as the novels of Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, and similar authors." Good company to be in!

Lurv ala Mode is a great review site that's always been awesome to me, and the latest long, detailed review of A Local Habitation is no different, managing to be detailed and meaty and yet also spoiler-free. The review begins, "I’m not big on fae as the main character type in fantasy books. They’re a very hard sell for me and I don’t tend to cut this particular type of mythology and lore much slack. I’m not a fan of the wispy, airy quality that comes with so much of it. I like it dark. I like it gritty. I like it with a lot more meat on the bones. McGuire’s series, two books strong now, answers this need." Yay!

It goes on to say "Coming in second in a series is pretty tough. I think firsts in a new series have it tough as well, but seconds do for different reasons, namely can they live up to a hugely successful first. Considering how much I loved the first book, I think A Local Habitation continues the adventures of October Daye just about perfectly. There’s no doubt that Toby is a fresh and wonderful character in the urban fantasy genre. Without a doubt in my mind, I’m definitely looking forward to more. The third book, An Artificial Night, releases September 2010."

And that's all for today.

Yup. It's that time again. The time when my collection of links has become ludicrously large enough to force my hand and generate a post of review and interview links. In fact, let's start with the interview links, since I'm in pre-release madness right now. Fun for the whole family!

The delightful Realm Lovejoy not only interviewed me, she drew a picture of Toby. Wow! She'd previously interviewed my agent, who introduced the two of us, and I couldn't be more pleased with the interview as a whole. (I may have already linked this. I can't remember, and in the case of data failure, it's best to take a second shot.)

Book Bound invited me over for an interview, and we had a dismaying amount of fun. Check it out, and learn more about my writing habits, what I think one should do with canned peas, and, naturally, my cats. This was a cheery, macabre conversation, and I'm happy to share it.

In the "reviews" division, Jennifer Brozek has reviewed A Local Habitation for Flames Rising. She says "This is an excellent standalone book that may be read without reading the first book in the series while still fitting into the supernatural world McGuire has created to overlay the San Francisco Bay Area," and "Over all, A Local Habitation is an excellent book that continues October Daye's story after a fourteen year curse, a hell of a wake up, the murder of her only friend and her attempts to make sense of a life that refuses to cooperate. This is my favorite urban fantasy series to date and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment." Yay!

Jenn at I Read Good has posted her review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "Rosemary and Rue is the great book set in the world of Faerie." She also says "Seanan McGuire has put together a great book. Toby's an interesting protagonist and you really want her to succeed in her mission." Rock on.

AJ reviewed both books in one huge, delicious sandwich. AJ says "At last, urban fantasy done right! Oh, I'm sure there's plenty of good urban fantasy out there, but it's hard to find amongst the books that feel more like mis-shelved romance novels. Seanan McGuire's October Daye series gives us that perfect melding of "real world" and magic, with just a dash of romantic subplot, enhancing the main story rather than derailing it." Of Rosemary and Rue: "It's a pretty fast-paced page turner and kept me in the dark about who the killer was until the end." Of A Local Habitation: "I enjoyed this one even more than the first, as Toby and a young faerie squire named Quentin find themselves investigating a series of mysterious deaths—in a software company run by faeries. Finally! Faeries not just able to use technology, but outright embracing it."

The Discriminating Fangirl has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "I'd been waiting for this book for quite a while. It was worth the wait." At more length: "McGuire's grasp of dialogue is realistic, with different quirks of speech for each different character; I’ve read a number of books lately where everyone talked exactly alike, so much so that each exchange could have been stamped out with a cookie cutter. The description here is lush and decadent, vividly describing both the mundane setting of San Francisco and the otherworldly vistas of the faerie realm. The action sequences and plot twists were fast-paced and kept my heart pounding. The mixture of noir detective story elements (reminiscent of the best work of Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett) with the urban fantasy setting makes Rosemary and Rue stand out from the crowd of other urban fantasies."

Whee!

Finally for this roundup, it's not too late to potentially win a free copy of Rosemary and Rue! Hie ye over to the Confessions of a Wandering Heart and find out how.

From the new issue of Publisher's Weekly:

McGuire follows 2009's Rosemary and Rue with a fast-paced cross between a murder mystery and a slasher film, liberally spiked with magic and technology. Half-faerie PI October "Toby" Daye leaves San Francisco for the nearby County of Tamed Lightning to check up on her patron's niece, January, who's uncharacteristically fallen out of contact. Toby soon realizes that ALH Computing, the county's secret seat of power, has big problems. Someone doesn't want outsiders snooping around, and as the body count rises, Toby will risk life, limb, and soul to find out what's really going on. While most of the deaths could have been prevented with a little less plot-mandated stupidity, the world-building is solid, the storytelling energetic, and the atmosphere sinister as mythological creatures face off against mad scientists. (Mar.)

Yay! (I don't completely agree that most of the deaths could have been prevented with a little less plot-mandated stupidity, for reasons that I can't really go into beyond "in Faerie, when your liege gives you an order, you follow it, whether it's stupid or not." But that's besides the point.) Getting a good review in Publisher's Weekly makes me feel like a real girl. For, y'know, the ten minutes before I find something else to get freaked out about. Today's terrifying adversary: oxygen. It's a corrosive poison, you know.

A Local Habitation is on the verge of becoming a really and truly real book, available for really and truly real purchase at a store near you. For some values of "near," anyway.

Whoa.

Sometime in the last few weeks, reviews of A Local Habitation started trickling in while I watched, amazed and a little afraid. It's difficult, seeing a book go out into the world for the first time. (It's also hard to keep from trying to explain things to reviewers, but I manage to restrain myself. Mostly. And when I don't, it's usually because they've asked a direct question.) Since it's a shiny new month and we're on the verge of a shiny new book, here's a shiny new review roundup to try to distract me from my impending book release.

TJ over at Book Love Affair beat the crowd with the first review of A Local Habitation that I saw anywhere. TJ says "For those of you who have read Rosemary and Rue, I have to say: A Local Habitation is even better. All the things that made Rosemary and Rue such a strong debut are still there: the wonderfully damaged heroine, the melancholy story, the gritty details, the perfect rendering of San Francisco, unique and varied fantastic creatures, and I could go on a long while. However, I would say without hesitation that A Local Habitation improves in many of these areas." She also says "Toby Daye is probably one of my favorite protagonists in urban fantasy." Such statements make me a happy girl.

Suzie over at Confessions of a Wandering Heart has posted a long and fairly involved review of A Local Habitation. She says "Toby Daye is fast becoming one of my favorite heroines in urban fantasy," and "Toby is witty, sarcastic, tough, and no nonsense, yet she has a softer side—she takes care of the people she's responsible for. And she's loyal to her friends. I feel for her. I'm hoping she'll find happiness and love (with Tybalt! I love him) and I'm rooting for her to find and punish the guys responsible for ruining her life." She also says "The October Daye series has easily become my favorite faerie urban fantasy series. Toby is the kind of kick butt heroine I can admire, relate to, and root for. This series is best read in order, so if you're interested pick up Rosemary and Rue and keep an eye out for A Local Habitation in March."

Rosemary and Rue reviews keep cropping up, on Livejournal and others. Among them is this noir-informed review from bookelfe, who is a friend of several friends but doesn't know me (and was hence understandably nervous about the book). She calls Rosemary and Rue "a genuine noir urban fantasy novel" and calls out a lot of the more noir aspects of the book very nicely. She isn't too hot on the worldbuilding, saying "it's your standard almost-entirely-European mix of fairy creatures," but that's a fair cop, and she goes on to say "if you are looking for a fun mystery-fantasy read that is high on the awesome noir tropes and low on the completely gratuitous sex, maybe give this a go!" Thanks!

