Today is the third week of a four week readalong of Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire.    How I’m loving this series and it feels as though each book just keeps adding more depth to the world created by McGuire.  Feel free to join us.  A Goodreads page is set up here or simply jump in with the comments.  Also, be aware that spoilers will be lurking below so be careful!

This week Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow is providing the questions so lets get a budge on:

1. “We took titles as a warning. ‘Stay away. Here there be monsters.'”

This week we learn the Luidaeg’s original name, and also that she really does, perhaps, have her sneaky ways of answering some of Toby’s unasked questions – or starting to, anyway. What speculations are you drawing from what we learn in Toby’s blood-vision? Given this teaser, what questions might you ask the Luidaeg if you were in Toby’s shoes.

Personally, if I was in Toby’s shoes I’d be gobbling those frozen blood pills down like they were candy in search of questions – which would probably be very unwise.  I’m getting from these flashbacks, and how ingenious of the Luidaeg by the way to come up with that, that Toby’s mum was very much trying to protect Toby – I don’t know if I’ve picked everything up but clearly Armandine is very powerful and clearly sometimes being so powerful is a risky business – why else would the other firstborn have the titles and ‘stay away. Here there be Monsters’ thing going on.  But, we had a different hint in this section – I think I would be asking just exactly who my father was if I was Toby – we know that one king already tried to hide his family to save them – what if Toby’s father wasn’t human.  Toby could be very powerful and maybe a potential threat to others – maybe in danger.  I don’t know, I’m jumping around all over the place but I’m beginning to wonder if Toby really is a changeling.

2. “I know a lot about being royal.”

Surprise! So the truth about Quentin’s background is out, and I’ve got to know: did you suspect this at all or did it in fact surprise you? Any predictions for the young squire-prince going forward from here?

I was completely surprised.  I’ve been making a lot of surprises about Toby but I really didn’t follow the breadcrumbs with Quentin and I was gobsmacked.  At least I didn’t have a pie in the face!  I really don’t know – will he be required to complete his time as a squire?  I can’t see how that would work really.  It feels like Toby has already started to change towards him and although she has always been a little bit protective I think she will feel differently towards him.  I don’t think it will affect their friendship – just maybe the way she feels about the whole situation or how comfortable she is ordering him around.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Toby changes the way the acts around people depending on their status, I just think that knowing him to be a prince now will just change things.  You can’t ‘unknow’ it can you?  Perhaps Quentin could help Arden to become accustomed to her new role?  I definitely think that he would be a champion for Toby in the future which can’t be a bad thing – he’s seen how she works and how fair she is so…

3. “You protect your family by making the world a better place for them to live. Not by running away.”

Toby’s got some hard truths for Arden, and well she should know about them… Do you think Arden will stand by her choice here? And what do you think of October Daye looking set up to have the ear of the next Queen in the Mists?

Yes, for once I can see that maybe Toby won’t be hated by the Queen in the Mists – of course Arden will be a relatively innocent Queen – in terms of what she doesn’t know, she’s led a very innocent life in terms of the fae after all – I think she will need somebody like Toby, who tells her things the way they really are and doesn’t bow and scrape or curry favour or seek power.  In terms of Toby – having the ear of the Queen probably won’t make a difference – she’s not really seeking power or titles is she?

4. There’s plenty more to chew on in these chapters, but what parts stand out the most for you, and why?

So much in these chapters.  Where to start.  This book is so good.  I pretty much know that things are going to get so much worse before they get better or maybe that’s my pessimism sneaking in.  I want to know more about Quentin for a start.  Tybalt and Toby – very revealing that Toby finally has found her place – no more floundering around for her – she’s chosen where she wants to be and that might come with sadness over what she’s leaving behind but she is ready to move forward.  May – I think she might be getting ready to leave Toby and set up with Jazz but I could be wrong.  She’s always ready to step in and I think she’ll always be there for Toby but the scene where she was leaving with Toby to go to Muir and she was looking back at the house worrying about Jazz, well, I couldn’t help thinking that the two of them are becoming very serious and ready to move on together.  I loved reading about the Cu Sidhe – dog fae!  Especially winding down the window on Danny’s cab – why do dogs love to stick their heads out of car windows – which basically means a blast of cold air in the face – but yet they hate it if you blow in their face!  What is that.  Why?  And the Luidaeg – I can’t help thinking that everything could be improved by her appearance.  So tetchy and grumpy and pushing people around – but underneath it all – yeah, she’s still a grumpy puss, but she has heart.