October "Toby" Daye is a changeling, the daughter of Amandine of the fae and a mortal man. Like her mother, she is gifted in blood magic, able to read what has happened to a person through a mere taste of blood.
Half-human, half-fae, outsiders from birth, most changelings are second-class children of Faerie spending their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal relations. Toby is the only changeling who has earned knighthood, and she re-earns that position every day, undertaking assignments for her liege, Sylvester, the Duke of Shadowed Hills.
Now Sylvester has asked her to go to the County of Tamed Lightning — otherwise known as Fremont, California — to make sure that all is well with his niece, January O'Leary, whom he has not been able to contact. It seems like a simple enough assignment — but when dealing with the realm of Faerie, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
January runs a company that produces computer fantasy games, and her domain is a buffer between Sylvester's lands and a rival duchy whose ruler is looking for an opportunity to seize control. And that's the least of January's problems. For Tamed Lightning has somehow been cut off from the other fiefdoms, and now someone has begun to murder January's key people. If Toby can't find and stop the killer soon, she may well become the next victim...
The series
The October Daye series by Seanan McGuire invites readers into a world where the line between the mortal and the fae is not just blurred—it’s perilously thin. Following the life of October "Toby" Daye, a changeling private investigator with a dark past and an even darker future, this series pulls you into a labyrinth of ancient magic, dangerous politics, and mythical creatures. Toby is a half-human, half-fae detective who finds herself entangled in both the mundane and the supernatural, tasked with solving mysteries that threaten both worlds.
Read full series description
Set in a San Francisco where the Fae courts rule over hidden realms and human society exists in blissful ignorance, the October Daye series immerses you in a rich tapestry of lore, danger, and personal sacrifice. From fae politics to magical creatures both old and new, Toby’s journey is as much about uncovering the secrets of her world as it is about grappling with her own identity and past. Her struggles with being a changeling, caught between two worlds, are layered with complexity, making her a relatable yet resilient heroine who draws readers into her emotional and supernatural journey.
In a world where betrayals are common and loyalty is a rare gift, October Daye stands as a series where every choice has weight, every encounter can change everything, and the price of uncovering the truth is often higher than Toby could ever expect. With each book, McGuire builds a unique universe of perilous magic, bittersweet alliances, and intense character arcs, all while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, craving more of Toby’s adventures.
Perfect for those who enjoy urban fantasy with deep character development and intricate world-building, the October Daye series is a perfect blend of mystery, magic, and personal stakes—where every case could be Toby's last, and every ally might just be a hidden enemy.
#1 · 2009Rosemary and Rue 
#2 · 2010A Local Habitation 
#3 · 2010An Artificial Night 
#4 · 2011Late Eclipses 
#5 · 2011One Salt Sea 
#6 · 2012Ashes of Honor 
#7 · 2013Chimes at Midnight 
#7.2 · 2016Full of Briars 
#8 · 2014The Winter Long 
#9 · 2015A Red-Rose Chain 
#10 · 2016Once Broken Faith 
#11 · 2017The Brightest Fell 
#12 · 2018Night and Silence 
#13 · 2019The Unkindest Tide 
#14 · 2020A Killing Frost 
#15 · 2021When Sorrows Come 
#16 · 2022Be the Serpent 
#17 · 2023Sleep No More 
#18 · 2023The Innocent Sleep 
#19 · 2025Silver and Lead 
#20 · 2026A Divided Duty 
#21 · 2027October Daye Book 21 Be the first reviewer
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