Karissa has posted a long, well-balanced review of Rosemary and Rue, including "There are some wonderful action scenes in this book. McGuire does an excellent job with these. The plot is fast moving and very engaging. The book was hard to put down, you always wonder what is going to happen to October next and if she will be successful in solving the murder. This is definitely not a romance book, but an action packed urban fantasy." She goes on to list the things she didn't like (which are quite well-considered), and closes with "Overall I liked the book. I think this could be the start of a magnificent series." Works for me!

John received an ARC of A Local Habitation, which spurred him to read Rosemary and Rue and post his review. I appreciate this immensely. He says "This book is everything that I love about urban fantasy. It has well developed characters, a vivid setting, a well defined world, and a story that will suck you in." He also says "Toby is an amazing character"—a statement I'm sure she'd appreciate, with all the crap I put her through—and "McGuire's plot moves along quickly, and holds enough turns to keep the reader guessing. It also leaves plenty of unresolved things to make you want to pick up the second book to see what's going to be revisited later. It's also great to see another urban fantasy book that involves other supernatural races other than vampires at werewolves." Awesome!

Our last review of the day comes from Jennifer at the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She says "Seanan McGuire begins her October 'Toby' Daye series with a bang!" I like bangs. She also says "This is a great book, full of mystery and a great story" and "This book is the first in the October Daye series and I know that I am looking forward to reading more about this character."

That's all for today. I now resume my march toward madness.

It's currently bucketing rain here in Northern California, and I'm taking advantage of my weather-enforced house-boundness to take care of some of the things that I've been putting off—including, naturally enough, another review roundup. They're coming more slowly now that Rosemary and Rue has been out for a little while, but they're still coming, and this is actually really well-timed; I'm working on a fairly long post about reviews, so having some, y'know, reviews is a good thing.

Over at Just Finished, Rosemary and Rue has just been finished (or, well, was finished a few weeks ago; I'm behind). Quoth the reviewer, "McGuire, a local author who is also a must see feature on the local SF convention scene due to her off the cuff witty remarks, does a good job with the first book of this planned series." See? I'm witty! It's a short review, but a pleasing one.

Tiffers has posted a nicely detailed review, and says, "I haven't been this pleased with a random pick off the shelf in forever. There is excitement, magic, mystery, humor, and fairies fairies fairies. This type of fantasy hidden so well within the real world of San Francisco makes it feel real and so much easier to follow. So many urban fantasies are falling short of the mark now because they're the in thing, but this book doesn't disappoint and leaves you waiting for more." Yay!

And...that's it for today! I have some non-review links that need to be posted, but those are for another entry, thus allowing those of you who are tired of my seemingly endless review posts to skip this one without shame.

Whee!

My links are building up again, which means it's time for a review roundup. Because that is what keeps my browser from exploding. (Archiving my reviews like this actually is helpful to me, since it creates a reasonable sample set from which to start extracting results. I probably shouldn't treat book reviews like a contagion, but I treat everything like a contagion, so I guess it's only to be expected.) Anyway...

Lady Rhian at Deep Thoughts has posted a long and detailed review of Rosemary and Rue. She says "I really liked this book. The story is fast-paced and engaging, drawing you into Toby's world and making you root for her as she struggles against villains and obstacles on her path to the goal. She's suspicious and mostly sarcastic, but you don't like her any less for it. Highly recommended." Yay, and thank you!

Night Owl Reviews is a fairly large review site, and I was delighted when I saw that they'd chosen to review Rosemary and Rue. Night Owl says "This book is haunting, even after you finish it. I was so impressed with this book that I want to read it again." Further, "This is a stellar debut from Seanan McGuire. Rosemary and Rue is urban fantasy at its best!" I like the phrase "stellar debut." I won't qualify for it ever again, so I'm enjoying it while I can.

kitsuchi says "I read a fair bit of urban fantasy this year, and Seanan McGuire's Rosemary and Rue was probably the one I enjoyed most unreservedly. A strong mystery with an engaging heroine and plenty left to explore. Also no annoying romantic options." (You can view the original post here. Also, remember that bit about romantic options; I have a post coming up on that topic.)

Over on the Bookish LJ Community, admnaismith posted a deeply humorous review, explaining how the book was specifically targeted at him. He says "Rosemary and Rue is about a high spirit, low status changeling with the whimsical name October Daye (her mundane San Francisco friends nod sympathetically and mutter about hippie parents) in a world where changelings have limited fae abilities and the sidhe and other pureblooded fae, many of whom have personal grudges against Daye, are almost powerful enough to kill her by blinking. Daye is outmatched and in mortal danger constantly, and needs to judiciously trade favors with stronger faeries in order to get what she needs to solve the crime and defeat the culprit (In this world, Bad Things happen when you are indebted to someone like, say, the Luidaeg)." He also says "Remember the name: October Daye. We’ll be seeing plenty more of her in days and books to come."

talkstowolves has posted a long and thoughtful review, complete with a disclaimer about how our friendship doesn't stop her from being critical. I love academics, and I love her review. She says "this debut novel from Seanan McGuire plays to type; yet I can say, without a doubt, that this is the best urban fantasy novel I've read in five years. I make this assertion drawing from a pool of novels by Charlaine Harris, Tanya Huff, Emma Bull, Patricia Briggs, and others." She also says "Rosemary and Rue isn't without its flaws—at times, the exposition overbalances from stage-setting to distracting, and the mystery does seem to wander a bit aimlessly in the middle—but the exhilaration of getting to know this particular San Francisco and this particular Faerie more than compensate for any of those drawbacks. Moreover, these are flaws that I don't expect will continue past this debut: the occasional over-exposition was due to initial worldbuilding, and any issues with plot pacing are overcome with experience." I have the glee. The glee is mine.

Fantasy Magazine has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue. It says "October Daye, the narrator/protagonist, is a welcome addition to the ranks of urban fantasy’s hardboiled female leads. She’s tough and smart. She’s also psychologically damaged by her changeling’s existence among the disdainful purebloods, and her secret life among the humans and other changelings. In short, she’s complicated, sympathetic, maddening, and believable." Also, "Rosemary and Rue is strong enough to win its author a large well-deserved following."

And that's today's review roundup. Whew.

My recent radio silence has been the result, not of traumatic head injury or watching all of The West Wing in one huge gluttonous marathon, but of having a lovely time in Seattle with some of my favorite people in the world. (Seriously, I sometimes think my definition of "absolutely perfect" would include a guest list of about eight people, bribing Betsy to let us come have a kitchen party at her place, and "accidentally" cutting the phone lines.) Also, everyone here tends to sleep until noon when not actively poked with sticks, and I get up at seven-thirty, so I've been doing a lot of catch-up work, very little of which sparks my brain to post.

I shall say interesting and insightful things later; for right now, this is a random time for random things, because I need to clean up my tabs again.

rivkat has tossed a short review of Rosemary and Rue into the fray, and says "It's a good debut, giving information at the right pace and creating an engaging urban fantasy world." I approve.

There's also a short review over on Just Finished, which says "McGuire, a local author who is also a must see feature on the local SF convention scene due to her off the cuff witty remarks, does a good job with the first book of this planned series." (Also, the complaint that I sometimes get overly wrapped up in things that won't happen for eight books is fair. I've gotten much better about it, promise.)

