Review: Chimes at Midnight

Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The previous entry in the series introduced us to the dangers of Goblin Fruit. It’s an intoxicant that blisses out purebloods, but leaves changelings and humans dangerously addicted (even after only one taste) until they die. This book is about October dealing with that threat to the non-pureblooded community in the San Francisco area. It quickly spirals out from there because, of course it does when October Daye is involved.

McGuire is clearly setting up a greater confrontation and I’m curious as to what it is. McGuire is doing a good job of giving us a stair-step increase in stakes. Toby fixes things and the world seems to be a better place until the next book ups the ante. There are definitely a few loose ends that are accumulating among October’s enemies list that could probably end up coming together for the final climax. Based both on this series and on McGuire’s Wayward Children series, I’m expecting a bittersweet ending to this all. McGuire doesn’t seem to be fully happy endings, McGuire’s a little too realistic for that. It does make me appreciate that none of the characters are wearing plot armor (except, of course, Toby who has to make it to the final book).

• Seanan-McGuire