Seanan McGuire’s New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated October Daye series finds Toby Daye torn between caring for her newborn daughter and keeping the world of Faerie―and her found family―safe.

October “Toby” Daye is settling into life with a baby, remembering the ins and outs of motherhood, and trying to find ways to balance her work with her desire to keep her baby safe at home and away from all the terrors Faerie has to offer. Her whole household is pitching in, from May all the way down to Raysel, the estranged daughter of Toby’s liege lord who is currently serving out a term of offense in Toby’s home.

Naturally, as everything is beginning to find a balance, it’s time for Raysel’s term of offense to end, and Luna Torquill very much wants her daughter back.

But Toby has been helping Raysel get the help she desperately needs, from giving her a safe place to hide all the way to finding her a licensed therapist who works with the fae, and Raysel isn’t ready to leave. Luna isn’t taking no for an answer, and before anyone can realize what she’s planning, she steals her own child away to Blind Michael’s lands.

Not even Luna knows all the terrible secrets her father and his works hid from the world, and not even she can protect her daughter from the monsters in their lineage. All too quickly, Toby must race the clock to save Raysel―before it’s too late for her to ever come home.

It’s been years, but now the question will be asked again: can she get there and back by the light of a candle?

Published
September 29, 2026
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October Daye

The series

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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.

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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.

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