Vixen's Daily Reads posted a review, and says "I read this a few weeks ago, but wasn't sure how I would write a review that would do this justice. I honestly still don't think I will do the book justice, but I want to write the review before the new year. This is one of my favorite books of the year. This is an amazing, intelligent, action packed story that I could not put down once I started it. Well, I had to put it down to sleep at some point, but I didn't want to." I'm in your library, stealin' your sleep!

2009 is officially used up, and I've made jennifer_brozek's (who edits The Edge of Propinquity) Best Reads of 2009 list! Yay! In related news, the first Sparrow Hill Road story is turned in, and should be going live on the 15th of this month. Watch for it!

Finally, for the good of all, here are Ten Words You Need to Stop Misspelling. Thanks to The Oatmeal for educating us all.

And therein endith the random. For now.

Once again, review roundup for the sake of posterity. (Also for the sake of closing some tabs on my browser, which is starting to rock itself to sleep at night. I am not gentle with the poor dear.)

Cheryl Morgan says that "Some books leap out at me because they are really well written. Others leap out because they have dollar signs all over them." She puts Rosemary and Rue in the latter category. As I would be totally okay with having piles of money, I am totally okay with this. She says "The book is urban fantasy cut with a Chandleresque noir detective story, and it works very well." Thanks, Cheryl!

Christina from 3 Girls and a Stack of Books (which may be my favorite blog name of the week) says "I actually liked this book. Not one I would normally like, but I do like the little plot twists that keep cropping up." Also "I love the fae mythology used to keep this book hopping and can hardly wait for the next one." Since the next one is coming out so soon it's sort of scary, she won't have to wait for long.

Delusional Ange has posted her review over at Delusional World. It's short, consisting mostly of a plot summary, but says "I was torn between four and five stars. It's a really good book." Works for me.

Finally for today, the speed-reading book nerd has posted a review. Quote, "This has been on my "get it eventually" list for awhile, but I started reading it in the store and couldn't put it down. And I'm not even necessarily into the whole evil-fairy thing." Also: "I was actually rather nervous about finding out who the killer was because I kept hoping, "please, not that one! or that one!"" These things mean I win.

For those who wonder why I keep posting review roundups: It's helpful for me to remember that people are still reading and enjoying Rosemary and Rue, and it's sort of nice to have a single tag I can click to see what folks have been saying. (Also, watching the non-Amazon reviews tells me what I need to work on in future volumes. I take notes.)

2009 has been a good year. Here's hoping 2010 is even better.

I tend to hoard interesting links and reviews of Rosemary and Rue until they hit a certain critical mass, at which point my choices become "make a post" or "suffer from a browser crash." Because this is how I sort of preserve things for future reference, here's the latest in our "Seanan likes reviews" series of entries.

Over at ALPHA Reader, Danielle has posted a lovely, well-considered review. She says "I really loved this book" and "McGuire is currently contracted for three books, but has six planned all together." Won't she be surprised when we reach book eight? (To be clear, I am currently contracted through book three, working on book five, and clearly outlined through book nine. I clearly never want to sleep again.)

The Williamsburg Regional Library posts a daily book recommendation, and recently Rosemary and Rue was their book of the day. Their Circulation Services Director says "What makes this book original are the myriad details. A wealth of characters from fantasy—Daoine Sidhe, Kitsune, Undine, Cait Sidhe, as well as goblins, selkies, and a variety of changeling combinations populate both Faerie and the human realm. It's interesting to see how the different races interact with each other." Yay world-building for the win!

ashnistrike has posted a brief review, and says "It's very good urban fantasy—not so brilliant as to make me do cartwheels and cry because the next one isn't out yet, but good enough that I will buy the next as soon as it's available."

Our next review comes from the Warren Public Library, and says "It's a gripping mystery with a lot of urban fantasy thrown in to the mix, and as Toby delves into the dark side of her past and present (and maybe even future), you'll learn about the world of the fullblooded fairies and the halfblooded changelings that inhabit the California coast." Works for me.

Renee's Book Addiction (and, one presumes, Renee) says "This was a really enjoyable new UF (urban fantasy) series. I love stories about the fae, and the San Francisco setting really made the story vivid for me."

Finally for tonight's roundup, Felicia Day sounds off on the topic of Toby. She says "This book had a GREAT setting and environment, I was engrossed in the mystery and, (although a bit exposition-y in sections) I was along for the ride the whole way and immersed in the mythology." She has some plot issues (which are spoilery if you haven't read the book), but it was a positive review, and I couldn't be happier.

That's it for tonight. Join me next week when I try to close down Firefox without using a hammer. Again.

The reviews continue to crop up here and there (and if you haven't written a review on Goodreads or Amazon yet, please consider that as my Christmas present). We're about to hit December, and hence the tail-end of 2009, so here is a quick collection of the best of the last little stretch of time:

Over on Michelle's Book Blog, the eponymous Michelle says "I loved this book!" and "I have never been so blown away by a book's prologue as I was with Rosemary and Rue." I win! And you win at review, Michelle!

The Sacramento Book Review, meanwhile, says "Author Seanan McGuire bursts through the gates of fantastical romance with this incredible first novel." Also, "Rosemary and Rue is a fast paced ride through the streets, parks, and cliffs of San Francisco, lifting the covers to reveal that which lies unseen. An incredible mix of action, mystery, fairy, urban fantasy, and just a smidgen of romance artfully woven into a story impossible to put down." You'll excuse me while I dance.

Finally for today, Ravings of a Textual Deviant is doing thirty books in thirty days, and Rosemary and Rue was book number twenty-nine. The review says, helpfully, "Like the main character, the novel is continually striking a balance between the urban and the fantasy, and it's a good balancing act." Also, there's another Jim Butcher comparison (and since I'd love to have his readership, I'm okay with that.)

So that's it for today—whee!

I actually got a Google Alert for Mira Grant that was about, well, me, rather than some random assortment of words that managed to trigger my poor dumb little spider! Damon at BSC posted his thoughts on the 2010 Orbit catalog, including some comments about Feed. Quote, "I think it could make a splash. I normally do not read these types of books, but I am willing to make an exception, I believe, for Mira."

Damon, I am going to do my damnedest not to let you down. And that is a promise from me to you.

Meanwhile, the Warren Public Libraries in Warren, Michigan had some really sweet things to say about Rosemary and Rue, including "It’s a gripping mystery with a lot of urban fantasy thrown in to the mix" and "Fans of any urban fantasy will do well here." There's also a strong recommendation for fans of Jim Butcher's work to give mine a look. From your words to the Great Pumpkin's ears, Warren Public Libraries!

Alice is sopping wet, thanks to my having had a minor bathtub incident, and is now squelching around the house like an animate mop. Attempts to dry her have been met with the cat equivalent of "No, Mom, don't wanna," so I figure I'll let her be wet for a little while longer before I bust out the blow-dryer. It's good when you can satisfy your cats with simple inaction. (Much better than being punched awake at 6:30 AM to provide affection, which was how we started our day. The joy of cats.)

My cheeks have swollen to the point that I really, really look like someone's been beating me, making me super-glad that Chris didn't come to hang out today; I would've been afraid to go out of the house in his company, since I try not to get my friends accused of introducing their fists to my face. If there were a zombie walk today, I would so rule the undead dance floor. As it is, I'm taking lots of painkillers and praying that the swelling goes down before I have to go back to work tomorrow morning. And that's the news from the pumpkin patch. What's new and cool in the world of you?

