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

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

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

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

Today is week one of our readalong of Ashes of Honour (October Daye #6) by Seanan McGuire  The schedule is over on Goodreads and this week Lisa is our host Over The Effing Rainbow.  With the customary warning about potential spoilers lets get straight to the A&A.

1. The opening scenes in this book are interesting enough to touch on: This is the first time we’ve been given a plot that brings mortal belief in or knowledge of the Fae into the equation. That can’t end well… Can it? What are your thoughts on this so far?

This seems like something very refreshing to the series.  So far it feels like the series has focused mainly on the supernatural and we have had very little involvement with everyday people and that’s not really surprising because the fae go to such lengths to hide their existence so this feels like a really new development.  At the moment, given the horror that everyone has so far demonstrated over this potential broach in secrecy, then clearly this is not a good thing.  However, I’m tempted to say that with only one person being aware of the fae, I’m not sure how much damage this would really cause?  I suppose it depends on how much ‘other’ damage takes place with this latest missing child.

2. Etienne and Bridget: Didn’t see that one coming! What do you make of the usually uptight Etienne’s rule-breaking past? Any predictions for what might become of him if/when the dust settles?

I’m flabbergasted to be honest.  Etienne is such a stickler that this just feels jaw dropping doesn’t it – I like it though.  Who knew that Etienne could be so ‘real’.  Breaking the rules! I really can’t guess at how he will be punished but I’m hoping that Sylvester will go easy on him – that being said I suppose it depends on the fallout.

3. For that matter, let’s discuss Bridget a little more. This is the first time anyone mortal has been more than peripherally involved in any part of this story, and she is determined to stay on the defensive. Do you think this is a smart choice, or trouble waiting to happen?

I think Bridget is tipping the scales of hysteria at the moment but that’s understandable with her daughter missing.  I think she needs to trust Toby a little more but given her own knowledge she seems determined to go down the route of mistrust – at the moment she feels like she could explode in a very troublesome way.  I’m surprised that she didn’t get in touch with Etienne before – she really should have tried to understand a little bit more about what was going on but I think she was clearly to scared to do so.  It feels like she’s always anticipated her daughter being taken away and so has tried desperately to hide her – but this could now be backfiring terribly.

4. So the tables were turned on Tybalt a little after the events at the end of One Salt Sea: It’s been a year, Toby’s been avoiding him for a change, and it seems our kitty-cat was pining… But now things seem to be turning around, in a nod to the plot thread of Toby building healthier relationships… Might this finally be the start of something more for them?

I feel like a change is in the offing somehow – it’s taken a few books to reach this point but I definitely get the impression that things are going to change and there seems like an almost restless impatience to Tybalt – like he’s made up his mind about something!  Time will tell.