Something is rotten in Faerie. In the aftermath of Titania's reality-warping enchantment, things are returning to what passes for normal in the Kingdom in the Mists-until it's discovered that the royal vaults have been looted, and several powerful magical artifacts are missing. None are things that can be safely left unsecured, and some have the potential to do almost as much damage as Titania did, and having them in the wrong hands could prove just as disastrous.

At least the theft means that Sir October "Toby" Daye, Knight errant and Hero of the Realm, finally has an excuse to get out of the house. Sure, she's eight and a half-months pregnant, but that doesn't mean she can't take care of herself. But with the sea witch offering to stand godmother to Toby's child, maybe there are greater dangers ahead for Toby and her family than it appears....

Old enemies will resurface, new enemies will disguise themselves as friends, and Queen Windermere must try to keep her Hero on the case without getting herself gutted by the increasingly irritated local King of Cats. Sometimes, what's been lost can be the most dangerous threat of all.

In book 19 of the October Daye series, Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire leads the reader on a wild ride of adventure, mysteries and unexpected enemies. From the very start, the story is enthralling, especially if you've been keeping up with the series and excited to see what Toby is up to in the aftermath of Titania's enchantment ending. Even when she should be staying safe, I love that Toby finds danger but I also love how her reactions to the danger have evolved, especially as she learns how much that danger can impact her loved ones.

I also like the changed relationships, with Simon and Tybalt and with others. There are tons of twists and turns along with subtle clues that indicate exactly what's going on but even knowing the background, I missed a few things until the end. But for me, that makes for a more exciting story, when I can't predict every element. Seanan McGuire's writing is so good that I can never quite predict what will happen next. I just know I'll love the ride.

If you love the October Daye series, you will want to read this latest installment. If you haven't read it, I suggest picking up with the earlier books so you don't get spoilers. But I do highly recommend reading this wild ride of a story, one that ends with unexpected results and a great ending that leaves some interesting quests for future books.

Rating: 5 out of 5 iron cuffs. ~~ Andrea Rittschof

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