It makes me a little sniffly to realize that soon, we'll have the last Rosemary and Rue review roundup, because we'll be moving fully into A Local Habitation. I think I learned a lot between the two books; I think I definitely improved as a writer; I believe that people who liked the first one will be happy with the commonalities and even happier with the differences. All that being said, here are today's reviews:

Spoiled For Books has written a lovely and nicely detailed review, and says "Rosemary and Rue is fast paced and full of action, just what I like best. There is a hint of romance, but not much of it, and I suspect it will be many more books before the romance flowers into something tangible." Yay!

Suzanne, over at Responses to My Reading, has also written a nice, detailed review, which includes speculation about where the series might be going (there are no actual spoilers here for any of the future books, and some of the spec made me giggle quite a bit). The review is structured so as to be somewhat difficult to quote, but is thoughtful and thorough, and I'm happy.

Our final review for today comes from Faith Adeline, of Faith Adeline Reviews. Naturally. Well, she definitely does review, so the advertising is accurate. She says "Rosemary and Rue is a strong debut novel, and I hope the rest of the series lives up to it." (Trust me, so do I.) She also says "I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequels, I'm sad the next novel doesn't come out until March!"

That's all for today. When I get back from World Fantasy, we'll start with the ARC giveaways and the gear-up toward A Local Habitation!

I've gotten lax about my review round-ups since we reached October, partially because the reviews tend to taper off after a book has been out for a little while, and partially because I've been deeply busy. Still, these round-ups are as much for my reference as to share the news, so it's definitely time.

First up, Rosemary and Rue is a Virginia Beach Public Library staff pick. Penelope (our reviewer) says "Author Seanan McGuire has a sure hand with her first venture into urban fantasy—it is gritty, dark, full of despair and unwanted but necessary decisions. October Daye is worth remembering, as she struggles through Faerie politics and intrigue, reluctantly gathering allies at all levels as well as coming to grips with her own personal anguish." I call that a win!

Rixo has posted a long and lovely review. She says "Rosemary and Rue is an urban fantasy that I'm actually comfortable calling that. It isn't a paranormal romance in disguise, which is a nice change of pace." She also says "The changelings' world is gritty and unforgiving; this is not a warm, fuzzy sort of book. And I like it that way."

Rhianna has posted her review over at RhiReading; she says "October's series is off to a good start with Rosemary and Rue. These are the fae most faeriephiles are familiar with but with some twists. McGuire gives readers just enough detail and hints to keep them reading but leaves a lot open for disclosure in future installments." Also, "I recommend this one for urban fantasy fans looking for something fresh and original."

It's not a review round-up without an LJ review, this time provided by quettalinde. It's an excellent review, if difficult to pull quotes from, and I'm very pleased, especially by the picture of the book propped on a bundle of rosemary. Hee!

You may remember that I did an interview with Alex from Book Banter. Well, he's also posted his review. He says "For those looking for a fresh dosage of new reading after getting the latest fix of Dresden Files, look no further than the fresh voice of debut author Seanan McGuire and the first in her October Daye mystery series, Rosemary and Rue. Think Harry Dresden, but make him female, set her in San Francisco, and accept that the world of Faerie not only exists but has portals linking to our own world and the characters of fable are very real and terrifying."

Hey, another newspaper review! This time it's in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. "This is a great start to a new series that does a good job blending the paranormal aspect with the crime noir." That's a line I'm more than happy to start things with.

In our last entry for this round-up, Nancy Holzner provides a short and sweet review. She says "McGuire conveys the complexity of Faerie—and the difficulties that face a changeling living in the human world—without slowing down the story to dump information on the reader. The result is a richly imagined world that feels real." Also "Rosemary and Rue is the first novel in an urban fantasy series by debut author Seanan McGuire, and I’m looking forward to the next book, A Local Habitation, which comes out in March 2010."

That's our review round-up for October in October. I'm pretty pleased so far.

First up, some exciting Rosemary and Rue-related news: namely, it's going to be October's book of the month at Genreville. Genreville is an exciting genre-focused blog hosted by Publishers Weekly, moderated by some really awesome folks. I couldn't be happier.

If you've been waiting for an interview with me that dared to ask the really bizarre questions, you should take a look at this fun, flippant interview conducted by Jonathan Fesmire. Jon's a dear friend of mine, and I was his "maiden voyage" into the world of interviewing authors. Let's see if future interviews stay this surreal.

The nice folks over at BSC (a blog with the endearing subtitle of "Because We Said It") posted this charmingly detailed and lengthy review. Quoth the reviewer, "Rosemary and Rue combines mystery and fantasy to very good effect, making this book fast-paced and full of action. It's very nice to see an urban fantasy book that doesn’t include the modern trend towards paranormal romance." Also: "I would definitely recommend this book for fans of urban fantasy, as well as readers who don’t mind well-mixed genres." Yay!

Also in today's review roundup, the Suburban Banshee posted this awesome review, including such delicious quotes as "This is real urban fantasy, in short, and not the McDonald’s equivalent that’s been crowding the shelves for the last few years. Buy it, buy it, buy it, before the last few copies disappear from your bookstore." (If you could make those last few copies disappear, I'd be ever so grateful...)

Finally, I give you the review that made me squeal like I'd just been named Prom Queen at the Geek Prom, where the pig's-blood shower is a perk, not a problem: Rosemary and Rue has been reviewed on IO9. It's a long, detailed, and best of all, fair and balanced review which neither paints me perfect nor positions me for pillory. Charlie Jane is awesome that way, and says—among other things, you should really read it—"After exploring McGuire's fairy city for one dark murder mystery, I'm on board for more, and looking forward to seeing how October's tangled web of allegiances and obligations plays out over the course of the next few books."

I win at geek.

First off, here's some mixed-media fun stuff that's come up recently:

Behold, for it is the Penguin podcast! Behold also, for they are all talking with me about Toby and making me sing and I was so totally jet-lagged at the time that I really had very little notion of what I was saying. But I was wearing pretty wool pants and a Kelly green jacket (none of which show up on the podcast), so at least I looked good while I was babbling.

I can't get this video at the Penguin sit to play, because I'm crap with this sort of thing sometimes. But I'm in it, and that's probably good enough reason to point you at it. Maybe you can get it to go. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Over on Dreamwidth, Cynthia's posted a short-and-sweet review. It falls into the "don't quote from it, you'll wind up re-posting the whole thing" category, so I recommend clicking over and checking it out.

fireun has posted a lovely review. She says "This is the faery tale I have been waiting to read for most of my life. From Kelpies hunting in the shadows, an Undine dwelling in a park, and the King of Cats holding court, Rosemary and Rue is full of the Faerie Court as it should be- beautiful and deadly." You'll pardon me while I purr, won't you?

starlady38 has posted a review, which was pointed out to me by a mutual friend (I love it when I get reviews from people I don't know). She says "The book is a cracking good read, a real pageturner, and I don't normally care for stories about the Fair Folk (War for the Oaks being a notable, and at least slightly comparable, exception in this regard), but I have to recommend this book. Toby is a fascinating, painfully real character, as are the people who surround her, and McGuire's evocation of San Francisco, as well as of the power dynamics in the Faerie Courts (in which changelings are only a few steps up from dirt), feels very believable." Glee.

Confessions of a Wandering Heart put up a review that's even titled with awesomeness. She opens with "Seanan McGuire's Rosemary and Rue is one of the best urban fantasy novels I've read all year." She also says "The plot moves quickly—the story taking place in the span of about a week, and blends the perfect amount of fantasy and magic with mystery and crime-solving. The clues and steps Toby takes to solve Evening's murder are believable and easy to follow without being predictable. The page-turning suspense had me dying to get to the end and unwilling to put the book down. Fully developed imagery and the descriptions of the elaborate world-building rival the best urban fantasy writers (such as Kim Harrison). I became so immersed in Seanan McGuire's Faerie world that I think there were times I forgot I wasn't actually a part of it." I really could not be more pleased.

But.

I have saved the best for last.

Because today—yes, today—Rosemary and Rue was reviewed by the Onion AV Club. And they gave it an A-. Which is pretty damn close to the best you can get if the book doesn't cause spontaneous orgasm when the cover is opened, give you a back rub, and then buy you chocolates. Today is the day my geek cred increases to unheard of heights. I AM IN THE ONION.

What does the Onion say? The Onion says "Just when it seems that all the possible changes have been rung on the themes of detectives and the supernatural, along comes newcomer Seanan McGuire with Rosemary And Rue, the first in a new series featuring a changeling private eye who lives half in San Francisco, half in the Kingdom Of Faerie that overlaps it, unseen by mortal eyes," and "October Daye is as gritty and damaged a heroine as Kinsey Millhone or Kay Scarpetta." KAY SCARPETTA, PEOPLE.

The review closes with "Changelings, like all faerie folk, live long; may McGuire and these novels do the same." I share the sentiment. And I am just all a-twitter and amazed by this fabulous review.

Wow.

Tomorrow will mark two weeks of Rosemary and Rue being on bookshelves. Traditionally, this means newer new releases will begin nudging me off the "hot new wow cool" displays at the front of the store; bookstore employees will stop being mobbed by people who can't find the Science Fiction/Fantasy section; and I will begin getting neurotic about book two. But tonight, we're still in the second week of release, and that means review roundup is go!

To begin with, Mia Nutick has done a fantastic and well-detailed book review over at the Green Man Review, one of the longer-running Internet science fiction/fantasy review sites. I am honored. According to Mia, "Toby Daye is one of the best female fantasy characters to come along in a long time; she's tough, confident, and heroic but she's capable of introspection, and unlike the Mary Sues of the literary world, she's capable of failure," and "For a first novel, this is frighteningly good." I'm frightening! Grrr!

Virginia, of Bitten By Books, has posted her review of Rosemary and Rue. Yes, Virginia, there is a Toby Daye. Virginia says, "Rosemary and Rue is Seanan McGuire’s debut novel and what a novel it is! I found that I kept coming back to this book. I tried to pull away to complete another one, but the characters were always in my mind and I had to set aside the other novel to get this one out of my system. Rosemary and Rue is full of suspense, mystery and many unexpected twists and turns." I'm frightening and unexpected! Basically, I'm the wildlife of Australia.

Heather of Book Obsessed has rewarded my obsession with reviews by providing me with another review to obsess over. Thank you! She says that "As I have practically screamed from the rooftops to anyone that cared and even those who didn't—;I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!" I appreciate the human megaphone, I really, really do. She also says "The writing style is poetic and lyrical while at the same time being dark, gritty and direct, much like life itself often is. Being able to bring that to life is something exceptional and wholly worthy of applause and accolades."

Now I am happy.

Over at the Barnes and Noble Book Clubs, Paul has posted his review of Rosemary and Rue, and of its context in the urban fantasy genre. It's a great piece of work, and he says, "As the paranormal fantasy wilderness continues to flourish, one thing seems certain: the seedling novelist that is Seanan McGuire, barring any crazy lumberjack or dread blight or rotting disease, has the potential to become one of the forest’s stateliest trees..." So there will be no Dutch Elm this week, thanks.

That's our review roundup for tonight. Thanks for sticking out these two crazy-train weeks with me, and we'll see if things settle down a bit from here.

Happy Wednesday! I know I promised party reporting, and I intend to keep my word; I am, however, still too tired to do so with any degree of skill or grace, and am thus providing another review round-up, with some party reports from people with more brain than I tossed in just for spice.

First off, TJ over at Book Love Affair (who you may remember from this incredibly sweet and complimentary review) couldn't make the Borderlands party, and sent her husband in her place, because that's just what you do. He responded to this assignment by taking a really crazy number of pictures, allowing her to post a full report. I'm not a fan of having my picture taken—I know, I know, it's not like I'm shy and retiring and hence avoid cameras, but I make a lot of funny faces, and I always seem to have my mouth open when the flash goes off—but as a record of the evening, this is hammered awesome. I hope you can make the next one, TJ!

My dearly beloved artbeco attended the Friday party at Illusive Comics, and, is her wont, took a lot of really fabulous pictures of the evening. I've known and loved Beckett for more than half my life, so having her document this amazing night was really an honor and a joy. I am so glad she could share this with us.

Brooke came for the whole weekend, and decided to write everything up in one amazingly massive post of pure hammered awesome. For those of you who've missed my mother's wacky antics, Brooke is here to help you fill that gaping hole in your heart, because she took transcription. Quote of the weekend from Brooke: "Who's a mighty huntress who is also slightly moist?"

Sunil also made an amazingly massive post of awesome, complete with lots and lots of pictures of people doing things. He even got pictures of Ripley, the resident Sphinx at Borderlands. Go team Sunil!

Now, on to the reviews!

Thea and Ana are the Book Smugglers, a daring duo of book reviewers who fight the forces of bad literature while stealing gems of awesome from the vast crypts of the literary world. Well, the two of them have worked together to break into the text of Rosemary and Rue and carry out a joint review.

Thea says "There are a lot of female sleuth Urban Fantasy novels out there, and October Daye is another supernatural creature to add to the ever-growing pantheon. Ms. McGuire, however, manages to create a very unique character in a stunningly detailed, harsh world of faerie that coexists with our own. I definitely enjoyed this book and will be back to this eerie version of San Francisco very soon." She also says "In terms of world building and the urban fantasy element, Rosemary and Rue shines. My favorite aspect of this debut novel is the setting itself—Ms. McGuire juxtaposes a world of fae courts and magic, unseen by humans in the city of San Francisco. And the fae aren’t just your usual devilish pixies, winter queens or rowan men, either; Toby’s world is populated by Selkies, Undines, the Daoine Sidhe and Cait Sidhe. There are rose goblins and kelpies, doppelgangers and kitsune—and the variation is a wonderful thing to behold."

Meanwhile, Ana says "Regardless of which genre it belongs to, Rosemary and Rue is simply a good story, with great characters and above all, a fantastically entertaining world in which to submerge myself for a few hours. I can hardly believe that this is Seanan’s McGuire’s debut work and I enjoyed it so much that am ready for more. Like, right now." She also says "I started the review expecting to rate it Very Good, but managed to convince myself whist writing it that this rather, a truly Excellent novel and the series has the potential to be one of the Great Ones. I devoured it, I rooted for the main character and I think this is certainly one of the best debuts I read this year."

I win at being robbed!

maverick_weirdo posted a short, sweet review over at his journal, saying that "Rosemary and Rue is an excellent read." Succinct and charming!

Our final review for today is from SFRevu at the Internet Review of Books. Gayle Surrette wrote their thoughtful and well-balanced review of the book, saying "Having read the first two chapters, there was no way I could put the books down," and "This is an outstanding story and Seanan McGuire is a writer to watch." I'm a writer to watch! Watch me! Maybe I'll do tricks!

And that's our round-up for Wednesday. I will now take a nap.

Today's edition of the Rosemary and Rue review roundup opens with a lovely LJ review by kyleri, who says, "I devoured it. I Could Not Stop. Now, I'm a voracious reader, but usually I'll at least stop to go to the bathroom." She also says "She sucked me in, with a headlong pace, gracefully-inserted worldbuilding, and a cast of clearly-delineated, frequently sympathetic characters." I am well-pleased by this assessment.

Meanwhile, my local paper, the Contra Costa Times, ran a somewhat more critical, but still complimentary, review. Quoth the reviewer, "although I'm not a big fan of urban fantasy, I have to confess the pages turned rapidly as Toby Daye tried to solve the murder of a pureblood Faerie who lived in San Francisco." (He also says "she delivers three hundred and sixty pages of pain, suffering and confusion," but I consider that a feature, not a bug.) Check it out!

Dave Brendon has posted a review of his own, saying "As Urban Fantasy goes, Seanan has crafted a fun, intense and inventive read that’s sure to have you flipping through the pages until the wayyy early hours—you might even set the book down and then wonder why you’re hearing the early worm-catching birds!" and "reading this novel is a sure way to be submerged in the coolest faerie culture you never knew existed." He also says "If you like your faeries to be cool and city-smart and your tales intelligent and fast-paced, you will probably enjoy this book!" Well, I definitely enjoyed this review!

ravenclawed's review is short and sweet enough that if I quote it, you'll see the whole thing. Check it out. Ditto stormsdotter's review over in the Pandemonium Books community.

Donna over at Urban Fantasy has posted her review of Rosemary and Rue, and says "Toby is a refreshing urban fantasy heroine, because she’s not too powerful or perfect" and "The story is a good mix of intrigue and action, and there are a few twists that took me by surprise. The setting is detailed and has a lot of potential. Toby visits the courts and domains of various fae, and she also spends time in a changeling dive that feels a little like a sleazy imitation of the full-blood courts. Each place has a distinct, solid feel, and makes me want to see more of the world than we’ve been exposed to so far." It's a well-written review, and I couldn't be happier.

If you've been wondering what Toby thinks about all this fuss, well, Jezebel (yes, the retired succubus) managed to sneak her out while I wasn't looking, and the resulting interview is now live over on Cat and Muse. In case you're wondering, she lies. She lies like a rug. I am a sweet, innocent paragon of authorial kindness, and I don't understand what she's complaining about.

That's everything for today. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

(I promise to post about the fact that holy cow, it's my bookday birthday, in a little bit. Right now, I'm just trying to get through the review roundup without my fingers falling off! Holy cow!)

spectralbovine is a good friend of mine, but he's also incredibly media-savvy, and very picky about the things that he likes. So I admit, I was a little nervous when he said he was going to review Rosemary and Rue. At the same time, I knew he'd be fair. Well, his review of the book is up, and he was definitely fair. Quoth Sunil, "Oh yes, I'm going there: this book is like Veronica Mars, Faerie Detective."

I love my friends.

Over at the League of Reluctant Adults, the winner of the "win an ARC and write a review" contest has posted this awesome and erudite review of Rosemary and Rue. Quoth JD, "Rosemary and Rue is a good, solid novel and a fantastic debut. I look forward to reading more about Toby and her world. It really did almost make me believe again in Faeries."

Works for me!

mneme has also posted his review of Rosemary and Rue, calling it "a fun, beautifully written, rewarding urban fantasy that I intend to reread and recommend," while judifilksign's review of the book says "McGuire does a fantastic job of creating an alternate reality that is consistent, believable and not a copy of other writers in the genre." Yay!

Our first Dreamwidth review! It comes from Four-and-Twenty (watch those blackbirds), whose review is posted here. Since I sort of want to quote the whole review, I'll just tell you to go and read it. Don't worry. I can wait.

If you've been around here for more than a few days, you probably already know that vixyish is one of my favorite people in the whole world, part of my Seattle family, and a member of the mighty machete squad, without which there would be a hell of a lot more typographical and logical errors in my books. Well, she is now also one of the reviewers to tackle Rosemary and Rue, which she did with sufficient disclaimers to keep people from looking at her funny. Vixy says "I genuinely and highly recommend Rosemary and Rue to fans of urban fantasy, or murder mysteries, or P.I. novels, or worldbuilding, or complex characters, or folklore, or fairy tales, or Shakespeare, or British folk ballads, or just plain exciting and engrossing stories that are likely to keep you up half the night reading just one more page." I say, again, that I love my friends.

We've had a lot of reviews in the past few weeks, so you might think there's nothing left that can really get me excited. Well, you'd be wrong, because waking up to discover that I'd been reviewed in the MIAMI HERALD OH MY GOD YOU GUYS got me really, really excited. Given how sick I still am, I sounded like a bat being fed into a wood-chipper. Pity poor Amy's eardrums. The MIAMI HERALD OH MY GOD YOU GUYS says "skipping Rosemary and Rue would be a sad mistake" and "first-time novelist McGuire reminds us that even in an overused setting, a well-told story with memorable characters casts magic all on its own." Also, it's the MIAMI HERALD OH MY GOD YOU GUYS.

Wowzers.

In case you're tired of straight reviews, I was lucky enough to get interviewed by Alex for the Book Banter podcast. Here's your chance to hear me, live and (mostly) unedited. (I accidentally swore at one point, and Alex kindly snipped that out, because we appreciate not getting yelled at for profanity.) The interview was recorded in the dining room of Au Couqulet, so you can also hear silverware and dishes, if you listen real close. It was a fun time, and I really recommend giving it a go.

If you enjoy interviews, I also have a fun interview up over at Lurv ala Mode, where Kendra has been just awesome during the whole book release process. Check it out!

If you don't have your copy yet, there's a random giveaway going on over at Fantasy/Sci Fi Lovin'—enter to win, or direct your friends to head on over.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words (and I want breakfast), I leave you with Amy very studiously engaging in literature on a train, and Toby Daye VS. THE VELOCIRAPTORS! Pictures and crazy courtesy of Brooke. Because we didn't have enough crazy on our own.

It's a book!

Hey, guys. I realize I've been as scarce as a quality script in a box of direct-to-video horror franchise installments, but I have a totally valid excuse: namely, the plague. I came down with a cold on Tuesday morning that I thought was in the "spend a day in bed and be all better" category, and turned out to be in the "have no memory of Wednesday or Thursday, don't start feeling human again until Sunday morning" category. Seriously, it was just a cold, but I haven't felt this bad due to an infectious agent in years. I wasn't even together enough to whine about the speed of viral amplification. It was scary. Amy arrived Friday morning, and says, of my condition, "You'd just crawled out of a somnolent alien slime pod."

See? I was too sick to even remember being abducted by the aliens! My germs have all the fun. Anyway...

Rebecca at Dirty Sexy Books—which you may remember posted a truly awesome review of Rosemary and Rue, saying, "I predict that this new series will be an urban fantasy powerhouse"—was kind enough to let me come back for a really fun and funny interview. I'm really enjoying the opportunity to do interviews around the Internet, especially since everybody keeps coming up with such different questions. (Questions I have yet to get, sadly: "How do you say your name?" "Do you really sleep with a chainsaw?" "What was the cause of the Black Death?")

Meanwhile, Erin (of Erin-Go-Blog!) decided to go ahead and throw her two cents into the ring, with a rockin' Rosemary and Rue review. Erin says...

"Seanan McGuire's first novel, Rosemary and Rue, is for anyone who has ever believed in faeries, for anyone who has ever wished to step into a wardrobe and out into a world that is magical and every bit as real as our own."

...and...

"If you like paranormal fiction, grown-up faerie tales, urban fantasy, tight prose, well-drawn worlds and characters, sarcasm, murder mysteries, or any combination thereof, pick up Rosemary and Rue. You won’t be disappointed."

Yay, Erin!

It's not a review roundup without a LiveJournal review, and today, markbernstein is filling that role, with his thoughtful and considerate review of Rosemary and Rue. Mark says...

"The things that most matter to me in a book, that draw me in if done well, are world building, characterization, and humor. McGuire is strong in all of those areas."

...and...

"Rosemary and Rue is about more than the detective plot. It's about re-establishing connections, dealing with guilt, and (to steal a phrase from the book) finding the way home. This adds a depth, a feeling of meaning, that far too many series books lack."

Closing out tonight's review roundup, we have Doug at Sci-Fi Guy, posting his fabulous and shiny Rosemary and Rue review for the consideration of the world at large. Doug says...

"Rosemary and Rue has a rich undercurrent of menace and constant threat of implied violence in its' portrayal of the fae creatures and customs that creates an atmosphere ripe with tension that perfectly complements the action. The fae world is a harsh one and the life of the Changelings even more so. Toby's pursuit of the truth is relentless and I can't remember the last time a main character was put to the test with such fervor. The central mystery and final outcome has enough surprises and twists and turns to satisfy serious mystery buffs."

Swoon. Also...

"Rosemary and Rue also has a delightfully fresh narrative voice. Every page has interesting turns of phrase and observations. It would have been easy to select dozens of quotations to share. The writing style alone would have been enough to keep me turning pages."

...oh, and...

"Rosemary and Rue is a startlingly good debut novel and destined for my top 10 list for 2009."

...and...

"With a dark, edgy mystery, plenty of magic and mayhem, humor and horror, Rosemary and Rue has something for everyone."

Let's open today's edition of the review post with something a little different: an interview! The charming and delightful Debbie Ohi interviewed me for her Inkygirl website, which is a fantastic resource for writers at every level of the professional scale. I had a great time chatting with Debbie, and I'm so, so thrilled to have been able to contribute to Inkygirl on some level. Check it out!

Mish posted this sweet mini-review based on the DAW sampler, and I really hope the rest of the book can live up to the expectations it managed to raise. To quote:

"So far I've really liked or loved McGuire's writing, which is witty, intelligent, imaginative, and thoroughly enjoyable. Imagery swirls around the reader as they're drawn into the story. With an eerie knack for portraying the grim, McGuire is able to create original stories, which isn't easily or often done."

I am pleased. I am also a featured release at White Dwarf Books. Life is pretty good.

The ever-charming wendyzski has posted a glowing review in which she helpfully points out that book two is out in only six months. Insanity for me, a lot less time to wait for you. So that's a good thing. Meanwhile, kyleri has also posted a review, thus making this a week rich with good things. See also: "She sucked me in, with a headlong pace, gracefully-inserted worldbuilding, and a cast of clearly-delineated, frequently sympathetic characters."

The wonderful Kristen, over at the Fantasy Cafe, has posted a lengthy and thoughtful review of Rosemary and Rue. Quick quotes:

"Though this is the first book in a series, there was a satisfying conclusion without any major cliffhangers. However, there were definite hints of things to come that made me eager to read the next book."

...and...

"Rosemary and Rue was a solidly entertaining debut novel, although it did not get me involved in the story immediately. However, I liked the characters and world well enough that I reached the end wishing I had the next book available."

I'm going to chalk that up to the "win" column for the week, because I can.

There's a relatively short review from Kimberley Swan over at Darque Reviews, and she says "This story should appeal to fans that enjoy their fantasy with a large dose of mystery." Works for me.

And that's the day in reviews!

It's time for the latest Rosemary and Rue review round-up. This keeps me from building up a collection of links the length of my arm. I appreciate not having a collection of links the length of my arm. It's soothing.

To start with, oneminutemonkey has a fair and balanced list of the things that Rosemary and Rue will and will not do for you. I want to add to these lists. For example, Rosemary and Rue will neither cure leprosy nor give you smallpox. See? It's fun!

Meanwhile, Night Owl Romance offers a more serious review. I'm a Night Owl Romance top pick, which is pure hammered awesome in a solid-gold bucket, and means I get extra candy corn tonight with dinner. Anyway, Night Owl Romance says:

"This book is haunting, even after you finish it. I was so impressed with this book that I want to read it again. Faerie and our world exist side by side; this is what urban fantasy is all about!"

Awesome.

Meanwhile, queenlyzard has posted a thoughtful review, based on her getting an early copy of the book at the San Diego Internation Comic Convention. She says:

"It was very good. I won't jump out and say it's the best supernatural mystery I've ever read, and it certainly wasn't the most surprising as far as plot-twists, but it was well-worth picking up."

This actually makes me really happy, since again, it won't cure leprosy. I was even happier to see:

"I didn't catch a single typo or grammatical error, which is both very refreshing and downright amazing in a first novel."

Shout-out to my darlings in the machete squad! Full contact editing is in the house.

Finally, I have a review from Bookpage, wherein they say:

"McGuire successfully blends Robert B. Parker-like detective fiction with love and loss, faith and betrayal—and plenty of violence. The first in McGuire’s planned trilogy, Rosemary and Rue will have readers clamoring for the next genre-bending installment."

I'm always amused by carefully gender-neutral reviews, and even more amused when they call this a trilogy (oh, you have no idea...). But also, yay! I love it when I get to be genre-bending. It makes me feel all warm and fulfilled. Or maybe that's the candy corn I had for lunch.

It's a good day.

Pardon me while I take a few moments to catch up on reviews that managed to somehow slip past me when they were first posted (or wound up in my "post about this" file, and didn't get grabbed they should have been). Also, some new stuff. Yippee!

First up, Book Love Affair posted a truly charming and complementary review, which delights me. My favorite quotes:

"Give Rosemary and Rue a shot. The October Daye series is sure to have a legion of fans before long. And because the series is just beginning, one may as well start out following Toby from the beginnning."

...and...

"Just keep this in mind: September 1st, September 1st, September 1st. Any fan of urban fantasy or San Fran native should be going out to pick up a copy of McGuire's debut Rosemary and Rue. You won't be sorry."

See? You won't be sorry!

Meanwhile, the Insights of a Deranged Book-A-Holic posted this awesome review, stating that "Rosemary and Rue is the quintessential Dark Fantasy novel and a must read for anyone looking to add to their new favorite authors." So, y'know, yay for that. (Also yay for the expression of jealousy toward anyone who's had the chance to read books two and three. Behold, for now I wear the series pants.)

The delightful folks over at Aphelion—the webzine that runs the syndicated form of my "Thoughts On Writing" series—posted their review in this latest issue, causing me to squeal and dance around. My favorite quotes:

"Seanan's fairy tale noir is gritty, bitter, beautiful, strange, bewitching and ugly all at once, and vividly unforgettable."

...and...

"Rosemary and Rue is a marvelously original story that will stay with you, leaving you taking second looks and sideways glances just to wonder what might be hiding behind the world you walk through."

It's been too long since we've had a good LJ review. twfarlan fixed that for us, when he posted his review (sharing space with a review of GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, no less). He calls me out on one of my weaknesses—I really get tired of describing exactly what everyone looks like, and tend to come from the Stephen King school of "why, honey, they look like you unless it matters"—but otherwise seems to be well-pleased. Yay!

Finally, Mysterious Galaxies has included Rosemary and Rue in their latest batch of reviews. Maryelizabeth calls Rosemary "a fascinating and fresh take on well-traveled territory" and "my favorite new urban fantasy debut." So I'm happy.

And that's our reviews for today. Remember, nothing says "love" like reviewing your friendly neighborhood fairy tale noir author in as many places as possible!

So Kmont, over at Lurva ala Mode has posted her full review of Rosemary and Rue, which was a fantastic way to start my return from WorldCon. Quoting a bit:

"Worldbuilding. Oh, it’s oh so lovely. There are books where this area of fantasy feels effortlessly done and this is one of them. Too, it is infused into the book. It's as if the author planted a beautiful, huge tree, it sprouted and from its branches the rest of the book just flowed. I'm not usually a fan of the faery tales, the ones that deal directly with faeries, courts, and all the mystical qualities that come with them. With some books the worldbuilding feels too wispy, as if a slight breeze could knock it all down. Other times it's so heavy and cumbersome it’s ridiculous. I don't want to feel weighted down by a faery story, but I don't want it to be vague either. I felt that McGuire did an excellent job of turning San Francisco into more than a city, into something otherworldly and real, if not surreal."

...and...

"Another great new series to start the journey with, and I cannot wait for more. Very highly recommended."

Color me delighted. Meanwhile, Dirty Sexy Books was kind enough to provide a totally kick-ass review—I got their coveted top rating!—and I couldn't be happier. Again, to quote:

"I predict that this new series will be an urban fantasy powerhouse. It was beautifully woven and heartbreakingly tragic; I felt tears pricking my eyes after the prologue, and I don’t consider myself a complete softy. I admire Seanan McGuire’s prose for making me feel the magic with all five senses, and whether it was beautiful or terrible, it was always alien and strange. I felt like a trespasser who was given a secret tour of a San Francisco that no human will ever see and live."

I kinda want to get "urban fantasy powerhouse" tattooed on my wrist, where I can just look at it when I'm down. Also, I envy her skill with plot summary. Hers begins "The story begins fourteen years ago, when October Daye was a wife, a mother, and a liar..." That's so perfect. I'm jealous.

Finally, I have a review in the new issue of Romantic Times...and they gave Rosemary and Rue four and a half stars. HOLY CRAP. I mean, just...HOLY CRAP.

Twenty days.

We're almost there.

cassildra got to ride home from DucKon with the gentleman who won the Rosemary and Rue ARC (hi, Trevor!), and posted this lovely and thoughtful review to let us know what she thought of the book. Hint: she liked it.

Meanwhile, the Park Avenue Princess posted her lovely review of the book, including a great deal of pinkness and enthusiasm. I favor pinkness and enthusiasm. Give 'er a look.

Finally, and less strictly Rosemary-related, antigoneschase posted a fantastic batch of "Wicked Girls" icons over on her journal. These are beautiful. Check them out!

It's Monday—a new week, and one week closer to the release of Rosemary and Rue—and I thought it might be good to provide another review roundup. Because I can. Also because it means I can just hit the "reviews" tag and see all my reviews on one clear page. I love the LJ tagging feature. I would go mad without it. Anyway...

thedalikiss was fabulous enough to post a lovely mini-review in the 100 or More Books community. This is because she's a wonderful human being. Yay!

The equally wonderful HagelRat posted a thoughtful and well-reasoned review over on her blog, thus delighting me entirely. It makes me happy when I see people post reviews. I'm a cheap date, I know.

Harriet posted her review in several places, including Worlds of Wonder. Her review provided my "happy blondes are happy, and just don't destroy North America" quote for today, namely:

"ROSEMARY AND RUE is a winner in a sub-genre that has been butchered recently with zillions of imitations."

Pardon me while I die of happy. And that's our Monday review roundup!

So someone commented on my guest blog at the League of Reluctant Adults—where you still have an hour to comment and be entered to win an ARC of Rosemary and Rue—that...

"Charlaine Harris plugged this book to a crowd of 500+ people at her signing in Oak Brook, IL this past Monday. She was asked what she was reading and she said she was enjoying this ARC immensely. Scores of people around me were scrambling to write down the name..."

This sort of made my jaw hit the floor, because, um, well, HOLY CATS. And being me, I went looking for any other information about this particular event.

What I found was Charlaine's blog. Specifically, her current books entry. Specifically...

"One of the DAW editors sent me an ARC of Seanan McGuire’s first book. It's a winner."

...and...

"I think any of my readers will enjoy this book, and surely any of Patricia Briggs' readers will, too."

I think my head is going to explode.

djonn decided to surprise me with another stealth review of Rosemary and Rue. He liked it! I am glad. (I don't assume my friends will enjoy my book, because that would be silly. I admit that it's a little more exciting when people I don't know like my book, but that's just because I know the total strangers have no reason to soft-shoe when I suck. My friends would at least find a nice way to say "wow, sweetie, you got punched in the face by the stupid fairy this morning, didn't you?")

Lurva ala Mode was one of the first sites to pick up on the news about the Toby Daye books, and did an absolutely glowing new author spotlight a few months back. Well, their review of Rosemary and Rue has just gone live, and it's awesome. I fully support any review that says people need to look for Rosemary and Rue on shelves on September 1st. Remember, buy early, buy often, help me keep my cats in scratching posts.

It's a good day.

I'm a guest blogger over at The League of Reluctant Adults! A loose confederacy of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and gonzo magical realism authors, the League is sort of one of the super-teams of the genre. Not like the Justice League. More like that one team that had Squirrel Girl on it.

Anyway, if you head over to the League, comment on my guest post, and get lucky, you could win both a) an ARC of Rosemary and Rue, and b) the privilege of having your review posted on the League's site for everyone to see! It's a gamble! A gamble with awesome!

Here in the land of reviews I've already received...

antigoneschase posted a lovely and heartfelt review over in her blog, and you should totally admire her awesome.

paradisacorbasi managed to post the first totally stealth review I've received—she managed to keep the fact that she'd gotten hold of an ARC secret until her review was ready! World of wow!

It's an awesome, and frantic, week around these parts, I swear.

Rosemary and Rue was just reviewed by Publishers Weekly.

To quote (just a little, although wow do I wanna quote a lot more), "Well researched, sharply told, highly atmospheric and as brutal as any pulp detective tale, this promising start to a new urban fantasy series is sure to appeal to fans of Jim Butcher or Kim Harrison."

There is absolutely no way this football is being yanked away from me.

Holy cats.

Hollywood the Write Way has posted a review of Rosemary and Rue. This is our first review for the month of July, aka, "that month where suddenly, we're counting down from sixty days oh dear gods I need more Diet Dr Pepper." I'm so excited!

In honor of this lovely review, I've done a roundup of our reviews so far, in case you missed one:

jennifer_brozek wrote a lovely review for Apex Books.

The Book Zombie wrote this incredibly sweet and thoughtful review, and even linked to one of my art cards!

kyrielle wrote a thoughtful and balanced review in her journal; k_crow did the same, because they are awesome.

Becky, of Village Books, wrote my very first bookseller review! I'm so chuffed!

s00j turned her wordsmithing to a lovely review tagged "that which does not suck." Most complimentary statement ever!

ladyqkat wrote another lovely LJ review, and canadianevil did the same thing.

And, of course, my beloved Rae wrote my very first posted review, thus earning herself an eternal place in my heart.

Yay reviews!